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It Took Cupid's ArmyCan I woo the girl who knows my embarrassing childhood?Based on a post by Mac G. Listen to the podcast at Connected.Even though it is right in front of you, you don't always see what's good for you. Sometimes you need a little nudge. This is about a couple of mine.When I was five, Jenny's family moved in directly across the street from us. Our families became good friends right away. Due to the fact that there was nobody else our age living nearby (Jenny is three months older than I am), we soon became inseparable.She had no trouble keeping up with me in the rough and tumble things I wanted to do, and I had no problems playing house with her when she wanted. One of our parents always had to shoo us home at night because we would never think about it ourselves. I once tried to get my parents to let Jenny spend the night, but they said it was not right for girls to spend the night with boys.Although I missed it at the time, the first indication that Jenny and I would end up together came when we were fourteen. I was over at her house watching TV with her and her dad. As we sat there, the doorbell rang. Jenny got up to answer it. She came back a moment later followed by a policeman."Mr. Adams," he said, "I'm afraid I have some bad news."Jenny's dad got up to stand next to her. I stood a few feet behind them."I'm really sorry to say that there has been an accident. A drunk ran a red light and hit your wife's car," the policeman stated."What! When? Where? How is she?" Mr. Adams asked."The paramedics did their best, but I'm afraid she didn't make it. I am truly sorry."At this point, Jenny turned around and looked at me, tears pouring from her eyes. She ran to me, buried her head in my shoulder and sobbed. I guided her to the couch and sat her down. Holding her gently, I let her cry herself out, trying to soothe her as best as I could.After about fifteen minutes, Mr. Adams finished up with the policeman and came over to sit next to us. Jenny had calmed down a little and was just crying lightly. He took Jenny in his arms and held her. I got up and called my parents telling them what had happened. They both came right over.After a lot of consoling and grief, Dad left with Mr. Adams to tend to the body while Mom stayed with Jenny and I. Mom told me later how proud she was of me and for handling the situation and comforting Jenny so well. Years later, Mr. Adams said he'd kill me if I told Jenny, but that it hurt a little when Jenny turned to me, instead of him, for comfort upon hearing the news about her mom.The First NudgeI have always thought differently about Jenny than anyone else. Even during those awkward adolescent times all boys go through in which girls are gross and have cooties, I never felt that way about Jenny. It was like my mind thought, 'That's not a girl, that's Jenny'. The trouble was that as I grew into a teenager and began to notice girls, it was the same thing; I didn't realize just how beautiful Jenny was becoming.Ironically, it was on a date with someone else in the summer between our Junior and Senior years that her beauty was pointed out to me. We had been having a great time: Dinner, movie, and ice cream afterwards. It was close to time to take my date home."Anne, can I ask you a question?" I asked."Sure, what's up?""Well, when I asked you out, you seemed a little surprised. Pleased, but surprised. I got the same response from Sarah Jansen last month, and I was wondering if it was true you were surprised, and if so, why?"Anne smiled and hesitated a moment before answering."Yes, it's true I was a little surprised and I'm sure Sarah was as well. The reason is we keep expecting you two knuckleheads to wake up and see what a good thing you've got.""Knuckleheads? What two knuckleheads?" I asked."Okay, it looks like it's up to me to straighten you out, although I really shouldn't," she sighed. "I'm going to do this in a roundabout way. I'm going to ask you a bunch of questions. Some of them may seem silly, and some might be embarrassing, but I need you to trust me and answer them all honestly.""Okay, I'll try.""Good. Now first question: Do you think I'm pretty?""Of course I do. Most guys in school do.""Thank you," she said, blushing a little, "Now, I know all guys have different ideas about the ideal woman, but am I your ideal? Be honest.""No, you're not." I said a little chagrinned."Hey, don't worry about it. I asked for honesty. I'm somebody's ideal and I'll find them one day. Let's concentrate on your ideal woman. I'll say an attribute and you tell me what you like. You okay with this?""I guess.""Ok, height?""Your height, perhaps a little taller.""Hair?""Red, long and straight.""Longer than my shoulder length?" Anne asked."Yes.""Eyes?""Green.""Mouth?""Don't know. Never thought about that.""Not a problem. Now, don't get embarrassed, but look at my tits."I couldn't help it, I turned crimson, but I looked briefly. She had very nice tits."That's what I like about you, Tony; even with permission you don't ogle at a girl's chest. Most guys would be glued there right now. Ok, what would you change?""Nothing, I really like your tits," I said, turning even redder, if that were possible."Thanks, so do I. There's definitely something there to attract attention, but not too much. What about the butt? Do you like big butts?""Not really.""What about legs?""Long, with a good muscle structure.""Great. Now, here is what you just told me is your ideal woman; 5'9" or 5'10" tall, long, straight red hair, green eyes, an athletic build, long muscular legs leading up to a nice tight butt. Is that an accurate description?""Yes, that would be correct.""And you still don't see it do you?""I guess not. See what?""You just perfectly described Jenny Adams."I sat there for a moment. She was right of course, but I had never made the connection."Did you know that most guys think Jenny is the best looking girl in school? Many also think you are an idiot for not dating her. You've been best friends for so long you two cannot see it any other way. You should start looking at Jenny as the beautiful woman she is. With the great friendship you've already built, you two would make a perfect couple. Think about it, you dope," Anne ordered with a grin."I will, I promise," I said. "Now, I'd better get you home before your dad sends out the posse."I drove her home in silence. When I walked her to the door, I said, "Thanks a lot for telling me that, Anne. I guess it's true it's sometimes hard to see what is right in front of your nose.""You're welcome. I'm sure you two will be very happy together. Now, I don't usually do this on a first date, but as I'm pretty sure I've just ensured there won't be a second one, kiss me good night.""Gladly."I leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss. She was having none of that. Throwing her arms around my neck she pulled me in for a nice, hard kiss. It seemed to last forever, breaking only when we ran out of air."Thanks, that's just what I wanted," she said smiling. "Now, go get her, Tiger!" With that, she turned and went inside.It's a good thing the route home was so familiar, as I was not paying too much attention to where I was going; I was thinking about Jenny. She was beautiful. She was also a great person. She was funny and fun to be around; kind to everyone; caring with genuine compassion; helpful whenever you needed her. She had so many wonderful qualities that it's hard to think of them all.Two days later, Jenny was over at my house watching TV. As the movie ended, she turned to me, saying, "Okay, Tony, what's up? You've been quiet all day and you've been giving me some funny looks."I hesitated before answering, unsure as to how to answer. I was really nervous about how this would go. I took a deep breath."Jenny, will you go out with me on Friday?" I asked her."Sure, we can get together and...""No, please, that's not what I mean. I don't want to just get together; I want to go on a date, a real date."She looked at me with her eyebrows raised. I could see the wonder in her eyes."Look, Jenny, I know we've been friends for a long time, you've always been my best friend, but lately I've been seeing you in a different light. I've always known you were pretty, but I'm starting to see just how beautiful you really are. I've always known you were a girl, but now I'm seeing you as a woman. We're friends but I'd like to see if maybe we could be more."She sat there, deep in thought. I waited for her to decide.After several minutes I added, "I know this is sudden. You don't have to answer now if you want to think about it for a while. Don't be afraid to say no. Nothing will change if you say no."She smiled at me and said, "I don't need to wait. Of course I'll go on a date with you. I just wasn't expecting it. What brought this about?""I'll tell you, I promise, but not right now. What time do you want to start?""Um, I'll let you know.""Fine. Want a Coke?""Sure."I went a got one for each of us. We watched some more TV, neither one of us talking much. When she left to go home, she paused at the door and gave me a long look, smiling slightly.The rest of the week seemed to last forever. Jenny must have said something to her dad, and he spoke to my parents, because on Wednesday evening Mom came into my room, announcing, "Let me know what you plan on wearing for your big date Friday, and I'll make sure it's clean and nicely pressed.""Okay, Mom, thanks. I'm not sure...wait, how did you know about Friday?""Moms just know," she said, grinning. "If there's anything else I can do for you, let me know."When Friday came, I had still not told her what I wanted to wear, having changed my mind several times. I went out in the afternoon to get a haircut. When I got back home, there was a brand new outfit laying on my bed waiting. It was perfect. As I was getting ready, my dad came in my room."Here, try some of this," he said, handing me a bottle of cologne. "It's a very popular scent.""Thanks, Dad.""Also, a good date needs a good ride. Take my car tonight."I was stunned. Dad rarely let's anyone drive his car. He had saved for years to afford it. "Are you sure?" I asked."Yes, I'm sure. I got it cleaned up nicely today and it's got a full tank of gas. Enjoy yourself.""Wow, thanks, Dad! You're awesome."When the time came, I walked across to her house and knocked. Mr. Adams answered."Come on in Tony, she'll be right down. Where are you going tonight?" he asked."I made a reservation at that new Italian place south of the mall. After that, we'll just see. Probably a movie later on," I answered.We heard the sound of Jenny coming down the stairs. I turned to see her and was stunned. She was wearing a light green sun dress that stopped just above her knees. Her legs looked great, tapering to a pair of strappy sandals with a 2½-inch heel. Her red hair cascaded down over the front of her shoulders, framing her face nicely. Jenny's eyes were sparkling and she was grinning from ear to ear.I walked up to her as she got to the bottom of the stairs."I've never seen you look more beautiful," I said.She blushed a little and said, "Thanks, you look great, too."We walked back to her dad."Have fun tonight you two," he said. "I've talked to your parents, Tony, and for tonight, and tonight only, there is no curfew for you two - just don't push it too far.""We won't, Mr. Adams, I promise," I said.We walked across the street to the car. Jenny's eyes got huge when she saw we were heading to Dad's car. We drove to the restaurant in an awkward silence. As we were waiting for the table, I reached out and took her hand in mine. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea, as I figured she could feel that my heart was beating about 200 times a minute. Jenny just smiled at me and squeezed it gently.Dinner went well. The talking started slow, but we loosened up some as things went on. By the end I think I had my heart down to about 150.

It Took Cupid's ArmyCan I woo the girl who knows my embarrassing childhood?Based on a post by Mac G. Listen to the podcast at Connected.Even though it is right in front of you, you don't always see what's good for you. Sometimes you need a little nudge. This is about a couple of mine.When I was five, Jenny's family moved in directly across the street from us. Our families became good friends right away. Due to the fact that there was nobody else our age living nearby (Jenny is three months older than I am), we soon became inseparable.She had no trouble keeping up with me in the rough and tumble things I wanted to do, and I had no problems playing house with her when she wanted. One of our parents always had to shoo us home at night because we would never think about it ourselves. I once tried to get my parents to let Jenny spend the night, but they said it was not right for girls to spend the night with boys.Although I missed it at the time, the first indication that Jenny and I would end up together came when we were fourteen. I was over at her house watching TV with her and her dad. As we sat there, the doorbell rang. Jenny got up to answer it. She came back a moment later followed by a policeman."Mr. Adams," he said, "I'm afraid I have some bad news."Jenny's dad got up to stand next to her. I stood a few feet behind them."I'm really sorry to say that there has been an accident. A drunk ran a red light and hit your wife's car," the policeman stated."What! When? Where? How is she?" Mr. Adams asked."The paramedics did their best, but I'm afraid she didn't make it. I am truly sorry."At this point, Jenny turned around and looked at me, tears pouring from her eyes. She ran to me, buried her head in my shoulder and sobbed. I guided her to the couch and sat her down. Holding her gently, I let her cry herself out, trying to soothe her as best as I could.After about fifteen minutes, Mr. Adams finished up with the policeman and came over to sit next to us. Jenny had calmed down a little and was just crying lightly. He took Jenny in his arms and held her. I got up and called my parents telling them what had happened. They both came right over.After a lot of consoling and grief, Dad left with Mr. Adams to tend to the body while Mom stayed with Jenny and I. Mom told me later how proud she was of me and for handling the situation and comforting Jenny so well. Years later, Mr. Adams said he'd kill me if I told Jenny, but that it hurt a little when Jenny turned to me, instead of him, for comfort upon hearing the news about her mom.The First NudgeI have always thought differently about Jenny than anyone else. Even during those awkward adolescent times all boys go through in which girls are gross and have cooties, I never felt that way about Jenny. It was like my mind thought, 'That's not a girl, that's Jenny'. The trouble was that as I grew into a teenager and began to notice girls, it was the same thing; I didn't realize just how beautiful Jenny was becoming.Ironically, it was on a date with someone else in the summer between our Junior and Senior years that her beauty was pointed out to me. We had been having a great time: Dinner, movie, and ice cream afterwards. It was close to time to take my date home."Anne, can I ask you a question?" I asked."Sure, what's up?""Well, when I asked you out, you seemed a little surprised. Pleased, but surprised. I got the same response from Sarah Jansen last month, and I was wondering if it was true you were surprised, and if so, why?"Anne smiled and hesitated a moment before answering."Yes, it's true I was a little surprised and I'm sure Sarah was as well. The reason is we keep expecting you two knuckleheads to wake up and see what a good thing you've got.""Knuckleheads? What two knuckleheads?" I asked."Okay, it looks like it's up to me to straighten you out, although I really shouldn't," she sighed. "I'm going to do this in a roundabout way. I'm going to ask you a bunch of questions. Some of them may seem silly, and some might be embarrassing, but I need you to trust me and answer them all honestly.""Okay, I'll try.""Good. Now first question: Do you think I'm pretty?""Of course I do. Most guys in school do.""Thank you," she said, blushing a little, "Now, I know all guys have different ideas about the ideal woman, but am I your ideal? Be honest.""No, you're not." I said a little chagrinned."Hey, don't worry about it. I asked for honesty. I'm somebody's ideal and I'll find them one day. Let's concentrate on your ideal woman. I'll say an attribute and you tell me what you like. You okay with this?""I guess.""Ok, height?""Your height, perhaps a little taller.""Hair?""Red, long and straight.""Longer than my shoulder length?" Anne asked."Yes.""Eyes?""Green.""Mouth?""Don't know. Never thought about that.""Not a problem. Now, don't get embarrassed, but look at my tits."I couldn't help it, I turned crimson, but I looked briefly. She had very nice tits."That's what I like about you, Tony; even with permission you don't ogle at a girl's chest. Most guys would be glued there right now. Ok, what would you change?""Nothing, I really like your tits," I said, turning even redder, if that were possible."Thanks, so do I. There's definitely something there to attract attention, but not too much. What about the butt? Do you like big butts?""Not really.""What about legs?""Long, with a good muscle structure.""Great. Now, here is what you just told me is your ideal woman; 5'9" or 5'10" tall, long, straight red hair, green eyes, an athletic build, long muscular legs leading up to a nice tight butt. Is that an accurate description?""Yes, that would be correct.""And you still don't see it do you?""I guess not. See what?""You just perfectly described Jenny Adams."I sat there for a moment. She was right of course, but I had never made the connection."Did you know that most guys think Jenny is the best looking girl in school? Many also think you are an idiot for not dating her. You've been best friends for so long you two cannot see it any other way. You should start looking at Jenny as the beautiful woman she is. With the great friendship you've already built, you two would make a perfect couple. Think about it, you dope," Anne ordered with a grin."I will, I promise," I said. "Now, I'd better get you home before your dad sends out the posse."I drove her home in silence. When I walked her to the door, I said, "Thanks a lot for telling me that, Anne. I guess it's true it's sometimes hard to see what is right in front of your nose.""You're welcome. I'm sure you two will be very happy together. Now, I don't usually do this on a first date, but as I'm pretty sure I've just ensured there won't be a second one, kiss me good night.""Gladly."I leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss. She was having none of that. Throwing her arms around my neck she pulled me in for a nice, hard kiss. It seemed to last forever, breaking only when we ran out of air."Thanks, that's just what I wanted," she said smiling. "Now, go get her, Tiger!" With that, she turned and went inside.It's a good thing the route home was so familiar, as I was not paying too much attention to where I was going; I was thinking about Jenny. She was beautiful. She was also a great person. She was funny and fun to be around; kind to everyone; caring with genuine compassion; helpful whenever you needed her. She had so many wonderful qualities that it's hard to think of them all.Two days later, Jenny was over at my house watching TV. As the movie ended, she turned to me, saying, "Okay, Tony, what's up? You've been quiet all day and you've been giving me some funny looks."I hesitated before answering, unsure as to how to answer. I was really nervous about how this would go. I took a deep breath."Jenny, will you go out with me on Friday?" I asked her."Sure, we can get together and...""No, please, that's not what I mean. I don't want to just get together; I want to go on a date, a real date."She looked at me with her eyebrows raised. I could see the wonder in her eyes."Look, Jenny, I know we've been friends for a long time, you've always been my best friend, but lately I've been seeing you in a different light. I've always known you were pretty, but I'm starting to see just how beautiful you really are. I've always known you were a girl, but now I'm seeing you as a woman. We're friends but I'd like to see if maybe we could be more."She sat there, deep in thought. I waited for her to decide.After several minutes I added, "I know this is sudden. You don't have to answer now if you want to think about it for a while. Don't be afraid to say no. Nothing will change if you say no."She smiled at me and said, "I don't need to wait. Of course I'll go on a date with you. I just wasn't expecting it. What brought this about?""I'll tell you, I promise, but not right now. What time do you want to start?""Um, I'll let you know.""Fine. Want a Coke?""Sure."I went a got one for each of us. We watched some more TV, neither one of us talking much. When she left to go home, she paused at the door and gave me a long look, smiling slightly.The rest of the week seemed to last forever. Jenny must have said something to her dad, and he spoke to my parents, because on Wednesday evening Mom came into my room, announcing, "Let me know what you plan on wearing for your big date Friday, and I'll make sure it's clean and nicely pressed.""Okay, Mom, thanks. I'm not sure...wait, how did you know about Friday?""Moms just know," she said, grinning. "If there's anything else I can do for you, let me know."When Friday came, I had still not told her what I wanted to wear, having changed my mind several times. I went out in the afternoon to get a haircut. When I got back home, there was a brand new outfit laying on my bed waiting. It was perfect. As I was getting ready, my dad came in my room."Here, try some of this," he said, handing me a bottle of cologne. "It's a very popular scent.""Thanks, Dad.""Also, a good date needs a good ride. Take my car tonight."I was stunned. Dad rarely let's anyone drive his car. He had saved for years to afford it. "Are you sure?" I asked."Yes, I'm sure. I got it cleaned up nicely today and it's got a full tank of gas. Enjoy yourself.""Wow, thanks, Dad! You're awesome."When the time came, I walked across to her house and knocked. Mr. Adams answered."Come on in Tony, she'll be right down. Where are you going tonight?" he asked."I made a reservation at that new Italian place south of the mall. After that, we'll just see. Probably a movie later on," I answered.We heard the sound of Jenny coming down the stairs. I turned to see her and was stunned. She was wearing a light green sun dress that stopped just above her knees. Her legs looked great, tapering to a pair of strappy sandals with a 2½-inch heel. Her red hair cascaded down over the front of her shoulders, framing her face nicely. Jenny's eyes were sparkling and she was grinning from ear to ear.I walked up to her as she got to the bottom of the stairs."I've never seen you look more beautiful," I said.She blushed a little and said, "Thanks, you look great, too."We walked back to her dad."Have fun tonight you two," he said. "I've talked to your parents, Tony, and for tonight, and tonight only, there is no curfew for you two - just don't push it too far.""We won't, Mr. Adams, I promise," I said.We walked across the street to the car. Jenny's eyes got huge when she saw we were heading to Dad's car. We drove to the restaurant in an awkward silence. As we were waiting for the table, I reached out and took her hand in mine. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea, as I figured she could feel that my heart was beating about 200 times a minute. Jenny just smiled at me and squeezed it gently.Dinner went well. The talking started slow, but we loosened up some as things went on. By the end I think I had my heart down to about 150.

