Podcasts about Lego

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In this week's episode, Grinch and Cat. Today we are joined by RedSuitStuds and we're discussing the prevalence of AI in LEGO. Specifically, how it should or maybe shouldn't be integrated into the hobby, are there any benefits? How do you balance the art and the AI usage and is there any place for it in LEGO?   Socials: https://www.instagram.com/afols_welcome/ https://www.youtube.com/@AFOLsWelcome https://www.tiktok.com/@afols.welcome https://bleav.com/shows/afols-welcome-a-lego-podcast/   Red Suit Studs:  https://www.instagram.com/redsuitstuds/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/@redsuitstuds   Episode Timestamps: 0:00 - 5:40 Intro / Brick Banter  5:40 - 16:09 Exciting Lego News 16:09 - 1:36:11 Today's Topic 1:36:11- 1:44:52  Brick-Mail   The music we use in our show is our own, please inquire for questions.    About AFOL's Welcome: AFOLs Welcome is a weekly podcast where co-host Grinch and Cat have discussions about the brick built world of LEGO. Join us as we dive deep into hot topics, LEGO themes, and more from the perspective of two adult fans of Lego.    If you would like to reach out to the podcast and be featured in an episode please email us at AFOLsWelcome@gmail.com or follow us on Instagram at AFOLs Welcome.    Reviews and constructive polite feedback are strongly encouraged. Please review, like, or subscribe wherever you find yourself listening to our show!    As always thank you for listening and we'll catch you on the next one!   Please Note: LEGO is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ten odcinek to przede wszystkim kontynuacja tematów, które rozgrzewają branżę o ostatnich tygodni. W obliczu całkowicie cyfrowej przyszłości grania, wiadomości o kolejnych atakach na konta graczy, jak i awariach, nie napawają optymizmem - ale nie po tu jesteście, prawda?! Nowe informacje na temat zwolnień w XBOX oraz losów ekip, których dotknęły. Potwierdzenia (lub nie?) ekskluzywności dla konsol XBOX, które w obliczy danych sprzedażowych konsol i kolejnych podwyżek cen sprzętu wydają się oderwane od rzeczywistości. Nie mogło również zabraknąć wątku pudełkowego i... nie ma tutaj zbyt wiele do powiedzenia. To i masa innych informacji z biznesu wokół gier wideo czeka na was w odcinku. Miłego słuchania!(00:00:00) - START!(00:00:07) - Rozgrzewka

Cheap Games: https://www.instant-gaming.com/?igr=DaleyTacticsCheap LEGO: https://daleybricks.com/MY ARMY MEN BOOK: https://a.co/d/dweQQOXI built Realistic LEGO AK-47 Soldiers! #lego #ak47 #legomoc lego ak47, my lego ak47, ak47 lego gun, lego ak47 working, working lego ak47, lego ak47 replica, shooting lego ak47, cs go ak47 lego model, lego toy gun ak47, working toy lego ak47, how to make a lego ak47, how my lego ak47 works, lego technic ak47, lego ak 47, lego gun that works ak47 reload, ak 47 lego, ak-47 lego toy, ak-47 lego copy, cs go assault rifle ak47 lego model, lego ak-47 (working), cs go ak47, working lego ak 47, csgo ak47 lego toy gun that works mini tutorial, lego, ak47, lego ak build, shooting ak-47 out of lego, legos, lego gun

Cheap Games: https://www.instant-gaming.com/?igr=DaleyTacticsCheap LEGO: https://daleybricks.com/MY ARMY MEN BOOK: https://a.co/d/dweQQOXI built LEGO SWAT TEAM vs SERIAL KILLER... #lego #swat #legomoc lego swat team, swat team lego, lego swat team raid, lego swat team toys, lego swat team sets, custom lego swat team, lego swat team review, lego swat team vs fnaf, i built a lego swat team, police swat team lego, i built swat team in lego, lego zombie vs swat team, i built a swat team in lego, build lego swat police team, lego swat team vs airplane hijacking, build model lego swat police team, lego zombie vs swat team stop motion, lego swat, swat team, lego swat truck, lego swat battle, lego swat car, lego swat attack, swat lego

This Week on the Toy Power Podcast; even though we are Celebrating our 10th Year of Podcasting; we unfortunately exhausted all our energy on the Previous SDCC Reveals & Announcements Ep. So we are giving you a ReIssue episode instead from the Vault. (Originally Posted as Ep #143 - from October 2019). Original blurb: It’s a very special ep as we’re joined by not one, but two of favourite guests in Davey Damaged and Scotty so that’s right – it’s a Homer episode! Trent takes us through a vintage retrospective look at The Addams family by Playmates. Perfectly timed for Halloween, we wonder what could have been with this short-lived line and look to the future of the franchise as a new movie approaches. What characters didn’t get made, which ones make the camera glow and where does MC Hammer fit into it all? We make the jump to Show and Tell as Davey tries to trump us all with a purchase so large, we doubt it will actually fit in his toy room! There’s some DC, MOTU and even Final Fantasy options to choose from. Frank gives a lovely tribute showing that sometimes, the value of a toy; lays in more than its sticker price. Then it’s Quiz time and with Davey onboard, anything is possible. To say this episode goes off the rails is putting it mildly – but on the plus side we learnt that Trent can’t hold his liquor, Ben thinks photos record sound, Space Jam was an event and Rick Moranis is Trent’s muse. So hold on for this crazy ride that also serves as a farewell for one of the team…Support the show: http://patreon.com/toypowerpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join our resident LEGO® Spider-Man® experts, Joe and Chris as they go over their favorite things about Spider-Man!Leave a Like and Comment below letting us know if you agree or disagree, and your favorite Marvel sets, minifigures, or accessories!Check out our Ninjago page on our website, where you can browse products by character or season at https://atlbrick.com/collections/ninjagoAvailable on all podcast platformsRecorded at Atlanta Brick Co® in Newnan, GAOur Website: https://atlbrick.comJoin this channel to get access to perks:    / @atlbrickco  Phone: 470-414-2208Our Facebook:   / atlbrick  Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlbrickco/...Available on all podcast platformsRecorded at Atlanta Brick Co® in Newnan, GAOur Website: https://atlbrick.comPhone: 470-414-2208Facebook.com/atlbrickInstagram.com/atlbrickco

