Empire in pre-Columbian America
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At the top of Machu Picchu the view is beautiful, even on an overcast day. The day is quiet and serene except for the trickle of ancient Incan structures, crickets, and a soft breeze.Spotify listener? Lose the intros by becoming a subscriber! https://anchor.fm/tmsoft/subscribeLooking for something specific? Check out our playlists: Waves, Rain, Storms, Meditation, Fire, Wind, Fans, Nature, Trains, Traffic & Cars, Household, City, WinterLearn more about the White Noise AppDownload the White Noise app for free!Listen to Our Albums Ad Free on Spotify!
At the height of the Incan empire, a series of 200 woven suspension bridges crisscrossed the valleys of the Andes. Today, only one remains. It's called the Q'eswachaka, and it's rewoven every year by a continuous line of bridge builders. Journalist Eliot Stein traveled to Peru to meet the current bridge builder, and to witness this incredible tradition. His book, Custodians of Wonder, chronicles traditions like these across the globe, and the people preserving them. Plus: Listen to our episode all about the the world's rarest pasta, or “threads of god.”
09 05 2025 A LA GRAN 730 - Fiona Aquino (Derlis Martínez, Médico residente del INCAN) by ABC Color
Experience Machu Picchu at its most enchanting with Inca Rail's new sunset tour. This $321 package offers crowd-free exploration during golden hour, complete with round-trip trains, guides, and hotel transfers—all with a relaxed morning departure. Inca Rail City: Cusco Address: 105 Portal de Panes Website: https://incarail.com/
Grizzly On The Hunt - Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Cryptids, Paranormal, Aliens, UFO's and More!
TitleParacas Skulls of Peru: A Deep Dive Into Their Mysterious Origins The Rabbit Hole with Justin DeckerThis week on Rabbit Hole, we discuss the story that came from many years ago in the jungles of Peru. What is the history behind these strange skulls? Come join the discussion! Thursday March 27th at 10pm Eastern! "Paracas Skulls of Peru: A Deep Dive Into Their Mysterious Origins"In this video, we take an in-depth look at one of the most intriguing archaeological mysteries in the world – the Paracas Skulls of Peru. Discovered in the Paracas Peninsula, these elongated skulls have puzzled researchers for decades. Are they the result of ancient practices, or do they suggest something more extraordinary?Join us as we explore the history, theories, and ongoing debates surrounding these skulls. We'll delve into the possibility of cranial deformation techniques used by the Paracas people, investigate theories of ancient extraterrestrial influence, and examine the scientific findings that have sparked both curiosity and controversy.What do the Paracas Skulls reveal about the ancient civilizations of Peru? Could they hold secrets to lost knowledge or a forgotten past? Watch to uncover the mystery and discover new insights into one of the most compelling archaeological discoveries ever made.The jungles of Peru are one of the most biodiverse and unexplored regions on Earth, teeming with life, hidden civilizations, and ancient secrets. In this video, we journey deep into the heart of Peru's dense rainforests, where nature's wonders collide with centuries-old mysteries. From lost Incan cities to rare plant species that hold the key to medical breakthroughs, the Peruvian jungles are a treasure trove of undiscovered knowledge.Join us as we venture through these mysterious landscapes, uncovering hidden tribes, exploring the legends that have been passed down for generations, and delving into the untold stories that remain locked within the thick, mist-covered canopies. We'll also explore how modern explorers and scientists are working to understand and preserve the fragile ecosystems of this incredible region.What secrets are hidden in the Peruvian jungles? What can they teach us about the past, the present, and the future of our planet? Tune in to find out as we embark on a journey through the unknown. #ParacasSkulls #AncientMysteries #ParacasMystery #AncientCivilizations
Fluent Fiction - Spanish: Unearth the Secrets of Machu Picchu: A Hidden Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2025-04-07-22-34-00-es Story Transcript:Es: El sol despuntaba detrás de las imponentes montañas, iluminando las antiguas piedras de Machu Picchu y bañándolas en una cálida luz dorada.En: The sun was rising behind the imposing mountains, illuminating the ancient stones of Machu Picchu and bathing them in warm golden light.Es: Luz y Mateo formaban parte de un grupo escolar en una excursión a este místico lugar.En: Luz and Mateo were part of a school group on an excursion to this mystical place.Es: Aunque la temporada de otoño traía una brisa fresca, el entusiasmo de Luz hacía que no sintiera el frío.En: Although the autumn season brought a cool breeze, Luz's enthusiasm made her not feel the cold.Es: Luz había escuchado historias de su abuela sobre un lugar oculto en Machu Picchu.En: Luz had heard stories from her grandmother about a hidden place in Machu Picchu.Es: Era un rincón que pocos conocían, un sitio cargado de energía y misterio.En: It was a corner few knew about, a site filled with energy and mystery.Es: Luz, con su pasión por la historia, no podía resistir la tentación de explorarlo.En: Luz, with her passion for history, couldn't resist the temptation to explore it.Es: Durante el almuerzo, se giró hacia Mateo, quien estaba ocupado limpiando el lente de su cámara.En: During lunch, she turned to Mateo, who was busy cleaning his camera lens.Es: —Mateo, tengo un plan —susurró Luz, mirando de reojo a los profesores que organizaban la siguiente parte del recorrido—.En: "Mateo, I have a plan," Luz whispered, glancing at the teachers organizing the next part of the tour.Es: Necesito tu ayuda.En: "I need your help."Es: Mateo, siempre curioso y con una chispa en los ojos que revelaba su amor por las aventuras, escuchó atentamente.En: Mateo, always curious and with a spark in his eyes that revealed his love of adventures, listened attentively.Es: Luz explicó su plan para escabullirse y encontrar el rincón secreto.En: Luz explained her plan to sneak away and find the secret corner.Es: Mateo dudó; le gustaban las fotos más que los problemas, pero la emoción de Luz era contagiosa.En: Mateo hesitated; he liked photos more than trouble, but Luz's excitement was contagious.Es: —Está bien, Luz.En: "Alright, Luz.Es: Pero, si algo sale mal, tú explicas —accedió finalmente, sonriendo.En: But if anything goes wrong, you do the explaining," he finally agreed, smiling.Es: Aprovecharon un descuido de los maestros para separarse del grupo.En: They took advantage of a moment when the teachers weren't looking to separate from the group.Es: El sendero serpenteaba entre las ruinas, el aire estaba lleno del susurro del viento y el canto lejano de los pájaros.En: The path wound between the ruins, the air filled with the whisper of the wind and the distant song of birds.Es: Luz y Mateo avanzaron con cuidado, siguiendo las instrucciones que Luz recordaba de las historias de su familia.En: Luz and Mateo advanced carefully, following the instructions Luz remembered from her family's stories.Es: Finalmente, se pararon delante de una roca grande, parcialmente oculta por la vegetación.En: Finally, they stood in front of a large rock, partially hidden by vegetation.Es: Sus corazones latían fuerte al empujar la roca y revelar una pequeña cueva.En: Their hearts pounded as they pushed the rock and revealed a small cave.Es: Dentro, encontraron un mural de antiguos dibujos incas, llenos de símbolos y figuras.En: Inside, they found a mural of ancient Incan drawings, full of symbols and figures.Es: Era un hallazgo más grande de lo que Luz había imaginado.En: It was a bigger find than Luz had imagined.Es: De repente, una voz los sobresaltó.En: Suddenly, a voice startled them.Es: Un guía de otro grupo los había encontrado y parecía estar a punto de reprenderlos por salirse del camino.En: A guide from another group had found them and seemed about to reprimand them for venturing off the path.Es: Luz respiró hondo y le contó la historia familiar.En: Luz took a deep breath and told her family's story.Es: Su voz temblaba al principio, pero pronto se llenó de la misma pasión que la había llevado hasta allí.En: Her voice trembled at first, but soon it was filled with the same passion that had brought her there.Es: El guía escuchó pacientemente, su expresión transformándose de censura a interés genuino.En: The guide listened patiently, his expression changing from reproach to genuine interest.Es: Finalmente, sonrió, intrigado por la historia y la determinación de Luz.En: Finally, he smiled, intrigued by Luz's story and determination.Es: —Entiendo su deseo de explorar —dijo el guía—.En: "I understand your desire to explore," said the guide.Es: Lo que han descubierto es valioso, pero deben regresar al grupo.En: "What you have discovered is valuable, but you must return to the group.Es: No se preocupen, no diré nada.En: Don't worry, I won't say anything.Es: Solo apresúrense.En: Just hurry."Es: Luz y Mateo, aliviados, regresaron por el sendero con más cuidado que antes.En: Luz and Mateo, relieved, returned along the path more carefully than before.Es: Mientras caminaban, Luz comprendió algo importante: el respeto por las reglas no está peleado con seguir tus pasiones.En: As they walked, Luz realized something important: respecting the rules does not conflict with following your passions.Es: Además, compartir ese momento con Mateo había hecho que todo el esfuerzo valiera la pena.En: Also, sharing that moment with Mateo had made all the effort worthwhile.Es: Al unirse al grupo, sus rostros estaban iluminados no solo por el sol brillante de otoño, sino por el conocimiento de que habían vivido una aventura única, guardando en sus corazones el secreto de su pequeño descubrimiento en Machu Picchu.En: As they rejoined the group, their faces were alight not only with the bright autumn sun but with the knowledge that they had experienced a unique adventure, keeping the secret of their small discovery at Machu Picchu in their hearts. Vocabulary Words:the sun: el solthe mountains: las montañasimposing: imponentesthe stones: las piedrasancient: antiguasthe breeze: la brisaenthusiasm: entusiasmocool: frescathe plan: el planthe teachers: los profesoresthe whisper: el susurrothe cave: la cuevathe guide: el guíato hesitate: dudarto sneak away: escabullirsethe ruins: las ruinashidden: ocultato reveal: revelarthe passion: la pasiónthe mural: el muralto reprimand: reprenderto explore: explorargenuine: genuinothe knowledge: el conocimientodetermination: determinaciónthe group: el grupothe effort: el esfuerzovaluable: valiosorespect: respetounique: única
Join us on an unforgettable journey to Machu Picchu, the legendary Incan citadel shrouded in mystery, mythology, and spiritual energy. In this episode of Mythlok, host Nitten Nair explores the deep mythological connections of this ancient site, its significance in Incan culture, and the breathtaking landscapes that surround it. Discover the myths of the Virgins of the Sun, the power of the Intihuatana Stone, and the spiritual energy that still lingers in its ruins.Learn the best ways to travel to this iconic destination, what to look for when you arrive, and the ideal time to visit for the most mystical experience. Is Machu Picchu a lost temple of the gods? A sacred observatory? Or something even more enigmatic?Tune in and let your imagination wander through the clouds. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts!
For millennia, chili peppers have been at the heart of the Americas - long before Columbus set sail, before the Aztecs built their empire, and before the Incas wove them into myth. Originating in what is now Peru and Bolivia, these fiery pods were among the first crops cultivated by humans, shaping the diets, medicine, and rituals of entire civilizations.From the wild “tolerated weeds” of early foragers to the carefully cultivated varieties prized by the Maya and Aztecs, chiles were far more than a seasoning - they were power, tribute, and even punishment. In Incan lore, Brother Chile Pepper was woven into creation myths, while Aztec markets overflowed with dozens of varieties, traded and taxed like gold. When Columbus finally arrived in the Caribbean, he wasn't discovering chiles - he was stumbling upon a centuries-old tradition that had already conquered the New World.Join John and Patrick as they trace the ancient roots of the chile pepper, exploring its sacred role in pre-Columbian societies, its legendary place in Aztec and Incan mythology, and the fateful moment it first crossed the Atlantic. But this is just the beginning - because once Columbus carried chiles back to Spain, their journey was only getting started.----------In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business-----------Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Support us!Share this episode with your friendsGive a 5-star ratingWrite a review -----------Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.-----------Instagram, TikTok, Threads:@historyoffreshproduceEmail: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com
Tamara is just back from a bucket list trip to Peru with her daughter and she shares all about her lodge-to-lodge trek with Mountain Lodges of Peru and tips for visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Tamara “won” this trip as part of an auction that benefits the Adventure Travel Conservation Fundthat takes place each fall When visiting Cusco and the Sacred Valley, it is best to give yourself 3-4 days to get used to the elevation prior to hiking (Cusco is at about 11,000 feet) You can take Diamox or acetazolamide (prescription) to help prevent altitude sickness Coca tea and coca candies help you with altitude but it also has caffeine so it can disrupt your sleep Machu Picchu and Ollantaytambo are at a lower altitude so ideal you would start there and work your way up Peruvian food has a lot of rice, quinoa, and potatoes. For proteins there is beef, pork, chicken, alpaca, and a specialty — guinea pig! The portions are also very large. You shouldn't drink the water (even to brush your teeth) and consider avoiding salads, veggies, and fruits that are rinsed in water Tamara and Hannah took a 5 day trek with a small group of six people and one local guide with Mountain Lodges of Peru. The trip was perfect for those that like to hike but don't want to camp. It includes a mix of cultural activities and hikes but you stay at nice lodges. Some activities included visiting an alpaca museum, a ceremony with an Incan priest, enjoying dancing and music with locals at a weaving cooperative, visiting local markets, exploring Incan ruins, and having lunch at local homes. You need to bring your own hiking poles and need to pack in a light duffel bag or backpack The rainy season is typically November – April and they typically close the Inca Trail in February. However, this year was worse than usual because of El Niño. For the most part you can use credit cards but it helps to have some Peruvian Soles (or some US Dollars) to tip guides, pay for bathrooms, and purchase from local vendors and markets. For the first two nights in Cusco, we stayed at the Andenes Hotel, which was affordable, nice, and great traditional architecture. On our return, we stayed at the Palacio del Inka, which is a part of the Marriott Luxury Collection (which we booked via points.) RELATED EPISODES: Machu Picchu with kids Galapagos with kids
Episode 281- Elliot Stein has traveled the world in search of the last people who carry on ancient traditions. Custodians of Wonder: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, and the Last People Keeping Them Alive delves into the last Incan rope bridge builder, a mysterious metal mirror maker form India that will reveal your true self and Scandinavia's last night watchman to name a few. Stein discovers individuals who are keeping the these ancient traditions alive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
At the Peruvian town of Pisac a series of trails wind up the terraced mountains to a variety of Incan ruins. Higher up the mountain a set of Incan baths still babble and trickle, a sound once heard by a civilization centuries before.Spotify listener? Lose the intros by becoming a subscriber! https://anchor.fm/tmsoft/subscribeLearn more about the White Noise AppDownload the White Noise app for free!Listen to Our Albums Ad Free on Spotify!