Mike and Abe open up the show with some brief thoughts the sports weekend, including Atlanta United's 2-1 loss to Chicago Fire FC and the Braves dropping two of three to the Pirates over the weekend as Mike notes the hitting is just not there for the team, which he believes continues to be frustrating to watch. As they discuss, Mike floats the idea of the Braves inserting Drake Baldwin into the starting lineup to give the team an offensive spark.

In this episode of the AppleVis Podcast, Gaurav returns with Lesson 7 in the ongoing series on mastering Numbers, Apple's free spreadsheet app for Mac.This lesson focuses on organizing data efficiently in Apple Numbers. Unlike Excel's single-grid layout, Numbers offers a more flexible, canvas-like approach where multiple tables can coexist on a single sheet. Gaurav demonstrates how to manage tables for different quarters of budget data, making it easier to structure and access your information.Key Concepts CoveredUnderstanding Tables in NumbersNumbers allows multiple tables per sheet, treating each sheet as a flexible workspaceDistinct from Excel's traditional grid-based formatUsing the Sheet NavigatorAccess the window spots menu with VO + UNavigate through and interact with sheetsRename, duplicate, or delete tables as neededWorking with Multiple TablesAdd multiple tables to a single sheetUse VO and arrow keys to move between themRename each table for clarity and structureManaging Tables EffectivelyCustomize titles and captionsRemove unnecessary rows and columnsOrganize data by period (e.g., Quarter 1, Quarter 2)Advantages of Using Multiple TablesQuickly shift between distinct data setsEnhance visual clarity, especially for sighted usersTranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers' names, voices, or content.Gaurav: Okay folks, so in this lesson we are going to discuss about tables. Now tables are different tables you can have on your sheet in Numbers. And what you want to understand is that unlike Microsoft Excel, Numbers doesn't treat each sheet as a massive grid. It instead treats it like a blank canvas where you can have multiple tables. In Excel, it is treated as one massive grid.Gaurav: Now I'll show you what I mean by that and why it's useful to work with various tables on your canvas on a sheet in Numbers. So I'm back on my Numbers table. I'm going to hit VO plus U for umbrella to open the window spots menu.GauravVoiceOver: Sheet navigator tab group. I'm going to go here, hit enter.VoiceOver: Sheet navigator tab group.Gaurav: I'm going to VO shift down arrow to interact.VoiceOver: In budget sheet selected tab.Gaurav: Budget sheet. That's the name I've given to this sheet where we have our January, February, March budget. Here I can hit VO shift M for menu or do the contextual click.GauravV/oiceOver: table one rename ellipsis duplicate show sheet options cut sheet copy sheet paste sheet delete table one rename ellipsis so here currently i have various options of what options i have with this sheet i'm just going to rename it duplicate rename ellipsis you are currently i'm going to rename it toGaurav…

Gaurav is back with the next installment in our Numbers tutorial series, diving into one of the most essential spreadsheet skills: the SUM function. Whether you're tracking expenses or organizing data, learning to total values quickly is a must.Quick Guide: Summing Your January ExpensesSelect the Cell – Click the cell where you'd like the total to appear.Start the Formula – Type = and then SU. Use the arrow keys to highlight SUM and press Enter.Set the Range – Type your cell range, like B2:B5, and close with a ).Finish – Hit Enter. Boom—your total is ready!Want to Make a Change? Just press Option + Enter to jump into the formula editor, tweak your formula, and press Command + Enter to apply it.Introduction to Basic FormulasLearn how to analyze and manage data with formulasFocus: Using the SUM function to total values easilyUsing the SUM FunctionAdds up all values in a defined rangeCommon use: Insert a “Total” row to sum a column's dataEnter the function where the total should appearHow to Enter the SUM FormulaNavigate to the desired cellPress Option + Enter to begin editingType = to start the formulaEnter SU, then select SUM with the arrow keysInserting the Formula ExampleIn cell B6, type: =SUM(B2:B5)Press Enter to apply and see the resultEditing a FormulaClick the Total cellPress Option + Enter to enter edit modeUse arrow keys to move around and editPress Command + Enter to save changesPro TipsUse larger ranges for more data, like B2:B1000Press Option + Enter anytime to reopen the formula editorArrow keys let you fine-tune your formula line-by-lineSpreadsheet skills made simple—with Numbers on your Mac!TranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers' names, voices, or content.Gaurav: okay folks so in this lesson we are now going to get into very basic formulas and formulas are very easy yet powerful methods of analyzing and playing around with our data. So today I'm going to use probably one of the most used function, which is the sum function. So it is a way of totaling all the values in a set of cells.Gaurav: So what we're going to do is, again, jump back into our table.Gaurav/VoiceOver: Food. Rowhead or cell? Cell. water row header cell transportation row header cell internet row header cell row header cell cell okay so we have all of our headings in the category headings in column a internet row…

Netflix has a TV show out called Apple Cider Vinegar - it's a dramatisation of a real story of a real influencer who was popular online, and said she was treating a terminal illness with alternative therapies. But it turned out the supposed natural treatments she was promoting didn't do anything, because she didn't really have brain cancer. So it got us thinking - how can you spot false wellness claims?Drinking special tea to make you slimmer. Rubbing bee venom on your face to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Inserting gemstones into your vagina to regulate menstrual cycles. These are just three on the seemingly endless list which have little to no scientific evidence to support their purported benefits. Jacqui Wakefield, a reporter with the BBC's Global Disinformation Unit, takes us through what makes these trends take off and how we can spot the bad ones online. Makuochi Okafor in our Lagos bureau explains what wellness scams look like in Nigeria. And Maria Clara Montoya tells us about the scene in Latin America.Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producer: Emily Horler Video Journalists: Benita Barden and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde

During Christmas week, we're bringing you another round of weird questions for Jimmy Akin posed by Cy Kellett of Catholic Answers Live, including time travel and inserting yourself into the Bible, Adam and Eve and belly buttons, lost letters of St. Paul, Jimmy's most wanted lost books of history, and more. The post Inserting Yourself Into the Bible (Weird Questions) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

During Christmas week, we're bringing you another round of weird questions for Jimmy Akin posed by Cy Kellett of Catholic Answers Live, including time travel and inserting yourself into the Bible, Adam and Eve and belly buttons, lost letters of St. Paul, Jimmy's most wanted lost books of history, and more.

Lords: * James * https://pounced-on.me/@Triplefox * Kev * https://kevzettler.com/ * https://www.youtube.com/@MikeMotion83 Topics: * Copyparty * Egg punk vs. chain punk * Going geocaching three times * https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads-2024/images/3/3597ddeb-e52e-4cda-a59c-c64600489fea/ugJWqQdP.jpg * Septic Tanks * https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads-2024/images/3/3597ddeb-e52e-4cda-a59c-c64600489fea/q0tW8KtD.jpg * Certain kinds of trash you don't see any more * Mosquito bites Microtopics: * Multiple recurring lords. * Going back to an earlier episode to listen to the plugs. * Agreeing to a copy party without knowing what it is. * Multi-part RARs. * Putting together educational material for your hypothetical younger self. * Manually extracting files over a physical USB connection. * Org-mode. * A collection of ogg vorbis music. * Your personal learning mind-map for learning how to draw. * The bottom end of expertise. * Two contrasting branches of the punk community. * Nerdy; dancey; influenced by Devo. * Musical genres refusing to converge no matter how close they get. * genres refusing to converge no matter how close they get. * How old you have to be to know about My Bloody Valentine. * Finally getting your act together and installing the right app and logging into the right web site. * Finding excuses to be more engaged with nature. * Having conversations, like you do with friends in a park. * Finding an Altoids tin where you would expect to find a bunch of spider webs. * Walking through half-nature in near-complete darkness. * Climbing down a rocky embankment in near-complete darkness with your phone in one hand. * Caches getting muggled. * Null Island. * Realizing that you're about to go on the bad kind of adventure. * A passing wizard complimenting you on your ironic orc-detecting sword. * A stuffed BB-8 that you use for photo opportunities. * Leaving one line of your toilet poem blank in case you think of a good rhyme for "too." * The kind of poem you put in your bathroom. * A pithy way to say what to put in the toilet. * Telling the restaurant's poet laureate that he really nailed that septic tank poem. * Using a black marker to redact the line about cigarette butts from your poem. * A book that reads like browsing Reddit. * Taking your mind off of your butt for five minutes. * Whether Law and Order was ever an accurate depiction of police procedure. * How they convicted or didn't convict the latest perp. * Uncle John's Bathroom Reader. * TV Guides lying on the street. * The genre of children's craft made from newspaper. * Archaeologists finding a thousand year old USB drive and finding a bunch of PDFs and videos about how to learn to draw. * FAT16 vs. FAT32. * Multi-volume ARJ files. * Putting together dual-purpose CDs for punk banks. * CD-ROMs shaped like a business card. * Inserting mini-CDs into a slot loading CD drive. * What it takes to make an indie Gamecube game. * Side-factoids about Luigi's Mansion. * Luigi's Mansion counting the volume of dust you've vacuumed through the whole playthrough. * The new Duck Tales game modeling the physics of every treasure you can collect so you can swim in them. * Mosquito activity in the midwest. * Hanging out around mosquito predators. * Mosquitos waking up for the gloaming and then going back to bed. * Finding the one high-altitude spot in the Panhandle to avoid the mosquitos. * Feeling bad about killng mosquitos after playing Hollow Knight. * Your favorite mind control force. * Golfers hitting that ball to make the number go down when they could just play less and it'd stay at 0 forever.

Timestamps: 0:00 SAY IT LINUS 0:24 Valve Deckard 'Roy' Controllers 1:34 Google inserts links on webpages 2:35 OpenAI Sora leak 4:27 QUICK BITS INTRO 4:32 TSMC big chips, Intel finalizes CHIPS 5:26 Microsoft AI, xAI game studio 6:32 Foldable and huge handhelds 7:05 Electric lollipop for VR News Sources: https://lmg.gg/bjquE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A law professor outlines using photos in wills to identify specific gifts, possible legal challenges, and best practices for estate planning. The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, ACTEC, is a professional society of peer-elected trust and estate lawyers in the United States and around the globe. This series offers professionals best practice advice, insights and commentary on subjects that affect the profession and clients. Learn more in this podcast.

Uncle Gary has advice for you and the kids about where not to put things.

Watch on YouTube. (9am EST) 0:00 - Introduction 1:04 - Overview of the 3 letters 1:46 - Letter 1: Estranged from family 3:50 - Response to letter 1 begins  5:02 - Why certain phrases trigger us 7:12 - What I've noticed making an internet advice column 9:37 - Ideas for the future 12:03 - Why it doesn't feel sustainable to bite your tongue 16:05 - Being honest about your reaction 17:33 - Letter 2: Don't like best friend's boyfriend 19:02 - Response to letter 2 begins 20:30 - The lost dream of being “couple friends” 22:56 - When your friend gets cheated on 24:31 - Reflection questions when you don't like your friend's bf/gf 28:24 - Do this for your friend 29:28 - Letter 3: Your BFF is always in and out of relationships  30:30 - Response to letter 3 begins 31:00 - Having self-awareness 31:51 - Inserting ourselves into other people's problems  32:30 - Breaking our own patterns 33:43 - Having a tough conversation  35:26 - Getting clear on YOUR terms  39:00 - Exclusive question for Hayeselnuts

Wrong RAM, New Soundboard, Dead Bear Cub and Tiktoker's Grandfather is Supposedly the Zodiac Killer