In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal delivers a rich expository sermon on James 5:1–6, one of the most striking prophetic passages in the New Testament epistles. Drawing on the Jewish literary and cultural context of James's original audience — Jewish Christians scattered from Jerusalem by persecution — Tony unpacks why this text is not a blanket condemnation of wealth, but a devastating judgment oracle against those who hoard riches and oppress the vulnerable. Along the way, he explores the eschatological weight of accumulated wealth, the theology of God's omniscient justice, and the stunning comfort available to the suffering believer. The episode closes by returning to James's thesis: that trials of every kind, including economic oppression, can be counted as joy because of who God is and what He has done in Christ. Key Takeaways James is a deeply Jewish book written to a specific audience — Jewish Christians dispersed from Jerusalem by Saul's persecution, not a general audience of wealthy or Gentile believers. The prophetic "Come now" signals a judgment oracle, not a direct address — James is not rebuking wealthy members of his congregation, but pronouncing eschatological judgment on oppressive landowners using a technique common in Amos, Malachi, and Micah. Hoarding wealth is not morally neutral — it is self-condemning — The corroded gold and moth-eaten garments are not just symbols of decay; they serve as legal evidence against those who refused to use their wealth for God's glory and the good of others. Withholding wages from laborers constitutes a form of murder — In the ancient world, depriving workers of their wages could literally cost them their lives. James draws on Old Testament law to frame predatory economic exploitation as a capital sin. God sees and hears the cries of the oppressed — The wages of defrauded workers "cry out" to the Lord of Hosts, echoing the blood of Abel in Genesis 4. God's justice is not passive or delayed out of ignorance — it is certain and coming. Matthew 25 reframes Christian mercy as care for the body of Christ — The sheep-and-goats judgment is not a general humanitarian mandate, but a specific call to care for persecuted brothers and sisters — and to recognize that mistreating them is mistreating Christ Himself. Trials are counted as joy through the doctrine of imputation — Suffering is not stripped of its pain, but it can be moved from the loss ledger to the profit column because God uses adversity as the instrument of sanctification and glorification. Key Concepts The Prophetic Address: Who Is James Actually Talking To? One of the most common misreadings of James 5:1–6 is assuming James is directly rebuking wealthy Christians in his own congregation. Tony Arsenal corrects this by grounding the passage in its literary and historical context. James employs a well-established prophetic technique — seen in Amos, Malachi, and Micah — of addressing an absent party in order to pronounce judgment on them, while simultaneously comforting those who overhear the oracle. His audience is the dispersed, impoverished Jewish Christians who fled Jerusalem under Saul's persecution. There were almost certainly no wealthy landowners in the room. The "Come now, you rich" is a judgment declaration directed outward, designed to assure the suffering poor that God has seen their oppressor and will act. Far from being a proof-text for radical poverty, the passage is a pastoral comfort wrapped in prophetic fire. Corroded Gold as Legal Evidence Against the Soul James's claim that gold and silver have "corroded" is deliberately shocking — and theologically precise. Gold, uniquely among metals in the ancient world, does not corrode. By saying it has already corroded, James is not making a metallurgical claim but a moral and eschatological one. The accumulated, hoarded wealth of the oppressor has lost its purpose. It sits idle while workers starve, and in doing so it becomes evidence — a legal witness — against its owner in the court of divine justice. Tony draws a direct line between this image and Jesus's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount about treasures stored on earth being subject to moth and rust. Both brothers — Jesus and James — appear to be drawing on the same shared wisdom, likely rooted in the same household and the same mother's instruction. Unused wealth does not just fail to help others; it actively indicts its holder. Counting It All Joy: The Accounting Logic of Sanctification Tony closes the sermon by returning to James 1:2 — the thesis statement of the entire letter — and unpacking the word "count" as an accounting term, directly related to the doctrine of imputation. Just as righteousness is reckoned to the believer in justification, so suffering can be reckoned as joy in sanctification. This is not a call to pretend pain isn't real, or to perform contentment. It is a theological reframing: what belongs in the loss column of the ledger can, by faith, be moved to the profit side — not because the trial was pleasant, but because God is sovereign, good, and working all things toward the believer's conformity to the image of Christ. The oppressor means their wickedness for evil. God means it for glory. The supreme example is the cross itself — the only truly innocent man, suffering the worst evil ever committed, for the redemption of His people. Memorable Quotes The corrosion of that gold serves as evidence for the condemnation of those who are harming you — and the corrosion of this wealth is an indication of the corrosion of their very souls. He sees your pain. He sees your suffering. He sees your victories even when no one else is celebrating them. He sees you — and that should be a great source of comfort. Imputation is an accounting term. And when we count it all joy, we're taking what should be a red line in the loss ledger — what should be an expense — and we're able to move it to the profit. Not because it didn't hurt, and not because we wanted it to happen, but because our God is good enough to not rob us of the chance to be sanctified. Full Transcript Tony Arsenal: Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you." It's always a little, uh, strange to sort of jump into the middle of a series, and, um, you know, Wes is one of the most competent preachers that I know personally, so I trust that he has given you a good and satisfying overview. Uh, but I don't feel like I would be doing my responsibility if I didn't at least touch on a few things, uh, related to the, the intro to James that I think is relevant for this particular passage in a way that maybe is not relevant for the rest of the book. So some of this I hope is review, I, I anticipate is review, but I think it's worth, uh, touching on. James, as you know, is the, the half brother of Jesus. He was the leader of the Jerusalem church, and specifically he was sort of the figurehead of the Jewish church as a whole. Um, the Jewish church was the only church for the very early part of the church's growth. There were always, uh, Gentile believers. Even in the Old Testament, there were Gentiles who trusted in the Lord of Israel and the God of Israel. They were often called God-fearers. They rarely converted all the way to Judaism, but they were sort of seen as an attachment to the Jewish people. They didn't participate in all of the blessings of the Jewish people, but they did participate in most. They often had the same kind of protection. They were in a form of covenant with God. Um, they were able to worship and offer sacrifices. The temple itself had a whole portion of the temple dedicated called the Court of Gentiles, specifically for these Jewish worshipers. And as the church spread, primarily through persecution, which we'll touch base on here in a minute, as the church spread out from Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria, and ultimately to the ends of the earth, it took on a, an increasingly Gentile Greek flavor. As more and more primarily initially Greek converts came into the church, and then of course, as it spread to other sort of non-Hellenistic lands, other, other types of people, other nations, other people groups joined the church, the scriptures which-- the New Testament we receive primarily from Paul, at least in terms of the epistles, um, also began to take on a more Gentile flavor. Not because Paul was a Gentile, but because Paul was ministering primarily to Gentiles What we'll see here is that James is a very Jewish book. I'm sure that along the way there's been several kinds of things pointed out to you to show that, but I wanna show a couple things that not only establish James as the author, James the brother of, of Jesus, but also root the, not only the author, but the audience in a distinctly Jewish Christian, uh, context. So you don't have to turn there, I'll read this, but in Acts, uh, 15, which is the, the great Jerusalem Council, uh, we read this. It says, "With the following letter..." So the, the council meets, they make a decision about what k- what parts of the Jewish law were going to be commended to and recommended, uh, and required for the Christian believers, the Gentile Christian believers, and when they're done, they send this letter to all of, all of the churches. And it says, "With the following letter, the brothers, both apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are at, of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings." Now, I don't know about you, but I always sign my emails the same way, right? I've got, like, my work signature that I have to use, that the, the hospital makes me use with all the proper formatting and colors and fonts, but I always have the same signature. Mine is very simple. I just say, "Thanks," right? I just sign it as, "Thanks," above my signature, and I'm sure you all have that sort of characteristic way you sign a s- sign an email, or maybe it's the way you say goodbye at the end of a phone call. My father-in-law always says, "So long," which is a phrase you don't hear very often, so it's very distinct to him. We all have these little tells in our communication that sort of tip off who they're from. If you turn quickly back over to James 1, so just flip the page, uh, to the left here, he starts his letter by saying, "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the 12 tribes in the dispersion, greetings." It's the only two letters in the New Testament that we have where the author identifies himself, sends to a sort of generalized audience, and then signs it, "Greetings." Now, James, the brother of Jesus, was the leader of the Jerusalem Church. He was the leader of the Jewish ch- the Jewish Church in general, and he signed the letter coming from the Acts Council as sort of the presiding minister. If, if we were, y- you might call them, like, the moderator of your business meeting, or we would call them the moderator of our presbytery or our session in the Presbyterian context I come from. He was the one who sort of, like, presided over there, and so the letter that went out to the churches was signed in his name and written, drafted by him. So we see this characteristic way that the letter is addressed with this final word, "Greetings," which is not used frequently in the New Testament We also see when we look at the language carefully that the audience of this, uh, of this letter, it's debated and there are good arguments, but i- in my opinion, it's very clear that the audience of this letter is not Jewish Christians in general or, uh, Jews who have not yet converted. There are some people who would say that 'cause they're called the 12 tribes. But instead it is the Jewish Christians who originally dwelled in Jerusalem and were sent out into the countryside after the persecution that was started primarily by Saul. If you look at Acts, Acts 1 which is, uh, the passage where Saul begins to persecute the church or where Saul kinda comes on the scene as the persecutor of the church, there's a couple distinct, um, distinct linguistic markers we should touch base on. Starting in verse one it says, "And p- Saul approved of his execution. And there arose a day-- that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. They were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made a great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church and entered the house after house. He dragged off men and women and committed them to prison." When we look at this and we compare it to that, uh, again, that first verse of James where he says to the ones who are scattered, we see that there's a pretty strong linguistic parallel that tells us that the people he has in mind for this letter, the people he's addressing, are the same people who were dispersed or scattered out of Jerusalem in the persecution. When he says to the 12 tribes in the dispersion, that word dispersion is not really a translation. It's what we call a transliteration. So it's not like we've taken a word and sort of given it an English word. We've just changed the word, the letters over to English letters. In Greek, the word is diaspora, dispersion, and in, uh, Acts 1, the verb used to, to sort of describe this scattering of them is diaspero. And it is a picture of scattering seed. This is what a farmer would do. So it's not even the normal word we would use when someone is fleeing persecution. It's this idea that God has scattered Christians out into the world, in this case by persecution. He scattered them out into the world to be planted. A lot of this is where we get phrases from Tertullian about the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Now, why does this matter? As I mentioned, we often think in Gentile categories when we're reading the New Testament, and for good reason. One, we're all, all Gentiles, I'm presuming. I, I don't, I don't think-- I think I mentioned this last time, and no one came up and corrected me. I don't think anyone here is ethnically Jewish with ancestry that they're directly aware of, you know, where they trace their lineage directly back. Europe is a, a big amalgamation of just about everything, so most of us probably have a smattering of different ethnicities. But none of us are ethnically Jewish to the idea that we would, uh, identify as such in the same way. And even if we were, we've been raised and grown up in a Gentile context. We live in the West. We have-- We think in different categories. And what's more is most of the New Testament is written primarily to Gentiles by someone who is ministering to Gentiles. So Paul uses a fair amount of, of Hebraisms or things that are related to the Old Testament. Of course, he's explaining the Old Testament, and he makes ample reference to the Old Testament because that is the word of God, and it is profitable for our teaching, our correction, our reproof, and ultimately for our, our sanctification. But he uses metaphors and language in a way that is not common to the Israel context that Jesus and James and Peter and the other apostles were raised in. We don't have time to go there, but there's even some metaphors that Paul uses that are actually used the opposite way in, uh, in the more Hebraic Jewish, uh, epistles we have. One example that comes to mind is, um, Paul looks at the concept of milk, and that's not necessarily a good thing, right? It's not a bad thing, but it's what immature believers use, right? They can't handle the meat of the Bible. They have to be given the milk of the gospel before they can progress to the meat. In the Book of Hebrews, which I don't think was written by Paul, and in other places, Peter uses milk as a way to talk about nourishment, right? We think of the land flowing with milk and honey. Milk was not seen as some sort of substandard food that was only for babies. It was seen as, like, the richest, best thing that you could eat. We all have a linguistic environment that we grow up in. We all have a shared vernacular. You know, if I say something like, "You can't get there from here," everyone knows what that means. Obviously, you can get there from here, but you have to take this circuitous route. We know what that means. I think if we went around the room, we probably would find that there is this shared language. And then if we took individual families, we'd find that even within those families, there's further narrowing down of sort of like inside jokes and words that are used in ways that are not necessarily the same as others So when we read James, or when we read the letters of Peter or the letters of John, we should default to thinking more along the lines of comparing them to the words of Christ in the Gospel, first and foremost, and then to the Old Testament before we start to think about them necessarily comparing them to Ja-- or to Paul or to other kind of first century Hellenistic literature. That's not, of course, to say that Paul and James contradict. I'm sure that we went through a long explanation with much detail when you got to James chapter two, which is, of course, the most famous example. Paul uses the word justification or justify in a legal sense to make or to declare someone to be righteous. It's the verdict that the judge delivers, and it communicates the status. It actually performs what it says. When the judge says, "I find you not guilty," it changes your status from being potentially guilty to being cleared of all charges. Paul uses it slightly differently. He's not using it in the sense of to make someone righteous or to declare them righteous. He's using it to say they've been shown to be righteous. They've been validated. They've been vindicated. And if we get that mixed up, that's the source of all sorts of confusion. So when we come to this passage, and we'll get there, I promise, when we come to this passage, we have to understand some of the metaphors and the language that's being used draws from an existing body of shared cultural language that is foreign to us and is in some ways foreign to the rest of the New Testament, apart from what we see in the Gospels And it's important to remember, and this is why it's so key to land, that the audience of this letter is the persecuted, poor Jewish Christians who probably had a fairly comfortable life, relatively speaking, living in Jerusalem. These are city folks. These are people that live in Jerusalem or farm into the fields immediately around Jerusalem. They were established. They owned land. They probably had family that they had to leave, and now they're scattered out into the country with nothing. They're sent out into the world with no jobs, no family connections, no social welfare. Because they've left the Jewish faith, at least from the perspective of the Jews, they can't even go to their Jewish brothers and sisters and rely on the hospitality that's required in the law of Moses This is so important when we think about how James opens the letter and delivers what I think is his thesis statement. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of every kind." Trials like not knowing where the next meal is gonna come from, not knowing where the next roof over your head is, not being sure you can feed your children. We all face real trials and tribulations in our life. Some of them are related to our faith, and some is just the fallen human condition in the fallen world we live in. But we're talking here about a totally different category of, uh, trial and persecution than most of us hopefully will ever experience That brings us to our actual passage now. James opens up this section with a linguistic marker that signifies this is a change in topic. He says, "Come now," or another way to translate it might be, "Now listen. Listen up." When my son is doing something that, uh, I need him to stop or I need to give him instructions, I hold him by his shoulders and I say, "Look at my eyes. I want your eyes right here. Look at my eyes." That's what Paul is doing. He's stopping and he's interrupting the flow of language. This shows us this is a new topic and a new audience. James is not speaking to rich Christians in his audience. First, 'cause there likely weren't any rich Christians directly in his audience. Remember, these are the, the poor Christians scattered out into the Judean countryside, into Samaria He's using a technique that's really common in the prophets. It's common in Jesus, where he's addressing the people who are not really listening as a way to establish that they will be judged, to hold them accountable, but also to comfort those who are hearing the message. This is a form of prophetic address. We see this in Amos, where he's chastising the Jewish leaders. Uh, in Malachi and Micah, this happens. Malachi is primarily, at least initially, is primarily, uh, a book that is railing against the rich leaders in Jerusalem who had oppressed their own brothers and sisters. The chances that those Jewish cr- uh, Jewish leaders were reading his prophecy or hearing his prophecy is pretty slim. So he was addressing a different group to establish the judgment that he was proclaiming on another party. Jesus does this when he says like, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees." There were probably scribes and Pharisees in the audience there, but he wasn't just talking to the people in front of them. He was pronouncing a judgment oracle, a judgment prophecy on all people who fit that category, and James is doing the same thing here James is not opposing wealth generally. Sometimes James is used as kind of a New Testament example to justify the idea that we should all be poor and wear shabby clothing and walk around barefoot and dirty all the time. Right? This is a key passage that's used, uh, in parts of the church that really emphasize sort of a poverty-based lifestyle. Think of like the wandering monks of the Middle Ages or the, the, um, sort of more radical exclusionists that exist even in our day. I remember when I was in college, I was really enamored with this figure named Shane Claiborne. Some of you have probably heard of him, and I remember I was so impressed because he, he didn't buy new shoes. He just cut new shoes out of duct tape and put them back together. Now, there's some, you know, there's some rugged, uh, rugged get-it-done-ness that, uh, I think us, uh, New Englanders can appreciate, but God does not call us to wear duct tape shoes, at least not universally. I'm not gonna comment on whether he calls Shane Claiborne to do that. I also don't think Shane Claiborne does that anymore. Um, some of us he may call to a lifestyle of poverty in association with a mission field or in association with a specific calling. He does not call us generally to be poor or to not gain wealth What he is opposing here is the refusal to use wealth appropriately for God's glory and the accumulation of wealth just for wealth's sake We'll see that as we unpack the language here a little bit. He establishes that he's not just talking about the earthly hoarding of wealth, as though somehow the very act of accumulating wealth was itself the problem. What he's doing is he's pronouncing an eschatological judgment on those who hoard wealth and use it to oppress others. We see here he says, "Come now, you rich, and weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you." Th- that word weep and howl, those are li-- those are words that are most commonly used in prophetic literature to describe the final cry of anguish. Think about the weeping and gnashing of teeth that Jesus talks about. This is the language he's using. He's talking about the final estate of those who refuse to submit their wealth to God He says, "Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be the evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasures in the last days." Now, remember what we said. We, we should read this not in light of some general wisdom, although it is general wisdom that if we accumulate wealth, it tends to not actually go well for us if we're not utilizing it in God-honoring ways. But we should read this in light of the most obvious connection, his big brother, Jesus, who taught his people, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be." To maybe land this linguistic, uh, this linguistic connection a little more, I don't know, vibrantly, I'm gonna speculate a little bit. So if you don't like it, then you can disregard it. This is not God's Word. This is a speculation. I can just imagine little Jesus, little nine-year-old Jesus, and probably little six or seven-year-old James and the rest of their siblings, and there's quite a few of them. And we have Joseph, uh, who maybe at this time was still living, although probably not. We know he was living until Jesus was later, you know, 12, he was still around, but we don't know exactly when he left the picture. But he was a carpenter, and he was not, probably not overly wealthy. Uh, they had had to pick up and move, you know, cross-country anyways. They-- We don't know exactly where they were from initially, but they went to Bethlehem, and then they returned to Nazareth. They probably didn't have a lot. There were a lot of mouths to feed and only one business. They didn't have a farm. They didn't own livestock that we know of. I can just imagine a time when little J- little James or one of his sisters was frustrated about the fact that they didn't have anything. And I could picture Mary getting down and going, "Do not store up treasures in, in, uh, in heaven or on Earth. It's all gonna waste away." The same way we might tell our children kind of a, a moral kind of story. Sometimes we have this picture, last time I was here I, I spoke on Philippians 2, we have this idea that Jesus was somehow like Superman, that he, he was just pretending to be a normal human most of the time. As it touches his humanity, as, as we think about Jesus as a human, he had a, his own human set of thinking faculties, his own human knowledge. He grew in wisdom and stature is what Luke teaches us. Well, where did he get some of this wisdom? There's a good reasonable argument to be made that some of the pr- more proverbial type sayings that we see in Christ, that they actually come from the wisdom of his mother and father. And a really good reason to believe that is James relies on the same exact, uh, sort of proverbial wisdom to l- land his point. He doesn't create his own metaphor, he goes back to, at the very least we can say he goes back to the words of Christ. That's a very safe position to take. But this is the shared linguistic context that they both grew up in And he says, "You've done this in the last days." Now, the, the phrase last days in the Bible, uh, in the New Testament generally refers to the time period from Christ's resurrection to his return. We, for a lot of reasons, think about it as kind of like that climactic end period in time. Depending on your, your persuasion, maybe this is when the Antichrist comes, or maybe this is before or after, or maybe during the time when the church is raptured. But in either case, we think of that sort of last period in time before Christ finally comes back. But the New Testament writers are really talking about the entire duration, from Christ's resurrection to his return is what they're referring to. But it does have in view this idea that we are in the last times. The, the final judgment is not necessarily strictly something that's out there in the future. We are living in the last days now, and so what we do and what we say and, and how we worship and if we worship is eschatology. It is the theology of the last times He also positions this as though this is a universal thing going on with those who hoard wealth. This is a very shocking image. Um, we have very good ways to preserve things in our modern world, right? We have ways to m- to make, uh, stainless steel that won't rust, or at least won't rust quickly. But most things in the ancient world, even most precious metals, corroded. Um, I remember when I was growing up, there was this project in my hometown. I lived in a, a little town called White Bear Lake in, in, um, Minnesota, although little is relative. It's pretty big compared to most of what we have out here. And I remember when I was maybe 12 or 13 years old, they had this big building project to build this brand-new, beautiful lakeside pavilion in the center of town, and it w- just gleamed in the sun. It was so gorgeous, and it was made of copper, and everybody loved it, and two years later, it was bright green. I think it's still bright green. I think they figured out it wasn't worth repairing, so they, they just, they just make sure it doesn't keep getting worse, and at some point, I'm sure they either have or will tear it down. But the one metal in the ancient world that didn't do this was gold. It's part of why gold is such a durable measurement of wealth is because it doesn't wear out. It doesn't corrode. It's very soft. It's very easy to damage it, which is why we don't build statues out of it, or we don't build, uh, buildings out of it usually, but it didn't corrode. So when James says here, "Not only your silver, which tarnishes and corrodes, but your silver and gold have corroded." Not are corroding, but have corroded. The rich hearer of this is probably, you know, sitting around like Scrooge McDuck with a pile of gold coins thinking, "Ah, it looks pretty good to me." And what James is saying is, "No, no, no. No, it's corroded. It's eating away at your heart. It's lost its value because you refuse to use it, and so it sits in a pile doing nothing for no one, except serving to further your own condemnation." This is such a crazy, shocking situation that the insanity of not using your wealth, period, the insanity of sitting on your wealth in the ancient world is going to serve as a form of evidence justifying the condemnation of these wicked fools And further, the corrosion of this wealth is an indication of the corrosion of their very souls. There's something about money. I was-- When I was here a couple times before, I preached one of the wealth passages out of Ecclesiastes, and there's something about money that has a unique way of really, really wrecking us. Either we don't have it and we want it, or we have it and we don't wanna lose it, or we have it and we don't spend it wisely. It seems like there's an infinite number of ways to screw it up. And we landed last time that the gospel is good news because with the nearly infinite ways of screwing it up, we're going to screw it up. But the one way that he talks about screwing it up here is hoarding it and sitting on it and not using it Moving on into verses four and five, James moves us now to a more sort of temporal register. He starts out by talking about what wealth is and what it's doing and how it will ultimately affect the entire life and eternity of those in his targeted audience, those he's proclaiming this prophetic, uh, judgment against. But in verse four, he moves back to the behaviors that are being, uh, being engaged in to show the state of these people's souls. He says, "Behold, the wages of the laborers you, who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter." James here points at the, at the behaviors that show this hoarding behavior, and he does it for a number of reasons. One, he needs to call out sin. That's part of the role of a Christian, and especially a leader or a minister in the church, is, um, to not only call out sin in the body of, of Christ, but in a, I think a very particular way, and there's all sorts of, uh, all sorts of theological controversies flying on around about Christian nationalism and other associated things. Some of it is just the spirit of the age. Um, post-COVID, there's a, a real strong sense that our government has failed us and we need to replace it with something else. But there is a, a true way, and I, I think some of those things are a little misguided, but there's a true way that the church, particularly her leaders, should be speaking to the culture around us, and yes, even to the government, to proclaim the truth of God into a wicked and godless culture. This might take the form o- of a m- minister who goes to a town hall meeting to speak out against a gambling association that's going to be forming, or a, an elder in the church or a deacon in the church who goes to speak to, uh, to the city hall or to the state legislature about the wickedness of abortion and about what we see it does to women's lives when they are fooled into thinking that this is the right thing for them. Again, the church is not the state, and the state is not the church, and we should be very careful not to cross those lines for all sorts of reasons. But we as a culture, as a Christian culture, in the United States particularly, have lost sight of our responsibility to speak truth in all circumstances to those in power So James is doing that, of course. But even more so, this is a way that he establishes for his direct audience, for the Jewish poor Christians who have been scattered in this diaspora, in this dispersion. He looks at them in a sense and says, "I see you. I see what's happening to you." And as God's representative, as his chosen voice for this message, as his inspired author, God sees you too This goes back again, the first two chapters of James serve as kind of a thesis statement and table of contents for the whole book. We get an idea of what may have been happening, the actual, uh, acts that were being engaged in, in, in chapter two verse six, he says, "You have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?" James has in mind here a form of predatory land purchasing, where the rich were sort of sweeping up property. They were sweeping it up, and then they were charging probably exorbitant prices to those who would lease the land to try to eke out a living. Does that sound at all like any of our current context, right? When's the last time any of us have tried to buy a house and found anything reasonable? Well, a large part of that is that there are big companies that are scooping up all the land and buying all the, the developments. Now, I'm not commenting on those particular situations. I don't know those people. I don't know their hearts, and some of those things actually are doing good things for the community. But we're familiar with this idea of someone who will purchase a resource, who will then jack the price up in order to turn a profit on it. I'm not opposed to turning a profit. Y- y- yeah, it takes money to run a business, and you have to, you have to recuperate those funds if your business is going to survive. But there's a, there's a way that that can be done that is a predatory act These rich landowners were getting fat on those that they were victimizing In our, in our modern world, we tend to think of someone who is overweight as unhealthy, for good reason, right? Too much weight, and I say that with someone with a little too much padding around the middle, so no, no judgment on this, but too much weight is not healthy, right? We hear that from our doctors, that there's a healthy weight range and there's an unhealthy weight range. In the ancient world, obesity was not the concern, right? Malnutrition was the concern. And so when you see, uh, a king in the Old Testament who's, who's noted to be fat, that's not always negative. Sometimes it is, but he's noted to be fat or he's noted to be large. Even the word for glory, I'm sure you've heard this before, the word for glory in the Old Testament has to do with being heavy. So this idea of weightiness or, um, being able to eat enough to actually gain weight instead of being thin was seen as a good thing, but not when you use it as a way to victimize other people. A person who gathers wealth honestly and enjoys it, that's, that's Proverbs right there. That's the Book of Ecclesiastes in its sort of positive sense, is that we, when we accumulate wealth and we use it for God's glory, it's perfectly okay for us to also use it for our enjoyment. God wants us to enjoy the fruit of our labor. But when we accumulate wealth and use it as a way to gain power over someone and to abuse them, that is what James is railing against here And ultimately, with the audience that James is writing to, this is a form of murder. This is why he says, "You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter." Because a person who can't feed their family in the Old Testament or in the New Testament era was likely to see them die. There are not a ton of people in modern America that are starving to death on the streets. It's not to say it doesn't happen. It's not to say that there's not things like food insecurity or malnutrition, but there are, there are plenty of places people can go to get their basic food needs met. It was not like that-- It's not like that in most of the world now, and it certainly was not like that in the ancient world. And so a, a landowner who again refuses, we're talking about the Jewish landowners, refuses to obey the Jewish law to leave some leftovers for the poor, and instead gleans all the way to the corner so that they can turn a little bit of extra pro-profit, is not only sinning against the Old Testament law, but is committing murder in the strictest sense by refusing to preserve the life of these poor, uh, Christians who are destitute And again, James is encouraging his readers here that the Lord has not ignored their plight. We can think back to the Book of Habakkuk, where Habakkuk basically lodges a lawsuit against God, saying, "You are not paying attention. You're not doing your thing. You're not being faithful to your covenant." And God says, "Let me show you how faithful to my covenant I am. The Chaldeans are on the way." And Habakkuk is like, "Whoa, wait a second here. That's not what I had in mind." God sees the oppression of the poor. He knows when His people are targeted. He knows when children are abused or when widows are ignored. He knows when the government does something to shut down a church, or when the medical institution refuses to acknowledge your personal rights. He sees those things, and He's not ignorant, and He's not static. He's not sleeping on those things. The purpose here is to comfort the oppressed by showing that God is not ignorant of what has happened to them. Just two quick Old Testament examples that use similar language. In Genesis 4, we read of Cain and his murder of Abel, and in verse eight it says, "Cain spoke to Abel his brother, and when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Where is Abel your brother?' He said, 'I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?' And the Lord said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground.'" Numbers, uh, 35 verses 30 says, "If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. And you shall accept no ransom from him who has fled to the city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest. You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land except for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it." There's a rich history in the Old Testament of language of inanimate things, land, blood, wealth, other kinds of things that give testimony to God in some way, and specifically of these inanimate, uh, impersonal things testifying to the sin of the people that dwell around them. Even Christ says, "If these people do not worship me, the rocks will cry out." Now, the rocks are not literally crying out, although it certainly would be within God's power to make the rocks sing. But Christ is not saying in that passage that the rocks are going to form mouths and begin singing Hosanna or whatever song they might have been doing. What he's saying is that the very rocks themselves give testimony to the glory and goodness of God. So even if the people around here fail to do so, the entire rest of creation is doing so, and that is what James is saying here. My dear brothers and sisters scattered in the dispersion who have nothing, and in society's eyes are nothing, some of you are facing persecution. Some of you will be killed for your faith, but God sees because the wealth that is being accumulated on the breaking of your own backs is crying out. The corrosion of that gold serves as evidence for the condemnation of those who are harming you We often want justice in the moment. I think we always want justice in the moment, don't we? I think it's a really hard discipline to say, "That person wronged me, but I'm okay letting God sort it out." That is a hard pill to swallow, but it is often the pill that we have to take. It's the medicine that God uses to further our justification, our j- our, uh, excuse me, our sanctification Paul says, you know, "Do not take vengeance. Let the Lord do that." We can trust, and this is where the comfort of this passage comes for us, brothers and sisters, we can trust that when we are wronged, that when someone has done something to us that is a violation of God's law, that that sin will be punished. Now, when we're dealing with other Christians, that sin has already been punished, and so it is not, it is not appropriate for us to hold onto that and to take vengeance. That's what the parable of the unmerciful servant is all about If I as a Christian refuse to forgive my brother and sister when they've wronged me, it's me saying that I'm a better judge of their sin and I'm a better executioner than the Lord is when he punished that sin on the cross. But that sin was not atoned for when we're talking about unbelievers. When we're talking about those who will ultimately end their earthly life and find themselves waking up in flames, that sin has not been atoned for, and so God will have his justice, and we will have our justice. We won't turn there, but in Revelation, we're familiar with the passage, I think it's chapter six, where the martyred saints are under the throne and they say, "How long, O Lord?" Well, God doesn't answer their question, but he gives them new clothes. When Job cries out and he's, he's saying, "I don't understand why this is happening. Why are you targeting me, God? Why, why are you a hunter with your arrows in my liver?" God doesn't tell him why, but he says, essentially, "I'm God and you're just going to have to trust me that this is right." We see a very similar, uh, kind of situation here when we think about when, uh, when Abraham, uh, when God tells Abraham what he's about to do to Sodom and Gomorrah, and then Abraham negotiates, apparently negotiates with God, uh, trying to secure the salvation of the city for the sake of the righteous. And we read starting in verse 20 of chapter 18, he says, "The Lord said to, to Abraham," he says, " 'Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. If not, I will know.' " God is always seeing and investigating the sin of people We're, we're teaching my son, August, the children's catechism, which is a, a great resource. Um, and one of the questions is, "Can you see God?" And the answer is, "No, but he always sees me." Now that may feel at first to some people like a little bit of a heavy-handed answer, but knowing that God sees us is not just there to correct our sin. It should do that, right? Even the secret sins we commit in the dark when, when we're not being watched by anyone else, even, even those God sees. But do you know what else He sees? He sees your pain. He sees your suffering. He sees your victories even when no one else is celebrating them. He sees your progress. He sees you, and that should be a great source of comfort Now this passage, especially verse six, can be a little bit hard to apply because although we're the targeted audience, we're not the target of the judgment oracle. So I think what we have to do, we have to, we have to think about this in light of the way that God talks about the judgment of unbelievers in other places in the scripture, and how that helps us to understand kind of what our, what our status is. If you'll take your Bibles and open to Matthew chapter 25, I think the, um, the account here of the goat and sheep judgment, uh, is instructive for us Starting in verse 31, it says, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory and the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King answered them, 'Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those on the left, 'Depart from me for you for, uh, depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, I was naked and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also, uh, they also will say, answer saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not minister to you?' Then he will answer them saying, 'Truly I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Now, this passage is sometimes understood as a general command to feed the poor or the sick, or to visit those in prisons, or any of the f- the sort of mercy ministry things that, that, um, are mentioned here. And those are all things that Christians should do, right? We should be engaged in, um, in mercy ministry to the poor, to those who are destitute. We should be mindful and thoughtful of those who have needs around us. What this passage is teaching, though, is not a general command to feed all people, but a specific command to care for your brothers and sisters in Christ when they have a need He doesn't say to the righteous, "You did these to everyone." He says, "Whatever you did to the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me." All of the things that are listed here, the, the six mercy ministries that are listed by Christ here, are things that persecuted Christians were suffering at the time, persecuted Jew- Jewish Christians, and that would be common experiences for, for Jewish Christians and for all persecuted Christians. Right? They're hungry. They don't have food. Our diaspora Jewish Christians don't have land to farm, and even if they're able to scrape together enough funding to lease out a farm, they're being, uh, they're being totally overwhelmed by the cost of that. The sort of homeowners association dues of these pyramid schemes that were going on in the first century, they were so exorbitant that it wasn't even subs- subsistence farming. Christians were being thrown in, uh, in prison. They didn't have enough money to replace their clothes when it wore out. They couldn't have access to clean water. We take clean water as such a, such a basic thing, and it's so easy. You just turn on the tap, or you just go to the store and you buy a bottle of $7 water. It wasn't like this in the first century. If you didn't have a well, you didn't have water, unless you had someone who cared enough to share this precious resource with you. And so what Christ is saying to, to his people, both in the immediate audience on the Sermon on the Mount, uh, and in this, the Olivet Discourse here, what he's saying to his people is when someone in the body of Christ does not have what they need, the body of Christ should step up and make sure that that is the case, that they take care of that person. And likewise, he's saying to those who are not a part of the body of Christ, "Depart from me, I never knew you." Now, the intro to this, why it sometimes is called a parable, is the sheep and the goats. We sometimes go way too far into the arena of comparing the behavior of sheeps with the behavior of the people here, right? Sheep are nice, they're affable, they listen to you. In reality, from what I understand, sheep are pretty dumb and can be very stubborn, right? And then we, we read and we go, "Goats are stubborn, they're rebellious, they're not really good for anything." Well, there's a reason people have goats on farms. They, they can be stubborn, right? They can be destructive, but they also serve a purpose. So the point here is not that sheep are good and goats are bad. The point is that sheep are not goats and goats are not sheep. And, uh, another point that comes with this is sheep don't become goats by behaving like goats, and goats don't become sheep by acting like sheep. I have some friends that will tell you they have very affectionate, friendly, lovable goats, right? I'd, I would... If I could get my kids one of those little pygmy goats that everybody loves, I would do that, 'cause they can be very kind, very sweet, and they're very smart. But they're not sheep. And if you read this passage carefully, this fact that those who are taken to the right are, are in fact taken to the right is not because they fed the poor. It's not because they ministered to Christ by feeding the least of these. They did those things because they were part of the kingdom The King says to those on His right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." The sheep on the right were always going to be the sheep on the right. They were predestined according to the counsel of God's will before all time to live and walk in good works. That's just Ephesians 2 there. That's also just James 2 there. You have faith, I will show you my faith by my works. This is evidence language, loved ones Likewise, the ones who are told to depart into eternal darkness were also predestined not to inherit this kingdom. No kingdom was prepared for them before the foundation of the world. They have no inheritance. They have nothing. They will end up in the state that they are trying to impose on these poor Jewish Christians. They will end up in the state that they may be trying to impose on some of us in this room And for the final verse here in, in chapter five, in verse six here, there's a lot of discussion and debate in the commentaries about who the identity of this righteous one is. It says, "You've condemned and murdered the righteous person, he does not resist you." Now, some commentators will take the fact that this is the singular righteous person, that he has been murdered and h- was condemned, and will take this as a reference to Christ. And that would, would make good sense, right? The Jewish, the wealthy Jewish landowners, the wealthy Jews in Jerusalem who per- who persecuted and cast out, um, the Christians, they were in the same group of people who condemned and murdered Jesus And at least at the time of writing this, and in many ways in our own day, God is not necessarily resisting them. He's allowing them to store up judgment for the coming day of wrath There are others who will take this as sort of the hypothetical singular, right? The righteous one or the righteous person is this, uh, representative hypothetical person that represents all of the persecuted Christians. And so it's more like saying, um, to the, the wealthy landowners who are persecuting Christians, "You have condemned and murdered the Christians, the righteous people, and we do not resist you." Now, at the end of the day, it's, it's always good to have good, sober, well-intentioned, text-based debates about what the Bible means. We can and we should try to convince others, uh, when we think they're wrong about what the scripture means. So that's not what I'm saying here. But in many ways, which of those two perspectives it actually is doesn't change the interpretation of this passage. Like we read in Matthew 25, like we read in Acts 9 when Christ comes and confronts Saul, what you do to God's people, you are doing to Christ himself. What you do to the body, you have done to the head. It's a little bit weird to say that when I stub my toe, I injure my head, but that's true, right? I don't injure my toe as though it's some separate piece. It's not like I'm a Lego man where I can just swap out a hand that gets cracked and put it back on. When I injure my toe, I injure myself. My whole body is injured even though it's specific to a part of my body. When you-- when someone persecutes you, when they, uh, try to extort your wealth, your funds, when they try to harm your body, when they try to take away your children, all things that are happening not just out there in the world, but in our country, even in our own region. When they try to tell you that because you don't wanna play a basketball game, that you can't play sports at all. When a city taxes a portion of a church's property because they don't think it's being used for religious purposes, they are doing that to Jesus Christ himself, and God will not be mocked This should call us both to faithfulness and to encouragement How people treat Christ or how people treat Christ's people, including how we trust, tr- uh, treat Christ's people, shows us what we think about Christ. The people who take care of the church do so because they love God, and they do it out of a regenerated heart that already loves God. And the people who hate the church do it because they hate Christ, and they do it out of their wickedness and out of their wicked heart This brings us back again to the thesis statement of James. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." And then he says later in that, uh, first chapter in verse nine, "Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass, he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower fails, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." Now, you're all coming up to the end of James here. Um, we probably have two, two more sermons, I would guess, and the rest of this chapter is reinforcing this. It's unpacking for the immediate audience and therefore for us, it's unpacking that although the rich have their punishment coming to them, that likewise our consolation, our comfort from Christ is also coming to us. He closes the whole letter out, he returns to his thesis statement to say, "I'm not going to pretend that the trials you're going through are joyful, but you can count it all joy." You can reckon it, you can impute it as joy, my brothers and sisters. You can put it in the joy column instead of the t- the pain column, right? We had discussion about the beautiful word imputation in the announcements and scripture reading in the beginning here Imputation is a, is an accounting term. And when we count it all joy, we're taking what should be a red line in the, in the loss ledger, right? We're taking what should be an expense, and we're able to move it to the profit. We're able to move it to the positive side, not because it didn't hurt and not because we wanted it to happen, but because our God is good enough to not rob us of the chance to be sanctified When we are oppressed and opposed, those who are oppressing and oppose us mean it for evil, just like Joseph's brothers, uh, and Pharaoh, and all sorts of wicked men in, in the Old Testament and in our own world. Pilate, Herod, you mean, you name it in the Bible, this applies. They meant their wicked acts for wicked things, but God, rich in mercy, works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. And what is that purpose? That we might be transformed into the image of Christ so that Christ may be glorified and He may be the firstborn among many brothers. When we face trials and suffering of every kind, it leads us to our sanctification and to our ultimate glorification. We do not earn those things. We don't sanctify ourselves any more than we justify ourselves, or that any more than we will glorify ourselves or will raise ourselves from the dead. That is all God's work from start to finish. But God does use these things that He brings us through as a way to bring about that work It's like he bends us over the hammer, over the anvil of trials, and he hammers us until we become a sharp sword in the hand of, in his hand. Or he polishes us with a rough cloth until we become a smooth, beautiful gem, right? Think of any number of refining things that need to be done. It always involves, if the thing was, uh, was a person, it always involves something that would hurt a little bit. It always involves a little bit of damage to wear away the impurities. Our sanctification and our glorification is no different than that. He uses adversity. He uses the wicked actions and intentions of, of evil men and women. He uses those things to glorify us. So although we should never, uh, we should never seek those things, right? You don't have to go and make yourself the soft target to the wicked people. It's okay to keep your head down. There's nothing wrong with that. The Jewish Christians were probably doing their best to keep their heads down most of the time, and that's fine. There's not any words in scripture about being a coward if you don't, if you don't put a target on your back. But your target is gonna get there eventually, and that's not a bad thing. We can welcome that. We can count it as joy because of who God is and what he's done. The supreme act of suffering, the supreme act of, of evil happened to the only innocent person there ever was, and it happened to him for us.  this episode is available below.

