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The Time Riders: Part 8 A Date With Death. Based on a post by BiscuitHammer, in 16 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Into the pit. Domitia was brought through the streets, which were lined with huge crowds watching her somberly. She was attended by at least twenty soldiers, who walked in silence around her. Accompanying them were her former sister Vestals and the Pontifex Maximus, one of the greatest priests in Rome and head of the state religion. It was he who ultimately was in charge of the Virgins, both choosing them and stripping them of their office if the need arose. He walked ahead of her, his face grave. Domitia wore a simple white tunic now, but all other signs of her former life were gone. Her magnificent braids were undone, and her brown hair hung down her back shamefully. The colors she'd been allowed to wear were missing. In times past, disgraced Virgins had been excoriated, possibly just beaten with a rod, but now, in the height of mighty Rome's power, the punishment was death, for endangering the city. But no one was insane enough to spill the blood of a Vestal Virgin, disgraced or not, so her execution was not so direct. She would be sent underground into a small chamber, with a stock of food and supplies, and locked in there until she starved to death, or succumbed to sickness. They weren't killing her, per se; she was merely shunned until she died. Such was the way of Imperial Rome. Her condemnation and pronouncement of her fate had already been declared, at the beginning of this long walk, meant to be a show of penitence before the face of all Rome. And as humiliated and crushed as she was, her foremost thought was about Bonosus, and his magnificent cock. Even now, being led through the streets, her cunt was wet and ached to feel him buried inside her. Before she knew it, they had arrived at their destination, a small area in the north of the city, with a plot dug into the ground. Stopping at its edge, she looked down inside; the walls were lined with wood, probably to prevent a collapse, and there seemed to be a small stool and a cot within. She heard hysterical sobbing from nearby, and turned her head to see her mother, her birth mother, Pompeneia, weeping from behind the barricade of guards and calling out to her. Domitia's heart ached for a moment, but then she turned her gaze back to the den prepared for her. Her fate was sealed. She glanced over to look at her sister Vestals, but they refused to look at her, staring ahead resolutely. She could see tears in dear Silla's eyes, though; she had hurt the Sisterhood badly, and this was how she was to pay for it. So be it. With all the dignity she could muster, Domitia swallowed her fear and stepped forward, turning and climbing down the ladder, descending roughly ten feet until she reached the earthen floor. There were small candles burning on some stone surfaces, allowing for dim light. She looked upward, and the last thing she saw was the face of the Pontifex Maximus looking down at her, his expression unreadable, before a heavy door was slammed down and locked, cutting off all light and all sound from above. She shuddered at the sound, her stomach twisting in knots. She knew that there was no way out. The door would be weighted, and guards set outside for weeks, to prevent anyone from trying to rescue her. Despite her fear, she looked around, noting the small amount of food supplies left for her, and a small, narrow hole dug in one corner where she was to relieve herself. It wouldn't do to have a Vestal Virgin stinking of shit, even a disgraced one, and even in death. The silence was almost terrifying. She slumped into the small chair left for her, shivering and biting her lip as she felt that her cunt was still wet, the sticky lips parting slightly as she spread her legs. Thoughts of Bonosus returned to her, and she couldn't help but reach down beneath her tunic and begin rubbing her fingers over herself. The fear she felt melted away as she tickled her throbbing clit and teased her warm nether lips. Domitia closed her eyes and sighed in pleasure. If she was to die in this hateful place, it would be while cumming, thinking of that magnificent cock, spurting inside her one last time; The wall opposite her creaked and opened, the stout wooden boards pulling away. Domitia almost yelped in shock, but she didn't stop playing with herself. She stared in astonishment as a tall blonde woman came inside, carrying a torch. Following her was Nanu, a slave-girl that Domitia would have sworn belonged to her parents. "Well, hello, Domitia," the blonde woman said, smiling at her. "I'm Lady Aurora Horatia, Bonosus' mistress. Are you ready to get out of here?" Domitia nodded, but then paused, reconsidering as her fingers plunged in and out of her molten cunt. "Can you; give me just a moment here?" the former Virgin asked sheepishly. Into the Arena. Mark winced and squinted as the great gate opened, allowing light to flood into the dark tunnel. The grinding and heaving of the gears that moved the iron-reinforced barriers echoed loudly, and his heart pounded in anxiety. He was almost hyperventilating, and he could feel the blood racing through his veins. Maybe taking the adrenalin tab he'd finally found stashed behind a loose brick wasn't such a good idea. And no instructions, either. He reminded himself to punch himself in the face when he saw himself again. Hey, at least he knew he survived. He felt himself shoved roughly out into the arena, looking around in bewilderment as tens of thousands of people all shouted and jeered at him. Part of the huge stadium was cast into shadow because of the giant canvas awning that covered a full third of its seating and the arena in the center. He thought it was called the Velarium, but he wasn't sure. The roaring noise of the crowds hurt his ears, and he felt dizzy. The tab's effects apparently hadn't evened out in him yet. Maybe he should have taken it earlier? Wearing his itchy burlap loincloth, a rope belt, sandals and nothing else, Mark wandered slowly toward the center of the sandy field, his cudgel in hand. The echoing sounds of the crowd were maddening, and he felt almost dizzy. What was the purpose of this damn tab, anyway? Guards approached him. His urge was to run, but where would he go? Trembling, he stood his ground and waited for them. One of them grabbed him roughly and spun him about to face something, shoving him to one knee. Mark gasped, but then looked up and paused. On the other side of the giant stadium, sitting in a shaded box, was a man wearing purple, surrounded by guards and other dignitaries. It had to be the Emperor. The most powerful man in the world. If only he knew which one it was. Maybe he could've gotten an autograph. He chuckled bitterly at his joke, but the guard holding him told him to shut up and slapped him across the back of the head. Mark's eyes snapped open and fury flared through him. He surged to his feet and his shoulder-block knocked the guard backwards, to the astonishment of the audience. The guard and another one nearby drew their weapons and were about to kill him, when trumpets blared from all around the perimeter of the Colosseum. Mark looked around warily, seeing the reaction of the crowds as the two guards withdrew. Drums sounded out now, and more trumpets. He looked over at the emperor, his eyes going wide as he noticed a familiar, stunning blonde woman in a seat next to him and watching Mark with a smirk. Kneeling beside her was Nanu. "Jesus, Becky, there's a million people in Rome; how many did you fuck?" he muttered, scowling. He heard the gates clanking open again and spun to face them, his heart racing again. From the dark tunnel strode a stout, bald man wearing leather armour on his shoulder and a metal-studded skirt, carrying a shield and wielding a small axe. "What is this, fetish night at the Colosseum?" Mark complained loudly as the man began to run toward him. Mark braced himself, watching warily. His earlier anxiety was being replaced by anger, and a desire to either flee or fight. He'd just trust to his adrenalin and hope that his future self knew what the Hell he was doing. The gladiator ran up and swung at Mark, who ducked and came up behind his foe. Before the man could turn, Mark struck him across the back of the head with his cudgel. The man crashed to the ground face-first. The crowd was yelling in outrage and astonishment. Apparently, that wasn't supposed to happen. The man showed no signs of rising, merely stirring feebly and groaning, a huge goose egg rising on the back of his head. Hastily, Mark leaned down and pulled the round wooden shield off the man's arm and pried the axe from his grip. He stood up, trying to control his breathing. His heart felt like it would burst out of his chest. He looked around, making sure no one was approaching him from any other direction, but nobody seemed to be forthcoming. Where was his next foe? It dawned on him that he hadn't been expected to last beyond this first fight. They were probably scrambling to figure out what to do next. Doubtless they'd be finding another gladiator to throw at him. He chanced a glance up at Becky, but she sat still, simply watching him. He didn't blame her; she was supposed to have turned on him, after all. He did notice that she was keeping one leg crossed over the other and bouncing her thighs subtly. Maybe the hormones weren't completely out of her system yet. Or it could have just been normal horny Becky. Who knew at this point? A few seconds later, the gates on another section of the concave wall that surrounded him opened slowly, and out strode a tall man, wearing only a loincloth like himself and greaves, but carrying a weighted net in one hand, and a trident in the other. "Trident!" Mark exclaimed to himself, remembering. "That's what those fucking things are called! Now I can; Hey!" Mark had gotten distracted and only barely jumped out of the way of the retiarius, who thrust his trident, trying to skewer his foe. Mark angrily struck at the man's head with his axe, but he raised the haft of the weapon to block and Mark's axe broke on it. The crowd cheered wildly as it saw what happened. Mark stared dumbly at the splintered handle of his weapon, the iron head missing entirely, having spun off to land in the dust several inconvenient feet away. "What the shit?" Mark shouted angrily as he dodged another attack, keeping his shield between himself and his enemy. The trident's tines glanced off the face of his shield, coming perilously close to ripping open his side. "You mean I can't kill anyone? I'm timelocked from killing someone, even if they're trying to kill me?" He dodged again and scrambled for his cudgel, lying next to the first man he'd knocked unconscious. The man he was fighting was quick, though, and lunged in, jamming his weapon forward and trying to impale Mark through his stomach with it. Mark blocked with the shield, shuddering in panic as he felt the tines burst through the wood and punch out the back side, dangerously close to his belly. But the trident was caught now, and now the two men wrestled back and forth desperately, with the retiarius trying to free his weapon and Mark doing everything he could to prevent that exact thing. Suddenly he realized that he was doing exactly the wrong thing, and simply let go of his shield. The gladiator now held his trident awkwardly, weighed down as it was by the shield embedded on it, and with no safe recourse to get it back. He flailed at Mark with the weighted edges of his net, threatening to break smaller bones if he got in too close. Mark dashed for the cudgel again, and this time his opponent couldn't quickly follow him. Mark picked it up and tried putting the man on the defensive, skirting around him, looking for an opening to strike. The man glared at him balefully, swinging the net if Mark got too close. He's not armored and he can't use his weapon; Mark reminded himself. He flung his cudgel at the gladiator's face and surged in while the man was trying to block the unexpected projectile. His trident was weighted down with Mark's shield, so he was using the net frantically to avoid being struck. Mark plowed into the man and took him down to the ground, using his advantage in height and weight. His foe wheezed as he landed hard on his back, beginning to thrash as Mark straddled his chest and pummeled at him. A lucky punch got through and Mark snapped his foe's head to the side with a right across the jaw. He went to sleep. The crowds were shouting again angrily as Mark stood, recovering his stupid club and taking the man's net, since the shield was wrecked, and the trident was no use since he apparently wasn't allowed to kill anyone. How did time lock know, anyway? He bent over, trying to control his breathing and his pulse. His head was spinning again from the anxiety. What the Hell was his future self thinking, leaving that damn tab to use? What sort of advantage and futuristic superpower was panic? You're pumping adrenalin; it makes runners faster, it makes them run longer; it makes people stronger in a crisis; He opened his eyes and stood, turning around and looking at the thousands upon thousands of people who hated him. Fuck those people. He turned and looked at the emperor and held the weighted net in the air, scowling at the sovereign. "That all you got, asshole?" he shouted, feeling himself get angrier and more aggressive with every moment. Becky could barely hear what Mark was yelling over the noise of the crowds, but she shifted somewhat uncomfortably when she felt the mood of the man next to her darken. "So that's how he wants to play it, hmm?" muttered the emperor, resting his cheek against his hand. "Uppity thing, this boy of yours, Lady Horatia." "Oh, he is no longer mine, great emperor; this behavior, reprehensible as it might be, is unknown to me. Please dispose of the upstart as you see fit," Becky replied, knowing better than to be perceived as defending Mark. "You can count on that, my lady;” he replied, nodding absently as he made some vague motion to a signaler. "If you will excuse me, sire, I must depart for a moment," Becky said, trying to not sound urgent. The emperor looked at her quizzically for a moment: "You would miss his doom?" She made a show of blushing: "His life and death mean nothing to me now, but all this excitement has undone me, sire. I must go and relieve myself, because it wouldn't do to piss myself in your presence." "Very well, then," he said, nodding. "But try to be back soon." Becky stood and bowed before exiting the emperor's spectator box, taking Nanu with her, pulling her along by the wrist. "My lady, is now a good time to see to such functions?" asked the Egyptian girl as she followed the blonde woman. "Is Bonosus not in great danger? I thought you meant to rescue him." "I can't rescue him sitting next to that pompous ass, now can I?" Becky hissed as she strode down one of the hallways. "And keep your voice down; I don't want people to know what we're doing." "Sorry, mistress," Nanu replied, blushing. She allowed herself to be dragged along for several seconds before asking her next question. "What are we doing, exactly?" "You'll see soon enough," Becky said grimly, her blue eyes flashing as she pushed through the throngs of people in the hallways that ran around the length of the Colosseum. "I hope you wore your cock-sucking lips today;” The huge man lumbered towards Mark; he was well over half a foot taller than Mark, and a whole lot heavier. Beneath his layer of fat, he was obviously muscular and very strong. He carried a shield in one hand, a wicked sword in the other. His loincloth was made of tough leather, covered in metal studs. His wide belt was also braced with metal. His right arm was protected from shoulder to wrist by a cauldron and gleaming steel plates. On his head was an intimidating helmet, the face mask looking like something out of "Mad Max: Fury Road," with a peaked top that sported what looked like a curved metal blade or sail. It looked like he was wearing a can opener on his head. "Fuck;” Mark whined to himself as he stood his ground, trying to figure out how he was going to keep from getting killed. He held his cudgel and his net, trying to look threatening, but the gorilla coming at him didn't seem to care. He jumped out of the way as the Samnite slashed with his sword. He tried to move in, but was sent flying backwards when the gladiator suddenly slammed the front of his shield into him. Landing on his back, Mark only had a split second to roll out of the way as the point of his foe's sword drove down into the dirt where'd he'd only just been. He kicked at the man's leg, but it held, and he scrambled away, looking to put some distance between them. "Hey, Jason Voorhies!" he called out, waving his club in the air. "Over here, candy-ass!" The gladiator turned his head to look at him while trying to wrench his blade from the hard-packed earth. He finally did so and stood upright, rolling his shoulders and striding forward again. He slashed with his blade, but Mark dodged once again and then threw his net over his foe. The Samnite got caught in it, but didn't go down, trying angrily to remove it. Mark jumped on his back and began hammering away with his stupid little club. The giant staggered about, flailing wildly to dislodge his smaller foe. The jeering from the crowd was punctuated with increasing amounts of laughter at this ridiculous spectacle. Mark hung on for dear life with one arm wrapped around the man, his other hand whacking away at the foe's helmet. But his own net was preventing the blows from being fully effective, despite the metallic ringing of his strikes. Unable to reach the pest on his back or use his weapons, the huge man simply fell backwards, hoping to crush Mark. It wasn't graceful, and it wasn't pretty, but it did stun Mark long enough to stop him from hitting his foe with his cudgel. "Oh fuck;” Mark wheezed as the Samnite rolled off him and struggled to get up while removing the netting. Mark slowly crawled away, shaking his head to stop the world from spinning. The jellied tissue that was once his lungs was on fire, and strained to get oxygen circulating through him. He heard his foe growl in frustration, and then he felt himself getting grabbed by the scruff of the neck and the back of his loincloth before being hauled completely off the ground; The crowd went wild as the gladiator threw Bonosus bodily to the ground, as if trying to crush his bones with the impact. He picked him up again and dashed him to the hard-packed earth, having given up on removing the net. Mark protected himself from the slams as best he could, but it wasn't helping much, given the strength of the man who was mauling him. The fourth time getting slammed to the ground was about Mark's limit, and the world had become nonsense around him; everything sounded like it was being played in drunken slow motion. His vision swam, and he really just wanted to take a damn nap. He shook his head trying to clear it, remembering that Becky had bought him time, so he'd best not waste it getting rag-dolled by this shit stain. While the Samnite was reaching down for him, Mark managed to roll onto his back and kicked up, hard, between the gladiator's legs. His foot found the man's crotch, and while the force of the blow was lessened by the net's interference, his foe still groaned, and his knees bent. Mark kicked again, and then once more, having finally staggered his foe. The man sank to his knees, holding his crotch. Mark couldn't see his face, but he was obviously in a great deal of pain. Mark staggered to his feet, ignoring the crowd's jeers and screams, focusing only on his foe. The gladiator was now protecting his crotch with his hands, so Mark couldn't kick him there, so he slammed the bottom of his foot into the larger man's chest, knocking him on his back, where he lay moaning. Mark stamped on his crotch for good measure. "Stop, dammit!" wailed the man. "Quit kicking me in the cock!" "Fuck you!" Mark spat, scowling. His chest was on fire and his entire body throbbed in pain. "You were trying to kill me, fuckface! Why should I give a shit what you think?" "I'll stop, I'll stop!" the man pleaded, writhing under the net and totally at Mark's mercy. "Just don't wreck my cock, I was gonna fuck tonight!" "Yeah, right," Mark sneered. "Who were you gonna fuck?" Mark spun as he heard an ululating war cry, and his eyes widened as he saw a woman running toward him, carrying a whip in one hand and a sword in the other. Her spiked hair was wet with blue woad paste, and her eyes were mad with battle lust. "Her;” the Samnite indicated. Becky and Nanu were both on their knees, mouths bobbing back and forth on the cocks of the men they had leaning back against the wall, groaning and pumping their hips. Neither of the men could believe their luck; they thought this would be another boring day for measly pay. From up here, they couldn't even see the action down in the arena well. Sulus and Catullus, two former merchant marines, were charged with keeping the Velarium in place during the spectacles. Their extensive experience with canvas sails made them ideal for this tedious but essential work. At least, that's what they were told, despite the thirty asses a day they received proclaiming otherwise. So imagine their good fortune and delight when this patrician woman and her slave-girl happened to wander on up, espy the two men, and offer to suck their cocks, without even charging them anything! Talk about Saturnalia in Quintilis! Nanu moaned as she swirled her tongue around the head of the cock she was sucking on, holding it by the base of the shaft, her eyes closed. This seemed like an odd time to be doing something like this, but Lady Aurora had been quite firm that it was part of the plan. So be it. Besides, that strange little patch her new mistress had affixed to the skin under her arm was making her so horny right now. Kneeling beside the slave, Becky's free hand reached out and took hold of Nanu's, giving it a squeeze. They continued pushing their wet mouths along the lengths of the throbbing shafts, both girls getting wetter and more aroused with each passing moment. Nanu pulled her mouth off the cock for a moment, sucking in air and breathing heavily as she massaged it with her tiny hand. Her face was flushed as she looked over at her new mistress, her eyes glazed with desire. Becky nodded her assent. Nanu stood quickly and lifted the long trails of her garment, exposing her ass and cunt to the man she'd been servicing. She turned around and leaned back against him, squirming her ass against his cock, making him moan loudly. With great need, she grabbed hold of his tool and speared herself down on it, sighing loudly before beginning to wiggle back and forth on him, shivering as he slid in and out of her. Becky rose to her feet soon after, moving around to face Nanu and leaning forward, with her hands on the slave-girl's shoulders and looking into her eyes. The marine got behind Becky and gripped her hips, pushing inside her. Becky moaned into Nanu's mouth as she kissed her, their tongues tangling hungrily while their tits squirmed and rubbed together. The men held tight and fucked the two women as hard as they could, looking to cum as quickly as possible. Hips smacked against asses and moans grew louder. Becky and Nanu now panted through an open-mouthed kiss, their hands groping one another in need. The Egyptian girl pressed back as hard as she could on the cock she was impaled on, while Becky ground in eager circles, yearning for release. Seconds later they were wailing into one another's mouths, shuddering in ecstasy as the men groaned and began pumping cum inside their wanton pussies. Becky and Nanu were relentless, milking the men for all they were worth, until they slumped to the stone floor, almost insensate from the orgasms these strange women had given them. Straddling the marines now, and facing into one another, Becky and Nanu continued kissing and fondling, even as they moved slowly up and down on the rigid poles they'd been fucking. "Umm, mistress;” Nanu said dreamily, lost in Becky's blue eyes. "I know, my love," Becky murmured, giving Nanu many light kisses on the lips, as if she was unable to help herself. "But we must; smooch; get ready to; do our part; smooch; and rescue Mark;” Nanu pulled back from the kiss and looked up in confusion. "Mark?" "Bonosus," Becky corrected herself, waving it off. "I'll explain later. Now help me get ready;” The crowd was howling with laughter as Mark ran around the arena in a panic, chased by the gladiatrix, who cracked her whip at him, screeching for him to get his ass back there so she could kick it. Mark didn't need oppositional defiance disorder to ignore her demands. The tip of that whip was cracking awfully close behind him. The Samnite he'd downed earlier grunted and flopped down again as Mark stamped on his back while running over him. "Don't try to get up, asshole, you promised!" Mark shouted angrily. "If you do, I don't care if she's trying to kill me, I'll come over there and kick you in the balls so hard you'll be spitting them out!" "Okay! Okay!" the man shouted back, lying on his stomach and waiting. "But I hope she catches you and rips your skin off to wear as a cloak!" "Oh, go sit on a Doric column!" Mark grumbled, deking to the left to try to throw her off. At this point, the crowd was chanting something, what he could only Assume Was Her Name "Achilleia! Achilleia!" "What is that, Latin for Psycho Hose-Beast?" Mark complained loudly, noticing that he had not gained any ground on his foe. He only had the stupid cudgel, whereas she had a wicked sword and a goddam whip. He had the distinct impression he couldn't tire her; she had the look of a woman on a murder mission; her eyes were wild with bloodlust, the scream escaping her lips singing of his gory doom. "She's the greatest female gladiator in Rome!" called out the Samnite, still watching from his confines beneath the net. "She's been more than a match for many men who have fought her!" "Singing my praises doesn't get you more cunt than normal, Rullus!" Achilleia snapped, still chasing her quarry. Gods, this slave could run! Pity she had to kill him, he was well-built and had a great ass! She pressed harder, now swiping with her sword, since using her whip slowed her down some. Like most gladiators, she was wearing little armour, only leather greaves, a leather loincloth, an abbreviated leather cuirass that exposed her midriff but held her tits in place, and a leather cauldron and brace on one arm. A steel fillet around her forehead glittered with glass beads, off-setting her wild blue death-hawk hair. She whooped in triumph as the tip of her sword tore open the back of his loincloth and it fell away, leaving Mark completely exposed