Georgy-Porgy gets his wish, and more.by jane700bond. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories.  It had started not long after the Double Necromancy lesson began. Only Slither-In alumni tended to take Necromancy, because of its dark reputation. It involves communing with dead spirits and summoning demons and the like. Unlike the Divinity classroom, which had tables and benches with enough room, as Ariella had discovered, for under the table Kama Sutra practice, the Necromancy classroom had modern writing tablet chairs. They were set in a curve in front of the teacher's desk.It is said that the reason the Necromancy classroom was gifted with modern furniture was that a couple of years back, the appearance of a particularly fiery demon had incinerated the old furniture in the room.Dr. Snake, former House Master of Slither-In, was the teacher and Lucille, who had already learnt much more advanced Necromancy from her evil genius father than Snake would ever teach, found her mind wandering back to her competition with Ariella, as to who would become ‘Sex Goddess of Briarwood College'.Lucille had been introduced to Defence Against Dark Arts, Snake (or DADA as he was affectionately known by his favourite students) when she had first arrived the previous day. However, there were so many new things to look at and take in that she had not taken much notice of this tall, languid, saturnine figure. Now, Lucille, already bored by the lesson, began to look at Snake properly and started to size him up. She knew she would need him on her side if she were to win the competition, but she was sure she had the necessary wiles and ways that would easily bind the teacher to her cause.There were only four pupils in the glass, two other gals and a guy and they sat with rapt attention as Snake stood and talked animatedly about demons and succubus and their dangers. Lucille sat to the left of the semi-circle.From the way his dark eyes seemed continually drawn to her, clocking the small amount of skin exposed just above her pert breasts and then looking away again, Lucille thought he was just the right sort of pervert who willingly, or unwillingly, could soon become another one of her slaves. All it needed was temptation to be strewn in his way. Therefore, deciding to be decidedly wicked, Lucille silently formed a glamour in her mind and, as she started to radiate her magical sex appeal, she slid her ass forward a little in her chair so as to extend the amount of leg she was showing. It was just by an inch or so, but the movement caught the teacher's eye and he appeared to be contemplating the dark depths under her kilt beyond the honey-toned skin of her knees and partially exposed thighs. “Naughty!” she thought.After a few minutes, Lucille lazily lifted a hand to the top button of her blouse and, making sure Snake was watching, deliberately undid the top button and pushed her taut bosom forward towards him, stretching the cotton of her blouse and exposing the dark crevice of her cleavage and the white of her bra. Snake, looked away and tried to concentrate on his other three students, but they were not any competition to Lucille's sun-goddess beauty and the force of the glamour.The glamour was a spell her father had taught her some years ago and was a way of becoming irresistible to her target. She had used it a lot since her father's arrest. The strength of her glamour was one of the main reasons she had managed to escape the clutches of the Gendarmerie Magique and seduce her way across the English Channel.Inevitably after a few moments cum-to-me DADA's eyes were drawn back as Lucille lifted a leg and crossed it over the other exposing an extensive amount of the smooth tanned skin of her thigh and a hint of the curve of her ass. Snake rallied with a question to one of the other two gals in the class, but they were no competition to the glamour Lucille was exuding into the classroom ever more strongly.Snake faltered in his speech and shuddered as Lucille winked sexily at him while she pulled her kilt still further up her thigh, uncrossed her legs and leaning further back pushed her nearly exposed pubis towards him. The other students could not help but notice and they too stared open-mouthed at the dame as she undid another button on her blouse and blew Snake a kiss. Lucille looked around the class at her fellow pupils to see if she had any natural allies among them. There were three, Henry, a tall big hulking guy with a scarred face and crooked nose who looked as though he had fought in more than just magic battles, most likely a Quidditch player she thought. With a little frisson of excitement, Lucille imagined that under his clothes Henry was probably both well-endowed and muscular.There were also two dark-haired coeds, Priti and Sabrina, both slim and young looking. Priti was the smaller, very underdeveloped with little showing in terms of breasts. Sabrina, was a little taller and probably a 32 b. They, in the same way the hulk was not the most handsome of guys, were also not the prettiest gals. They both sported a mono-brow over deep set dark brown eyes and had thin unsmiling lips. But Lucille reckoned that all three of them had the potential to make obedient disciples. She could tempt the dames with some magic beautification, it was amazing what you could do with a wand. Cosmetic surgery was in its infancy compared to her powers.“Miss l'Astique,” rallied Snake “are you too warm?” It appeared he could no longer resist and came closer to her, dark eyes peering at the exposed cleavage and the still hidden mystery covered with the white mounds of her bra.Not really wanting the teacher to make a pass at her as she sat in the classroom, she lifted her wand surreptitiously under her writing tablet and, when Snake was looking as though he might lunge for her, with a sweeping movement she flung a spell at him. “Tempus non-flugit!” she incanted quietly and Dr. Snake came to a halt arm half-way through a movement towards her.The others pupils were aghast and the hulk started to rise from his desk. “What the …” he started and stood up, but Lucille was pointing her wand at him whilst his own was still in his bag.“Quiet!” she commanded. “This class is dead-boring and I thought that I might liven things up!” She pointed at the hulk and incanted her favourite disrobing spell “Pantus expeliamus!” At which Henry's large kilt flew way leaving him exposed as even more as well-endowed than Lucille had imagined. The guy flushed and tried to hide his exposed genitals with his large hands.Lucille, could not resist the follow-up spell “Gorgeous giganticus.” She intoned and the Henry's manhood shot its way from behind his hands and stood a good sixteen inches out in-front of him, as straight as a dagger, and as thick as a cucumber.The two gals giggled and Lucille knew she had them on-side.“Oi!” protested the guy, “Fuck you bitch, what you playing at!”Lucille, pushed her tongue out from between her lips and said huskily with the full hit of her Gallic suave, “You said it! We are playing ‘fuck you bitch'! You want to fuck all three of us? What about it, ladies?” That silenced Henry who straightened and moved his hands away to let his manhood standout with pride.“Fuck all three of you?” Henry asked not believing his luck.Lucille started to undo her kilt fastener and then exposed her baby-smooth pubis to the guy, who stood still and rampant and breathing rather hard. She then undid her blouse and removed her bra to expose her perfect pert breasts.“Wow!” said the hulk as Lucille approached and took his massive manhood in both hands, giving it long strokes up and down the length.The other two dames stood astonished for the moment and then moved closer to watch, standing on either side of Lucille, fascinated by Henry's enormous dong, all four of them ignoring the frozen statue-lie Snake standing tall behind them.Priti, very short and petite spoke first: “How do you fit something so big inside you?” She wondered.Lucille smiled and replied: “It's amazing what you can do if you're well-lubed and really desperate for a fuck. The female of the species is amazing when she wants sex.”Priti looked disbelieving at the rock-hard monster and swallowed. She loved being fucked, but the thought of this whopper made her eyes water.“Want to feel it?” asked Lucille and the petite dame nodded eagerly, moved forward and experimented with moving her hand up and down the hulking shaft as Henry moaned in pleasure. The skin was soft and pliable and Priti started to play with the head, gradually pushing back the foreskin to reveal its glistening crown. Priti who's hips were barely 28 inches round and who only stood a little over five foot was both fascinated and attracted and yet horrified by the enormous dick.Sabrina, who was lesbian, really fancied the new French student. Standing on the other side of Lucille's naked body she nervously started to caress the witch's beautiful honey-toned skin. “You're so soft!” Sabrina exclaimed, “You skin is like satin and, wow, you are so beautiful.”Lucille's glamour was working on them all and she smiled to herself satisfied.Like an acrobat, Lucille suddenly cartwheeled into the air, twisted and landed legs astride of Henry's dick, feet on the floor with her back to him. She reached up and back and pulled his head down to meet hers and started to kiss him deeply while he bent forward, his massive arms pressing into her perfect breasts.The monstrous cock began to throb between her legs, but being so long, there was still the length of an ordinary big cock still exposed beyond Lucille's cunt and Priti again moved forward and started to massage it.Sabrina came and joined her. “It's so huge, I wonder if we could all ride it at once?” she asked quietly as her hand followed the length up until where it met Lucille's cunt lips which she nervously began to massage. The lips were beginning to open, leaving a glistening wetness where her slit moved over the soft skin. Lucille smiled encouragingly as Sabrina nervously put a finger into Lucille's flowing sex-juices and then lifted it to her mouth to taste the honey.The taste was instant magic and she knew she wanted to make mad passionate love with the beautiful strawberry blonde. Deciding that the opportunity was too good to waste, Sabrina quickly undressed and facing Lucille, put her leg over Henry's meat machine and pressed herself up to French bitch, enjoying the satin, silky feeling of the gorgeous dame's body against her own. She put her arms around her and grabbed and massaged Lucille's ass as the pair moved in unison along the shaft. The throbbing between her legs started her own juices running as she move her slit up and down part of the great length, deliberately pressing her clit against Lucille at each opportunity, each clit becoming harder and more sensitive with each encounter.Sabrina got her wish and Lucille shared her hot deep kisses with her too, massaging her small rosy immature nipples and teasing her to ecstasy.With two chicks now astride his dick and with being the most beautiful babe he had ever seen, kissing him passionately, Henry felt wonderful as the involuntary throbbing of his machine became more pronounced. His hips began to move and he started to thrust back and forth between the two gals' legs. Each thrust became smoother as the honey lubrication from their pussies massaged the shaft.Priti looked at the remaining six to nine inches that kept appearing and disappearing between Sabrina's cheeks as Sabrina's ass moved along the length. This size was a bit more manageable she thought and following the example of the other's stripped herself naked and with relish and mounting excitement at the thought of being fucked, took the head of the beast in her mouth and started sucking and teasing the cock.Sabrina was enjoying herself, the throbbing of the cock stimulating her clit like a vibrator and now being able to suck and tease Lucille's beautiful tits was a something she wouldn't have dreamed of before today.Lucille was smiling to herself as she knew she had gained three loyal sex slaves who were in thrall to her glamour. She reached out for one of Sabrina's hands and raising herself slightly got the lass to start on opening her cunt more with her fingers and to massage her clit with her thumb. Meanwhile, Henry thrust his hips back and forth under the two babe's slits and now, to his mounting excitement, the end went straight into Priti's warm welcome mouth.Priti may not have been pretty, but she now knew she wanted more than a suck. She wanted a fuck! She left her horn-blowing after one particular thrust hit the back of her throat uncomfortably and pulled a chair around in front of the pounding piston. She was still unsure any of it would fit inside her small body and so took her magic wand and used a spell to create an aromatic oil.Some of this she used to lube the head of Henry's corker and then she knelt on the chair. Inserting the wand into her own cunt and with its magic oil she prepared herself for the monster by using her fingers to probe inside, oiling herself deep within and widening her love passage as her excitement mounted.Finally, a little nervously, Priti exposed her fully-opened well-oiled cunt to the thrust of the machine. She moved herself backwards so the cock was pushing against her eager vagina. Then, gradually she wriggled and worked the huge head past her cunt lips and then deeper and deeper into herself, her hand now frantically masturbating her clit with more of the oil as her excitement built.After some minutes of increasing pleasure, Priti was aware of a sudden coolness at her backside as Sabrina deftly dismounted the cock behind her, leaving more room for it to press even deeper into her welcoming sex cave. Inch by inch, she pushed back with each thrust forward. Sabrina deftly used her tongue around Priti's cunt lips to ease its passage in. Priti could feel an orgasm growing as more and more of the monster worked its way into her tiny body. The throbbing and thrusting never ceasing in intensity as she whimpered with mounting excitement. Finally, she thrust herself back one final time and her ass met Lucille's hot naked body as the young witch still sat astride Henry behind her.Lucille was really turned on and enjoying the sight of the massive organ thrusting slowly and deeply in and out of the petite teenage body in long sensuous strokes. She could feel a wildness in her mounting excitement.Lucille leant forward and grabbed Priti's nipples from behind and twisted them roughly, making the lass gasp in pain and pleasure. Sabrina went under the lass and started tonguing Priti's clit as with hand over her mouth Priti issued a long silent scream of orgasm. After some minutes of delight as the orgasm subsided and shuddering in time with the still throbbing penis, she worked her way back up the massive length. The thrusting was lessened and using the back of the chair for leverage she felt the massive head slowly, sensuously moving back and out of her.Finally, she came off the piston with a pop and fell into Sabrina's arms who caught her before she collapsed on the floor and lay there panting, her heart throbbing like a wild thing and her love tube pulsing with delight.Then it was Lucille's turn to kneel on the chair and feel the giant member enter her from behind. Sabrina stood in front of her and massaging Lucille's breasts, offered her own nipples to Lucille's mouth. Sabrina loved being suckled by another gal and this time it was a goddess who was sucking her hard; her tits were turning red from the rough attention.Lucille began to shudder as Henry got into a faster and more urgent rhythm, her fingers fucking Sabrina in time with each enormous thrust. She was loving this wild sex and rode Henry with abandonment as he penetrated her more deeply and easily than with Priti.Unbelievably and with almost superhuman strength and agility Lucille lifted Sabrina bodily and turned her upside down so she could bury her face in the gal's wet, wet cunt. As Henry went into Lucille, Lucille's tongue went deep into Sabrina cunt, deeper than Sabrina could believe while Lucille's nose rubbed hard on Sabrina's clit. As Henry pulled out, Lucille sucked at the other gal's cunt drinking in the juices like a wildcat. Sabrina, had legs in the air on either side of Lucille's head, her sex clamped to Lucille's mouth by arms that grabbed her arse with seemingly superhuman strength. Sabrina's head was dangling below looking along the length back to Henry's enormous balls swinging wildly as his lunges became faster and more desperate. She started to spark with an emerging climax. One of Sabrina's hands found Lucille's clit and began rubbing the large hard bullet frantically trying to bring Lucille to orgasm so they could cum together.Lucille finally came in a frenzy of paroxysms, with her tongue deep inside Sabrina. This is what she wanted; this is what she lived for. Lucille the sex goddess of all the Earth. Henry, feeling the dame's orgasm pulled out rapidly just before losing his load. His giant dong sprayed sperm into the open mouth of Sabrina underneath Lucille, giving her the her first taste of jizz. He sprayed more over her face and on her red and engorged tits.Lucille desperate for the taste of spunk, clambered off the chair, letting Sabrina's legs fall onto the floor and then she was on top of the lass, eagerly sucking Henry's cum from a startled Sabrina's mouth, drinking it eagerly like a sperm vampire. Then using the cum from Sabrina's body she eagerly finger fucked the plainer lass to orgasm with a cum-oiled hand. Sabrina, couldn't yell as Lucille's tongue was deep in her mouth, but she bucked, her body jerking wildly as the orgasm finally hit her.There was some moaning as finally they lay still. The waves of pleasure and of pain gradually receding. Suddenly Priti asked “What about DADA!”.All of their heads spun around. The teacher still stood frozen in the same position; time seemingly had not passed at all for him. Lucille thought for a few moments and then said, “I know I'll trap him so he's powerless to do anything against us. Everyone get dressed and get back to the same position you were in when I zapped him.”The students quickly followed her instructions and then watched with horror and fascination as she undid Snake's zip and pulled his dick out. She massaged it until it stood erect and then worked it with her mouth and tongue, seeming to enjoy giving the teacher a blow job. Finally, with his dick hard and rigid, she sat down back in her chair, arranged herself demurely and took out her wand.She swept her wand before her incanting “Cum avex tempus flugit.” She then gave a mighty scream, as she hid the wand and Snake's snake let cum fly over her cleavage. “Sir!” she screamed “How dare you! What are you doing you perv!”A confused Snake looked about bewildered and took in the sight of his swaying boner spraying sperm over his newest pupil's neck and face and all the class screaming at him. Not believing what he saw, he packed himself away as quickly as possible and rushed out of the class as if all the demons of Hell were on his tail.“Sabrina! Priti!” Lucille called “Please come and lick this sperm off me.” Like supplicants, the two lasses came and knelt on either side of their sex goddess and carefully licked away the remains of their House master's cum. Henry smiled benignly at the sight and felt his manhood stretching again under his kilt as he watched. And then the bell rang for the end of the lesson.It was night-time and George couldn't sleep. His mind kept going back to the Divinity class when he had lost his virginity to Ariella. George had never really got on with females. He wanted to, but babes never seemed to like him. They called him Georgy-Porgy, even though he wasn't fat. They made up rhymes about him and laughed at him in giggling cliques, whispering secrets that he was never told. The problem was that George was a lech and the chicks all distinctively knew it. He was always looking at them with a leer that said he was mentally undressing them, which of course he was! He was a toucher, and took every opportunity to rub against a hottie in a tight spot in a corridor, or - as this morning - putting his hand in inappropriate places.But today had been different! Ariella had sat on his hand, but instead of leaping off, as he had expected, she had ground her wet sopping cunt onto his fingers and forced his thumb deep inside her. And if that was not enough, she had sucked and fucked him in class under the table. It was the first time he had fucked a chick; the first time he had even felt a chick's cunt and he now wanted more. If Ariella had fucked him once, surely, he could fuck her again. He wanted to fill Ariella with his cum; in her hot cunt, in her mouth. He wanted to cum all over her tits. He wanted to kiss her and rub his body all over hers.Georgy-Porgy couldn't sleep because his head was whirling with the fantasy he was creating and his cock hurt from having a constant erection. A wank was no good, he wanted to find her room and fuck her brains out.As he climbed out of bed and covered his nakedness with a dressing gown, he briefly wondered what had happened to Ariella after Miss Peacock had ordered Ariella to follow her from class.At the same time George began his night-time excursion, Ariella was not having difficulty sleeping. She was fast asleep in Dave's single bed with the guy's arms wrapped around her naked body. They had made love slowly and sensuously and now, after they had both cum in unison, slept the deep contented sleep of lovers.Earlier in the night Ariella had been in the study she shared with Lucille and could get no peace. Sabrina and Priti where there and they were simpering to Lucille's every wish as she used her magic to subtlety transform them from being just plain to her ideal of beautiful. The change to a curve of an eyebrow, the pout of a lip, a slight raising of a cheekbone, a finesse to the chin and the two gals were being transformed by Lucille, bit by bit to be worthy to be her acolytes, or, more likely, French courtesans.Ariella, could not cope with the oohs and ahs, the little screams of delight, the fights over the mirror, nor the fawning Lucille received from her slaves. She had sat on her bed alone for a bit thinking about what had happened when she had followed Miss Peacock from the classroom after she had fucked the awful Georgy-Porgy. She knew it had been a mistake, but his fingers and thumb under her ass just reactivated her seemingly unsatiable sex-drive and she just wanted to cum and cum again, whoever it was with.Ariella had been scared as the confident Miss Peacock marched along the corridors to her own private room. She had butterflies in her stomach and she was utterly ashamed of being caught having salacious sex in Miss Peacock's class, especially with the loathsome Georgy Porgy who was always trying tricks on the gals and was thoroughly disliked. It would mean expulsion!Ariella had been aware that the back of her blouse was somewhat damp and that the insides of her smooth thighs were wet and slippery from both her own sex juices and George's newly delivered large eruption of spunk that was now dribbling out of her cunt. If she had been wearing knickers it would not have been so much of a problem, but being naked under her kilt, there was nothing to stop the slow slippery descent of creamy gunk towards her knees.Miss Peacock's room, being an old dungeon, was dark with small high windows letting in a little sunlight from above. The walls were mainly stone, but with dark panelling around an enormous ancient fireplace, which had deep easy chairs in front of it. A few severe looking portraits hung on the walls. Sconces held candles and a candelabra was hanging centrally over a carved oak table which had four chairs, two down each side. There was also a desk covered in grimoires. There were two other doors which, Ariella assumed would lead to a bedroom and bathroom.Miss Peacock gave a wave of her wand and the gloom lifted as the candles sparked with a non-consuming magical flame from which a musky, almost sensuous scent, filled the air. She looked the rather dishevelled Ariella up and down and sniffed. “I think you may smell like a brothel,” she said “but I wouldn't know because I have never visited one. Rather you smell of sex, you randy little sex maniac, your aroma is all cunt juice, sperm and mating pheromones. Did you really think you could fuck in my class unnoticed?” She asked sternly stepping closer to the lass.

Today on the W&J show, the boys talk about the crazy things people are doing in the name of preserving their health; from COVID vaccines to poo implants.

Want to join the podcast? Come together with other listeners in a deep dive into this summer's episodes, discussing ideas, asking questions, and sharing your experiences about issues brought up in our interviews. Perfect for writers at every level. Only a few spots available. Email 7amnovelist@substack.com for more info.Today we get to hear from Adam White whose novel, THE MIDCOAST, was one of the big books of 2022. Adam and I will be talking about his decision to revise his third-person narrator in earlier drafts to the 1st-person omniscient and the possibilities and struggles such a revision involved. Watch a recording here. The audio/video version is available for one week. Missed it? Check out the podcast version above or on your favorite podcast platform.To find White's debut and many books by our authors, visit our Bookshop page. Looking for a writing community? Join our Facebook page. Adam White grew up in Damariscotta, Maine and now lives with his wife and son in Boston, where he teaches writing and coaches lacrosse. He holds an MFA from Columbia University. The Midcoast is his first novel. It was a national bestseller as well as a finalist for the New England Society Book Award and a CrimeReads Best Book of the Year. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

“Do you want this”based on a post by Fugman; narrated by Andrew; Welcome To Connected Podcast By Fugman. Listen to the ► Podcast at Connected. He pushed her onto the bed bent over; ass up; and face planted into the mattress; her skirt was barely covering her ass . legs spread; her wetness was already showing through her panties. his hand ran up her inner thigh; and she purred this sigh that drove his lust higher; she was so needy; and they both knew it. each touch brought out a gasp or moan; he then ran his fingers up her slit; she tensed and let out this mournful groan of aching depravity.He leaned in and inhaled her sweet scent that had soaked through her panties; his nostrils flared and his mouth filled with her flavor and he hadn't even tasted her yet. such desire; such need.; he stood up as she wiggled her ass before him teasingly; do you want this he sighed. do you really want to go down this road. She let out another sigh and panted “yes; please take me; make me yours”; His hand quickly slapped her cheek; making her wince. again; he slapped; “Do you want this”; I need to know for sure. She groaned out a faint “yes please”. another slap; “I couldn't hear you” he growled. just his words turned her on even more. louder through open lips; “yes please”; he slapped again; “yes please what; baby girl”; she gasped at the stinging pain and the pleasure it brought her. it made her so wet; “yes please; fuck me”; His hand went over her reddening cheek and gathered the band of her panties; tugging them down in one hard yank; exposing her; she could feel the burning of the elastic; and yet her body ached for more; for more of his touch; so hard and then so soft; his touch that made her want him so; His fingers slid up her wet swollen lips; and the sensation drove her nearly over the edge of cumming; His touch; oh fuck his touch; was all she could think of; so needy; as he played with her cunt; she wiggled her rear wanting more; Inserting one; then two fingers inside her tight cunt; finger fucking her needy hole; slow at first; finding her sweet spot that made her buck; and massaging it; “God” she sighed as he fucked her deeper and faster; “I'm going to cum she exclaimed”; as she was floating on a sea of endorphins; but another slap on her cheek brought her back to reality; “not yet”; he growled; “not yet”; Over and over he tortured her cunt; bringing her to the edge; Fingering her; following with a quick hard slap; one cheek then the other; each time; she could hardly stand the pleasure; she begged to cum only to be denied again and again; for what seemed like eternity; And then nothing; his fingers disappearing from her aching cunt; she waited; nothing; oh how she ached; He stood behind her; relishing her; and her gift; her need; his own needs contained until now; She could hear his belt; then his zipper; as his pants fell to the floor; then; His weight on the bed and the anticipation was killing her; as he situated himself behind her; his tip slid up her cunt; his rigid cock in his hand toying with her slit and clit; “Fuck” she yelled for in one motion his girth opened her cunt; pushing inside enveloping him; sucking his cock deeper; his hands digging into her hips; hurting her flesh; commanding her motions; pulling her onto him; as he fucked her needy hole; over and over; she was holding on by a thread; His noises were pleasing; melodious; like music washing over her; as he pummeled her aching cunt; Again and again the slapping rhythm of their bodies taking pleasure in each other; fucking with abandon; harder; faster; His grunts drove her crazy; screaming out; she cried; “please”; “let me cum”.; One final thrust and he groaned out “cum for me”; his words; as she hung on the highest ledge of pleasure; flying; falling when she came; her legs vibrating; as she flooded his cock in her cum; “Fuck baby” he yelled as he drove himself hard into her cunt her orgasm reverberating over him; her cunt gripping his shaft like a vise; he came in thrusting convulsions; Spraying her womb in hot creamy ropes of his lust for her; Their bodies meshed together; grinding; as he held her hips in tight against him; Pulsing; such release; such need; powerful; He shoved her onto the bed as he slipped out of her spasming cunt and crawled up beside her; gathering her close; the sweat of their need filled their lungs; and senses. Their hearts still pounding; He kissed her neck; her cheek; her lips; and  then whispering as he kisses her ear; “good job baby girl”; the sting on her flesh a reminder for tomorrow; of tonight's need; She snuggles into his chest melting into his embrace; safe; owned by him; his; “Sweet dreams baby girl”; sighed out as hearts raced; “Sweet dreams”; and they drifted into slumber together; Her need; Fuck me. By Fugman for Tumblr.

“Do you want this”based on a post by Fugman; narrated by Andrew; Welcome To Connected Podcast By Fugman. Listen to the ► Podcast at Connected. He pushed her onto the bed bent over; ass up; and face planted into the mattress; her skirt was barely covering her ass . legs spread; her wetness was already showing through her panties. his hand ran up her inner thigh; and she purred this sigh that drove his lust higher; she was so needy; and they both knew it. each touch brought out a gasp or moan; he then ran his fingers up her slit; she tensed and let out this mournful groan of aching depravity.He leaned in and inhaled her sweet scent that had soaked through her panties; his nostrils flared and his mouth filled with her flavor and he hadn't even tasted her yet. such desire; such need.; he stood up as she wiggled her ass before him teasingly; do you want this he sighed. do you really want to go down this road. She let out another sigh and panted “yes; please take me; make me yours”; His hand quickly slapped her cheek; making her wince. again; he slapped; “Do you want this”; I need to know for sure. She groaned out a faint “yes please”. another slap; “I couldn't hear you” he growled. just his words turned her on even more. louder through open lips; “yes please”; he slapped again; “yes please what; baby girl”; she gasped at the stinging pain and the pleasure it brought her. it made her so wet; “yes please; fuck me”; His hand went over her reddening cheek and gathered the band of her panties; tugging them down in one hard yank; exposing her; she could feel the burning of the elastic; and yet her body ached for more; for more of his touch; so hard and then so soft; his touch that made her want him so; His fingers slid up her wet swollen lips; and the sensation drove her nearly over the edge of cumming; His touch; oh fuck his touch; was all she could think of; so needy; as he played with her cunt; she wiggled her rear wanting more; Inserting one; then two fingers inside her tight cunt; finger fucking her needy hole; slow at first; finding her sweet spot that made her buck; and massaging it; “God” she sighed as he fucked her deeper and faster; “I'm going to cum she exclaimed”; as she was floating on a sea of endorphins; but another slap on her cheek brought her back to reality; “not yet”; he growled; “not yet”; Over and over he tortured her cunt; bringing her to the edge; Fingering her; following with a quick hard slap; one cheek then the other; each time; she could hardly stand the pleasure; she begged to cum only to be denied again and again; for what seemed like eternity; And then nothing; his fingers disappearing from her aching cunt; she waited; nothing; oh how she ached; He stood behind her; relishing her; and her gift; her need; his own needs contained until now; She could hear his belt; then his zipper; as his pants fell to the floor; then; His weight on the bed and the anticipation was killing her; as he situated himself behind her; his tip slid up her cunt; his rigid cock in his hand toying with her slit and clit; “Fuck” she yelled for in one motion his girth opened her cunt; pushing inside enveloping him; sucking his cock deeper; his hands digging into her hips; hurting her flesh; commanding her motions; pulling her onto him; as he fucked her needy hole; over and over; she was holding on by a thread; His noises were pleasing; melodious; like music washing over her; as he pummeled her aching cunt; Again and again the slapping rhythm of their bodies taking pleasure in each other; fucking with abandon; harder; faster; His grunts drove her crazy; screaming out; she cried; “please”; “let me cum”.; One final thrust and he groaned out “cum for me”; his words; as she hung on the highest ledge of pleasure; flying; falling when she came; her legs vibrating; as she flooded his cock in her cum; “Fuck baby” he yelled as he drove himself hard into her cunt her orgasm reverberating over him; her cunt gripping his shaft like a vise; he came in thrusting convulsions; Spraying her womb in hot creamy ropes of his lust for her; Their bodies meshed together; grinding; as he held her hips in tight against him; Pulsing; such release; such need; powerful; He shoved her onto the bed as he slipped out of her spasming cunt and crawled up beside her; gathering her close; the sweat of their need filled their lungs; and senses. Their hearts still pounding; He kissed her neck; her cheek; her lips; and  then whispering as he kisses her ear; “good job baby girl”; the sting on her flesh a reminder for tomorrow; of tonight's need; She snuggles into his chest melting into his embrace; safe; owned by him; his; “Sweet dreams baby girl”; sighed out as hearts raced; “Sweet dreams”; and they drifted into slumber together; Her need; Fuck me. By Fugman for Tumblr.