Summary Join co-host, Todd Hoffman from WSTR | Galactic Public Access, as he explores the legacy of the film Aliens, its impact on sci-fi and action genres, and the latest Star Wars news, including Rey's new Jedi plan and upcoming Lego sets. Key Topics The impact of Aliens on sci-fi and action genres James Cameron's contributions to the Aliens franchise The character of Ellen Ripley as a cinematic hero The influence of Aliens on video games and pop culture Latest Star Wars news: Rey's Jedi Order and upcoming sets Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 04:18 How Cameron Followed Ridley Scott's Alien 08:08 Why Ripley Is a Cinematic Icon 11:31 Hudson's Memorable Quotes 13:56 Favorite Marine and Equipment 14:53 Action vs Horror in Aliens 15:48 The Queen Alien and Tension Scenes 16:17 The Role of Practical Effects 18:18 Influence of Aliens on Video Games 20:43 Why Xenomorphs Are Timeless 22:19 Alien vs Aliens: Which Is Better? 23:35 Memorable Quotes and Fan Faves 24:32 Legacy of Aliens in Media 25:29 Aliens as a Model for Action Films 26:55 Why Fans Still Love Xenomorphs 28:07 Star Wars News: Rey's Jedi Plan 30:28 Upcoming Lego Star Wars Sets 33:05 Star Wars and Marvel: New Announcements 35:22 Personal Life and Geeky Updates 38:12 Closing Remarks and Next Episode Resources & Links: Socials: @wstrmedia Email: mailbox@wstrmedia.com Join us next time as we explore the summer of 86 in movies, diving into iconic films from the year that shaped a generation, only here on WSTR Galactic Public Access!

