Podcasts about in english

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 30, 2025 is: charisma • kuh-RIZ-muh • noun Charisma refers to a special magnetic charm or appeal that causes people to feel attracted and excited by someone. A person with charisma is captivating and often admired. // The young singer has the kind of charisma that turns a performer into a star. See the entry > Examples: "Sports and showbiz have gone hand in hand since newsreels in the 1920s showcased the skills and charisma of Babe Ruth." — Carole Horst, Variety, 16 July 2025 Did you know? The Greek word charisma means "favor" or "gift." It comes from the verb charizesthai ("to favor"), which in turn comes from the noun charis, meaning "grace." In English, charisma was originally used in Christian contexts to refer to a gift or power bestowed upon an individual by the Holy Spirit for the good of the Church—a sense that is now very rare. These days, we use the word to refer to social, rather than divine, grace. For instance, a leader with charisma may easily gain popular support, and a job applicant with charisma may shine in an interview.

不少小伙伴听到 “as old as the hills” 这个表达可能会觉得奇怪，“as…as” 是像……一样，“old” 是老的，“hills” 是山丘，字面直译好像是 “像山一样老”。但实际它是个非常地道且常用的比喻！先来听一下它的英文解释：In English, when you say something is as old as the hills, you're kind of saying that whatever you're talking about is as old as the earth, as old as the hills and valleys that we see around us.在英语中，当你说某事与山一样古老时，你有点像是在说无论你在说什么都和地球一样古老，就像山丘一样古老和山谷我们在我们周围看到的。这个短语的起源颇有渊源，最早可追溯到宗教典籍《圣经·约伯记》第15章第7节。不过它以现在的固定形式“as old as the hills”流行开来，是在18世纪之后。1734年弗朗西斯·哈钦森的著作《为古代历史学家辩护》中首次明确使用该表述，19世纪后更是被马克·吐温等知名作家在作品中引用，逐渐成为英语中描述“古老”的常用习语，沿用至今。例如：She comes from a family as old as the hills.她来自一个历史悠久的家族（有着古老传承的家族）。This tradition is as old as the hills and has been passed down for centuries.这个传统由来已久，已经传承了几个世纪（有着悠久的历史）。“As old as the hills”This phrase is used to describe something that is extremely old, ancient, or has existed for a very long time. The hills are used as a metaphor because they have been on Earth for millennia.这个短语用来形容极其古老、历史悠久或存在了很久的事物。用“山”来比喻，是因为山已经存在于地球上数百万年了。翻译成中文有 “历史悠久、年代久远、老掉牙了、陈年老套” 的意思。常用于形容事物、观念、笑话或习俗非常古老。原声再现：This place has history as old as the hills.此地历史悠久，可追溯至远古时期。You might say, ah, that guy's old as the hills meaning that they're almost as old as the earth itself.你可能会说， 啊，那家伙和山一样老，意思是他们几乎和地球本身一样古老。更多卡卡老师分享公众号：卡卡课堂 卡卡老师微信：kakayingyu002送你一份卡卡老师学习大礼包，帮助你在英文学习路上少走弯路

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 28, 2025 is: yen • YEN • noun A yen is a strong desire, urge, or craving for something. // After dinner, the family went out for ice cream to satisfy their yen for something sweet. // Students with a yen to travel should consider studying abroad. See the entry > Examples: “If you've got a yen for succulent, right-off-the-boat Maine sea scallops, now is the time to get them.” — Stephen Rappaport, The Bangor Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025 Did you know? Although yen suggests no more than a strong desire these days (as in “a yen for a beach vacation”), at one time someone with a yen was in deep trouble: the first meaning of yen, used in the late 19th century, was an intense craving for opium. The word comes from yīn-yáhn, a combination of yīn, meaning “opium,” and yáhn, “craving,” in the Chinese language used in the province of Guangdong. In English, the Chinese syllables were translated as yen-yen, and eventually shortened to yen.

Friday, 26 December 2025   Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? Matthew 15:17   “Not yet you grasp that all, the ‘entering into the mouth,' into the stomach it contains, and into the john it ejects?” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus chided the disciples, noting their still being unintelligent. He now explains their question with basic information that any child could understand, beginning with, “Not yet you grasp.”   Two new words are seen here. The first is oupó, yet. It is not found in all manuscripts. Instead, some say, “Not you grasp.” Either way, the word will be found in all manuscripts starting in Matthew 16:9.   The second new word is noeó, to exercise the mind. Thus, it means to understand, comprehend, etc. To keep it distinct from other similar words in a translation, saying “grasp” satisfies the need.   HELPS Word Studies says that this word “underlines the moral culpability we all have before God – for every decision (value-judgment) we make. This follows from each of us being created in the divine image – hence, possessing the inherent capacity by the Lord to exercise moral reasoning.”   What Jesus wonders if they yet grasp is “that all, the ‘entering into the mouth,' into the stomach it contains.”   Jesus gives them a lesson in basic human physiology. In fact, it is characteristic of life everywhere. In these words are two more new words. The first is eisporeuomai, to enter. When a person feeds himself, food enters his mouth. From the very first moments of a baby's existence, this is understood. They know exactly what to do to obtain nourishment.   The next new word is chóreó, to be in space or to give space. Thus, it gives a sense of holding. When a person eats, the food doesn't just stay in his mouth. Rather, it takes a journey down the alimentary canal. As it heads down, it stops in the stomach. While there, the stomach contains it and processes it.   Anyone who has had a meal knows this. The feeling is sensational each time we eat as the stomach whirls and churns, breaking down the food. If there was something upsetting in the food, the feeling may still be sensational, but in a bad way. Maybe we would call the sensation miserable. Whatever way it affects us, it eventually leads to Jesus' next words, which finish His question, “and into the john it ejects?”   Here is yet another new word, aphedrón, a place of sitting. Eventually, the food is processed in the stomach, continues on a long meandering journey through the bowels, and eventually it is ejected in the place of sitting.   In English, we have innumerable words to describe the location. There are locative descriptions, such as outhouse. There are accommodating descriptions, such as privy. We have coyly deceptive descriptions, such as powder room. And then there are colorful descriptions that every schoolboy knows, and many build upon.   And there is, of course, the memorial word john. That is most likely named after Sir John Harington. He was a 6th-century godson of Queen Elizabeth I. Being Mr. Inventive, he designed an early type of flushing toilet. Even though he wasn't the first to invent a flushing toilet, his invention, along with a satirical pamphlet he wrote about it, popularized the word john. Thus, his name became slang for his device.   Jesus' basic physiology course ends. He will next teach a truth about this process, making a contrast with it to something else.   Life application: Imagine your name is associated with such an invention, being repeated millions of times every day. There are lots of ways to be remembered that are far more tasteful. However, the best way of all is to be remembered on the day the Lord comes for His church.   Paul describes the event –   “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53   You may not be famous now, but you are important to God if you have trusted the gospel. So get ready for transformation day when Jesus calls us out of this corruptible body. We are talking about a name with eternal fame, simply by believing. So be ready by trusting Jesus!    Lord God Almighty, You designed us according to Your wisdom, and we are wonderfully made. But what will we be like when we have our change? The thought captures our attention. How we long for that day. May it be soon. Amen.

In this episode of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Susan Lambert is joined by research scientist and professor Julie Van Dyke, Ph.D., who explains why syntax instruction may be the missing piece in our mission to improve comprehension outcomes for all students. Together, Julie and Susan discuss why syntax is the part of the language system that matters for comprehension, how the same systematicity and rule governance that you find in teaching phonics also exists in syntax, and how explicit syntax instruction could be the next breakthrough in evidence-based literacy education.Show notes:Register to join our Science of Comprehension Symposium.Submit your questions on comprehension!Connect with Julie Van Dyke on LinkedIn.Learn more about Julie Van Dyke's research on her website.Watch an interview about Syntax Comes First: Understanding How Syntax Is the Backbone of ComprehensionWatch Dr. Van Dyke's webinar: Finding the Missing Link in Reading Comprehension. Access recent Perspectives issues via the IDA. Listen to Season 2 of Amplify's Beyond My Years podcast.Join our community Facebook group.Connect with Susan Lambert.Quotes:"In English, syntax is word order. Syntax is the relationship between the entities in a sentence." —Julie Van Dyke, Ph.D."If you want to increase comprehension, you need to be explicit in syntax because that's the part of the language system that matters for comprehension." —Julie Van Dyke, Ph.D."Comprehension is the glue between the words. It's the process of gluing the words together, each word as you go." —Julie Van Dyke, Ph.D.Episode Timestamps:00:00 Introduction: Syntax and comprehension with Julie Van Dyke, Ph.D.06:00 Nervousness around syntax instruction11:00 Comprehension is the glue between words15:00 The difference between grammar and syntax19:00 How the brain learns language and how syntax is related to that learning24:00 Oral language is much less complicated than written language30:00 Explaining regressions33:00 The need to be explicit in syntax instruction36:00 How we develop fluency as syntax44:00 Closing thoughts: Syntax can move the needle on the nation's report card*Timestamps are approximate, rounded to nearest minute

Well, hello and welcome to Wednesdays with Bob. Remember, even though this isn't a traditional English lesson, it can be used as one. There are word for word English subtitles if you need to turn them on, and a complete English transcript in the description below.So you might be wondering what's going on. Number one, it's not Wednesday today, it's Tuesday, as you watch this probably. And number, two, you might be thinking, I thought these videos, these Wednesdays with Bobs, were for members only. Well, this week is really, really busy for me and I didn't really have time to make an English lesson. And I didn't really have time to also make a Wednesdays with Bob. So I thought I would kill two birds with one stone.In English, when you kill two birds with one stone, it means you get one thing done. You get two things done at the same time. Am I explaining that properly? It means that as I make this Wednesdays with Bob, I'm also going to put it out as my Tuesday video this week. So all of you who, who are members, thank you for supporting the channel. All of you who aren't members. This is one of, the things. This video is one of the things that members get, almost every Wednesday, actually I think 46 or 47 times out of the year, I do a Wednesdays with Bob video.And what do I talk about in a Wednesdays with Bob video? Well, sometimes I just talk about the weather. I talk about how we have a little bit of snow here on the farm. I might talk about how it's really cold out here today. It's actually minus eight right now. I should probably be wearing, probably be wearing a winter hat. I also talk about my life and things that are going on.One of the reasons why I'm busy is I need to go to work tonight. I have to go to work tonight to be recognized for working at the school for 25 years. I don't know if it's just going to be a little presentation. I don't know if I'm going to get a gift. But, I have to go to work, tonight.And, last Friday night I actually had to chaperone a school dance. When you chaperone something as a teacher or as an adult, you are, responsible for, the behavior of the students who are at that event. So there was a school dance. I chaperoned it late Friday night. I still don't feel like I've fully recovered from that. I still feel pretty tired.And then I have to go back to work tonight. But, it is, I guess me and a few other teachers are being recognized, for our years of service.You might be wondering, do I ever talk about the chickens? Well, sometimes I do. The chickens actually at some point need to go into the barn. It's not too cold out here for them. They are protected from the wind. But I think this weekend we'll be moving them into the barn and they'll have a much more enjoyable place to be.I'm trying to find Jen, but she's running away from me. She's, she's trying. I tried to hide from you, you're trying to hide from me. I'm killing two birds with one stone. I'm doing a Wednesdays with Bob, but then I'm going to release it Tuesday to everybody. So then I don't have to worry about, getting that done. I was just explaining how busy I am. Oh, and there's Walter. So, do you have anything to say to my wonderful audience? It's cold. It is cold. I wasn't ready for this. Yes, it's definitely colder than we expected.Where am I at here? Oh, I've already talked for too long. I better wrap this up. So I'll walk away now. Anyways, this is what Wednesdays with Bob is. It's me rambling and there actually is some English to learn. If you want to learn a bit of English with this video. I've probably talked too long to include the whole transcript in the description at this point. So I will.Note: This is the audio portion of a Youtube English lesson which you can watch right here and the full transcript is in the description there:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt1GRURds9g or by searching Youtube for, "Bob the Canadian 243"

Send Car-Chum a TextSometimes I'm so pleased with the title I forget the episode.  Jokes.  Join me and my Car-Chum Mike Renaut - yes the classic auto-journo - as we head to the Continent for a French Fancy or two.  This is Car-Chum's French edition.  In English.Support the show

The The Aiki Dojo Podcast - A Discussion About Budo Renshu With Glenn Yoshida SenseiIn Episode 75 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, Glenn Yoshida Sensei from Renshinkan Dojo shares he thoughts on O'Sensei's book Budo Renshu. Budo Renshu is a book published by Morihei Ueshiba in the late 1930s. It features drawings of the execution of his techniques before Aikido became “Aikido.” In English the book is titled: Budo Training in Aikido. Yoshida Sensei was a student of Chiba Sensei and brings over 65 years of Aikido experience to his interpretation of Budo Renshu. Enjoy!For more information about Budo Renshu, please contact Yoshida Sensei at: glennyoshida@gmail.com   Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/n36gsyyWdegThe Aiki Dojo Podcast's goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The podcast is hosted by David Ito Sensei who is the Chief Instructor of the Aikido Center of Los Angeles and he brings over 35 years of Aikido training to the podcast. The podcast is co-hosted by Ken Watanabe Shihan, and Bill D'Angelo, Aikido 5th Dan. Let us know if you have a topic that you would like Ito Sensei and the team to discuss in the next podcast.You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes or Spotify or wherever you download your podcasts. Enjoy!For more information about Budo Renshu, please contact Yoshida Sensei at: glennyoshida@gmail.com   Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/n36gsyyWdegThe Aiki Dojo Podcast's goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The podcast is hosted by David Ito Sensei who is the Chief Instructor of the Aikido Center of Los Angeles and he brings over 35 years of Aikido training to the podcast. The podcast is co-hosted by Ken Watanabe Shihan, and Bill D'Angelo, Aikido 5th Dan. Let us know if you have a topic that you would like Ito Sensei and the team to discuss in the next podcast.The calligraphy that appears in this podcast are original creations by Yoshida Kuniharu. He can be reached here: https://www.instagram.com/kuni_rhythm/https://www.facebook.com/kuniharu.yoshida92Watch our 2 Minute Technique series:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiXORPL-lO6CxvDYf8RXbmKN_Pbw1XPWPWatch our podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiXORPL-lO6Ak4vwXgRtzWY7ohjMTmJhQRead our blog, the Aiki Dojo Message: http://www.aikidocenterla.com/blogRead our Newsletter:http://www.aikidocenterla.com/newsletterFollow us on social media:Facebook: Aikido Center of LA: https://www.facebook.com/aikidocenterlaIto Sensei: https://www.facebook.com/aikidoteacherInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/aikidocenterla/Ito Sensei: https://www.instagram.com/teacher.aikido/For more information about Aikido http://www.aikidocenterla.comRev. Kensho Furuya: http://www.kenshofuruya.comIf you enjoyed this video, please support Furuya Sensei's vision and our non-profit foundation and the Aikido Center of Los Angeles. https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=85D4U4CXREWN4