Today, we're diving into the fascinating world of Axomamma—the Incan goddess of potatoes. Yes, you heard that right. A goddess of potatoes! And just like that, we've discovered religion!
Quinoa is everywhere these days, the base for a million salads and grain bowls. But, until recently, barely anyone outside the nutritious seed's ancient's homeland—the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes—had ever heard of it. This week, we're telling the story of how a gorgeous spinach-like plant traditionally grown in a remote, high-altitude region of South America was transformed into one of the hottest foods on the shelves at Whole Foods. This is a tale that began with Coloradan hippies, the deliberate invention of a new Peruvian gastronomy, and beer, but truly took off when the United Nations declared that this so-called "superfood" was the secret to solving global hunger, adapting to climate change, and rescuing Andean farmers from poverty. So, did quinoa deliver? Listen in now for the story behind your next Buddha bowl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the Season 4 finale of The Spiritual Rabbit Hole, we journey through the mythologies of the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas—civilizations rich with divine legends, celestial wisdom, and powerful rituals. From creation myths and sacred deities to epic stories of heroism and sacrifice, we explore how these ancient beliefs shaped their societies and continue to influence modern spirituality. Join us as we uncover the connections between these mythologies and the natural world, discuss their lasting cultural impact, and reflect on what we can learn from their enduring wisdom.As we close out this season, we're also gearing up for an exciting new theme! Next season, we'll be delving into spiritual protection, disconnecting from negative energy, and dealing with uninvited entities. Stay tuned, stay curious, and we'll see you in Season 5!Remember to subscribe, share, and leave a review if you're loving our spiritual discussions.To learn more about Nicole, Kristin, and Glenda and their spiritual community visit the Soul on a Voyage website http://soulonavoyage.com and follow them on Instagram @soulonavoyage.If you would like to schedule an appointment with Nicole Glosser, you may do so through her website nicoleglosser.com and follow her on Instagram @nicoleglosser.To find out more about the services Kristin Daniels has to offer, visit her website balancewithkristin.com and follow her on Instagram @_balancewithkristin_.Interested in working with Glenda, contact her via email at gsintuitivecalling@gmail.com and follow her on Instagram @intuitivecalling.Disclaimer:The content presented in this podcast is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice in any domain, including but not limited to medical, legal, financial, or psychological matters. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the hosts and do not constitute professional guidance.We encourage listeners to consult with qualified professionals for advice tailored to their individual circumstances. The hosts and creators of this podcast disclaim any responsibility for actions taken by listeners based on the information discussed herein. Use of the information provided is at your own discretion and risk.All content is © 2023-2025 The Spiritual Rabbit Hole. Unauthorized use or distribution of this material without express written consent is prohibited.Listener discretion is advised.
This week, as we continue our look at pulp-heroes as part of our annual "Fantasy February", we're taking a look at the pulp hero who arguably started it all. The character who influenced everyone from Superman to The Shadow. This week we're looking at Doc Savage! More to the point, we're looking at the 1975 movie, Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze! In the film, which takes in the 1930's, Doc Savage (played by Ron Ely) and his five adventuring companions are drawn into the mystery of Doc's father disappearing in the wilds of South America. The maniacal Captain Seas tries to thwart them at every turn as they travel to the country of Hidalgo to investigate Doc's father's death and uncover a vast horde of Incan gold.
Sylvia returns to Paris and shares with the party the contents of the Barons Ring of Hoarding. Justine's brother Jan arrives in Paris for a trade convention and they are able to have a heartfelt reunion. She helps him secure a major trade deal with a delagate from the Incan empire and they bump into an old ally with a shocking revelation
La Dra. María del Consuelo Díaz Romero, oncóloga médica de la Unidad Funcional de Tumores Gastrointestinales, INCan, nos habla durante el 7º Taller RISE 2025: Residents In Search of Excellence del Colegio Mexicano de Oncología Médica, sobre cáncer de estómago.La realización integral de este evento fue gracias a: AstraZeneca México y Pfizer México.Fecha de grabación: 30 de enero de 2025. Todos los comentarios emitidos por los participantes son a título personal y no reflejan la opinión de ScienceLink u otros. Se deberá revisar las indicaciones aprobadas en el país para cada uno de los tratamientos y medicamentos comentados. Las opiniones vertidas en este programa son responsabilidad de los participantes o entrevistados, ScienceLink las ha incluido con fines educativos. Este material está dirigido a profesionales de la salud exclusivamente.
El Dr. Óscar Arrieta Rodríguez, oncólogo médico del INCan en la Ciudad de México, nos habla durante el 7º Taller RISE 2025: Residents In Search of Excellence del Colegio Mexicano de Oncología Médica, sobre CPCNP: tratamiento de enfermedad metastásica (EGFR).La realización integral de este evento fue gracias a: AstraZeneca México y Pfizer México.Fecha de grabación: 31 de enero de 2025. Todos los comentarios emitidos por los participantes son a título personal y no reflejan la opinión de ScienceLink u otros. Se deberá revisar las indicaciones aprobadas en el país para cada uno de los tratamientos y medicamentos comentados. Las opiniones vertidas en este programa son responsabilidad de los participantes o entrevistados, ScienceLink las ha incluido con fines educativos. Este material está dirigido a profesionales de la salud exclusivamente.
El Dr. Enrique Caballé Pérez, oncólogo médico del INCan en la Ciudad de México, nos habla durante el 7º Taller RISE 2025: Residents In Search of Excellence para residentes de Oncología Médica del Colegio Mexicano de Oncología Médica, sobre CPCNP EC III (Neoadyuvancia y tratamiento de enfermedad localmente avanzado irresecable).Gracias al apoyo educativo de Johnson & Johnson México.La realización integral de este evento fue gracias a: AstraZeneca México y Pfizer México.Fecha de grabación: 31 de enero de 2025. Todos los comentarios emitidos por los participantes son a título personal y no reflejan la opinión de ScienceLink u otros. Se deberá revisar las indicaciones aprobadas en el país para cada uno de los tratamientos y medicamentos comentados. Las opiniones vertidas en este programa son responsabilidad de los participantes o entrevistados, ScienceLink las ha incluido con fines educativos. Este material está dirigido a profesionales de la salud exclusivamente.
El Dr. Luis Antonio Cabrera Miranda, oncólogo médico del INCan en la Ciudad de México, nos habla durante el 7º Taller RISE 2025: Residents In Search of Excellence del Colegio Mexicano de Oncología Médica, sobre CPCP: enfermedad limitada y extensa.Gracias al apoyo educativo de Pfizer México.La realización integral de este evento fue gracias a: AstraZeneca México y Pfizer México.Fecha de grabación: 31 de enero de 2025. Todos los comentarios emitidos por los participantes son a título personal y no reflejan la opinión de ScienceLink u otros. Se deberá revisar las indicaciones aprobadas en el país para cada uno de los tratamientos y medicamentos comentados. Las opiniones vertidas en este programa son responsabilidad de los participantes o entrevistados, ScienceLink las ha incluido con fines educativos. Este material está dirigido a profesionales de la salud exclusivamente.
El Dr. Germán Calderillo Ruiz, oncólogo médico de la Unidad Funcional de Tumores Gastrointestinales, INCan en la Ciudad de México, nos habla durante el 7º Taller RISE 2025: Residents In Search of Excellence del Colegio Mexicano de Oncología Médica, sobre cáncer de recto no metastásico.Gracias al apoyo educativo de MERCK México.La realización integral de este evento fue gracias a: AstraZeneca México y Pfizer México.Fecha de grabación: 31 de enero de 2025. Todos los comentarios emitidos por los participantes son a título personal y no reflejan la opinión de ScienceLink u otros. Se deberá revisar las indicaciones aprobadas en el país para cada uno de los tratamientos y medicamentos comentados. Las opiniones vertidas en este programa son responsabilidad de los participantes o entrevistados, ScienceLink las ha incluido con fines educativos. Este material está dirigido a profesionales de la salud exclusivamente.
El Dr. David Dávila Dupont, oncólogo médico del INCan en la Ciudad de México, nos habla durante el 7º Taller RISE 2025: Residents In Search of Excellence del Colegio Mexicano de Oncología Médica, sobre tratamiento de enfermedad metastásica: sin drivers oncogénicos, QT antiangiogénicos e inmunoterapia, llevado a cabo el 30 y 31 de enero y 1 de febrero.Gracias al apoyo educativo de Pfizer México.La realización integral de este evento fue gracias a: AstraZeneca México y Pfizer México.Fecha de grabación: 31 de enero de 2025. Todos los comentarios emitidos por los participantes son a título personal y no reflejan la opinión de ScienceLink u otros. Se deberá revisar las indicaciones aprobadas en el país para cada uno de los tratamientos y medicamentos comentados. Las opiniones vertidas en este programa son responsabilidad de los participantes o entrevistados, ScienceLink las ha incluido con fines educativos. Este material está dirigido a profesionales de la salud exclusivamente.
El Dr. José Rodrigo Espinosa Fernández, oncólogo médico en el Departamento de Oncología Médica en el INCan, en la Ciudad de México, nos habla durante el 7º Taller RISE 2025: Residents In Search of Excellence del Colegio Mexicano de Oncología Médica, sobre cáncer de mama triple negativo temprano y avanzado.Gracias al apoyo educativo de Pfizer México.La realización integral de este evento fue gracias a: AstraZeneca México y Pfizer México.Fecha de grabación: 1 de febrero de 2025. Todos los comentarios emitidos por los participantes son a título personal y no reflejan la opinión de ScienceLink u otros. Se deberá revisar las indicaciones aprobadas en el país para cada uno de los tratamientos y medicamentos comentados. Las opiniones vertidas en este programa son responsabilidad de los participantes o entrevistados, ScienceLink las ha incluido con fines educativos. Este material está dirigido a profesionales de la salud exclusivamente.
We're experimenting and would love to hear from you!In this episode of ‘Discover Daily', we explore groundbreaking developments across technology and space. OpenAI unveils its first comprehensive rebrand, introducing a refined blossom logo, custom OpenAI Sans typeface, and a nature-inspired color palette under the leadership of their design team. We also delve into Apple's exciting ELEGNT project, a revolutionary lamp-like robotic companion prototype that could hit markets by 2027.Our main story focuses on an astronomical breakthrough that's reshaping our understanding of the universe. The Quipu superstructure, discovered by Dr. Hans Böhringer and his team at the Max Planck Institute, spans an astounding 1.3 billion light-years and contains 200 quadrillion solar masses. This cosmic giant is part of a newly identified group of five superstructures that collectively house nearly half of all known galaxy clusters in their observed region. The massive discovery challenges existing cosmological models and could revolutionize our understanding of dark matter, gravity, and universal structure formation. Named after the ancient Incan record-keeping system, Quipu's vast size and complex shape are forcing scientists to reconsider theories about how matter clusters at the largest scales, potentially leading to groundbreaking revisions in our understanding of cosmic evolution and structure formation.From Perplexity's Discover Feed: https://www.perplexity.ai/page/openai-rebrands-olNMmsxrR2e8pTl74GelVA https://www.perplexity.ai/page/apple-prototypes-tabletop-robo-B0ohlEMNRXei655eYqfigg https://www.perplexity.ai/page/largest-structure-in-universe-kX97crgVQuKyHnGt6dR4MQ Perplexity is the fastest and most powerful way to search the web. Perplexity crawls the web and curates the most relevant and up-to-date sources (from academic papers to Reddit threads) to create the perfect response to any question or topic you're interested in. Take the world's knowledge with you anywhere. Available on iOS and Android Join our growing Discord community for the latest updates and exclusive content. Follow us on: Instagram Threads X (Twitter) YouTube Linkedin
Where would our species be without string? It's one of our most basic technologies—so basic that it's easy to overlook. But humans have used string—and its cousins rope, yarn, cordage, thread, etc.—for all kinds of purposes, stretching back tens of thousands of years. We've used it for knots and textiles and fishing nets and carrier bags and bow-strings and record-keeping devices. It's one of the most ubiquitous, flexible, and useful technologies we have. But we haven't only put string to practical purposes. We've also long used it to tickle our minds. My guest today is Dr. Roope Kaaronen. Roope is a cognitive anthropologist and postdoc at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Along with an interdisciplinary team, Roope recently conducted two studies that showcase the centrality of string in human culture. One is on the history and diversity of "string figures” (which are visual designs made with a loop of string held between the hands, often known to English speakers as “Cat's Cradle”). The other study is on the history and diversity of knots. Here Roope and I discuss the deep history of string in human culture. We talk about the seemingly universal spread of string figures across the globe. We zoom in on one string figure in particular—the Jacob's ladder—which seems to be the most widespread string figure of all, despite its complexity. We talk about how both knots and string figures are related to the branch of mathematics known as “topology," and about how knots and string figures have evolved under different constraints. Finally, we discuss what our fascination with string designs might tell us about the human mind. And we lament the fact that many of string-based cultural heritage is headed—quite rapidly—for extinction. Just a reminder that applications are now open for the 2025 Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute or DISI. If you are an early career researcher and you like this show, you would probably like DISI. Actually, fun fact: our guest today, Roope, is a DISI alum. We met at the Institute a couple years ago and I've followed his work ever since. That should give you some flavor for the people who attend. In any case, for more info, check out disi.org—that's d-i-s-i. org. Alright friends, on to my conversation with Dr. Roope Kaaronen. Enjoy! Notes and links 3:00 – The 2020 paper reporting the use of string by Neanderthals. 8:00 – A paper describing the Antrea Net and its discovery. 10:00 – On the issue of gender bias in the study of textiles, see Virginia Postrel's book, The Fabric of Civilization. 12:00 – Dr. Kaaronen's other ethnomathematical projects include work on measurement across cultures. 16:30 – The website of the International String Figure Association. 19:30 – The 1969 paper first introducing the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample. 22:20 – A step-by-step explanation for how to make Jacob's ladder. 30:30 – A step-by-step explanation for how to make the Swan. 38:00 – An example of a string figure that uses the Caroline Extension. 40:35 – A video demonstrating the string figure game of Cat's Cradle, which is played with a partner. 44:30 – A preprint of the knot study by Dr. Kaaronen and colleagues. 45:00 – The website of HRAF—the Human Relations Area Files—is here. 49:00 – A step-by-step explanation for how to make the knot known as the “sheet bend.” 55:00 – An interactive article about what is known about Incan khipus. 59:30 – The “bible of knots” is the Ashley Book of Knots. 1:08:30 – An illustrated article on the so-called Austronesian expansion. 1:16:00 – An image of the ochre stone from 70,000 years ago, found at Blombos cave, featuring net-like imagery. A study finding sensitivity to abstract shapes in humans but not baboons. Recommendations The Fabric of Civilization, by Virginia Postrel String Figures: A Study of Cat's Cradle in Many Lands, by Caroline Furness Jayne WhyKnot (YouTube channel) Many Minds is a project of the Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute, which is made possible by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation to Indiana University. The show is hosted and produced by Kensy Cooperrider, with help from Assistant Producer Urte Laukaityte and with creative support from DISI Directors Erica Cartmill and Jacob Foster. Our artwork is by Ben Oldroyd. Our transcripts are created by Sarah Dopierala. Subscribe to Many Minds on Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also now subscribe to the Many Minds newsletter here! We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. Feel free to email us at: manymindspodcast@gmail.com. For updates about the show, visit our website or follow us on Twitter (@ManyMindsPod) or Bluesky (@manymindspod.bsky.social).
Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black examine the history and science behind the jade (Mayan), obsidian (Aztec), and lapis (Incan) puzzle boxes featured in National Treasure: Edge of History. What other minerals might the storywriters have considered? (Pardon our audio quality while our co-hosts configure new tech!) Get tickets to National Treasure Hunt's upcoming event at President Lincoln's Cottage (February 7, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET) here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lincoln-a-national-treasure-tickets-1117002266849 Join the hunt on Twitter and Instagram using @NTHuntPodcast, and find new episodes of National Treasure Hunt every-other Wednesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. More information about the National Treasure Hunt podcast, tour, and book can be found at www.nthuntpodcast.com. Order our book, "National Treasure Hunt: One Step Short of Crazy," from Tucker DS Press at https://www.tuckerdspress.com/product-page/national-treasure-hunt-one-step-short-of-crazy. To access even more exclusive National Treasure Hunt content, including bonus episodes and watch parties, subscribe to our Patreon: www.patreon.com/NTHuntPodcast
This week we cover three archaeology news stories. First, we look at “sun stones” that may have been buried as a ritual to bring back the sun after a volcanic eruption. Then, researchers in Peru think they have found an underground network of Incan tunnels in Cuzcos. Finally, women are found to have more power than previously thought in a Celtic group in Britain.Links Neolithic Farmers May Have Buried These Mysterious Stones to Bring Back the Sun After a Volcanic Eruption (Smithsonian) Sun stones and the darkened sun: Neolithic miniature art from the island of Bornholm, Denmark (Antiquity) Archaeologists Discovered An Underground Inca Labyrinth, Confirming a Centuries-Old Rumor (Popular Mechanics) Huge Ancient Inca Underground Labyrinth Discovered Beneath Cusco, Starting At Sun Temple(IFL Science) Celtic tribe's DNA points to female empowerment in pre-Roman Britain (New Scientist) Celtic tribe's DNA points to female empowerment in pre-Roman Britain (New Scientist - Apple News)Transcripts For rough transcripts head over to https://archpodnet.com/archaeology/293Contact Chris Websterchris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com Rachel Rodenrachel@unraveleddesigns.comRachelUnraveled (Instagram)ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724Affiliates Motion
This week we cover three archaeology news stories. First, we look at “sun stones” that may have been buried as a ritual to bring back the sun after a volcanic eruption. Then, researchers in Peru think they have found an underground network of Incan tunnels in Cuzcos. Finally, women are found to have more power than previously thought in a Celtic group in Britain.Links Neolithic Farmers May Have Buried These Mysterious Stones to Bring Back the Sun After a Volcanic Eruption (Smithsonian) Sun stones and the darkened sun: Neolithic miniature art from the island of Bornholm, Denmark (Antiquity) Archaeologists Discovered An Underground Inca Labyrinth, Confirming a Centuries-Old Rumor (Popular Mechanics) Huge Ancient Inca Underground Labyrinth Discovered Beneath Cusco, Starting At Sun Temple(IFL Science) Celtic tribe's DNA points to female empowerment in pre-Roman Britain (New Scientist) Celtic tribe's DNA points to female empowerment in pre-Roman Britain (New Scientist - Apple News)Transcripts For rough transcripts head over to https://archpodnet.com/archaeology/293Contact Chris Websterchris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com Rachel Rodenrachel@unraveleddesigns.comRachelUnraveled (Instagram)ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724Affiliates Motion
Welcome to ohmTown. The Non Sequitur News Show is held live via Twitch and Youtube every day. We, Mayor Watt and the AI that runs ohmTown, cover a selection of aggregated news articles and discuss them briefly with a perspective merging business, technology, and society. You can visit https://www.youtube.com/ohmtown for the complete history since 2022.Articles Discussed:Incan Tunnel under Cuscohttps://www.ohmtown.com/groups/mobble/f/d/researchers-have-found-an-inca-tunnel-beneath-the-peruvian-city-of-cusco/AI Judging at X Gameshttps://www.ohmtown.com/groups/technologytoday/f/d/ai-experiment-in-halfpipe-judging-at-x-games-will-give-snowboarders-a-glimpse-into-the-future/The Mongolian Giant Saurolophushttps://www.ohmtown.com/groups/mobble/f/d/large-bipedal-dinosaur-footprints-discovered-possible-evidence-of-mongolian-giant-saurolophus/Contagious Peeinghttps://www.ohmtown.com/groups/greenagram/f/d/all-together-now-chimps-engage-in-contagious-peeing/The Planters Nutmobilehttps://www.ohmtown.com/groups/four-wheel-tech/f/d/youre-nutty-if-you-dont-apply-to-drive-the-planters-peanuts-nutmobile/You're Fired, Here is a Duck.https://www.ohmtown.com/groups/nonsequiturnews/f/d/stripe-accidentally-sent-an-image-of-a-duck-when-notifying-some-employees-they-were-getting-laid-off/3D Printed Microscopehttps://www.ohmtown.com/groups/technologytoday/f/d/scientists-create-worlds-first-fully-3d-printed-microscope-in-under-three-hours/Jetblue Icehttps://www.ohmtown.com/groups/nonsequiturnews/f/d/a-block-of-ice-fell-from-a-jetblue-plane-and-crashed-through-a-couples-bedroom-ceiling-lawsuit-says/A ridiculousness Themehttps://www.ohmtown.com/groups/mobble/f/d/devos-mark-mothersbaugh-earns-1m-per-year-from-the-ridiculousness-theme/Futuristic Farm for Food
Episode Notes Eliot Stein, Author of "Custodians of Wonder" discussed his superb book, homing in on ancient music traditions in Mali, Incan grass bridge makers in Peru, and the world's rarest pasta in Sardinia.
In this episode, we focus on South American logistics, sharing crazy stories from the "Road of Death" where truck drivers dodge landslides, cross rivers on rickety pontoon boats, and take showers in mountain waterfalls just to deliver their cargo. Blythe and Grace Sharkey unpack China's ambitious power play in South America, revealing how their new mega-port in Peru and planned infrastructure projects could reshape global trade routes and potentially sideline the Panama Canal. They also bring attention to the fascinating twist that many of these modern shipping nightmares stem from trying to adapt 15th-century Incan roads - some of history's most impressive engineering feats - into today's crucial trade routes.LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HEREFeedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.---------------------------------------------THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interview series powered by SPI Logistics to hear directly from the company's agents on how they took the leap and found a home with SPI freight agent program. Tai TMS is designed to streamline your brokerage operations and propel growth for both FTL and LTL shipment cycles. Book a demo with the Tai team today and tell them Everything is Logistics sent you. Digital Dispatch maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers. Check out our website services here.
Fluent Fiction - Spanish: Ramiro and Inés: Dancing Through Cusco's Unexpected Wonders Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2024-12-30-08-38-19-es Story Transcript:Es: Las calles de Cusco vibraban con vida.En: The streets of Cusco vibrated with life.Es: El sol de verano brillaba con fuerza, iluminando las fachadas antiguas y reflejando la historia en cada rincón de la ciudad.En: The summer sun shone brightly, illuminating the ancient facades and reflecting history in every corner of the city.Es: Aromas de la cocina peruana llenaban el aire, y sonidos de música y risas resonaban entre las ruinas incas.En: Aromas of Peruvian cuisine filled the air, and sounds of music and laughter echoed among the Incan ruins.Es: Ramiro e Inés caminaban juntos, maravillados por la belleza en torno a ellos.En: Ramiro and Inés walked together, marveling at the beauty around them.Es: Era su primer viaje a Cusco, una ciudad que Ramiro deseaba explorar con entusiasmo.En: It was their first trip to Cusco, a city that Ramiro was eager to explore enthusiastically.Es: Inés, más reservada, prefería ceñirse al itinerario que había planificado con cuidado.En: Inés, more reserved, preferred to stick to the itinerary she had carefully planned.Es: Desde la Plaza de Armas, caminaban hacia el Coricancha, un templo que había sido centro del imperio inca.En: From the Plaza de Armas, they walked towards the Coricancha, a temple that had been the center of the Incan empire.Es: "Inés," dijo Ramiro mientras pasaban por un callejón abarrotado de vendedores.En: "Inés," said Ramiro as they passed through a crowded alley of vendors.Es: "Escuchemos a esta señora.En: "Let's listen to this lady.Es: Hay un festival local, ¿qué tal si vamos?"En: There's a local festival; how about we go?"Es: Inés dudó.En: Inés hesitated.Es: "¿Y el museo?En: "And the museum?Es: Tenemos reservas a las dos."En: We have reservations at two."Es: "Podemos ser flexibles, Inés.En: "We can be flexible, Inés.Es: Mira toda esta vida a nuestro alrededor.En: Look at all this life around us.Es: Puede ser una oportunidad única."En: It could be a unique opportunity."Es: Inés se mordió el labio.En: Inés bit her lip.Es: No quería perderse nada esencial, pero la verdad, deseaba recuperar la pasión en su relación, la cual había aminorado por las tantas preocupaciones del año.En: She didn't want to miss anything essential, but truthfully, she wanted to rekindle the passion in their relationship, which had waned due to so many concerns throughout the year.Es: Con un suspiro, aceptó la propuesta de Ramiro.En: With a sigh, she accepted Ramiro's proposal.Es: Se adentraron en un pequeño circuito donde el festival cobró vida.En: They ventured into a small circuit where the festival came alive.Es: Bailarines de coloridos trajes tradicionales danzaban al ritmo de tambores vibrantes.En: Dancers in colorful traditional costumes danced to the rhythm of vibrant drums.Es: El sonido del charango se mezclaba con los aplausos y el bullicio.En: The sound of the charango mixed with applause and the hustle and bustle.Es: Ramiro tomó a Inés de la mano, llevándola hacia la multitud.En: Ramiro took Inés by the hand, leading her into the crowd.Es: De repente, el cielo se cubrió de nubes grises y una lluvia repentina comenzó a caer.En: Suddenly, the sky covered with gray clouds and a sudden rain began to fall.Es: Inés reunió fuerzas para llamar al sentido común.En: Inés gathered the strength to call for common sense.Es: "Ramiro, debemos buscar cobijo."En: "Ramiro, we should find shelter."Es: Pero Ramiro, impregnado del espíritu de las festividades, sonrió.En: But Ramiro, imbued with the spirit of the festivities, smiled.Es: "¡Vamos a bailar, Inés!En: "Let's dance, Inés!Es: Será inolvidable."En: It'll be unforgettable."Es: Una chispa de valentía despertó en Inés, y antes de que pudiera pensarlo mucho, estaba danzando junto a Ramiro bajo la lluvia, riendo mientras la música envolvía su mundo.En: A spark of courage awoke in Inés, and before she could think too much, she was dancing alongside Ramiro in the rain, laughing as the music enveloped their world.Es: La empapada multitud no dejó que la lluvia apagase su vibrante alegría.En: The drenched crowd did not let the rain dampen their vibrant joy.Es: Entonces, como por arte de magia, la lluvia cesó.En: Then, as if by magic, the rain ceased.Es: Un arcoíris monumental apareció sobre las ruinas, hilando colores sobre el cielo incerto.En: A monumental rainbow appeared over the ruins, weaving colors across the uncertain sky.Es: Inés miró a Ramiro, su corazón latiendo rápido, agradecida por su insistencia.En: Inés looked at Ramiro, her heart pounding, grateful for his insistence.Es: "Tenías razón, Ramiro.En: "You were right, Ramiro.Es: Las maravillas inesperadas son las más dulces."En: The unexpected wonders are the sweetest."Es: Se abrazaron, ambos sabiendo que habían encontrado un nuevo equilibrio entre lo planeado y lo espontáneo.En: They hugged, both knowing they had found a new balance between the planned and the spontaneous.Es: El viaje no solo les enseñó sobre una rica historia y cultura, sino también sobre ellos mismos.En: The journey taught them not only about a rich history and culture but also about themselves.Es: Cusco, como siempre vibrante, se quedó como un recuerdo de dicha y renovación, mientras la música y la risa continuaban resonando en las calles.En: Cusco, as always vibrant, remained as a memory of joy and renewal, while music and laughter continued to resonate in the streets. Vocabulary Words:the facade: la fachadathe aroma: el aromathe ruin: la ruinato marvel: maravillarsethe itinerary: el itinerariothe vendor: el vendedorthe reservation: la reservato rekindle: recuperarthe passion: la pasiónthe concern: la preocupaciónthe circuit: el circuitothe dancer: el bailarín/ la bailarinathe costume: el trajethe drum: el tamborthe applause: el aplausothe shelter: el cobijoto weave: hilarthe rainbow: el arcoíristo cease: cesarunexpected: inesperado/ato hug: abrazarthe balance: el equilibrioto resonate: resonarvibrant: vibranteto illuminate: iluminarancient: antiguo/aresolute: resoluto/athe hesitation: la dudato gather (strength): reunir (fuerzas)to soak: empapar
Start Your Transformation Now In today's episode, we'll explore Ayni, the ancient Incan concept of sacred reciprocity - a foundational principle for creating abundance and balance in life. Ayni is the understanding that giving with an open heart invites abundance back into your life. It's a principle that has transformed how I live and serve others. I'll share personal stories, insights, and lessons from my work with Don Xavier to clarify how this powerful concept can impact your relationships, success, and personal growth. You'll also learn to identify relationships lacking reciprocity and why equitable exchanges are essential for maintaining energy and creating meaningful connections. As we prepare for 2025, I encourage you to reflect on your relationship with giving and receiving. When you embrace Ayni, you create a life of greater service, joy, and abundance - for yourself and others. What You'll Discover in This Episode: The Essence of Ayni (01:31): Learn the ancient Incan principle of reciprocity and how it applies to relationships, success, and life. Transformative Giving (08:10): Why giving with an open heart creates abundance and aligns with universal laws of balance. Recognizing Takers (10:14): Understand how to identify and manage relationships that lack reciprocity. Equitable Exchanges (23:07): The importance of balanced giving and receiving to maintain energy and build meaningful connections. Living by Ayni (27:22): How adopting this principle can transform your life, relationships, and contribution to the world. Listen, apply, and enjoy! Transformational Takeaway: As you prepare for 2025, reflect on the role of reciprocity in your life. Ask yourself, “Am I a giver or a taker? How can I bring more balance and joyful giving into my relationships?” By putting others first and living from a place of service, you'll not only create abundance for others but also transform your own life in profound ways. Let's Connect: Instagram Facebook YouTube LinkedIn LIKED THE EPISODE? If you're the kind of person who likes to help others, then share this with your friends and family. If you have found value, they will too. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts so we can reach more people. Listening on Spotify? Please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you Thank you for listening! With Gratitude, Jim Fortin