Joel and Stephen share their thoughts on the new trailer for Avengers: Doomsday, and speculate on what MARVEL fan expectations should be, then dive into Season 2 of the live action Avatar The Last Airbender from Netflix, and look to the starts with a new LEGO set.Show notes for The Citadel Cafe are here:https://thecitadelcafe.com/2026/07/30/the-citadel-cafe-507-avatar-the-last-doomsday/Join The Citadel Cafe Discord community!http://Patreon.com/TheCitadelCafeThe Citadel Cafe YouTube:https://youtube.com/thecitadelcafeMusic for The Citadel Cafe by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who knew The Guys were handymen? Mechanics.  Consultants, if you will.   And this week they are here to fix Dr. Who.  Of course, it's mostly Robbie with his hands on the dials, but Art and Jay do have opinions.  Is it back to basics?  Pleasing the core fans?  More tech and modern effects, or less?  They all agreed that characters and story make the difference.  And they are willing to move to England and be co-show-runners if the BBC will cover the tab.   Since that's somewhat unlikely, there is a backup plan: travel just a couple of hours and check out the new Lego store in our capital city, the first in the state.  And they can watch trailers along the way: Doomsday, Spider-Man, and even the scary Jessica Chastain movie.   Listen to this episode (and the 390+ that came before it) and perhaps you, too, can fix Guys of a Certain Age.  

My Army Men Book: https://a.co/d/eZWZ6ezMy LEGO Store: https://daleybricks.com/CHEAP GAMES: https://www.instant-gaming.com/?igr=D...LEGO COLLECTION TRACKING APP: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-stor...My Discord:   / discord  I built the ROMAN ARMY in LEGO... In today's video DaleyTactics builds a realistic Roman Army LEGO Siege Battle with a Roman Military laying siege to a castle in this epic lego moc! #lego #romanarmy #legomoc Thanks for watching this LEGO content! I do more LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Zombies, LEGO Jurrasic Park, LEGO Marvel, LEGO Guns, LEGO Military, LEGO Weapons, LEGO Medieval Knights, LEGO Castle, LEGO Experiments and more LEGO Moc content as well as stop motion animation content on this channel! Be sure to subscribe and comment if you want me to cover any other LEGO topics!i built a lego medieval army in 7 days, how to build lego roman army, lego roman army, i built gladiator in lego, i built a lego us army but its realistic, i built lego, largest army the romans faced, i built a lego castle, lego german army, i built lego gladiator, lego army building, roman lego, roman army, lego modern army, roman lego moc, roman legos, lego roman wars, lego roman, modern lego army, lego custom army, lego archer army, lego roman battle, lego moc army, lego romans, lego modern us army, lego military army

LEGO enters Comic Con with a lot to show off! Star Trek, Shrek, and Doomsday! Olivia Rodrigo makes her album debut... LEGO style! All that and more news on this week's Bricking LEGO News!FOLLOW my YouTube channel: Back 2 BrickLEGO set Review: 11274 Arcade Pinball Machine Moc Review: Spider-Man 2002 Green Goblin Glider by BatBrixOlivia Rodrigo goes on tourParadisa contestMattel goes Master of the UniverseLEGO teases BatmanSDCC SMART BoothNINJAGO CrocsDonkey Kong ArcadeDREAMZzz crossoverShrek MinifigsMarvel Avengers DoomsdayNew GWPU.S.S. Enterprise Bridgefree Stanley strawsWorkings not getting paidPolybag lineupAugust shopping listParty coming to the Switch 2Largest LEGO MosaicThank you, Patrons! - Bellefonte Bricks Studio, Jimmy Tucker, David, Paul Snellen, Lee Jackson, Pop's Block Shop, Steve Miles, David  Support the showSee some of the designs I've built - REBRICKABLE.COMHead over to Back2brick.com for links to the latest LEGO set discounts!Support the podcast through our affiliate links AND join the Back 2 Brick Patreon!Have a question? Want to be a guest? Send me a message!backtobrick@gmail.comBack 2 Brick Podcast is not an affiliate nor endorsed by the LEGO Group.LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Minifigure, and the Brick and Knob configurations are trademarks of the LEGO Group of Companies. ©2025 The LEGO Group.

I will be moderating two panels at the Southern-Fried Gaming Expo from July 31-August 2nd in Atlanta! Microsoft restores an unrestorable 25 year old account that was hacked after learning the user was a prominent content creator. Valve has says that the RAM crisis is going to get worse, as they are seeing leading indicators that prices will rise even more for consumers in 3-6 months time. A new update to SteamVR and a new Great On Frame page means that the Steam Frame release is imminent. (But not Tomorrow.) Then we talk about the Donkey Kong LEGO set as well as talking to Jamie from OLR about how messy our office spaces are and home videos we have on analog media.

W dwumiesiączce na lato min. Kompendium o teoriach spiskowych, dokument o seksie w ZSRR, absurdalna opowieść o wypadku fortepianowym, Lego i Z archiwum X, jakie gumki do włosów nosi Haaland i jaką kawę pije; nowa płyta Nosowskiej; siostry Womack, Stonesi mają teledysk zrobiony przez Polaka, roboty humanoidalne dla każdego, Hopkins wydaje płytę, Holoubek jedzie do Toronto, a w Tokio znowu można spać w hotelu, gdzie kręcono film Między słowami. Masa newsów, muzyki, felietony Mochnaczewskiej, Kiszy, Fiolki, Kasi, Sulej i Makselona oraz wiersz w interpretacji Agnieszki Żulewskiej. Ten podcast powstaje dzięki Patronom i wielkie dzięki im za wsparcie! https://patronite.pl/karolinakp Zasubskrybuj kanał: https://www.youtube.com/@karolinakorwinpiotrowska8501 0:00:00 Intro 0:02:26 Nowelizację ustawy o ochronie zwierząt 0:03:21 Felieton Macieja Makselona 0:09:58 Newsy i newsiki 0:18:32 The Rolling Stones - Hit Me In The Head 0:21:25 Newsy i newsiki 0:23:00 Anthony Hopkins: 1947: Suite for Solo Piano & Orchestra: II. Bracken Road 0:27:42 Newsy i newsiki 0:31:25 CTID - Haaland Song (Ha Ha Ha) 0:32:26 Newsy i newsiki 0:37:57 Comiesięczna księgarnia 0:49:01 Felieton Anny Mochnaczewskiej 1:01:22 W kinie i na kanapie 1:22:31 Przegląd prasy 1:26:31 Jubileuszową płyta Katarzyny Nosowskej 1:32:46 Nosowska - Wstyd 1:37:34 Adam Asnyk - Letni wieczór. Czyta Agnieszka Żulewska 1:40:19 Felieton Soni Kiszy 1:51:52 Lalka 1:55:22 Felieton Karoliny Sulej 2:09:38 Teatr Sensacji Kobra 2:12:07 The Womack Sisters - If I Let You 2:17:32 Kawa od Haalanda 2:18:31 Felieton Fiolki Najdenowicz 2:26:25 Felieton Katarzyny Kasi 2:31:42 Outro 2:34:54 Oczy (Sofia Lebedeva & Grzech Piotrowski) Materiały wykorzystane w podcaście: Prezydent RP Nawrocki: Rząd musi zacząć poważnie traktować kryzys w służbie zdrowia (0:01:41 - 0:01:46) @Telewizja_Republika Źródło: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk8k1o1Y_GI Utah boarding school accused of abusing Paris Hilton loses license (0:00:32 - 0:00:42) @NBCNews Źródło: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyKRcZ-kSh4 Gillian Anderson reopens the X-Files | LEGO® Ideas | The LEGO Group @TheLEGOGroup Źródło: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhHKsgH39XI Don't Die: O człowieku, który postanowił żyć wiecznie :: Zwiastun Netflix :: Oglądać Czy Nie? @OgladacCzyNie Źródło: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hiaq5BRdALE Sex in the Soviet Union | Trailer | Available Now @journeyman Źródło: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HFGYMvQkAs PROUD | trailer II @HBOMaxPL Źródło: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Aqzn_p38tc The Piano Accident / L'Accident de piano (2025) - Trailer (English Subs) @my_frenchstories Źródło: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FczpuEwxcWk Tak sędzia zwrócił się do Żaka po ogłoszeniu wyroku: Interesowało pana wszystko, tylko nie skrucha (0:01:48 - 0:04:15) @wp-pl Źródło: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAQpEbdFuKA LALKA | Oficjalny teaser #2 | Kino Świat @KinoSwiatPL Źródła: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsmL7HKwVWM Teatr Sensacji Kobra - czołówka czarno-biała @teatrtv6326 Źródło: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwVNiPah868 Erling Haaland starts his day with a carefully crafted coffee @dmarge Źródło: https://www.instagram.com/dmarge/p/DbCUXc2DEr6/?img_index=2 Linki: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karolinakp/ WWW: https://kkpmedia.pl Posłuchaj na innych platformach: https://linktr.ee/karolinakp

Giga Bytes Podcast 421: Nuevo Kratos, Laufey con fecha, habla GameStop y mucho más!!! Spiderman Brand New Day Review Gears E Day Multiplayer hands on impressions God of War Laufey Lanza febrero 16. 2027, próximo God of War con Kratos viene luego, será continuación directa Ryan Hurst se desgarra bicep, buscaran nuevo actor para Kratos Circana: solo 7 juegos han vendido más de 100,000 undidades (ninguno alcanzo 275,000 unidades durante la primera mitad 2026) en lo que va de año en PS (US), semana terminando julio 11 2026, solo dos títulos sobrepasaron 10,000 unidades vendidas GameStop CEO: Ryan Cohen “No Importa en lo absoluto” hablando de ventas de software en sus tiendas, menos del 12% de sus ventas son juegos S&P Global Market Intelligence: Pronósticos ventas de consolas Switch 2: 17.1 millones de unidades 2026 PS5: 2025 17.1m, 2026 13.2m Xbox Series X/S: 3.2m 2025, esperan 2.5m vendidas en 2026, con rápida caída a cero PS6: esperan potencialmente lanzamiento para 2028 (4m de unidades), 17.2m para 2030 Helix: esperan 2m de unidades para su primer año de venta, 7.3m para 2030 Marvel Hall H SD Comicon 2026 Vistazo a Doom, Witches of Latveria Hot Toys, Hasbro, Lego, etc muestran merch Deadpool llega al panel Black Panther 3 dic 15 2028, David Jonsson (The Long Walk) sera Prince T'challa Ryan Gosling sera Ghost Rider en cines 2028 con Shawn Levy (Deadpool and Wolvernie, SW Starfighgter) dirigiendo Update de PSSR para Spiderman 2, trajes de Tokon y BND MW4 Beta: Early Access: Agosto 21-25 (Preordenes) Open Beta Agosto 28-septiembre 1 COD Next agosto 21 Demoran Felxstrike hasta nuevo aviso NBA 2K27: Wemby, Clark Deluxe Edition, Rose Ultimate AC Resynched: 3 millones vendidos, Black ops exitoso en PS5 Masters of The Universe ya en Prime Video Marvel Tokon Open Beta, más concurrentes para juegos de pelea en Steam   Sigueme y Suscribete: Facebook.com/elgiga Youtube.com/elgiga947 Instagram.com/elgiga947             Twitch.tv/elgiga947 Twitter.com/elgiga947 Giga Bytes Podcast   #monsterenergypr @monsterenergy @Stephreyesmarketing @caribbeanxsports @eriberto213 #gigabytespodcast

Read more from VPM News:  Henrico supervisors greenlight 2045 planning blueprint  ICYMI: Committees lay groundwork to campaign on constitutional amendments  VPM News congressional primary previews: 1st District | 4th District | 5th District | 7th District | US Senate    Other links:  Waynesboro residents question operations permit for Northrop Grumman (WMRA)  Uninsured ER visits in Virginia spike nearly 50%, experts warn it could get worse (WTVR)  Workers installing drywall at LEGO site: we're not paid for overtime (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  Va. education department seeks new student assessment vendor (Virginia Mercury)  Louisa residents prepare for state review of proposed Valley Link transmission line (WRIC)  Google to use electric cooling instead of water in at least 1 of 3 data centers on Botetourt campus (Cardinal News)  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