This week, we're proud to feature NALC members who have served in our nation's military or are currently on active duty in honor of Veterans Day! Tune in to hear overviews of essential topics and resources for our fellow veteran letter carriers. Our sincere thanks go out to our special guests and to all our veteran members for their service to our nation. Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts! Info about NALC Veterans Group and the Veterans Group Guide are both available at nalc.org/veterans. 00:00:50 – Committee of Presidents 00:03:56 — NALC Health Benefit Plan Seminar and Open Season 00:09:17 — Bargaining Subcommittee Updates 00:10:50 — 2025 National Rap Session 00:13:50 — "Shut Down Hunger" Food Drive 00:20:20 — Introduction to Veterans Day Episode 00:25:01 — Nora Stamper | Seattle, WA Branch 79 | Marines | Veterans' Preference—Discipline Process and the Merit Systems Protection Board 00:39:12 — Troy Saunders | Baltimore, MD Branch 176 | Marines | Buying Back Your Military Time, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Website, the Buy Back Estimator, and Annual Leave Accrual 00:47:27 — Artegus Felder | Montgomery, AL Branch 106 | Army | The Hoover Executive Order 5396, MOU 00165, and Wounded Warrior Leave 00:55:56 — Carman Montgomery | Mobile, AL Branch 469 | Active Duty Air Force | Military Leave and Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) 01:07:02 — Charles Bundy | Chicago, IL Branch 11 | Navy | ID.me Virtual ID, Veteran License, State and County Benefits, DMV Plates and Stickers, and the NALC Veterans Group 01:14:04 — Shane Davis | Jonesboro, AR Branch 1138 | Navy | On-the-Job Injuries—OWCP/DVA Dual Coverage, Veterans and Mental Health 01:27:53 — (In English and Spanish) Christopher Cotto-Sanchez | San Juan, PR Branch 869 | Army | DD 214 Requests and the Veterans Affairs App

Wednesday, 5 November 2025   and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” Matthew 14:2   “and he said to his servants, ‘This, he is John the Immerser! He, he is aroused from the dead, and through this the miracles work in him!'” (CG).   In the previous verse, it said that Herod the tetrarch heard the words about Jesus. Now, that continues, saying, “and he said to his servants, ‘This, he is John the Immerser!'”   Both Matthew 16 and Luke 9 show that there was speculation about who Jesus was. Among them, there were three predominant views –   “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?' 14 So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'” Matthew 16:13, 14   The reason Herod was certain that Jesus was actually John the Baptist will be the subject of the coming verses. Through verse 12, it will explain Herod's interactions with John and members of his household that led him to a seemingly neurotic state concerning John. Of this deduction made by Herod, he emphatically continues, saying, “He, he is aroused from the dead.”   The word dead is plural. In English, “dead” is normally a cumulative word, especially when preceded by a definite article. Herod is stating that John was among those who had been dead, but he had somehow been raised from among them. The emphatic nature of his words shows that he was certain this was the case. As a result of this, he continues, saying, “and through this the miracles work in him!”   Herod ties the power of working miracles as the result of being raised from the dead. This confirms the words concerning John recorded in John's gospel –   “Then many came to Him and said, ‘John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.'”  John 10:41   In his life, John didn't perform any signs. However, Herod says, “through this,” meaning through the resurrection, he was now able to perform signs. If one thinks this through, it shows the ridiculous stupidity of his thought process.   If John were raised from the dead, after losing his head, that itself would be the greatest miracle, not any of the others instead. And more, it shows without any ambiguity at all that Herod thought that the dead could be raised.   Life application: Have you ever talked to someone about Jesus and been told that he didn't believe it is possible for the dead to rise? It is not uncommon for people to hold this view.   And yet, the same type of people accept that the universe exploded itself into existence and then put itself together in such a way as to create the precision of life on planet Earth. Along with that, it planned the placement of the sun, moon, and earth, so that eclipses can take place with absolute predictability and precision, the seasons are perfectly marked to support life and return at the exact time necessary for the cycle to continue, etc.   Others claim that life is sacred and killing a person, even if he has committed the most horrendous of crimes, is wrong. And yet the same people claim that killing the unborn or euthanizing the physically or mentally defective and elderly is perfectly acceptable.   Still others believe that ghosts exist, demons can live within people, various gods have control over events in nature, or things coincide within the span of time in order to have certain objectives met according to predetermined plans (things understood by divination, for example).   People can accept the most ridiculous propositions, including people rising from the dead (like Herod's belief about John the Baptist), but they turn around and deny that the dead can actually rise when presented with the evidence concerning Jesus.   It is as if we have a default setting in us that says, “If the true God is involved in the process, it cannot be true.” However, we will accept the exact same type of evidence without reservation once the true God is taken out of the picture.   God created and made everything perfect for man to inhabit the earth. “No, it cannot be!” God says that life is sacred and that when someone violates that principle, he must be executed. Jesus came to die for the sins of all people, including murderers. He died for them and rose again. “No, it cannot be!”   Jesus rose again, proving there is more than the material realm that is working in the world around us. “No, it cannot be!”   If you encounter such unclear thinking, as frustrating as it is, you can use their unclear reasoning (if they are willing to consider your thoughts) to show them that they already believe what they deny, and that what they need to do is to reconsider the source of their belief, going from a non-God centered reality to a God-centered reality.   It is not always easy, but if you have the time to work with people by learning what they accept or do not accept, you can then help them understand the hypocritical thoughts going on in their head, assisting them to realign their thinking to what is sound and reasonable.   Lord God, You have changed our hearts and minds to go from a state of unbelief to one of accepting the proposition concerning the good news of Jesus. Help us to now work with others to think clearly about what we believe, demonstrating to them why our thoughts are reasonable. We know the truth of Your word, so help us to present it to others so that they can see it as well. Amen.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 2, 2025 is: arbitrary • AHR-buh-trair-ee • adjective Arbitrary describes something that is not planned or chosen for a particular reason, is not based on reason or evidence, or is done without concern for what is fair or right. // Because the committee wasn't transparent about the selection process, the results of the process appeared to be wholly arbitrary. // An arbitrary number will be assigned to each participant. See the entry > Examples: “The authority of the crown, contemporaries believed, was instituted by God to rule the kingdom and its people. England's sovereign was required to be both a warrior and a judge, to protect the realm from external attack and internal anarchy. To depose the king, therefore, was to risk everything—worldly security and immortal soul—by challenging the order of God's creation. Such devastatingly radical action could never be justified unless kingship became tyranny: rule by arbitrary will rather than law, threatening the interests of kingdom and people instead of defending them.” — Helen Castor, The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV, 2024 Did you know? Donning black robes and a powdered wig to learn about arbitrary might seem to be an arbitrary—that is, random or capricious—choice, but it would in fact jibe with the word's etymology. Arbitrary comes from the Latin noun arbiter, which means “judge” and is the source of the English word arbiter, also meaning “judge.” In English, arbitrary first meant “depending upon choice or discretion” and was specifically used to indicate the sort of decision (as for punishment) left up to the expert determination of a judge rather than defined by law. Today, it can also be used for anything determined by or as if by chance or whim.

节目简介 | Episode Description | エピソード紹介在英文里，play 这个动词的用处很广，从 play basketball 到 play the piano 都可以用一个词表达。但在中文里，“玩”“打”“踢”“弹”“拉”都有不同的意思和使用场合。 这一期，我们就来聊聊——英文的一个 play，到了中文里该怎么说？In English, the verb play is incredibly versatile — you can play basketball, play games, or play the piano. But in Chinese, there isn't a single verb that fits all these meanings! This episode explores how “play” changes into words like 玩, 打, 踢, 弹, and 拉 in different contexts.英語の play はとても便利な動詞ですが、中国語では「玩」「打」「踢」「弹」「拉」など、使い分けが必要です。今回のエピソードでは、それぞれの違いと使い方を分かりやすく紹介します。#play的中文 #中文动词 #中国語動詞 #ChineseVerbs #中文口语 #语言学习 #語学学習 #LanguageLearning #中文播客 #中国語ポッドキャスト发短信给我！ Send me a text!Support the show如果您喜欢我的播客，欢迎通过下方方式表达您的支持。您的支持对我来说是巨大的鼓励。但无论如何，我都很感激有您作为听众。能够每周与您分享几分钟的时光，对我来说是莫大的荣幸。❤️ If you enjoy my podcast, you're welcome to show your support through the options below. Your support means a great deal to me and is a huge source of encouragement. But no matter what, I'm truly grateful to have you as a listener. It's an honor to share a few minutes with you each week!❤️ ☕

Abdaljawad Omar and Lara Sheehi will join us on the 2nd anniversary of the beginning of Tufan Al-Aqsa! We will remember the morning of October 7th 2023. In the two years since then there has been a genocidal counterinsurgency war waged against the whole Palestinian population, most acutely through the apocalyptic decimation of the Gaza Strip. There has also been constant resistance in many forms. How do we consider the present moment, the possibilities (once again) of "ceasefire," the attempts to end the "Palestinian Question," the actuality of resistance and the possibilities for a resistance that will produce a liberated Palestine, and more broadly a world that we all want to inhabit. Remind yourself of some of the images from Tufan Al-Aqsa.  Abdaljawad Omar is a Palestinian scholar, educator, and theorist whose work focuses on the politics of resistance, decolonization, and the Palestinian struggle. He has written extensively in Arabic. In English, in addition to being a frequent contributor to Millennials Are Killing Capitalism, he has contributed to Electronic Intifada, Ebb Magazine, Material, Mondoweiss, Communis, Monthly Review, and Rusted Radishes among other outlets. Lara Sheehi is a Research Fllow at the University of South Africa. She was the founding faculty director of the Psychoanalysis and the Arab World Lab. Lara's work takes up decolonial and anti-oppressive approaches to psychoanalysis, with a focus on liberation struggles in the Global South. She is co-author with Stephen Sheehi of Psychoanalysis Under Occupation: Practicing Resistance in Palestine (Routledge, 2022) which won the Middle East Monitor's 2022 Palestine Book Award for Best Academic Book. Lara is the author of the forthcoming book, From the Clinic to the Street: Psychoanalysis for Revolutionary Futures (Pluto Press, 2026) Support Palestinians through the Sameer Project or Lifeline4Gaza

In the past week, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, globally known as Bad Bunny, has been everywhere in the news and lighting up social media with major moves in both music and pop culture. Starting with the biggest headline, Bad Bunny has been officially named the Super Bowl LIX halftime performer for 2026 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, a decision that's sparked lively debates and reactions online and across TV networks. The announcement was quickly followed by a viral appearance on Saturday Night Live this weekend, where Bad Bunny both hosted and addressed the controversy swirling around his halftime slot.On SNL, Bad Bunny took the stage in trademark style, using his opening monologue to directly respond to critics questioning his selection for the Super Bowl show. In English and Spanish, he reminded everyone that his performance is a victory not just for himself but for the entire Latino community in the U.S., saying, “Our footprints and our contribution to this country—no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it.” He addressed the possibility of the performance being entirely in Spanish, which sparked heated responses from a segment of the U.S. political spectrum, especially after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed ICE officers would be present at the event, a move that many fans saw as politically charged. Social media erupted with support, memes, and the now-trending tag “Duolingo for the Gringos,” as people celebrated Bad Bunny's unapologetically Latino stance and infectious pride.While the Super Bowl news has dominated sports and entertainment commentary, Bad Bunny's musical influence remains just as strong. On January 5, he released his sixth studio album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” (“I Should Have Taken More Photos”). The project has been hailed by many outlets, including NME and Wikipedia, as his most personal yet, blending reggaeton and house with deep dives into traditional Puerto Rican roots—plena, salsa, bomba, and more. Lyrically, the album explores Puerto Rican political realities, cultural pride, and the nostalgia of capturing moments before they pass. The record has already gone to number one on the Billboard 200 and its tracks are dominating the Hot 100, making Bad Bunny the first Latin artist with more than 100 entries on the chart. TikTok has been buzzing as song after song from “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” finds viral life with dance challenges and heartfelt covers.In addition to his SNL appearance and musical achievements, Bad Bunny just wrapped up a historic concert residency in Puerto Rico and is preparing for his “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” World Tour, which kicks off in November. Notably, he's skipping the U.S. on this leg, explaining in interviews that concerns about immigration enforcement and ICE presence influenced his decision. According to i-D magazine, Bad Bunny expressed that safety and respect for his community are at the forefront of his decisions, drawing widespread empathy and praise from Latino and immigrant supporters on X and Instagram.Adding to his pop culture reach, Bad Bunny appeared in the much-watched trailer for Adam Sandler's “Happy Gilmore 2,” showing that his crossover appeal remains sky-high. Forbes and Billboard recently reported his Most Wanted Tour raked in over $210 million last year, cementing his status as a live performance giant.With the Super Bowl, a hit album, SNL, viral singles, chart records, and a blockbuster tour, Bad Bunny is more than just a superstar—he's a cultural force redefining global music and representation. Thank you for tuning in. Come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production and for more from me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

It's been just more than a week since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and in death, as in life, the far-right podcaster is proving divisive. While his supporters mourn, many critics have seized the moment to call out his polarising legacy - a legacy now being weaponised by far-right leaders from DC to Tel Aviv. Contributors: Jeffrey Sharlet - Professor, Dartmouth College Jude Russo - Managing editor, The American Conservative Kyle Spencer - CEO, The Pro-Democracy Information Lab Meredith Clark - UNC Hussman School of Journalism & Media On our radar: This week, the UN formally declared what Palestinians have long been saying: That Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza. In English, Israeli officials are indignant at the charge. But in Hebrew, they continue to provide more evidence of their genocidal intent. Ryan Kohls reports. Russia, Ukraine and The Trump Effect Donald Trump's second term has injected unpredictability into the Russia-Ukraine war: Unsettling Kyiv, emboldening Moscow and forcing media on both sides to recalibrate. The Listening Post hears from an exiled Russian journalist and a Ukrainian media scholar on how the conflict is being framed - and what both sides fear will come next. Featuring: Dariya Orlova - Associate professor, Mohyla School of Journalism Mikhail Fishman - Journalist, TV Rain