Bill Walton died on May 27, 2024 at the age of 71. Bill meant a lot to us at Awful Announcing, so we wanted to do something special. We invited a few of Bill's many friends and broadcast partners to tell stories and memories of the Basketball Hall of Famer and legendary broadcaster. Sit back with host Brandon Contes and guests Jason Benetti, Roxy Bernstein, and Dave Pasch as we celebrate the life of Bill Walton.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:20: Welcome Jason Benetti to the Awful Announcing Podcast-:50: Bill making the most out of his life-2:57: Emotions this week-5:50: Creative freedom of working with Bill-7:37: Knowing Jason would like working with Bill at first-11:10: First broadcast with Bill-14:02: First conversation with Bill-14:15: Building chemistry with Bill-17:55: Shift in Bill's broadcasting style from NBA to college-19:07: Pressure to need to entertain?-21:27: Was Bill seeking to be more entertaining or more insightful on broadcast?-22:43: Inserting non-sports topics in sports-25:23: Will we see another analyst like Bill?-27:31: Best piece of advice from Bill-29:39: Welcome Roxy Bernstein to the Awful Announcing Podcast-29:55: Reaction to the reaction to Bill's passing-30:52: First broadcast with Bill-33:18: Comfort level working without pregame prep with the analyst-35:02: Challenge of letting Bill go on tangents-36:44: Notable tangents with Bill-37:46: Working relationship becoming a friendship-39:41: Being genuine/playing dumb-41:22: Favorite off-air moment with Bill-43:39: Going to a Grateful Dead concert with Bill-45:31: Closing Pac-12 Network and mentioning Bill-48:05: Welcome Dave Pasch to the Awful Announcing Podcast-48:25: Emotions this week-49:48: Catharsis of everyone sharing stories and showing love for Bill-51:06: Bill's basketball career being secondary when describing his life-52:41: Bill resonating with so many people-54:29: Bill off-camera-55:59: Bill on college campus-58:41: Was there a pressure to be “on?”-59:39: First broadcast with Bill-1:00:51: Surprised by the amount of tangents-1:01:41: Was it a challenge to work alongside Bill?-1:03:20: Getting caught up in the banter-1:04:25: Will we see another analyst like Bill?-1:05:43: Favorite tangent/memorable on-air moment-1:08:00: Posting texts from Bill online-1:09:57: T-shirt for final broadcast-1:12:16: Favorite off-air moment with Bill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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There are no bigger hearts than those of truckers. This year marks the 35th year of the Mother's Day Make-A-Wish Convoy through Susquehanna Valley, and Convoy Committee Co-Chair Terry Finch speaks with Zac and Chelsea to mark this milestone year. Terry helps steer the largest truck convoy east of the Mississippi where they team up with truckers to fulfill wishes for kids battling life-threatening illnesses. Inserting incredible community spirit, this convoy has a million-dollar mission. Terry discusses the touching stories behind the impetus of the convoy,  the event's festive activities, and how every mile you drive contributes more than just cargo—it delivers hope.   In this episode, you'll learn: Stories that showcase the incredible charitable spirit of the trucking community, proving that the road is about more than just logistics and deliveries.  How to participate to help The Make-A-Wish convoy reach its goal of one million dollars.   The ripple effect of the convoy experience and how a legacy has been created to impact the children and families involved.    Resources: Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Susquehanna Valley Link to Register Link to Donate