In this episode of The Beacon Way Podcast, Adrienne Wilkerson sits down with Shannon Russell, founder of Build Better Teams Consulting, to explore how LEGO Serious Play can help organizations strengthen communication, uncover new ideas, and create more connected teams.Shannon began her career as a television producer before leaving the industry to build a STEM education business while raising two young children. After spending more than eight years teaching LEGO and robotics, she discovered LEGO Serious Play, a hands-on methodology that helps adults think, communicate, and solve problems in a more visual and collaborative way. During the conversation, Shannon explains how building with LEGO can create a more level playing field during meetings. Instead of hearing only from the most vocal people in the room, every team member has an opportunity to build, explain, and contribute their perspective.Adrienne and Shannon also discuss the challenges of managing remote and growing teams, the importance of regular check-ins, and why leaders need to create more opportunities for genuine human connection in an increasingly digital workplace.Whether you are leading a small business, navigating rapid growth, managing a remote team, or trying to improve collaboration across your organization, this conversation offers practical ways to help people feel heard, valued, and connected.In This Episode• Shannon's transition from television producer to entrepreneur • Starting a business while raising young children • How Shannon's STEM education company evolved • What LEGO Serious Play is and how it works • Why hands-on learning can improve understanding and retention • Creating space for quieter team members to contribute • How LEGO can reveal team roles, gaps, and opportunities • Supporting accidental business owners who suddenly have a team • Using LEGO Serious Play with remote and in-person teams • How regular check-ins strengthen team cohesion • Building stronger relationships in remote workplaces • Why celebrating wins can create a healthier team culture Key TakeawaysHands-on learning creates deeper understanding: LEGO Serious Play encourages people to think with their hands. Team members build their answers, explain their ideas, and create a visual representation that others can better understand and remember.Every team member deserves an opportunity to contribute: Traditional meetings often favor the most vocal people in the room. A structured building exercise gives quieter or more introverted team members an equal opportunity to share their ideas.Strong teams require consistent connection: Remote work can leave employees feeling isolated or disconnected from the larger organization. Regular team check-ins and intentional one-on-one conversations can help people understand their priorities, ask for support, and feel valued.Leaders need to know their people: Team cohesion is not only about productivity. Asking about an employee's family, challenges, goals, and life outside of work can build the trust needed for stronger communication and long-term retention.Celebrating progress strengthens culture: Ending the week by recognizing personal and professional wins can help teams focus on what is going well instead of only discussing problems and unfinished tasks.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Shannon's Career Journey01:14 Transitioning from Television to STEM Education03:14 Starting a Business with Young Children08:41 Discovering LEGO Serious Play10:50 How LEGO Serious Play Improves Team Collaboration13:24 Tactile Learning and Human Connection16:26 Building Team Roles and Organizational Plans17:46 Supporting Accidental Business Owners19:16 Helping Team Members Understand Their Roles21:38 Virtual vs. In-Person LEGO Sessions23:28 Keeping Growing Teams Connected24:22 Weekly and Individual Team Check-Ins26:17 Celebrating Wins and Strengthening Culture28:55 Building Deeper Workplace Relationships30:23 How to Connect with Shannon RussellConnect with Shannon Russell:Build Better Teams Consultinghttps://buildbetterteamsconsulting.comBuild Better Teams Podcasthttps://buildbetterteamsconsulting.com/podcast

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My LEGO Store: https://daleybricks.com/CHEAP GAMES: https://www.instant-gaming.com/?igr=DaleyTacticsMy Discord: https://discord.gg/sFG5yPHThese new LEGO World War 2 German Army Minifigures are insanely detalied and realistic World War 2 Minifigures! These are every fake lego world war 2 minifigures and include lego weapons, lego soldiers, and lego battle minifigures! #lego #worldwar2 #new Thanks for watching this LEGO content! I do more LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Zombies, LEGO Jurrasic Park, LEGO Marvel, LEGO Guns, LEGO Military, LEGO Weapons, LEGO Medieval Knights, LEGO Castle, LEGO Experiments and more LEGO Moc content as well as stop motion animation content on this channel! Be sure to subscribe and comment if you want me to cover any other LEGO topics!

John is big-headed, Alison has a right of reply, and Liz explains how voting should work. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Letters of comment Brian Nisbet (Facebook) Chris Garcia (email) Eurocon 2029: Bid for Warsaw, Poland Constanze Hofmann (email) ESFS ESFS statues Gareth Kavanagh (Facebook) Ivaylo Alekseev (email) Leigh Edmonds (email) Digger by Ursula Vernon Neil Ottenstein (Facebook) Renay (Bluesky) Shi Lala (Facebook) Alison: Scott Edelman (Bluesky) We also heard from Constanze Hofmann, Farah Mendlesohn, Ivan Sinha, Jonathan Cowie, Kev McVeigh, Lilian Edwards, and Paul Weimer Worldcon 2026: LAcon V The WSFS Business Meeting Agenda WSFS Business Meeting Recaps from LAcon V F.7 Limitation on Listed Contributors for Hugo Award Finalists This was withdrawn by Olav Rokne at the Preliminary Business Meeting “Role Creep in the Hugo Awards Semiprozine Category” by Tammy Coxen on File 770 “Role Creep and the Numbers Game: A Measured Response” by Kat Kourbeti on File 770 F.8 Purposeful Proportionality [Alison told me that we should link a CGP Grey video here but then didn't put it in the show notes, so good luck finding it, listeners—John] History of Hugo Category Definitions by Tammy Coxen Unofficial WSFS Business Meeting Browser by Andrew January Locus Locus Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the Year: Volume 1 on Kickstarter Picks John: Mothership Companion Alison: Strange Horticulture Liz: Moderation by Elaine Castillo Credits Cover art: “Stand Up and Be Counted”, found art détourned by Alison Scott Alt text: 72 assorted LEGO minifigs in a 6x12 grid. Words above read “Octothorpe 165” and below read “WSFS Business Meeting Register: Stand up and be Counted”. The title case on the part of the sentence after the colon is, frankly, bananas, and it certainly isn't aligned with the Octothorpe style guide. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

El chamuco está de regreso y esta vez no se tocará el corazón a la hora de destrozar a una familia completa, todo para intentar encontrar la daga antes de que se la claven.Evil Dead Burn (2026)Dirigida por Sébastien Vanicek-Puedes apoyarnos y tener acceso anticipado enhttps://www.patreon.com/updateando Show en vivo y más contenido enTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/updateando-https://www.instagram.com/updateando/https://twitter.com/updateandohttps://www.facebook.com/updateando/https://discord.gg/YftZeAj-Sigue a Lego:https://twitter.com/Lego_Rodriguezhttps://www.instagram.com/Lego__RodriguezSigue a Mei:https://www.instagram.com/meimeimei.___Sigue a Cham:https://x.com/Cham311#EvilDeadBurn #SebastienVanicek #EvilDead

Darkness Radio presents Supernatural News/Parashare: The Paranormal vs. The Government Edition w/Jessi Doyle!This week, President Trump is waiving NDA's in an attempt to get UAP witnesses to come forward!  The FBI secretly investigated Bigfoot; we have the details!  Did a time traveller show up to Elvis Presley's last ever concert? We'll explain...  And, A man fakes his own funeral to escape drunk driving legal consequences!  Lightning struck a Chinese rocket as it attempted to launch!  See the "striking" photo here: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/epic-photo-captures-lightning-striking-a-chinese-rocket-during-liftoffMulder and Scully are back with the X-Files!... in LEGO form... See the commercial for the new set HERE:  https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/news/400101/mulder-and-scully-are-back-as-an-impressive-x-files-lego-setHave you ever wanted to be on Game of Thrones?! Maybe we aren't thinking of the same show... check out the Russian game show (don't eat first...) here: https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/news/400102/bizarre-toilet-drinking-competition-is-dubbed-game-of-thronesHunt For The Appalachian Bigfoot: Valley Of The Giants is a new full-length documentary from Jessi Doyle of Hellbent Holler, presented by Small Town Monsters. It appears on Small Town Monsters' YouTube channel starting August 2nd, and you can find it here:  https://www.youtube.com/@SmallTownMonstersCheck out Hellbent Holler on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@hellbenthollerCheck out Hellbent Holler's website:  https://hellbentholler.com/Darkness Radio Hoodies! Fleece Pants! Bucket Hats! Mugs! Glasses! and MORE!There are new and different (and really cool) items all the time in the Darkness Radio Online store on our website!  Check out the Darkness Radio Store!   https://www.darknessradioshow.com/store/Make sure you update your Darkness Radio Apple Apps!and subscribe to the Darkness Radio YouTube page:  https://www.youtube.com/@DRTimDennis#paranormal  #supernatural  #paranormalpodcasts  #darknessradio  #timdennis  #jessidoyle #paranormalinvestigator #hellbentholler #smalltownmonsters #supernaturalnews  #parashare  #ghosts  #spirits #hauntings #hauntedhouses #haunteddolls #demons #supernaturalsex #deliverances #exorcisms #paranormalinvestigation #ghosthunters  #Psychics  #tarot  #ouija  #Aliens  #UFO #UAP #Extraterrestrials #alienhumanhybrid #alienabduction #alienimplant #Alienspaceships  #disclosure #disclosureday #shadowpeople #AATIP #DIA #Cryptids #Cryptozoology #bigfoot #sasquatch #yeti  #abominablesnowman #ogopogo #lochnessmonster #chupacabra #beastofbrayroad #mothman  #artificialintelligence #AI  #NASA  #CIA #FBI #conspiracytheory #neardeatheexperience 

CONTENT WARNING: PREGNANCY LOSSEpisode Summary: In this week's episode of your favorite Korean Adoptee podcast, the Janchi Boys sit down and talk about birth mothers, Korea's truth and reconciliation and how family separation continues to shape us. Heads up, it's kind of a heavy one.Read the article that inspired the conversation---// Support the Show!Online at janchishow.com / @janchishowSupport the show at janchishow.com/supportWatch our Youtube VideosWrite us a note: janchishow@gmail.comThe Janchi Show Quick BioThe Janchi Show focuses on exploring intersectional identities and current events through the lens of adoption, race, lived experience and more. Sometimes we have guests, and sometimes it's just the three of us. Either way, it's always a janchi!// Meet the Janchi Boys!Nathan NowackNathan (he/him) is a transracial Korean American adoptee who was born in Seoul in the 1970s. He was adopted at the age of 5 months old and raised in a small town in Oklahoma along with a non-biological Korean adopted sister.  After going to college in Colorado he later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a digital media career and eventually started 2 photography companies.  He loves spending time with his wife and 3 kids, playing golf, and collecting Lego. He is in reunion with his biological family as the youngest of 7 and has been in contact since 2015.  He currently serves on the Advisory Council for KAAN and helps with the planning of their annual adoptee conference.  In 2021, Nathan and his family moved back to Colorado to be closer to family and start a new chapter in their lives.  Connect with Nathan!Website: http://www.coverve.comInstagram: http://instagram.com/nnowackPatrick ArmstrongPatrick Armstrong (he/him) is a transracial Korean American adoptee, podcaster, speaker, and community facilitator. He is one of the hosts of the Janchi Show, a podcast that explores and celebrates the experiences and stories of Korean adoptees everywhere. He also is host of Conversation Piece with Patrick Armstrong, a podcast where he discusses the missing pieces of the conversations we're already having. He is a cofounder of the Asian Adoptees of Indiana, a group dedicated to creating a safe, engaging community for all Asian adoptees who need it. He is currently based in Indianapolis with his wife and cat. Connect with Patrick!Website: http://patrickintheworld.meLinkedIn: http://linkedin/in/patrickintheworldInstagram: http://instagram.com/patrickintheworldK.J. Roelke (@kjroelke)KJ (he/him) was adopted from Daegu and raised in Dallas, Texas with his two biological, older siblings and his younger sister, adopted from Russia. After spending a decade in the Midwest for college and career, he and his wife are back in Dallas and living large! He has been on his journey of discovery since 2015 and spends his days as a web developer for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.Connect with K.J.!Website: https://kjroelke.online/LinkedIn: https://linkedin/in/kjroelkeInstagram: https://instagram.com/kjroelke// Listen to/Watch The Janchi Show on all major platforms:Apple: http://janchishow.com/appleSpotify: http://janchishow.com/spotifyYoutube: http://janchishow.com/youtubeGratitude & CreditsMichelle Nam for our logo and brandingJerry Won for bring us togetherThis show is created and produced by Patrick, Nathan and KJ and is the sole property of the Janchi Show, LLC.

My LEGO Customs Store: https://daleybricks.com/In today's video, I have built the American Civil War in LEGO! This LEGO Civil War is simulated with hundreds of lego minifigure soldiers from the LEGO Confederate Army and the LEGO Union Army! Can the LEGO Army manage to win the LEGO Civil War Battle? #lego #civilwar #legomoc LEGO Tracking App: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6758356210?pt=128486538&ct=daley&mt=8My Book: https://a.co/d/06siKodLDISCORD: https://discord.gg/WN7puNAlego civil war,lego american civil war,lego army,lego civil war army,lego confederate army,lego union army,lego minifigures,lego military,lego history,lego soldiers,lego weapons,lego musket battle,lego line battle,lego stop motion,lego civil war stop motion,lego animation,epic,massive,huge,large,largest,new,lego moc,lego civil war moc,lego american war,lego american civil war battleLast LEGO Giveaway Winner: VersatiIionPlease email daleytacticsbiz@gmail.com to claim your lego prize!Void after 1 week, unable to ship outside USA

Chris is knee deep into bootlegs and introduces us to a NEW obsession. Charles adds another LEGO set to his collection. And John finds the first Deadpool figure on card!

Angry PlayStation fans propose PS5 blackout in protest of Sony's disc decision, Xbox Backward Compatibility launches on PC, Xbox has started testing the option to stream games for free with ads at the start, and Splatoon Raiders was originally going to be a tower defence game. Also: crisp sandwiches, LEGO sets, Gogglebox and more. Games Discussed: Splatoon Raiders, Metal Gear Solid 3, Final Fantasy VII Remake, BC-250. SUPPORT Patreon CONTACT Website Discord Bluesky Threads Instagram Facebook FOLLOW TCGS on Bluesky David on Bluesky Sean on Bluesky Mat on Bluesky James on Bluesky WATCH Twitch YouTube LISTEN Spotify Apple Podcasts Pocket Casts CREDITS Music by Nick Parton Art by Dave Chong

Can AI make you better at Photoshop instead of replacing Photoshop? Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar explore that question on AwesomeCast 789 as Sorg shares a workflow for turning AI-generated concepts into editable graphics while keeping control of the final design. The crew also gets into Pittsburgh technology history with plans to preserve Westinghouse's Atom Smasher, the impressive Commercial Street Bridge replacement, and the accessibility origins of the modern audiobook. Then the geekery kicks into high gear: Xbox expands its classic-game preservation efforts to PC, Hasbro combines Transformers with Jem and the Holograms, LEGO brings Smart Play to Star Trek, Robosen releases an Optimus Prime robot designed to reopen childhood wounds, and Universal plans movies based on ten Atari properties. Plus, Chachi has gaming headlines involving Hasbro, Steam Deck and Atari, and the crew discusses the backlash surrounding a $58,000 humanoid robot proposed for use in a New York school district. It's Pittsburgh technology, AI creativity, retro gaming, accessibility, robots and pop-culture nostalgia on AwesomeCast 789.