as he fled for his life. The crowd was laughing hysterically again. "Dammit, I hate freeballing when I'm running!" he shouted angrily, grimacing as his balls slapped around his thighs. "You have no idea how uncomfortable this is!" "Stop running then, coward!" Achilleia taunted, enjoying the view even as she tried to kill him. "I only offer the bliss of death! One red kiss of my blade across your throat, slave, and you; Off!" Done with running, Mark stopped very suddenly and braced himself, hunkering down so that Achilleia plowed into him, completely unprepared. She staggered backward and Mark whirled and grappled onto her, preventing her from using her weapons. The gladiatrix snarled and tried to knee him in the crotch, but he kept his legs judiciously in the way. They tottered and staggered about, vying for control, until they tripped over the Samnite, who was helpless to avoid them. "Oh Fuck!" he wheezed as they landed on him and then rolled off, still tussling. "Welcome to my world, dickface!" Mark shouted back at him, still wrestling with Achilleia, who meant to murder him repeatedly. Out of desperation, and with the effects of the tab still coursing through his blood, he picked her up bodily and threw her to the ground, her sword clattering away. He dropped to his knees instantly, smacking her in the face with his scrotum. "Teabag!" he shouted before whirling around and grappling onto her, trying to subdue her. He hated the thought of punching a woman, but she was trying to eviscerate him, so an exception might be in order. Achilleia was a veteran of the gladiator pits, however, and not so easily dealt with. She recovered and thrashed around, screeching and trying to claw her foe's eyes out. He swatted the whip from her hands before she could strike him with it. Mark found her increasingly difficult to manage, using his weight on top of her body to keep her in place. That plan went south, however, when she wrapped her legs around his waist and began rocking back and forth, until she was on top. They rolled around in the dust while the crowd went insane. Mark had her arms gripped tightly, out to the sides, which forced her body down closer to his. The wild look in her eyes chilled his blood, and she tried to bite his neck repeatedly, to tear his throat out. He countered frantically by using his head to shove hers away from his tender skin, and the result must have looked ridiculous, the two of them pushing and sparring with their heads. "Gurr, let; me; kill; you!" Achilleia hissed, struggling to maintain her balance over her stronger foe. "I'll make it quick, I promise!" "It'll feel good, I promise!" Mark sneered, butting the side of her head to knock it away. "Why would I make this easy for you?" "Gonna; rip you; a new;” Achilleia strained, pushing down harder. She then paused, her eyes going wide with shock. "What; gods, do you have a hard-on?" Mark used the momentary pause to roll her over, her arms pinned beside her head. Achilleia's eyes were still wide as she goggled up at him. Unfortunately, yes, he was hard again. Either he was developing some sort of danger fetish, or the hormones weren't quite as out of his system as he thought. They struggled and thrashed, with the look of shock on Achilleia's face becoming one of irritation, then a weird determination. She wasn't fighting about so much, and she seemed to be pushing with her hips, almost pumping with them. She glared and bit her lip. The roaring of the crowds was slowly abating as they watched the proceedings on the arena floor. What was happening? Seconds ago, the gladiatrix had been trying to kill the slave, now they were; what were they doing? Mark kept her pinned beneath him, and couldn't help but join her in squirming as they glared into one another's eyes. Achilleia was undulating her hips now, her upper body virtually motionless. Mark grimaced at the feel of the toughened leather around her middle grinding on his hard-on. "Dammit;” Achilleia growled. "Let go of my god-rotting hand so I can move my loincloth!" Mark took a chance and let go of one of her hands. It flashed down and pulled aside the leather garment before taking hold of his hard cock and guiding it to her entrance. Without another thought, Mark pushed down, deep inside her. Achilleia wailed loudly and wrapped her legs around his waist again, pulling him in deeper still. The entire Colosseum throng had gone silent as the spectators stared, stunned by what they were witnessing. All that could be heard, echoing through the giant stadium, was Achilleia's cries of pleasure. Was this really happening? "Achilleia? What the Hell?" the Samnite yelled in outrage, his girlfriend getting fucked by Rome's most hated slave mere feet away from him. "Shut up, Rullus, he's fucking huge!" Achilleia shouted back, pumping her hips wildly against Mark. The gladiator did as he was told and simply sulked, turning his head to look elsewhere. The emperor watched out stonily, not at all impressed with the turn of events his grand spectacle for the people had taken. He'd heard of the blasphemy this upstart slave had committed, and this was supposed to be a damnation of a great sin. Now it was another blasphemy. And where the Hell was Lady Aurora? He napped his fingers and one of his servants leaned in close, to see what his master wanted. "Have them all killed;” growled the emperor, determined to save face somehow. Mark thrust harder and harder, while Achilleia yelped and bucked beneath him, holding onto his back and with her legs still wrapped around his back. Nearby, Rullus was resting his helmeted head on his hand and rapping his fingers against the packed earth, trying to look bored. Not difficult for a man tangled inside a net. "Any time, you two;” he grumbled. "Oh, cram it, Linzer-head," Mark spat. "Say one more thing and I'll fuck her ass next!" "Oh!" Achilleia wailed, grinding and thrusting against Mark desperately. "I'm gonna; I ‘ Then she seized up and pushed up with all her strength, clenching her teeth so hard they might have cracked. As Rome watched on in stunned silence, the gladiatrix shrieked to the gods and came, hard. Mark shuddered and groaned, pumping profuse amounts of cum deep inside her clenching cunt. He thrust madly, emptying himself into her. Finally, they were both spent. Achilleia lay still beneath him, her chest rising and falling, skin glistening with sweat. Mark, exhausted, rested his forehead against her shoulder, too tired to defend himself if she tried to kill him now. Fortunately, his death was the farthest thing from her mind. Seconds of silence passed, before the thousands of spectators in the stands erupted into a wave of cheers and catcalls. Mark smiled and chuckled tiredly. "That can't be good;” he mused. "Nope," she agreed, sighing and biting on a knuckle as the last of the orgasm pulsed through her. "After that, they're certainly going to kill us. All of us. It doesn't matter; I would have died in the arena eventually. At least this way, I died with a cock in me and cumming hard." "Don't be so certain about that;” Mark replied, finally looking up and seeing all the gates opening and dozens of legionaries rushing toward them, spears at the ready. "Ah, I don't like this!" Nanu whined as she shimmied out along one of the corbels that held the vast awning in place. She held on like grim death as she edged forward, a small but sharp knife in one hand. "You can do it, my love," Becky said encouragingly, watching from their original position where they'd fucked the two marines. Both men were still snoozing, but she had tied their hands and feet for extra security. She would have done Nanu's job herself, but she was taller and heavier than the Egyptian girl, who stood a much better chance of succeeding than she did without snapping the braces or corbels. "Look straight ahead and ignore the sounds below." So of course, Nanu looked down. "He's fucking!" she hissed, her eyes narrowing. "He's fucking the gladiatrix that's supposed to be killing him! I may kill him! He doesn't need saving, I do!" "Nanu, focus!" Becky insisted. "Get to your position and await my signal." "Yes, mistress;” sighed the slave-girl sullenly. Once in position, Nanu held on tight, trying not to think about the dizzying heights she was suspended from. Everyone seemed like ants far below her. Except for Bonosus and his whore of a gladiator; she could see them very clearly, to the place where she could make out his throbbing cock as it thrust in and out of her unworthy cunt. He had a lot of explaining to do when this was over. The crowd was watching in stunned silence, unable to believe what they were seeing. But then Becky and Nanu heard the gladiatrix wailing as she came. Bonosus' groans of pleasure burned in Nanu's ears, while Becky just rolled her eyes, sighed and tapped her foot impatiently. Thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd; they'd come for blood and been rewarded with live pornography! Nanu was scowling still, when she noticed the gates opening and legionaries pouring out of them, converging on the five figures in the center of the arena. "Mistress;” Nanu said nervously, her anxiety for Bonosus' well-being overcoming her jealousy. "Now, Nanu!" Becky yelled, making sure her slave could hear her. She was already working frantically to cut through the thick ropes in one of the giant pulleys that moved the Velarium into position. Nanu, meanwhile, was sawing at the edge of the rope that held the corbel she was on in place. She gritted her teeth as she watched the steel knife bite through the thick fiber cable until finally it snapped free. The rope whipped about as it unraveled, causing a cascade of loosening canvas across the broad length of the famed awning. Becky, meanwhile, finished cutting through the rope in the giant pulley she'd selected, dodging hastily as it snapped and flailed about before spinning away. The giant canvas sheets comprising the Velarium buckled and gave way, while the corbels and rope masts retracted rapidly. "Mistress!" Nanu keened, holding on like grim death as the corbel she was on, no longer held in place by the giant ropes, snapped back toward the solid stone walls of the Colosseum. "Jump, Nanu!" Becky called out, standing on the edge of the wall and holding her arms out. "I'll catch you! Trust mistress!" Nanu squeezed her eyes shut and jumped; Becky wheezed as she caught the flying girl, tumbling to the floor with her and holding her tight. Nanu was shivering in her grasp, so Becky just held her for a few seconds and caressed her raven hair. The slave-girl looked up at her savior and nodded, so Becky stood them up, listening to the shrieks of panic as the Velarium floated down relentlessly. "Teamwork, Nanu!" she said excitedly as they stood. "Let's see what happens next!" In the Arena. Mark faced one direction warily, while Rullus and Achilleia stood behind him, squaring off against other legionaries who were closing in. The original gladiator and the retiarius were also conscious and now stood with them, brandishing what weapons they could. Mark felt silly sporting only his cudgel, but it seemed dumb to not let the gladiators have the weapons they were trained with. His cock was still hard, and leaking cum from the tip. He saw Achilleia slowly turning her head to look down at it longingly. "Eyes front, Achilleia!" he snapped, not in the mood to die. She returned to glaring balefully at the encroaching soldiers. There must have been a hundred of the legionaries. That was twenty-to-one odds. He decided to not mention that to his enemies-turned-allies, since he wasn't sure if they understood ratios in any event. If their math was as poor as their hygiene, why bother? "When I thought I'd die in the emperor's sight, this isn't how I pictured it," Rullus growled, brandishing his sword. "I hadn't envisioned dying for that cocksucker at all," Achilleia replied, spitting in contempt at the foes in front of her. "Damned if I'm gonna give him the satisfaction of a clean kill. People will remember this day, to his embarrassment!" The legionaries advanced, the circle tightening. They were protected by their large scutum body shields, and their spears pointed threateningly at the little rebel group. Mark wasn't sure what good he would do here, since he was armed with a club smaller than his dick, and he was the only untrained gladiator. But then he noticed rippling movement above, looked up and grinned. The velarium became dislodged from its moorings and like a vast sail or flag, began floating down over the stadium. People noticed, began screeching in panic, and stampeding. "Right on, Becks;” he said with satisfaction as his day began to look up. The emperor looked up, scowling as he saw the giant canvas sheet descending, fluttering menacingly as it enveloped the upper levels of seating. Panic ensued, with people scampering around pell-mell, trying to escape. "I really hate the gods;” he thought darkly as the canvas touched down around him and everything went to shit. Becky, standing on the edge of the wall and looking down over the chaos and mayhem she had caused, with tens of thousands thrown into panic, cackled gaily and clapped her hands before yanking down her top to expose her tits and holding her arms wide and yelling loudly across her kingdom of madness. "Are you not entertained?" she shouted, reveling in her triumph. God, she'd always wanted to use that line. "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!" Mark shouted as he and his new allies raced down the hallway, shooing everyone in front of him. "Faster, if you wanna live!" The legionaries had forgotten all about the little group of rebels once the madness ensued, racing toward the emperor to rescue him. Mark used the opportunity to escape, bringing his former foes with him. He wasn't terribly interested in seeing them die, and they might prove very useful in getting out of here in one piece. Rullus had led them through a small, little-known door in the wall of the arena, one used generally only by pit masters to monitor the proceedings. His titan frame barely fit in it, but he led the way dutifully. "Where are we going?" Achillea asked, happy to be escaping, but at least wanting to know what the plan was. She had her whip and her sword in hand again. "The most convenient, flat and open space you know of beneath the Colosseum," Mark replied, hurrying along behind her. "A place almost no one knows about or uses." "One of the old training spaces," grunted Rullus. "It hasn't been used in years. Follow me!" Their course took them deeper beneath the stadium, through winding halls and narrow corridors and staircases. They finally reached a wide chamber, in the middle of which stood Becky, Nanu and Domitia. The former Vestal and the slave-girl seemed stunned to see the small party approaching, and the gladiators gaped as Lady Aurora and her slave ran into one another's arms, kissing deeply and feverishly, speaking in some unknown tongue. "Right!" Mark said, finally disengaging from Becky's tongue as he looked around, eyes flashing with determination. "I know this is going to sound weird, but I need you all to trust me. We're going to get you out of here, as quickly as we can." "How?" asked the Retiarius, looking about warily. "They'll find us eventually!" "I know, and what I'm going to say will sound like magic, but just run with it, okay?" Mark replied, walking over to the Holmes Field Device, which Becky had been kind enough to retrieve. He wasn't sure how, but she was better with this temporal shit than he was. And they trusted one another by now. "This contraption will get us out of here, but it's not big enough for all of us at once. I'm gonna take Lady Aurora and Domitia first, then come back for a few more, then the last load." Rullus nodded: "You spared my life, and I entrust you with it. Achilleia and I will go last, holding the room if the enemy comes." "Oh, Rullus;” Achilleia sighed, looking up at the hulking gladiator, her expression a dreamy one, before she suddenly scowled and smacked him on the back of his helmeted head. "You romantic asshole." Mark left them to argue while he hustled Becky and Domitia onto the platform, which was already switched on, lights and readings blinking around the surface. Becky swatted Domitia's hand as she tried to touch a dial. "You know where we're going?" he asked, hoping she had a better handle on this than he did. She nodded, smiling. "Leave it to me, Mark. I think you'll like this solution;” The climate was certainly a change from that of Rome, but it was also a pleasant experience in its own right. The city around them, built of red brick, sandy-colored stone, and studded with stately palm trees, reminded Mark of eastern cities in every movie he'd ever seen. Beyond the walls stretched endless expanses of desert, in which the city stood as a shining jewel in a vast sea of scorching sand. He didn't know why Becky knew to park the machine where she did, but he also knew she had figured out how to use his Holmes Field Device on her own, so he wasn't questioning it. Safe from prying eyes, and after two more trips back to the Colosseum to gather the other rebels, Mark now found himself in an ancient temple in the shape of a ziggurat, with priestesses standing in front of them and bowing. Unlike the Vestals, the white garments of these priestesses were delightfully spare, exposing more than it covered. "Lady Aurora Horatia," one of them said humbly. "Your timing is fortuitous, and we gladly accept your offer. Domitia will be given a new life as a priestess of Nanaya, or as she is known in your tongue, Suadela." The priestesses all walked up to Domitia and kissed her, welcoming her into their sisterhood. The former Vestal shed tears, not in sorrow, but because she had a new beginning. Nanaya, as the goddess was known in this far-flung province, was an ancient Sumerian goddess of sensuality and lust. When the Romans had conquered the land, they readily identified her with Suadela, to keep the peace. The priestess smiled at Mark and Becky again. "And for your generous donation of gold, we will take on your four friends here, to guard our temple, as the garrison makes no effort to do so. They are now, in their own way, lifelong servants and devotees of the goddess." The four gladiators beamed proudly. Since serving Nanaya, even as guardians of her temple, meant food, lodging and getting laid by her harlot-priestesses, they were more than amenable to the idea. "Lady Aurora," Domitia intoned, taking Becky's hands in hers and smiling slyly. "Will you consent to Bonosus and yourself being the first to receive my blessings as a priestess of Nanaya?" "I wouldn't have it any other way, my dear;” Becky purred, pulling Domitia into her arms and kissing her deeply. A small villa in Roman Italy; Mark sipped wine from a goblet while Becky lay nearby on a couch, wearing nothing while Nanu sat on a small stool and massaged her feet. The sultry afternoon suited everyone, and they were finally at peace. "Helluva trip, Becks," Mark mused, draining his glass and then pouring more for himself. "You've gotten really good with the Holmes Field Device now. I seriously thought it was me who left the adrenalin tab for my discovery under the Colosseum, but it was actually you." "Sorry to scare you there," Becky sighed, as Nanu worked on her toes individually, sometimes even kissing them as she rubbed oil into them. "I found them in our tab supply, and thought it was our best bet. I just jumped behind a few hours when no one was around and stashed them in that cell for you." "So it wasn't even me coming back from the future to save myself," Mark chuckled. "Here I was so confident that I'd lived, that I couldn't be killed because future-self was looking out for me, but no, it was current you. So I could've been killed at any point, even if time lock kept me from killing anyone else." "It was a little bit messy, but you did survive, and that's what counts." Becky pointed out, caressing one of her tits lazily while enjoying Nanu's exquisite touch. "So what're we gonna do with her?" Mark asked, referencing the Egyptian slave-girl. Nanu had gotten used to her mistress and her manservant speaking in this weird, harsh language, and thought nothing of it anymore; when they needed her, they spoke Latin or her own tongue to her. Becky sighed contentedly and puddled further into the couch. Nanu's foot massages were utter bliss. "I was considering letting her stay here, and simply look after this little villa I bought for me. Whenever we visited, we'd just come back as close to the time we left as possible, but I have no idea if we could guarantee time snarls not getting in the way. So I'm bringing her home with me." Mark raised an eyebrow. "That a good idea? Or even possible?" Becky shrugged. "If she can't be brought with us, the Holmes Field Device won't work, right? So we care for her here. If it does allow it, I'll keep her with me in my house and teach her about her new world. I'll just say she's a foreign student bunking with me." "Literally, I might add." Mark quipped, holding up his goblet and winking. "Oh, you," Becky giggled while Nanu shed her clothes and crawled over Becky, straddling her hips and beginning to squirm their pussies together slowly. "I don't think she's gonna give up on the notion of being my slave-girl any time soon; it seems to make her feel safe. If she asks about you as a slave, I'll say I freed you." "Well, I was pretty enslaved to you for a while there," Mark chuckled. "Funny, I remember being so in love with you while those tabs were in effect, and I remember it fondly. But at this point, I'm just back to feeling like you're my dear friend, and I love you, just not in love any more, ya' know?" Becky sighed and nodded as she placed her hands gently on Nanu's tits and caressed them while undulating beneath the slave-girl. "I know what you mean. Talk about exhilarating, right? We should do that again at some point, just for funsies." "I'm in," Mark agreed, as his cock hardened from watching the two girls make love. He put down his wine, stood up and moved in behind them, kneeling at the bottom of the couch and sinking his cock deep inside Becky, making her moan as he started to slide in and out of her. "And what about our other acquisitions?" he asked, caressing and squeezing Nanu's ass while he fucked his Physics teacher. "Uh, the clothes we'll keep at my place, for future use," she breathed, loving the feel of Nanu's moist cunt on hers while Mark fucked deeply. She felt Nanu shiver and gasp as Mark pulled out of her and pushed into the slave-girl. "And I bought those big amphorae of Falernian wine, there's twenty-six liters in each. We'll bury them where we know nature has never been disturbed back in our time, and then retrieve them. Voila, Roman wine for dinner every night." "I'm gonna have fun explaining that to my parents;” Mark chuckled as he slid back into Becky, making her cry out. Dinner with Family. Dhallyla stared at the liquid in her glass in wonder while her family sat at the table for dinner. It was quite unlike anything she'd ever tasted before. "Mark, what; what did you say this was called again?" she asked. He shrugged as he ate. "It's a Roman-style wine, called Falernian. Lots of people are recreating ancient alcohol recipes now, so I thought we'd give this a shot. Pretty nice, hmm?" "Very strong," his sister Roxy rasped as she put down her wine glass and made a bit of a face. "Very, very strong." "That's why the Romans and Greeks mixed their wine with water," he chuckled. "Some Roman talked about not being able to bring an open flame near wine because it could catch fire. So I mixed it with water, like the instructions said. Sorry if it's still strong." "Where did you get this again?" his father asked. "Ren Faire," he said easily. "All sorts of brewers and people showing off their wine and beer skills these days at them, so I thought I'd give it a shot, ya' know? Bought a couple of bottles." "It's certainly different, but I can grow to like it," his mother mused. "Make sure you get more before we run out." "I can do that," Mark replied cheerfully. Later that night, he was sitting at his desk in his room, surfing for eras to visit during their next adventure, when the door to his room clicked shut. He turned his head to see his sister leaning back against the door, looking at him pointedly. "Something I can do for you, Rox?" he asked plainly, keeping his eyes on his research. "Now that you mention it, yeah," she said, folding her arms and wearing that insufferable smirk of hers. She never stopped reminding him who the elder sibling was. "So I did some looking around online, and there hasn't been a Ren Faire within five hundred miles of us in the last six months." Mark paused in his surfing and slowly turned to look at his sister. "So," she said, walking slowly toward him. "I figure it's about time you told me what the Hell is really going on;” Loose ends, scores to settle, a moral quandaries abound! It's Your Own Fault You Snooped! Mark didn't speak for several seconds, trying his best to not gape at Roxy. She'd always been somewhat suspicious of him when he did just about anything, but the fact that she'd done actual research this time was something new. She had played her hand, and he was cornered. But still, he found himself not sure what to say. "Well, c'mon, you little trouser snake," moving away from the door and sauntering toward him. She could tell she'd caught him dead to rights about something, but now she needed to find out what it was. "Ya' might as well 'fess up, because I somehow doubt you want mom and dad to know what you're up to." The mere thought brought a shiver to Mark and left a cold sweat on his brow. He swallowed, trying not to panic. Roxy had less mercy in a sibling confrontation than Mike Tyson had in the ring. He thought of the number of times she'd beaten his ass for tattling on her when they were younger, and how she'd always get some brutal form of revenge he was unlikely to forget. And he dreaded the thought of how she could screw this up for him. "I'm almost not wanting to find out, at least for a while, because watching your mind flop around in panic is kinda fun," she said, smirking as she stopped in front of him and leaned forward. "But I need to make a decision about whether the 'rents oughta know, so let's speed this up, okay?" She then turned and sat on the edge of his bed, leaning back on her hands, one leg crossed over the other as she looked at him pointedly. "Spill it, little brother." His mind raced. What could he tell her? She'd caught him in a flat-out lie that he had acquired his Falernian wine from a Ren Faire, and had no doubt pieced together that his other recent exotic acquisitions were likewise not from where he'd claimed. So what were her suspicions? She no doubt was assuming, quite reasonably, that he was involved in some illicit activity that