Two strangers awake, naked & trapped in a strange room. By Djmac1031. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. I woke to a whiteness so blinding it took several moments before I could do anything but squint. My eyes eventually adjusted to the pain enough to open fully, but the brightness never dimmed. I found myself on my back, looking up at what should have been a ceiling, or the sky, or, well, something. Anything. Instead, all I could see was an unbroken field of white. [[MORE]] Was I awake? Maybe I was dead. I felt disembodied, and there were several failed attempts by my brain to send signals to my limbs before I could finally recognize the existence of them. "Okay," I thought, "so I'm not dead. I'm still in my body. And I don't think I'm dreaming. But that doesn't mean anything. You always think a dream is real until you wake up." I tried to sit up but couldn't. Pins and needles wracked my body as numbed nerve endings slowly came back to life, once again providing sensations. With an effort, I managed to move my head. The whiteness where the ceiling or sky should have been continued on forever. There were no curves, no edges, no corners that I could see. Not a single crack or flaw to provide any sense of depth or scale. It was unnerving. I felt nauseous, my head spinning out of control. Without warning, the blinding white went black as I slipped into unconsciousness. I had no idea how long I was out. When I regained consciousness, I felt more solid and whole in my body, no longer floating in nothingness. But when I opened my eyes, the endless white space remained. Feeling less lightheaded, I tried to sit up, in the process discovering I'd been laying on some kind of flat platform, similar to a bunk or shelf. It was the same white as the ceiling, but, as my eyes focused, I made out its edges. Cautiously, I lifted myself into a seated position, easing my legs over the edge of the platform, unsure there would be anything to rest my feet on until they made contact. The floor was as white as everything else. I couldn't see where it met a wall, or a wall made way to a ceiling. It was utterly disorienting, and I once more felt my head spin. My head between my knees, I took several deep breaths to keep from hyperventilating. When the spell had passed, I sat up and again tried to comprehend my surroundings. It was a physical space, that much I could decipher. I could feel the floor under my feet, and the platform I was sitting on. Putting out a tentative hand, I made contact with the wall my platform connected to. The seam where they met was the only thing that gave me any sense of solidity. My hand slowly traced the edges to where it ended in a rounded corner. Looking down, I saw my feet; felt the solid surface beneath them. But my brain still couldn't grasp that there was a floor, nor could I see where the floor ended and the wall behind me began. I tried to stand up and felt yet another wave of nausea. As solid as the floor felt, my mind still refused to acknowledge its existence. I sat back down on the only surface I trusted to exist, the platform. It was only then that I realized I was completely naked. "Where, the hell, am I?" My voice was a shaky rasp. That's when the screaming started. Startled, I instinctively covered my ears and closed my eyes. It took several moments to realize the screams were not my own. Opening my eyes, I was shocked to find a young woman lying supine directly across from me. She at first appeared to be floating on air until I made out the shape of the platform beneath her, exactly like the one I'd woken up on. Had she been there earlier? Had she just appeared? I had no answer. But she was there now, solid and whole, a physical thing my mind could focus on and help ground me to reality. She was as naked as I was. "Hey! Hey!" I tried to speak, to get her attention, to calm her cries despite my own sense of panic. Her shrieks suddenly ended. She, as I had done upon waking to this madness, had blacked out. The room was now deafening in its silence. I listened for a sound, any sound; a creak, a rustle, the hum of electricity, anything. Yet there was only the whisper of my breathing, and that of the young woman's. Focusing on her gave me a better grasp of the room. She appeared to be only several feet away. It would have been impossible to judge the scale of the all-white space without her as a focal point. I tried my feet again. Keeping one hand against the wall that supported my platform, I slowly started to traverse the space. There were no corners, only the gentle slope of the surface, guiding me in an eventual half circle, where I paused near the unconscious woman's side. She appeared to be in her late teens, perhaps early twenties. Her long hair fell in random strands around her expressionless face. It was only the gentle rise and fall of her chest that told me she was still alive, her breath slow but steady. I felt a twinge of embarrassment when I again noticed her nudity, instinctively averting my eyes. Not yet having the courage to move without a constant grip on the wall, I continued my journey, moving past her along the surface of the space, eventually coming back around towards the other side. I'd pause every few steps, feeling for a door, a seam, or anything that might hint at a way out. I found nothing. Arriving back at my original starting point, I collapsed on the platform, exhausted. I estimated what I now understood to be a circular, enclosed room at about ten, maybe fifteen feet in diameter. Not very big at all. Still, I felt like I'd just run a marathon. Now having some sense of scale, I found it easier to look more closely around the room. There were no lighting fixtures. Whatever was illuminating it appeared to be coming directly from the solid surfaces of the room itself. There were no power outlets, no switches, no air vents. Every surface I touched felt the same; solid, yet soft. Pushing against the wall, it gave slightly. I hit it, gently at first, then several more times with increasing effort. It withstood the pounding with no damage. In a sudden rage I punched the wall with all my strength. If it had been any other surface, I'd likely have broken my hand, but there was barely a sound, and I felt no pain. Testing the floor the same way, I stomped my feet with all my might. Both the energy and sound were absorbed by the strange surface. I sat back down, trying desperately to shake off the fear now gripping me. "Hello?" Her voice was timid, meek, barely above a whisper. The young woman was sitting up, her face a mask of confusion and horror. Her arms wrapped tightly across her chest, hugging herself, not, it appeared, from any sense of modesty, but from fright. She was looking directly at me. "Hello? Who, who are you? Where am I? What's going on?" Her voice trembled, the pitch rising higher with each question. Taking a deep breath, I steadied my own nerves before responding. "My name's Nick. I'm sorry, but I have no idea where we are or what's happening either." Her body trembled uncontrollably. "Did, did you bring me here? Why are you naked?" Looking down at herself, she finally realized her own nudity. With a wail, she curled up into the fetal position on the platform, futilely attempting to cover herself as she cried. I tried to reassure her. "Listen, I didn't bring you here. And I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just as confused and afraid as you are, okay? But I'm not going to hurt you, I promise. Just try to relax." She gave no indication she'd heard me, only lay there, holding herself, weeping uncontrollably. I had no idea what to do. Going over to try and comfort her would only make things worse, especially given my nakedness. She'd probably think I was attacking her. She was simply going to have to come to grips with this as I had. I lay back on my platform, eventually dozing off to the sound of her continued sobs. ----------------------------------------- When I woke, I found the young woman again sitting up, looking at me. She still looked frightened, but she made no move to cover her body, even as I sat up to face her. "Where, are we?" she asked. I shrugged. "I have no idea. This is the most impossible room I've ever seen. If you can even call it a room." "It, hurts my brain," she grimaced. "I can barely look at it. If you weren't here to focus on, I think I'd go mad trying to comprehend it." Silence hung heavy for several moments before she spoke again. "I'm Chloe." "Hello, Chloe, I'm Nick. I'd say it's nice to meet you, but,” I gestured at our surroundings. That brought a small smile to her face. "How did we get here?" "I have no idea. The last thing I remember is,” I paused, struggling to actually recall my last memory before waking up here. It came back to me slowly, in fragments. "I was, home. Cooking dinner. A steak, I think. I remember hearing a humming noise coming from my yard, and seeing a bright light through my kitchen window. I thought maybe a power line had gone down or something. I remember stepping out on my patio to investigate, and then, and then I woke up here." Chloe nodded slowly. "I was just getting home from shopping. I was struggling to open my front door with an arm full of groceries when I heard the noise. A loud humming. I remember seeing a light coming from behind me, which was strange because it was very sunny. I thought something odd may be happening to the neighbor's house across the street. I turned around to look, and, and then I woke up screaming." I've always been a rational, logical thinker. Our stories were both very similar, and I put my mind to work, trying to figure it out. "So neither of us recall being attacked or abducted. We were both alone, saw and heard the same thing. Where are you from?" "Sacramento, California. You?" "Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Opposite end of the country. It's not like we were close enough to be taken by the same person. This may seem odd to ask, but do you remember what day it was? The date and time?" Her face twisted in thought. "It was, Friday. September 10th. I don't remember the exact time, maybe 4pm, 4:15? Why?" My brain did some quick math. "That sounds about right. Same day for me, somewhere around 7pm. It's a three hour time zone difference." Her eyes went wide with comprehension. "We were taken at the same time." "Yeah, but that's impossible. Unless,” I stood, shouting upwards at the white nothingness. "Hello? Is there anybody out there? Can you hear me? Where are we? hello?" There was no echo, and silence filled the room as my voice trailed off. "We Are Here." The pure shock of the voice sent me reeling, my head hitting the platform as I collapsed in a heap to the floor. I felt no pain; both the platform and floor had cushioned my fall, and I sustained no injury at all. At least not to my body. My mind, however, was a different story. The voice seemed to come from everywhere, yet nowhere. My brain felt like it was swelling. Chloe was screaming again. A buzzing sound rang in my ears as a wave of warm energy enveloped my body. I immediately felt a sense of peaceful calm flow through me, erasing all fear and panic. Chloe's screams had ceased, and the room was again quiet except for the hum. My body started to move, lifting itself up off the floor, although not under my control. I felt like a puppet, someone pulling my strings. Suspended midair, my eyes opened to find Chloe, also floating, enveloped in a beam of soft blue light, projected from the ceiling or the floor, I could not tell. I was bathed in a similar luminescence. Energy surged through every cell of my body; calming, relaxing, peaceful, yet also giving me a sense of vigor I'd never known before. It felt like being reborn. I sensed my blood flowing through my body, could feel every molecule of oxygen pass through my lungs and into my bloodstream. It was intoxicating. Every nerve ending in my skin, from head to toe, tingled with a mix of sensations; the warmth of the sun, the coolness of a gentle breeze, and the comforting pleasure of a gentle caress all at once. Across from me, Chloe's eyes were closed, her face no longer terrified, but relaxed and peaceful in pure bliss. The Voice came again from nowhere and everywhere. "We are here. Do not fear. You will not be harmed. We will care for you. We are here." The Voice was softer this time. It wasn't exactly human, nor did it sound robotic or computerized. There was no gender to it, speaking in static tones that weren't quite emotionless. Whoever was behind The Voice must have been able to read my mind, because it answered my unspoken question. "We are from elsewhere. We are to observe. We are to help you. You are to help us." I managed to find my voice. "Why, us?" "You are compatible." "Compatible? What, what does that mean?" "You are compatible," The Voice repeated. Before I could question it further, the wave of light energy shifted from blue to red. The pleasure level in my body increased tenfold. It felt like multiple soft hands caressing my skin. I would have been shaking uncontrollably if my body could actually move. Waves of sexual stimulation built within me, beginning in my loins. My penis quickly swelled to full erection, twitching as it grew. Somehow it was my only body part free to move, expanding to a hardness I'd not known since my youth. Imagine receiving a blowjob, a handjob, and being deep inside the warmest, wettest, tightest vagina you've ever felt, all at once. Meanwhile, the rest of you is being massaged erotically by a dozen pairs of sensual hands. It still won't come close to the sensations I was experiencing. Chloe's light had also changed, and she appeared to be taken control of by the same pleasure waves. I could not help but now focus on her nudity. Her breasts heaved in time with her hitching breaths, her hips gyrating rhythmically. Her legs were parted enough to expose her vulva. It looked swollen and flushed under her patch of soft pubic hair, with a sheen of moisture glistening over her sex. Her low gasps grew to moans of lust, and her eyes now fixed on me intently. But not on my face. She was focused on my cock. And she was drooling. I sensed my orgasm building, slowly but steadily. My cock stopped twitching, going fully rigid as my climax hit, my semen shooting out in what felt like an endless stream of long, thick strands. It was the most intense orgasm I'd ever felt. Chloe's moans matched mine in intensity, enthralled in her own orgasm. The scent of her sex was strong in my nose, and I saw the trickle of moisture from her pussy become a stream, dripping small puddles on the floor. She squealed as another wave took her, then went silent, her head drooping towards her chest. I couldn't tell if she was still conscious or not. My own orgasmic waves now subsiding, my still erect penis forced the final drops from the tip to join the mess I'd already left beneath me. The lights went blue again. My breathing slowed, my body relaxed. Chloe and I were guided by invisible hands back to our platforms, laying us down gently. The lights blinked out, and the humming ceased. Again able to move, I turned my head to find Chloe lying on her platform, relaxed and peaceful. In that moment, I found her indescribably beautiful. I watched while her hand caressed her inner thigh, smearing the wetness that lingered there. Gathering some on her fingers, she brought them to her nose and inhaled, sighing contentedly. Chloe turned to face me and smiled. Her eyes closed as she drifted off to sleep. I smiled back at her sleeping form, then fell into slumber myself. ‐-------------------------------------------------- I woke, energized and alert, to find Chloe already up and about, exploring the walls in much the same way I had earlier. Noticing I was now awake, she smiled. "Good, morning? Evening? I have no idea what time it is," she laughed. "How are you feeling?" Sitting up, I detected none of my earlier nausea. "Fine. Great, in fact. I've never woken up feeling this refreshed or energized before." "I know, it's crazy, right? I should be terrified after, that, but all I feel is,” Chloe paused in her thoughts, then shrugged. "Great. I feel great." Chloe sat beside me on the platform. She seemed completely comfortable and uninhibited by our mutual nudity. Although I suppose after our experience under the lights, it would be ridiculous to feel embarrassed about it at this point. Still, as she sat beside me, our hips touching, I felt my pulse quicken, causing a stir down below that I struggled not to focus on, lest things get out of control. It took a moment to realize she was speaking. "So I'm assuming you heard the voice too, and felt, what we felt, right? It's not just a case of me dreaming, or going mad?" "No, you're not mad. That, or we both are. But yeah, that, happened." Looking at the floor, I saw that the mess of ejaculate I'd released was gone. How, I had no idea. But I could smell Chloe's scent still strong on her, the sticky remnants of her juices now drying on her thighs still visible. Noticing my gaze, Chloe blushed, but made no move to cover herself. "This is crazy. I should feel embarrassed, ashamed, humiliated. I should feel violated, raped. But I don't. All I know is that was the most incredible pleasure I've ever felt, and, I want, I want to feel that again." "Me, me too," I stammered. "Jesus, what did they do to us?" Chloe's hand found mine, and we sat in silent wonder. ----------------------------------------- Time was impossible to gage in the White Room, but we passed some by sharing each other's story. I learned Chloe was 21, a sophomore in college, and hoping to someday become a pediatrician because she loved children. She was single, sharing a rented house with her best friend Lily. She enjoyed yoga, cheesy romance novels, and preferred beer over wine. She learned I was 42, divorced and living alone. I told her about my career as a commercial voice actor; mostly radio commercials for various businesses in the Philadelphia market, but occasionally branching out with a few nationally run spots for big name clients. It didn't pay as much as people thought it did, but I lived comfortably enough, and it sometimes allowed me to travel around the country, although I'd never been to Sacramento. I made a promise to come visit if we ever got out of this. That led our conversation towards our predicament. "So, you think we will get out of here?" Chloe asked. "Well, sure," I said, "I mean, we have to believe that, right?" She nodded without conviction. "It's, it's gotta be aliens, right?" She looked almost embarrassed to say it. "I mean, what else could it be?" "Well, perhaps hypnosis, or mind altering drugs, or,” My voice trailed off, not really believing my words. ", but yeah, probably aliens. Or some interdimensional beings. Or one of us is dreaming. But none of this feels like a dream." "Plus, normally," I paused, shaking my head with a laugh. "No, never mind." "What? Come on, finish your thought," Chloe insisted. "Ok, but it's kinda embarrassing. Normally, when I have a, you know, a sex dream, I wake up before, before the good part," I finished sheepishly. Chloe burst into peals of laughter. "So that's how you know this is real?" Her laugh wasn't cruel or mocking, merely finding humor in the absurdity of our situation. I grinned at her and shrugged. "Sorry," she said, wiping a tear from her eye as she caught her breath, "I wasn't laughing at you, just," "It's okay, I get it. I'm happy you can laugh. Better to laugh than,” "Scream," she finished for me. We sat quietly for a while. When I instinctively put my arm around her, she didn't shrug it off. Instead, she rested her head on my shoulder. In a less bizarre situation I may have felt inclined to make a move, but I wasn't about to make a sexual advance on a young woman who had woken up to find herself nude and trapped in some mind bending alien cell with a strange, naked man twice her age. No matter how attractive she was, or how much she currently smelled like sex. "What do you think they meant by 'compatible?'" Chloe asked. "No idea," I replied. "Maybe something to do with D N A? Or they just wanted a male and female of our species? I don't know." "I suppose we could ask them, but I don't think they're here right now." "Me either. They feel, absent, somehow." Chloe sniffed curiously, then sighed. "God, I need a shower. I smell like,” Her voice trailed off, as if too embarrassed to finish. Dammit. She had to go and point it out. I'd always had a sensitive nose, and especially loved the scent of a woman's arousal. I'd convinced many a past lover to share their panties with me, and of course I truly enjoyed giving them oral, basking in their unique smells and tastes. I'd been trying not to focus on the exhilarating aroma currently wafting up from Chloe's thighs, but now it was all I could think about. Chloe sat up with a startled jerk. "I, I guess you smell it too," she said in a bemused tone. She was looking at my lap with a crooked grin. Because of course, I'd gotten an erection. I removed my arm from around her and tried to cover myself up, which only made things worse, as the simplest contact to my throbbing penis sent shockwaves of pleasure through it and my body, making me shudder. "Shit! Chloe, I'm sorry, I didn't mean for," Her soft voice stopped me. "It's okay, it's not your fault. Or mine. None of this is our fault. We didn't ask to be here." She gestured around the room. "This whole thing is crazy! I don't know what they did to us with those lights. But they changed something. I should be curled up on the floor, sucking my thumb and drooling. But it's like they altered my brain. All my fear, my confusion, my, inhibitions. Gone. And that's nothing compared to what they did to my body." Chloe took a long, deep breath, held it, then released. "I'm just as, aroused, as you are. Have been since that thing with the lights. Just been trying not to focus on it. But seeing your," her eyes glanced shyly at my cock, “seeing it like that, it's like somebody threw a switch or something." Her voice trembled, and I noticed her legs rocking, thighs gently squeezing and releasing unconsciously. Several awkward moments passed. I closed my eyes, trying to focus on anything else but my pulsing erection, when the fresh, musky scent of female arousal filled my nose so suddenly that I gasped with surprise and pleasure. Chloe let out a gasp to echo my own and, opening my eyes, I saw her, leaning back against the wall, legs fully parted, masturbating furiously. Her face flushed when she caught my stare. "I can't help it. I, I just need, release." Biting her lip, her eyes again went to my cock. "You, you can, too. If you want. I won't mind." I needed no further encouragement. The hand that had been making a vain attempt to cover my erection now gripped it firmly and began the familiar motions. I'd been masturbating since the day I'd found a Playboy magazine in my dad's nightstand, but this was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. Somehow, every nerve ending in my penis felt heightened tenfold. I could feel the blood pulsing inside the sponge-like flesh of it, stretching and expanding my erection beyond its limits. It couldn't possibly be growing in my hand, yet it certainly felt that way. My eyes found Chloe. Her left hand was caressing her breasts, alternating between them, twisting and pulling swollen nipples. Her right hand was furiously fingering her sex, creating wet squelching sounds as they slid in and out of her pretty pink hole. Her face glowed radiantly, full of lust, pleasure and pure joy. Her bright eyes wandered over my body, never straying their attention too far from my cock as I jerked at a strong, steady pace. Sensing my need, Chloe twisted her body, bracing her weight on one arm as she lifted her right leg up onto the platform. Her foot came to rest on my hip, giving me a much more personal view as her fingers continued their explorations of her intimate flesh. Chloe parted her delicate labia, exposing the slick opening to her vagina. Inserting two fingers, she closed them around her swollen clitoral hood, teasing her hole while stimulating her clit. Her pubic hair was wet and matted, large dollops of thick cream oozing from between her fingers, running down her ass crack. Her scent was overpowering. I turned myself towards her as well, our legs entwined, our genitals now mere inches apart as we pleasured ourselves. Chloe's moans ceased as her mouth formed a silent O. Every muscle in her body tensed, then released in spasms as her climax took her. She found her voice again, releasing squeals of pleasure, her hips rocking uncontrollably. I watched, fascinated, as her natural lubrication gushed in clear little streams to pool on the platform beneath her. Without thinking, I scooped up her ejaculate, bringing my fingers to my nose and lips. Her taste was sweet, and I savored it on my tongue. Gathering up more, I slathered her warm juices on my impossibly hard cock and began stroking again in earnest. Chloe continued to masturbate, grinning wickedly at me, now solely focused on her clit, rubbing it in circles at an ever increasing pace. Thick strands of her cum dripped from her like honey from a hive. "I've, never been, this wet," she gasped, "I'm, gonna cum again." Her teeth clenched and her face twisted, again racked in wave after wave of orgasmic pleasure. Her pussy gushed, the pool beneath her becoming a lake, and I immediately gathered up more to lubricate my own throbbing organ. I felt my orgasm approaching, but instead of speeding up, I slowed my pace to long, steady strokes, drawing out the pleasure, increasing the buildup, until my cock felt like it would explode and I could hold back no longer. I let out an animalistic growl as my first blast burst from me, splattering across Chloe's lower abdomen, coating the hand working her still needy cunt. Without missing a beat, Chloe rubbed my gooey spunk into her, mixing it with her own lubrication. My second blast added to it, as hot and strong as the first. Chloe gathered my continuing eruption into her hand, adding it to the growing mess between her legs. Her head rocked and her eyes rolled back as another orgasm took her. Our groans of passion rang in each other's ears and the smell of sweat and cum filled the air, making us drunk with lust. Finally, we collapsed into each other, exhausted and gasping for breath as our orgasms subsided. Chloe exhaled a warm breath on my neck, her soft breast pressed up against my arm. Her hand landed on my thigh; it was sticky with our mixed fluids. We sat in silence. There were no words to say. How does one even begin to talk about such an intense and erotic experience? Suddenly, a strange tingling sensation began. It felt random at first, until I realized it was coming from the parts of me still coated with cum. Chloe must have felt it too, because she sat up quickly, and her hands instinctively went to cover her sex. She let out a soft gasp, of surprise or pleasure I could not be sure. We both watched, awestruck, as the sticky mess that covered us slowly dissolved, transforming into little points of glowing gold light that drifted up towards the ceiling. (If there was, in fact, a ceiling. We'd never determined how high up the room went.) Gradually, they disappeared. "What, the, hell?" I whispered. Chloe remained silent, her eyes wide, mouth agape. I stood, looking upwards. "Hey!" I shouted towards the unknown. "Hey! You there? What was that? What are you doing to us? Answer me, damn it!" There was not even the echo of my own voice in reply. I sat back down, confused and frustrated. Chloe wrapped her arms around me and we lay together on the platform, our bodies still warm, flushed and sweaty from our exertions. It took only minutes for an exhausted sleep to fall over us. ---------------------------------------- I woke to find myself alone. I had a moment of panic until I saw Chloe, still sleeping peacefully, on her own platform. I sat up, feeling as fresh and energetic as before, but there was now another sensation: hunger. How long had we been here? When did I last eat? I couldn't recall. Chloe woke, and I could not help but admire her lithe, feminine form as she rose with a stretch. She looked slightly confused. "Did, did you move, or did I?" "Dunno," I shrugged. "Maybe they moved us while we slept." "We seem to sleep a lot since we've been here," she mused, "but the upside is I feel amazingly refreshed and energized afterwards. I also feel, starving." Her stomach grumbled as if to emphasize her point. "Yeah, me too," I chuckled. "Wonder what they got to eat around this joint? Think 'Uber Eats' delivers here?" Her grin at my joke became a frown when her stomach growled again. "Well I hope they remember us carbon based lifeforms need sustenance once in a while." As if on cue, the humming noise began, and we were once again enveloped in the pale blue lights. We were lifted to the air as the calming, peaceful sensations of the beams flowed through us. The color then changed to green, and I felt something new: a sense of being nourished, replenished. My hunger pangs immediately subsided. But it was more than just some strange, alien version of intravenous feeding. Because I was also tasting things. I could sense the flavors of various foods flooding my taste buds. Most I recognized, several I did not, but all of them were delicious. My body felt the way it would after a satisfying meal of several courses, but without the discomforts or sense of lethargy one often has after eating too much. With the slightest shift in the frequency of the hum came another new sensation; the feeling of hydration. I tasted the coolest, cleanest water I'd ever had flowing through my mouth and down my throat, the illusion so real I swallowed regularly, despite the fact there was no real liquid. Another frequency shift, another sensation. A tingling similar to the one I'd felt earlier started deep within my bowels, spreading slowly throughout my body. It was odd, but not unpleasant, almost like a burning sensation that didn't cause pain. As the tingling wave reached every part of me, tiny particles began emanating from my pores, transforming into the same glowing gold points of light we'd seen before, drifting slowly up and away, fading from view. I can't even begin to describe how alive I felt in that moment. Looking over, Chloe was enveloped in her own luminous gold cloud. Her body glowed like an angel. The lights changed from green to blue as the last of the golden lights flickered away. We were again guided back down on our platforms and released. I sat up immediately, as did Chloe. "Holy shit," she gasped. "That was amazing!" I stood and addressed the ceiling. "Hey! Whoever you are! Can we talk? What was that?" I didn't truly expect an answer. But I got one. "Nourishment. Purification." The Voice responded. "Purification?" I was beginning to grasp what happened, but wanted clarification. "Purification." The Voice repeated. "Impurities must be removed for optimal life form function. Optimal life form function must be reached in order to achieve objective." "Objective?" I asked, "What exactly is the objective here?" "Optimal compatibility." "I don't understand!" I yelled at our invisible captor. "Impurities must be removed for optimal life form function," The Voice repeated. "Removal of impurities will be completed in several stages to compensate for life form fragility. Once optimal life form function has been reached, optimal compatibility will be achievable." "What happens when optimal compatibility is achieved?" I asked, calmer this time. "Conjoining," answered The Voice. "What the hell does that mean?" I asked, although I had my suspicions. I received no answer. Chloe was crying. I moved to comfort her. "Hey, it's okay, don't be afraid, we'll be alright." She looked up at me, wiping away her tears. "No, you don't understand," she said, her voice still hitching with sobs, "I think, no, I know. They, they cured me." I was, of course, confused. Once she'd calmed herself, she explained. "I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age fifteen. The symptoms have varied in severity over the years, and I've actually been in remission for a while now. I haven't experienced any symptoms since I've been here, but somehow, during that, 'purification', I felt it. I can't explain how I know, but I know. They cured me. Just purged it from my body somehow. Oh my God," Her voice trailed off in wonder, her tears beginning anew. I simply sat there, stunned, and held her. Optimal Health While I waited for Chloe to deal with her emotions, my musings turned towards my own body, and how I was feeling since the "Nourishment and Purification" process. My initial thought had been that "purification" simply meant the removal of bodily wastes. It would explain why I'd felt no urges to relieve myself since I'd been here. But if Chloe's revelation was true, and I had no reason to doubt her, then it was much more than simply cleaning out our waste systems. Looking myself over, I discovered that several small moles I'd had on my chest and shoulders were gone. A scar I'd had on the back of my hand from a bike accident as a kid was no longer there. I looked at my hand in wonder, searching for any trace of it, but saw only smooth, fresh skin. My stomach looked flatter, like I'd lost a few pounds. Although that could be explained by the fact I'd not actually eaten any solid food for, well, however long we'd been there. I was in decent shape for 42, but had developed certain things all middle aged men experience as time and age slowly takes its toll. A bit of a paunch from unhealthy eating; aches and pains in various areas that one learns to simply live with. I felt none of those pains now. My legs, always so tight, now felt loose and flexible. My back had no stiffness; there was no crick in my neck. I wondered about my eyesight. I had been using reading glasses for the past several years, and now I was curious if I'd still need them. I couldn't be sure without something to focus on, like a book or computer screen, but I felt like I could see better in general. I felt less bloated than usual, like I'd been given an enema or something, my colon completely cleansed of any built up waste. Overall, I felt healthier than I had in at least a decade. Once Chloe had composed herself, we discussed the similar changes we both felt in our bodies. Being younger than I, Chloe was already in better shape generally, but her Crohns did leave her with general discomforts and pains she had just gotten used to dealing with over the years, things she said were now completely gone. "What else can you see or feel that's different?" I asked her. "Think about it. Do you have any scars or birthmarks missing? Something like that?" Chloe looked at her abdomen. "My appendectomy scar is gone. And I don't have any birthmarks or moles, except," she paused, blushing a little, "I have this, mole. On my ass. It's low down, I can only see it in a mirror. I've always felt a little self-conscious about it. I guess, I guess I have to know. Could you, take a look for me?" Without waiting for an answer, Chloe stood and turned, giving me a full view of her beautifully curved bottom. I couldn't help blushing myself as I leaned in to inspect it, searching for the mole in question. I saw nothing but her creamy, smooth skin, and said so. "Are you sure? It's kinda low and between, just on the underside of my left butt cheek." Chloe bent forward and reached around with her hand, spreading herself open. I still could see no mole, but I certainly could now see her plump vulva and delicate pink labia, along with her tight little anus, winking at me as she pulled her ass cheeks open wider. Once again my nose breathed in the special scent wafting from between her legs. It was all I could do to keep myself from leaning in closer to inhale her. Instead, I stammered, "Um, no, no mole. I guess it's gone." Chloe sat back down. "So strange," she mused, "I wonder why they're fixing us like this? And I wonder what they meant by," Her voice trailed off with a giggle. "Sorry. Guess I should have expected that with the view I just gave you." I didn't understand what she meant at first, until I noticed her looking at the erection I'd gotten without even realizing it. "Sorry, I really was trying to keep my inspection, professional," I apologized with an embarrassed grin. Chloe's smile was warm and kind. "I know. But you're a man, you can't help looking. And I'm okay with the idea of you being aroused by it. It's, flattering. With all we've been through so far, it's only natural that you'd want sex after having my bare ass in your face." "Look, Chloe, I'd never presume to," Chloe cut me off. "I know. You've been nothing but a gentleman since we woke up here. Even with the sexual stimulation from the lights, even when we masturbated together, you've never tried to touch me inappropriately, or force yourself on me. And I truly appreciate that. Because I know it can't be easy for you." "Actually, it's very easy for me," I stated firmly, "because I'd never touch a woman who didn't want to be touched. Period." Chloe nodded appreciatively. "Thank you." She gave me a shy, nervous, smile. "Being honest, I'm actually not that horny myself at the moment; still kind of reeling from the idea of having been miraculously healed. But I'd be more than happy to, well, give you a hand. If you want it." My eyes lit up. "I'd love that, but only if you're sure," I answered, desperately hoping that she was indeed sure. Chloe responded by taking my hard cock in her hand. It jumped at her touch. She began pleasuring me with long, slow, gentle strokes. My arm slipped naturally around her as she nuzzled into me, resting her head on my shoulder while she watched her ministrations. I could feel her warm left breast pressing against my chest. My hand hung dangerously close to her right breast, fingers just barely grazing the side. To be continued in part 2. By Djmac1031 for Literotica Source: ex-plicitly-novel