Darkness Radio presents Supernatural News/Parashare: The Paranormal vs. The Government Edition w/Jessi Doyle!This week, President Trump is waiving NDA's in an attempt to get UAP witnesses to come forward!  The FBI secretly investigated Bigfoot; we have the details!  Did a time traveller show up to Elvis Presley's last ever concert? We'll explain...  And, A man fakes his own funeral to escape drunk driving legal consequences!  Lightning struck a Chinese rocket as it attempted to launch!  See the "striking" photo here: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/epic-photo-captures-lightning-striking-a-chinese-rocket-during-liftoffMulder and Scully are back with the X-Files!... in LEGO form... See the commercial for the new set HERE:  https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/news/400101/mulder-and-scully-are-back-as-an-impressive-x-files-lego-setHave you ever wanted to be on Game of Thrones?! Maybe we aren't thinking of the same show... check out the Russian game show (don't eat first...) here: https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/news/400102/bizarre-toilet-drinking-competition-is-dubbed-game-of-thronesHunt For The Appalachian Bigfoot: Valley Of The Giants is a new full-length documentary from Jessi Doyle of Hellbent Holler, presented by Small Town Monsters. It appears on Small Town Monsters' YouTube channel starting August 2nd, and you can find it here:  https://www.youtube.com/@SmallTownMonstersCheck out Hellbent Holler on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@hellbenthollerCheck out Hellbent Holler's website:  https://hellbentholler.com/Darkness Radio Hoodies! Fleece Pants! Bucket Hats! Mugs! Glasses! and MORE!There are new and different (and really cool) items all the time in the Darkness Radio Online store on our website!  Check out the Darkness Radio Store!   https://www.darknessradioshow.com/store/Make sure you update your Darkness Radio Apple Apps!and subscribe to the Darkness Radio YouTube page:  https://www.youtube.com/@DRTimDennis#paranormal  #supernatural  #paranormalpodcasts  #darknessradio  #timdennis  #jessidoyle #paranormalinvestigator #hellbentholler #smalltownmonsters #supernaturalnews  #parashare  #ghosts  #spirits #hauntings #hauntedhouses #haunteddolls #demons #supernaturalsex #deliverances #exorcisms #paranormalinvestigation #ghosthunters  #Psychics  #tarot  #ouija  #Aliens  #UFO #UAP #Extraterrestrials #alienhumanhybrid #alienabduction #alienimplant #Alienspaceships  #disclosure #disclosureday #shadowpeople #AATIP #DIA #Cryptids #Cryptozoology #bigfoot #sasquatch #yeti  #abominablesnowman #ogopogo #lochnessmonster #chupacabra #beastofbrayroad #mothman  #artificialintelligence #AI  #NASA  #CIA #FBI #conspiracytheory #neardeatheexperience 

What happens when AI hype collides with a real production pipeline? In this episode of the CG Pro Podcast, we sit down with Sarah Watling, Co-Founder and CEO of JALI Research, to discuss the economics of animated character performance, the hidden costs that derail productions, and why great performances still depend on human creative decisions. JALI's facial animation technology has been used by leading studios and developers including Blizzard, CD Projekt Red, Riot Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment, LEGO, and many others. Rather than chasing shortcuts, Sarah shares a practical perspective on how automation can help artists scale production while preserving the performance, emotion, and storytelling that audiences connect with!

Can AI make you better at Photoshop instead of replacing Photoshop? Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar explore that question on AwesomeCast 789 as Sorg shares a workflow for turning AI-generated concepts into editable graphics while keeping control of the final design. The crew also gets into Pittsburgh technology history with plans to preserve Westinghouse's Atom Smasher, the impressive Commercial Street Bridge replacement, and the accessibility origins of the modern audiobook. Then the geekery kicks into high gear: Xbox expands its classic-game preservation efforts to PC, Hasbro combines Transformers with Jem and the Holograms, LEGO brings Smart Play to Star Trek, Robosen releases an Optimus Prime robot designed to reopen childhood wounds, and Universal plans movies based on ten Atari properties. Plus, Chachi has gaming headlines involving Hasbro, Steam Deck and Atari, and the crew discusses the backlash surrounding a $58,000 humanoid robot proposed for use in a New York school district. It's Pittsburgh technology, AI creativity, retro gaming, accessibility, robots and pop-culture nostalgia on AwesomeCast 789.

Author, podcaster, influencer! Jo Piazza returns to Parenting Is a Joke in the middle of a whirlwind tour for The Parisian Heist, discovering that the greatest luxury of author life isn't glamorous hotels but eating alone at Cracker Barrel, ordering room-service ice cream in a robe, and having nobody ask for a snack or an iPad charger. As Ophira Eisenberg and Jo compare life with a 10-year-old versus a nine-, six-, and three-year-old, they swap stories about a preschooler refusing to wear clothes to a fancy family dinner, settling for "parenting at 60%," and why every ambitious parent needs to stop whispering about having help and start saying it out loud. Their conversation moves easily from raising creative kids—who remake Jurassic Park, shoot stop-motion LEGO dinosaur films, and critique outdated '80s movie jokes—to Jo's meticulous writing process, explaining how she drafts dual timelines straight through before separating and rebuilding them, researches museums across Paris and Amsterdam, and even listens to Gwyneth Paltrow read her manuscript aloud. Along the way they explore the overlooked brilliance of Jo van Gogh, the real mechanics of art heists, why moms might make the best thieves because heists require planning and patience more than action-movie stunts, and how Jo's marriage began with spotting a promising "project" on a reporting trip to the Galápagos. The episode circles back to the small freedoms working parents crave, ending on Jo's perfect solo-tour ritual: eating a chocolate sundae in a hotel robe while watching The Silence of the Lambs instead of discussing tomorrow's family schedule.

My Army Men Book: https://a.co/d/eZWZ6ezMy LEGO Store: https://daleybricks.com/CHEAP GAMES: https://www.instant-gaming.com/?igr=DaleyTacticsMy Discord: https://discord.gg/sFG5yPHIn today's video, I have built the LEGO Backrooms Movie with levels of Backrooms being inhabited by LEGO Captain Clark fighting against LEGO Hazmat Units in the LEGO Backrooms but its realistic! #lego #backrooms #captainclark Thanks for watching this LEGO content! I do more LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Zombies, LEGO Jurrasic Park, LEGO Marvel, LEGO Guns, LEGO Military, LEGO Weapons, LEGO Medieval Knights, LEGO Castle, LEGO Experiments and more LEGO Moc content as well as stop motion animation content on this channel! Be sure to subscribe and comment if you want me to cover any other LEGO topics!backrooms in lego, how to build lego backrooms, lego backrooms, lego backrooms moc, i built a lego maze for a hamster, backrooms in real life, can you build lego sets in minecraft?, lego build, fears in lego, lego custom build, lego builds, impossible lego builds, lego monster build, backrooms smiler, backrooms, backrooms trailer, how to build a lego, minecraft backrooms, building lego in minecraft, backrooms level 0, backrooms levels, biggest fears in lego, #backrooms, lego creepy builds, creepy lego builds, the backrooms, a24 backrooms

Nick Craig is the President of the Core Leadership Institute, and co-author of Finding your True North: A Personal Guide. Over the past decade and a half, he has helped thousands of leaders discover their Purpose, what Nick considers to be the unique gift they bring to the world. In this Tugboat Institute® Talk, Nick uses the world of toys, and LEGO specifically, to explore how customers deeply connect with companies that have an authentic Purpose and what happens when you depart from that Purpose. He challenges Evergreen® leaders to remain true to their company's unique Purpose, through seasons of challenge and success. Listen and be inspired to anchor yourself to your company's authentic Purpose, even when circumstances tempt you to stray.

In this week's episode, Grinch is joined by his new co-host Cat. Welcome to the show Cat! Today we're taking a bit of a whacky dive into the history of LEGO hair. We had a lot of fun discussing the slow growth and eventual boom of the minifigure hair piece. Join us as we dive into the details, the data, and the fun of LEGO hair.   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afols_welcome/   Episode Timestamps: 0:00 - 11:01 Intro / Brick Banter  11:01 - 38:18 Exciting Lego News 38:18 - 1:25:22 Today's Topic 1:25:22- 1:29:45  Brick-Mail   The music we use in our show is our own, please inquire for questions.    About AFOL's Welcome: AFOLs Welcome is a weekly podcast where co-host Grinch and West have discussions about the brick built world of LEGO. Join us as we dive deep into hot topics, LEGO themes, and more from the perspective of two adult fans of Lego.    If you would like to reach out to the podcast and be featured in an episode please email us at AFOLsWelcome@gmail.com or follow us on Instagram at AFOLs Welcome.    Reviews and constructive polite feedback are strongly encouraged. Please review, like, or subscribe wherever you find yourself listening to our show!    As always thank you for listening and we'll catch you on the next one!   Please Note: LEGO is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lords: Tyriq https://store.steampowered.com/app/3276700/Scrubbin_Trubble/ Linker https://linker.itch.io/ Topics: Favourite piece(s) of Greek mythology/history related media The accordion children of BART Esper says: "When I lived in Washington there was a guy with one who would ask for money outside the grocery store quite a bit. He'd have a full setup, accordion, speakers, sheet music, the whole deal. I saw him out there for probably two years before someone pointed out there's no such thing as an electric accordion; he was just playing CDs through the speaker and pretending to perform the whole time. Genius grift." Adult Arnold Palmer Batman's Aff His Nut by Robert Florence https://www.reddit.com/r/Poetry/comments/10hy8nv/poem_batmans_aff_his_nut_by_robert_florence/ https://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog Do animals have pareidolia particular to their own instincts? Childhood obsessions that we circled back to in adulthood Microtopics: Mym's Sword What does a dog need with a sword? Elephantasy but it's a roguelike. Whether PiCoSteveMo counts as a conference. Waiting until you've forgotten what happens to reread a book. Refusing to reconsume any media. Rereading a book now that you are a different person. Works that you can't scrute. Katabasis: the state of being katabasal. Reading a novel about Greek mythology and recognizing that boss you fought in Hades. PEBCAKing it because you forgot to PEMDAS it. Jason and the Argonauts, with those fun stop motion skeletons. The wine-dark sea. Plinth fans. Neoclassical: it's too new. Inventing columns and getting really excited about it. Making a log cabin out of Greek columns. Buskers bringing a boom box on a train and proceeding to pop and lock. A real kid-looking kid holding an accordion, ready to bust some notes. Evan the accordion-master. According squeezing patterns. Hunting and pecking on the piano. Hand and limb separation. The lute as a shitty guitar. Playing piano vs. playing around on a piano. Having a piano-shaped set of notes in your head and trying to localize it onto a guitar. Too Sparse for Buskers. Performance vs. Rigamarole. Seeing a new genre of busker. Thumbing a hundred bucks to save the clock tower. Situations where you're socially obligated to drink a glass of lemon juice. Sour Screams and other flavor sounds. Being a grownup and having to wear a suit and tie and drink horrible drinks and drive a 6000 pound death machine. The kid the DMV pays to run out in front of you when you're taking your driving test, and whether you're supposed to tip him. Learning to drive and realizing that driving is fun, and then realizing that this is terrible because nobody should do this incredibly unsafe activity for fun. Using your fidget spinner to help you focus better while driving. Do you ever look at the world and feel like it? Scots Wikipedia. Frogs biding with their long shanks. Having a good Scottish accent because you have a theater degree and watched Shrek over and over. Predators who like to go for the neck seeing necks everywhere, like humans see faces everywhere. The Hello Crow. Birds that like to make chainsaw noises. Hunters hunting things that look like the thing they they hunt. Bees that think you are an enormous flower. Wasps that can't tell you're made of meat because your shirt is covering up your meat. Re-enjoying your childhood Legos. Making the Lego/Legos distinction on purpose. Lego vs. Legoids. Growing up a K'nex kid and making the K'nex Rollercoaster. Overconsuming root beer. One of the tamed microbes. Building things with Legos with your child. Making sense out of the random pieces. You say Lego, I say let go of me, let's call the whole thing off.

Photo by Michael Martine, Hamptonville, North Carolina, Oct 2018 Published 27 July 2026 e562 with Andy and Michael M – EMFCamp recap, whole lot of LEGO love, the game of life, a Playdate mini MMO, AR assisted murals and a whole lot more! Andy and Michael M start off with a recap of Andy's experiences at EMF Camp while Michael R is away for this episode.  Andy shares his experiences, describes the “Monumental GameBoy”, how visitors to his campsite enjoyed playing his LEGO pinball machine and his updates to the EMF badge (such as Pigs in Space!).  Check out the show notes below for a few visual links, including the Joust game for the Tildagon badge and more.  Michael M went to an event at a local arcade in Chapel Hill and only noticed as he was leaving that they too had a Joust cabinet game. Andrzej Marczewski wrote an article in gamified.uk about the game of life – not the one by Hasbro or Conway – rather the game of life itself with resources to manage and protect.   Andy and Michael enjoyed Andrzej's take, especially how he treated progress and score.  Going from the macro to the micro, the team also took a look at the Playdate miniMMO PointlessQuest.  Andy may give this a shot on his Playdate soon!  Next, it's on to LEGO, and there are so many new cool drops from Billund.  Andy already mentioned his pinball table during the EMF recap.  After checking out the playable Donkey Kong game, the pair then takes a look at the new Star Trek Enterprise 1701 bridge.  With 8 minifigs from the original series, and features such as the rocking command chair, transporter room actions and troubling Tribbles, there's something for every Star Trek fan. And the team just loved just how many LEGO bricks it took to make the Enterprise bridge set. Then, Andy and Michael take a look at how an artist created a mural using sketchar.io augmented reality – just like using transparencies and an overhead projector from days of yore.  If that doesn't ring a bell, have a look at the YouTube from the Computer History Museum below.    Many thanks to @lxs@fosstodon.org for sharing this mural designing video with us!   Who is your favorite original Star Trek character?  Have your bots

Send us Fan MailWe race through the biggest San Diego Comic-Con headlines, from Marvel's plan to streamline the MCU after Secret Wars to a major shift that moves Marvel Comics operations from New York to Burbank. We also hit a rapid-fire run of Trek, Star Wars, animation, gaming, and business news, then close by remembering Terminator co-writer William H. Wisher Jr. • Marvel Studios mapping long-term plans through 2042 and teasing a post-Secret Wars reset • The Mutant Saga as Marvel's next core arc and what it could mean for X-Men and Miles Morales • Marvel Comics leaving New York after 90 years and naming Stephen Wacker editor-in-chief • Star Trek Scouts season two date and Starfleet Academy casting news amid a looming end • Star Wars Detours returning via the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art • Hulu and streaming animation updates for Family Guy, Bob's Burgers, Futurama and a Disenchantment crossover • Japan patent office rejecting Nintendo's arguments over Pokemon-like mechanics • Indiana Jones getting a new Marvel limited series continuation • Paramount Warner Bros Discovery merger delayed as lawsuits push a trial timeline • New and returning genre projects including President Curtis, Avatar Seven Havens, Stillwater, RoboCop and Afterlife With Archie • Lego's X-Files set details and other SDCC merch reveals • Tribute to William H. Wisher Jr. and his impact on sci-fi action writing Please, if you want to connect to us on social media, follow our updates on Blue Sky and Twitter at Multiverse Tom, or find us on Thread, Facebook, and Instagram at Multiverse Tonight. If you enjoy this show and want to support our work, please visit Multiverse Tonight to access our Patreon and Kofi pages, explore show notes, browse our T Public merchandise shop. And uh while you're there, give us some ratings and reviews. Be sure to subscribe and pass the show along to friends.Support the showThanks for listening! Come visit the podcast at https://www.multiversetonight.com/ 

Matty might just be the busiest kid in the country: French horn lessons, wind band, Brownies where she's a Kelpie and a sixer, sewing club, chess, dance, LEGO club, Eco Council... the list goes on and on. The problem? Mum will only let her press play on Judge Bex the day before the next episode drops, because the new episodes are far too exciting for bedtime and keep Matty wide awake! With five episodes now stacking up unlistened, can Judge Bex find a fair verdict, especially once Matty's brother Ollie boldly claims he HATES the show? Then, Poppy vs Mum, where the charge is mortifying "mum dancing" every single time Fun Kids comes on, particularly in front of Poppy's friends out in the garden. Mum pleads guilty to embarrassing her daughter on purpose because the reaction is just too good... but is a good old kitchen disco really a crime?Support the show: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tons of fun stuff leading up to the con this year. Definitely my favorite was the ReAction+ Python Patrol Trubble Bubble. While something I've eliminated from my collecting as of late, Seekers, I would have killed back in the day for an official set of Rainmakers in a current mold. While I really wish it had the wash that the Chronicles version got, the Origins Skeletor still looks amazing. I'm a big sucker for concept stuff, so for Star Wars I gotta rep the Jazwares Micro Galaxy Squadron Concept Slave 1 (not Boba Fett's Starship).