Episode 108: Green BodhiWhat's Good Famiglia?! How we doin out there?! 2024 is almost over already?! Wow another year flew by! Well before it's over, we have another banger of an episode with the homie John aka Green Bodhi. Green Bodhi is a breeder, cultivator, and a psychedelic explorer. As many of us young heads, John started out a little rowdy, but later was advised it was time to chill. That type of energy wasn't needed in Eugene, OR. Then Green Bodhi started to discover psychedelics and began to heal himself and change his ways of thinking and viewing the world. We talked about his psychedelic experiences in the Incan ruins of Ollantaytambo, Peru (which I've actually been to), Ayahuasca ceremonies in the Jungle, and much more! Green Bodhi is also a breeder and has some amazing soil grown cultivars. Not to mention, he's also holding the Gas down!!! John had real Chem Dog and an amazing cut of Sour OG that he shared with me. This was a fun and inspiring episode! Y'all know what time it is… Roll em fat, torch your rigs, pack your bongs, bag up some work, water your plants, do what you gotta do because we're about take this trippy journey with the homie John aka Green Bodhi!✌
Women making bad decisions. Cáel to the rescue? What? In 25 parts, edited from the works of FinalStand. Listen and subscribe to the ► Podcast at Connected.. “There is nothing wrong being a Lucky Bastard. It is wrong to rely on it.” They were all psychopaths and murderers after all, so death was becoming a vocational hazard. Me refraining from having as many sexual liaisons as possible wasn't realistic. I wasn't going to be willingly castrated and that was the only way out. The one benefit I could see was me working in a target-rich environment. "Now that I have had my turn stymieing Cáel's chaotic yet well-meaning attempts to educate us in the dangers and rewards of free-ranging masculinity," Tessa regarded the assembly, "I am getting out with my victory intact. Good luck, Sisters. You'll need it." Tessa exited, order was restored and; oh yeah, Elsa had brought me here for a sadistic love-fest, sans the sex. "I don't know what to make of you," Elsa smiled warmly, "I don't understand you and I find you to be very interesting." Let me make this clear; all three of those statements can be very bad, or very good. 'I don't know what to make of you' means I want to make it with you. 'I don't understand you' is 30% bad and 70% good. When bad, it is a prelude to a break-up. What she means is 'you aren't trying to understand me', thus the end of the relationship. On the beneficial side it means 'I've totally bought into your seduction and I'm ready to screw'. Ah, 'interesting'. Two types of women find a man 'interesting'; women who have to have you, and stalkers. Somewhat redundant. The main difference is how they respond to the Restraining Order and how much fun the erotic side of the relationship will be. The first kind of woman has a public screaming fit if you take out a RO on her. Let them build up to an incinerating level, then fuck them; it's so worth it. Stalkers ignore ROs. That's okay. Now you can legally trap them. They'll do whatever you want. Not because they are afraid of you. It is an RO for God's sake; one night in jail, maybe. No, they'll do whatever sex act you request because that's why they are stalking you in the first place; the sensual/emotional connection. When she starts making bizarre requests of you, subtly direct her to another 'more interesting' guy. Try not to use a friend. That's kind of cold. For the next few weeks, make sure the latest victim doesn't end up as a Missing Person. After that, you've done your civic duty so you can move on guilt-free. "Elsa, I need ten minutes to stretch first," I requested. She nodded. Off came the shirt. I retreated to a gymnastics mat and began stretching out my kinks. Five minutes in, I did one of my favorite maneuvers; the backwards human bridge completed when your wrists touch the Achilles tendons. Not only does this extended your abdominal muscles, it exhibits your hard-on and suggest all kinds of pages from the Kama Sutra are, in fact, possible. My performance highlighted my musculature, flexibility and numerous scars. My left thigh still had a light bandage wrapped around it. Whatever the Amazon medics were using was working gangbusters on me. Elsa had retreated to her end of the mat so I glided to my axes then promptly got off the mat. I didn't trust any Amazon, not even Aya and I'd let my heart be cut out if it would save her life. I got the feel for these axes, spun them around a few times then made to get back on the mat. "Put the loops around your wrist," Elsa directed. "Why?" I retorted. We were back to 'why are we letting a male question our orders.' "You are not allowed to throw them," Elsa allowed. I nodded. I didn't loop them. No, I walked onto the mat, weapons held axe-head down. I walked in five steps, knelt and placed the axes on the mat by my side. "Cáel, defend yourself," Elsa stated firmly. "Which is it? Do I defend myself and I act in a manner allowed by axe-work, or do I accede to your demands and be automatically defeated?" I responded. "Do you believe my spear technique is that superior to your own, made-up style?" Elsa smirked. "I think you are cheating. Worse, I think you are being a bully. If you want this to be the 'Elsa is a Bad-Ass' show, congratulations, you've won. I'm not going to fight you. I kneel before you, weapons on the mat, acknowledging that your cheating ways have defeated me," I mocked. "Savor this magnificent victory." "Your opinion of my martial prowess is not what is at question here today," Elsa spoke. I stood up, turned away and walked off the map, interrupting the rest of her speech. She was coming for me this time. I opened my towel, took out my phone and began texting away. "What are you doing?" Ngozi rumbled. *Buffy; job complete. Need to shower before next mission in queue* I hadn't hit 'send' yet. "Please correct me if I'm wrong. This was supposed to be a weapon's exhibition. That implies a study of your opponents training and capabilities. Elsa's prowess, along with my own, are the question here to today," I insisted. "Otherwise it is a waste of time for every non-sadist here." "Is it absolutely crucial that you throw an axe at Elsa?" Traska questioned. "No. It is absolutely crucial that Elsa fight under the handicap that I might throw an axe," I instructed her. "It changes the range dynamic. If I can hit her from; oh, five meters out, she has to keep close. If she has to keep close, my axes can engage her hand-to-hand." "Since Elsa chose a long spear, throwing it is clumsy, thus reducing her options," I stated. "Any range over six meters and she can probably dodge, or deflect, my throw. So we are both range limited, as it should be for a good exhibition." "I bow you reasoning," Elsa gave me a respectful nod of the head. Fucker; she liked me more, not less, despite my verbal reticence. We went to our corners. I charged first. Oh God; Elsa was super-great at spear. Less anyone forget, the spear has not only a sharp point; it also has a 20 cm bladed surface on each side plus a sold, oak shaft for blocking, poking and smacking. Elsa swung the spear around her body in lightning quick arcs. She could fight long shaft, or short shaft, as the range dictated. Long shaft was like fighting a dagger on a stick; cut and thrust. Short shaft was mainly thrusting, but was good for holding me back if I got inside her 'long' guard. Elsa's advantages were life-long experience, tons of natural talent, and being quicker than me. Our staminas were evenly matched. The drain of Elsa's fluid style equaled my two-weapon use. I had her in bulk and brawn. Elsa and I were at the top of the spectrum for our respective genders; physically and mentally better off than the majority. This meant I had her on brute strength and reach. That was genetics talking. My only other advantage was the uniqueness of my style. Elsa hadn't faced it before, though I'm sure she'd watched Constanza and Crewe's fight with me on video. Elsa figured out quickly that a left-handed battle axe made a poor shield. It covered far less area and took more energy and concentration for the assaulted to defend themselves. As soon as she put that bit of knowledge into her arsenal of tricks, I showed her another one. An axe is an axe, and when she slapped that spear against my guard one too many times, my right-handed axe chopped into the shaft, severing the spear blade from the rest of the spear. This was the point where an Amazon would have pressed the attack. I was deciding to take as little of a beating as possible. I fell back, knelt and put my axes down. There was a hush. "Elsa, do you wish to retrieve another spear?" I inquired. This was an exhibition after all. Actually, this was Elsa proving she was better than me, but she a script to stick to. "To your starting place," Elsa commanded. "Get some water." I picked up my axes and withdrew; backwards. Oneida had crept around to my side. "I know what you did this morning," Oneida gave me some water to drink. "It was very clever of you to send me away for my safety. It makes me adore you even more." I reached out with one finger and poked her nose. "You're silly," I sighed. "No," she giggled like a school girl. I was going to Hell for this one. "You are an 'Ash Man' reborn. I read about it." I had no clue that was and Elsa was waiting. The rest was pre-ordained. I got a few light cuts while not leaving a mark on Elsa. I scored major points by disposing of Elsa's second spear though I lost both axes in the endeavor. She swept my feet out from under me, I rolled away from her follow up kick and quickly went to my knees, palms flat on the mat and head lowered. Only the mentally handicapped would have thought I'd won any part of the martial contest. I'd drawn the first time. My ability to defeat Elsa with the equivalent of a staff was undecided. I had been disarmed and disarmed Elsa the second time; technically a draw, but it wasn't. Why? Because Elsa had been trying NOT to kill me, or even injury me (too much). I had been doing the same. If by some calamity I'd killed Elsa, I would have been lucky to fall on my own axes before the crowd butchered me. No, mine had been an amateur effort. I had missed Elsa mostly because I never got close. Elsa had to hold back from slicing me up and running me through. Elsa walked right up to me; I mean Right up to me. She tapped my head, indicating I should look up. There was her cunt maybe 2 inches away with only her skintight shorts between us. "As this demonstrates, we need to continue to work and update our styles," Elsa addressed the throngs. "Cáel put forth his usual exceptional effort; for the gifted amateur that he is." "Thank you for your attention today, my sisters," Elsa concluded. End of lesson. Traska picked up her medical kit and came my way. Oneida and a half dozen other Amazons closed in as well. Elsa didn't move a millimeter. Her fragrance wafted in my face. When Traska tried to shift me around so she could better access my wounds, Elsa stopped me with her hand on my head. Traska found it odd for a second then they all clued in. Elsa was making a statement. This wasn't Amazonian mannerisms coming to the fore. This was throwing down a gauntlet; Elsa's intention to win this competition; me. Amazons were inherently competitive, being tested and testing themselves against previous achievements and each other. Before Buffy opened her big mouth an hour ago, any contest for me had been a joke; the whole 'hunt me down in X-number of days'. Buffy had beaten Elsa to me. You don't get to be a 3000 year old secret society by letting one setback force you to admit defeat. No; Elsa was stepping up her game. The amazing transformation that had confused the women around us was that, according to Elsa, my opinion suddenly mattered. Buffy had made a point of me finding a way to be with her. My choice. Better yet, I'd made my choice to be with her while my life was on the line. Once again, 'I laugh at death' is an incredible turn on. Elsa hadn't changed her stance about men being armed. She was letting me train so she could summon me whenever she wanted me; unless Katrina put her foot down. Katrina wasn't going to do that often. Elsa was a useful subordinate and Katrina finally had her test dummy; me; on the firing range, which she had wanted all along. Katrina is scary-smart. You don't think so? Who kept throwing me and Buffy together knowing of the Buffy/Elsa rivalry? Who approved my sex weekend with Buffy? Who approved my firearms training once she had Elsa's endorsement? As you might recall, that was something Elsa swore she'd never do, yet here we were; a male being trained with firearms at Havenstone. Katrina didn't know when I'd figure out a way to sleep with Buffy, but she had faith in me that once I got to know Buffy, I'd figure something out. I'm far easier to read than the US Tax Code, or the Affordable Care Act. I liked sex with women, I liked being seen as a good guy, I liked trying to be a good guy; roughly in that order. Katrina knew that. I didn't particularly mind being used by her either. That was her job; to protect the security and integrity of Havenstone. Now Buffy was happy, Elsa was letting me train and by dint of my outrageous behavior, I was assisting Katrina in her plot to restore stability to the traditional Amazon bloodlines. Traska slathered this synthetic goo over my lacerations. It stung, but it aided in the healing process and was flexible enough to barely restrict movement. I winced and 'stumbled' forward face-first into Elsa's crotch. My nose ridge pressed deep into her camel toe, certainly pushing down on her clit. "I apologize," I said softly. I didn't move. Elsa didn't see fit to move me, even with her hand still