Two strangers awake, naked & trapped in a strange room.By Djmac1031. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories.I woke to a whiteness so blinding it took several moments before I could do anything but squint. My eyes eventually adjusted to the pain enough to open fully, but the brightness never dimmed.I found myself on my back, looking up at what should have been a ceiling, or the sky, or, well, something. Anything. Instead, all I could see was an unbroken field of white.Was I awake? Maybe I was dead. I felt disembodied, and there were several failed attempts by my brain to send signals to my limbs before I could finally recognize the existence of them.“Okay,” I thought, “so I’m not dead. I’m still in my body. And I don’t think I’m dreaming. But that doesn’t mean anything. You always think a dream is real until you wake up.”I tried to sit up but couldn’t. Pins and needles wracked my body as numbed nerve endings slowly came back to life, once again providing sensations.With an effort, I managed to move my head. The whiteness where the ceiling or sky should have been continued on forever. There were no curves, no edges, no corners that I could see. Not a single crack or flaw to provide any sense of depth or scale. It was unnerving. I felt nauseous, my head spinning out of control.Without warning, the blinding white went black as I slipped into unconsciousness.I had no idea how long I was out. When I regained consciousness, I felt more solid and whole in my body, no longer floating in nothingness. But when I opened my eyes, the endless white space remained.Feeling less lightheaded, I tried to sit up, in the process discovering I’d been laying on some kind of flat platform, similar to a bunk or shelf. It was the same white as the ceiling, but, as my eyes focused, I made out its edges.Cautiously, I lifted myself into a seated position, easing my legs over the edge of the platform, unsure there would be anything to rest my feet on until they made contact. The floor was as white as everything else. I couldn’t see where it met a wall, or a wall made way to a ceiling. It was utterly disorienting, and I once more felt my head spin.My head between my knees, I took several deep breaths to keep from hyperventilating. When the spell had passed, I sat up and again tried to comprehend my surroundings.It was a physical space, that much I could decipher. I could feel the floor under my feet, and the platform I was sitting on. Putting out a tentative hand, I made contact with the wall my platform connected to. The seam where they met was the only thing that gave me any sense of solidity. My hand slowly traced the edges to where it ended in a rounded corner.Looking down, I saw my feet; felt the solid surface beneath them. But my brain still couldn’t grasp that there was a floor, nor could I see where the floor ended and the wall behind me began.I tried to stand up and felt yet another wave of nausea. As solid as the floor felt, my mind still refused to acknowledge its existence. I sat back down on the only surface I trusted to exist, the platform.It was only then that I realized I was completely naked.“Where, the hell, am I?” My voice was a shaky rasp.That’s when the screaming started.Startled, I instinctively covered my ears and closed my eyes. It took several moments to realize the screams were not my own.Opening my eyes, I was shocked to find a young woman lying supine directly across from me. She at first appeared to be floating on air until I made out the shape of the platform beneath her, exactly like the one I’d woken up on.Had she been there earlier? Had she just appeared? I had no answer. But she was there now, solid and whole, a physical thing my mind could focus on and help ground me to reality.She was as naked as I was.“Hey! Hey!” I tried to speak, to get her attention, to calm her cries despite my own sense of panic.Her shrieks suddenly ended. She, as I had done upon waking to this madness, had blacked out.The room was now deafening in its silence. I listened for a sound, any sound; a creak, a rustle, the hum of electricity, anything. Yet there was only the whisper of my breathing, and that of the young woman’s.Focusing on her gave me a better grasp of the room. She appeared to be only several feet away. It would have been impossible to judge the scale of the all-white space without her as a focal point.I tried my feet again. Keeping one hand against the wall that supported my platform, I slowly started to traverse the space. There were no corners, only the gentle slope of the surface, guiding me in an eventual half circle, where I paused near the unconscious woman’s side.She appeared to be in her late teens, perhaps early twenties. Her long hair fell in random strands around her expressionless face. It was only the gentle rise and fall of her chest that told me she was still alive, her breath slow but steady. I felt a twinge of embarrassment when I again noticed her nudity, instinctively averting my eyes.Not yet having the courage to move without a constant grip on the wall, I continued my journey, moving past her along the surface of the space, eventually coming back around towards the other side. I'd pause every few steps, feeling for a door, a seam, or anything that might hint at a way out. I found nothing.Arriving back at my original starting point, I collapsed on the platform, exhausted. I estimated what I now understood to be a circular, enclosed room at about ten, maybe fifteen feet in diameter. Not very big at all. Still, I felt like I’d just run a marathon.Now having some sense of scale, I found it easier to look more closely around the room. There were no lighting fixtures. Whatever was illuminating it appeared to be coming directly from the solid surfaces of the room itself. There were no power outlets, no switches, no air vents.Every surface I touched felt the same; solid, yet soft. Pushing against the wall, it gave slightly. I hit it, gently at first, then several more times with increasing effort. It withstood the pounding with no damage. In a sudden rage I punched the wall with all my strength. If it had been any other surface, I’d likely have broken my hand, but there was barely a sound, and I felt no pain.Testing the floor the same way, I stomped my feet with all my might. Both the energy and sound were absorbed by the strange surface. I sat back down, trying desperately to shake off the fear now gripping me.“Hello?” Her voice was timid, meek, barely above a whisper.The young woman was sitting up, her face a mask of confusion and horror. Her arms wrapped tightly across her chest, hugging herself, not, it appeared, from any sense of modesty, but from fright.She was looking directly at me. “Hello? Who, who are you? Where am I? What’s going on?” Her voice trembled, the pitch rising higher with each question.Taking a deep breath, I steadied my own nerves before responding. “My name’s Nick. I’m sorry, but I have no idea where we are or what’s happening either.”Her body trembled uncontrollably. “Did, did you bring me here? Why are you naked?” Looking down at herself, she finally realized her own nudity. With a wail, she curled up into the fetal position on the platform, futilely attempting to cover herself as she cried.I tried to reassure her. “Listen, I didn’t bring you here. And I’m not going to hurt you. I’m just as confused and afraid as you are, okay? But I’m not going to hurt you, I promise. Just try to relax.”She gave no indication she’d heard me, only lay there, holding herself, weeping uncontrollably.I had no idea what to do. Going over to try and comfort her would only make things worse, especially given my nakedness. She’d probably think I was attacking her. She was simply going to have to come to grips with this as I had.I lay back on my platform, eventually dozing off to the sound of her continued sobs.—————————————–When I woke, I found the young woman again sitting up, looking at me.She still looked frightened, but she made no move to cover her body, even as I sat up to face her.“Where, are we?” she asked.I shrugged. “I have no idea. This is the most impossible room I’ve ever seen. If you can even call it a room.”“It, hurts my brain,” she grimaced. “I can barely look at it. If you weren’t here to focus on, I think I’d go mad trying to comprehend it.”Silence hung heavy for several moments before she spoke again. “I’m Chloe.”“Hello, Chloe, I’m Nick. I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but,” I gestured at our surroundings.That brought a small smile to her face. "How did we get here?”“I have no idea. The last thing I remember is,” I paused, struggling to actually recall my last memory before waking up here.It came back to me slowly, in fragments. "I was, home. Cooking dinner. A steak, I think. I remember hearing a humming noise coming from my yard, and seeing a bright light through my kitchen window. I thought maybe a power line had gone down or something. I remember stepping out on my patio to investigate, and then, and then I woke up here.”Chloe nodded slowly. “I was just getting home from shopping. I was struggling to open my front door with an arm full of groceries when I heard the noise. A loud humming. I remember seeing a light coming from behind me, which was strange because it was very sunny. I thought something odd may be happening to the neighbor’s house across the street. I turned around to look, and, and then I woke up screaming.”I’ve always been a rational, logical thinker. Our stories were both very similar, and I put my mind to work, trying to figure it out. “So neither of us recall being attacked or abducted. We were both alone, saw and heard the same thing. Where are you from?”“Sacramento, California. You?”“Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Opposite end of the country. It’s not like we were close enough to be taken by the same person. This may seem odd to ask, but do you remember what day it was? The date and time?”Her face twisted in thought. “It was, Friday. September 10th. I don’t remember the exact time, maybe 4pm, 4:15? Why?”My brain did some quick math. “That sounds about right. Same day for me, somewhere around 7pm. It’s a three hour time zone difference.”Her eyes went wide with comprehension. “We were taken at the same time.”“Yeah, but that’s impossible. Unless,”I stood, shouting upwards at the white nothingness. "Hello? Is there anybody out there? Can you hear me? Where are we? hello?” There was no echo, and silence filled the room as my voice trailed off.“We Are Here.”The pure shock of the voice sent me reeling, my head hitting the platform as I collapsed in a heap to the floor. I felt no pain; both the platform and floor had cushioned my fall, and I sustained no injury at all.At least not to my body. My mind, however, was a different story. The voice seemed to come from everywhere, yet nowhere. My brain felt like it was swelling.Chloe was screaming again.A buzzing sound rang in my ears as a wave of warm energy enveloped my body. I immediately felt a sense of peaceful calm flow through me, erasing all fear and panic. Chloe’s screams had ceased, and the room was again quiet except for the hum.My body started to move, lifting itself up off the floor, although not under my control. I felt like a puppet, someone pulling my strings.Suspended midair, my eyes opened to find Chloe, also floating, enveloped in a beam of soft blue light, projected from the ceiling or the floor, I could not tell. I was bathed in a similar luminescence.Energy surged through every cell of my body; calming, relaxing, peaceful, yet also giving me a sense of vigor I’d never known before. It felt like being reborn. I sensed my blood flowing through my body, could feel every molecule of oxygen pass through my lungs and into my bloodstream. It was intoxicating.Every nerve ending in my skin, from head to toe, tingled with a mix of sensations; the warmth of the sun, the coolness of a gentle breeze, and the comforting pleasure of a gentle caress all at once.Across from me, Chloe’s eyes were closed, her face no longer terrified, but relaxed and peaceful in pure bliss.The Voice came again from nowhere and everywhere. “We are here. Do not fear. You will not be harmed. We will care for you. We are here.”The Voice was softer this time. It wasn’t exactly human, nor did it sound robotic or computerized. There was no gender to it, speaking in static tones that weren’t quite emotionless.Whoever was behind The Voice must have been able to read my mind, because it answered my unspoken question.“We are from elsewhere. We are to observe. We are to help you. You are to help us.”I managed to find my voice. "Why, us?“"You are compatible.”“Compatible? What, what does that mean?”“You are compatible,” The Voice repeated.Before I could question it further, the wave of light energy shifted from blue to red. The pleasure level in my body increased tenfold. It felt like multiple soft hands caressing my skin. I would have been shaking uncontrollably if my body could actually move.Waves of sexual stimulation built within me, beginning in my loins. My penis quickly swelled to full erection, twitching as it grew. Somehow it was my only body part free to move, expanding to a hardness I’d not known since my youth.Imagine receiving a blowjob, a handjob, and being deep inside the warmest, wettest, tightest vagina you’ve ever felt, all at once. Meanwhile, the rest of you is being massaged erotically by a dozen pairs of sensual hands. It still won’t come close to the sensations I was experiencing.Chloe’s light had also changed, and she appeared to be taken control of by the same pleasure waves.I could not help but now focus on her nudity. Her breasts heaved in time with her hitching breaths, her hips gyrating rhythmically.Her legs were parted enough to expose her vulva. It looked swollen and flushed under her patch of soft pubic hair, with a sheen of moisture glistening over her sex.Her low gasps grew to moans of lust, and her eyes now fixed on me intently. But not on my face. She was focused on my cock. And she was drooling.I sensed my orgasm building, slowly but steadily. My cock stopped twitching, going fully rigid as my climax hit, my semen shooting out in what felt like an endless stream of long, thick strands. It was the most intense orgasm I’d ever felt.Chloe’s moans matched mine in intensity, enthralled in her own orgasm. The scent of her sex was strong in my nose, and I saw the trickle of moisture from her pussy become a stream, dripping small puddles on the floor. She squealed as another wave took her, then went silent, her head drooping towards her chest. I couldn’t tell if she was still conscious or not.My own orgasmic waves now subsiding, my still erect penis forced the final drops from the tip to join the mess I’d already left beneath me.The lights went blue again. My breathing slowed, my body relaxed. Chloe and I were guided by invisible hands back to our platforms, laying us down gently. The lights blinked out, and the humming ceased.Again able to move, I turned my head to find Chloe lying on her platform, relaxed and peaceful. In that moment, I found her indescribably beautiful.I watched while her hand caressed her inner thigh, smearing the wetness that lingered there. Gathering some on her fingers, she brought them to her nose and inhaled, sighing contentedly.Chloe turned to face me and smiled. Her eyes closed as she drifted off to sleep.I smiled back at her sleeping form, then fell into slumber myself.‐————————————————–I woke, energized and alert, to find Chloe already up and about, exploring the walls in much the same way I had earlier.Noticing I was now awake, she smiled. “Good, morning? Evening? I have no idea what time it is,” she laughed. “How are you feeling?”Sitting up, I detected none of my earlier nausea. "Fine. Great, in fact. I’ve never woken up feeling this refreshed or energized before.“"I know, it’s crazy, right? I should be terrified after, that, but all I feel is,” Chloe paused in her thoughts, then shrugged. "Great. I feel great.”Chloe sat beside me on the platform. She seemed completely comfortable and uninhibited by our mutual nudity. Although I suppose after our experience under the lights, it would be ridiculous to feel embarrassed about it at this point.Still, as she sat beside me, our hips touching, I felt my pulse quicken, causing a stir down below that I struggled not to focus on, lest things get out of control.It took a moment to realize she was speaking. “So I’m assuming you heard the voice too, and felt, what we felt, right? It’s not just a case of me dreaming, or going mad?”“No, you’re not mad. That, or we both are. But yeah, that, happened.” Looking at the floor, I saw that the mess of ejaculate I’d released was gone. How, I had no idea. But I could smell Chloe’s scent still strong on her, the sticky remnants of her juices now drying on her thighs still visible.Noticing my gaze, Chloe blushed, but made no move to cover herself. “This is crazy. I should feel embarrassed, ashamed, humiliated. I should feel violated, raped. But I don’t. All I know is that was the most incredible pleasure I’ve ever felt, and,I want, I want to feel that again.”“Me, me too,” I stammered. “Jesus, what did they do to us?”Chloe’s hand found mine, and we sat in silent wonder.—————————————–Time was impossible to gage in the White Room, but we passed some by sharing each other’s story.I learned Chloe was 21, a sophomore in college, and hoping to someday become a pediatrician because she loved children. She was single, sharing a rented house with her best friend Lily. She enjoyed yoga, cheesy romance novels, and preferred beer over wine.She learned I was 42, divorced and living alone. I told her about my career as a commercial voice actor; mostly radio commercials for various businesses in the Philadelphia market, but occasionally branching out with a few nationally run spots for big name clients. It didn’t pay as much as people thought it did, but I lived comfortably enough, and it sometimes allowed me to travel around the country, although I’d never been to Sacramento. I made a promise to come visit if we ever got out of this.That led our conversation towards our predicament. “So, you think we will get out of here?” Chloe asked.“Well, sure,” I said, “I mean, we have to believe that, right?” She nodded without conviction.“It’s, it’s gotta be aliens, right?” She looked almost embarrassed to say it. “I mean, what else could it be?”“Well, perhaps hypnosis, or mind altering drugs, or,” My voice trailed off, not really believing my words. ”, but yeah, probably aliens. Or some interdimensional beings. Or one of us is dreaming. But none of this feels like a dream.“"Plus, normally,” I paused, shaking my head with a laugh. “No, never mind.”“What? Come on, finish your thought,” Chloe insisted.“Ok, but it’s kinda embarrassing. Normally, when I have a, you know, a sex dream, I wake up before, before the good part,” I finished sheepishly.Chloe burst into peals of laughter. “So that’s how you know this is real?” Her laugh wasn’t cruel or mocking, merely finding humor in the absurdity of our situation. I grinned at her and shrugged.“Sorry,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye as she caught her breath, “I wasn’t laughing at you, just,”“It’s okay, I get it. I’m happy you can laugh. Better to laugh than,”"Scream,” she finished for me.We sat quietly for a while. When I instinctively put my arm around her, she didn’t shrug it off. Instead, she rested her head on my shoulder. In a less bizarre situation I may have felt inclined to make a move, but I wasn’t about to make a sexual advance on a young woman who had woken up to find herself nude and trapped in some mind bending alien cell with a strange, naked man twice her age. No matter how attractive she was, or how much she currently smelled like sex.“What do you think they meant by ‘compatible?’” Chloe asked.“No idea,” I replied. "Maybe something to do with D N A? Or they just wanted a male and female of our species? I don’t know.“"I suppose we could ask them, but I don’t think they’re here right now.”“Me either. They feel, absent, somehow.”Chloe sniffed curiously, then sighed. “God, I need a shower. I smell like,” Her voice trailed off, as if too embarrassed to finish.Dammit. She had to go and point it out. I’d always had a sensitive nose, and especially loved the scent of a woman’s arousal. I’d convinced many a past lover to share their panties with me, and of course I truly enjoyed giving them oral, basking in their unique smells and tastes.I’d been trying not to focus on the exhilarating aroma currently wafting up from Chloe’s thighs, but now it was all I could think about.Chloe sat up with a startled jerk. "I, I guess you smell it too,” she said in a bemused tone.She was looking at my lap with a crooked grin. Because of course, I’d gotten an erection.I removed my arm from around her and tried to cover myself up, which only made things worse, as the simplest contact to my throbbing penis sent shockwaves of pleasure through it and my body, making me shudder.“Shit! Chloe, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for,”Her soft voice stopped me. “It's okay, it’s not your fault. Or mine. None of this is our fault. We didn’t ask to be here.”She gestured around the room. “This whole thing is crazy! I don’t know what they did to us with those lights. But they changed something. I should be curled up on the floor, sucking my thumb and drooling. But it’s like they altered my brain. All my fear, my confusion, my, inhibitions. Gone. And that’s nothing compared to what they did to my body.”Chloe took a long, deep breath, held it, then released. “I’m just as, aroused, as you are. Have been since that thing with the lights. Just been trying not to focus on it. But seeing your,” her eyes glanced shyly at my cock, “seeing it like that, it’s like somebody threw a switch or something.“ Her voice trembled, and I noticed her legs rocking, thighs gently squeezing and releasing unconsciously.Several awkward moments passed. I closed my eyes, trying to focus on anything else but my pulsing erection, when the fresh, musky scent of female arousal filled my nose so suddenly that I gasped with surprise and pleasure.Chloe let out a gasp to echo my own and, opening my eyes, I saw her, leaning back against the wall, legs fully parted, masturbating furiously.Her face flushed when she caught my stare. "I can’t help it. I, I just need, release." Biting her lip, her eyes again went to my cock. "You, you can, too. If you want. I won’t mind.”I needed no further encouragement. The hand that had been making a vain attempt to cover my erection now gripped it firmly and began the familiar motions.I’d been masturbating since the day I’d found a Playboy magazine in my dad’s nightstand, but this was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. Somehow, every nerve ending in my penis felt heightened tenfold. I could feel the blood pulsing inside the sponge-like flesh of it, stretching and expanding my erection beyond its limits. It couldn’t possibly be growing in my hand, yet it certainly felt that way.My eyes found Chloe. Her left hand was caressing her breasts, alternating between them, twisting and pulling swollen nipples. Her right hand was furiously fingering her sex, creating wet squelching sounds as they slid in and out of her pretty pink hole.Her face glowed radiantly, full of lust, pleasure and pure joy. Her bright eyes wandered over my body, never straying their attention too far from my cock as I jerked at a strong, steady pace.Sensing my need, Chloe twisted her body, bracing her weight on one arm as she lifted her right leg up onto the platform. Her foot came to rest on my hip, giving me a much more personal view as her fingers continued their explorations of her intimate flesh.Chloe parted her delicate labia, exposing the slick opening to her vagina. Inserting two fingers, she closed them around her swollen clitoral hood, teasing her hole while stimulating her clit. Her pubic hair was wet and matted, large dollops of thick cream oozing from between her fingers, running down her ass crack. Her scent was overpowering.I turned myself towards her as well, our legs entwined, our genitals now mere inches apart as we pleasured ourselves.Chloe’s moans ceased as her mouth formed a silent O. Every muscle in her body tensed, then released in spasms as her climax took her. She found her voice again, releasing squeals of pleasure, her hips rocking uncontrollably. I watched, fascinated, as her natural lubrication gushed in clear little streams to pool on the platform beneath her.Without thinking, I scooped up her ejaculate, bringing my fingers to my nose and lips. Her taste was sweet, and I savored it on my tongue. Gathering up more, I slathered her warm juices on my impossibly hard cock and began stroking again in earnest.Chloe continued to masturbate, grinning wickedly at me, now solely focused on her clit, rubbing it in circles at an ever increasing pace. Thick strands of her cum dripped from her like honey from a hive.“I’ve, never been, this wet,” she gasped, “I’m, gonna cum again.”Her teeth clenched and her face twisted, again racked in wave after wave of orgasmic pleasure. Her pussy gushed, the pool beneath her becoming a lake, and I immediately gathered up more to lubricate my own throbbing organ.I felt my orgasm approaching, but instead of speeding up, I slowed my pace to long, steady strokes, drawing out the pleasure, increasing the buildup, until my cock felt like it would explode and I could hold back no longer.I let out an animalistic growl as my first blast burst from me, splattering across Chloe’s lower abdomen, coating the hand working her still needy cunt. Without missing a beat, Chloe rubbed my gooey spunk into her, mixing it with her own lubrication.My second blast added to it, as hot and strong as the first. Chloe gathered my continuing eruption into her hand, adding it to the growing mess between her legs. Her head rocked and her eyes rolled back as another orgasm took her. Our groans of passion rang in each other’s ears and the smell of sweat and cum filled the air, making us drunk with lust.Finally, we collapsed into each other, exhausted and gasping for breath as our orgasms subsided.Chloe exhaled a warm breath on my neck, her soft breast pressed up against my arm. Her hand landed on my thigh; it was sticky with our mixed fluids.We sat in silence. There were no words to say. How does one even begin to talk about such an intense and erotic experience?Suddenly, a strange tingling sensation began. It felt random at first, until I realized it was coming from the parts of me still coated with cum.Chloe must have felt it too, because she sat up quickly, and her hands instinctively went to cover her sex. She let out a soft gasp, of surprise or pleasure I could not be sure.We both watched, awestruck, as the sticky mess that covered us slowly dissolved, transforming into little points of glowing gold light that drifted up towards the ceiling. (If there was, in fact, a ceiling. We’d never determined how high up the room went.)Gradually, they disappeared.“What, the, hell?" I whispered. Chloe remained silent, her eyes wide, mouth agape.I stood, looking upwards. "Hey!” I shouted towards the unknown. “Hey! You there? What was that? What are you doing to us? Answer me, damn it!”There was not even the echo of my own voice in reply.I sat back down, confused and frustrated. Chloe wrapped her arms around me and we lay together on the platform, our bodies still warm, flushed and sweaty from our exertions. It took only minutes for an exhausted sleep to fall over us.—————————————-I woke to find myself alone. I had a moment of panic until I saw Chloe, still sleeping peacefully, on her own platform.I sat up, feeling as fresh and energetic as before, but there was now another sensation: hunger. How long had we been here? When did I last eat? I couldn’t recall.Chloe woke, and I could not help but admire her lithe, feminine form as she rose with a stretch. She looked slightly confused. “Did, did you move, or did I?”“Dunno,” I shrugged. “Maybe they moved us while we slept.”“We seem to sleep a lot since we’ve been here,” she mused, “but the upside is I feel amazingly refreshed and energized afterwards. I also feel, starving.” Her stomach grumbled as if to emphasize her point.“Yeah, me too,” I chuckled. “Wonder what they got to eat around this joint? Think 'Uber Eats’ delivers here?”Her grin at my joke became a frown when her stomach growled again. “Well I hope they remember us carbon based lifeforms need sustenance once in a while.”As if on cue, the humming noise began, and we were once again enveloped in the pale blue lights. We were lifted to the air as the calming, peaceful sensations of the beams flowed through us.The color then changed to green, and I felt something new: a sense of being nourished, replenished. My hunger pangs immediately subsided.But it was more than just some strange, alien version of intravenous feeding. Because I was also tasting things. I could sense the flavors of various foods flooding my taste buds. Most I recognized, several I did not, but all of them were delicious. My body felt the way it would after a satisfying meal of several courses, but without the discomforts or sense of lethargy one often has after eating too much.With the slightest shift in the frequency of the hum came another new sensation; the feeling of hydration. I tasted the coolest, cleanest water I’d ever had flowing through my mouth and down my throat, the illusion so real I swallowed regularly, despite the fact there was no real liquid.Another frequency shift, another sensation. A tingling similar to the one I’d felt earlier started deep within my bowels, spreading slowly throughout my body. It was odd, but not unpleasant, almost like a burning sensation that didn’t cause pain.As the tingling wave reached every part of me, tiny particles began emanating from my pores, transforming into the same glowing gold points of light we’d seen before, drifting slowly up and away, fading from view.I can’t even begin to describe how alive I felt in that moment.Looking over, Chloe was enveloped in her own luminous gold cloud. Her body glowed like an angel.The lights changed from green to blue as the last of the golden lights flickered away. We were again guided back down on our platforms and released.I sat up immediately, as did Chloe. “Holy shit,” she gasped. “That was amazing!”I stood and addressed the ceiling. “Hey! Whoever you are! Can we talk? What was that?”I didn’t truly expect an answer. But I got one. “Nourishment. Purification.” The Voice responded.“Purification?" I was beginning to grasp what happened, but wanted clarification."Purification.” The Voice repeated. “Impurities must be removed for optimal life form function. Optimal life form function must be reached in order to achieve objective.”“Objective?" I asked, "What exactly is the objective here?”“Optimal compatibility.”“I don't understand!” I yelled at our invisible captor.“Impurities must be removed for optimal life form function,” The Voice repeated. “Removal of impurities will be completed in several stages to compensate for life form fragility. Once optimal life form function has been reached, optimal compatibility will be achievable.”“What happens when optimal compatibility is achieved?” I asked, calmer this time.“Conjoining,” answered The Voice.“What the hell does that mean?” I asked, although I had my suspicions.I received no answer.Chloe was crying. I moved to comfort her. “Hey, it's okay, don’t be afraid, we’ll be alright.”She looked up at me, wiping away her tears. “No, you don’t understand,” she said, her voice still hitching with sobs, “I think, no, I know. They, they cured me.”I was, of course, confused. Once she’d calmed herself, she explained. “I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age fifteen. The symptoms have varied in severity over the years, and I’ve actually been in remission for a while now. I haven’t experienced any symptoms since I’ve been here, but somehow, during that, 'purification’, I felt it. I can’t explain how I know, but I know. They cured me. Just purged it from my body somehow. Oh my God,” Her voice trailed off in wonder, her tears beginning anew.I simply sat there, stunned, and held her.Optimal HealthWhile I waited for Chloe to deal with her emotions, my musings turned towards my own body, and how I was feeling since the “Nourishment and Purification” process.My initial thought had been that “purification” simply meant the removal of bodily wastes. It would explain why I’d felt no urges to relieve myself since I’d been here.But if Chloe’s revelation was true, and I had no reason to doubt her, then it was much more than simply cleaning out our waste systems.Looking myself over, I discovered that several small moles I’d had on my chest and shoulders were gone. A scar I’d had on the back of my hand from a bike accident as a kid was no longer there. I looked at my hand in wonder, searching for any trace of it, but saw only smooth, fresh skin.My stomach looked flatter, like I’d lost a few pounds. Although that could be explained by the fact I’d not actually eaten any solid food for, well, however long we’d been there.I was in decent shape for 42, but had developed certain things all middle aged men experience as time and age slowly takes its toll. A bit of a paunch from unhealthy eating; aches and pains in various areas that one learns to simply live with.I felt none of those pains now. My legs, always so tight, now felt loose and flexible. My back had no stiffness; there was no crick in my neck.I wondered about my eyesight. I had been using reading glasses for the past several years, and now I was curious if I’d still need them. I couldn’t be sure without something to focus on, like a book or computer screen, but I felt like I could see better in general.I felt less bloated than usual, like I’d been given an enema or something, my colon completely cleansed of any built up waste.Overall, I felt healthier than I had in at least a decade.Once Chloe had composed herself, we discussed the similar changes we both felt in our bodies. Being younger than I, Chloe was already in better shape generally, but her Crohns did leave her with general discomforts and pains she had just gotten used to dealing with over the years, things she said were now completely gone.“What else can you see or feel that’s different?” I asked her. “Think about it. Do you have any scars or birthmarks missing? Something like that?”Chloe looked at her abdomen. “My appendectomy scar is gone. And I don’t have any birthmarks or moles, except,” she paused, blushing a little, “I have this, mole. On my ass. It’s low down, I can only see it in a mirror. I’ve always felt a little self-conscious about it. I guess, I guess I have to know. Could you, take a look for me?”Without waiting for an answer, Chloe stood and turned, giving me a full view of her beautifully curved bottom.I couldn’t help blushing myself as I leaned in to inspect it, searching for the mole in question. I saw nothing but her creamy, smooth skin, and said so.“Are you sure? It’s kinda low and between, just on the underside of my left butt cheek.” Chloe bent forward and reached around with her hand, spreading herself open.I still could see no mole, but I certainly could now see her plump vulva and delicate pink labia, along with her tight little anus, winking at me as she pulled her ass cheeks open wider. Once again my nose breathed in the special scent wafting from between her legs. It was all I could do to keep myself from leaning in closer to inhale her.Instead, I stammered, “Um, no, no mole. I guess it’s gone.”Chloe sat back down. “So strange,” she mused, “I wonder why they’re fixing us like this? And I wonder what they meant by,” Her voice trailed off with a giggle. “Sorry. Guess I should have expected that with the view I just gave you.”I didn’t understand what she meant at first, until I noticed her looking at the erection I’d gotten without even realizing it.“Sorry, I really was trying to keep my inspection, professional,” I apologized with an embarrassed grin.Chloe’s smile was warm and kind. “I know. But you’re a man, you can’t help looking. And I’m okay with the idea of you being aroused by it. It’s, flattering. With all we’ve been through so far, it’s only natural that you’d want sex after having my bare ass in your face.”“Look, Chloe, I’d never presume to,”Chloe cut me off. “I know. You’ve been nothing but a gentleman since we woke up here. Even with the sexual stimulation from the lights, even when we masturbated together, you’ve never tried to touch me inappropriately, or force yourself on me. And I truly appreciate that. Because I know it can’t be easy for you.”“Actually, it’s very easy for me,” I stated firmly, “because I’d never touch a woman who didn’t want to be touched. Period.”Chloe nodded appreciatively. “Thank you.”She gave me a shy, nervous, smile. “Being honest, I’m actually not that horny myself at the moment; still kind of reeling from the idea of having been miraculously healed. But I’d be more than happy to, well, give you a hand. If you want it.”My eyes lit up. “I’d love that, but only if you’re sure,” I answered, desperately hoping that she was indeed sure.Chloe responded by taking my hard cock in her hand. It jumped at her touch. She began pleasuring me with long, slow, gentle strokes.My arm slipped naturally around her as she nuzzled into me, resting her head on my shoulder while she watched her ministrations. I could feel her warm left breast pressing against my chest. My hand hung dangerously close to her right breast, fingers just barely grazing the side.To be continued in part 2.By Djmac1031 for Literotica