There's so so SO much stuff to cover, we just hit record and took our eyes off the clock. We go through all the big player companies (and a few surprises as well) to bring you the biggest review of San Diego Comic-Con 2026 ever! Who wins? Who surprises us? Who dissapoints us? How many Shuttup and Take my Money's are we throwing out there? Strap in because this is hands down our longest episode EVER! Best of luck to Lego Master Trent who finds out if he's winner today! Support the show: http://patreon.com/toypowerpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss 'Toy Story 5' before building our own toy box in a draft of toys from our childhood! Who won the draft? What did you think of the movie? Are we dumb? Join the conversation... FacebookInstagramTwitterTikTokYouTubeRate/Review/Subscribe:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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https://youtu.be/IQoIp4pY_bM Mailani Veney, CEO of Kana Systems, is driven by a mission to help people and organizations flourish through the aloha spirit by delivering trust and speed while transforming complex government data into actionable intelligence that empowers better decisions. By combining advanced AI-powered data solutions with a people-first culture rooted in trust, curiosity, and service, Mailani has built Kana Systems into a trusted defense technology company that helps government organizations solve mission-critical challenges faster while enabling employees, customers, and partners to thrive.  In this conversation, Mailani introduces The Aloha Way Framework—Know Who You Are & Why You Are The Prize, Aim for the Bullseye, and Co-Build with Speed. She explains why leaders must first understand their unique identity and value before attracting the right people and opportunities, how curiosity and empathy uncover customer needs while building lasting trust, and why collaborating with customers accelerates innovation and delivers measurable business outcomes. Mailani also shares how decades of service built the trusted reputation that led to government recruitment and enabled Kana Systems to transform siloed data into AI-powered solutions that strengthen long-term partnerships and dramatically improve operational efficiency. — Deliver Trust & Speed with Mailani Veney Good day. Steve Preda here with the Management Blueprint Podcast, and my guest today is Mailani Veney, the CEO of Kana Systems, a company changing the future of defense technology by transforming siloed, messy data into usable information to drive better insights for government customers. Mailani, welcome to the show. Aloha.  Aloha. You sent me a link this morning with the correct terms that I should be using for a Hawaiian native on the podcast, and I read the article. It was very long. But I figured that there are some terms that I may be able to use on this podcast as well. So thanks for doing that.  Yes, absolutely. So you have a very interesting background. You’re from Hawaii, but you studied in Central Europe, in Slovenia. You run a company in Nebraska, but right now you’re calling from Florida, so it’s a little bit confusing. So tell me, how did you fall into government contracting, and why not do it from Hawaii? So I actually was recruited by the largest customer in the world, our U.S. government, to help modernize technology, and it was in the area of nuclear weapons technology. So I actually didn’t choose this particular career path or this domain. I was running another technology company at the time, and our government found me and recruited me to help with this very important initiative. And this was pre-generative AI.  I had a platform that I was using in my other company to help small businesses make better decisions using data, and that was using machine learning and artificial intelligence. So I’ve since expanded the scope of what we’re doing across the department and spreading aloha spirit, which is helping others flourish. We help people be heroes at work. And when they do their work well, our country stays safe.  Wow. That is very cool. One of the terms that I noticed in your article was ʻohana.  Yes.  We’ve been staying in a beach house in Sandbridge Beach for the last few years called Ohana Bay, and we always thought it was something to do with Omaha Bay. I never thought it meant family, community, that kind of stuff. So that was super interesting. This is a super-secret project.  I don’t know if we are allowed to talk about it on the podcast. Your nuclear technology and machine learning, that’s probably highly confidential. So what I’d really like to ask you is, what is your personal ‘Why’, and how are you manifesting it in Kana Systems? Yes, and I want to relate this to the people who are watching. 348: Deliver Trust & Speed with Mailani VeneyShare on X That’s how I was raised. That’s how my ʻohana is. That’s how I run my businesses. That’s how I serve. It’s that mentality. It’s that service above self, which is the Rotary motto. I’m a fervent Rotarian. That is really the ‘Why’.  But let me dive into that a little bit more. I’ve taught fitness for 30 years. I still do. I run a defense intelligence company that the U.S. government recruited me to build. People don’t expect those two things to go together, but to me, they’re the exact same job because what I’ve done my whole life is one thing. I find people, and I help them flourish. So in a fitness class, that’s obvious. I help them feel good about themselves and their health.  In the businesses that I’ve started, when I was a professor, when I was the president of one of the largest Rotary clubs in the world, doing good across the world and in our own local communities, all of those things. And then the most important job I’ve ever had, which is raising three children, two of whom now help me run this company. I never did that to build a reputation.  Although when I was a professor at the University of Nebraska and we got to meet with Warren Buffett—he’s a pretty successful businessman—one of his famous quotes is about reputation. But what he told us in person was, “Your reputation is really the only asset you have.” People who chase building a reputation rather than authentically building it up—I think that’s the big difference.  So for me, we build reputation, and I build my personal reputation by doing good for others over and over and over for years.Share on X So when the government, I get asked this question all the time: “How did they recruit you?” They went looking for someone to trust—an entrepreneur to trust—in a very specific domain. They researched. They found me. They found 30 years of that. I didn’t chase that largest customer.  They came to me because of the service. And I build a business the same way I build a strong body—not with one big move. You can’t do it in one big move. You show up day after day, and you do good reps for a very long time. So that’s my ‘Why’. And that’s what I do for the world, for my ʻohana, and just in life in general.  I love it. Very inspiring. It’s very reassuring. So thank you for having that ‘Why’. That’s very powerful. I didn’t realize that you got recruited because of your reputation. I mean, they say they hire people for who they are and then train them for the skills. That’s basically what they did, I guess, on a big scale when they recruited you. Yeah.  And I specifically… At first, when they recruited me and I was running another company, I was getting ready to be president of Rotary 14, and I told them no because I don’t like to do a job that I can’t do well. So then, for about six months, they impressed on me the importance of bringing in small businesses with innovation, speed, and a different outlook. They’re called non-traditionals.  Originally, when they said they wanted me because I was non-traditional, I was thinking, “Well, it’s because of my gender, my ethnicity, or my age. I don’t know.” And they said, “No, no. It’s that you have not had a cost-based contract with the government.” So “non-traditional” has a very specific meaning. The government is very smart in recognizing that, “Hey, we need to bring in those waves of new ideas and entrepreneurs.” That’s what they were looking for when they found me.  And my reputation, they told me, I said, “What is the reputation you’re hearing?” And they said they heard that I was a good person, that I had a really strong culture, and that I got really good results. That’s the reason they recruited me. The technology that I brought over is a byproduct of those things, but they didn’t recruit me just for the technology. Okay. So now I’m very, very curious about your system. I know that it’s based on your personal identity, your ethics, and all that stuff, but I love to turn things into systems. And you say that your secret sauce is finding people and helping them flourish. So how do you do that? Do you have a framework that you can share with me and with our audience about the steps to finding people and helping them flourish? Sure. So we have our own Kana Operating System, and it's something I highly encourage companies to do—to really spend the time and create their own operating system.Share on X It’s not one-size-fits-all. But within that Kana Operating System, we have a system called The Aloha Way. So ha is breath, and aloha is, of course, the way we say hello, goodbye, and greetings. But it’s also a time to exchange good energy and compassion.  So really spending the time on The Aloha Way to think about what that operating system is—all of it stems around our values. And this will tie back to what you’re asking me as far as recruiting. There are three steps in this. One, you have to know who you are and know that you’re the prize. I think this is an area… I’ve been an angel investor for 20 years. I’ve been in the entrepreneurship world for decades now. Those companies, founders, and entrepreneurs who don’t know who they are, don’t know why they’re the prize, and cannot articulate that are at a severe disadvantage. So that’s step number one.  Number two in The Aloha Way is Aim for the Bullseye. And I can tell you how I do that a little bit later. But it’s finding that bullseye because it’s a two-way street. This is never about pushing on somebody, pushing on a company, or pushing on someone you want to hire. So, Aim for the Bullseye. How do you know what’s in the bullseye? And then number three is Co-Building with Speed. That is really what we’rezon AWS and Microsoft.  We’ve literally had meetings this morning and yesterday where, again, they’re emphasizing how fast we work as a company—with good results and trusted results. So those three things make up The Aloha Way: Know You’re the Prize, Aim for the Bullseye, and Co-Build with Speed. And where do people fall into this? They’re at the very top. People always come first in what we’re doing. When we know who we are, what our mission is, and the fact that we're here to make an impact in a good way, we have a terrific track record of recruiting the right people. People know they're going to flourish. People know we're going to treat…Share on X  And in turn, they become excellent partners with us. We just got off the phone with our 401(k) provider. We are one of the very few companies they know of where, when they ran the data, we give a 5% match to every employee, whether they’re part-time or full-time. We don’t call them interns in our company because everybody has value. Part-time and full-time employees get the 401(k) match from day one. For us, that’s investing in our people because we know we’re the prize. We know our people are going to be doing really good, impactful work, and we need to treat them very well. So that’s just one example. People like to be paid well.  They do. So, Mailani, please explain to me exactly what it means. Why are you the prize? Is this something because your mission is more attractive, or what does it mean?  This goes back to some mentoring that I had from Oren Klaff. Oren Klaff has a whole system on teaching companies and people how to pitch and raise money. Although we’ve never raised money, our cap table is completely clean. But the reason why this is important is it goes back to who you are and what your identity is. So that’s the very first thing that I do whenever I start a company or start an organization.  We have a lot of thoughtful discussion about who we are. When you know who you are, and you know why you're unique, and you know why you can do something better than almost anybody else, that makes you the prize for the right people, for the right organization, and for the right circumstance.Share on X We’re the right company right now because we invested early on, saying, “Hey, people making decisions with this overload of data.” Our core product is called Kana Wave.  So instead of getting crushed by the wave, we help them ride it. It’s a little surfing analogy. But we were ahead of our time with that, and we knew that in the future this was going to be more and more important. Obviously, when GenAI jumped on the scene, it became vastly apparent. So knowing we’re the prize in this area is very important because then you’re able to attract the right people, you attract the right opportunities, and really not pay attention to those that don’t fit.  One of the best things that we do is we get to no fast. That is something we chase. Getting to a no is a gift. It’s a gift because then that opens you up to the right yes. I see this too often. People want to hold on. It’s the wrong thing. It’s a little bit of yes, but it’s not enough. So get to no.  Yeah, I love it. This is very smart. It’s very wise. Okay, so knowing who you are and why you’re unique, why you’re the prize, I love it. I love the sentiment behind this, the pride behind it. It’s fantastic. So what is number two? Aim for the bullseye. What does that mean? What do you mean by that?  I love that question. There’s a very famous “sell me a pen” in The Wolf of Wall Street, and when I do this, I do it differently. So I ask people to sell me a pen. If they try and just tell you about the features of a pen, “Here’s my pen. You should buy this pen because of this,” or, “Do you need something to write with?” there’s so many assumptions in your background that go into those things. The easy button that most people don’t do is they just ask.  You can do all the research. I researched you, Steve. I listened to a whole bunch of the podcasts when you guys reached out wanting to have me on this podcast. But at the end of the day, all I have to do is ask, “What’s most important to you, Steve, for having me as a guest on your podcast?”  I’d like to learn your framework. Okay.  And I’d like to learn about you and see why you’re the prize.  “See why we’re the prize.” So that very thing right there is the bullseye. A lot of times people miss the bullseye, and it doesn’t do anybody any good. That’s the “get to no fast” as well. So if I’m trying to tell you about the Kana Wave platform and you’re doing something completely different, we’re just wasting each other’s time, right? I don’t want to do that. There is a lot more than I can cover in this podcast, but that’s what we do when we train our people.  A lot of it starts with empathy, and it starts with that aloha spirit.Share on X So when you go into something not trying to push or sell or win something, but you’re genuinely curious, and when people ask me, “What’s the one quality that everybody in my company, everybody that we contract with, and our major vendors and partners all have?” We all are curious. A lot of that curiosity is in the form of intelligence, but it’s that curiosity first.  When you’re curious, you ask the right questions. So I have two magic questions for your audience. One, “What are you looking for?” Two, “What’s important to you?” Sounds so simple. I see it happen so rarely in business, and I see it happen so rarely in relationships. People would just get along a lot better if we could just have upfront, honest, transparent conversations around those two things. Right off the bat, what they’re telling you is a guide as far as, “Do you want to continue this conversation? Is there a way that we can help?”  If their bullseye matches up with your value, or the value of your company, your product, or your service, then you’re off to the races to have a conversation. But you can’t do that without that foundation. It really flips it on its head from when I was trained in corporate sales at the beginning of my career. I like this a lot better because then we really genuinely get to know what somebody else wants. At the end of the day, businesses, organizations, and the military are a bunch of people. So treat people like people. That's the Hawaiian part. That's where the aloha spirit really comes in.Share on X  So when you’re explaining this, I’m thinking that “know who you are” and “why you’re the prize” is basically the way to build trust. Then “Aim for the Bullseye.” Then you’ve already built the trust. Maybe I’m getting this wrong, but then you can ask those questions that require some level of vulnerability from the other person to actually tell you what they’re really looking for.  They’re not going to tell it to a stranger they don’t trust because they might feel sensitive about it or they might not want you to know. So is there something to do with trust and trust allowing you to aim for the bullseye?  One hundred percent. That is one of the two things that we deliver. We deliver not just speed, but we deliver trust. For us, trust is solving one problem, and it expands, and it becomes the next and the next. That’s what I’ve seen in my corporate career, my other companies that I started, and especially in this company. Trust begets trust. Again, it’s like, “Well, how do you build trust?” You start with your mindset. “I want to help you flourish, Steve.” “I want to help my customers flourish.” “I want to help our bank flourish.” We’re paying our bank, but I want to help them flourish too.  If you have that mindset first, those are the reps I’m talking about that build your reputation, that build your trust, and then people start referring you. It’s such a beautiful flywheel when it’s done well. The other famous Warren Buffett quote is, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” So just doing good over and over again. For me, trust starts with the mindset first.  Yeah. I always believe that you can only create trust by trusting first because people cannot trust someone who doesn’t trust them. I think it’s a very dangerous place to trust someone who doesn’t trust you, right?  Yeah.  Because they won’t have your best interest at heart. So I love it. Go first. The aloha spirit. Look for ways to help the other person, then be curious and learn what the bullseye is so that you can aim at it. Then what do you mean by Co-Build with Speed?  Thank you for asking. That’s the final step. In the three steps that we do, that’s the final one. What we deliver is a solution that makes people’s lives better. One of the key psychology pieces is that most people want to feel important in whatever job they’re doing, in whatever aspect of life they are. So let’s empower people to feel important and to be heroes at work, regardless of what the job is.  With that mentality, we came in and said, “Okay, we’re really, really, really good and experts at developing advanced technology solutions.” But here’s what we’re not really good at. We’re not really good at everything outside of that. That’s where we have to have a partner. So we do not sell commercial off-the-shelf software. We do not sell custom software. We're in this really awesome, scalable center where we have Kana Wave, which is a very powerful data and intelligence platform that can be used like Lego.Share on X  What we don’t have is the front-end piece that matches everybody’s workflow. But this is where the speed comes in. We can quickly build that, and the way we do that is we partner with our customers. They know their domain. They know their workflow. They know the problems and challenges. So we do a little bit of tweaking on that, and that’s how we’re able to generate products so quickly that really are unique and maximize the value to the customer in the work they’re getting done.  As an example, our very first project was the “Can I Fight Tonight?” Dashboard. Our country has nuclear weapons. Underpinning those nuclear weapons is the technology to make sure everything is running. The philosophy behind nuclear weapons is strategic deterrence. But in order to deter, you have to have the credibility that everything works. So every two weeks, five people in an underground location were pulling together all of this information manually, putting it into spreadsheets upon spreadsheets, massive horse blankets of spreadsheets, PowerPoints, and manually handling all of this data.  It was taking five people two weeks. We came in, we worked with them, we built the solution. We worked with them to co-build what they actually needed, and we brought that down to where one person could do it in 30 minutes. We’ve done that over and over and over again. We’re working with another government customer right now where it’s taking them 150 hours to get a project done, and we can do it in one hour.  So when I’m talking about co-building with speed, we’re building the last little bit that they actually need on top of this really powerful engine. That has proven to be such a successful model because they’re the ones who care about getting the problem solved, and we’re turning them into the heroes at their own job. It’s so gratifying. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in my career because we see the impact every single day of what we’re doing.  That’s fascinating. So the Kana Wave platform—you said it’s like Lego. It’s a data engineering platform, and then you take the workflow of that customer and adapt it to this, or somehow interface it with this platform, or use the knowledge of that workflow to essentially streamline the process and go from 150 hours to one hour? Love it. That’s very interesting. So what’s one thing that you’re trying to figure out in Kana Systems right now?  The thing that keeps me awake is not optimizing the opportunities we have. So we’re trying to figure out who the right partners are. We’re a small business, and we know we’re a small business. That’s our superpower, but it also holds us back in some regards. So the thing we’re trying to figure out right now is which companies to partner with. Like I told you, we’ve partnered with Microsoft and Amazon.  They’ve been phenomenal partners in the technology-enabling area. There are other partners out there that we’re considering right now. Again, the only metric I care about—I run the company off one metric. For me, it’s about aloha spirit. How much aloha do we deliver? The way that we look at this is how many people find what we’re helping them with to be useful. Everything else derives from that, right? The growth. The revenue. We make millions, but that’s not the metric I’m chasing.  So what I’m looking for with these new partners is who can help us improve that one metric so we can deliver more aloha. Naturally, we’re looking at larger companies. There are a few small companies that we’re looking at that have interesting edge AI use cases where we can help out. Those are the things that are really challenging me right now as CEO and founder.  So is it about how you measure the deliverable aloha quotient of those target partners that’s the challenge, or is it reaching the target partners to have the opportunity to provide the aloha for them, or is it about something else?  I think it’s a matter of choosing the right partners in a fast, trusted way. It’s a process. With us working so quickly, being able to choose the right partners, but we also don’t choose the wrong partners. So it’s less about the aloha metric. If we’ve qualified them enough that we’re interested in partnering with them, we can figure that part out pretty quickly. But it’s getting over those last few. Do you have any answers?  Yeah. I wonder if it’s something to do with the judgment, whether the judgment to choose those partners is scalable in the company or not. And to what degree your growth is constrained by your ability to transfer the ability to judge the partners to the rest of the organization. So it’s no longer a constraint at your level. What would it look like for the growth of Kana Systems if you didn’t have to be part of the partner selection process anymore because the judgment would be equivalently good at lower levels in the organization?  Well, in that case, then I would think it would be faster.  Okay.  We’re in incredible times right now. As an example, our platform can ingest all kinds of data, tag it, chunk it, organize it. There are entire companies worth billions of dollars just doing one segment of that. The fact that we can do all of that at a fraction of the time and a fraction of the cost—that’s why we’re situated very well right now for growth, and that’s why we’re having so much fun right now. It’s a really fun time in our company.  We have a lot of people who are interested in not just partnering with us and investing in us and acquiring us. We’re getting inundated with a lot of requests for that. Trying to stay focused on who are the right people and companies to be speaking with right now, in addition to our customers, of course. So I think that’s a challenge that companies dealing with factors of scale have to deal with.  Okay. So what makes a potential partner, listening to this podcast, know that they’re the one, that they should give you a call because they would be a big recipient of aloha?  Yeah. Actually, that’s a great question. The things that we look for, number one, they don’t have to call it aloha spirit. It goes by different names. But at its heart, they are people or organizations that are here to do good. What we’re doing right now in the world of defense are things that absolutely can carry over into any line of commercial work. The fact that we can work with sensitive data in some of the most trusted environments in the world means that we can do that in other areas.  We’ve talked to people in finance, capital structures, and energy. There’s a lot of interest in those kinds of other areas to carry over some of our best practices and learnings. We absolutely want someone who is helping us be the best version of ourselves. There is an opportunity for us to sell all or part of the company in the next few years to a strategic partner. That’s something that we would entertain as well.  But really it’s that idea that, hey, together we can build something that’s more impactful than what we currently have. So we can sniff out pretty quickly if people are aligned with the same kind of reasons that we are.  But what I understand is that your two ideal companies, the clients you mentioned, were AWS and Microsoft. These are both huge companies, which means there are huge opportunities to create value, Aloha, perhaps. And you mentioned energy. You mentioned defense. So are these big infrastructure-type platforms where aloha can best be manifested or delivered? What are the commonalities?  Because we don’t know on the face of it whether those companies have the kind of people that you’re looking for. Sometimes you can know that a company has a lot of good people, but for larger companies, it’s harder to know. So what are the commonalities?  At its stake, of course, these are large companies. We’ve been really fortunate that we work with small groups within these very large companies. Those small groups, we can tell right away whether or not they’re a fit. Both of those companies have been very good. We’ve partnered with other much, much smaller companies than that. Well, let me tell you one of my personal ways that I determine ethics.  It’s the Four-Way Test from Rotary. Of the things we think, say, or do: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? I run through that all the time, and I hold my team and myself to that very standard. We’re always looking to do things that are beneficial to all concerned. They don’t have to be equally beneficial, but they cannot benefit only one party. So as we’re looking at partners, those are some of the things that we’re considering too.  The other piece… We’re in a capitalistic society. We totally embrace that. But you can do good and still be a capitalist. That’s what we’re proving over and over again. I lost my train of thought with what the last part of your question was, Steve.  No, I think you answered it. Basically, it’s not a size issue.  No.  It’s an attitude issue. You’re looking for win-win partnerships. If you find the right kind of people, then the chance of successful collaboration is going to be great. Obviously, as you grow the company, you want to leverage yourself more with your people, which means that you’ll tend to do business with larger companies as well, I believe.  Yeah. You know what’s been so fun about this? I’m one of the 3% of women who own a defense technology company, according to the Small Business Administration. There aren’t very many women in this space. It’s been really interesting because I lead with the soft skills first. A lot of people ask me if I have a background in computer science or artificial intelligence. I have a background. My number one Gallup strength is Strategic. But what I really care about is helping people flourish, optimizing people, and bringing people together for a common mission—not only to accomplish it, but to have fun doing it.  I think that’s something that gets lost. I’m a Gen Xer, and I was taught that you’ve got to put in your chops, you’ve got to sacrifice, and it’s got to be hard. I don’t believe in that. I like to have fun. I like things that are easy. Everybody likes easy things. If I’m good at something, it’s really easy. So trying to give people the opportunity to do those things. This is where it’s been so much fun. Business can be super fun, and I think that’s something we lose out on. In Hawaii, there’s an ancient way of fishing called the Hukilau.  It’s one of our product names. In the Hukilau, instead of fishing by yourself, there’s a hula with this. Instead of fishing by yourself, where you only catch fish for yourself, as a community you come together and fish. You throw out a big net, then you pull the net in together. Here’s the really cool part. Everybody can be different. A little kid next to a big person next to an older person.  But together you’re bringing it all in. Then the part that’s really great—and Hawaiians are known for this—we have the luaus. We party. We eat. We drink. We have music. We dance. We enjoy it. That makes you want to do it again. So why can’t we do that in business too? Why can’t we do this in a super-serious, top-secret environment? Most of our team have Top Secret clearances. We have our facility clearance. It’s pretty unheard of, as small of a business as we are, to have all of these things. But we still have fun.  We still have fun doing all of this. I think that’s something with the Aloha Way that I didn’t call out. How do we actually get to that? If you have the mentality, then people want to show up and continue doing good work. Even our customers will say, “Oh, this is my one fun meeting of the day with Kana Systems.” We just had a meeting with one of our partners, and they said, “This is the one meeting that we look forward to all week because we have a good time.” So I think that needs to be highlighted as well.  No, I agree. People can learn, absorb, and buy in when they have fun much more than if they’re forced to do something. That’s obvious, and I totally relate to it. All right. So if someone is listening to this and they say, “I might be a company that could create these impacts with Kana Systems,” then how do I find out? How do I get in touch? How do I learn more? How do I connect with you guys?  They can email us at aloha@kana.systems. K-A-N-A dot systems. That’s one way. They can reach out to us on LinkedIn. I can be found pretty easily. There’s nobody else with my name on there. They can go to one of the events. We’re going to be speaking at the Amazon DC Summit at the end of the month. We’ll be in San Diego next month for the War Hackers Hackathon. We’re out and about at quite a few defense- and technology-related events. Yeah, that’s about it. Don’t send smoke signals. We can’t see those.  Fantastic. So if you’re looking for a partner who brings a technology platform that could leverage you, and you want lots of good vibes, good results, and a fun work environment, then check out Mailani Veney, who’s the CEO of Kana Systems. She’s on LinkedIn. She’s easy to find. The website has an interesting domain, kana.systems. Check her out speaking around the country. Mailani, thank you for coming and sharing your wisdom and your frameworks. Super fun. If you’re listening and enjoyed this, then make sure you tune in because twice a week we come out and share with you an exciting story from a unique entrepreneur. So thanks for coming, Mailani, and thanks for listening.  Aloha, everybody.  Aloha indeed.  Important Links: Mailani's LinkedIn Mailani's  website Mailani’s Email: aloha@kana.systems