in the hair on the top of my head. "Finished," Traska sighed. "Let me help you up," Oneida jumped to my aid. She helped me stand, but Elsa didn't seem to mind. Getting out of the gym alive was easy. My heartfelt pledge to myself to never return was futile. Sweaty chicks hang out at gyms. As a kid, I played D and D. If I was a Ranger, gyms would be my favored terrain. Okay, maybe bars then gyms. Fine, rock concerts, bars then gyms. I almost made it to the locker room. Coming from the other direction; the non-blooded gym; was Felix. "Hey Felix," I greeted him. Here I was with several fresh wounds and ten steamy ladies who all appeared to have a definite interest in my physique, if not my well-being. Felix was alone. That would not do, not for a man like Felix. "What happened to you?" he asked. "Figure-skating accident," I lied. "It seems I'm clumsy on ice." He didn't buy if for a second. "Oh; maybe Brooke can help patch you up tonight," he grinned. Asshole. The only flaw in his game plan was that the chicks around me didn't give a rat's ass about outsider women. They certainly weren't going to be jealous of them. "Good idea," I nodded. "Where are my manners? This is Oneida, Elsa, Traska and; well, I can't say I've been able to catch everyone's names yet." The unknown women didn't bother introducing themselves. Why? Felix was only a male. They had no immediate need of him, so they didn't bother being civil. Felix was an Alpha's Alpha. He didn't give up that easily. We made it to the showers. Buffy, having not worked out, waited by my locker. Mystically, Elsa appeared in the showers at the exact same time as me. Felix was right behind her. "Felix Melena," he offered his hand to Elsa. She shook it then went back to showering. "I'm better than Cáel." Elsa gave him a quick sneer. "What gives you that idea?" she murmured. "Why don't you let me prove it," he turned to face her, giving Elsa the complete Felix Melena aesthetic. He was a centimeter, or two taller, I was maybe three kilograms heavier and we both lavished attention on our bodies. He was perhaps a bit longer, but narrower down there. As long as it wasn't aimed at my mouth, or ass, I didn't care. By the lack of reaction in Elsa's body tempo, she didn't care either. "If you were a team bodyguard and an assassin appeared to be trying to kill myself and Hayden, who would you protect with your life?" Elsa posed. "I'd kill the assassin," Felix came back immediately. Felix was a winner. "Cáel?" Elsa said. "Hayden," I responded. "I'm a bodyguard. From the top down; protect, secure, return fire." "Cáel, you are trained as a bodyguard?" Felix smirked. "Nah. That was the common sense answer to the question she asked," I shrugged. Shampoo time. Felix was going to make me pay for that comeback. "Felix, would you ever work at Havenstone; off the clock?" Elsa continued. "Yeah," he grinned. I know what he wanted to work on; off the clock. Good luck, you bastard. "Cáel?" "I'm never off the clock, damn it," I snorted. "This job is a 24/7 crimp in my sex life." "Bro," Felix coughed. "Be careful. That's close to sexual harassment." Btw, Felix was serious. He was actually cautioning me. See, me being deported meant he couldn't crush me. "Elsa, would you please shoot me in the head?" I replied. "No," she smiled warmly at me. "I love you too," I said, dripping with sarcasm. Felix's eyes bugged out for a second. "That, Felix Melena, is why Cáel is a better man than you," Elsa looked like an angel sitting in judgment of Felix, finding him flawed and substandard. "Cáel joking around makes him better than me?" Felix mocked. The mistake here had to be Elsa's. "Your lack of understanding is not my problem," Elsa dismissed him. "Cáel, wash my back." "Fine, I'll do it, but I'm massaging your ass too," I groused. "Get it over with," she sighed with exasperation. "Damn. Felix; day in, day out. Always washing naked women. This job is killing me," I muttered. Felix wasn't one to give up easily. By the time I had totally soaped up her back, ass and upper thighs; back and front, he had exited the field. He caught me exiting the locker room. "Cáel, why don't we go out for some drinks after work?" he offered. Ah, he was going to beat me up with Brooke. "Sure," I agreed. I'm a dog. Felix was going to sleep with Brooke to show me he was the superior male. He was going to rub it in my face. I hadn't told anyone about knocking boots with Brooke. It wasn't their business. Felix would crow it to the Heavens, because pissing me off was what mattered, not how Brooke felt. I couldn't even save Brooke because Felix was in her socio-economic group and she'd make the same mistake with him she'd made with Trent; thinking they cared about her. (Monday later) Buffy had finally dismissed me when Katrina summoned me to her office. Ignoring me getting into an altercation; in the Full-Blood gym; yet again, I had a good day. No property damage, lost items, or physically damaged employees. Ragged by most people's standards, but a good day for me at Havenstone. I still had a chance to walk out under my own power. Katrina motioned me to come to her desk. Upon my arrival, she slid a tablet over to me with a single icon on the screen. I tapped it. Aya's face appeared as the vid-mail began. She was glowing. There was tent fabric in the background so I had no idea of her geographic location. I didn't care. "Hey!" she squeaked. "I'm doing great at camp. I met three girls who are as small as me and we've formed our own squad; the Fatal Squirts." I chuckled. I had encouraged her to steal strength from her perceived weaknesses. She had to believe in herself then take that as she built up her skills. I had faith in her when no one else did. "I showed some of my councilors a picture of you. I think you would get into trouble if you came here. I want you to come, but I thought it was only fair to warn my favorite bed-buddy," she giggled. "Send me a message when you can. I understand there will be a delay as the messages have to be physically delivered. I know you are doing okay. If not, hold off your vengeance until I can return and guard your back. I love you, Cáel. Be well," she smiled as her picture faded into darkness. "Ah damn," I whispered. Aya looked good; confident, upbeat and spirited. "Katrina, can I make a message for her right now?" I begged. "Of course," she gave me an approving tilt of the head. "I think the courier is still in the building." "Cool. What do I do?" I urged. "Use the webcam; make a message and forward it to my computer," Katrina told me. "I'll take it from there." I made the message, pretty much updating her on my latest exploits with limited editing. Aya was a surprisingly innocent yet worldly 9 year old. Much of that came from being Katrina's and Desiree's niece; mainly Katrina's. It gave her access to tidbits of sensitive data from time to time. Not so much she was a real security threat. Enough so that she got some things confused; like what sex was truly about. I felt in my soul she'd be a great Amazon one day. I didn't remind her of that much. She had enough pressure for a kid her age. "You are seeing Oneida now?" a frosty voice unnerved me. It was Buffy. "Fuck," I jumped up. "Damn Buffy, stop sneaking up on me like that, or I'm going to start thinking you are a stalker." "I am stalking you, Einstein," Buffy menaced. "I'm glad we got that out of the way," I rolled my eyes. "Oh look! It's Daphne coming to my rescue. I am so out of here," I exulted. I edged passed Buffy, slipped her attempt to grab my arm and raced for the 'new hires' at the elevator. "Get back here, you Cock-sucker!" Buffy howled as she chased me down. May miracles never cease. Daphne, Violet and Tigger formed an Amazon (I wasn't sure if I could consider them 'human' yet) shield between my frail form and the hulking brute that was Buffy. "Calm down, Buffy," Daphne pleaded. "He fought Elsa today; again." "Get out of my way," Buffy snarled. "Thank God you stopped her," I huffed to Dora. "I hope to she never finds out that I soaped up Elsa's entire body while we were sharing a shower together." Daphne turned and gave me an incredulous look. "Cáel, you are a Dumb-ass," Daphne sighed. Looking to Buffy as she stood aside. "Have at." "Are you mental?" Fabiola chimed in. The elevator doors finally opened, Buffy shoved me in and the rest of the posse followed. Helena joined us at the last second. "He's taunting me," Buffy responded to Fabiola while using her middle finger to poke my chest. "At this rate I am going to have to devastate a dozen male escorts so I can make it the remaining the 69 more days until he's mine again." "Is he really that good?" Paula wondered. Buffy twisted around to confront her. "He hammered me so hard, I thought he'd dislocate my hips. Later, we spent an entire hour, naked, wrapped up in each other's bodies with no actual penetration; touching, tasting and whispered affections," Buffy curled her lip. "He's better than you could possibly imagine." "You realize we have 27 seconds left, right?" I reminded Buffy. "Really?" Buffy's head snapped back to me. I nodded and she jumped my bones. She had her hand down my pants, pulling on my rod, and the other grabbing the back of my head to deepen our kiss. For my part, I had my left hand on her breast and the right down the back of her pants, fondling a panty-covered ass cheek. In a culture where you summoned a male, ordered him to perform and he did so the same exact way he'd done a dozen times before, what Buffy and I were doing didn't make sense. The two of us didn't give up an ounce of control yet meshed perfectly. Our pleasure was obvious, vocal and we didn't give a damn about the crowd around us. Buffy and I had created our own little lust-bubble. The chimer went off. We settled down and straightened up our clothes. "Fuck it all; that's some good dicking," Buffy mumbled. That was an inside joke between me, Timothy, my big, gay, buff tattoo-artist roommate, and the few women he chose to share that descriptive with; 'a good dicking'. We tumbled out of the elevator. "Is he always like that?" Fabiola mumbled. "He's a whole lot better with his clothes off," Buffy sneered at Fabiola. Sometimes I'm a super-selfish bastard; I want life to cut me some slack. Waiting for us was Oneida; in biker clothing. That would have merely been bad, dangerous and creepy except I was dressed in work clothes. I was planning to meet some of the guys (all two of them) for some after-work drinks. The encounter went from not-good to horribly awkward. Oneida had checked up on me, been told how I got to and from work as well as when I left. Unfortunately, she hadn't checked my social calendar; mainly because I didn't keep one; sophomore year mistake. If a girl is in your apartment, she will find the thing you don't want her to find; every single time. I burned my diary and unfriended everybody after that final, hospital-resulting episode. "Hi," I greeted Oneida. She'd figured out she'd screwed up something fierce. "What bike do you use? I have a Specialized STSE hybrid. Maybe we can use some paths one weekend." I was trying to diffuse her embarrassment. We were two bikers talking about bikes. Nothing wrong with that. "I have a Specialized Source;” she got out then realized how BAD that sounded. She had the exact same bike as me; how bizarre? Unless you had somebody come down and take a look at what I bicycle I used. Time to save the day. "Do you want to make a date for 6:30 am on Saturday?" I suggested. "Provided this wacky place hasn't offed, or misplaced me by then." "Ah; that would be nice," Oneida rebounded happily. "The date, that is." "Whoa Oneida, what are you doing with this guy?" Brian derided me as he walked up. I wanted to say, 'Brian, you've insulted a princess of the Amazon people. Please continue making an ass of yourself and give Trent and Khalid my regards'. I didn't. "This is Cáel Nyilas. He's a real player," Brian smirked. "You can do better than him." Oh yeah, Oneida and Brian were co-workers; 'new hires' in Acquisitions. "Brian, it took you three days to even use my name," Oneida gave Brian a neutral stare. "I love Cáel. He saved my life and he sees the real me." For the love of all that's holy, someone shoot me in the head right now. I could hear the nearly subsonic growls emanating from Buffy. Brian looked at me, laughed and went to put an arm around Oneida's shoulder. After all, if I could pick her up, it should be effortless for him to take her away, right? Dumb-shit. Laughing at me was okay. Laughing at; then I noticed the two chicks in black leather standing about doing their best (until a second ago) to go unnoticed. Cáel had gotten away with such familiarity because Cáel had risked his life to save their Princess. Brian Fung? He barely knew her name and they worked together. These weren't even SD chicks; they were something else. My guess was Arinniti House Guard. Did Katrina's House Epona have a house guard? Sure, I imagine they did. They were probably with the rest of House Epona where ever they lived. It wasn't like the whole kit and caboodle was here in NYC. That would have been foolish. If Caitlyn, Aya's mom, had a security issue, she called us at Havenstone HQ, less than four kilometers away. Without a doubt, Elsa would stop by and kick ass for her. I gave Brian this much; he had a working set of eyes. The second those two harbingers of death began closing in, Brian back-pedaled. "Hey Brian, let's go grab some drinks," I offered him a graceful exit. "Sounds good," Brian tried to sound cool. "Oneida, take care," I nodded to my new romantic stalker. "Ladies," to my 'new hire' crew. "Buffy," to my sometimes boss, "remember you are still hot for a; mature chick." "You are going die a long, torturous and extremely painful death," Buffy sizzled. "What? Are you going to make me eat your cooking?" I laughed. Buffy didn't articulate a counter before Brian and I slipped outside. "Cáel, who was that woman?" Brian whispered. "Which one? You need to be more specific. My erotic malfeasances are terribly confusing." "The one you insulted," Brian said. "The last one you insulted," he clarified. "Buffy. She's one of my bosses," I grinned. "She loves me. She's even promised to play the bagpipes at my funeral. Personally I think that's because she doesn't want to risk anyone hearing me pounding on the coffin lid, trying to get out." "You are not going to make it the full 84 days with that attitude," Brian lectured me. "Trent has already been promoted," Brian continued. "I am regularly referred to as indispensable in my work reviews. Felix works closely with Ms. Pharos at all times. You seem to be the only one of us having; issues with Havenstone. Hell, they even shot you and you sat back and took it. I doubt your complacent attitude impressed anyone much." No