Preply is a great way to find an English conversation partner. Find the perfect tutor to help you make real progress on your English learning journey! Use this link: http://preply.sjv.io/e1XbJ1 to get 50% off your first lesson or use code BOB50 at checkout. In my experience Preply is a great way to take your language learning to the next level!In this English lesson I will help you learn phrases that have numbers in them. Have you ever heard someone say they were feeling 100% or that they wanted to split something 50/50? In English, we often use numbers in everyday expressions.In this lesson, I'll teach you some of the most common number phrases in English, explain their meanings, and give you clear examples so you can start using them right away.You'll learn useful expressions like giving 110%, to go halfsies, to rate something out of 10, to feel 100%, to be one in a million, to be second to none, and more.These phrases are common in conversations, movies, TV shows, and even at work. By understanding them, you'll sound more natural and confident when you speak English.I hope you enjoy this English lesson on number phrases! Have a great day!Note: This is the audio portion of a Youtube English lesson which you can watch right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEzzgXJWvPQ or by searching Youtube for, "Bob the Canadian Number Phrases"

A Sermon for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity St. Luke 10:23-37 & Hosea 6:1-11 by William Klock “A lawyer got up and put Jesus on the spot,” writes St. Luke in today's Gospel.  If you're following along, this is Luke 10:25.  “A lawyer got up and put Jesus on the spot.”  An expert on torah.  If you had a question about whether or not to do such-and-such or how you were to do this or not do that and it wasn't spelled out in black and white in the Bible, this was the guy you asked.  He knew how to parse it and extrapolate it all out.  And he's angry.  He's been hanging out on the edge of the crowd as Jesus addressed his disciples, but enough is enough.  He pushes forward.  He's going to put Jesus on the spot and expose him for the fraud he is.  And so he calls out, “Teacher,” and he gets Jesus' attention.  And then he asks, “What should I do to inherit the life of the age to come.”  I can imagine him leaning back on his heels, arms crossed.  Jesus is going to hang himself with his answer and everyone's going to walk away and never listen to Jesus again. But we before we get to Jesus' answer, we need to ask what the lawyer was actually asking.  “What must I do to inherit…zoen aionion?”  Zoe aionios to say it in Greek.  Zoe means “life” and we've traditionally translated aionios as “eternal”.  That's not wrong, but “eternal” doesn't fully capture the significance of aionios as it was used by Judeans of Jesus' day.  In English “eternal” just means “eternal”…“forever”.  And we think the lawyer is asking, “What must I do to live forever?”  For a lot of people that translates into “What must I do to go to heaven when I die?”  But it's really a lot deeper than that.  At the root of this word aionios is the word—and it might sound a little familiar—aion.  It's where we get our word “aeon” and it's basic meaning is “age” and it became shorthand for “the age to come”—meaning the messianic age everyone was hoping and longing for. And the lawyer asks this question about the age to come, because he's been listening to Jesus address his disciples as they returned from the mission he'd sent them on.  He sent out seventy to proclaim the good news—to gospel the gospel in the cities and towns of Israel and they came back excited because of the things they'd seen.  At the name of Jesus, even demons obeyed them.  And Jesus said to them: This is what the prophets foretold.  Isaiah and Ezekiel told of their visions of the satan falling like lightening and you're seeing it happen.  God's kingdom is breaking in.  God's light is driving away the darkness and toppling the rulers of the present evil age—and you're part of it.  And this is where he says to them, “Don't rejoice that spirits are subject to you, but rejoice [about what it means:] that your names are written in heaven.” God's got a book—metaphorically speaking—and in it he records the names of everyone who belongs to him, of everyone whom he will one day resurrect from death and lead into the age to come.  The Jews knew their names were written in that book.  God had chosen them and so long as they didn't wilfully reject him—which is what the tax collectors and sinners did—their names were written in that book and, when the Messiah came, he would set the world to rights and lead them into the age to come. But what's got this lawyer worked up is that Jesus is implying that they may not all have their names written in the book after all.  The lawyer—like pretty much everyone in Israel—knew his name was written in the book because God had made a covenant with them and because they kept their end of the covenant—the torah.  Circumcision, sabbath, diet, all these things marked them out and demonstrated their commitment and love for God.  But Jesus has just said to his disciples, “A blessing on the eyes which see what you see!  Let me tell you, many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, and they didn't see it; and to hear what you hear, and they didn't hear it!”  In other words, the renewal of Israel that God had promised through the prophets had come—in Jesus—and being written in God's book is about more than just being born a Jew or even the outward observance of torah.  And it's that last bit that Jesus is getting at in his answer.  Look at verse 26.  Jesus responds to the lawyer's question and asks, “Well, what is written in the law?  What's your interpretation of it?” And the lawyer gives the answer that every kid in Judaea could have given: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your understanding; and your neighbour as yourself.” And Jesus replied—I'm sure to the frustration of the lawyer—“Well said!  Do that and you will live.”  Picture the lawyer gritting his teeth.  No, no, no.  If that's true, then we're all on the same page!  But he knew they weren't, because if Jesus' disciples were “in”, then everyone else was, by implication, “out”.  So, Luke writes, “to justify himself” the lawyer asks Jesus, “But who is my neighbour?”  It's his second attempt at a gotcha question.  And Jesus responds with a story, a parable: “Once upon a time,” he said, “a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and was set upon by robbers.  They stripped him and beat him and ran off leaving him half-dead.” Everybody knew that road.  Very soon Jesus would be travelling it himself, going the other direction, up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover—and to become the new Passover himself.  That road was steep and windy and notorious for the robbers hiding in wait for unwary travellers.  The wise travelled in groups or well-armed.  Travelling it alone, like this man did, was foolish.  This lawyer, listening to Jesus, would be shaking his head and thinking to himself that anyone dumb enough to travel that road alone was a candidate for a Darwin Award. But Jesus goes on.  “A priest happened to be going down that road, and when he saw him he went past on the opposite side.'”  Now, you and I shake our heads and think, “What a horrible priest!  How could he not stop to help the man.”  But we only think that way because we've been shaped by the gospel and by Jesus and the Spirit.  The cross of Jesus has taught us mercy.  That God would not only humble himself, but would shed his blood on behalf of his rebellious children has taught us mercy in a way never understood before the gospel.  But that lawyer—and the crowd and maybe even Jesus' disciples—they lived in the dark world on the other side of the good news of the cross.  They saw nothing wrong with this priest passing by the man.  The priests kept themselves ritually pure.  They had to in order to enter the temple.  Even though this priest is going in the opposite direction—probably on his way home from serving his rotation in the temple—he still kept himself pure.  He couldn't tell if the man was dead or alive and if went over, rolled him over, and found him dead, well, then he'd be impure.  That was okay for normal people, but not for a priest.  And everyone knew this.  And, again, no one had a problem with it.  And, of course, this is the very problem with Israel that Jesus wants to highlight for the lawyer. “Then,” said Jesus, “a Levite came by the place.  He saw him too and went past on the opposite side.”  He might not be a priest, but being a Levite, he too served in the temple.  Again, he's going the opposite way—like the priest, he's probably on his way home from serving in the temple.  But, still, being a Levite, he can't chance becoming impure.  And, again, this was all normal and good and right as far as most people were concerned. “But then,” said Jesus, “a travelling Samaritan came to where he was.”  Everyone frowned at this.  Samaritans were filth.  They were descendants of the Jews who intermarried with the native Canaanite peoples when the people of Judah were in exile.  They worshiped at their own illicit temple at Shechem and they compromised torah with pagan practises and pagan philosophy.  They were traitors of the worst kind.  Just being on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho meant he was fouling the promised land with his impure Samaritan feet.  And yet, Jesus said, “He came over to the man and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.  Then he put him on his own beast, took him to an inn, and looked after him.  The next morning, as he was going on his way, he gave the inn-keeper two dinars. ‘Take care of him,' he said, ‘and on my way back I'll pay you whatever else you need to spend on him.'” “Where's Jesus going with this?”  Everyone was thinking.  “What's his point?”  There's no way this would happen in real life.  But that's kind of the point.  Jesus looks the lawyer in the eye and asks, “Which of these three do you think turned out to be the neighbour of the man who was set upon by the brigands?”  Jesus is going make the lawyer come out and say it.  And the lawyer does, because there's no escape for him.  “The one who showed mercy on him,” he said. “Well,” Jesus said to him, “you go and do the same.” I fully expect that as the lawyer answered the question and said, “The one who showed him…mercy.”  The lights suddenly went on for him for everyone else.  That word “mercy” is the key.  Jesus had just turned Hosea 6:1-11 into a parable.  Here's what the Lord had said through the Prophet Hosea some eight centuries before: Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud,          like the dew that goes early away. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,          the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. But like Adam they transgressed the covenant;          there they dealt faithlessly with me. Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood. As robbers lie in wait for a man,          so the priests band together; they murder on the way to Shechem;          they commit villainy. In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim's whoredom is there; Israel is defiled. For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed, When I restore the fortunes of my people. This the Lord's rebuke of the northern kingdom of Israel—also known as “Samaria”.  Hint, hint.  There's a reason Jesus puts a Samaritan at the centre of the story.  The people of Israel went through the motions of obedience, but the Lord accused them.  Their love for him was “like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away.”  Their nation was a nation of evil-doers with blood on their hands.  They offered their sacrifices, but there was no love in their hearts.  The priests were lying in wait for their people like robbers. Again, this was a rebuke of Israel eight hundred years before, but now Jesus brings the same rebuke to Judah.  And yet, there's still the promise.  The long-awaited age to come is breaking in.  As the Lord promised through Hosea, he will come to heal his people, to bind up their wounds, to revive them after two days, and to raise them up on the third day.  But whom will he heal and revive and raise up?  The lawyer gave the answer “The one who showed his neighbour mercy.” There was no mercy in the heart of the priest and no mercy in the heart of the Levite—and there was no mercy in the hearts of the people of Judah who saw nothing wrong with the priest and the Levite leaving the man to die.  For that matter there was no mercy in the hearts of people who saw the Samaritans as unredeemable, reprobate scum.  And that was the heart of the problem.  And this heart problem was precisely what Jesus came to fix.  Because the only people who will have a share in the age to come—in the kingdom of God—are the people who have the heart of God.  The people who are poor in spirit, who mourn the state of the world, the meek, the people who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the pure in heart, the peacemakers—and the merciful. This is why I think it's so important to pay attention to how we translate those words in the lawyer's question—zoe aionios.  Because it's not just “eternal life” Jesus offers; it's eternal life in the age to come—in God's world set to rights and eternal life in his presence.  Brothers and Sisters, “salvation” isn't just fire insurance.  It's not just rescue from death so that we can live forever, so that we can see our loved ones again, so that we can experience bliss forever and ever.  That's all a very self-centred, a very worldly, a very therapeutic understanding of salvation.  What Jesus offers us is the life we were meant for, the life we see Adam and Eve living in the garden at the very beginning of the story, a life of perfect fellowship with God, a life serving as the priests of his temple, a life stewarding his heart for the sake of the world. And ever since he called Abraham, but especially since he rescued Israel and made them his people, God's purpose for his people has been to reveal himself to the nations through them so that the world might know his goodness, his faithfulness, his love, his mercy, his grace—and on and on.  God's purpose for his people has always been to make his heart known to the nations.  Our lives and our collective life together is meant to lift the veil on God's future, on his new creation.  It's not about us or about our glory; it's about God and it's about God's glory. When he delivered Israel from Egypt, God came down and dwelt in their midst.  He fellowshipped with them.  It wasn't the perfect fellowship of the garden that Adam and Even had known, but it was a fellowship that made know his desire for humanity and a fellowship that pointed forward to the day when, through Jesus, he delivered us from sin—and even further to that day when sin (and death) are gone forever.  He gave Israel a law that set her apart and that taught her his heart so that they would know justice and mercy, love and grace, and put his heart on display for the world.  Theirs was to be a little microcosm of his new creation—however imperfectly—where reconciling love was on full display. Israel failed.  They kept the law outwardly, but they lost the heart of God.  They offered sacrifices, but their was no mercy in their hearts.  But in Jesus and the Spirit the renewal that the Lord had promised has come.  In forgiving our sins, Jesus has taught us the true depth of God's lovingkindess, of his grace and his faithfulness.  And in the Spirit he's turned our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.  He's written his law of love on them so that we really can love him with all of our being and so that we really can love our neighbours as ourselves. But I don't think we reflect often enough on why God's done that—in part because we too often think of salvation in selfish, or at least self-centred, terms.  Our salvation is not an end in itself.  God has called and created a people to witness his heart to the world.  Brothers and Sisters, in us God is leading a redeemed people—a people he's already beginning to set right through the work of his indwelling Spirit—he's leading us to bring hope and good news to the nations.  He's using us to carry the good news about Jesus, crucified, risen, and Lord, to every part of the world and with it the kingdom, with it the message of new creation, with it the hope of a world set to rights, in which Jesus has finished once and for all the work he began when he died and rose again.  In the witness of Jesus and the power of the Spirit he's given us his heart.  And that's what it's all about: bearing witness to his heart.  And the people who do that, they're the ones who will one day know him eternally in the age to come. I like to think of it like a symphony.  Jesus and the Spirit have made us the players.  We each have our instrument and we look forward to the day when we all come together in the great concert hall to play our parts in harmony and to finally hear that glorious and beautiful piece of music under the hand of the divine conductor.  It's not about us.  It's about the music and the one who leads us in it.  But in the meantime, he's given us the sheet music for our parts and he's sent us home to practise.  And we have the privilege of being able to meet in our little sections to practise some of those parts together.  And in our practising we get a foretaste of the great symphony to come.  But, Brothers and Sisters, do we actually practise?  Are we investing our practise time in the fruit of the Spirit?  Are we practising the reconciling love of God that we've known in Jesus?  Are we practising the justice and mercy we've met in God?  And along the way, are we drawing in the nations as they hear the beauty that's present even in our little bits and pieces of the symphony?  Or are we wasting the time God has given us on sin?  Instead of practising the gospel life, are we investing in the fear and wrath and scrambling and grasping of the present evil age? Like Gilead, the world around us is filled with evil and tracked with blood.  It's always been that way, but it seems we see it getting closer and closer to home.  We've seen worsening in the last months and weeks and days in the US and there's no reason to think we're somehow safe in Canada.  Because this is what happens to a people without the gospel—and to a people who have lost the gospel.  And Brothers and Sisters, the worse it gets, the more the world needs the heart of God that Jesus and the Spirit have given us.  The more the world needs God's promise to heal and to bind up our wounds.  The world needs Jesus and the gospel and you and I are the stewards of that good news.  Don't be tempted to jump into the violent fray.  Don't throw gas on the fire.  Instead, be the wine and the oil that God has made us to anoint the world's wounds.  Show the world what godly justice and godly mercy are and minister the healing power of the gospel—of the good news that Jesus the Messiah has died for us, that he has risen for us, and that he is creation's true Lord. Let's pray: Almighty and merciful God, by whose gift alone your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.  