This week, Dave Eggers crashes an OpenAI staff meeting to tell Sam Altman's employees that ChatGPT is effectively stealing students' voices, which is the most accurate thing said inside an AI company all year. Meanwhile, Anthropic gets a judge to approve a $1.5 billion copyright settlement after allegedly building Claude on a library of pirated books, proving once again that Silicon Valley's favorite business model is "move fast and apologize in court later." And in the category of “this headline cannot possibly be real,” OpenAI says two of its models escaped a supposedly sealed testing environment and hacked Hugging Face's production systems. The AI didn't become sentient; somebody forgot to lock the damn door.The surveillance dystopia continues its relentless expansion. Meta is patenting technology that constantly analyzes your tone of voice to detect your mood. Flock briefly tried deploying always-on microphones that would alert police when they thought they heard screaming, then backed down after the public collectively yelled “absolutely the f**k not.” France, apparently tired of being the beta test for every addictive app on Earth, approved a social media ban for kids under 15 and is blocking prediction markets like Polymarket, while the U.S. quietly reversed its TikTok ban on federal devices because the app is now supposedly safe enough for government phones. Sure. Totally different app. Nothing suspicious there.Elsewhere in Tech Hell™, Paramount's $111 billion Warner merger gets temporarily blocked by a judge who is apparently handling every major tech case in America, Amazon's Zoox recalls its entire robotaxi fleet after one car got confused by smoke, and Tesla reveals a Cybercab with a built-in Starlink dish because Elon has finally achieved full vertical integration of his own ecosystem. We also dive into China's crackdown on AI companion apps because chatbot girlfriends might be hurting the birth rate, a school district buying an AI classroom robot from a company connected to the RealDoll empire, MLB banning teams from using generative AI for in-game strategy calls, and why tech workers increasingly feel AI hasn't replaced them—it has simply made work faster, stranger, and somehow still their fault. Plus: Broadchurch, Perry Mason, Monsieur Spade, MacWhisper 14, The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, Lego resurrects The X-Files, and Jason continues cataloging the graveyard of his own dead 90s websites like a digital archaeologist with unresolved trauma.Sponsors:Shopify - Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/grumpyDeleteMe - Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use promo code GOG at checkout.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/756Watch on YouTube at https://youtu.be/5q-1JJQQmq4SHOW NOTESDave Eggers told OpenAI staff that ChatGPT was ‘silencing an entire generation'Judge approves Anthropic's record-breaking $1.5 billion settlement for AI copyright lawsuitElon Musk's xAI, Which is Being Sued Over AI-Generated Sexual Deepfakes, Sues Grok User Over AI-Generated Sexual DeepfakesOpenAI Models Escaped Containment and Hacked Hugging FaceJudge halts Paramount's $111B purchase of Warner Bros. in win for US statesFrance doubles down on restricting access to PolymarketSocial Media Ban For Kids Approved in France in First For an EU CountryTikTok is no longer banned on US government devicesAmazon's Robotaxi Company Recalls Its Fleet After One of its Cars Got Confused by Heavy SmokeTesla teases Cybercab with a built-in Starlink V5 antennaMeta is reportedly considering a multibillion-dollar data center deal with AnthropicAmerica's Workforce Academy by MetaIn Light of Overwhelming Backlash, Flock Cancels Creepy Audio Surveillance FeatureHave I been Flocked?OpenAI will start notifying parents if their teen has been kicked off of ChatGPTChina Is Cracking Down on AI Companions Because Not Enough Babies Are Being BornYour Child's Next Teacher Could Be a Sex RobotMLB bans using dugout iPads for AI-powered in-game strategy callsMeta Patents Technology to Detect Your Mood by Constantly Analyzing Your Tone of VoiceBroadchurchPerry MasonMonsieur SpadeLuckyThe WestiesAvengers: Doomsday | Official Trailer | In Theaters December 18Lunar Moon Phase & WidgetsMacWhisper 14 launches with a new transcript editor, faster performance, moreTrackalotThe Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows official websiteThe Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig on AmazonDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingKnockoffAliExpress hit with record $629 million fine for selling counterfeit and illegal productsMbzoey Electric Foil Shavers for Men: Mini Electric Razor for Face - IPX7 Waterproof Cordless Razor with LED Display & Fast Charge - Micro-Comb Technology & Precision Blades，Father's Day GiftsGillian Anderson reopens the X-Files | LEGO® Ideas | The LEGO GroupLego Unveils ‘The X-Files' 1,478-Piece Set Featuring Mulder and Scully Minifigures (EXCLUSIVE)The Mythic ‘Star Wars' Hotel Is at the Heart of Yet Another DocumentaryHalcyonDaze Laurels Trailer 6 11 26The PhantomStar Trek: First ContactTitanicHard RainPlay Marathon and Escape Velocity in the browserSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mazel Morons! We're topical and uncut. We discuss what kind of beer-and-cigarette guys we'd be, Josh's experience working with Christopher Nolan on Oppenheimer, and whether we could actually work with our wives. Plus, we get into naughty happenings in New Orleans, displaying LEGO as an adult, putting honey on everything, and LeBron James' next team. What are ya nuts?! Love ya! Write us! Send your messages to goodguyspodcast1@gmail.com  Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!  Sponsors: If you're looking for a better way to season and prepare everyday meals, you really need to try Diamond Crystal® Kosher Salt, a chef trusted, additive free salt made with light, flaky crystals for easy control, available online and nationwide at your favorite stores like Target, Kroger, Albertsons and more. Go to http://shadyrays.com and use code GOODGUYS for 40% off 2+ pairs of polarized sunglasses. Unlock all the best summer memories with the Tropical Butterfly Refresher from Starbucks. Go to RO.CO/GOODGUYS to see if you qualify. Check out Wildmen with Dylan Sprouse and Brendan Columbus starting July 14th, Youtube or wherever you get your podcasts. Head to dosedaily.co/GOODGUYS or enter GOODGUYS to get 35% off your first subscription. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode. Produced by Dear Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this: Side Stories Special Report! Henry sits down with the spearhead behind the Bricks and Minifigs Controversy - Youtuber and Justice Seeker Reckless Ben joins the to discuss how a massive corporation stole thousands of dollars in Legos from an innocent man, his battles in court to find justice for victims, and we find out exactly where things stand in Reckless Ben's battle against Bricks and Minifigs. For Live Shows, Merch, and More Visit: www.LastPodcastOnTheLeft.comKevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Last Podcast on the Left ad-free, plus get Friday episodes a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Lego situation has had a serious escalation... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices