Podcasts about Merit

  • 3,269PODCASTS
  • 5,402EPISODES
  • 42mAVG DURATION
  • 1DAILY NEW EPISODE
  • Feb 17, 2026LATEST

POPULARITY

20192020202120222023202420252026

Categories



Best podcasts about Merit

Show all podcasts related to merit

Latest podcast episodes about Merit

Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network
A Conservative's Frustrating Reality w/ Dr. Ryan Ross || 1726

Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2026 52:04


Mississippi State music history professor Dr. Ryan Ross joins Josh to talk about his journey—from thinking he could never support Trump, to voting for him in the last election, and now back to not being able to support him anymore. They get into why they both voted for Trump in the first place, what made them feel like they had to, and the buyer's remorse that came after. They also talk about how a lot of traditional conservatives and independents feel the same way—like there's no real home left in either of the two major parties.  They have both become so terrible that neither one deserves their vote or support. Ryan and Josh also discuss what it's like being a conservative professor in a very woke, liberal academic world. Ryan shares some of the struggles he's had just trying to teach music history in a straight forward historically accurate way.  

The Weekly Dartscast
#437: Samuel Price, Kaya Baysal, ProTour and Dutch Open Reviews

The Weekly Dartscast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2026 93:38


Alex Moss and Burton DeWitt are back with a new episode of your go-to darts podcast after the first PDC ProTour events of 2026!   The boys start the show with a brand-new game as Burton attempts to predict the quarter-final results of this week's Premier League night in Antwerp the day after with no prior knowledge of the results! Alex and Burton then take a look back at this week's Players Championship double-header in Germany and focus on the two title winners James Wade and Wessel Nijman.   New PDC tour card holder Samuel Price (24:44) joins the show to look back on a dramatic UK Q-School, which saw him secure a tour card on the final day as one of the top-up players from the First Stage Order of Merit. Samuel talks through his time in the game so far, from how he first got introduced to darts and then taking a break after suffering with dartitis, to making a comeback during lockdown, the influence of the ADC and UKDA in improving his game and a memorable start to 2026 that saw him become a PDC tour card holder for the first time.   Alex and Burton continue their review of the last week in darts and look back on the Dutch Open, which saw Germany's Paul Krohne and home favourite Priscilla Steenbergen win the two main titles in Assen.   The newly crowned Junior World Masters champion Kaya Baysal (1:07:18) calls in to reflect on his landmark win in Milton Keynes last month. The teenager looks back on a whirlwind last 12 months which saw him make history as the youngest winner of a WDF senior title in Hungary, breaking Luke Littler's record, play in youth events on the Lakeside and Alexandra Palace stages, and then defeat Mitchell Lawrie in the final of the inaugural Junior World Masters on the Arena MK stage just a few weeks ago.   The boys wrap up the show with a dip into the mailbag to answer your listeners questions.   Join the Darts Strava King group on Strava *** Get your own Alex Moss replica shirt (as worn by our co-host at the Las Vegas Open 2026) from DJD here! A % of the profits will be donated to The Ethan King Fund for Ewing Sarcoma Research *** This podcast is brought to you in association with Darts Corner - the number one online darts retailer! Darts Corner offers the widest selection of darts products from over 30 different manufacturers.  This podcast is sponsored by Darts Atlas - the platform for darts players, venues, and organisations. Darts Atlas is the home of the Amateur Darts Circuit (ADC) with hundreds of tournaments held on the platform every week.  Have you used Darts Atlas before? Share your feedback and experiences with Darts Atlas with us by sending an email to weeklydartscast@gmail.com and be in with a chance of winning some new logo Weekly Dartscast stickers! Check out Condor Darts here: UK site *** Enjoy our podcast? Make a one-off donation on our new Ko-Fi page here: ko-fi.com/weeklydartscast Support us on Patreon from just $2(+VAT): patreon.com/WeeklyDartscast Thank you to our Patreon members: Phil Moss, Gordon Skinner, Connor Ellis, Dan Hutchinson

TD Ameritrade Network
Parkhill: SpaceX Story ‘Has Merit', Long International Equities & Short Global Bonds & Commodities

TD Ameritrade Network

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2026 7:21


“We're approaching all of this with great caution,” says Ted Parkhill. He discusses diversifying into international equities and the question marks in the U.S. market. He's avoiding IPOs, citing risk, but thinks the SpaceX story “has merit” as the company is widely expected to debut this year. He's “surprised” how hard Bitcoin fell recently, he calls it “over-reactionary” and he's particularly watching Asia's crypto markets. His firm is short global bonds and commodities.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