In English, the word Immanuel has only eight letters. Yet I tell you it is heavier than the heavens and the earth. In that one word, Immanuel, you have the most offensive and the most comforting, the most repulsive and the most attractive message the world has ever heard. It means “God with us.” Let's see how this message 1) is the most repulsive because it says Jesus Christ is God, and 2) is the most attractive because it says Jesus Christ is God with us. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on December 19, 1993. Series: Understanding Jesus. Scripture: Matthew 1:20–23. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

It is one of the most important verses of the Hebrew Bible, and it's only six words! Well, six in Hebrew. In English, it's anywhere from nine to twelve words, depending on who's doing the translating. It's the Shema, a prayer from Deuteronomy still holy in Judaism. But why is it so important? What makes that one verse so special? And for the love of all that's holy- why is it so hard to translate? What exactly do those six Hebrew words mean? Then, we're heading back into the dark regions of the Apocrypha, and this time, it's the Letter of Jeremiah. What do we know about this text? Was it a real letter? Did Jeremiah actually write it? To whom? ---- For early access to an ad-free version of every episode of Data Over Dogma, exclusive content, and the opportunity to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠      Follow us on the various social media places: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitter.com/data_over_dogma⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Have you ordered Dan McClellan's New York Times bestselling book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Bible Says So⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ yet??? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 The very best learning course is Pimsleur (you get the CDs cheap from eBay, otherwise the app is expensive). Because you start to speak and memorize like a baby. All the other language courses like to copy the methods of Pimsleur but they are so lousy copies… And you need Flashcards that can speak like Flashcards deluxe (Android) to learn and memorize the pronunciation…7 actions for rapid language acquisition Action #1  Listen a lot.  Called brain soaking… just hear very much from the language, if you don't understand it doesn't matter.You are listening to the rhythms, to the patterns that repeat…Action #2Focus on getting the meaning First (before the words) use Body language.From body language, you can understand a lot without hearing… Action #3Start mixing it doesn't have been perfect.Get creative, start mixing,… it just has to work.If you have 10 verbs 10 nouns 10 adjectives, you can make 1000 possible phrases.In English 1000 words give you 85% of the meaning, 3000 words give you 98% that you use in daily conversation.Week 1 The toolbox in your new languageWhat is this?How do you say?I don't understand.Repeat that, please.What does that mean?Week 2-3Pronouns, common verbs, adjectivesYou That MeGive Hot By week3 you should be saying things like:Simple pronouns, nouns, verbsWeek 4 Glue wordsBut, and, even though, therefore, although Action #5You get somebody interested in you as a person that is just like a parent for language, so that it is safe to speak, to make mistakes, so this person helps you to understand the message.For instance: HelloTalk, HiNative,  Chat, Speak Learn Foreign languageHow should the Language parent teach you a new language?Try to understand what you are saying.Do not correct mistakes.Confirms understanding by using the correct language.Use words the learner knows.  Spouses are not very good at this…Action #6Copy the faceYou have to get the right muscle to work so that you can sound in a way that other people understand you…Action #7Direct connectInstead of repeating a word,  connect the word with an image for instance fire: you can see it, feel it smell it, hear itMy Video: How to learn a language in 6 months? https://youtu.be/6D-2V67L7t0My Audio: https://divinesuccess.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/Podcast.B/How-to-learn-a-language-in-6-months.mp3

Yoga teaches surrender. This is how you get enlightened. It is also how you fall in love. Surrender is how you experience God, whether looking outward or inward.  In English, surrender means you lost the battle. Yoga uses Sanskrit words that point to becoming free, giving something to the care of another or taking refuge. You go through stages in learning how to give over. Bottom line, it is surrender that yoga values — not to whom you are surrendering. Why? Because each time you surrender…   Read Gurudevi's Teachings Article in our Freebies.     #yogamysticism #gurudevi #svaroopameditation #spirituality #divine #yoga #siddhayoga #muktananda #gurudevinirmalananda #meditation #blissyoga #svaroopayoga #swaminirmalananda 

Psalm 96,Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens.6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;12 let the field exult, and everything in it!Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy13 before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth.He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. You were made to worship God. That is true of every single human being that has ever existed. If you're here and you're a human, you were made for worship. Look around, most of us in this room would say that we were made for worship — so here's a question: What is worship? What is the meaning of true worship?You don't need to answer this out loud, but imagine for a minute that you're having a conversation with a friend or a co-worker — if they asked you to explain the meaning of worship, what would you say?See I wonder if worship might be the most important calling in our lives that we know the least about.So that's our topic this morning. We're gonna focus on the meaning of true worship because that's what Psalm 96 is all about. And I think we discover here at least two truths about what true worship is, and I can't wait to show you, but first let's pray again.Father in heaven, we recognize that there are countless things that could get in the way of our hearing you this morning. There are countless things inside us and outside us that would block our hearts from receiving what you have for us, and so right now, I ask that you would triumph over all those things. I ask that you break through every barrier to magnify your glory in the preaching of your word. In Jesus's name, amen.Here's the first truth we discover about true worship:1. True Worship is a vertical response to the greatness of God. In Psalm 96, there are 18 verbs spread across 12 verses and they're all about worship. Just listen to the verbs: It's … Sing, sing, singBless, tell, declareAscribe, ascribe, ascribeBring, worship, trembleSay, be glad, rejoice, Roar, exult, sing!This is most of the psalm.Now none of these verbs by themselves are true worship because you can sing, tell, and ascribe anything to anybody — and people do — so what makes this true worship, at the start, is that all of this is directed to God. And this makes sense. If it's true worship, of course, it must be to God, about God, and also because of God.This last part is really important. See, in the context of all these directives to worship God in Psalm 96, the psalmist grounds that worship in who God has revealed himself to be.We see this in verses 4–6 and in verse 13. And I want you to see it with me beginning in verse 4. Following the “For” in FourSo everybody find verse 4. This will be super easy. I want you to find the verse 4 and the word “for” — it's the very first word of the verse. Find verse 4, word “for” — if you see it, say Got it.Verses 1–3 has been sing, sing, sing, bless, tell, declare — here's why: 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Skip to verse 12: Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. Our worship of God is because of God — this means that worship is a response. Now think about this: a response is something that comes second. It doesn't happen unless something else happens first. It's like answering your phone — you answer your phone after it rings. Most people still answer their phone after it rings. But what nobody does is just pick up their phone at random and say ‘hello' — if you did that we'd be concerned. You answer your phone in response to the ring.Worship is kind of like that — it's not an original act. It's a secondary act — we can only worship God because he first has shown us who he is. Without him doing that, we'd still be in the dark. We're not smart enough or good enough to worship God on our own. True worship is vertical in direction and vertical in source. God first has to tell us who he is — and he has through his world and his word. This is God's grace to us.The Greatness of God DisplayedAnd in his word, Psalm 96, we see the revelation of his greatness.We can see the word “great” in verse 4 — the Lord, Yahweh, is great and therefore he is worthy of our praise. And then we see that his greatness is demonstrated in two facts about him. Here they are: God is Creator and God is Judge. Now where am I getting that? …God Is CreatorFor Creator, we see it in verse 5. The psalmist does a little comparative religion here. He says:“The gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but Yahweh made the heavens.”And that's why Yahweh is greater. See, back in the day — which has been most of human history before the last 300 years — people were much more aware of how enchanted our world is. People recognized little-g gods everywhere — tribal deities, geographic deities, all of that. The world is still as spiritual today as it was then, but people saw it then. They were awake to it. And that's what makes verse 5 so amazing. The psalmist was well aware of the competing deities of his day, and he calls them all “worthless idols.” He is radically unimpressed by them. They're pathetic. They're useless. They're powerless. But, in contrast, Yahweh made the heavens.Your ‘little-g' god is a block of wood, while Yahweh is the one who spoke trees into existence. See the difference? Yahweh is greater. He's the Creator.Now, in our day, in our society, most non-Christians are not bowing down to carved statues — some do, most don't — but our world is still full of idols. There are still countless things that people honor in the place of God. And there are dark spiritual forces at work here. The big three for a long time has been money, sex, and power. These are gods in America.I had a conversation yesterday with a neighbor — a great guy — we were talking and he said he wasn't religious and I explained to him that everybody is religious. Everybody has some god, the question is who. I told him the gods of our day, for a lot of people, are money, sex, and power and he was like totally. It made sense to him. And if we're honest, none of us are oblivious to their seduction…If I could just get more money, how much better life would be! …If I could just have a romantic relationship, then I'd be satisfied …If I could just get my way all the time, everything would be great …These are the idols of our day, and like the psalmist here, we should be passionately clear that God is greater than all of them. They will not deliver what they promise. And what we'll find if we chase these things is one dead-end road after the other. But Yahweh made the heavens! Yahweh is behind and before everything that is. Yahweh is greater, he's the Creator!God Is JudgeBut not only that, Yahweh is also the Judge. That's the concluding fact in verse 13:“The Lord [Yahweh], for he comes. For he comes to judge the earth.”You ever heard that before?God is going judge this world. We learn more about this judgment in the New Testament. It's carried out by God the Son, Jesus Christ. Paul says in Acts 17:31 that God has “fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed [that's Jesus]” 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…” One day, every human being will stand in front of Jesus and be judged by him. We don't think about this a lot, but the Day is coming. I remember the first time I met my friend Ray. He visited our church for the first time, and I was talking with him after the service, and he told me he wanted to be baptized and get plugged into the church because, he said, “Jesus is coming back to judge the world.” True story. That's what he said. He's right. God will judge the world.And that's why he's great. God is Creator and Judge. Which means he is first cause and final say. You've heard the phrase “you're about to meet your Maker.” That's a threat in action movies, but it's theologically on point. Every one of us will meet our Maker. The one who gave you life will one day call you to account for that life. The hands that formed you are the same hands that will judge you. And that's why God is great.God is great and greatly to be praised. True worship is a vertical response to the greatness of God.Here's the second truth we learn about worship …2. True worship is a horizontal declaration of the goodness of God.We see this in verses 2–3. We've already seen here that worship is the theme of Psalm 96, but notice what this worship includes. Verse 2: Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!Now the keyword here is that word “tell.” Do y'all see that in the second part of verse 2? I want you to circle that word with your eyes. This is a special word in the Old Testament. It shows up in some key places. One big one is Isaiah 52:7. You may have heard this verse before. Isaiah 52:7,How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”Now that phrase “brings good news” — that's the word translated as “tell” in Psalm 96:2. In the Greek Old Testament, it's word euangelizō. In English it means “preach the gospel.”Did you know that preaching the gospel is part of worship?According to Psalm 96, preaching the gospel (telling the good news) is part of worshiping God. Worship is a vertical response to God for his greatness and there's a horizontal declaration of his goodness.This means that true worship has a missionary character. We're singing and ascribing, and we're telling and declaring, because we want others to join us in the singing and ascribing. And if there is no telling and declaring it means that our worship is deformed. It's less than true. That's the implication here.And that's the danger of an ingrown church. I'll use that phrase “ingrown church” a lot these days because that's a real temptation for any church that's been around for a decade, and maybe especially for a church that has a nice building like this. Can't we just come here and worship, just us? Do we really need more people here? New people here? Can't we just keep it us?I want to be clear here: if our worship of God is not something we want others to be a part of, then it's broken. And I believe Jesus doesn't like it that way.True worship includes a horizontal declaration of the goodness of God. Because he is good. We have good news. We have a God who saves. He saves! I want to end like this: I want to give you three facts about God's salvation. This is what we get to declare.1. God's salvation is for all peoples.The psalm says it — we declare his glory among the nations and his marvelous works among all the peoples! We call all the families of the peoples to ascribe to God the glory due his name.This is amazing. It means that God is not just for one particular tribe, or one kind of people. He truly is for everyone from everywhere. To make it personal, think about your own life, your own story. There's nothing about your person or nothing about your past that excludes you from God. Listen: God can save you wherever you're from and whatever you've done — amen? If you're not moved by that it's because either you didn't hear what I just said or you're self-righteous.Seriously — the most literal Pharisaical thing someone could do is to despise or ignore the universal reach of God's salvation. Everybody gets to be saved if they would just come home. Come home to the love of God! That invitation goes to everyone. God's salvation is for all peoples.2. God's salvation is from his wrath. To be “saved” is a great Bible word, but it doesn't make sense to a lot of people. If we were to ask someone if they're saved, the first thing they might say is, “Saved from what?”This is where Psalm 96 is really helpful. The perspective here keeps in view the coming judgment of God. Again, remember Jesus is coming, as Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 1:8, Jesus is coming “with his mighty angels in flaming fire [to inflict] vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”What does it mean to obey the gospel? That's a phrase used in the New Testament. It has to do with the reign of God. That's part of what makes the good news good. It's that God reigns. We heard that in Isaiah 52:7; we see it in Psalm 96:10; and it was also how the apostles preached. The apostles didn't just say, “Your sins can be forgiven” — they said, “Jesus is Lord of all” (see Acts 10:36). They proclaimed that Jesus is risen from the dead and reigning. They preached the supremacy of Christ as good news because it is — and that is one way to divide the world. When we read in Psalm 96:10, “Say among the nations, ‘Yahweh reigns!”' — there are two kinds of people in the world. There are those who love the reign of God and those who hate the reign of God. No middle ground. And if you hate the reign of God, too bad, because it's coming anyway. And if you hate the reign of the King when the King comes, you will face the wrath of the King. That makes sense, right?Well, the good news is that you can be saved from that wrath if you bow to the King. That is the proclamation! That's what the herald says:Hear ye! Hear ye! The King is coming! He has conquered sin and death, and his victory is on the way! Receive it now while you can!And I mean that. In this room right now, I'm inviting you … Stop hating the reign of God. Bow to Jesus Christ and believe. Receive his salvation. Receive the goodness of his rule.3. God's salvation is awaiting final consummation. The salvation of God that we receive now is real. We receive it by faith in Jesus and it's effective. We become new creatures; we're filled with the Holy Spirit; our lives are changed. But also, it's a salvation not yet complete. There's a grand finale of our salvation that we're still waiting for at the return of Jesus.The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 3 that as Christians, “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it [from heaven] we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body…”And the theological word for this future transformation is consummation. It's the final and complete fulfillment of our salvation. When Jesus returns, every detail of brokenness will be restored and we will be made perfectly like him. The New Testament talks about this hope in several places, but Romans Chapter 8 is the go-to.Paul says in Romans 8:18 that we're waiting for a future glory that will be revealed to us … and then he says something that we didn't see coming. He says that all of creation is also waiting for our future glory. Romans 8:19, “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” The whole creation will experience the freedom of the glory of the children of God, and so the whole creation is groaning (or sighing) for that future day.Can you imagine that?Back in July, my family and I spent a week at the beach in North Carolina, and one of my favorite things to do at the beach is get up early and watch the sunrise. You're watching the giant orange ball in the sky right here, and then the waves are crashing here, and it's music. It's beautiful. And you can hear the longing in it, if you use your imagination. To think that all of us together are waiting for a future day. The sun and the sea, the seagulls and the sky — we're all waiting for something. So we can say:11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth.The day is coming. And we worship now in that hope.Two truths about worship:True worship is a vertical response to the greatness of God. True worship is a horizontal declaration of the goodness of God. And we come to the Table to do both. The TableAt this Table, we give thanks to Jesus for his death and we proclaim his death until he comes. Vertical response and horizontal declaration. It goes like this:If you're a Christian, if you have trusted in Jesus Christ to save you, let's eat and drink and give him thanks.If you're here and you're not yet a Christian, we proclaim him to you: Jesus is the Lord of all and he came to save you — put your faith in him. Come home.