4pm: Video Guest – Todd Myers – Washington Policy Center // Hastily passed tax will haunt WA lawmakers // Washington is tenth from the bottom on unemployment // The Real Debate About Immigration Isn’t How Many. It’s Who. // It’s International Coffee Day // John’s Dinner Theater 

SPECIAL: I sacrifice a Good Night's Sleep to recap, rejoice and recoil over the events of the 77th Annual Emmy Awards....................Please don't wake me up for 2 weeks. SPONSORED BY: Dave's Archives Annex3 Kier's Nostalgia Corner Kev The Ripper And (of course) Our Patrons

If we are going to make vows and promises before the Lord, He does not let us take them lightly. We are to approach the Lord in a spirit of worship and reverence, as Jesus taught His disciples to do – not using Him as a bargaining chip. How do you view God? What is your attitude when you worship? Do you see God as a tool to help you achieve your own ends? Or do you love Him as the all-glorious One Who is worthy of all praise, honor, and reverence?

For proof that this show is not on permanent hiatus, Aaron shares some fun poems written by him and his daughter on Father's Day. How do you think we all did?This mini episode was inspired by "Dino Poet: A Graphic Novel" by Tom Angleberger.My Bad Poetry Episode 7.17.5: "Four Hastily Written Poems (A Mini Episode)"Podcast Email: mybadpoetry.thepodcast@gmail.com Bluesky: @mybadpoetrythepod.bsky.social Instagram & Threads: @MyBadPoetry_ThePod Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mybadpoetry.com

In the "Building Better Businesses" season of the Building Better Developers podcast, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche dive deep into one of the most critical challenges for any business: hiring talent and how to find them. This episode provides actionable insights, real-world experiences, and practical advice for entrepreneurs, managers, and leaders looking to build robust teams. Importance of Passion in Hiring Talent Rob begins by emphasizing the importance of hiring people who genuinely enjoy their roles. He argues that the most effective employees are those who love what they do, as their passion naturally leads to higher investment in their work. This is a foundational principle Rob has learned through years of experience in various roles, from hiring employees and contractors to building diverse teams. Rob emphasizes that managers must allow team members the freedom to perform tasks their way. Excessive micromanagement, he warns, can stifle creativity and motivation, leading to reduced performance and higher turnover. Identifying Enthusiasm During Hiring Rob shares a powerful anecdote about an iconic hiring moment where a casual conversation at a party led to hiring one of his best employees. The candidate's enthusiasm and immediate engagement were clear indicators that he would be a great fit. Rob advises leaders to pay attention to similar signals, urging them to look beyond technical skills and consider how candidates handle scenarios they'll actually encounter on the job. Traditional hiring tests focused solely on language syntax or technical jargon often fail to capture the critical soft skills and problem-solving abilities essential for success. Common Pitfalls in Hiring Talent Michael complements Rob's points by addressing common pitfalls in the hiring process, especially concerning the role of HR and recruiters. He highlights a significant disconnect between what hiring managers truly need and how HR departments often present job postings. This misalignment can flood managers with unsuitable candidates, wasting valuable time. Michael stresses the importance of crafting clear and direct job descriptions, avoiding unnecessary roadblocks like overly strict requirements that can eliminate potentially strong candidates. For example, insisting on a college degree when relevant experience and proven capability might suffice can narrow the talent pool unnecessarily. Navigating Modern Recruitment Challenges Michael further discusses the challenges presented by modern recruitment platforms, which often suffer from fake job postings and automated keyword gaming due to AI. These issues can make it harder for genuine candidates and companies to connect effectively. As a countermeasure, he suggests exploring alternative talent acquisition avenues, such as attending job fairs or industry-specific conferences. These settings offer opportunities for direct engagement with potential candidates and clients, fostering authentic connections that can lead to lasting professional relationships. Conducting Effective Interviews A critical takeaway from Michael is the need for managers to approach interviews thoughtfully. Hastily organized interviews can deter excellent candidates who perceive chaos and disorganization as red flags. He urges interviewers to take the time to truly understand applicants, assess their fit for the company culture, and determine their genuine interest and ability to perform well in the role. Key Points When Hiring Talent Hire candidates who are passionate and enjoy their roles. Allow team members autonomy to maintain their motivation and creativity. Look beyond technical skills; assess problem-solving and enthusiasm. Ensure job descriptions accurately reflect the role to attract suitable candidates. Avoid unnecessary hiring criteria that limit your talent pool. Explore alternative hiring methods like job fairs and conferences. Conduct well-prepared and thoughtful interviews to avoid deterring top talent. Episode Challenge Rob and Michael conclude with an episode challenge: Identify three to five key traits essential for success in a role you are looking to fill or outsource. Reevaluate these traits critically by considering what would happen if a candidate lacked any one of them. This exercise helps businesses focus on genuinely impactful qualities, rather than superficial qualifications. This episode offers valuable perspectives and actionable strategies for any business aiming to enhance its talent acquisition process. By prioritizing candidates' passion, ensuring clarity in job descriptions, and embracing authentic interactions over generic tests, companies can build stronger, more productive teams poised for sustained growth. Stay Connected: Join the Develpreneur Community We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, there's always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at info@develpreneur.com with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let's continue exploring the exciting world of software development. Additional Resources Learning From Your First Business Business Finance Management: Building Better Businesses for Success Securing Your Product And Business – Nate Sheen Interview Creating a Podcast – Not Just a Lot of Talking Building Better Businesses – With Bonus Content