KMJ's Afternoon Drive
Journalistic Merit: CBS News Producer Quits

KMJ's Afternoon Drive

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2026 8:59


Producer Alicia Hastey departed CBS News on Wednesday after four years with the network, blasting Bari Weiss’ break from “journalistic merit” in a fiery exit note. "The very excellence we seek to sustain is hindered by fear and uncertainty," the news producer writes. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip Teresi Podcasts
Journalistic Merit: CBS News Producer Quits

Philip Teresi Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2026 8:59


Producer Alicia Hastey departed CBS News on Wednesday after four years with the network, blasting Bari Weiss’ break from “journalistic merit” in a fiery exit note. "The very excellence we seek to sustain is hindered by fear and uncertainty," the news producer writes. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RNZ: Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan
NZ Sporting History: Rowing's Judith Hamilton

RNZ: Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 23:56


Time for sporting history and our guest this week has had a lifelong association with the sport of rowing, as a competitor, an elite coach and a high-performance leader. Judith Hamilton is currently Rowing New Zealand's General Manager of Performance, and there have been many highlights along the way - which we will soon find out about. Her contribution to rowing was also recognised in the New Year Honours, where she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rowing.

Mama Tried x Flat Out Friday Show
072 - Setting The Tone With Music

Mama Tried x Flat Out Friday Show

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 67:04


NEED TO KNOW: Tuesday 2/17: World's Smallest Indoor Motorcycle Race at the Coop Wednesday 2/18: Elwood's pre-party mini bike race, pits inside, race in the parking lot Thursday: Harley-Davidson Museum race 6-8pm, then official pre-party at Miramar Theater with DJ Magic Mike Friday 2/21: Flat Out Friday, afterparty at the Coop with Midwest Mudfest + Spaghetti Wrestling Saturday 2/22: Mama Tried at Eagles Ballroom, perogis at Kochanski's, afterparty at Iron Horse Hotel Sunday 2/23: More Mama Tried at Eagles Ballroom   About this episode: This ones all about philosophy of music. DJ Merit, joins us. Merit curates the music at the show and he goes over how to music reflects on the vibe.  

One Minute Daily Torah Thought - Rabbi Moshe Levin
'If you merit,' G-d rests in your home..Huh?

One Minute Daily Torah Thought - Rabbi Moshe Levin

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 2:24


Send a text What is the formula to have the merit to bring G-d's presence in your home?Support the show

EuropaFM - România în direct
România în Direct: Bolojan versus primari. Merită să existe o primărie fără bani?

EuropaFM - România în direct

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026


Cea mai ascultată emisiune din ţară în care românii se fac auziţi

Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready?
Is Your Teen's College Financially Safe? What Parents Must Know About College Closures and Risk

Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready?

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026 21:46


Key Takeaways for Parents:Many colleges — especially small, private, non-urban schools — are under significant financial strainSome colleges have closed with little warning, leaving students scramblingGraduation rates below 50% are a major red flag“Merit scholarships” are often tuition discounts, not actual awarded fundsLow-enrollment majors may be at risk of being eliminated mid-degreeTeach-out agreements exist but may transfer students to similarly struggling institutionsFinancial health should be the first checkpoint when building a college list

Eli Goldsmith Inspired Flow!
Prayer in Song, Pure Radience to Merit, Judgements Sweetened - Likutei Moharan 42 Chizzuk Chassidus

Eli Goldsmith Inspired Flow!

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026 20:04


Learning Weekly from Likutei Moharan chapter 42 Rabeinu Nachman ben Faiga Simcha on Davening with Torah, Song & Joy

The Shotgun Start
So we're saying The Players is better than all 4 majors?, Phoenix Open goes into another Super Bowl, Pat Reed domination

The Shotgun Start

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2026 57:13


Andy and Brendan planned to go LIVE on YouTube as part of "Golf's Favorite Pregame Show," but Hideki Matusyama had other plans. After a few too many wayward drives, Matsuyama could not make this a Victory Monday for Boston and coughed up the WM Phoenix Open to Chris Gotterup midway through the first quarter of the Super Bowl. Andy and Brendan recap a jam-packed week in the desert, hitting on Scottie Scheffler's t3 finish, Hideki's driver woes, and Chris Gotterup's continued ascension into the game's top tier. Patrick Reed could be the only player hotter than Gotterup right now, remaining undefeated in regulation in his last three starts with a win in Qatar. He is all but guaranteed a PGA Tour card through the DP World Tour now, but Brendan doubts his "lifelong goal to win the Order of Merit" is a real thing. Elvis Smylie immediately paid dividends for Rippers GC, staring down Jon Rahm in Riyadh for a win in his LIV debut. The two then run through results from the rest of the world and a bit of news before unpacking Brandel Chamblee's latest masterpiece of a take. Brandel made waves by suggesting that The Players Championship is ABOVE the four majors in stature and should absolutely be qualified as a major championship moving forward. Andy and Brendan are aghast at this statement and share some unsubstantiated rumors suggesting that the current PGA Tour membership does not share Brandel's personal opinion. Andy then previews Thursday night's live show in Chicago by reading some internet information about the event. Join us in Chicagoland for an SGS Live Show on Thursday, February 12! We'll be hanging out at SPACE in Evanston, Illinois for a night of Q&A, Champs Tour Minute, and plenty of Bears chatter. Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ticketweb.com/event/the-shotgun-start-space-tickets/14054084?pl=space⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details. Use code "FriedEgg" for 15% off at ⁠mobjak.com