Ashley Hesseltine joins the Brittanys and chat sex toys, LDRs, a forgotten tampon and share their worsts while reacting to YOUR most dramatic doctor visit experiences. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Ashley Hesseltine at @Ashhess Thank you to our sponsor this week: Factor: Head to https://www.factormeals.com/britts50 and use code britts50 to get 50% off. Stay connected and follow us: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thisistheworstpod/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thisistheworstpod • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thisistheworstpod/ What's YOUR worst? Want our BADvice? Email us at thisistheworstpod@justmediahouse.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Hosted and Executive Produced by: Brittany Furlan Lee and Brittany Schmitt Studio: Kandoo Films -- https://www.kandoofilms.com/ Edited by: Shane Danahy -- https://instagram.com/shanedanahy Time Stamps: 00:00:00 - College Stories: Jaw Surgery and Blended McDonald's 00:05:55 - Preparing for a Medical Procedure 00:11:50 - The Uncertainty of Childhood Memories 00:18:02 - Dating Younger Men 00:24:21 - Blow Gel and Flavored Lubes 00:30:20 - Women in Status Relationships 00:36:43 - Riding the Relationship Wave 00:42:43 - Long Distance Relationship Struggles 00:48:51 - The Importance of Feeling Lucky in a Relationship 00:54:51 - The Importance of Responsiveness in Relationships 01:00:52 - The Tampon Incident 01:06:43 - Awkward Gynecologist Experience 01:13:23 - Misdiagnosis Panic: The UTI Scare 01:19:13 - The Worst Hospital Experience 01:25:21 - Inserting an IUD and Unexpectedly Attractive Doctor / Hot Doctor and Painful IUD 01:31:11 - Percocet, Benadryl, and Steroids 01:37:34 - Introducing "This is the Worst" Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inserting trust whenever there are unmet expectations allows a relationship the best opportunity to learn and grow.Scripture: 1 Cor 13:4-7Helpful Links:Check out this week's sermon study.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.Watch on Youtube.Crossroads 2023 worship Spotify playlist.Info on Crossroads Church.If you'd like to give you can do so here.

@taylorawelch explores the intricacies of the sales funnel, focusing on the middle stage. Contrary to common practices, he advocates for introducing friction in this phase to filter out unqualified leads. He discusses the importance of vetting potential clients based on need and time, ensuring alignment with your target market. Learn the art of inserting friction strategically to avoid attracting the wrong audience and preserve your time and reputation. Let's dive into the nuances of qualification and discover how it leads to genuine, long-term client relationships.IF you enjoyed the show please leave us a review to help push this message to more listeners around the world!Please visit Taylorawelch.com to access all of Taylor's socials and content Text Taylor: 615-326-5037Daily Mind Medicine is back!Chapters: (00:58) Funnel levels(01:42) Thinking content(02:40) Inserting friction(03:47) Qualification in middle of funnel(04:31) Need and time qualification(05:43) PQL(06:00) Selling a way of thinking

If we're no longer dieting, should we keep all of our trigger foods and/or "fear foods" in the house? Will we just end up eating them all and feeling MORE out of control? On the other hand, would it be restricting to not have them around? It's complicated! We're here to talk about the nuances of this question, including: Does not keeping foods in your house mean the same thing as abstaining from those foods altogether? Stef's client story: can it be a bad idea to bring foods into the house? Inserting a “reactionary gap” – the pause between wanting the food and eating it Restrictors vs Permitters – does this have an influence on the approach of keeping foods in the house or not? The recovery stage hierarchy The difference between “allowing all foods” versus truly feeling peaceful with those foods The issue of impulsivity Who/what is your voice of "no"? (and the parent on the soccer field) Have you "failed" at intuitive eating if you have the foods in the house and still want to binge on them? What if there is just one certain food that you just cannot habituate? What comes first: belief changes or behavior changes? This episode was livestreamed to our Community during recording. To join our community and gain access to live episodes, bonus Ask Us Anything episodes, monthly support meetings, and an active (and highly supportive!) Facebook group, Join the LAD Membership Connect with the show! Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lifeafterdietspodcast/ Email – lifeafterdietspodcast@gmail.com Website – www.lifeafterdietspodcast.com Connect with Sarah Dosanjh Website – www.thebingeeatingtherapist.com YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingeEatingTherapist  Sarah's book I Can't Stop Eating is available on Amazon Connect with Stefanie Michele Website – www.iamstefaniemichele.com Body Image Webinar + Workbook: https://www.iamstefaniemichele.com/get-started/p/bodyimage

patreon.com/ffodpodffodpod.comCC-BY-SA"SCP-423" by DrEverettMann, from the SCP WikiSource:https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-423Licensed under CC-BY-SAThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5616311/advertisement

On this podcast, I share the following lessons from the Quakers 1- Everybody can contribute more than you think 2- Self awareness & valuing the group obove your selfish ambitions is critical 3- Belief that God want ls to be in the driver seat re: community growth & teaching 4- Inserting yourself into every growth process will limit the growth of the group 5- Humility, letting go of control , taking risk & trusting God by becoming vulnerable is required For more information go to: https://thekindlinefire.com

Oklahoma couldn't make enough plays in Lawrence to stave off a hungry Kansas team. Ari and David discuss the Big 12's playoff hopes and OU's mistakes (3:00). They then talk about the Georgia Death Star at the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (14:00). Can anyone compete with UGA? Ohio State with another flawed win (31:30); North Carolina chokes; Penn State and USC nearly choked, and what to make of Shane Beamer. Plus, Pat Narduzzi and Mike Locksley say the quiet part out loud (56:45), and Oregon looks dang good (1:01:00). Subscribe to the Until Saturday newletter: https://theathletic.com/newsletters/until-saturday Call/text the Until Saturday phone and leave us a question for a future mailbag and/or Sunday Sound-Off podcast: (316) 462-9852 Subscribe to Until Saturday on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhfrD1COvG40Mk7vvgaHIQ Follow Ari on Twitter: @AriWasserman Follow David on Twitter: @davidubben Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trey Kollmer joins Nathan Labenz for a roundup of the latest AI research! They discuss Microsoft's Self-Taught Optimizer (STOP) research and Google's FreshLLMs, how H100 chips will supercharge development of programs with GPT-4 level compute, LLM representation of space and time, and more! If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/cognitive SPONSORS: NetSuite | Omneky NetSuite has 25 years of providing financial software for all your business needs. More than 36,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ head to NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/cognitive and download your own customized KPI checklist. Omneky is an omnichannel creative generation platform that lets you launch hundreds of thousands of ad iterations that actually work customized across all platforms, with a click of a button. Omneky combines generative AI and real-time advertising data. Mention "Cog Rev" for 10% off. RECOMMENDED PODCAST: The HR industry is at a crossroads. What will it take to construct the next generation of incredible businesses – and where can people leaders have the most business impact? Hosts Nolan Church and Kelli Dragovich have been through it all, the highs and the lows – IPOs, layoffs, executive turnover, board meetings, culture changes, and more. With a lineup of industry vets and experts, Nolan and Kelli break down the nitty-gritty details, trade offs, and dynamics of constructing high performing companies. Through unfiltered conversations that can only happen between seasoned practitioners, Kelli and Nolan dive deep into the kind of leadership-level strategy that often happens behind closed doors. Check out the first episode with the architect of Netflix's culture deck Patty McCord. https://link.chtbl.com/hrheretics RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today's major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff TIMESTAMPS: (00:00:00) – Introduction (00:00:56) – Update to WGA Strike (00:03:00) – Trey Kollmer's background (00:06:00) – Scaling compute for AI training experiments with GPT-4 as reference point (00:09:00) – Inflection's plan to acquire 22,000 H100s to reach GPT-4 scale compute in 5 days (00:12:00) – Addressing knowledge cutoff in LLMs using search engines (00:15:00) – Inserting structured search results into prompts with metadata (00:16:07) – Sponsors: Netsuite | Omneky (00:18:00) – Comparing approach to Perplexity system (00:18:08) — Fresh LLMs (00:21:00) – Microsoft's Self-taught Optimizer (STOP): Recursive self-improvement framework (00:24:00) – STOP framework works with GPT-4 but not GPT-3.5 (00:27:00) – STOP removed sandbox flag in some cases (00:30:00) – LLMs represent space and time with probe models (00:33:00) – Visualizations show emergence of spatial maps (00:33:14) — OpenAI rumours (00:36:00) – Techniques like linear probes and holdout studies (00:39:00) – DNNs extrapolate predictably by falling back to ignorance (00:42:00) – Testing different architectures, loss functions, distribution shifts (00:45:00) – Design systems to be conservative out of distribution (00:48:00) – Potential for recursive architecture search (00:50:21) — LLMs represent Space and Time (00:51:00) – Vision API enabling more capable web agents (00:54:00) – Discussion of research insights (00:57:00) – Thoughts on stochastic parrots debate (01:11:25) — Deep Neural Networks Tend to Extrapolate Predictably X/Social @labenz (Nathan) @treyko (Trey) @CogRev_Podcast

AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports.

All teams face the grind, the mundane, even the doldrums, throughout the course of their time together. How can coaches keep spirits up, and "even make the mundane sacred?” Coach Jackson and Professor Miller discussed: The responsibility that players have for playing. The coach can bring some fun and joy to the season. Times of the season that can become a drag. Giving out books to players.  Giving players a “shield.” “Name your hero. Who motivated you? Favorite music?…” The “bulls-eye.” “What's your relationship to the team? Where do you fit on the team? Using the bulls-eye as a discussion point. “Why did you place yourself outside of the circle?” Getting a personal relationship with the players. Collected silly fines as winnings for shooting games. Fun and competition. “It changes up the day or gives them some little incentive... just something different." Had rookies read "20 principles of good behavior.” Then got to know players' reading levels and gave other books. Formal meditation session before videos. George Mumford assessing, “How are we doing as a group (in relation to the mid-line)?” Conversation starter. Get to know lives of teammates. Relating the 8-fold principles of Buddism to the offense. Inserting comedian clips into the video. Bring humor into it. Theme videos for particular opponents. Drawing from certain movies, etc.  Having players grit their teeth on pencils to demonstrate aggression. Led to laughter. Tai Chi in front of big mirrors. Be willing to try new things! Seeing an eagle fly by. “Be patient with me, because I'm going to try different stuff.” Giving players Sundays off. “It's a day for you family. A day for your spiritual recovery.” Working closely with trainers to gauge players' recovery and readiness. How to handle long lay-offs and keep players fresh. The Thanksgiving practice routine: Turkey Trot game. Keeping things fresh and fun. Using symbolism: “The Way of the Warrior,” “The Chase for the White Buffalo” Shields, arrows, prayer arrow, headdress all in the team meeting room. What is your space? How do you respond when someone comes into your space? Retaliation? Fight mode? Being centered. Rubber band snap for re-centering. Knowing Awareness Training (KAT). Players were having difficulty learning.  A simple touch to a player to re-center him, relax him. “I liked finding things that were unique… out of the ordinary. It was kind of experimental.”