4pm: Matt Markovich - Spinning the Wheel of Legislative Luncy // Ferguson will forgo a trip to DC to focus on Washington’s budget // SB 5622  Prohibits the offer, sale, or promotional giveaway of over-the-counter diet pills and dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building to a person under 18 years of age. // Senate Housing is talking right now rent control - should vote out of committee and SB 5313 which would allow any language that prevents tenants from suing a landlord  // Guest - Brad Hart - Forest Park Pharmarcy in Fort Worth Texas // Forest Park Pharmacy is family owned and operated by Brad & Glenda Hart in Fort Worth, Texas.  // They are focused on providing fair and transparent pricing on drugs.  // Medicaid paid $590 million for 155,000 prescriptions of dimethyl fermate in 2022.  At Brad’s pharmacy, that would have cost $10 million meaning the government overpaid by 580 million on one drug in one year. // New Zealand’s tourism campaign is not the world’s worst – and I should know // The “Hastily made Cleveland Tourism Videos”

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1/2: #SYRIA: Regional powers hastily adapt to the strategic  surprise, Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1. 1910 Damascus

2/2: #SYRIA: Regional powers  hastily adapt to the strategic  surprise. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 1885 Damascus

The truth behind the priests lecherous legends.By Nakod Apa. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories.The PledgeAs was customary, the Temple constables came for Diana early on the day that she came of age; for it was ordained that one who had not been sired by a man was holy and consecrated to the service of the gods, if male to become a priest, if female to serve as a vestal servant; and that they should remain celibate all their years. She wore her finest outfit and did herself up for this big occasion. Today she was accepting a celibate vow and a lifetime of religious duties in the temple and the ministries of the priests. She was stunning, and folks stopped and stared along the streets, as her family procession went by.Diana was named for a great goddess. Her natural beauty was striking. Her inner grace and humility prevented her from any vanity at all.Peaceably Diana bade farewell to her mother but allowed them to follow behind her, to the Temple stronghold, for even had she so wished, there was no way she could escape her fate. She had long known that it was her destiny to become a vestal, as it had been her brother's to become a priest.Shut in a small cell, the hours passed slowly, boringly, as she waited to be given the first initiation step; a red robe of a novice; then be instructed in her duties. At last there came a clatter in the corridor and the sound of a key in the lock. Awkwardly, bearing a tray of food, a tall, young priest entered.“Jon!” She exclaimed in surprise. She jumped up and embraced her brother.“Hush, not so loud, little sister,” he admonished. “I had to bribe the kitchen vestal to allow me to deliver this in her place.”“But how are you, brother? Two years and I've not heard from you. Why have you not written?”“As you will discover it is not permitted for those commanded to the service of The Gods, to communicate with the ones they leave behind.”“Not even their sisters?”“Especially not them, for they might disclose the truth of matters that only The Chosen may know.”“Oh! But I was chosen to become a vestal anyway.”“And now you are not. That's why I came as soon as it was possible. To advise you.”“What do you mean, not to become a vestal? What else can I be?” Diana was confused.Jon paused to gather his thoughts. “Let me first set you aright, for much that we are taught is false; especially, that only those who are married may know and practice sex. Thus it follows that the children of an unmarried woman, like us, must have been conceived without benefit of a man, and are therefore special. Correct?”“Yes, of course.”“It's complete nonsense.”“Then who is our father?”“I know not, except that he must have been a priest.”“But the priests are celibate.”Jon gave a snort. “That is what we are meant to believe. The truth is that a priest may have sex whenever he pleases. I've enjoyed many women in the last two years.”“But where did you, do they, find the women?”“What do you think vestals are for?”“You mean, no I cannot believe it.” Diana was dismayed.“Vestals keep house, but that is secondary. Their main duty is to serve us priests. If you had become a vestal you would have been required to entertain any priest who desired you, and with looks like yours it would not have been long before most would have taken and enjoyed you. Wow, look at you, Diana! You're far more beautiful than I remember! These past two years have been very good to you.”“But what has this to do with being special.”“Well, how do we replace those that go to join the gods? If it were to be with the offspring of priests and vestals it would expose the myth of our purity, and in any case would eventually lead to serious inbreeding. So, at a certain point in their career, each priest is commanded to select from the Common Folk an unmarried woman he fancies, then drug the Eucharist she receives at prayers, divert her to private quarters after mass, then wait for her to pass out. When she finally awakes, she knows nothing of the sexual relations that occurred. But if she conceives, she is publicly esteemed by the priest, for having an immaculate conception. The bastards are the special ones, the replacements, us.”Diana shuddered and studied the floor. “But if I'm not to be a vestal, what am I to be?”“You remember in our lessons they taught us about the war with the nation of Dragonia?”“Yes.”“And how as part of the peace treaty, and to mark our subservience, we are bound to provide an annual tribute?”“Sure.”“What they didn't say was that this tribute is not a tax. That collected tax is diverted to secret clerical treasuries. The actual required Dragonian tribute is only nominal, and takes the form of a maiden. A beautiful young maiden from among the vestals and pledges. She becomes a slave to please and entertain the man who is ruler of Dragonia, The elders have decided that you are to be our tribute for this year.”“But I'm not beautiful.”“Oh my sister, Your humility denies the truth. Everyone else thinks otherwise, and they make the decisions in the Temple. Anyway just accept what comes, for a day or so. It won't be anything serious, at least not until you are given to the Dragonian dictator. I don't know what happens after that. But for now I'll keep an eye out and help where I can. Look, I'll have to go or they'll be wondering where I've disappeared to. Eat that food. Keep your strength up.”Awkwardly Jon leant forward and gave her a brotherly peck on the cheek, then slipped out of the cell door.The InitiationSomewhat perturbed Diana toyed with her food until, some thirty minutes later, two vestals appeared, led her to a room lined with old, cracked tiles, briskly undressed her, bathed her, then clothed her in an ancient red robe.“What happens now,” Diana asked.“You get to be taken to the High Cardinal.” One of the vestals told her. “Come on! He's impatient to know you.”Wearing only his outer dalmatic vesture, the High Cardinal watched as Diana was brought to stand before him. The red shift marking her as a novice was threadbare and at least two sizes too big, only just clinging to the points of her shoulders and leaving bare her slim neck and clavicle. The thin cloth draped itself enticingly around her ample breasts and rippled slightly as she walked, plainly revealing the bulge of her nipples with their dark areola. Her gleaming black hair tumbled down her back in disarray until it nearly touched her tight butt.He said nothing, just looked. He felt his manhood gradually stir and stiffen into readiness. This was one he would relish. Three-and-a-half score years, and more, were behind him but still he had the will and the power to want, ravish and enjoy, although not as often as in his prime. This one would delight him with the softness of those hand filling breasts and the thrusts of his shaft inside her hot, throbbing center. Of the many vestals he'd selected to pleasure him over the years, few had possessed a body to compare with this girl. It was a pity she must be relinquished to the Tribute, but it had to be. At least he would have a use of her before she was sent south.For her part Diana waited uncertainly. The supreme head of the Temple, this holy man, was staring at her most peculiarly. It was as if he wanted, intended, to have her. But no, he couldn't, if Jon was right he could take any woman he wished, so why should he want her? Anyway he was so old. That scrawny neck, those hollow cheeks and drooling lips revolted her. The thought of those liver-spot covered hands roaming across her body, fondling her breasts and caressing her thighs, made her feel sick.“My daughter. It was intended that thou shouldst become a vestal. That our priests, who so devoutly serve the Mighty Gods, might be blessed with some reward for their endeavors by enjoying the pleasures of your body. But on occasion the good of our congregation requires another, higher, sacrifice. We wish it were not so, that we could keep you amongst us, but we must bow before The God's command. Thou art to be our Tribute to The Great Dragon, the ruler of Dragonia, that he may leave us in peace for another year.” The High Cardinal paused, “We do not have to explain, your brother covered it well enough.”“You were listening?”“Do you think we are so imprudent as not to take a few precautions. Of course we heard all that he said, There remains just one item to be confirmed. Your beauty is undeniable, but alone it may not suffice to provide the pleasure to which a ruler is entitled. It is our duty to confirm that you will fully answer his desires.”She was muddled, disjointed, confused. “I don't understand.”Prima Nocta“We must be sure that when he uses you, as a man uses a woman, you will satisfy him. So we must first test your bounty.”“I'm to be mated?”“Yes. It is a chore we will ourselves undertake.”The thought of being taken by him repelled her. His pretense that he was only performing his duty was unconvincing, every word merely echoed his lust for her body.The High Cardinal drew a silk scarf from the pocket of his dalmatic vesture. “But first, since your preference will likely run to youth rather than experience, let us blindfold you. Then you can focus your mind on our skill, not our image.” He fastened the scarf around her eyes.“Now come. Disrobe and let us savor that lovely body with which The Great Gods have blessed you.”What choice did she have? Trembling, she raised her arms and reached behind to unfasten her shift. Lazily it fell to circle her feet. She felt a slight draught caress her body, and shivered as she imagined his eyes on her naked and vulnerable flesh. He would be studying her boobs, her untouched cunni. Tightly she pressed her legs together to hide her nether lips.“Trust us,” he said. “Do all we say and you will have an experience you will never forget.”She managed a faint, “I do not doubt it, Your Grace.”Smiling, pleased with her submissiveness, he looked her up and down, his eyes agleam with desire. His gaze lingering first on her quim with its lush beaver, then on her full, firm tits. His breathing grew harsh, his chest heaved as he reached for her and crushed her to him, the hardness of his erection stabbing her stomach. His palms stroked up and down her back, gently massaging her, feeling the smoothness of her skin; then paused on her hips, slid round to her flat belly and up, up to those adorable boobs. He stopped for a long moment, just cupping them and savoring their firm weight.When he again moved he slowly dragged his palms to and fro across her nipples, feeling them swell, before holding her by the shoulders and easing her to the couch. Firmly he pushed her back until she was lying, her neat buns at the edge, her legs dangling.His hands left her. Diana could hear a rustling, he was removing his dalmatic vesture. Quiet footsteps and she sensed he was beside her again. A light, barely felt touch, brushed her mouth. Her tongue instinctively flicked out to find his finger as he caressed each lip in turn. Then he stroked her cheeks, before dragging his palms down across her chin, her neck, the hollow of her collar bone, smoothing the skin in small circles. When he reached her left breast he pressed gently around the edge spiraling in until he found her bud. It stood high for him to squeeze firmly, sending a bolt of ecstasy straight to her centre. She moaned.The High Cardinal heard her breathing deepen, leant forward and ran his tongue around her other breast. God, she was tasty. His thin lips opened to take her swollen nipple into his mouth. He nipped her with his teeth, sucking her deep.The fingers of his other hand found her cunni. Gently, oh, so gently at first, he stroked her from clit to anus. His fondling grew firmer. He pushed a finger inside to test her dampness, was gratified when she arched her back and pushed her mound into his hand.The scarf was doing its work; she was unable to see him but his heavy breathing and the musky, unmistakable scent of sex was feeding her carnal needs and overcoming her revulsion. Her soft, “Yes, yes,” was music in his ears.“What do you want, my dear?” he asked.Diana barely heard him, all she knew was the rapture of his hands and mouth thrilling her in a way she had never known before. As he rubbed her clit, she began to pant, gave a low moan and dug her nails into his shoulders, then down his back to his hips, instinctively pulling him to her.He held back, in no hurry. She felt him ease himself onto the couch and kneel across her. All the time his tongue licked her nipples, his fingers explored her cunni, testing her wetness but not entering her. Her breathing quickened, she was near to climax. She whimpered, she needed to be filled. He would not let her come. His touch on her swollen cunni lips was feather light, then firm, then light. He seemed to sense her need and to repeatedly rouse and then deny her.She was ready. His fingers parted the soft lips of her center. The helmet of his cock butted them, sliding up and down coating itself with her dampness. He eased away from her, placed a hand to one side to take his weight, his other reaching for her thighs to open her wider before grasping his now totally rigid staff and positioning it at her entrance.She felt it, hard yet soft, probing, pushing her lips apart as the glans slowly entered, forcing deeper and deeper. There was nothing else in the world now but this manhood thrusting, filling, rewarding her. His stroke was slow, his pelvis grinding her clit. She couldn't resist. The tremors started deep inside her then rushed out to explode around his cock.He heard her cry, felt her come, but it was too soon, he wasn't ready yet. He thrust harder, faster; her beauty, her pleasure, her satisfaction were a dim, unimportant memory. All that mattered was his release. His thighs tightened, he shuddered, he whimpered. Hot and hard his seed erupted into her, filling her. He lowered his chest onto her two soft boobs and rested while his heartbeat slowed and the blood drained from his tyrannical probe.Some minutes passed before he rose, resumed his robes and removed the blindfold. “Yes, you will be a worthy Tribute. Would that we had more time to attend to your education ourselves. It would please us greatly to instruct you further. However, the Gods have ordained otherwise. You are required to leave at first light.”“No. Leave that. You deserve better,” he said as she reached to cover herself with the discarded shift. He pulled a cord by the tapestry and she heard the faint chime of a distant bell.The two vestals who had escorted her into his presence entered and genuflected. They were good looking women only a few years older than Diana.“What is the meaning of this rag?” The High Cardinal thrust the shift at them.“But, Your Grace, it is not worth giving her new robes just for the journey. Especially as we are told she will be naked for the presentation ceremony.”“But what if she is seen on the journey. What of her dignity. She deserves your respect. Both of you, remove your robes. Now!”Quaking somewhat at his anger they quickly unfastened their gowns, red with the white edging of senior vestals, and laid them before their feet.“Right,” he turned to Diana, “take your pick. Either should be a reasonable fit.Hesitantly Diana stepped to where, naked, staring at the floor, the two vestals waited. Gingerly she selected the nearest robe and swiftly lowered it over her head, grateful in the draughty room for the residual warmth of it's previous owner.Priest GeorgeThere was a sharp rap on the door. “Come!” Commanded the High Cardinal. The figure that entered was young for a senior priest being but a couple of years older than Diana's brother, but he carried himself with the assurance of one who has already received some prominence in the governing hierarchy.“Ah! George. Well timed.” The High Cardinal frowned at the two Vestals. “We will discuss your performance later. You may withdraw.”Hastily one gathered up the remaining robe and the other the rag that Diana had worn and, still naked, they hurried out of the chamber.“There she is, George,” the old man gestured toward Diana. “You may take her and be on your way. I will expect you back within three weeks.”The young priest bowed his head. “I am honored Your Grace. I will not fail the Gods.” Reaching out he took Diana's hand and drew her from the room.

The truth behind the priests lecherous legends.By Nakod Apa. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories.The PledgeAs was customary, the Temple constables came for Diana early on the day that she came of age; for it was ordained that one who had not been sired by a man was holy and consecrated to the service of the gods, if male to become a priest, if female to serve as a vestal servant; and that they should remain celibate all their years. She wore her finest outfit and did herself up for this big occasion. Today she was accepting a celibate vow and a lifetime of religious duties in the temple and the ministries of the priests. She was stunning, and folks stopped and stared along the streets, as her family procession went by.Diana was named for a great goddess. Her natural beauty was striking. Her inner grace and humility prevented her from any vanity at all.Peaceably Diana bade farewell to her mother but allowed them to follow behind her, to the Temple stronghold, for even had she so wished, there was no way she could escape her fate. She had long known that it was her destiny to become a vestal, as it had been her brother's to become a priest.Shut in a small cell, the hours passed slowly, boringly, as she waited to be given the first initiation step; a red robe of a novice; then be instructed in her duties. At last there came a clatter in the corridor and the sound of a key in the lock. Awkwardly, bearing a tray of food, a tall, young priest entered.“Jon!” She exclaimed in surprise. She jumped up and embraced her brother.“Hush, not so loud, little sister,” he admonished. “I had to bribe the kitchen vestal to allow me to deliver this in her place.”“But how are you, brother? Two years and I've not heard from you. Why have you not written?”“As you will discover it is not permitted for those commanded to the service of The Gods, to communicate with the ones they leave behind.”“Not even their sisters?”“Especially not them, for they might disclose the truth of matters that only The Chosen may know.”“Oh! But I was chosen to become a vestal anyway.”“And now you are not. That's why I came as soon as it was possible. To advise you.”“What do you mean, not to become a vestal? What else can I be?” Diana was confused.Jon paused to gather his thoughts. “Let me first set you aright, for much that we are taught is false; especially, that only those who are married may know and practice sex. Thus it follows that the children of an unmarried woman, like us, must have been conceived without benefit of a man, and are therefore special. Correct?”“Yes, of course.”“It's complete nonsense.”“Then who is our father?”“I know not, except that he must have been a priest.”“But the priests are celibate.”Jon gave a snort. “That is what we are meant to believe. The truth is that a priest may have sex whenever he pleases. I've enjoyed many women in the last two years.”“But where did you, do they, find the women?”“What do you think vestals are for?”“You mean, no I cannot believe it.” Diana was dismayed.“Vestals keep house, but that is secondary. Their main duty is to serve us priests. If you had become a vestal you would have been required to entertain any priest who desired you, and with looks like yours it would not have been long before most would have taken and enjoyed you. Wow, look at you, Diana! You're far more beautiful than I remember! These past two years have been very good to you.”“But what has this to do with being special.”“Well, how do we replace those that go to join the gods? If it were to be with the offspring of priests and vestals it would expose the myth of our purity, and in any case would eventually lead to serious inbreeding. So, at a certain point in their career, each priest is commanded to select from the Common Folk an unmarried woman he fancies, then drug the Eucharist she receives at prayers, divert her to private quarters after mass, then wait for her to pass out. When she finally awakes, she knows nothing of the sexual relations that occurred. But if she conceives, she is publicly esteemed by the priest, for having an immaculate conception. The bastards are the special ones, the replacements, us.”Diana shuddered and studied the floor. “But if I'm not to be a vestal, what am I to be?”“You remember in our lessons they taught us about the war with the nation of Dragonia?”“Yes.”“And how as part of the peace treaty, and to mark our subservience, we are bound to provide an annual tribute?”“Sure.”“What they didn't say was that this tribute is not a tax. That collected tax is diverted to secret clerical treasuries. The actual required Dragonian tribute is only nominal, and takes the form of a maiden. A beautiful young maiden from among the vestals and pledges. She becomes a slave to please and entertain the man who is ruler of Dragonia, The elders have decided that you are to be our tribute for this year.”“But I'm not beautiful.”“Oh my sister, Your humility denies the truth. Everyone else thinks otherwise, and they make the decisions in the Temple. Anyway just accept what comes, for a day or so. It won't be anything serious, at least not until you are given to the Dragonian dictator. I don't know what happens after that. But for now I'll keep an eye out and help where I can. Look, I'll have to go or they'll be wondering where I've disappeared to. Eat that food. Keep your strength up.”Awkwardly Jon leant forward and gave her a brotherly peck on the cheek, then slipped out of the cell door.The InitiationSomewhat perturbed Diana toyed with her food until, some thirty minutes later, two vestals appeared, led her to a room lined with old, cracked tiles, briskly undressed her, bathed her, then clothed her in an ancient red robe.“What happens now,” Diana asked.“You get to be taken to the High Cardinal.” One of the vestals told her. “Come on! He's impatient to know you.”Wearing only his outer dalmatic vesture, the High Cardinal watched as Diana was brought to stand before him. The red shift marking her as a novice was threadbare and at least two sizes too big, only just clinging to the points of her shoulders and leaving bare her slim neck and clavicle. The thin cloth draped itself enticingly around her ample breasts and rippled slightly as she walked, plainly revealing the bulge of her nipples with their dark areola. Her gleaming black hair tumbled down her back in disarray until it nearly touched her tight butt.He said nothing, just looked. He felt his manhood gradually stir and stiffen into readiness. This was one he would relish. Three-and-a-half score years, and more, were behind him but still he had the will and the power to want, ravish and enjoy, although not as often as in his prime. This one would delight him with the softness of those hand filling breasts and the thrusts of his shaft inside her hot, throbbing center. Of the many vestals he'd selected to pleasure him over the years, few had possessed a body to compare with this girl. It was a pity she must be relinquished to the Tribute, but it had to be. At least he would have a use of her before she was sent south.For her part Diana waited uncertainly. The supreme head of the Temple, this holy man, was staring at her most peculiarly. It was as if he wanted, intended, to have her. But no, he couldn't, if Jon was right he could take any woman he wished, so why should he want her? Anyway he was so old. That scrawny neck, those hollow cheeks and drooling lips revolted her. The thought of those liver-spot covered hands roaming across her body, fondling her breasts and caressing her thighs, made her feel sick.“My daughter. It was intended that thou shouldst become a vestal. That our priests, who so devoutly serve the Mighty Gods, might be blessed with some reward for their endeavors by enjoying the pleasures of your body. But on occasion the good of our congregation requires another, higher, sacrifice. We wish it were not so, that we could keep you amongst us, but we must bow before The God's command. Thou art to be our Tribute to The Great Dragon, the ruler of Dragonia, that he may leave us in peace for another year.” The High Cardinal paused, “We do not have to explain, your brother covered it well enough.”“You were listening?”“Do you think we are so imprudent as not to take a few precautions. Of course we heard all that he said, There remains just one item to be confirmed. Your beauty is undeniable, but alone it may not suffice to provide the pleasure to which a ruler is entitled. It is our duty to confirm that you will fully answer his desires.”She was muddled, disjointed, confused. “I don't understand.”Prima Nocta“We must be sure that when he uses you, as a man uses a woman, you will satisfy him. So we must first test your bounty.”“I'm to be mated?”“Yes. It is a chore we will ourselves undertake.”The thought of being taken by him repelled her. His pretense that he was only performing his duty was unconvincing, every word merely echoed his lust for her body.The High Cardinal drew a silk scarf from the pocket of his dalmatic vesture. “But first, since your preference will likely run to youth rather than experience, let us blindfold you. Then you can focus your mind on our skill, not our image.” He fastened the scarf around her eyes.“Now come. Disrobe and let us savor that lovely body with which The Great Gods have blessed you.”What choice did she have? Trembling, she raised her arms and reached behind to unfasten her shift. Lazily it fell to circle her feet. She felt a slight draught caress her body, and shivered as she imagined his eyes on her naked and vulnerable flesh. He would be studying her boobs, her untouched cunni. Tightly she pressed her legs together to hide her nether lips.“Trust us,” he said. “Do all we say and you will have an experience you will never forget.”She managed a faint, “I do not doubt it, Your Grace.”Smiling, pleased with her submissiveness, he looked her up and down, his eyes agleam with desire. His gaze lingering first on her quim with its lush beaver, then on her full, firm tits. His breathing grew harsh, his chest heaved as he reached for her and crushed her to him, the hardness of his erection stabbing her stomach. His palms stroked up and down her back, gently massaging her, feeling the smoothness of her skin; then paused on her hips, slid round to her flat belly and up, up to those adorable boobs. He stopped for a long moment, just cupping them and savoring their firm weight.When he again moved he slowly dragged his palms to and fro across her nipples, feeling them swell, before holding her by the shoulders and easing her to the couch. Firmly he pushed her back until she was lying, her neat buns at the edge, her legs dangling.His hands left her. Diana could hear a rustling, he was removing his dalmatic vesture. Quiet footsteps and she sensed he was beside her again. A light, barely felt touch, brushed her mouth. Her tongue instinctively flicked out to find his finger as he caressed each lip in turn. Then he stroked her cheeks, before dragging his palms down across her chin, her neck, the hollow of her collar bone, smoothing the skin in small circles. When he reached her left breast he pressed gently around the edge spiraling in until he found her bud. It stood high for him to squeeze firmly, sending a bolt of ecstasy straight to her centre. She moaned.The High Cardinal heard her breathing deepen, leant forward and ran his tongue around her other breast. God, she was tasty. His thin lips opened to take her swollen nipple into his mouth. He nipped her with his teeth, sucking her deep.The fingers of his other hand found her cunni. Gently, oh, so gently at first, he stroked her from clit to anus. His fondling grew firmer. He pushed a finger inside to test her dampness, was gratified when she arched her back and pushed her mound into his hand.The scarf was doing its work; she was unable to see him but his heavy breathing and the musky, unmistakable scent of sex was feeding her carnal needs and overcoming her revulsion. Her soft, “Yes, yes,” was music in his ears.“What do you want, my dear?” he asked.Diana barely heard him, all she knew was the rapture of his hands and mouth thrilling her in a way she had never known before. As he rubbed her clit, she began to pant, gave a low moan and dug her nails into his shoulders, then down his back to his hips, instinctively pulling him to her.He held back, in no hurry. She felt him ease himself onto the couch and kneel across her. All the time his tongue licked her nipples, his fingers explored her cunni, testing her wetness but not entering her. Her breathing quickened, she was near to climax. She whimpered, she needed to be filled. He would not let her come. His touch on her swollen cunni lips was feather light, then firm, then light. He seemed to sense her need and to repeatedly rouse and then deny her.She was ready. His fingers parted the soft lips of her center. The helmet of his cock butted them, sliding up and down coating itself with her dampness. He eased away from her, placed a hand to one side to take his weight, his other reaching for her thighs to open her wider before grasping his now totally rigid staff and positioning it at her entrance.She felt it, hard yet soft, probing, pushing her lips apart as the glans slowly entered, forcing deeper and deeper. There was nothing else in the world now but this manhood thrusting, filling, rewarding her. His stroke was slow, his pelvis grinding her clit. She couldn't resist. The tremors started deep inside her then rushed out to explode around his cock.He heard her cry, felt her come, but it was too soon, he wasn't ready yet. He thrust harder, faster; her beauty, her pleasure, her satisfaction were a dim, unimportant memory. All that mattered was his release. His thighs tightened, he shuddered, he whimpered. Hot and hard his seed erupted into her, filling her. He lowered his chest onto her two soft boobs and rested while his heartbeat slowed and the blood drained from his tyrannical probe.Some minutes passed before he rose, resumed his robes and removed the blindfold. “Yes, you will be a worthy Tribute. Would that we had more time to attend to your education ourselves. It would please us greatly to instruct you further. However, the Gods have ordained otherwise. You are required to leave at first light.”“No. Leave that. You deserve better,” he said as she reached to cover herself with the discarded shift. He pulled a cord by the tapestry and she heard the faint chime of a distant bell.The two vestals who had escorted her into his presence entered and genuflected. They were good looking women only a few years older than Diana.“What is the meaning of this rag?” The High Cardinal thrust the shift at them.“But, Your Grace, it is not worth giving her new robes just for the journey. Especially as we are told she will be naked for the presentation ceremony.”“But what if she is seen on the journey. What of her dignity. She deserves your respect. Both of you, remove your robes. Now!”Quaking somewhat at his anger they quickly unfastened their gowns, red with the white edging of senior vestals, and laid them before their feet.“Right,” he turned to Diana, “take your pick. Either should be a reasonable fit.Hesitantly Diana stepped to where, naked, staring at the floor, the two vestals waited. Gingerly she selected the nearest robe and swiftly lowered it over her head, grateful in the draughty room for the residual warmth of it's previous owner.Priest GeorgeThere was a sharp rap on the door. “Come!” Commanded the High Cardinal. The figure that entered was young for a senior priest being but a couple of years older than Diana's brother, but he carried himself with the assurance of one who has already received some prominence in the governing hierarchy.“Ah! George. Well timed.” The High Cardinal frowned at the two Vestals. “We will discuss your performance later. You may withdraw.”Hastily one gathered up the remaining robe and the other the rag that Diana had worn and, still naked, they hurried out of the chamber.“There she is, George,” the old man gestured toward Diana. “You may take her and be on your way. I will expect you back within three weeks.”The young priest bowed his head. “I am honored Your Grace. I will not fail the Gods.” Reaching out he took Diana's hand and drew her from the room.

Hastily put away sin and build holiness that reflects and glorifies God.

Chapter 1 - The Dark Lord AscendingThe dedication of this book Is split seven ways: To Neil, To Jessica, To David, To Kenzie, To Di, To Anne, And to you, If you have stuck with Harry until the very end. Oh, the torment bred in the race, the grinding scream of death and the stroke that hits the vein, the haemorrhage none can staunch, the grief, the curse no man can bear. But there is a cure in the house and not outside it, no, not from others but from them, their bloody strife. We sing to you, dark gods beneath the earth. Now hear, you blissful powers underground — answer the call, send help. Bless the children, give them triumph now. Aeschylus, The Libation BearersDeath is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still. For they must needs be present, that love and live in that which is omnipresent. In this divine glass they see face to face; and their converse is free, as well as pure. This is the comfort of friends, that though they may be said to die, yet their friendship and society are, in the best sense, ever present, because immortal. William Penn, More Fruits of Solitude Q1 - What do you think of the forward and dedication?The drawing room was full of silent people, sitting at a long and ornate table. The room's usual furniture had been pushed carelessly up against the walls. Illumination came from a roaring fire beneath a handsome marble mantelpiece surmounted by a gilded mirror. Snape and Yaxley lingered for a moment on the threshold. As their eyes grew accustomed to the lack of light, they were drawn upward to the strangest feature of the scene: an apparently unconscious human figure hanging upside down over the table, revolving slowly as if suspended by an invisible rope, and reflected in the mirror and in the bare, polished surface of the table below. None of the people seated underneath this singular sight was looking at it except for a pale young man sitting almost directly below it. He seemed unable to prevent himself from glancing upward every minute or so.Q2 - What do you think of this scene?“Severus, here,” said Voldemort, indicating the seat on his immediate right. “Yaxley — beside Dolohov.” The two men took their allotted places. Most of the eyes around the table followed Snape, and it was to him that Voldemort spoke first. “So?” “My Lord, the Order of the Phoenix intends to move Harry Potter from his current place of safety on Saturday next, at nightfall.” The interest around the table sharpened palpably: Some stiffened, others fidgeted, all gazing at Snape and Voldemort. “Saturday . . . at nightfall,” repeated Voldemort. His red eyes fastened upon Snape's black ones with such intensity that some of the watchers looked away, apparently fearful that they themselves would be scorched by the ferocity of the gaze. Snape, however, looked calmly back into Voldemort's face and, after a moment or two, Voldemort's lipless mouth curved into something like a smile. “Good. Very good. And this information comes —” “— from the source we discussed,” said Snape. Q3 - What is going on here and who is their source?Again, Voldemort looked up at the slowly revolving body as he went on, “I shall attend to the boy in person. There have been too many mistakes where Harry Potter is concerned. Some of them have been my own. That Potter lives is due more to my errors than to his triumphs.” “I have been careless, and so have been thwarted by luck and chance, those wreckers of all but the best-laid plans. But I know better now. I understand those things that I did not understand before. I must be the one to kill Harry Potter, and I shall be.” Q4 - Is Voldemort right here?At these words, seemingly in response to them, a sudden wail sounded, a terrible, drawn-out cry of misery and pain. Many of those at the table looked downward, startled, for the sound had seemed to issue from below their feet. “Wormtail,” said Voldemort, with no change in his quiet, thoughtful tone, and without removing his eyes from the revolving body above, “have I not spoken to you about keeping our prisoner quiet?”Q5 - Who is their prisoner?“As I was saying,” continued Voldemort, looking again at the tense faces of his followers, “I understand better now. I shall need, for instance, to borrow a wand from one of you before I go to kill Potter.” The faces around him displayed nothing but shock; he might have announced that he wanted to borrow one of their arms. Q6 - Why does he need to borrow one of their wands?“No higher pleasure,” repeated Voldemort, his head tilted a little to one side as he considered Bellatrix. “That means a great deal, Bellatrix, from you.” Her face flooded with color; her eyes welled with tears of delight. “My Lord knows I speak nothing but the truth!” “No higher pleasure . . . even compared with the happy event that, I hear, has taken place in your family this week?” She stared at him, her lips parted, evidently confused. “I don't know what you mean, my Lord.” “I'm talking about your niece, Bellatrix. And yours, Lucius and Narcissa. She has just married the werewolf, Remus Lupin. You must be so proud.” Q7 - To Jenn's point, why do they follow Voldemort?“You must prune yours, must you not, to keep it healthy? Cut away those parts that threaten the health of the rest.” “Yes, my Lord,” whispered Bellatrix, and her eyes swam with tears of gratitude again. “At the first chance!” “You shall have it,” said Voldemort. “And in your family, so in the world . . . we shall cut away the canker that infects us until only those of the true blood remain. . . .”Q8 - Is he talking about killing Lupin and Tonks?“For those of you who do not know, we are joined here tonight by Charity Burbage who, until recently, taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”Q9 - Did Snape give up his coworker here?Nobody laughed this time: There was no mistaking the anger and contempt in Voldemort's voice. For the third time, Charity Burbage revolved to face Snape. Tears were pouring from her eyes into her hair. Snape looked back at her, quite impassive, as she turned slowly away from him again. “Avada Kedavra.”Q10 - How evil is this scene?Chapter 2 - In MemoriamHarry had spent the morning completely emptying his school trunk for the first time since he had packed it six years ago.Q1 - How gross is Harry?He recognized it at once. It was a two-inch-long fragment of the enchanted mirror that his dead godfather, Sirius, had given him. Harry laid it aside and felt cautiously around the trunk for the rest, but nothing more remained of his godfather's last gift except powdered glass, which clung to the deepest layer of debris like glittering grit. Q2 - Will this come back in the end of the story?For his part, Albus had arrived at Hogwarts under the burden of unwanted notoriety. Scarcely a year previously, his father, Percival, had been convicted of a savage and well-publicized attack upon three young Muggles. Albus never attempted to deny that his father (who was to die in Azkaban) had committed this crime; on the contrary, when I plucked up courage to ask him, he assured me that he knew his father to be guilty. Beyond that, Dumbledore refused to speak of the sad business, though many attempted to make him do so. Q3 - Is this true? Why didn't Harry know anything about this?In a matter of months, however, Albus's own fame had begun to eclipse that of his father. By the end of his first year he would never again be known as the son of a Muggle-hater, but as nothing more or less than the most brilliant student ever seen at the school. Q4 - Is this a realistic depiction of Albus? Can a first year be the best student in the school?When Albus and I left Hogwarts we intended to take the then-traditional tour of the world together, visiting and observing foreign wizards, before pursuing our separate careers. However, tragedy intervened. On the very eve of our trip, Albus's mother, Kendra, died, leaving Albus the head, and sole breadwinner, of the family. I postponed my departure long enough to pay my respects at Kendra's funeral, then left for what was now to be a solitary journey. With a younger brother and sister to care for, and little gold left to them, there could no longer be any question of Albus accompanying me. Q5 - Did you know Dumbledore had a sister?Though Ariana had been in poor health for a long time, the blow, coming so soon after the loss of their mother, had a profound effect on both of her brothers. All those closest to Albus — and I count myself one of that lucky number — agree that Ariana's death, and Albus's feeling of personal responsibility for it (though, of course, he was guiltless), left their mark upon him forevermore. Q6 - Why would Dumbledore feel personally responsible?He died as he lived: working always for the greater good and, to his last hour, as willing to stretch out a hand to a small boy with dragon pox as he was on the day that I met him. Q7 - What do you think of the line “for the greater good.”He had never thought to ask Dumbledore about his past. No doubt it would have felt strange, impertinent even, but after all, it had been common knowledge that Dumbledore had taken part in that legendary duel with Grindelwald, and Harry had not thought to ask Dumbledore what that had been like, nor about any of his other famous achievements. No, they had always discussed Harry, Harry's past, Harry's future, Harry's plans . . . and it seemed to Harry now, despite the fact that his future was so dangerous and so uncertain, that he had missed irreplaceable opportunities when he had failed to ask Dumbledore more about himself, even though the only personal question he had ever asked his headmaster was also the only one he suspected that Dumbledore had not answered honestly: “What do you see when you look in the mirror?” “I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks.”Q8 - What do you think he saw in the mirror?In person, Rita Skeeter is much warmer and softer than her famously ferocious quill-portraits might suggest. Greeting me in the hallway of her cozy home, she leads me straight into the kitchen for a cup of tea, a slice of pound cake and, it goes without saying, a steaming vat of freshest gossip. Q9 - Will any of this biography be true?Skeeter was certainly quick off the mark. Her nine-hundred-page book was completed a mere four weeks after Dumbledore's mysterious death in June. But old Dodgy Doge can get off his high hippogriff, because I've had access to a source most journalists would swap their wands for, one who has never spoken in public before and who was close to Dumbledore during the most turbulent and disturbing phase of his youth.”Q10 - Who is this source?No, it's the mother and the sister that intrigued me, and a little digging uncovered a positive nest of nastiness — but, as I say, you'll have to wait for chapters nine to twelve for full details. All I can say now is, it's no wonder Dumbledore never talked about how his nose got broken.” Q11 - Will any of this be true? What is she talking about here?It's been called unhealthy, even sinister. . . . Q12 - How would you describe their relationship with each other?Harry sat down hard on the bed. The broken bit of mirror danced away from him; he picked it up and turned it over in his fingers, thinking, thinking of Dumbledore and the lies with which Rita Skeeter was defaming him. . . . A flash of brightest blue. Harry froze, his cut finger slipping on the jagged edge of the mirror again. He had imagined it, he must have done. He glanced over his shoulder, but the wall was a sickly peach color of Aunt Petunia's choosing: There was nothing blue there for the mirror to reflect. He peered into the mirror fragment again, and saw nothing but his own bright green eye looking back at him. He had imagined it, there was no other explanation; imagined it, because he had been thinking of his dead headmaster. If anything was certain, it was that the bright blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore would never pierce him again. Q13 - What just happened?Chapter 3 - The Dursleys DepartingHarry pressed on remorselessly. “Once I'm seventeen, the protective charm that keeps me safe will break, and that exposes you as well as me. The Order is sure Voldemort will target you, whether to torture you to try and find out where I am, or because he thinks by holding you hostage I'd come and try to rescue you.”Q1 - What do you think of this?Q2 - Do you think the Dursleys are ridiculous? Do you have any sympathy for them?The prospect of parting — probably forever — from his aunt, uncle, and cousin was one that he was able to contemplate quite cheerfully, but there was nevertheless a certain awkwardness in the air. What did you say to one another at the end of sixteen years' solid dislike? “Well, this is good-bye, then, boy.” He swung his right arm upward to shake Harry's hand, but at the last moment seemed unable to face it, and merely closed his fist and began swinging it backward and forward like a metronome. “Ready, Diddy?” asked Aunt Petunia, fussily checking the clasp of her handbag so as to avoid looking at Harry altogether. Dudley did not answer, but stood there with his mouth slightly ajar, reminding Harry a little of the giant, Grawp. “Come along, then,” said Uncle Vernon. He had already reached the living room door when Dudley mumbled, “I don't understand.” “What don't you understand, popkin?” asked Aunt Petunia, looking up at her son. Dudley raised a large, hamlike hand to point at Harry. “Why isn't he coming with us?” Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia froze where they stood, staring at Dudley as though he had just expressed a desire to become a ballerina. “What?” said Uncle Vernon loudly. “Why isn't he coming too?” asked Dudley. “Well, he — he doesn't want to,” said Uncle Vernon, turning to glare at Harry and adding, “You don't want to, do you?” “Not in the slightest,” said Harry. “There you are,” Uncle Vernon told Dudley. “Now come on, we're off.” He marched out of the room. They heard the front door open, but Dudley did not move and after a few faltering steps Aunt Petunia stopped too. “What now?” barked Uncle Vernon, reappearing in the doorway. It seemed that Dudley was struggling with concepts too difficult to put into words. After several moments of apparently painful internal struggle he said, “But where's he going to go?” Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon looked at each other. It was clear that Dudley was frightening them. Hestia Jones broke the silence. “But . . . surely you know where your nephew is going?” she asked, looking bewildered. “Certainly we know,” said Vernon Dursley. “He's off with some of your lot, isn't he? Right, Dudley, let's get in the car, you heard the man, we're in a hurry.” Again, Vernon Dursley marched as far as the front door, but Dudley did not follow. “Off with some of our lot?” Hestia looked outraged. Harry had met this attitude before: Witches and wizards seemed stunned that his closest living relatives took so little interest in the famous Harry Potter. “It's fine,” Harry assured her. “It doesn't matter, honestly.” “Doesn't matter?” repeated Hestia, her voice rising ominously. “Don't these people realize what you've been through? What danger you are in? The unique position you hold in the hearts of the antiVoldemort movement?” “Er — no, they don't,” said Harry. “They think I'm a waste of space, actually, but I'm used to —” “I don't think you're a waste of space.” If Harry had not seen Dudley's lips move, he might not have believed it. As it was, he stared at Dudley for several seconds before accepting that it must have been his cousin who had spoken; for one thing, Dudley had turned red. Harry was embarrassed and astonished himself. “Well . . . er . . . thanks, Dudley.” Again, Dudley appeared to grapple with thoughts too unwieldy for expression before mumbling, “You saved my life.” “Not really,” said Harry. “It was your soul the dementor would have taken. . . .” He looked curiously at his cousin. They had had virtually no contact during this summer or last, as Harry had come back to Privet Drive so briefly and kept to his room so much. It now dawned on Harry, however, that the cup of cold tea on which he had trodden that morning might not have been a booby trap at all. Although rather touched, he was nevertheless quite relieved that Dudley appeared to have exhausted his ability to express his feelings. After opening his mouth once or twice more, Dudley subsided into scarletfaced silence.Q3 - What do you think of Dudley doing this? Aunt Petunia, whose face had been buried in her handkerchief, looked around at the sound. She did not seem to have expected to find herself alone with Harry. Hastily stowing her wet handkerchief into her pocket, she said, “Well — good-bye,” and marched toward the door without looking at him. “Good-bye,” said Harry. She stopped and looked back. For a moment Harry had the strangest feeling that she wanted to say something to him: She gave him an odd, tremulous look and seemed to teeter on the edge of speech, but then, with a little jerk of her head, she bustled out of the room after her husband and son. Q4 - What do you think she wanted to say to him?Chapter 4 - The Seven PottersQ1 - What did you think this chapter initially meant?It gave him an odd, empty feeling to remember those times; it was like remembering a younger brother whom he had lost. Harry looked around at the stacked shoes and umbrellas, remembering how he used to wake every morning looking up at the underside of the staircase, which was more often than not adorned with a spider or two. Those had been the days before he had known anything about his true identity; before he had found out how his parents had died or why such strange things often happened around him. But Harry could still remember the dreams that had dogged him, even in those days: confused dreams involving flashes of green light and once — Uncle Vernon had nearly crashed the car when Harry had recounted it — a flying motorbike . . . Q2 - Is there anything else about that flash of green light you think is important?Harry's heart seemed to expand and glow at the sight: He felt incredibly fond of all of them, even Mundungus, whom he had tried to strangle the last time they had met. “You got married?” Harry yelped, looking from her to Lupin. “I'm sorry you couldn't be there, Harry, it was very quiet.” “That's brilliant, congrat —” “All right, all right, we'll have time for a cozy catch-up later!”Q3 - What do you think of Lupin and Tonks getting married?“So this time, when you leave, there'll be no going back, and the charm will break the moment you get outside its range. We're choosing to break it early, because the alternative is waiting for You-KnowWho to come and seize you the moment you turn seventeen. Q4 - What would your plan be to get Harry out safely?From inside his cloak Moody now withdrew a flask of what looked like mud. There was no need for him to say another word; Harry understood the rest of the plan immediately. “No!” he said loudly, his voice ringing through the kitchen. “No way!” “I told them you'd take it like this,” said Hermione with a hint of complacency. “If you think I'm going to let six people risk their lives — !” “— because it's the first time for all of us,” said Ron. “This is different, pretending to be me —” “Well, none of us really fancy it, Harry,” said Fred earnestly. “Imagine if something went wrong and we were stuck as specky, scrawny gits forever.” Harry did not smile. Q5 - Jenn you mentioned this is unsafe in that Harry doesn't even know who they are? Are any of them using polyjuice here to cover themselves up?They might not be able to get at you or this house while your mother's charm holds, but it's about to break and they know the rough position of the place. Our only chance is to use decoys. Even You-Know-Who can't split himself into seven.” Harry caught Hermione's eye and looked away at once. “So, Potter — some of your hair, if you please.” Q6 - What would the harm be in telling everyone about Voldemort's Horcruxes?Harry dropped the hair into the mudlike liquid. The moment it made contact with its surface, the potion began to froth and smoke, then, all at once, it turned a clear, bright gold. Q7 - Any significance of it turning gold here?When he straightened up again, there were six Harry Potters gasping and panting in front of him. Fred and George turned to each other and said together, “Wow — we're identical!” “I dunno, though, I think I'm still better-looking,” said Fred, examining his reflection in the kettle. “Bah,” said Fleur, checking herself in the microwave door, “Bill, don't look at me — I'm 'ideous.” Q8 - How about the slight dig that Fleur gives here?Q9 - Who would you want guarding you if you were one of the seven potters?The broomstick spun to earth, but he just managed to seize the strap of his rucksack and the top of the cage as the motorbike swung the right way up again. A second's relief, and then another burst of green light. The owl screeched and fell to the floor of the cage. “No — NO!” The motorbike zoomed forward; Harry glimpsed hooded Death Eaters scattering as Hagrid blasted through their circle. “Hedwig — Hedwig —” But the owl lay motionless and pathetic as a toy on the floor of her cage. Q10 - How do you feel about Hedwig's death?Harry saw the strangely blank face of Stanley Shunpike — Stan — “Expelliarmus!” Harry yelled. “That's him, it's him, it's the real one!” The hooded Death Eater's shout reached Harry even above the thunder of the motorbike's engine: Next moment, both pursuers had fallen back and disappeared from view. Q11 - Is Stan Shunpike an actual Death Eater?Q12 - Why has Expelliarmus become Harry's calling card?Harry felt the bike drop a little, though the lights down on the ground still seemed remote as stars. Then the scar on his forehead burned like fire; as a Death Eater appeared on either side of the bike, two Killing Curses missed Harry by millimeters, cast from behind — And then Harry saw him. Voldemort was flying like smoke on the wind, without broomstick or thestral to hold him, his snakelike face gleaming out of the blackness, his white fingers raising his wand again —Q13 - How terrifying is this scene?It was over: He could not see or hear where Voldemort was; he glimpsed another Death Eater swooping out of the way and heard, “Avada —” As the pain from Harry's scar forced his eyes shut, his wand acted of its own accord. He felt it drag his hand around like some great magnet, saw a spurt of golden fire through his half-closed eyelids, heard a crack and a scream of fury. The remaining Death Eater yelled; Voldemort screamed, “No!”: Somehow, Harry found his nose an inch from the dragon-fire button. He punched it with his wand-free hand and the bike shot more flames into the air, hurtling straight toward the ground. Q14 - How did this happen?He felt Voldemort before he saw him. Looking sideways, he stared into the red eyes and was sure they would be the last thing he ever saw: Voldemort preparing to curse him once more — And then Voldemort vanished. Harry looked down and saw Hagrid spread-eagled on the ground below him. He pulled hard at the handlebars to avoid hitting him, groped for the brake, but with an earsplitting, ground-trembling crash, he smashed into a muddy pond. Q15 - How good of an ending is this chapter and the title of the next…

Are called to walk in wisdom. We are called to behave humbly, and we are called to as always, demonstrate our trust, our faith and our dependence upon God. To donate please visit us at: https://loveisrael.org/donate/ Checks may be sent to: LoveIsrael.org 6355 N Courtenay Parkway Merritt Island, FL 32953 Feel free to download our MyBibleStudy App on telephone https://get.theapp.co/yjjq we don't know how long we can post the teachings on YT https://www.instagram.com/mybiblestudyofficial/

Are called to walk in wisdom. We are called to behave humbly, and we are called to as always, demonstrate our trust, our faith and our dependence upon God. To donate please visit us at: https://loveisrael.org/donate/ Checks may be sent to: LoveIsrael.org 6355 N Courtenay Parkway Merritt Island, FL 32953 Feel free to download our MyBibleStudy App on telephone https://get.theapp.co/yjjq we don't know how long we can post the teachings on YT https://www.instagram.com/mybiblestudyofficial/

A Clare Teaching Council Representative is warning students not to be too hasty in accepting offers of college places just yet. At 2pm today, 83,500 people - including 47,000 students who sat their Leaving Cert this year - will be issued wih Round One CAO offers. It's estimated 60,000 applicants will receive an offer of a place today with more than half likely to be offered their preferred course and four out of five to get one of their top three preferences. Teacher at St. Patrick's Comprehensive School Shannon and Teaching Council National Representative for Community and Comprehensive schools Clodagh O'Hara has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons tensions can be even higher today than on Leaving Cert results day.

PREVIEW: #PRC: #TARIFFS: Conversation with colleague Chris Riegel re the directed and proposed tariffs on PRC enterprises that are regarded as dumping excess and subsidized capacity on Western markets - starting with hastily and poorly built EVs and extending to all product ranges. "Terrified" is the observation of the response from the PRC manufacturers, who are already without much work. More tonight. 1910 CHINA

This week, Andrew and Kennedy welcomed comedian Seynique Smythe to discuss whether or not THIS was the worst week yet. Patreon.com/worstweekyet Send us emails: Worstweekyet@gmail.com Follow the pod across platforms: @WorstWeekYet Follow Andrew: @Andrewhilaryus Follow Kennedy: @KennedyTCooper Follow Seynique: @Seynique (twitter) @Sey_Smythe (IG) Artwork by Alyssa: @ManyMoonsCreative

“quick, quick, quick drop your things RIGHT NOW!!“you NEED to get over there”My friend was all zonked and blooming and bug-eyed. Her head dunked in a fluffy tempura of happy-hysteria.Her deep chocolate pudding eyes gave me the look “Hurry up, Fatso, get over there”“Why?” I want to go out for a snout and a coffee”Hastily, I dropped my things (which was actually nothing, as I didn't have anything in my bloody hands… how bloody hilarious… bloody HA. HA. ha)I ran and ran and ranthrough the lab-rat-white-piercing light,past armies of nameless names,doding Sycophantic Nause Bags plugging NDD up buyers jaxiesLunch! Trade ShowAhhhhh, yes. I remember. I remember with lucid clarity. That day I found FATSO.The name: FATSO.So bold. So cheeky. So going straight-in-my-f*cking-basket-boiiisheeeeThe flavours, spell-bindingly banging names and flavoursMorning Glory - “Cornflake and Marmalade”Nan's Stash - “Peanut, Toffee & Digestive Biscuit” (restraining order: por favor)King's Ransom - “Salted Pretzel, Whole Almond, Honeycomb”FATSO excites me widly.So excited to welcome the wonderful Ella on the poddy.She's totally amazing.You're in for a treat.ON THE MENU:How to build a brand a grow a baby at the same time - is it possible to manage pregnancy and brand building at the the same time?How to do more of what actually matters, why “More Matters” in life and brandHow to find slip stream channel where no one else is looking - the unobvious channel is where the obvious gold liesFatso 3 Field Sales Fundamentals: How to unlock any indie listing when you're feet on the streetWhy Challenger Food and Drink Founder must develop a “Slow Productivity” mindsetHow to Bring “Play” into work to avoid burnout - half the battle is just not burning out.Fully eppy Monday 8am.Others in the comments below xxx

  His Week That Was – Kevin Healy Peace activist Kathy Kelly talks about her time in Gaza and the student campus movement in the US. Podcast with Dr Sue Wareham, President of MAPW and Dr Helen McCue focusing on health issues in Gaza and more Senior Lecturer at RMIT University Dr Binoy Kampmark on possible Australian complicity in war crimes and genocide John Queripel and his article in the China Today – AUKUS – hastily conceived, ill thought-out and falling apart Head to www.3cr.org.au/hometime-tuesday for full access to links and previous podcasts

The Red Sox lost 2 of 3 to the Cleveland Guardians but end their road trip 4-2. All things considered, not too bad but half the team is hurt and the team won't be anything close to full strength for quite some time. Ed, Brady, and Hogdale break it all down as well as Connor Wong's big series, Zack Kelly's electric 2024 MLB debut, and much, much more. Intrigued? Then it's time to listen to Pod by the River!

Seriously??? We hastily threw together a one-hour podcast that is somehow more than an hour, silly us!

Have you ever had someone jump to false conclusions about you based on a single comment or tweet? That's what you call a hasty generalization, and people on both sides of the political and theological aisle have been guilty of committing this logical fallacy, many times resulting in the marginalization of whomever is on the receiving end of the accusation. In this current season of political chaos, how can you speak your mind (and share the truth) without falling into the trap of becoming a victim (or maybe even a perpetrator) of these snap judgments? This week, Frank addresses 10 hot-button topics in a single podcast episode! How will he cram so much in so little time? Hastily! In this lightning fast discussion on politics, religion, and logical fallacies, Frank will answer questions like: Is it racist to care about border security? Does being concerned about racial disparities mean that a person is "woke"? Is it divisive to call out heresy in church? How did Frank respond when someone called him a bigot? Do Christians seem to carry a lot of political influence as of late? What did the "He Gets Us" ad campaign get wrong...again?   Later in the episode, Frank responds to an email from a skeptic who made a few hasty generalizations in regards to the previous podcast episode featuring Eric Metaxas. Whether it's political issues like border security and election fraud or theological debates like a young earth versus an old earth, we shouldn't make assumptions without having sufficient information. Want to learn more about how to avoid hasty generalizations? Consider attending the Fearless Faith conference in Xenia, OH this upcoming weekend (February 16-17)! To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It's the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. You can also SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE.

Happy Holidays from MoM! Spend 20 minutes with some of the gang as they read some ghostly themed stories for the long nights. Opening Music: Santa's Tricks by Myuu 1. La Befana by Gene Wolfe- read by Steve 2. Five Flavors by Bryan Thao Worra - read by Bryan 3. Ol' Red Eye by R. Turner- read by Rodney Support Lao poetry and a good dude at https://www.patreon.com/thaoworra

Jake returns to the show to join Icky Ichabod & Dale with part two of their factions special, this time to discuss their worst factions from the wrestling world! What groups did they detest? Was it run-of-the-mill villain groups like The Cabinet? Hastily thrown together villains to terrorize Roman Reigns like The League of Nations? The infamous all-male cheerleader squad, The Spirit Squad? The possibilities are endless!   Show is recorded at Grand Forks Best Source. For studio information, visit www.gfbestsource.com To download and stream past Weird Cinema/Wrestling episodes, visit https://weirdcinema.podbean.com/   #wrestling #aew #wwe #tna #impact #dx #nwo #fourhorsemen #elite #shield #GFBS #wrestling

Jeff 'Chalkx' Fox & Daniel 'Gumby' Vreeland are back in your earholes with their UFC Vegas 83 prelims betting guide! The last UFC Fight Night card of 2023! 'Tis the season for unity and harmony among mankind, so Gumby and Chalkx get into the holiday spirit by agreeing with each other on all six of Saturday's prelim fights. While there is only one underdog among those fights that they like, there are several other betting lines that are worth taking advantage of. Plus, they talk about the UFC's signing of buzz-worthy heavyweight prospect Robelis Despaigne. Listen in! AppleSpotifyJOIN the SGPN community #DegensOnlyExclusive Merch, Contests and Bonus Episodes ONLY on Patreon - https://sg.pn/patreonDiscuss with fellow degens on Discord - https://sg.pn/discordSGPN Merch Store - https://sg.pn/storeDownload The Free SGPN App - https://sgpn.appCheck out the Sports Gambling Podcast on YouTube - https://sg.pn/YouTubeCheck out our website - http://sportsgamblingpodcast.comSUPPORT us by supporting our partnersUnderdog Fantasy code SGPN - 100% Deposit Match up to $100 - https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-sgpnBet Rivers - Up To $500 Risk Free Bet - https://signupexpert.com/sgpn/riversGametime code CFBX - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CFBX for $20 off your first purchase - https://gametime.co/Hall Of Fame Bets code SGPN - 50% off your first month today - https://hof-bets.app.link/sgpnBetterHelp code SGPN - This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SGPN and get on your way to being your best self.Factor Meals code SGPN50 - 50% off Factor Meals - https://www.factormeals.com/sgpn50WATCH the Sports Gambling PodcastYouTube - https://sg.pn/YouTubeTwitch - https://sg.pn/TwitchFOLLOW The Sports Gambling Podcast On Social MediaTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/gamblingpodcastInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/sportsgamblingpodcastTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gamblingpodcastFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/sportsgamblingpodcastFOLLOW The Hosts On Social MediaJeff Fox - http://www.twitter.com/jefffoxwriterDaniel Vreeland - http://www.twitter.com/gumbyvreelandShow - http://www.twitter.com/sgpnmmaGambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER CO, DC, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA)21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800 BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeff 'Chalkx' Fox & Daniel 'Gumby' Vreeland are back in your earholes with their UFC Vegas 83 prelims betting guide! The last UFC Fight Night card of 2023! 'Tis the season for unity and harmony among mankind, so Gumby and Chalkx get into the holiday spirit by agreeing with each other on all six of Saturday's prelim fights. While there is only one underdog among those fights that they like, there are several other betting lines that are worth taking advantage of. Plus, they talk about the UFC's signing of buzz-worthy heavyweight prospect Robelis Despaigne. Listen in!   Apple Spotify JOIN the SGPN community #DegensOnly Exclusive Merch, Contests and Bonus Episodes ONLY on Patreon - https://sg.pn/patreon Discuss with fellow degens on Discord - https://sg.pn/discord SGPN Merch Store - https://sg.pn/store Download The Free SGPN App - https://sgpn.app Check out the Sports Gambling Podcast on YouTube - https://sg.pn/YouTube Check out our website - http://sportsgamblingpodcast.com SUPPORT us by supporting our partners Underdog Fantasy code SGPN - 100% Deposit Match up to $100 - https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-sgpn Bet Rivers - Up To $500 Risk Free Bet - https://signupexpert.com/sgpn/rivers Gametime code CFBX - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CFBX for $20 off your first purchase - https://gametime.co/ Hall Of Fame Bets code SGPN - 50% off your first month today - https://hof-bets.app.link/sgpn BetterHelp code SGPN - This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SGPN and get on your way to being your best self. Factor Meals code SGPN50 - 50% off Factor Meals - https://www.factormeals.com/sgpn50 WATCH the Sports Gambling Podcast YouTube - https://sg.pn/YouTube Twitch - https://sg.pn/Twitch FOLLOW The Sports Gambling Podcast On Social Media Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/gamblingpodcast Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/sportsgamblingpodcast TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gamblingpodcast Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/sportsgamblingpodcast FOLLOW The Hosts On Social Media Jeff Fox - http://www.twitter.com/jefffoxwriter Daniel Vreeland - http://www.twitter.com/gumbyvreeland Show - http://www.twitter.com/sgpnmma Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER CO, DC, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800 BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeff 'Chalkx' Fox & Daniel 'Gumby' Vreeland are back in your earholes with their UFC Vegas 83 prelims betting guide! The last UFC Fight Night card of 2023! 'Tis the season for unity and harmony among mankind, so Gumby and Chalkx get into the holiday spirit by agreeing with each other on all six of Saturday's prelim fights. While there is only one underdog among those fights that they like, there are several other betting lines that are worth taking advantage of. Plus, they talk about the UFC's signing of buzz-worthy heavyweight prospect Robelis Despaigne. Listen in! AppleSpotifyJOIN the SGPN community #DegensOnlyExclusive Merch, Contests and Bonus Episodes ONLY on Patreon - https://sg.pn/patreonDiscuss with fellow degens on Discord - https://sg.pn/discordSGPN Merch Store - https://sg.pn/storeDownload The Free SGPN App - https://sgpn.appCheck out the Sports Gambling Podcast on YouTube - https://sg.pn/YouTubeCheck out our website - http://sportsgamblingpodcast.comSUPPORT us by supporting our partnersUnderdog Fantasy code SGPN - 100% Deposit Match up to $100 - https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-sgpnBet Rivers - Up To $500 Risk Free Bet - https://signupexpert.com/sgpn/riversGametime code CFBX - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CFBX for $20 off your first purchase - https://gametime.co/Hall Of Fame Bets code SGPN - 50% off your first month today - https://hof-bets.app.link/sgpnBetterHelp code SGPN - This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SGPN and get on your way to being your best self.Factor Meals code SGPN50 - 50% off Factor Meals - https://www.factormeals.com/sgpn50WATCH the Sports Gambling PodcastYouTube - https://sg.pn/YouTubeTwitch - https://sg.pn/TwitchFOLLOW The Sports Gambling Podcast On Social MediaTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/gamblingpodcastInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/sportsgamblingpodcastTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gamblingpodcastFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/sportsgamblingpodcastFOLLOW The Hosts On Social MediaJeff Fox - http://www.twitter.com/jefffoxwriterDaniel Vreeland - http://www.twitter.com/gumbyvreelandShow - http://www.twitter.com/sgpnmmaGambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER CO, DC, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA)21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800 BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices JOIN the SGPN community #DegensOnlyExclusive Merch, Contests and Bonus Episodes ONLY on Patreon - https://sg.pn/patreonDiscuss with fellow degens on Discord - https://sg.pn/discordDownload The Free SGPN App - https://sgpn.appCheck out the Sports Gambling Podcast on YouTube - https://sg.pn/YouTubeCheck out our website - http://sportsgamblingpodcast.comSUPPORT us by supporting our partnersNYRA Racing code SGPN25 - $25 FREE BET and $200 Deposit Bonus - https://racing.nyrabets.com/sign-up-bonus/sgpn25?utm_source=sgpn&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign=sgpn_25&utm_content=1080x1080Underdog Fantasy code MMASGPN - 100% Deposit Match up to $100 - https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-sgpnGametime code SGPN - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code SGPN for $20 off your first purchase - https://gametime.co/Football Contest Proxy - Use promo code SGP to save $50 at - https://www.footballcontestproxy.com/ ADVERTISE with SGPNInterested in advertising? Contact sales@sgpn.ioWATCH the Sports Gambling PodcastYouTube - https://sg.pn/YouTubeTwitch - https://sg.pn/TwitchFOLLOW The Sports Gambling Podcast On Social MediaTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/gamblingpodcastInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/sportsgamblingpodcastTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gamblingpodcastFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/sportsgamblingpodcastFOLLOW The Hosts On Social MediaJeff Fox - http://www.twitter.com/jefffoxwriterDaniel Vreeland - http://www.twitter.com/gumbyvreelandShow - http://www.twitter.com/sgpnmmaGambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER CO, DC, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA)21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800 BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI)

Jeff 'Chalkx' Fox & Daniel 'Gumby' Vreeland are back in your earholes with their UFC Vegas 83 prelims betting guide! The last UFC Fight Night card of 2023! 'Tis the season for unity and harmony among mankind, so Gumby and Chalkx get into the holiday spirit by agreeing with each other on all six of Saturday's prelim fights. While there is only one underdog among those fights that they like, there are several other betting lines that are worth taking advantage of. Plus, they talk about the UFC's signing of buzz-worthy heavyweight prospect Robelis Despaigne. Listen in!   Apple Spotify JOIN the SGPN community #DegensOnly Exclusive Merch, Contests and Bonus Episodes ONLY on Patreon - https://sg.pn/patreon Discuss with fellow degens on Discord - https://sg.pn/discord SGPN Merch Store - https://sg.pn/store Download The Free SGPN App - https://sgpn.app Check out the Sports Gambling Podcast on YouTube - https://sg.pn/YouTube Check out our website - http://sportsgamblingpodcast.com SUPPORT us by supporting our partners Underdog Fantasy code SGPN - 100% Deposit Match up to $100 - https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-sgpn Bet Rivers - Up To $500 Risk Free Bet - https://signupexpert.com/sgpn/rivers Gametime code CFBX - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CFBX for $20 off your first purchase - https://gametime.co/ Hall Of Fame Bets code SGPN - 50% off your first month today - https://hof-bets.app.link/sgpn BetterHelp code SGPN - This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SGPN and get on your way to being your best self. Factor Meals code SGPN50 - 50% off Factor Meals - https://www.factormeals.com/sgpn50 WATCH the Sports Gambling Podcast YouTube - https://sg.pn/YouTube Twitch - https://sg.pn/Twitch FOLLOW The Sports Gambling Podcast On Social Media Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/gamblingpodcast Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/sportsgamblingpodcast TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@gamblingpodcast Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/sportsgamblingpodcast FOLLOW The Hosts On Social Media Jeff Fox - http://www.twitter.com/jefffoxwriter Daniel Vreeland - http://www.twitter.com/gumbyvreeland Show - http://www.twitter.com/sgpnmma Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER CO, DC, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800 BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peacekeepers, force multipliers, or a Premier's private army? Hastily deployed with training still in progress and now accused of brutal assault. We investigate how Gauteng's Crime Prevention Wardens might become a law unto themselves.

Chapter 2 - In MemoriamHarry had spent the morning completely emptying his school trunk for the first time since he had packed it six years ago.Q1 - How gross is Harry?He recognized it at once. It was a two-inch-long fragment of the enchanted mirror that his dead godfather, Sirius, had given him. Harry laid it aside and felt cautiously around the trunk for the rest, but nothing more remained of his godfather's last gift except powdered glass, which clung to the deepest layer of debris like glittering grit. Q2 - Will this come back in the end of the story?For his part, Albus had arrived at Hogwarts under the burden of unwanted notoriety. Scarcely a year previously, his father, Percival, had been convicted of a savage and well-publicized attack upon three young Muggles. Albus never attempted to deny that his father (who was to die in Azkaban) had committed this crime; on the contrary, when I plucked up courage to ask him, he assured me that he knew his father to be guilty. Beyond that, Dumbledore refused to speak of the sad business, though many attempted to make him do so. Q3 - Is this true? Why didn't Harry know anything about this?In a matter of months, however, Albus's own fame had begun to eclipse that of his father. By the end of his first year he would never again be known as the son of a Muggle-hater, but as nothing more or less than the most brilliant student ever seen at the school. Q4 - Is this a realistic depiction of Albus? Can a first year be the best student in the school?When Albus and I left Hogwarts we intended to take the then-traditional tour of the world together, visiting and observing foreign wizards, before pursuing our separate careers. However, tragedy intervened. On the very eve of our trip, Albus's mother, Kendra, died, leaving Albus the head, and sole breadwinner, of the family. I postponed my departure long enough to pay my respects at Kendra's funeral, then left for what was now to be a solitary journey. With a younger brother and sister to care for, and little gold left to them, there could no longer be any question of Albus accompanying me. Q5 - Did you know Dumbledore had a sister?Though Ariana had been in poor health for a long time, the blow, coming so soon after the loss of their mother, had a profound effect on both of her brothers. All those closest to Albus — and I count myself one of that lucky number — agree that Ariana's death, and Albus's feeling of personal responsibility for it (though, of course, he was guiltless), left their mark upon him forevermore. Q6 - Why would Dumbledore feel personally responsible?He died as he lived: working always for the greater good and, to his last hour, as willing to stretch out a hand to a small boy with dragon pox as he was on the day that I met him. Q7 - What do you think of the line “for the greater good.”He had never thought to ask Dumbledore about his past. No doubt it would have felt strange, impertinent even, but after all, it had been common knowledge that Dumbledore had taken part in that legendary duel with Grindelwald, and Harry had not thought to ask Dumbledore what that had been like, nor about any of his other famous achievements. No, they had always discussed Harry, Harry's past, Harry's future, Harry's plans . . . and it seemed to Harry now, despite the fact that his future was so dangerous and so uncertain, that he had missed irreplaceable opportunities when he had failed to ask Dumbledore more about himself, even though the only personal question he had ever asked his headmaster was also the only one he suspected that Dumbledore had not answered honestly: “What do you see when you look in the mirror?” “I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks.”Q8 - What do you think he saw in the mirror?In person, Rita Skeeter is much warmer and softer than her famously ferocious quill-portraits might suggest. Greeting me in the hallway of her cozy home, she leads me straight into the kitchen for a cup of tea, a slice of pound cake and, it goes without saying, a steaming vat of freshest gossip. Q9 - Will any of this biography be true?Skeeter was certainly quick off the mark. Her nine-hundred-page book was completed a mere four weeks after Dumbledore's mysterious death in June. But old Dodgy Doge can get off his high hippogriff, because I've had access to a source most journalists would swap their wands for, one who has never spoken in public before and who was close to Dumbledore during the most turbulent and disturbing phase of his youth.”Q10 - Who is this source?No, it's the mother and the sister that intrigued me, and a little digging uncovered a positive nest of nastiness — but, as I say, you'll have to wait for chapters nine to twelve for full details. All I can say now is, it's no wonder Dumbledore never talked about how his nose got broken.” Q11 - Will any of this be true? What is she talking about here?It's been called unhealthy, even sinister. . . . Q12 - How would you describe their relationship with each other?Harry sat down hard on the bed. The broken bit of mirror danced away from him; he picked it up and turned it over in his fingers, thinking, thinking of Dumbledore and the lies with which Rita Skeeter was defaming him. . . . A flash of brightest blue. Harry froze, his cut finger slipping on the jagged edge of the mirror again. He had imagined it, he must have done. He glanced over his shoulder, but the wall was a sickly peach color of Aunt Petunia's choosing: There was nothing blue there for the mirror to reflect. He peered into the mirror fragment again, and saw nothing but his own bright green eye looking back at him. He had imagined it, there was no other explanation; imagined it, because he had been thinking of his dead headmaster. If anything was certain, it was that the bright blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore would never pierce him again. Q13 - What just happened?Chapter 3 - The Dursleys DepartingHarry pressed on remorselessly. “Once I'm seventeen, the protective charm that keeps me safe will break, and that exposes you as well as me. The Order is sure Voldemort will target you, whether to torture you to try and find out where I am, or because he thinks by holding you hostage I'd come and try to rescue you.”Q1 - What do you think of this?Q2 - Do you think the Dursleys are ridiculous? Do you have any sympathy for them?Q3 - What do you think of Dudley doing this? Aunt Petunia, whose face had been buried in her handkerchief, looked around at the sound. She did not seem to have expected to find herself alone with Harry. Hastily stowing her wet handkerchief into her pocket, she said, “Well — good-bye,” and marched toward the door without looking at him. “Good-bye,” said Harry. She stopped and looked back. For a moment Harry had the strangest feeling that she wanted to say something to him: She gave him an odd, tremulous look and seemed to teeter on the edge of speech, but then, with a little jerk of her head, she bustled out of the room after her husband and son. Q4 - What do you think she wanted to say to him?

#India: US hastily proposes the Indiia-Middle-East Corridor (IMEC) Gregory Copley, Defense & Foreign Affairs https://www.g20.org/en/g20-india-2023/new-delhi-summit/ 1923 Afghanistan

The prophecy of Elisha comes true, as the lepers find an empty enemy camp full of food and supplies.

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: how 2 tell if ur input is out of distribution given only model weights, published by dkirmani on August 6, 2023 on LessWrong. (Hastily-written code to reproduce these findings is available here. It also contains some extraneous logic.) Thanks for listening. To help us out with The Nonlinear Library or to learn more, please visit nonlinear.org

Welcome to There is Nothing to Fear, written by Callmesalticidae and read by Sam Gabriel! This story is serialized in the form of multiple fics with different names, recorded and presented in order on this feed. All text can be found on ao3. My website can be found at http://samgabrielvo.com. Enjoy!

Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations, that's what I had in mind for you.. Jeremiah 1:5 MSGIf you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 NLTThe wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 ESVWe make decisions every day that move us closer to, or farther from God's will.Prioritize God's PurposeIf you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15 NLTDestiny is dependent on our recognizing and prioritizing God's big picture purposes and plans.But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. Daniel 1:8 NLT Like Daniel, our journey to destiny starts with a determination to honor God's priorities.2) PatienceEven youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 ESVWrite the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end, it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:2-3 ESVWaiting gives us time and opportunity to straighten, strengthen, and learn surrender. Hastily made decisions are the easiest to regret.Waiting isn't wasted time, it's priceless time trusting in God and the journey He has for me.3) Perseverance / Redemption  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:12 NLTOur destiny is dependent on God's unwavering ability and willingness to redeem and restore. 4) Persistence / FaithfulnessDon't bail on the destination even if their are challenges along the way. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23 NLT5) Passion I remind you to fan into flame the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 2 Timothy 1:6 NLTPassionately persist in pursuing with patience the purposes and plans God has for you.

Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations, that's what I had in mind for you.. Jeremiah 1:5 MSGIf you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 NLTThe wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 ESVWe make decisions every day that move us closer to, or farther from God's will.Prioritize God's PurposeIf you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15 NLTDestiny is dependent on our recognizing and prioritizing God's big picture purposes and plans.But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. Daniel 1:8 NLT Like Daniel, our journey to destiny starts with a determination to honor God's priorities.2) PatienceEven youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 ESVWrite the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end, it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:2-3 ESVWaiting gives us time and opportunity to straighten, strengthen, and learn surrender. Hastily made decisions are the easiest to regret.Waiting isn't wasted time, it's priceless time trusting in God and the journey He has for me.3) Perseverance / Redemption  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:12 NLTOur destiny is dependent on God's unwavering ability and willingness to redeem and restore. 4) Persistence / FaithfulnessDon't bail on the destination even if their are challenges along the way. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23 NLT5) Passion I remind you to fan into flame the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 2 Timothy 1:6 NLTPassionately persist in pursuing with patience the purposes and plans God has for you.

The gang just can't wait for baseball

Learning that if you have to wait, stay in the wait and allow God to move you to the next step!

We are told that making a list of all we are grateful for changes our lives and opens us up to more miracles and blessings. How's that working out for you? Hastily making your list every day isn't the answer, that's just lip service, that's just trying to earn that 'gold star?' So what is gratitude really? Listen in as I share lessons learned about really taking in the astounding gift that is called life. 

New video obtained exclusively by CNN shows how Congressional leaders were forced to flee the U.S. Capitol and moved to a secure location on January 6, 2021 where they frantically coordinated with then-Vice President Pence and Trump cabinet members to stop the rioters and finish certifying the election. All this footage was captured by Alexandra Pelosi, a documentary filmmaker and daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, while she was filming what she thought would be a peaceful transfer of power. Associate Editor for the Washington Post Bob Woodward and legendary journalist Carl Bernstein join AC360 to react to the never-before-seen video from one of the darkest days in American history. Plus, Democratic Rep. Jason Crow was a witness to the violence that day as he hid inside the House gallery while the mob was outside, trying to break down the doors. He tells Anderson Cooper what was going through his mind while watching the video.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

TOO FAST, TOO FURIOUS, SLOW DOWN MY FRIEND.Many founders make the mistake of getting their first sales hire or buying technology for their teams too early. In this episode, Collin explains why we should not be making such hasty decisions. Learn more about this by tuning in to this latest episode of Sales Transformation. Jazz up your sales mindset with Kevin Dorsey aka KD and some of the brightest minds in sales in Live Better Sell Better!Stop sending boring sales e-mails or videos and start sending catchy GIFs and Memes with VIDU.io!Power up your podcast experience by joining our Free Podcast Community!EPISODE HIGHLIGHTSWhy you should not hire too earlyYou should invest in tech stack tooThings to nail first before buying tech“People get confused thinking that technology is going to solve their problem. It's like, technology is great, but if you haven't nailed your targeting, you haven't nailed your messaging. You can buy all the technology you want, you're just going to be doing what's not working at scale.” - Collin on hastily buying technology without the legworkConnect with Joe Arioto and Josh Hirsch and learn more about what they've been working on!About JoeAbout JoshAbout MetaGrowthMetaGrowth.VenturesConnect with Collin and find out what's new in Sales Transformation and other things he's up to:About CollinAbout SalescastSalescast CommunitySales TransformationWanna kick off your own kick-ass podcast?Already have one? How about growing it, or even monetizing it?LET'S TALK.

Catholic priest and author Fr. Charles Murr discusses liturgical abuse in the Church and why tradition has to be the way forward. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

The party regroups outside of town with news of Bridger. Hastily trying to catchup with their companion, they stumble across an old friend of Flea's along the way. Find us at:Twitter @bashshieldFacebook: Shield Bash (https://www.facebook.com/Shield-Bash-246106959407906/)Farmageddon: (https://www.facebook.com/Farmageddon137/)Website: https://shieldbash.net/https://farmageddon137.com/Contact us at: shieldbashpodcast@gmail.comAdditional Music by: Loyalty Freak Music Abomination Vaults adventure path and Pathfinder are property of Paizo Publishing Inc.The Shield Bash Podcast is owned by Shield Bash Inc. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

*With apologies to Shane.NB: Out of town so no real show notes this week. Sorry!Get bonus episodes by subscribing to the SLEERICKETS Secret Show!SLEERICKETS t-shirts are now on sale. They look good!Some of the topics mentioned in this episode:– Poetry Says Ep. 186: Sensitive New Right GuyTwitter: @sleerickets, @BPlatzerEmail: sleerickets [at] gmail [dot] comSister Podcast (Alice): Poetry SaysEratosphere (Cameron): W T ClarkMusic by ETRNLArt by Daniel Alexander Smith

Genuine girl power enthusiast, speaker, and author Michelle Dempsey knows how difficult divorce is for mothers with young kids. Her struggle in finding resources motivated her to write and launch a podcast, aiming to guide other women in defeating the challenges of divorce and moving forward into becoming their best selves. What's her main piece of advice? Seek support, and focus on yourself. Tune in to this episode on Moms Moving On: Conquering Divorce and Conflicted Coparenting with Michelle Dempsey. Key points covered in this episode:   ✔️Keep your ego in check. You may not have full control over other people's opinions. But you have the power over your response. Michelle Dempsey touches on women's paralyzing worry over their ex-spouses, badmouthing them to their children. ✔️ Co-parenting expert Bill Eddy says, “One reasonable parent is enough for the kids to be okay, even in unreasonable situations.” Cut out all the fighting and talking badly about your ex, then your kids would come out more resilient than ever.  ✔️Everybody's journey post-divorce looks different. And that's okay. Don't rush the process. Hastily securing your financials, parenting plan, or even living conditions can have long-term consequences. You want to be set up for success after this life-changing experience. ✔️The person who should change after marriage is you. No, it isn't your fault, nor did you do anything wrong. But because you have to pick yourself up and learn how to co-parent with someone you once loved.   ✔️Personal validation is your responsibility. You're in this situation to be a parent, not as a former lover. If you've been so used to receiving approval from this person, it's time to set boundaries. ✔️Take it slow in finding a healthy relationship post-divorce. It can be exhausting for the children to be introduced to someone new every two weeks. Enjoy your singlehood as you search for the right person that brings comfort and safety into your home and your heart. Michelle Dempsey is a writer, mom, coach, Certified Divorce Specialist, speaker, and genuine girl power enthusiast. She fully believes in the power of having someone by your side to help you through the uncomfortable process of divorce as a way to empower and educate, making clients stronger. Her work has been featured in publications including Forbes, Scary Mommy, Parents, Daily Business Review, HuffPost, Elite Daily, and more. She works with women at all stages of divorce; from just deciding to end their marriage to looking for their stride in co-parenting and everything in between. _______________________________________ Connect with Wendy Sterling: Website: https://wendysterling.net/ Instagram: @divorcerehabwithwendy Twitter: @thedivorcerehab Facebook: @wendytsterling  Need an opportunity to share your pain points and receive judgment-free support? Want to create a vision of a future after your divorce? Click here to schedule your Free Divorce Recovery Call: https://calendly.com/wendysterling/support-call-with-wendy?month=2021-07

Hastily stash your secrets in the foreshadowing lunch box, meet me at the diner while we plot our escape from… humans? Join us as we travel through frozen time with the Epix series, From this week.Tasty links below...Site: https://fyrpodcast.comApple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/for-your-reference/id1453532214Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ForYourReferenceTwitter: https://twitter.com/ForYourRefPodInsta: https://www.instagram.com/foryourrefpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6oOmo_3tzdD0VtBzt2d0JA

Our adventurers find themselves in Horse Problem-Solving Mode, not for the first time on their journey. Rhakna says something she's never said before. Kai has some big ideas. Triggus speaks a new language.