The Mike Hosking Breakfast
Thomas Coyle: Specialist Crime Scene Investigator on forensic science, new book ‘The Dead Speak: My Life in Forensics'

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2026 10:14 Transcription Available


From true crime to Sherlock Holmes to CSI, people all around the world have a fascination with crime, mystery, and forensics. And Thomas Coyle has been up close with the field for decades. He started his career as a fingerprint examiner at Scotland Yard when he was a teenager, before moving to New Zealand decades later, setting himself up as one of our most prominent forensic experts and crime scene investigators. It led to him being named a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2024, and he now runs his own forensic business and teaches students from as early as year 2. Coyle's 37-year career is detailed in his new book, ‘The Dead Speak: My Life in Forensics'. He told Mike Hosking there's a lot of information in the book, but he hopes it's honest, raw, and gives a ‘real insight' into what forensic science is about at crime scenes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bunkered Golf Podcast
Should The PLAYERS really be a major?

The Bunkered Golf Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2026 76:13


It must be February. We know that because the old “Should The PLAYERS Championship be a major” argument has started all over again.   Michael, James and Lewis discuss the merits for and against (mostly against) that idea on this week's episode.   Elsewhere, the guys react to Patrick Reed's latest win and the prospect of a first genuinely mouth-watering Order of Merit race in over 20 years, and there's reaction to LIV finally getting OWGR points (and still being unhappy about it).   Plus, mine shafts, Golf Tenable, and… Strictly Come Dancing?!   Tune-in now!   ⛳️ Chat to us on social and subscribe to the magazine for the best golf news, reviews, comment and more, direct from the home of golf!                                    ⓣ https://twitter.com/bunkeredgolf                                                                  ⓕ https://www.facebook.com/bunkeredonline                                                                ⓨ https://www.youtube.com/bunkeredonline                                                                  ⓘ https://www.instagram.com/bunkeredgolfonline                                                       Get the magazine every month: https://www.bunkered.co.uk/suboffer 

Things Fall Apart
From Meritocracy to Human Interdependence: Redefining the Purpose of Education w/ Yong Zhao

Things Fall Apart

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2026 41:42


In a 2021 interview, Michael Sandel, author of the book The Tyranny of Merit argues that if merit can be understood as competence, a good thing to be clear, “The principle of meritocracy, simply put, says that if chances are equal, the winners deserve their winnings.” But as we grapple with meritocracy, or systems built around the idea that those who get ahead are deserving, he says, “What makes merit a kind of tyranny is the way it attributes deservingness to the successful.” How are we supposed to understand the great problems of our time: United States' incredible wealth and income disparities, child poverty, life expectancy gaps, infant mortality, student debt, or even incarceration rates through a lens of meritocracy? Sandel offers, “To rethink meritocracy requires, among other things, rethinking the mission and purpose of higher education.” But what about education inequality and the construction of affluent white suburban public schools as “Good Schools”, where the social and economic advantages of their proximity to wealth compound upward into higher property taxes, more funding, smaller class sizes, more course offerings, higher test scores and higher graduation rates?And that's a lens my guest today, Yong Zhao, Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies & Educational Psychology at the University of Kansas, wants to expand into redefining the purpose of K-12 education more broadly, from meritocracy to human interdependence.He's co-authored an open-access piece for the ECNU Review of Education by that name that you can search yourself or find in the show notes, and it's the focus of our conversation today. “[Meritocracy's] focus on ranking individuals according to flawed metrics fosters unhealthy competition, overlooks diverse human talents, fails to account for unequal starting points, and ultimately hundred both individual fulfillment AND societal progress,” they write, “We propose an alternative framework, the Human Interdependence Paradigm, which….emphasizes cultivating unique individual greatness, realizing [it] through applying it to solve meaningful real world problems for others, [and] fostering a sense of purpose and mutual reliance. The Human Interdependence Paradigm [for education] aims to create learning environments that promote collaboration, social intelligence, and ultimately, a more equitable and flourishing society.”You can email Prof. Zhao @ yongzhao.uo@gmail.comFrom Meritocracy to Human Interdependence: Redefining the Purpose of EducationThe Dark Side of Meritocracy, Noema Mag