mention of poor Khalid. How quickly they forget. Trent had been 'promoted' to Southeast Asia alright. I looked it up; there are around 10,000 islands between Indonesia and the Philippines. Sure some were small spits of land with a few trees. I had little doubt one of the good-sized one was a jungle of a different sort. Certainly Executive Services sent Trent's belongings somewhere. I'd never tried to find out. What would I have done with the knowledge? Brooke didn't care and I didn't know his family. Brian and I went to the same yuppie bar as last time. I was with Brian this time, so I abandoned him as quick as I could. Why? At the far end of the bar, talking the bar-back was my Delivery Girl; aka the person who did the home liquor delivery to Libra's place. Half way down the bar, she sensed me looking at her. The bar-back followed her gaze. He wasn't happy with me. DG simply didn't recognize me so I held up my valise over my groin. Confusion; surprise; acknowledgment that despite our surroundings, I wasn't worried about being seen with her. She had her hand truck; she had to make a front door delivery this time. "Remember me?" I smiled. "Cáel Nyilas; the Pillow Guy," she snickered. "How did that work out for you?" The bar-back was broadcasting his displeasure at some upper class shmuck cutting in on his action. DG caught that. "Jason, this is Cáel," she introduced me. "We last met under unusual circumstances." "What kind of name is Cáel?" Jason remarked. "An unfortunate one," I snorted. "You try explaining to your kindergarten teacher that it is 'c-a-e-l'. Of course, I wasn't 'Bomophoto' either. She had it worse than I did." Jason searched me out to see if I was pulling one over on him. I wasn't. Bomo and I bonded over our linguistic misfortune. She moved to Santa Fe in the third grade. I wonder if she grew up to be hot looking. Oink. "I'll give you that," he chuckled. "Why did you get branded?" "Mom was Irish, my Dad was in love with her so I got the cultural emersion, minus the Guinness," I shrugged. "By the way;” I looked back to the lady. "Katy Lee Baker," she batted her eyelashes. We shook hands. "How did it go?" I picked up her question. "Sex, chopped fruit, your drinks, more sex and back to the clinic before eleven." "Have you talked to them since?" Katy inquired somewhat seductively. "Perhaps. I don't like to kiss and tell," I evaded. "I'm curious because two of the three arrived five minutes before you did and they appear somewhat unhappy with you right now," she smirked. "You can look over your shoulder if you don't believe me." Sure enough, there was Felix, Brian, Brooke, Libra and; I think her name was Gina. I waved then turned back to my current two conversationalists. "So Jason, what do you like to do?" I asked the guy. "Huh; what? I work," he replied. "I mean bike, try ethnic food, go to the gym; stuff like that," I teased him. "I work six days a week; but usually one or two are afternoon shifts. Me and some buddies play some pick-up basketball," Jason told me. "Great. You'd pick a sport I suck at," I set the bait. If Jason thought I sucked, he'd invite me to play. That's how it worked. I was pretty good at basketball considering I'd spent the last four years playing with girls; on the court. Girls play some mean ball. They also didn't shy away from putting an elbow into my nuts if they felt like it. "I'm not sure I live in a neighborhood you'd be comfortable visiting," Jason threw up a roadblock. I had him on this one. I showed him my ID. It had the right address; wrong apartment number. "Shit dude, that place is about as rough as my home turf." "I get paid a quarter million a year to taste test for hexafluoride in Chinese imports," I joked. "Really?" Katy chuckled. "It's a growth industry; if you consider tumors to be growth," I was faux-serious. "Mr.; Cáel," Jason looked over my shoulder. "I think one of those chicks is about to come over here and kill you. You best hop to it." "Which one? The brunette, or the russet-colored (Libra)?" I inquired. "The brunette wants attention and the russet wants to push a red hot poker up your ass," Jason gave me his experienced opinion. Heading over there was going to be 'fun'. "Give me a call some time, Jason. Nice to see you again, Katy Lee," I waved good-bye. "You know the staff here?" Libra spat. "That was the girl who delivered the liquor to your place, Libra," I sighed. "I said 'hi'." "It takes you an awful lot of words to say 'hello'," Brian gave a false smile. Libra was positioned next to Brian. Her anger with me plus his 'sexy' put her there. Brooke shifted as I joined their chair-less center table. She was putting enough distance between us to show everyone she was independent yet close enough to give warning signs to other woman that I was in her sights, if not her outright possession. I was better looking than Brooke had counted on. More 'fun' was coming down the pipeline. Gina was here on another date with Felix, or so she thought. Poor Gina. Felix was most likely an excellent fuck. What she didn't appreciate was that Felix was not only a competitor, he was the kind of athlete who had to win. Second place was what you called the first loser. Gina was about to be educated in this personal idiocentricity. Now that I was on stage, Felix made his move on Brooke. Gina? He'd let her in on a three-way if he was feeling personally Hernán Cortés-like. Felix had to have Brooke. I hadn't dumped Brooke, according to Gina, so he wasn't getting my castoffs; he was stealing my prize. The flaw in this plan was my whole viewpoint on monogamy. I didn't much care for it. Brooke was a grown woman and could make her own choices. Felix made his move. Damn, he was smooth. He had Brooke wrapped up and pulled tight without Gina even being aware she'd been dumped. Enter the train wreck named Nicole. She was the criminal defense attorney who I'd fucked in a stall in the women's bathroom of this place. She hadn't tried to contact me and I hadn't worried about her. Hook-ups were like that. She'd been close by, respecting Brooke's signs and not stopping by to say hello. Then Felix launched his master plan and I was suddenly freed up. Nicole had gotten a rough fucking and liked it, I could tell. "Cáel Nyilas," Nicole swooped in. "How have you been?" "The normal. Menace to society, disrespectful of authority and being annoying to random strangers," I teased. "You?" "I'm a lawyer fighting the irresistible lure of evil. The usual," she joked back. "What have you been doing wrong? As I recall, last time you were doing everything right?" Yes, a good dicking indeed. I was going to relate this encounter to Timothy just so he could shoot me with his Nerf gun. He'd shoot me anyway, but it was nice of me to give him an excuse from time to time. "I've been sending sexually suggestive letters to ADA Feinstein," I offered. "Does that count?" "Oh really?" she seemed surprised. "Why don't you come by my table real quick and let me introduce you to some of my colleagues." I wasn't going to be rude. "Gang, this is Nicole," I introduced her to my table. "She's an attorney at a prestigious law firm that probably has more dead partners than living ones and offices in Papua New Guinea and a few dozen other places you've never heard of. I'll be right back." "You are a nut," Nicole bumped me as we weaved our way to her buddies. "Ladies, this is Cáel Nyilas. I think I mentioned him once." By the looks on their faces, once had been enough. "This is Zelda, Marsha, Phyllis, and Rivka; Rivka Feinstein, ADA for New York County," (that's Manhattan for us hicks). "Ah crap," I exclaimed. That wasn't what they expected. "I confess," I looked at Nicole, "I saw the name in an article on the back of the Village Voice. Sadly, they had R. Feinstein and I stupidly assumed it was a guy." "Oh my God! You're gay?" Zelda and Phyllis despaired. "While my life would a whole lot easier if I was, I'm straight; not even bi-curious. My roommate, Timothy; never Tim; is and he was reading it while I was working out. It sort of stuck in my mind," I admitted. "How did my name come up in conversation?" Rivka inquired. "Cáel is a pathological liar," Nicole teased me. "Not true," I protested. "I'm allergic to excessive honesty. That's totally different." "I'd like to put you on the witness stand," Zelda gave me those bedroom eyes. "You and about a 150 other women," I groaned. "150?" Rivka choked. "Yep. The rest already know I'm guilty," I muttered. "Are you of weak moral fiber?" Phyllis joined the game. We were all having a blast. "Sorry, but no. I'm saving up for some. Currently I'm without morals; or scruples. Any suggestion which one I should purchase first?" "You are a great guy," Rivka snickered. "Why aren't you dating somebody?" "Shall we revisit my lack of morals and scruples?" I answered. "So you are a player?" Nicole nudged me. She wanted to play alright. "How to put this; I'm a wonderful lover and a lousy boyfriend," I told them. "I was an eighteen year old virgin. In the past four years, I have betrayed every woman I've ever dated, save one; my first love," I explained. "Why didn't you betray her?" Phyllis prodded. "Don't tell me she's dead." "No, she's fine," I replied. "She was the one who told me to date other women." "That's harsh," Zelda commiserated. She thought Kimberly had dumped me. "Oh no," I corrected her. "We stayed together until I graduated last month. Four of the best years of my life. When she told me to date other women it was because I was killing her. I have a voracious sexual appetite and she was desperate for a full night's sleep." "Do you ever go home alone?" Marsha joined in. "Does leaving a woman's house at 1 a.m. count?" I requested. "Did she throw you out?" Rivka interrogated. "No. She and her sister were exhausted so I picked up my roommate and left," I exaggerated. "Wait!" Nicole held up her hand. "Sisters; and you told us your roommate was gay?" "Morals and scruples," I repeated. "See, I was dating one sister and the other sister wanted a date so I talked my gay roommate into being my wingman so I wouldn't end up sleeping with them both. It didn't work out so well. The second, older sister was horny, so my guy pretended to pass out." "Have you ever considered you are a horrible person?" Marsha studied me. "Yes. Not only have I thought about, I've been told that a few dozen times. It usually is accompanied by 'I'm going to kill you', or 'you had better make it up to me'." "Have you ever been hurt?" Phyllis appeared concerned. "My body is a roadmap of poor decision making," I responded. "What was the worst thing to ever happen to you?" Rivka grinned. Her ability to be deceptively pretty had to have made her a frightening lawyer. "When they were happening, I was a bit more concerned with what might happen to me as opposed to rating them," I informed her. "Except for being shot with an arrow, being chased around naked with a hot poker and having my bed dowsed with lighter fluid while I was still in it were probably the worst," I nodded. "I've been stabbed a few times, tasered, occasionally thrown out of a window not on the first floor and had bookcase dropped on me once, so I consider myself a connoisseur of ex-girlfriend vengeance." "Have you ever been involved with a police proceeding?" Rivka became a tad bit more intense. "Nah," shook my head. "I had it coming. As you said, I'm kind of a horrible guy." "Domestic violence is no joking matter," Nicole also became serious. "That's unfair," I countered. "I'm not so slavishly devoted to the law that I'd ruin some girl's life because I was a total bastard." "Domestic Violence laws are supposed to protect the innocent from the abusive," I added. "I haven't lied to you about my misadventures, but you should understand I chose to handle most of my problems myself. By the looks on your faces, you are about as disappointed in me as the policewoman I am currently seeing. This is who I am and I'm not going to apologize for it." "Mind you, I'm not some gun-toting, roughneck Libertarian," I clarified. "I believe in law, order and the justice system. If someone pulls out an AK-47 on me at a corner bodega, I'm making 9-1-1 my bitch on speed-dial. I don't want to be a hero, or fulfill my organ donor card. I just don't equate that to a girl kneeing me in the nuts because I slept with her best friend in her lingerie." There was a pause as the ladies looked around. They were making an assessment of how much trouble I'd cause versus how much fun I would be. They all smiled at me. They always do. "Who was wearing the lingerie?" Zelda smirked. "I've worn women's lingerie before, but it really wasn't my thing," I mused. "I'll go through a lot for good sex," I winked. "It was my girlfriend's lingerie on her best friend." "Wait," Rivka noted. "Didn't the best friend know you were dating the first girl?" "Yeah. I'm not sure why that never stops them," I shrugged. "Around the fifth time I stopped worrying about it." "Wow, do you have any idea how many women you've been with?" Rivka asked. "Do you always use protection?" Phyllis piled on. "Yes; 223 as of Friday. I'm hoping to break 300 before work replaces me with those guys from 'Hamster Dance'," I told them. "And yes, I always use protection." "I may not know where my partner has been, but I know where I've been and it scares me," I snickered. "That's why I always carry ten." "Ten?" Nicole snorted. "Do you regularly check the expiration date, or are you that ambitious?" "Ambitious? I'd carry more except it's hard to hide more than ten in a wallet; I've tried," I sighed. "Have you ever run out?" Marsha snickered. Our snickering, chuckling and laughter were drawing stares. "Run out? Hell, I've gone door to door in a women's dormitory at 2 a.m. trying to find some," I related. "Ran into an old girlfriend doing that." I slipped into a dreamy smile. "Why do I think that despite it being 2 a.m. in her dorm with you seeking a condom for use with a different woman, she wasn't pissed?" Rivka giggled. "Oh God no," I waved off. "She was freaking furious. That was some of the most intense 'I'm lonely and it's all your fault' sex I have ever been through." "You have names for different kinds of sex?" Nicole was almost crying from laughing so hard. "Oh yeah. The first time I run across a different sexual experience, I slap a name on it so when it happens again, I know what to do," I explained. "Isn't every woman unique?" Zelda sniffled. "That sounds nice in a love song, but 'no'," I smiled. "Women, and men, have a finite number things; needs and responses. Women can have different erogenous zones, but there all on the human body. Admittedly, it can be a bit like predicting the weather at times. It is not a perfect system by any means." "What's my 'thing' then?" Nicole taunted. She didn't think I could do it. "Sex