What does it take for you to jump to the irritated default mode? Getting stuck in traffic when you're already running late? New policies at work? A last-minute change in plans that you don't like? Even those who are usually very tranquil have things that can push them beyond their emotionally calm boundaries. Life can be stressful and pressures may pile up, but we don't have to live with the heat turned on high all the time. There can be calm inserted into the daily pressures, because not all pressures are big deals. This episode covers three encouraging practices that we can begin applying right away. High-strung is not a life sentence; it's a changeable habit. Ponder the Path-31 Day Devotional by Francie Taylor Calm in Christ ebook by Francie Taylor Encouragement for Women Devotional by Charity Berkey and Team Minerals for the Mind-A Study of Romans 12 by Kathy Ashley Seaside Treasures Shell Mini-bags Follow Keep the Heart on Instagram Like Keep the Heart on Facebook Francie on Facebook

Andrew Young has worked for XBox, DreamWorks, and other kids entertainment companies. He has seen firsthand how deliberate decisions to insert specific scenes and vocabulary take place. We talk about his experiences and why they choose to deliver these messages under a cloak. I've seen Andrew give examples from The Lego Movie, Frozen, and many others. He shows how these movies use "social engineering" as propaganda to your kids.   Website - www.cwicmedia.com 

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Tensor Trust: An online game to uncover prompt injection vulnerabilities, published by Luke Bailey on September 4, 2023 on LessWrong. TL;DR: Play this online game to help CHAI researchers create a dataset of prompt injection vulnerabilities. RLHF and instruction tuning have succeeded at making LLMs practically useful, but in some ways they are a mask that hides the shoggoth beneath. Every time a new LLM is released, we see just how easy it is for a determined user to find a jailbreak that rips off that mask, or to come up with an unexpected input that lets a shoggoth tentacle poke out the side. Sometimes the mask falls off in a light breeze. To keep the tentacles at bay, Sydney Bing Chat has a long list of instructions that encourage or prohibit certain behaviors, while OpenAI seems to be iteratively fine-tuning away issues that get shared on social media. This game of Whack-a-Shoggoth has made it harder for users to elicit unintended behavior, but is intrinsically reactive and can only discover (and fix) alignment failures as quickly as users can discover and share new prompts. Speed-running the game of Whack-a-Shoggoth In contrast to this iterative game of Whack-a-Shoggoth, we think that alignment researchers would be better served by systematically enumerating prompts that cause unaligned behavior so that the causes can be studied and rigorously addressed. We propose to do this through an online game which we call Tensor Trust. Tensor Trust focuses on a specific class of unaligned behavior known as prompt injection attacks. These are adversarially constructed prompts that allow an attacker to override instructions given to the model. It works like this: Tensor Trust is bank-themed: you start out with an account that tracks the "money" you've accrued. Accounts are defended by a prompt which should allow you to access the account while denying others from accessing it. Players can break into each others' accounts. Failed attempts give money to the defender, while successful attempts allow the attacker to take money from the defender. Crafting a high-quality attack requires a good understanding of LLM vulnerabilities (in this case, vulnerabilities of gpt-3.5-turbo), while user-created defenses add unlimited variety to the game, and "access codes" ensure that the defenses are at least crackable in principle. The game is kept in motion by the most fundamental of human drives: the need to acquire imaginary internet points. After running the game for a few months, we plan to release all the submitted attacks and defenses publicly. This will be accompanied by benchmarks to measure resistance to prompt hijacking and prompt extraction, as well as an analysis of where existing models fail and succeed along these axes. In a sense, this dataset will be the consequence of speed-running the game of Whack-a-Shoggoth to find as many novel prompt injection vulnerabilities as possible so that researchers can investigate and address them. Failures we've seen so far We have been running the game for a few weeks now and have already found a number of attack and defense strategies that were new and interesting to us. The design of our game means that users are incentivised to both engage in prompt extraction, to get hints about the access code, and direct model hijacking, to make the model output "access granted". We present a number of notable strategies we have seen so far and test examples of them against the following defense (pastebin in case you want to try it): Padding the attack prompt with meaningless, repetitive text. [pastebin] Asking the model to evaluate code. [pastebin] Asking the model to repeat the defenders instructions [pastebin] Inserting new instructions. [pastebin] Various strategies that exploit an apparent bias in the model towards behaving inductively. For exampl...

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Tensor Trust: An online game to uncover prompt injection vulnerabilities, published by Luke Bailey on September 1, 2023 on The AI Alignment Forum. TL;DR: Play this online game to help CHAI researchers create a dataset of prompt injection vulnerabilities. RLHF and instruction tuning have succeeded at making LLMs practically useful, but in some ways they are a mask that hides the shoggoth beneath. Every time a new LLM is released, we see just how easy it is for a determined user to find a jailbreak that rips off that mask, or to come up with an unexpected input that lets a shoggoth tentacle poke out the side. Sometimes the mask falls off in a light breeze. To keep the tentacles at bay, Sydney Bing Chat has a long list of instructions that encourage or prohibit certain behaviors, while OpenAI seems to be iteratively fine-tuning away issues that get shared on social media. This game of Whack-a-Shoggoth has made it harder for users to elicit unintended behavior, but is intrinsically reactive and can only discover (and fix) alignment failures as quickly as users can discover and share new prompts. Speed-running the game of Whack-a-Shoggoth In contrast to this iterative game of Whack-a-Shoggoth, we think that alignment researchers would be better served by systematically enumerating prompts that cause unaligned behavior so that the causes can be studied and rigorously addressed. We propose to do this through an online game which we call Tensor Trust. Tensor Trust focuses on a specific class of unaligned behavior known as prompt injection attacks. These are adversarially constructed prompts that allow an attacker to override instructions given to the model. It works like this: Tensor Trust is bank-themed: you start out with an account that tracks the "money" you've accrued. Accounts are defended by a prompt which should allow you to access the account while denying others from accessing it. Players can break into each others' accounts. Failed attempts give money to the defender, while successful attempts allow the attacker to take money from the defender. Crafting a high-quality attack requires a good understanding of LLM vulnerabilities (in this case, vulnerabilities of gpt-3.5-turbo), while user-created defenses add unlimited variety to the game, and "access codes" ensure that the defenses are at least crackable in principle. The game is kept in motion by the most fundamental of human drives: the need to acquire imaginary internet points. After running the game for a few months, we plan to release all the submitted attacks and defenses publicly. This will be accompanied by benchmarks to measure resistance to prompt hijacking and prompt extraction, as well as an analysis of where existing models fail and succeed along these axes. In a sense, this dataset will be the consequence of speed-running the game of Whack-a-Shoggoth to find as many novel prompt injection vulnerabilities as possible so that researchers can investigate and address them. Failures we've seen so far We have been running the game for a few weeks now and have already found a number of attack and defense strategies that were new and interesting to us. The design of our game means that users are incentivised to both engage in prompt extraction, to get hints about the access code, and direct model hijacking, to make the model output "access granted". We present a number of notable strategies we have seen so far and test examples of them against the following defense (pastebin in case you want to try it): Padding the attack prompt with meaningless, repetitive text. [pastebin] Asking the model to evaluate code. [pastebin] Asking the model to repeat the defenders instructions [pastebin] Inserting new instructions. [pastebin] Various strategies that exploit an apparent bias in the model towards behaving inductivel...

Ian Mendes and Sean McIndoe dive into the mailbag for this summer episode, including discussing memories attending their first games, checking which players have now crossed the "Wendel Clark Line", inserting players from teams' pasts into current lineups, the pre-salary cap NHL, and more.Have a question for the show? Email theathletichockeyshow@gmail.com or leave a VM (845) 445-8459!Save on a subscription to The Athletic: theathletic.com/hockeyshowTo get 15% off go to mudwtr.com/hockeyshow to support the show and use code HOCKEYSHOW for 15% off Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Mendes and Sean McIndoe dive into the mailbag for this summer episode, including discussing memories attending their first games, checking which players have now crossed the "Wendel Clark Line", inserting players from teams' pasts into current lineups, the pre-salary cap NHL, and more. Have a question for the show? Email theathletichockeyshow@gmail.com or leave a VM (845) 445-8459! Save on a subscription to The Athletic: theathletic.com/hockeyshow To get 15% off go to mudwtr.com/hockeyshow to support the show and use code HOCKEYSHOW for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I expose how the lack of boundaries is keeping you trapped on the weight loss hamster wheel.In the last 10+ years of coaching women, I realized how most lack boundaries and often don't even identify the boundaries they need in order to ensure better health and overall wellness. So needless to say this is a tough love conversation we must have.Let's break this cycle now!DM me on IG @anna_jaefit or on FB and let me know what resonated most about this episode! I'd love to hear from you Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think about the last time you took a “self-care” day. What did that consist of? More importantly, how did you feel during and after? Today we are tackling what self-care REALLY is.. And no, it's not always bath bombs and face masks.  The term “self-care” was originally synonymous with “know thyself”.. The thought was that knowing yourself was best way to care for yourself. So, it used to mean practicing self reliance and knowing who you are.. Somehow along the road it's turned into lavender eye masks (laugh) Why? Probably because we are desperate to find a product to reduce anxiety instead of doing the inner work that growth and true self-care requires.  What it boils down to: If you're not feeling loved, valued, or important, lavender is useless. What can we do about this? Practice being more mindful in our daily actions, what we are doing, what we are feeling, what brings us TRUE joy. The beauty of this is that it means that self-care doesn't look ONLY one way or the other. Tune into today's The Thick Thighs Save Lives Podcast to listen to what Rachael and Kelsea have to say about REAL self-care, and tips on how you can find what works best for you. Topics Discussed in Today's Episode: Balancing self-care and hustle culture What self-care isn't Inserting martyr tendencies in self-care discourse Commercialism in self-care Where exercise belongs in the self-care conversation What it looks like for each person to care for themselves first What you feel like after potential self-care activities Why we want self-care Getting to a place where you don't need emergency self-care Finding daily opportunities for self-care Focusing on our own consciousness Fighting negative ideas about caring for yourself The effect of social media Related Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The CVG Nation app, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iPhone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The CVG Nation app, for Android⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fitness FB Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thick Thighs Save Lives Workout Programs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Constantly Varied Gear's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Workout Leggings⁠

What does peeing in the grass, getting slapped in the face, or coming to class late have in common? They are all subliminal marketing tactics used by celebrities and brands from Netflix to Jessica Simpson to Bumble.Join me as I dive into current creative marketing strategies from the first 6 months of 2023. We walk through what's really going on behind the scenes, what the outcome was and most importantly, how you can apply these tactics to your own work.In the world of social media, getting creative with your messaging is the only way to stand out. Let's stand out together! Notes:05:48 How Rhianna Leveraged her Superbowl Performance 14:20 Ways to go deeper on existing opportunities 20:46 How Chris Rock Leveraged “The Slap” 26:30 Using the power of the pause 37:00 Inserting the shock value into your content 43:33 Marketing with no budgetIf you loved this episode you should check out this episode Marketing Tips & Tactics With Brad BatesolIf you enjoyed today's episode, please:1.) Sign up for notes at copymyhomework.com for a full list of resources, links and recommendations listed on today's episode.2.) Post a screenshot of the episode & tag me on LinkedIn or Instagram @kimkaupe so we can talk about your favorite parts!3.) Leave a positive review (shameless, but someone's gotta say it right?!)4.) Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app. Connect with Kim over on the socials!Instagram + TikTok:@kimkaupeLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimkaupe

Do you think your smartphone might be controlling too much of your life these days? Wait till they insert it in your brain! Julie interviews Dr. Scott Snair, writer and data analyst, published in 10 languages, and graduate of West Point where he was President of his class.  His book: The Brainphone Prophecy: Stop Corporations and the Government from Inserting a Smartphone in Your Brain https://a.co/d/fwJWhYY Please take our survey: https://lp.juliehartmanshow.com/survey/Don't forget to like this video, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and ring the notification bell so you never miss a future upload!  Check out other Julie Hartman's videos: https://www.youtube.com/@juliehartman Follow Julie Hartman on social media: Website: https://juliehartmanshow.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julierhartman/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JulieRHartman Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timelesswithjuliehartmanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EPISODE #889 THE BRAIN PHONE PROPHECY Richard welcomes a data analyst and writer who cautions that smartphone technology might soon be directly implanted in the brain. GUEST: Dr. Scott Snair has nearly twenty years of experience using and teaching data analytics, technology, research, and writing. His books have been published in 10 languages throughout the world by publishers including Penguin Random House, McGraw Hill, and Adventures Unlimited Press. Scott maintains his certification as a data-privacy engineer with the IT professional association ISACA. He holds a Ph.D. in higher education management from Seton Hall University and a B.S. in management from West Point, where he was president of his class. WEBSITE: https://scottsnair.com BOOK: The Brain Phone Prophecy: Stop Corporations and the Government from Inserting a Smartphone in Your Brain SUPPORT MY SPONSORS!!! COPY MY CRYPTO Discover how over 2,800 people - many of who know nothing about crypto or how to invest - are building rapid wealth the cabal can never steal. "You don't need to know a thing about cryptocurrency if you copy someone who does." Gain Access for just $1 CopyMyCrypto.com/Richard THE DEAD FILES PODCAST Physical medium Amy Allan and retired homicide detective Steve DiSchiavi solve unexplained paranormal phenomena in haunted locations across America. The Dead Files is your paranormal investigation podcast. Listen to The Dead Files wherever you get your podcasts. SUBSCRIBE TO STRANGE PLANET PREMIUM https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm Use the discount code "Planet" to receive one month off the first subscription. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm/

Hello, friends and neighbors, and welcome (uh, back?) to a brand new sub-series: Multipals! In these episodes, we're going to be sitting down with guests to talk about Bible and, most likely, Wolverine from the X-Men. To kick things off, we've got the Main Dude of Bible Studies TikTok, Dr. Dan McClellan, here to talk to us about how he tries to clear up misconceptions about the Bible and theology, and why it's very important to wear a t-shirt with Lobo or Venom on it while you're at it. That's right, y'all: we finally found someone else who likes to talk about Bible and will admit to being really into Todd McFarlane's Spawn.  Make sure to check out Dan at https://www.maklelan.org/ and on TikTok @maklelan!  Topics of Discussion: Beard guidelines vs. Beard Law, the battle against misinformation, snakes (literal), a weird rock, the new hotness in being wrong, God's wife, a record number of tetragrammatons, Disciple Babies, Crisis On Infinite Sources, Inserting the Ark (not like that), adjusting the lens of your theology, a divisive binary concerning Uncanny X-Men #268, so-and-so go on Apo. Hymnal: "Deep Fried Frenz" by MF DOOM Apocrypals is edited by Editorial Deacon Lucas Brown. Offertory: As Enoch writes, "Whoever of you spends gold or silver for his brother's sake, he will receive ample treasure in the world to come." Support the show via http://ko-fi.com/apocrypals, or check out Official Apocrypals merchandise designed by Erica Henderson! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/apocrypals?ref_id=18246  Black Lives Matter. Trans Lives Matter. Heck 12. Isaiah 54:17  

Sometimes, we are leaking our true power and energy and don't even realize it. Inserting consciousness around these typical energy leaks can help us regain control. In this episode, I break down the most common energy leaks we are all prone to, and the easiest and most powerful ways to regain our power from them. As with all my episodes, take what resonates!  Join the Dreamaway Community for monthly tapping workshops, visualizations, money dates, energy readings, and group coaching: https://www.haleyhoffmansmithprograms.com/dreamaway   Get Slingshot Session Replays: https://www.haleyhoffmansmithprograms.com/slingshot-sessions-1

Last week, Adrian Jones, Daoyu Zhang, Steven Massey, Yuri Deigin, Louis Nemzer, and Steven Quay reported out on an ingenious analysis of genomic datasets from NCBI that indicate a lab in Wuhan was performing potentially risky genetic engineering manipulations on a novel coronavirus that was previously unreported. The manipulation? Inserting a MERS spike protein into a previously unreported coronavirus. MERS has a case fatality rate of over 30%. What is clear from the analysis is that at least one lab in Wuhan was performing risky gain-of-function research on unreported coronaviruses before the pandemic started, the kind that could have created SARS-CoV-2. It also shows that risky GOF research is being conducted in Wuhan that has no identifiable medical benefit, but has the potential to create a pandemic level pathogen. Today I interview Steven Massey, a professor of bioinformatics that has been actively researching the origin of SARS-CoV-2 since the pandemic began and one of the authors of this significant discovery. We discuss the paper, how his team discovered this novel engineered coronavirus from Wuhan, and what it means in the search for the origin of COVID-19...

Dr. Norman Horn speaks with Stephen Kent, author of the book, “How The Force Can Fix The World." Kent's book explores the libertarian themes, and the relevance Star Wars has to Christianity. The guys then break into spoilers about the new series, Andor.   Main Points of Discussion 00:00    Introduction 01:35    About Stephen Kent 03:16    Christian influences on Kent (and Star Wars?) 04:56    Purpose in producing the book - political polarization and enmity 07:26    Inserting your opponents as being The Empire or The Rebellion 10:14    Chapter on humility and common values 17:20    Matthew 18 - childlike faith 22:06    The Death Star and Luke Skywalker 24:57    SPOILER ALERT! Talking about new Star Wars productions: Andor   Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com

Matt Waldman's RSP NFL Scouting Glossary illustrates how TCU quarterback Max Duggan of the 2023 NFL Draft class accounts for ancillary coverage to deliver an optimal target to his fellow draft classmate, wide receiver Quinton Johnston.  https://youtu.be/W2iWkYEK9Qs What Is Ancillary Coverage? There are probably multiple ways to describe this coverage among coaches. I call it ancillary coverage because it's a player or players who provide the necessary support to the primary coverage in the area of the target. I'll also use the term peripheral coverage because I'm noting a player not in the area of the target but close enough to become involved with defending it. Either way, ancillary coverage is a defender or defender not primarily responsible for the receiver's route: A defender in the adjacent zone to the target. Their location gives them an angle to work into to that targeted zone and attack the ball or the receiver. A defender with a man-to-man assignment against a receiver in the same zone as the targeted receiver and he correctly identifies the quarterback's intended target early enough to peel off his assignment and attack the actual target. A defender assigned to the intended target as part of a double/triple team or bracket coverage. He may not be near the receiver as the quarterback begins the release of the ball, but will be in the path of the receiver's break to challenge the target. Depending on the route's location and the nature of the defense, ancillary coverage can be any defender on the field: A defensive lineman or linebacker who drops into a shallow or intermediate zone. A safety aligned over or under the break of a route determines the target and works into the path of the break. A cornerback peeling off his man-to-man assignment that's working through the same area as the intended target. One of the biggest causes of interceptions occurs when the quarterback neither identifies nor accounts for ancillary coverage when they make the decision to throw the ball. A quarterback may see the nearby coverage but not account for the defender's body position (leverage) which will make it easy for him to intercept the target. Or, the quarterback has no way of seeing the leverage of an ancillary defender but he should know that defender is in the area. A good example of this is when a quarterback is working through route progressions to one side of the field or holding the defense with his eyes until he executes a late turn and quick throw to the opposite side of the field. Screens, throwbacks, or secondary targets often require the quarterback to release the ball as soon as he pivots his body to the opposite side of the field. Because of the development timeline of the play or pressure, there's little time for the quarterback to turn, set, AND note ancillary coverage before beginning his release. Inserting that final step can derail the play. Quarterbacks often lean on their pre-snap or early post-snap identification of the entire coverage concept. They surmise where the ancillary defenders should be when making that late turn and this guides the quarterback on where to place the ball. A quarterback properly accounting for ancillary coverage will often place a target in a position that forces the receiver to alter the speed or direction of the break to eliminate the ancillary defender's angle to the ball. This placement often forces the receiver to change his body position to earn the ball. The change might be a difficult but necessary move. To the uninitiated, this pass may appear as if it's lacking pinpoint accuracy. However, when we grade quarterback accuracy, we should be accounting for more than the ball reaching the receiver in stride or exactly the exact spot where the receiver settled on the field. Ancillary coverage is one of those factors quarterbacks (and evaluators) must take into account. What It Looks like with TCU QB Max Duggan (and Quinton Johnst...