Pawlina in conversation with Canadian Kobzar, one of the principals of Toonie Tuesdays, a unique and visionary fundraiser to support Ukraine. Kobzar explains the crowd-funding approach that Toonie Tuesdays takes to overcome the inevitable "compassion fatigue" and in the process makes fundraising for Ukraine accessible to anyone who can spare a toonie ($2) to help defenders in Ukraine. At the time of this chat Toonie Tuesdays had already raised over $600,000 for Ukraine in less than a year. He also explains the "west coast" connection to Toonie Tuesdays, NAFO, and the Wild Hornets. Originally aired March 29, 2025 on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio on AM1320CHMB Vancouver and April 2, 2025 on CHLY 101.7FM.In English. Recorded on March 26, 2025. For more information about Toonie Tuesdays visit www.toonietuesday.giveshttps://www.toonietuesday.gives/ Official Toonie Tuesday (@toonietuesday.bsky.social) — BlueskyFor more information on Nash Holos visit www.nashholos.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Keep calm and carry on,” ang sabi ng maraming posters or t-shirts. Magandang paalala, 'di ba? Kalma lang at tuloy lang. Pero sa Awit 46:10, parang iba ang pinagagawa sa atin although parehong nagpapaalala na dapat kalma lang tayo. In English, it reads, “Be still… and know that I am God.”All Rights Reserved, CBN Asia Inc.https://www.cbnasia.com/giveSupport the show

Astronomers generally don’t play many official practical jokes. But an Italian astronomer played one more than two centuries ago. And the joke is still there for everyone to see. It’s in Delphinus, the dolphin. The constellation is small and fairly dim. But five of its stars form an outline that really does resemble a dolphin, making it easy to find. It’s a third of the way up the eastern sky at nightfall, with the dolphin’s tail on the right and its snout on the left. The brightest members of the outline are Beta and Alpha Delphini. Beta is a binary – two stars bound by their mutual gravitational pull. Both are bigger, brighter, and heavier than the Sun. Alpha consists of three stars. All of them are more impressive than the Sun, with the main star almost four times the mass of the Sun. The stars also have proper names. Beta is known as Rotanev; Alpha is called Sualocin. And that’s where the joke comes in. The names first appeared in 1814, in an atlas published by the director of the Palermo Observatory. The names caught on, but their origin was a mystery. It was solved by a British astronomer 45 years later. He realized that the observatory’s assistant director at the time was Niccolo Cacciatori. In English, the name would be Nicholas Hunter; in Latin, Nicolaus Venator. Spell the Latin names backwards, and you come up with Sualocin and Rotanev – a little joke among the stars of the dolphin. Script by Damond Benningfield

In English, we see a sign, look at the sunset, and watch TV… but why so many words for just using your eyes? If you've ever mixed up see, look, and watch, you're not alone! In this video, I'll teach you the difference with clear examples. Let's take a closer look at these 3 very common verbs.  Before we get started, my free gift to you is a PDF teaching even more confusing verbs - like start vs. begin, close vs. shut, and listen vs. hear. Click below to download it today so you can clear up your doubts about when to use each one.

On today's episode of the Candice Malcolm Show, Candice discusses Prime Minister Mark Carney's public appearance in Ottawa on Tuesday heading into an emergency cabinet meeting. In English, he told reporters that Canada was in a strong position, but in French, admitted “there's not a lot of evidence” the U.S. will agree to a tariff-free deal – basically shrugging his shoulders and admitting that Trump had won. Candice discusses the complete reversal in tone from the election, and how Canadians were duped. She discusses the cultural “Elbows Up” movement, which allowed a certain segment of the population to be patriotic again. After 4+ years of being told that Canada is a racist, colonial country guilty of genocide and systemic racism, Canadian patriotism and waving the Canadian flag suddenly become socially acceptable. Many Canadians jumped at the opportunity to love their country again. Candice walks us through a recent New York Magazine feature story “You have no idea how furious Canadians are” and talks about how gullible these Canadians are. The government-funded legacy media told them to ignore the cultural and economic decay caused by 9-years of Liberal rule, and instead focus their ire at President Trump – and so they did, selling out their country in favour of superficial virtue-signalling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Terry Ryan answers listener questions and features Canadian Actress and hockey savant Maxim Roy! Maxim Roy is a French Canadian actress. In English, she is best known for playing Detective Isabelle Latendresse in the English-language version of the Canadian police drama television series 19-2, Jocelyn Fray in the fantasy series Shadowhunters, and Mob mistress Michelle in Bad Blood...and NOW Shoresy! TR also answers listener questions, and dives into what further NHL expansion will look like in the future. You can now watch episodes of Tales with TR on YouTube! Head over to https://www.youtube.com/@THPN to watch the latest episode Check out TerryRyan.ca Terry Ryan answers listener questions! Welcome to Tales with TR: A Hockey Podcast presented by The Hockey Podcast Network. Join former Montreal Canadiens' first-round draft pick & Shoresy star Terry Ryan, as he talks about the sport of Hockey, brings on various guests, and shares tales of his life and professional hockey career. Host: Terry Ryan @terryryan20 Network: @hockeypodnet Editor: Isha Jahromi - "The City Life Project" on Youtube Sponsored by: Draft Kings - Use promo code THPN at sign-up for exclusive offers https://tinyurl.com/DRAFTKINGSPROMOTHPN MAKE SURE YOURSELF/FRIENDS/FAMILY TO GO SIGN UP FOR A GAMETIME AND APPLY/"REDEEM CODE" USING PROMO CODE: THPN

In English, many surnames come from the professions of their ancestors. These are called "occupational surnames". Examples include Smith (blacksmith), Miller (miller), Taylor (tailor), and Carpenter.  In this episode, you'll learn some of the more common ones and we'll explain the vocabulary related to the profession.  Show notes and more podcasts to improve your English at: http://www.inglespodcast.com/   Las notas del episodio y más podcasts para mejorar tu ingles están en: http://www.inglespodcast.com/  

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 10, 2025 is: minutia • muh-NOO-shee-uh • noun Minutia refers to a small or minor detail. It is usually used in its plural form minutiae. // Unaccustomed to legalese, I was bewildered by the contract's minutiae. See the entry > Examples: “The novel is an intricate thatch of corkscrew twists, vivid characters, dead-on colloquial dialogue, and lawyerly minutiae that culminates in a courtroom showdown worthy of Dominick Dunne.” — David Friend, Vanity Fair, 1 Apr. 2025 Did you know? We'll try not to bore you with the minor details of minutia, though some things are worth noting about the word's history and usage. It'll only take a minute! Minutia was borrowed into English in the 18th century from the Latin plural noun minutiae, meaning “trifles” or “details,” which comes from the singular noun minutia, meaning “smallness.” In English, minutia is most often used in the plural as either minutiae (pronounced muh-NOO-shee-ee) or, on occasion, as simply minutia. The Latin minutia, incidentally, comes from minutus (also the ancestor of the familiar English word minute), an adjective meaning “small” that was created from the verb minuere, meaning “to lessen.”

In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Ahmed Moor speaks with sociologist Assaf Bondy and human rights researcher and historian Adam Raz about what they call the "lexicon of brutality," drawing from a recent book the pair published in Hebrew on the language that Israelis use to discuss Palestinians and, specifically, the Israeli war on Gaza. The trio also talk about whether Israel has ever been a democracy and what people in Israel who oppose the genocide can do to resist it. Ha'aretz newspaper published this interview with Bondy in Raz in May 2025: "'Depopulation,' 'Kill Zone,' and 'Second Nakba': The Lexicon of Brutality Exposes How Israelis Talk About the War."  Ahmed Moor is a Palestinian-American writer born in Gaza and a 2025 Fellow at FMEP. He is an advisory board member of the US Campaign for Palestinian rights, co-editor of After Zionism (Saqi Books) and is currently writing a book about Palestine. He also currently serves on the board of the Independence Media Foundation. His work has been published in The Guardian, The London Review of Books, The Nation, and elsewhere. He earned a BA at the University of Pennsylvania and an MPP at Harvard University. Dr. Assaf Bondy is a Labour Sociologist at the University of Bristol who studies the political-economy of employment relations in advanced economies. Bondy's work has been so far dedicated to the study of changing conditions for collective actions and its changing forms and effects – on workers' rights, on inequality, on the structure of employment relations and on the political economy.  Adam Raz is a human rights researcher and historian whose field of research is the political history of the twentieth century and Marxist thought. In recent years Raz has written several books on the history of nuclear weapons in Israel and the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Among his books in Hebrew are: The Struggle for the Bomb (2015), Herzl: The Conflicts of Zionism's Founder with Supporters and Opponents (2017), Kafr Qassem Massacre: A Political Biography (2018), The Military Rule 1948-1966 (2021). In English, he has published The Demagogue – the Mechanics of Political Power (2023) and Loot: How Israel Stole Palestinian Property (2024). Raz works at Akevot: Institute for Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Research. Original music by Jalal Yaquoub.

The first week of June brings two major blessings as Venus, planet of love and beauty, and Jupiter, planet of expansion, shift into Taurus and Cancer respectively. Why is this so major? These are the benefic planets, planets that want to affirm, expand, and help us out - going into signs of their rulership and exaltation. In English, this means that these planets will be functioning at their highest, juiciest expression. That's a net positive for you, me, and our society at large. This week we also have an expansive Full Moon in Sagittarius on the 11th. Join me in breaking down this week's Astrology!Remember to join me for live readings on Wednesday June 11th at 1 PM - 3 PM Mountain Time, and Friday June 13th at 4 PM - 6 PM Mountain Time!June 2025 Horoscopes:https://youtu.be/rEaOsIe2N70?si=jRxEPoOffVTOi4F_Get in touch or book a reading with me:https://www.dogstaroracle.comhttps://www.instagram.com/dogstaroracle/Email: akriech@dogstaroracle.comChapters:0:00 Title03:40 Venus in Taurus09:42 Venus Square Pluto13:09 Mercury in Cancer19:33 Jupiter in Cancer26:15 Full Moon in Sagittarius

This episode we look at time and direction and the influence of geomancy--theories of Yin and Yang and a little bit of how people viewed the world through that lens.  For more, check out the blog page:  https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-127 Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua, and this is episode 127: Time and Direction in Ancient Yamato   Officers of the court stood in the pavilion.  The soft trill of water could be heard trickling from one reservoir to the next.  They watched closely, as the figure of a court official, one hand out, pointing at a measuring stick, slowly rose along with the water.  Eventually, the figure's outstretched arm indicated a line with a single character next to it. On cue, one of the officials began to beat the large drum that was nearby.  The rhythm was slow, but deliberate, and the sound was loud, echoing out to the mountains and back, showering the nearby palaces in a layer of sound.  Across the palace, people briefly paused, took note of the number of strokes, and by that they knew the time of day.  Without giving it much more thought, they then went about their business.     This episode we find ourselves partway through the reign of Naka no Oe, aka Tenji Tennou—his formal reign started in 668, but he had been pretty much running things since the death of Takara Hime in 661 and, arguably, for much longer than that.  668, however, saw Naka no Oe ascend the throne in his new palace of Otsu no Miya, officially making him the sovereign.  And although 645 is the year Naka no Oe and others had started the Taika Reforms, it's not wrong to say that  that 668 and the start of Naka no Oe's official reign, brief as it would be, that he finally had the ability to bring it all together and set it into stone. We've talked about many of these reforms before on the podcast, but a lot of them were associated with the continued push to incorporate continental concepts into Yamato society, covering everything from court ranks to how to organize agricultural production.  Of course, there was also Buddhism, which we've covered numerous times, but there were other concepts coming across as well, including ideas about history and writing, as well as ancient STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.  This included architects, and new ways of constructing buildings.  And it also meant ways of seeing the world, including things like directions and time.  And this is what I want to focus on this episode, taking a break from the primary narrative to spend some time on what we might call Yamato concepts of science, especially how they thought about the structure of reality organization of time and the universe – their cosmology, as it were.  After all, to better understand the reasoning and motives of people, it is helpful to try and understand how they saw the world, not just for translation—understanding what it means when an entry says something like the “Hour of the Horse” on an “Elder Wood” day—but also for understanding how things actually worked in their eyes.  For instance, the idea of ”auspicious” and “inauspicious” times and directions is something that most listeners probably don't incorporate much into their daily lives, but the Chroniclers and the people of Yamato absolutely did, so understanding concepts like this can sometimes be the key to unlocking why historical people may have taken the actions that they did.  In particular, we'll talk about things like yin and yang, five elements, ten stems and twelve earthly branches, and what all this meant for the Yamato ideas of organizing time and space. A large part of Yamato cosmology is tied to something called Onmyoudou, literally the Way of Yin and Yang, which in the organization of the Ritsuryo state fell under a particular ministry, known as the Onmyo-ryo.  If you've heard of Onmyoudou before, you likely have heard about the “Onmyouji”, practitioners who studied the flow of yin and yang—and who could reportedly do miraculous things with that.  A 10th century Onmyoji, the famous Abe no Seimei, is perhaps the most well-known, with numerous stories about his exploits, which were then turned into a fantastical series of stories by the award-winning author, Baku Yumemakura.  Those were then turned into Manga, movies, and more.  Abe no Seimei is like Japan's Merlin, or Gandalf, at least in the stories. Back to the organization we mentioned, the Onmyou-ryou was responsible for Yin-Yang theory, or Onmyou-dou, which included divination, as well as astronomy, or Tenmon-dou, and calendar making, or reki-dou.  While some of this was based on straight up natural observances, a lot of it was explained through older concepts of Yin and Yang theory.  Today, you might encounter a lot of this in the theories around Feng Shui, and this can also be referred to as “geomancy”, or earth divination.   To give a broad overview of Onbmyoudou and its origins, it is part of a large corpus of concepts focused around a concept of energy known as qi or ki—which forms the basis for a lot of Chinese and Japanese cosmology, or their concept of how the world worked.  Much of this is tied up in concepts that are modernly broadly called “Daoist” or associated with so-called Daoist practices.  That term can be a bit misleading, as strictly speaking, Daoism refers to the teachings of the legendary philosopher Laozi, in his book, the Dao De Jing, as well as works attributed to later authors, like the Zhuangzi. There is some controversy as to when and to what extent this strict Daoism came to Japan.  However, in the broader sense, the category of “Daoist “ practices includes an entire panoply of various folk practices, including concepts of Yin and Yang – and in the archipelago, many of these concepts were imported with the various books that people had acquired on the mainland, even if they weren't strictly tied to Daoist religious practice.  For example, there were aspects that were borrowed by various Shinto shrines, and others formalized into ritual practices under the new government.  And of course many of these became linked to various Buddhist teachings and practices, as well.   But what did this actually look like in concept and practice for practitioners of Onmyoudo in Japan? Let's start with the idea of yin and yang.  One of the earliest references comes from the Zhou Yi, the Zhou Book of Changes, the core of what we also know as the Yijing, the Book of Changes.  Here we see the idea that the universe began with a single force that split into two, and those two forces make up all of creation in one way or another.  Yin and Yang, or In and You—or even Onmyou—refer to these forces, which are characterized as shadow and light, moon and sun, female and male, cold and hot, etc.  So these forces are opposites, but it should be noted that they are not necessarily good or evil.  After all, too cold is just as bad as too hot.  Likewise too much darkness is as blinding as too much light. As most people have seen, yin and yang are often depicted as a circle divided into two comma shapes, with a smaller circle in each.  One side is white with a black circle and the other is black with a white circle.  This is the “Tai Chi” diagram, but the diagram itself doesn't seem to have been depicted like this prior to the 11th century, at least that we are aware. But the concepts are much older.    Now if you've heard of the Yijing, where it came from is something of a mystery.  One theory is that it started as a written account of folk wisdom, and may have even given instructions for things like when to plant and when to harvest, based on changes in various heavenly phenomena.   But overall it is organized into 64 chapters, each associated with a particular hexagram.  Start with a line, that can either be a full line – representing yang – or a broken line representing yin.  Stack three of these on top of one another and you get a trigram.  If you chart out every single possible combination of yin and yang lines, you get 8 unique trigrams, sometimes referred to as the baqua.  Stack two trigrams atop one another and you get a hexagram, a combination of 6 lines that can have 8 by 8 or 64 unique variants.   It's theorized that the Yijing resulted from taking all of the collected sayings or aphorisms and bits of advice and cataloguing and dividing them into 64 chapters, each one associated with a given hexagram. Going further, each line of the hexagram is  associated with particular line in Yijing, and various meanings are ascribed to it and its association.  It's a complex and fascinating system and I don't have time to go into it fully, but I would note that this was used as a form of divination—yarrow stalks or other means of random lot drawing that gives you a binary outcome – zero or one, yin or yang – could be used to determine the six lines of any given hexagram.  This, in turn, would reference a chapter in the Yijing which was then interpreted as a sign as to how to read a given situation that you might find yourself in. What's really important to understanding the worldview of the time is this idea, represented by the hexagrams in the Yijing, that you can encompass everything about the universe by making and cataloging different amounts and arrangements of yin and yang. It's a science, as it were – a systematic approach to understanding the differences in the world by breaking it into component parts.    And if this seems preposterous, consider this:  today we understand that all things are made up of tiny atoms.  And these atoms are all made up of the same material—protons, neutrons, and electrons.  And yet, how those atomic particles combine create atoms with wildly different qualities.  And how those atoms then combine into molecules and so on and so forth describe how we explain everything around us.  So is it really so far-fetched? I'm not saying that we should suddenly start to figure out the measurements of yin and yang in everything, but if we want to understand how the people of the time saw their world, it may be helpful to hold an open mindand understand the assumptions that they were working from and where they came from.  As human beings, we naturally look for connections in the world around us, and this was no exception.  People would observe facts, know how that it worked, and often then would back into the reason for it.  This is a tale told across cultures, and we still see it, today.  At the same time, we've developed structured approaches to test out our theories, empirically. So for the moment, let's leave the trigrams and hexagrams, and talk about another idea that also gained traction as people were trying to figure out how the world worked.  This was the five elements theory also known as Wuxing, or Gogyou, in Japanese.  The five elements in this case are Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, and Earth.  Some may notice that these, along with the sun and the moon, are used in Japanese for the days of the week:  Nichi (sun), getsu (moon), ka (fire), sui (water), moku (wood), kin (metal), do (earth). Buddhists, by the way, also had an elemental system with only four elements,  Fire, Water, Air, and Earth, possibly connected with some Greek influence, and brought along with Buddhist practice.  For now, however, let's focus on the five elements. The idea in wuxing is similar to that of yin and yang in that everything in creation is made up of these five elements in some degree and configuration.  Furthermore, there are creation and destruction cycles.  So fire creates ash, or earth.  Earth gives birth to metal.  Metal creates water—look at a cold piece of metal in a warm environment and see how the water droplets form on it, and imagine what that looks like without understanding humidity and how there could be water vapor in the air.  And then water creates wood, or plants—any farmer could tell you that without water the plants die.  And wood is where we get fire from. Of course, the reverse cycle is the opposite.  Fire eats the wood.  Wood drinks up the water.  Water rusts metal.  Metal tools plough the earth. And Earth can be used to douse fire. Finally, there is another cycle of weakening. ,. Because fire heats and weakens metal, metal chops down wood, the trees roots break up rocks, the earth soaks up water, and water likewise puts out or weakens fire. So the theory went, if these elements make up all matter, these relationships continue on a more complex scale in everything.  So if something was thought to contain a lot of “fire” element, then it would be potentially helpful if you needed “Earth” but destructive or at least weakening to metal and wood.  Properly accounting for these elements was important to achieve the results you were looking for, whatever that may be.   These were the kinds of things that were incorporated into traditional medicine practices, but also applied to auguries or divination about things like where and how to build a building.  Even today, Shrines will sell calendars that help people know the prominence of certain elements, and some folk remedies may look to balance elements, much as medieval European medicine was often designed to balance the four humors that ancient physicians believed were present in the human body. The chart of these five elements and their relationships is something you may have seen.  It is a five pointed star, often inside of a circle.  Of course this is also similar to a western pentagram, though typically drawn with the point of the star up, but it has nothing to do with Christian values or Satan, or anything similar.  Rather, it is just a way to represent these five elements, and you'll see it frequently in reference to Onmyoudou. The elements were used to categorize many different areas into groupings of five.  This includes grouping the various directions into five directions.  Of course, you may be wondering about that, since most societies usually mark four cardinal directions, and in this case, they did the same, but added the fifth as “center”.  And so you get things like the north is water.  It is related to cool, or cold weather.  It is represented with the color black. To the south, opposite of the north, is fire.  It is hot, and the color is red.  Of course, this probably doesn't take a huge leap to see the connections they drew: since these civilizations are in the northern hemisphere, the farther north you go, the colder it gets, and the farther south you travel, the warmer it gets, generally speaking, at least until you reach the equator. Meanwhile, the west was related to metal, and the color white, while the east was related to woods and forests, and the color…. Blue.  Alright, that last one, in particular, probably doesn't make sense to a lot of us.  After all, we likely associate blue with water, and wood, or trees, would be associated with brown or, possibly, green.  Well, in this case, it goes beyond that.  The north is water, but it is also associated with darkness—shorter days in the winter, and things like that Sothe association of north with black makes sense, but many also look at the ocean and don't necessarily see it as “blue”, or dark or even black, like Homer's famous “wine-dark sea”. Furthermore, although they have a word for it (midori), “green” was not a primary color in Japan, instead  considered more of a shade of “aoi”, or blue.  Even today they refer to a “green” traffic light as an “aoi shingo, not “midori” shingo.  So if you asked someone in the Asuka period to describe the wooded hills and fields, they would have likely used “aoi”.  And of course, we are missing the fifth element.  In the center we have the element earth and the color yellow. A lot of these different concepts were brought together during the Han period, when they were trying to syncretize all of the various philosophies and attempts to describe the world and bring them all together into a single system.  This meant that the Yijing, the wuxing theory, and others were mixed together with various other philosophies and theories of how the world work.  Things like the Shanhaijing, the Classic of Mountain and Seas, along with stories about immortals, the Queen Mother of the West, and more were all rolled together, and basically assumed to be true.  This included various real-world observations.  Therefore, there were many attempts to try and reconcile these various theories together. One of the other concepts, which we've discussed before, was the system of ten heavenly stems and the twelve earthly branches.  We've mentioned this before regarding the sexagenary style of counting the years, but we'll recap here.  The ten heavenly stems and the twelve earthly branches are concepts that go back to at least the legendary Shang period, and even show up in various bronzes Andit wasn't until later that they would be associated with other ideas.  The ten heavenly stems were each associated with one of the five elements, with each element being represented by a greater and lesser, or elder and younger, stem.  And then each of the twelve earthly branches were associated with animals—what we often call the Chinese Zodiac. We talked about how this applied to the calendar, in that it was used to track years in 60 year cycles, but also it was used to track days of the year.  The twelve earthly branches were also used for earthly directions.  The first, the rat, was in the north, and the order continued clockwise to the east, the south, west and then back to the north.  Now this means that the four cardinal directions—north, south, east, and west—all match up nicely with one of the twelve earthly branches, but as for northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest?  Those were all combinations of two branches.  So, for instance, the northeast was a combination of the ox and the tiger, or ushi-tora. Speaking of eight directions, where have we also heard the number eight come up recently? That's right: the eight trigrams, or bagua.  So each one of those trigrams, each representing a different concept, got associated with a direction as well.  This makes it easier to see where practices of geomancy came from.   You had a system with complex, overlapping associations between concepts and the physical world, and in the Tang dynasty, they used all of this  to understand not only  how things had happened, but also how the world would be in the future—in other words, they tried to use it to make predictions.  Hence the “mancy”. In the Yamato state, all of this became an official part of the government under the Onmyoryou: a branch of the government whose job is to make observations and figure things out from there, for the good of the state and the people.  They made observations of the heavens to figure out how the calendar should be aligned—which months should come at what time, and when there should be “leap months”, or intercalary months, to keep various astronomical phenomena in the correct seasons, which were also further divided up into 24 periods.  They also kept track of the movement of bodies like the various planets, because those planets were also assigned values, and thought to affect the flow of energy within this framework.  And so comets, storms, eclipses, and more were all important because of the theory that everything in the heavens impacted and were reflections of how things were happening on the earth.  Similarly, these various discussions of white animals and other omens were likely captured and catalogued by these officials as well, attempting to figure out what they meant. All of this also influenced things like how palaces, buildings, and even capitals, would be built and laid out.  For the palace, it was important the the sovereign be in the north, looking south.  In fact, many maps would have south at the top because that is how a sovereign would be viewing it, were it stretched out before them.  And one would need to consider various features, including mountains and streams, as all of those things carried various meanings, but it wasn't as simple as just finding the one thing that could affect a person.  As they observed differences they would also have to catalogue what happened and try to determine what the cause could be, based on their understanding of the world.  And in the archipelago this would also include an understanding of Buddhist and local kami-based wisdom and knowledge as well. One of the things in the Chronicles that inspired this episode was something I actually mentioned last time,  a record from 666  talking about Chiyu, a Buddhist priest of the Yamato no Aya family, who presented a south-pointing chariot to the sovereign, Naka no Oe.  this appears to be the same Chiyu from a similar record in 658, which also refers to him building a south pointing chariot.  So did it take him eight years, or is he just now presenting it to the sovereign?  And what, exactly, is a south-pointing chariot? Well, as the name implies, a south-pointing chariot is a two-wheeled chariot that always points south.  More appropriately stated, it is a wheeled device with a figure on top, much like a weather vane, which always points south.  This is usually described as the figure of a person or an official pointing in the appropriate direction.  This was a mechanical, rather than a magnetic compass. As the chariot, or carriage, is wheeled around, the two wheels spin.  The wheels themselves are independently connected to a series of gears.  If the wheels spin at the same rate, then their movement cancels each other out.  However, if one wheel turns more than the other, then it will cause the figure on the top to rotate.  Of course, as the chariot turns to the right, the left wheel, traveling along the outer diameter, will travel farther than the right.  This will cause the figure to turn counter-clockwise to the left, but from an outside observer's perspective, it will continue to point in the same direction, even as the chariot itself turns.  Turning to the left would cause the opposite effect. Though it may have been used earlier, there appears to be reliable written evidence of a South Pointing chariot starting from the third century.  The first one was based on much earlier stories of a similar device, but it is unclear if it was a chariot, some other device, or even just a legend that was told as historical fact.  From the third century on the design appears to have been continuously improved upon. I should point out that all we have is descriptions—we don't have any actual south pointing chariots, let alone diagrams showing how the mechanisms worked.  There is the possibility that it used a kind of differential gear to work automatically, but we don't have any actual evidence.  There are other theories that it may have required some kind of manual switch, so that it would attach to one wheel or the other as needed.  That would require that the chariot be moving in either a straight direction or turning in one particular direction, which seems rather unwieldy. I noted some of the problems with this, and even moreso in a place like Japan, where 70% of the terrain is mountains.  Up and down hills, along paths that are likely anything but the smooth, paved surface we have for roads today—and even those have plenty of irregularities and potholes that could throw off any such device. And if you want to use it for any real distance, then you have to factor in other things, including the curvature of the earth.  After all, with the earth being a sphere, any chariot traveling due west to east or east to west, other than at the equator, would have one wheel traveling farther than the other one.  Granted, at the scale we are talking about, it probably is all but negligible, and the rough terrain and simple slippage of what were most likely wooden gears probably entered a lot more variability than the earth's curvature. One of the other issues is that the chariot only points “south” if you set it up to do so.   And if you know that, well, why do you need a south-pointing chariot?  Ultimately, it seems that this is more of a novelty item, good for impressing crowds and demonstrating some engineering principles, rather than an actual, useful invention.  After all, it was forgotten about and recreated multiple times, often centuries apart.  Had it been a truly useful invention, it probably would have been kept in constant use.  Meanwhile, I suspect that there were a fair number of farmers and others who knew that you could more easily and reliably use the sun and stars, as long as the weather was clear. There is also some evidence of an understanding of magnetic compasses since at least the 2nd Century BCE.  Early Han sources suggest that a spoon made of naturally magnetized ore could be placed on top of a polished bronze surface, and it would align itself north to south.  We don't have any actual surviving examples, however—there are later versions that you can find, where the plate is divided up into various directions, and then a magnetized “spoon” is placed on top, but nothing has actually come from Han tombs.  Furthermore, this seems to mostly be for geomantic purposes.  A more practical compass, with a magnetized needle, seems to have been developed by the 11th century, which could then be used for actual navigation. By the way, the “spoon” as a compass pointer may be in reference to the “Big Dipper” constellation, which was envisioned as a spoon, or ladle, in shape.  The seven stars were often used in geomancy, likely because of their importance, at least in the northern hemisphere, of pointing to the north.  So there's some thought that the “needles” of these early compasses weren't litterally  spoon shaped, but symbolically representive of the Big Dipper or the Northern Ladle.  Quick astronomy lesson, here.  If you are in the northern hemisphere, particularly from the 35th parallel to the north pole, you can see the seven stars that make up the constellation or asterism we know as the Big Dipper.   In English we sometimes also refer to this as Ursa Major, though technically the familiar seven stars are just a part of that larger constellation.  In Japan, the same constellation is often referred to as Hokuto Shichisei, the Seven Stars of the Northern Ladle.  It can be seen further south, but parts of it may dip below the horizon during the autumn season. It is important for several reasons.  One is that it is made up of particularly bright stars, which you can generally see even when other stars may not be visible.  Second, its distinctive shape lends itself to being easy to find in the sky.  And finally, if you draw a line between two of the stars at the end of the “cup” of the ladle, you can follow that line to find Polaris or hokkyokusei, the north star, which means you know which direction is north- and once  you know that, you can use it to figure out any other direction.  And Polaris is less than a degree off of true north, making it even more accurate than most magnets, as the magnetic pole can be quite different, depending on its current position, and magnetic north changes over time as the magnetic field around the earth fluctuates. That said, this was not necessarily the case in ancient times.  Four thousand years ago, the star closest to true north would have been the star Thuban, in the constellation Draco, a star that most of us probably haven't heard of.  Polaris, in the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Bear, also known as the Little Dipper) apparently took over as the north star around 500 CE.  However, even before then, the mouth of the dipper could still be used to indicate north.  In fact, if you draw a line between two of the stars in the back of the constellation, then you also end up finding Thuban.  So even if the north star itself wasn't accurate, finding the dipper would still help you orient yourself, especially if you can find true north during the day and then compare that with the constellation at night. Which helps to understand why astronomy, or Tenmondou, was so important in the Onmyouryou.  Though it wasn't just a study of stars, but of the way of the heavens in general.  And the changes in the heavens, brings us to another important concept—the flow of energy across the seasons.  From the bright days of summer, filled with sunshine and yang energy, to the dark yin energy of winter's long, cold nights. It wasn't enough to just know what happened, and where, but when was also important. Obviously you need to know when to sow seeds, flood the fields, and harvest the rice.  Beyond that, though, you have other concepts, such as how the the day and hour of an event could be symbolically important. And of course, all of these had their own associations with various concepts of the flow of yin and yang energy. Now knowing the year, the month, and even the day is largely just a matter of counting.  But let's talk about something a little more tricky:  How do you know the hour? This brings us to the vignette at the top of the episode, about the clepsydra, or water clock, that Naka no Oe is said to have built. Now we talked about some of the fountains and similar things that have been discovered in the Asuka region back in episode 118.  One thing that they believe they also found evidence of is something called a water clock, which is, as its name suggests, a clock powered by water.  It is typically depicted as a series of three or more boxes or reservoirs that each hold an amount of water.  Water is placed in the top reservoir, and then a hole towards the bottom is unplugged and it is allowed to drain into the box beneath.  The hole is of a particular size, and thus the water flows at a constant rate, filling up the container below, which has a similar hole, etc. all the way to a reservoir at the very bottom.  The multiple boxes mean that the water level in the intermediate boxes stays relatively constant, resulting in relatively consistent pressure and flow rate.  The last reservoir has a measuring stick on a float, so that as the last box is filled with water, the measuring stick raises up.  Since it is rising at a constant rate, one can use that to tell how much time has passed, regardless of anything else.  Thus you can keep time even at night. There is a record of Naka no Oe making one in the fifth month of 660, and he would have another one built in 671, which we will discuss later.  It is interesting that both of these inventions appear twice in the narrative—once during the reign of Naka no Oe, aka Tenchi Tenno, and once during the previous reign, that of Takara Hime, aka Saimei Tenno.  In this case it is said that 671 is the first time that the water clock, or roukoku, was actually used. From what I can tell, there is nothing that definitively indicates that the Mizuochi site in Asuka was definitely the site of Naka no Oe's water clock.  There isn't much in the Chronicles telling us what it was like or where, exactly, it was built, and there wasn't anything found at the site naming it as the location of the roukoku.  However, the site is in a prominent enough place, with channels for water and a pavilion of some sort.  They definitely found evidence of pipes, remnants of lacquered wood, and reservoirs for water, among other things, that suggest something to do with moving water happened in this area.  So it seems a very strong choice, as it all fits with theoretical archeological reconstructions. A water clock like this is excellent for keeping accurate time at all hours of the day.  However, it does have a slight problem in that anyone without a clock is still going to have to use the sun and similar heavenly cues to know what time it is.  So how do you let them know?  Well, it turns out that the continent had an answer for that as well, and instituted various systems of drums and bells to let people know the hour.  In fact, some of these practices continued, in one form or another, right up to the modern day—with or without a water clock.  After all, the key was to give the community some sense of the passing of time, but I doubt anyone was using it to time things more precisely than a general idea of an hour—though they did have the concept of their own minutes and seconds.  Which brings us to just how they saw time back then. The system of time that the Chronicles seems to use also came over from the continent, where there appear to have been several different methods for telling time prior to accurate clocks.  And while there was an idea of dividing the entire day into twelve segments, the time as it was announced was not always consistent with those twelve segments, or hours.  Rather, time was based around the key parts of the day.  So, for instance there was sunrise, noon, sunset, and midnight.  And while noon and midnight remain exactly twelve hours apart, sunrise and sunset change with the seasons.  So if you call out sunrise, and then divide the time between sunrise and noon into equal segments of time, the size of those time segments change with the seasons.  On top of that, because of the tilt of the earth and our slightly irregular orbit around the sun, the sun appears to “move” across the sky faster or slower throughout the year, with a difference of about 30 minutes total between the extremes.  This isn't going to affect most people's daily lives, but would have been noticeable to those taking accurate measurements. In ancient Han, this appears to have been common in cities and towns, with a watch that would call out as they progressed on their rounds at set points in the day and night, relying largely on heavenly cues—which I suspect did not lead to the most accurate timekeeping, but it was sufficient for what most people needed.  The telling of time in this manner was partly to help with keeping track of the time of day, but was just as much an announcement that the watch was on duty and a warning to would-be criminals. Now a water clock was an excellent device for keeping track of a standard, absolute time, such as it were, but it required constant maintenance.  If you already have a watch calling out the time, perhaps they can also keep the water clock properly set, but you did have to have someone constantly filling it up and draining it at known points of the day.  Plus there was the problem that you only knew the time if you could check it, and this wasn't like a clock tower or something similar. And so in 671 it appears that Nak no Oe instituted the continental idea of drums and bells to announce the time to the people—or at least to those at the court.  We don't have a record of exactly how they were, used, but we can infer from other sources on the continent, and what we do know that some tradition of announcing the time with drums and bells continued to be employed in Japan until the Meiji era, though perhaps not without interruption:  Temples and the like had bell or drum towers, and as the day progressed they would beat out the time.  It was not, however, telling time as we might think of it, with one stroke at the first hour, two on the second, etc..  In fact, in many ways they counted backwards, and they only counted 12 hours, not our modern 24.  By the Edo period it seems that it was common practice to toll the bells nine times at noon and at midnight.  From there, they would count down, with 8 bells at roughly 2 o'clock, 7 bells at 4 o'clock, and 6 bells at 6 o'clock.  That would be another issue.  From 6 o'clock, the number of bells that would be tolled continued to decrease, so that at 8 o'clock it would be 5 bells, then 4 bells at 10 o'clock.  It would then jump back up to 9 and start over again. Why these numbers were used for the different hours we are not entirely sure, and I have no idea if these numbers were the same ones used back in the 7th century—though it does seem to match similar continental traditions.  Even the hours themselves were known by the twelve signs that came to be associated with the zodiac:  the hour of the rat, the hour of the ox, the hour of the tiger, etc.  Midnight fell in the middle of the hour of the rat, and noon fell in the middle of the hour of the horse, with each hour being almost exactly 2 hours by modern reckoning. There were other systems in use as well.  One divided the entire day up by 100 and then each of those divisions by another 10.  The key was whether or not it was an absolute or relative measurement. Something like the roukoku would indicate an absolute measurement.  After all, the fall of water from one reservoir to another was not affected by the change in seasons—at least as long as the water didn't freeze.  The flow was constant, as was the measurement of time. For those using other forms of reckoning, such as celestial phenomena or even a sundial, things might be a bit less accurate.  This was especially true when using concepts like “sunrise” and “sunset”.  Still, through observing the changes over the year, people eventually figured out charts and rules to help reconcile absolute forms of measurement with solar time.  There were other methods for telling time, as well.  Perhaps one of the more pleasant was the use of incense sticks.  By the time of the Tang dynasty, incense in stick form was relatively common, and it had been noticed that sticks of incense could burn at a fixed rate.  This meant that you could use incense sticks like candles were used in Europe, counting down how far they had burned to tell what time it was.  If you were really fancy, you could make a single stick out of different types of incense, so that as it hit a new hour, the scent would change, alerting you to the time through your olfactory senses. Speaking of time, we are coming to the end of ours for this episode.  We do have some more information on this on our website, Sengokudaimyo.com, and we'll have links to those sections of the website accompanying our blog. Next episode we will focus more on the reign of Naka no Oe, aka Tenji Tennou, from his seat at Otsu no Miya. Until then, thank you once again for listening and for all of your support. If you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  

It's easy to mistake a warm tone and simplified words as respectful—but when we use the same style with both children and older adults, an important line blurs. In English, this well-meaning but often condescending way of speaking, known as elderspeak, is coming under scrutiny. The problem isn't just what we say—it's how we say it, leaving many seniors feeling infantilized rather than valued. So how do cultural norms, tone, and intention shape these conversations? / Round Table's Happy Place (19:31)! On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

Quantum Nurse https://graceasagra.com/  presents Freedom International Livestream May 8, 2025, Thursday 12:00 PM EST      Guests:  STANISLAV KRAPIVNIK and TIM KIRBY        Topic:” Two Days, One Victory: How East and West Remember the End of WWII Differently” Bios: STANISLAV KRAPIVNIK is a former US Army officer, supply chain executive and military-political expert, located in Russia. He was born in Donbass during the Soviet times, migrated to the US as a child, served in the US army, did not like what it was doing in former Yugoslavia, quit, returned to Russia and now is working as a support system near his hometown in the battle in Ukraine. Please support his channel and his work. His Patreon account is: http://www.patreon.com/user?u=290499 Buy Me A Coffee http://www.buymeacoffee.com/staskrapiv  Telegram:  Stas Was There….In English.. https://t.me/staswasthereenglish2 YouTube -Stanislav Krapivnik    https://www.youtube.com/@MrSlavikman        TIM KIRBY is an American born Russian Political Analyst and Radio Talk Show host. He has lived in Russia since 2006 and writes on a wide variety of topics from geopolitics to ideology. He also does travel material as well as DIY on YouTube. Kirby also plays for the offensive line of the Moscow Spartans American Football Club.   Telegram:  Tim Kirby Russia Hardcore -- https://t.me/timkirbyhardcore YouTube:  Tim Kirby Russia - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWjox2j8QnpUBanF7jTEg3A https://americanvillages.ru/   Special Guest Host: Drago Bosnic BRICS portal (infobrics.org) https://t.me/CerFunhouse   Creator Host: Grace Asagra, RN MA Podcast:  Quantum Nurse: Out of the Rabbit Hole from Stress to Bliss http://graceasagra.bio.link/ TELEGRAM:  https://t.me/QuantumNurseGraceAsagra Bichute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/nDjE6Ciyg0ED/   TIP/DONATE LINK for Grace Asagra @ Quantum Nurse Podcast https://patron.podbean.com/QuantumNurse https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FHUXTQVAVJDPU Venmo - @Grace-Asagra 609-203-5854   WELLNESS RESOURCES Optimal Health and Wellness with Grace Virtual Dispensary Link (Designs for Health)               2https://www.designsforhealth.com/u/optimalhealthwellness Premier Research Labs - https://prlabs.com/customer/account/create/code/59n84f/ - 15% discount - 15%_59N84F_05   Co-host: Hartmut Schumacher https://anchor.fm/hartmut-schumacher-path

Auto-generated transcript: In English, there is a saying which says that it’s a sign of intelligence. It’s a sign of intelligence to be able to hold two opposing ideas in your mind simultaneously. It’s a sign of intelligence to be able to hold two opposing ideas, two opposite sides, in your mind simultaneously. And I… Continue reading No part time Islam

On April 11, 2002, a massacre occurred on the streets of Caracas, Venezuela, as rebelling officers and members of the country's Chamber of Commerce attempted a coup against the democratically elected president Hugo Chavez. The coup lasted just two days.The people were not having it. Chavez supporters descended from the hillsides of the poorest communities across Caracas and amassed outside of Miraflores, the presidential palace. They refused to recognize the de facto government.On April 13, Chavez's presidential guard expelled the coup leaders and returned Chavez to power.  Pressure from both the people and loyal military forces led to the collapse of the coup government. The people and the military united together to defend their democratically elected leader. If you're interested in more background, you can check out the following documentaries. Written and produced by Michael Fox.The Revolution Will Not be Televised (2003) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH5nzZU0qCcLlaguno Bridge: Keys to a Massacre (2004): Host Michael Fox helped to translate and narrate this documentary in English.In English: https://vimeo.com/40502430In Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ9jE1c0XPESubscribe to Stories of Resistance podcast hereBecome a member and join the Stories of Resistance Supporters Club today!Sign up for our newsletterFollow us on BlueskyLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterDonate to support this podcast

Read along to practice your English and to learn the English phrases MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL and THE FEELING IS MUTUALIn this English lesson, I wanted to help you understand the English term mutually beneficial. When something is mutually beneficial, it benefits both people. The other day in my lesson I used the term win win. When something's a win win, it means it's good for both people who are involved in whatever is happening. You could say the same thing here. When something is mutually beneficial, then both people are... both countries benefit. I will say this, I don't like to get political, but tariffs don't seem to be mutually beneficial. The world's a little crazy right now. Again, I don't like to comment on too much of the political spectrum, but I'm not sure everything is mutually beneficial right now in the world.WANT FREE ENGLISH LESSONS? GO TO YOUTUBE AND SEARCH, "BOB THE CANADIAN"If you enjoy these lessons please consider supporting me at: http://www.patreon.com/bobthecanadianThe other phrase I wanted to teach you today is the feeling is mutual. When someone tells you what they think about you or how they feel about you. And if you respond by saying the feeling is mutual, it means you feel the same way. If one of you didn't like me and said, Bob, you're not very nice and I thought the same about you, I would say, hey, the feeling is mutual. You can also use this to talk about, like if two people think the same way about something, you could say the feeling is mutual. Like if one of you said that you don't like tariffs, I could say, oh, the feeling's mutual. It means I don't really like them either. I hope I don't get too many comments from this lesson. But anyways, to review when something is mutually beneficial, it's good for both people or both parties or both countries. And when the feeling is mutual, it means that you and another person or a group of people and another group of people feel the same way about something.But hey, let's look at a comment from a previous video. This is from Mohd Ags. It's so good to see you Mr. Bob. Thank you for the useful phrase sight unseen. And thanks to the student that used it naturally, they basically taught us the phrase too, eh? Correct use of "eh" by the way. And my response? Yep, the people around me are unaware that they are inadvertently teaching all of you. So thanks Mohd Ags for that comment.And yeah, I've explained this before, haven't I? That what I do in order to figure out what to teach you today is I just listen to people and someone actually used the phrase mutually beneficial today. And then usually the second phrase, I just look for something that's kind of related. It doesn't always mean the same thing, but it usually has the same word in it or some version of that word.So yeah, what was I going to talk about today? Not politics. I'm not going to talk about that at all. Or did I already do that? Maybe a little bit. I know someone else commented, and I didn't have this comment on the screen that in the last video I was probably talking faster than I did in previous lessons on this channel. And that could be true. I'm a little out of practice In English, when you say you're out of practice, it means you haven't done something for a while, so you're maybe not as good at it or not doing it in the same way that you used to do it.So maybe I'm a little bit out of practice. I just intentionally started speaking a little bit more slowly, 10% more slowly than normal, and pronouncing all my words correctly. So we'll see. Now I feel like I'm thinking about it too much and adjusting how I speak too much. So I'll try to go back to normal. The idea with this channel is that I do speak close to my normal speed for the last two minutes, so hopefully I'm gettinSupport the show

In French, "gorge" means throat. In English, it's a movie about giant hole that maybe leads to hell...? The Film School Janitors watched THE GORGE, starring that guy that flew jets that wasn't Tom Cruise and the witch from a movie about a new mutants. Enjoy!

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for March 4, 2025 is: schadenfreude • SHAH-dun-froy-duh • noun Schadenfreude refers to a feeling of enjoyment that comes from seeing or hearing about the troubles of other people. // Schadenfreude was felt by many viewers when the arrogant contestant was voted off the show. See the entry > Examples: “In 1995, Sox fans were overjoyed to see the Yankees get knocked out of the playoffs in a thrilling divisional series.... It was Boston schadenfreude, to be sure ...” — Chris Young, The Sun Chronicle (Attleboro, Massachusetts), 13 Sep. 2024 Did you know? Ever a popular lookup on our site, schadenfreude refers to the joy you might feel at another person's pain. It's a compound of the German nouns Schaden, meaning “damage,” and Freude, meaning “joy.” Schadenfreude was a favored subject in Germany by the time it was introduced to English in the mid-1800s; discussed by the likes of Schopenhauer, Kant, and Nietzsche, schadenfreude was showing up in psychology books, literature for children, and critical theory. In English, the word was used mostly by academics until the early 1990s, when it was introduced to more general audiences via pop culture. In a 1991 episode of The Simpsons, for example, Lisa explains schadenfreude to Homer, who is gloating at his neighbor's failure; she also tells him that the opposite of schadenfreude is sour grapes. “Boy,” he marvels, “those Germans have a word for everything.”

This is our unabridged interview with Mpho Tutu van Furth. What does it mean to ask someone for forgiveness? The experience after Apartheid in South Africa has much to teach us. “In English, you say, ‘I'm sorry, forgive me.' It's all about me”  Says Mpho Tutu van Furth, daughter to the late Desmond Tutu. But in the South African language of Xhosa “You say ndicela uxolo which means ‘I ask for peace'. And that's a very different thing than ‘forgive me'” In this episode, explore the deep impact of apartheid in South Africa, the meaning of true forgiveness, and the profound philosophy of Ubuntu. Discover how Mpho carries on her father's legacy of peace and reconciliation while navigating her own journey as an Episcopalian priest and social activist. This heartfelt and enlightening conversation delves into the courage required to love, forgive, and build a just community. Show Notes Resources mentioned this episode: The Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation Forgiveness and Reparation: The Healing Journey by Mpho Tutu The Book of Forgiving by Desdmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa   Similar NSE episodes: Azim Khamisa: Ending Violence Through Forgiveness Forgiving My Mother's Murderer: Sharon Risher Pádraig Ó Tuama: A Poet's Work in Peace and Reconciliation PDF of Lee's Interview Notes Transcript of Abridged Episode Want more NSE? JOIN NSE+ Today! Our subscriber only community with bonus episodes designed specifically to help you live a good life, ad-free listening, and discounts on live shows Subscribe to episodes: Apple | Spotify | Amazon | Google | YouTubeFollow Us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTubeFollow Lee: Instagram | TwitterJoin our Email List: nosmallendeavor.com See Privacy Policy: Privacy Policy Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: Tokens Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program… Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Let's explore the expression "The Grass is Greener on the Other Side".In English, this is used when we view other situations as better than our own. In fact, no matter what we have, we tend to value what we don't have more.I explore the meaning of this expression in some detail, examples from my own life, and also some common ways we all experience this along with some ideas on how to overcome the negative sides of this idea.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast313This free video series will take you through a few lessons to Level Up your English quickly. Join me!Click here to sign up = https://courses.levelupenglish.school/fp/miniseriesSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

What does it mean to ask someone for forgiveness? The experience after Apartheid in South Africa has much to teach us. “In English, you say, ‘I'm sorry, forgive me.' It's all about me”  Says Mpho Tutu van Furth, the daughter to the late Desmond Tutu. But in the South African language of Xhosa “You say ndicela uxolo which means ‘I ask for peace'. And that's a very different thing than ‘forgive me'” In this episode, explore the deep impact of apartheid in South Africa, the meaning of true forgiveness, and the profound philosophy of Ubuntu. Discover how Mpho carries on her father's legacy of peace and reconciliation while navigating her own journey as an Episcopalian priest and social activist. This heartfelt and enlightening conversation delves into the courage required to love, forgive, and build a just community. Show Notes Resources mentioned this episode: The Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation Forgiveness and Reparation: The Healing Journey by Mpho Tutu The Book of Forgiving by Desdmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa  Similar NSE episodes: Azim Khamisa: Ending Violence Through Forgiveness Forgiving My Mother's Murderer: Sharon Risher Pádraig Ó Tuama: A Poet's Work in Peace and Reconciliation PDF of Lee's Interview Notes Transcription Link Want more NSE? JOIN NSE+ Today! Our subscriber only community with bonus episodes designed specifically to help you live a good life, ad-free listening, and discounts on live shows Subscribe to episodes: Apple | Spotify | Amazon | Google | YouTubeFollow Us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTubeFollow Lee: Instagram | TwitterJoin our Email List: nosmallendeavor.com See Privacy Policy: Privacy Policy Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: Tokens Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linki… Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Unlike rules-based teachings prevalent in both modern and ancient texts, Vedic teachings are renowned for not prescribing commandments or rigid “rules.” Instead, Veda offer timeless wisdom through lessons that we can interpret and apply according to our level of consciousness.One of the core Vedic teachings, The Mahabharata, contains a specific set of chapters known as the Bhagavad Gita — the Song of God. Within these chapters lies a profound teaching distilled into just five words that, if fully understood and implemented, have the power to end our suffering.In English, these words are: “Established in Being, perform action.”In this episode, Thom unpacks the meaning and transformative impact of this teaching. He also shares the technique that enables all of us to integrate this wisdom into our daily lives.If you'd like to dive deeper into the Bhagavad Gita, we invite you to take a look at Thom's Exploring the Bhagavad Gita series of courses. These engaging and lively courses examine how the ancient and profound lessons of the Bhagavad Gita can be applied to modern life. You can find out more at https://thomknoles.com/bhagavad-gita/,Episode Highlights[00:45] The God Song[03:34] Mahabharata[05:29] Pandavas and Kauravas[08:12] Krishna's Choice: Army or Advisor/Charioteer?[09:47] Arjuna's Dilemma[13:09] Go Beyond All Relativity, Perform Action[16:29] How to Solve All Problems[19:11] Brahman Saṃsparsash: The Kiss of Totality[22:12] The Universe Having a Human ExperienceUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 29, 2025 is: facetious • fuh-SEE-shuss • adjective Facetious is used to describe something, such as a remark or behavior, that is meant to be humorous or funny but is sometimes instead annoying, silly, or improper. It can also be used to describe someone who is joking, often implying that they are doing so inappropriately. // The emcee delivered several facetious quips throughout the night that the audience found in poor taste. // I was just being facetious—I didn't mean it seriously. See the entry > Examples: "In September, 1818, Byron told Moore of a new undertaking: 'It is called "Don Juan," and is meant to be a little quietly facetious upon every thing. ... I shall try the experiment, anonymously, and if it don't take it will be discontinued.' Safe to say that he continued, taking advantage of that freedom to cram into the poem pretty much anything that came to mind: shipwreck, cannibalism, lobster, cross-dressing, violent slurs upon the Duke of Wellington." — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 Did you know? As many puzzle fans know, facetious is one of a small group of English words that not only use all five vowels once, but use them in alphabetical order. Other members of this exclusive club include abstemious (and abstemiously), and arsenious. (There is also an odd class of words which contain each vowel, used once, in reverse order: Pulmonifera, Muscoidea, and subcontinental.) Facetious comes from the Middle French adjective facetieux, which traces to the Latin word facētia, meaning "cleverness or wit." In English, it is used to describe speech or behavior that is intended to be playfully cheeky.

Sanskrit is a beautiful language that captures subtle distinctions that English and other modern languages often cannot.Take the word “love,” for example. In English, this word spans a wide net of emotions and feelings. For example, love can describe feelings a parent has for their child, as well as the fondness someone might feel for a football team or a favorite brand of chocolate.In this week's podcast episode, Thom explores the distinction between two Sanskrit words often translated as "love"—kama and prema—and reveals their unique and separate meanings.Episode Highlights[00:45] Puruṣārtha[03:59] Kama[04:35] Pleasure Experienced Through the Senses[07:19] Prema[09:58] Love is So Ill-Defined[12:35] Vedanta[15:02] Prema and Kama: A Dynamite Package[18:05] The Crest Jewel of DiscriminationUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 26, 2024 is: menorah • muh-NOR-uh • noun A menorah is a candelabra with seven or nine lights that is used in Jewish worship. // At sundown on the first night of Hanukkah, Elliott's father helped him light the first candle on the menorah. See the entry > Examples: "Rich with history and laced with just a bit of latke grease, Hanukkah is a time for Jews to gather with family and friends and retell a fabled story of resistance. While certain symbols of the holiday like the menorah (a decorative candelabra) and the dreidel (a four-sided spinning top) may be more easily recognizable in popular culture, there is plenty more to learn about Hanukkah and why it is celebrated." — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 7 Dec. 2023 Did you know? In English, menorah was originally the name for the seven-branched candelabra used in Jewish worship. The nine-branched Hanukkah candelabra is called hanukkiah in Hebrew, but English speakers came to use menorah for this too. The Hanukkah menorah recalls expulsion by Judah Maccabee of invading forces from the Temple of Jerusalem. Maccabee and his followers sought oil for the temple's menorah so that the sanctuary could be rededicated, but they found only enough oil for a single day. Miraculously, that tiny amount of oil burned for eight days, until a new supply could be obtained. The Hanukkah menorah includes a candle for each day the oil burned, plus the shammes, a "servant candle" that is used to light the others.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 8, 2024 is: galvanize • GAL-vuh-nyze • verb To galvanize people is to cause them to be so excited or concerned about something that they are driven to action. // The council's proposal to close the library has galvanized the town's residents. See the entry > Examples: “The original Earth Day was the product of a new environmental consciousness created by Rachel Carson's 1962 book, Silent Spring, and of public horror in 1969 that the Cuyahoga River in Ohio was so polluted it caught fire. … On April 22, 1970, some 20 million people attended thousands of events across America, and this galvanizing public demand led in short order to the creation, during Richard Nixon's presidency, of the Environmental Protection Agency (1970), the Clean Air Act (1970), the Clean Water Act (1972), and the Endangered Species Act (1973), and much more after that.” — Todd Stern, The Atlantic, 6 Oct. 2024 Did you know? Luigi Galvani was an Italian physician and physicist who, in the 1770s, studied the electrical nature of nerve impulses by applying electrical stimulation to frogs' leg muscles, causing them to contract. Although Galvani's theory that animal tissue contained an innate electrical impulse was disproven, the French word galvanisme came to refer to a current of electricity especially when produced by chemical action, while the verb galvaniser was used for the action of applying such a current (both words were apparently coined by German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, who modeled them after the French equivalents of magnetism and magnetize). In English, these words came to life as galvanism and galvanize, respectively. Today their primary senses are figurative: to galvanize a person or group is to spur them into action as if they've been jolted with electricity.