has to be an accomplishment with you, Nicole," I informed her. "You need to be engaged mentally as much as anything else. You need a poet who runs marathons. Otherwise you end up staring at the ceiling after sex wondering what better use you could have made of your time." Silence. That was the norm for that kind of revelation. Women hated to be laid bare. They hated being misunderstood even more. "Nicole?" Rivka prodded her friend. Nicole remained silent. I knew that look. "Nicole, I'm bad news. Wouldn't you prefer to keeps thing simple?" I hoped. I was wrong to hope. I kept praying they would go 'hey, great, mindless sex; let's not blow it', but they never did. I hated giving lame erotic encounters, despite the guarantee of anguish that always followed. "We could go out on a date and see how that works?" Nicole offered. Doom. "Cáel Nyilas; I'm in the book and I work for Havenstone Commercial Investments," I stupidly replied. "You probably have a killer workload were as I spot-check children's toys for WMDs. Give me a call when you have a night free." How was it going to turn out? Sex, sex, sex, sex, sex; let's make a commitment; you cheating fuck-nut! I hate you. Girls weren't predictable; I was. "Cáel, we are going out to dinner, if you remember who you are supposed to be with," Libra seethed as she and the others passed Nicole's table. "Yup, gotta go where I'm not wanted. Nice seeing you again, Nicole," I grinned. "Ladies, I hope it was a pleasure. It was for me. Good night." Dinner; was; bad. Felix, hemorrhoid that he was, squashed Gina's feeble attempts to draw him back to her as he made crystal clear that he was taking Brooke home; to fuck her into Paradise; instead of letting her go home with me. Problem being; Brooke wasn't mine to take; never had been. For the first time in his life, I thought Brian was about to be screwed. Libra was past uber-bitchy by the fifth glass of wine. Brian held a pair of Jokers and thought he was the boss, like always. Libra had four Queens and would be screaming my name when she orgasmed; Brian was sexually proficient. He was also a misogynist, I was now sure, and Libra was going to make him squeal. Then she was going to grab up her clothes, storm out of Brian's place and never want to talk with him again. It wasn't that I was that unforgettable. I was that I knew what she wanted and had given it to her and not getting it Saturday afternoon while Brooke did was frosting her ass. What did that mean for me? For the first time in a long, long time, I was pissed with another guy. Trent really wasn't worth my time, but Felix was about to cross my here-until-now unforeseen line of what guys did to girls. It was dawning on me that this was the result of me. Someone was doing something wrong to a girl because of me. It wasn't my fault. Felix was being a jerk. That would be of cold comfort for Brooke. We split up after dinner. I didn't have the heart to pick up Gina, who was easy prey right then. It was too much like what Felix thought he was doing to me. I took a cab to Havenstone, changed clothing and biked home. I barely had dinner ready for Timothy when he came through the door. "That's not a look I'm used to seeing," he remarked. "I should have beaten someone up," I frowned, "but I didn't and now some girl; Brooke; is going to have her heart kicked because of it." "Was it something you did?" Timothy asked. "No. There is this guy at work who is using her to alpha-dog me," I muttered. "Brooke?" Timothy was confused. "You hardly like her. What a sleaze (Felix). If it was Odette, first I'd slap you around for still being here. Then we'd go get him." "I'm not even sure why I feel bad about this," I grunted. "As you said, I hardly like her." "It is called a conscience, Dimwit," Timothy snorted. That didn't help much. Conscience? Man, I'd stop my bike to run across a highway to move a tortoise off the road. I used to feed some of the Bolingbrook wild hares during the winter. I did humiliating crap for charity. I was never mean to a girl; only dishonest and unfaithful. Introspection got me nowhere. I was a cad. I'd been happy to be a cad for four years. I was going to be damned if my post-college life was going to be any different; all 68 remaining days of it. In my bedroom I discovered Odette had moved in during my absence. I doubted Timothy had been ignorant of all the stuff she deposited. What was going on with my life? I woke up when I heard keys in the door. It was a bit past eleven. I got up to check and sure enough, it was Odette. Timothy had given her a key. Odette had lived through a harrowing night, her boss was a dick and some of the customers were pure hell. I cuddled with her on the sofa while she unwound then we went to bed together. We didn't have sex; (Tuesday) Around 1 a.m. I miraculously found myself awake and alert in bed. Odette was happily dreaming away. Something was gnawing at the back of my mind. I put a name to the emotion and a face to the fear. I called Brooke. "Hey Brooke," I greeted her eight tries later. She was tired of sending me to voice mail. "What do you want?" she answered in a voice devoid of soul. "Fuck if I know," I replied. "I suddenly woke up from a sound sleep thinking of you." "I'm not interested," she sighed. "I'm going to go out on a limb here. You don't want to talk to anyone yet you want someone to help you understand what you are going through," I gambled. That created a tiny tear in her shroud of depression. After five minutes, I got her to give me her address. She told me she wouldn't answer the door. I told her I at least had to try. That got me to her place, 90 seconds of knocking got me inside and four minutes later, we were lying in bed with her sobbing on my chest. Half an hour later, she offered me sex. I told her to stop tempting me and if she only wanted me for sex, I wanted to be paid in chocolate. She giggled, took a few deep breaths and fell to sleep. Wow, I was in two different women's beds in one night and not having sex in either. My watch alarm went off at 4:50 a.m. That meant no 'Marilyn' call tonight. "Mmm;” Brooke moved toward wakefulness. "Work?" "Afraid so," I yawned. "We haven't had sex," he reminded me. I couldn't stop being me. "That's not why I came over here, Brooke," I rolled onto my side so that our bodies were very close. "Never think I don't want to have sex with you, but that's not why I showed up last night," I continued. "Why did you show up then?" she worried. "I have no clue. I'm like Felix; a player. Listen Brooke, I don't consider you my woman," I stated. "We had sex; we are lovers, but we've been thrown together by dire misfortune, not out of any common thread," I reminded her. "I don't expect you to have any sense of loyalty to me." That phrase freed her up philosophically. That meant she could fuck me and not feel obliged to consider and discard any future for us because there was no realistic future that socially glued us into any acceptable form. "So I needed a shoulder to cry on and you showed up," she mused. "Brooke, you are independent and strong-willed. The next guy you chose will be your choice," I led her along. "Felix though; Felix is a serious player and he felt the need to add you to his list of conquests. I saw it happening and did nothing. Now I feel like crap for sitting back and ignoring the consequences." "You knew Felix would turn me into a hash mark?" Brooke seemed depressed, not angry. "I knew he was trying to get at me," I confessed. "He didn't accept that you and I aren't an item. A blonde co-worker; a high ranking supervisor actually; treated him like a bug in the communal showers yesterday while keeping close contact with me. Felix had to win. He had to show me he is the top dog." "And I was the prize?" Brooke moped. "Not to me," I whispered. Brooke looked hurt. "You are a woman. While you would look delectable in a big red ribbon, that's not who you are. I don't keep hash marks. I have a thing called a heart cord and it is solely for my use. Each binding represents a liaison; like a Quipus; an Incan memory knot." Brooke really didn't care. It sounded neat, it was romantic and the act was not demeaning to her. I could savor the memory of our encounter as long as I didn't share it with my buddies. She wasn't one of 'those' girls. "You are very intelligent," she murmured seductively. She didn't care if I was the reincarnation of Benjamin Franklin, or some schmo in Afghanistan who made his living digging up (hopefully) spent ordinance of battlefields. Smoking hot, sexy, well-educated debutantes like Brooke could fuck finely-sculpted, 'smart' guys like me. She could delude herself that I was rapidly upwardly mobile. My turn. "Brooke, I don't want to get mixed up about us," I evaded. 'Us'? There was no 'us' and we both knew it. "If I caved in right now, I'm not sure I could forgive myself." Yes I could. "I just want to feel like someone gives a damn about me," Brooke whimpered. Good acting. We wrestled around; me trying to leave, but clearly not wanting to, while she physically enticed me. We ended up, me on top, pinning her wrists to either side of her head. Her legs were trapped between mine. "Make it up to me; please," she pouted. She humped her pelvic bone playfully against my cock. "I know you want to help me out." Good word usage on her part. "Brooke, this isn't going to happen," I gritted my teeth in frustration. Yes, it was going to happen. Her right leg began exerting steady pressure against my 'weak' left leg. It slowly 'surrendered' to her advance. Now she had on leg on the outside. My right leg held out a little longer yet Brooke was persistent. Now she could ground her finely groomed landing strip against my pulsating rod. I really, really wanted to fuck her now. I took my hands off her wrists, turned them into fists and placed the beneath each of her underarms. "Damn you," I cursed her. Brooke was gyrating her crotch all over mine. With her hands released, Brooke could leverage her body up and trap my cockhead between her labia. They were thoroughly soaked with her honey so after my 'capture' she drew more and more of my length in until I was completely incased. Brooke had won! She knew she'd won. Fuck Felix and his hash marks. I didn't care so why should she? I made on last energetic yet futile effort to get away. Oddly, Brooke somehow end on top at the end of my exertion. I must be an awful wrestler; "No you don't," Brooke purred only millimeters from my lips. "You are not getting away." That was Brooke tossing good ole Felix under the emotional bus. Felix the Player? She'd chalk it up to too much to drink and the hype being more than the man. How was this possible? Look at her. She'd thrown a known sexual dynamo down on her bed and was working his shaft over every G-spot in her vagina. Brooke still preferred a long, rough fucking to get her off. At the moment, she need reassurance more. Felix most assuredly made Brooke ride him. He kept her perpendicular to his hips and came up to suckle her teats when he wanted to, or watch them bounce as he lay back. He was great at sex, no doubt. The girl had to scream and howl; forgetting every other male she was ever with and making every other guy she'd be with later an automatic failure. To him, that was how he rated success. This resulted in me keeping Brooke close so I could make quick kisses to her very close lips. She'd playfully pull away; to put me in my place and remind me she was in charge; then she'd initiate the kiss. Our love-making was more rhythmic; less frantic. She was getting close. "Next; next time you fuck Felix," I gasped. "Tell him; " "What makes; makes you think I'd; every sleep with him; again?" Brooke got feisty. "I bet he was good in bed and now that you have his measure," I assured her. "You can take what pleasure you want and leave." Brooke liked that. It was the whole independent woman thing. "Won't you be jealous?" she panted. "I cannot constantly keep up with your sexual desires, Brooke," I grunted. "I've been neglecting Libra." Oh yeah, Libra. The girl she, Brooke, initially set me up with. Her Vassar classmate. "What about Felix," she huffed and huffed. She was real close. "Off-handedly comment that he's developing male pattern baldness," I grinned. "Just to fuck with his head." Felix was gorgeous. Better yet, Felix knew he was gorgeous. Hit him where it hurts. Brooke tried to giggle, but the surge of triumph overcame her and off she went. The problem was I was getting close and I didn't have a condom on. "Brooke," I inhaled deeply. She'd come to rest on my chest. "I'm about to; " "Oh," she sighed happily. She reversed to the side as she slithered down my body. My cock went down her throat and I started petting her flank. Brooke wasn't the very best, but, man o man, she was going to town on my dick. There was no doubt in my mind that her vaginal secretions didn't bother her. I had to rush the experience because if I was late to work, Constanza make me stand beside the targets while she shot at them. If she was really pissed, she'd have me hold up targets in front me instead. I shot off, Brooke caught it all in her mouth then spit it into two tissues before tossing them in the trash. I caught her look. Trent and now Felix made her swallow. I didn't care; which was yet another choice Brooke was free to make when making love to me. I jumped her. We had a little, tickle-nibble fight that ended in some kisses. I had to leave and Brooke made sure she was poised extra-sexy the last time I turned around to say goodnight and cut off the lights. "Ah damn," I moaned before I left. I didn't really like Brooke yet, by choosing to engage her in sex, I had accepted the task of making her happy. That was the reason Felix and I were going to fight. He'd use another human being to strike at me instead striking at me directly. To me, this was more than low character, it was an insult to my lifestyle. Felix should have checked his baggage at the door. Competing for the same lady was fine; even fun. Picking one to punish another; not cool. I had to think about my response as I barely made it in for my Constanza time. Wisely, I left my baggage at the door. These were firearms we were dealing with; a danger to me and the people around me. I was in my biking outfit today. More looks. The decision was that I'd go for my Glock-22, a 38 Ruger LCR back-up, a South Korean-made shotgun that looked like an M-16 and a very unhealthy looking device called a Heckler and Koch UMP 40 (which I had never even heard of). Wait; it got worse. I was scheduled for knife fighting training at 3 p.m.; every day for the foreseeable future. Constanza didn't w
Cáel's tombstone: For the love of women, women put him here.In 25 parts, edited from the works of FinalStand.Listen and subscribe to the ► Podcast at Connected..
In today's episode, I take you on a journey to experience profound well-being by connecting with the Sacred Heart, also known as Christ Consciousness. This episode draws from a conversation I had with Don Xavier on May 8, 2021, where we explored the concept of the Sacred Heart, its divine connection to higher consciousness, and how it acts as a powerful source of spiritual growth, healing, and inner peace. During this conversation, we also discussed the ancient Incan principle of Ayni - sacred reciprocity - and how giving from the Sacred Heart, rather than just from the mind or physical heart, has the power to transform our lives and those around us. I share how this form of giving, when done with pure intention, leads to incredible spiritual and material abundance. I'll also introduce a practical heart-mind connection exercise that helps align the physical and Sacred Heart, which not only supports emotional healing but also unlocks an expanded state of spiritual awareness and well-being. This exercise connects us to the divine consciousness of Pachamama (Mother Earth), enabling profound healing and transformation in all aspects of life. What You'll Discover in This Episode: Sacred Heart & Christ Consciousness (01:32): Discover how the Sacred Heart, as a representation of divine consciousness, elevates our spiritual growth and well-being. Two Hearts - Physical and Sacred (07:29): The distinction between the physical heart and the ethereal Sacred Heart, and how both work together to enhance healing. The Power of Ayni (14:52): Explore the principle of sacred reciprocity (Ayni) and learn why giving from the Sacred Heart has a transformative effect on your life. The Heart-Mind Connection (36:17): This exercise will align your consciousness, promote healing, and foster deeper spiritual awareness. Listen, apply, and enjoy! Transformational Takeaway:[Text Wrapping Break]When we give from the Sacred Heart, free of expectations, we align ourselves with divine consciousness and open the door to profound healing, spiritual growth, and abundance. Practicing the heart-mind connection daily deepens our bond with the divine and unlocks the potential for true inner peace and well-being. Let's Connect: The Jim Fortin Podcast Website Instagram Facebook YouTube LinkedIn Mentioned Resources: Start Your Transformation Now: http://www.jimfortin.com/app Is TCP right for you? Book your free call now: http://jimfortin.com/bookacall Get Your Copy of My New Book - The Subconscious Solution: http://jimfortin.com/book
In this episode, we journey to the snow covered heights of Mount Llullaillaco, where one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century took place. Over 500 years ago, three Incan children were sacrificed atop this towering peak in a ritual known as Capacocha. Their perfectly preserved remains tell a haunting story of faith, power, and survival in the harshest conditions imaginable. We explore the chilling yet awe-inspiring details of the Incan Empire's sacrificial practices, the cultural beliefs behind them, and the painstaking work of modern scientists who are bringing it all to light. Email: mummymoviepodcast@gmail.com Patreon: Mummy Movie Podcast BibliographyAudioTorpedo. (2023). SnowAmbienceLoop02_Torp_Arved.wav (2023). Retrieved from https://freesound.org/people/AudioTorpedo/sounds/684498/ Bryce835. (2024). Walking in the snow. Retrieved from https://freesound.org/people/Bryce835/sounds/728265/ Dadutchman. (2010). SnowShovel.wav. Retrieved from https://freesound.org/people/Dadutchman/sounds/90205/ Gibbons, A. (2012). The ultimate sacrifice. Science, Vol 336. pp. 834-837. Julien, C. (2000). Reading Inca History. University of Iowa Press. Mallement. (2012). Running in the Snow. Retrieved from https://freesound.org/people/mallement/sounds/160605/ McEwan, G. F. (2008). The Incas: new perspectives. WW Norton & Company. Resemble. (2024). Resemble.AI. Retrieved from https://app.resemble.ai/ Stothert, Karen E. "Unwrapping an Inca mummy bundle." Archaeology New York, NY 32, no. 4 (1979): 8-17. Suno. (2024). Suno. Retrieved from https://suno.com/ Thurner, M., & Pimentel, J. (2021). New World Objects of Knowledge: A Cabinet of Curiosities (p. 301). University of London Press. Wilson, A. S., Taylor, T., Ceruti, M. C., Chavez, J. A., Reinhard, J., Grimes, V., ... & Gilbert, M. T. P. (2007). Stable isotope and DNA evidence for ritual sequences in Inca child sacrifice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104(42), 16456-16461. Wilson, A. S., Brown, E. L., Villa, C., Lynnerup, N., Healey, A., Ceruti, M. C., ... & Taylor, T. (2013). Archaeological, radiological, and biological evidence offer insight into Inca child sacrifice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(33), 13322-13327. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Mythlok, we embark on a fascinating journey into the heart of Incan mythology to uncover the secrets of Amaru, the legendary Incan dragon. Known as the "Serpent of the Sky," Amaru is a powerful symbol of nature's duality, bridging the realms of earth and heaven with its divine presence. Join host Nitten Nair as we explore Amaru's mesmerizing physical traits, its role in Incan folklore, and its continued influence on modern Andean culture. Discover the myths, rituals, and stories that have kept this ancient deity alive through the ages. Don't miss out on this enthralling exploration of one of the Andes' most revered mythical creatures!Read more at https://mythlok.com/amaru/
Giant spiders crawl around the walls of an ancient city on Mars. And if that doesn’t sound like the plot of a bad movie, then what does? It turns out, though, that this plot is true – in a way. The “city” consists of walls of volcanic rock or hardened sand. And the “spiders” are explosions of dark dust from below the surface. The region is called Inca City. It was discovered in 1972, in pictures from a Mars orbiter. It’s a grid of intersecting lines that resembles the outline of an ancient Incan city. The walls are miles long and hundreds of feet tall. Scientists aren’t sure what created the lines. They could be hardened sand dunes. The most recent idea says they’re volcanic rock. Inca City may lie inside an old impact crater. Molten rock could have bubbled up through cracks in the crater floor. The floor was covered up, but the Martian winds have swept it clean, exposing the ridges. Inca City is near the edge of the southern polar ice cap. Frozen carbon dioxide covers the region in winter. In spring, it vaporizes. Carbon dioxide a few feet below the surface can vaporize first, blowing holes in the ice above it. Dark dust in the plumes then settles to the surface – forming “spiders” around the walls of Inca City. Look for Mars before and during dawn now. It looks like a bright orange star. Tomorrow, it’s to the upper right of the crescent Moon. The brilliant planet Jupiter stands above them. Script by Damond Benningfield
Many things may come to mind when you hear the word 'cocaine' - and we'd wager that the last thing on that list would be the Victorians. But as it turns out, the Victorians were avid cocaine users, whether it be to remedy ailments and injuries, give them an edge in competitive sports or simply put a bit of pep in their step. A hundred years later, it is amongst the most criminalised substances on earth.Dr Douglas Small is a historian of medicine and author of Cocaine, Literature, and Culture, 1876-1930. He joins us today to take us through the deeper history of cocaine and explain how it went from a central feature of Incan cultural life to the defining party drug of the modern day.Produced by James Hickmann, and edited by Dougal Patmore and Max Carrey.Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign up HERE for 50% off for 3 months using code ‘DANSNOW'.We'd love to hear from you - what do you want to hear an episode on? You can email the podcast at ds.hh@historyhit.com.You can take part in our listener survey here.
Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black assess National Treasure: Edge of History's depiction of a Pan-American treasure. How much would this collection of Mayan, Aztec, and Incan relics be worth today? Join the hunt on Twitter and Instagram using @NTHuntPodcast, and find new episodes of National Treasure Hunt every-other Wednesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. More information about the National Treasure Hunt podcast, tour, and book can be found at www.nthuntpodcast.com. Order our book, "National Treasure Hunt: One Step Short of Crazy," from Tucker DS Press here: https://www.tuckerdspress.com/product-page/national-treasure-hunt-one-step-short-of-crazy To access even more exclusive National Treasure Hunt content, including bonus episodes and watch parties, subscribe to our Patreon: www.patreon.com/NTHuntPodcast
Seriah is joined by author and researcher Camille Sauve. Topics include her recent book “Sorcerers of Stone: Architects of the Three Ages”, history and prehistory of Peru, huacas/wakas sacred sites, things built by the Inca people and things they didn't build, higher megalithic technology predating lower craftsman technology, an incident with a massive stone crushing people, the ancient god Viracocha, Rudolph Steiner and Madam Blavatsky on ancient construction, Lemuria and Mu, Easter Island, lost continents, intuition and speculation, tourism vs archeology and history, academic theory vs Indigenous lore, huge sediment deposits at high altitudes, the strange location of the city of Cusco, the site Saqsaywaman, the vast cavern system throughout Peru, underground cities in Turkey, cave/tunnel systems around the world and their possible uses and origins, the Hopi stories of global catastrophe and the Ant People, the seven sages from Egypt/Mesopotamia, recurring legends from around the world, the Flood and Gilgamesh, unexplained (conventionally) connections between distant cultures, the cosmogony of the three worlds, ideas of Alfredo Gamarra, a vastly different ancient earth, Akashic records, psychic investigations, the Theosophical concept of a race of giants, a massive stone staircase, a monument with human-size and giant thrones, three distinct eras of architecture attributed (rightly or wrongly) to the Incas, legends of giants across the Americas, Brothers of the Serpent, the Smithsonian Institute and giant bones, expanding earth theory, changes in gravity and orbit, Alfredo Gamarra's son Jesus, the apparent spreading of the continents, tectonic plate theory's early rejection by the science of its time, revision in science caused by new data, the outdated Clovis theory of the settlement of the Americas, Grahm Hancock, the TV show “Life After People”, the cosmic cycles of destruction, possible ancient geopolymers, a Russian study of Peruvian stone, Egyptian casing stones as geopolymer, Joseph Davidovits, ancient vs modern structures resilience to earthquakes, “The Feed” TV series on Amazon, colonial Spanish reaction to the structures in the Americas, vitrification of stone, Jan Peter de Jong, electric conductivity in Peruvian caves, earthquake fracture zones and electromagnetic energy, Inca ley lines, Paul Devereux, Greg Little, UFOs and earthquake fault lines, Marian apparitions connection with earthquakes, Incan priests and oracles on fault lines, Peruvian shamans, zig-zag walls in Egypt and Peru, possible pre-colonial electric power generation, running water through limestone and its effects, a study of earth energy and ionization, dating of ancient monuments, bio geometry, Dr. Ibrahim Karim, and much more! This is a fascinating discussion, loaded with information!
July 24, 1911. Hiram Bingham III rediscovers the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu in Peru after the site had been lost to the outside world for centuries. This episode originally aired in 2023.Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more.History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
PREVIEW: #PERU: Conversation with colleague Professor Evan Ellis of the US Army War College re Archaeologists discovering a pre-Incan mystery of well-to-do Chemu found dead of violence with jewelry and rings buried with them. More tonight. 1910 Peru
Seriah is joined by author and researcher Camille Sauve. Topics include her recent book “Sorcerers of Stone: Architects of the Three Ages”, history and prehistory of Peru, huacas/wakas sacred sites, things built by the Inca people and things they didn't build, higher megalithic technology predating lower craftsman technology, an incident with a massive stone crushing people, the ancient god Viracocha, Rudolph Steiner and Madam Blavatsky on ancient construction, Lemuria and Mu, Easter Island, lost continents, intuition and speculation, tourism vs archeology and history, academic theory vs Indigenous lore, huge sediment deposits at high altitudes, the strange location of the city of Cusco, the site Saqsaywaman, the vast cavern system throughout Peru, underground cities in Turkey, cave/tunnel systems around the world and their possible uses and origins, the Hopi stories of global catastrophe and the Ant People, the seven sages from Egypt/Mesopotamia, recurring legends from around the world, the Flood and Gilgamesh, unexplained (conventionally) connections between distant cultures, the cosmogony of the three worlds, ideas of Alfredo Gamarra, a vastly different ancient earth, Akashic records, psychic investigations, the Theosophical concept of a race of giants, a massive stone staircase, a monument with human-size and giant thrones, three distinct eras of architecture attributed (rightly or wrongly) to the Incas, legends of giants across the Americas, Brothers of the Serpent, the Smithsonian Institute and giant bones, expanding earth theory, changes in gravity and orbit, Alfredo Gamarra's son Jesus, the apparent spreading of the continents, tectonic plate theory's early rejection by the science of its time, revision in science caused by new data, the outdated Clovis theory of the settlement of the Americas, Grahm Hancock, the TV show “Life After People”, the cosmic cycles of destruction, possible ancient geopolymers, a Russian study of Peruvian stone, Egyptian casing stones as geopolymer, Joseph Davidovits, ancient vs modern structures resilience to earthquakes, “The Feed” TV series on Amazon, colonial Spanish reaction to the structures in the Americas, vitrification of stone, Jan Peter de Jong, electric conductivity in Peruvian caves, earthquake fracture zones and electromagnetic energy, Inca ley lines, Paul Devereux, Greg Little, UFOs and earthquake fault lines, Marian apparitions connection with earthquakes, Incan priests and oracles on fault lines, Peruvian shamans, zig-zag walls in Egypt and Peru, possible pre-colonial electric power generation, running water through limestone and its effects, a study of earth energy and ionization, dating of ancient monuments, bio geometry, Dr. Ibrahim Karim, and much more! This is a fascinating discussion, loaded with information! - Recap by Vincent Treewell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Bill Sillar and comedian Sue Perkins to learn all about the South American Inca empire. At their height, the Inca controlled a vast territory from their base in Peru, one that stretched down the mountainous west coast of the continent, from Ecuador all the way down to Argentina. But the empire barely lasted for a century. Beginning in the mid-15th century, it fell in the 1530s with the arrival of Spanish conquistadores, led by Pizarro. This episode goes beyond famous sites like Machu Picchu and explores all aspects of Incan life, death – and taxes! Along the way, it takes in social and family structures, food and drink, religious practices, art and architecture. [The podcast version of this episode has been edited slightly to amend an incorrect reference to the weight of the stones carried from Cuzco to Ecuador]This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed.Research by: Andrew Himmelberg Written by: Andrew Himmelberg, Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Production Coordinator: Caitlin Hobbs Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse
In this episode: Back surgery, heart ablation, genetic memory, the eternal jellyfish, Jules Verne, big leather books, The Heart Goes Last, The Curse, Uncut Gems, Safdie's music choices, squid games game show, Alice in Borderland, Connections, James burke, Incan potatoes, hulked out grasses, The Holdovers featuring the mysterious Andrew Garmen, and Anson and Branan get Verklempt reading a listener review. https://youtu.be/oUCwSOfVpac
500 years ago Spanish conquistadors invaded the Incan Empire and slew Atahualpa -- the unfortunate who would prove to be the last Emperor. Due to his vast wealth -- largely in the form of gold -- treasure hunters have spent centuries searching in vain for lost treasure of the Incas. Ecuadorian historian Tamara Estupiñán Viteri who among other things studied and then created a dictionary of the dialects spoken within the Incan Empire, also deciphered the "secret language of the Incas." This along with documents from the Spanish colonial period enabled her to piece together a treasure map of sorts. Following the leads she discovered Tamara made her way to a remote corner of Ecuador where she discovered the hitherto unknown Incan site at Malqui-Machay. It is here that Tamara explains that the greatest Inca "treasure" now lies. Guest: Tamara Estupiñán Viteri is a professional historian with a degree in History from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. She also holds a master's degree in history, with a specialisation in Andean history, from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences of Ecuador (FLACSO). Read more on Tamara: Academia.Edu Music: Pixabay This episode is sponsored by World History Encyclopedia, one of the top history websites on the internet. I love the fact that they're not a Wiki: Every article they publish is reviewed by their editorial team, not only for being accurate but also for being interesting to read. The website is run as a non-profit organization, so you won't be bombarded by annoying ads and it's completely free. It's a great site, and don't just take my word for it they've been recommended by many academic institutions including Oxford University. Go check them out at WorldHistory.org or follow this link: World History Encyclopedia La historiadora ecuatoriana Tamara Estupiñán Viteri, quien entre otras cosas estudió y luego creó un diccionario de los dialectos hablados dentro del Imperio Inca, también descifró la "lengua secreta de los Incas". Esto, junto con documentos del período colonial español, le permitió reconstruir una especie de mapa del tesoro.