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin
Tenby Powell: Kiwi K.A.R.E chairman on being recognised for his efforts by Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2026 11:19 Transcription Available


Kiwi charity founder Tenby Powell has been recognised by the Ukrainian President for his humanitarian efforts in the country's red zones. Zelenskyy awarded Powell the Order of Merit for the work his charity Kiwi K.A.R.E has carried out - with the organisation raising over $7.5 million to help fund recovery during the ongoing conflict. Tenby Powell says a majority of the newer casualties are caused by drones - and that's impacting the ongoing humanitarian efforts being carried out by the charity. "We now have drone identification handheld devices, but all that does is identify that there's a drone in an area, usually in close proximity, which gives the guys a chance to exit the vehicle if they feel that they are under direct threat." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston
Harmony of the Gospels [Offences and Faith & Merit] | Bible Study (Fr. Matthias Shehad)

St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church of Houston

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2026 67:12


In this Bible study, Fr. Matthias Shehad explores the relationship between faith, human effort, and God's grace as taught by Jesus in the Gospels. He discusses the parable of the mustard seed, emphasizing that even a small amount of faith can bring about significant transformation when coupled with obedience. Fr. Matthias explains the balance between trusting God's power and actively participating in spiritual growth, forgiveness, and service. He examines the story of the ten lepers, illustrating the importance of gratitude and following God's guidance for healing. Fr. Matthias also addresses misconceptions about the Kingdom of God, highlighting its spiritual nature rather than a political or observable realm. Finally, he unpacks Christ's teachings on humility, the coming judgment, and the need for vigilance in faith, urging believers to live focused on eternal life rather than temporal concerns. Subscribe to us on YouTube https://youtube.com/stpaulhouston Like us on Facebook https://facebook.com/saintpaulhouston Follow us on SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/stpaulhouston Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list https://stpaulhouston.org

Courtesy Violation- Disc Golf Podcast
DISC GOLF OFFSEASON UNHINGED | OTB TOP 10 DISCS OF 2025

Courtesy Violation- Disc Golf Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2026 57:07


Disc Golf Silly Season Is Wild — MVP drops Tomali, massive sponsorship moves, Kristin Tattar honored, TSA skate decks, and OTB's top-selling discs of 2025 — plus listener questions and hot takes!In this episode of the podcast, we break down one of the biggest weeks in disc golf news heading into the 2026 season. MVP shocks the community by moving on from Tomali and ending player and media agreements beyond 2025. We dive into what this means for MVP Disc Sports and the future of team sponsorships in professional disc golf.We also cover major disc golf signings and sponsorship moves including:• Ellis joining RPM Discs and Helix Disc Golf Baskets• Anniken Steen signing with Latitude 64• Anttila announcing sponsorship with Cardinal Disc Golf• Ohn Scoggins partnering with Squatch Disc Golf Bags• Chandler Reign joining Infinite Discs, Kastaplast mold team, and EV-7 — including a rumored Tour Series Falk and EV-7 collab• Andrew Presnell landing a Papa Murphy's sponsorship (yes, really)Plus, Kristin Tattar is awarded Estonia's Medal of Merit by President Alar Karis — a massive honor for disc golf on the global stage

rose bros podcast
#264: W. Brett Wilson (Prairie Merchant) - FirstEnergy ~1992 & Dragons' Den Lessons

rose bros podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2026 40:04


Greetings, and welcome back to the podcast. This episode, we are joined by W.Brett Wilson - CEO & Chairman of Prairie Merchant Corp - a private merchant bank which finances key personal investments in five major areas - energy, agriculture, real estate, entertainment and sport.Prior to founding Prairie Merchant Corp, W.Brett Wilson co-founded investment banking advisory firm, Wilson Mackie & Co., in 1991, and in 1993, co-founded FirstEnergy Capital Corp. in Calgary, Alberta with Rick Grafton, Jim Davidson, and N. Murray Edwards. W.Brett Wilson was a season 3, 4 & 5 panelist on CBC Television's Dragons' Den. He has written regularly on entrepreneurship for publications including Oilweek, Alberta Venture and the National Post, and in 2012, he published the book titled Redefining Success: Still Making Mistakes.His sports interests include ownership in the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League. W. Brett Wilson has supported hundreds of charities including, The Southern Alberta Institute of Urology, the David Foster Foundation, Right to Play & the Wilson Centre for Domestic Abuse Studies at the Calgary Counseling Centre.W. Brett Wilson obtained a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Calgary.In 2010, W. Brett Wilson received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Royal Roads University. In 2011, he was awarded the Order of Canada and subsequently received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2012.Among other things, we learned about FirstEnergy ~1992 & Dragons' Den Lessons.Enjoy.Thank you to our sponsors.Without their support this episode would not be possible:Connate Water SolutionsATB Capital MarketsAmbyintJSGBidell Gas CompressionBunch ProjectsSupport the show

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame
Nico Porteous: Kiwi Winter Olympic medallist on his decision to step away from high level competitions, the upcoming Winter Olympics

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2026 16:02 Transcription Available


The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are just one week away. New Zealand's presence at the Games is growing, with 17 athletes set to compete this year. And though he won't be competing this year, two-time Winter Olympic medallist Nico Porteous knows how they'll be feeling. At age 16, he won the Bronze at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, and four years later, took the Gold in Beijing. But last year he decided to shift focus, stepping away from the Olympic-level competition. Porteous had been in high performance and competitive environments since he was ten years old, and felt it was time for something new. “We're lucky that in our sport, competition isn't everything,” he told Jack Tame. “With the support of sponsors, we can move into different areas such as, y'know, making films and doing one off projects, so that areas has always really excited me and inspired me.” And with two Olympic medals under his belt, a raft of other titles, and even a New Zealand Order of Merit to his name, he felt he had achieved what he wanted to on the competition side of things. “I felt like it was the right time to step aside.” But for those heading to the Olympics this year, Porteous does have some advice. “Just worry about yourself and worry about your own performance,” he said. “There's a lot of external stuff that can sort of come into play, so I think the biggest skill that I took out of it and learned in the whole process was to just worry about what you're doing and your process.” “Be driven by your own process, rather than someone else's ambitions or goals for you.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Squared Circle Podcast
NJPW Commentary Gone Woke? Wrestle Kingdom 20 Women's Match & Feminism Rant

Squared Circle Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2026 47:46


Welcome to the Squared Circle Podcast with your host Marie Shadows!Visit:https://patreon.com/marieshadowshttps://rumble.com/user/marieshadowsIn this episode of the Square Circle Podcast, I break down Wrestle Kingdom 20 (January 4, 2026), focusing on the chaotic NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag "Ranbo" opener and the IWGP/STRONG Women's title match between Syuri and Saya Kamitani. I also go in-depth on why activist commentary (feminism, "women fighting for visibility") feels out of place in NJPW, cultural respect for Japan, why the women's titles feel like an afterthought, and how Stardom can headline the Tokyo Dome on merit—not gender narratives.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro & Wrestle Kingdom 20 overview1:45 - NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag "Ranbo" (Zack Sabre Jr., Oiwa & Hartley win)4:20 - The IWGP Women's & STRONG Women's title match (Syuri becomes double champ)7:10 - Rant starts: Commentary activism & inserting "woke" narratives12:30 - Respecting Japanese culture vs. American ideology imports18:45 - Why the IWGP Women's title exists + Stardom as separate division25:10 - Merit over gender quotas; Stardom selling out Tokyo Dome on its own32:00 - Women's wrestling observations: safety, training, storytelling40:15 - Final thoughts: Retire the titles? Revive NJPW Strong?45:50 - Outro & call to actionIf you're tired of forced narratives and want real talk on wrestling, hit like/subscribe/comment your thoughts below. No brainwashing here—just passion for the squared circle.

Mere Fidelity
A Generous Ecclesiology with Myles Werntz

Mere Fidelity

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 54:14


Hosts Derek Rishmawy and Brad East are joined by Myles Werntz to discuss his Christianity Today Award of Merit-winning book, Contesting the Body of Christ: Ecclesiology's Revolutionary Century. Rather than systematic argument, Werntz uses narrative case studies examining how diverse Christian communities—from African Pentecostals to Korean Presbyterians—have embodied and contested the classical marks of the church. His starting premise: assume the Holy Spirit is at work in churches confessing Christ, then investigate what's happening. The conversation tackles tough questions about theological boundaries, ecumenical charity, and faithful disagreement when salvation is at stake. — Mere Fidelity is a podcast from Mere Orthodoxy and is listener-supported. If you would like to support this work, become a Mere Orthodoxy Member today at http://mereorthodoxy.com/membership. Get 40% of the Baker Book of the Month, Reading The Psalms As Scripture by James Hamilton and Matthew Damico, by using the promo code MEREFIDELITY at checkout. Get the book here: https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/products/9781683597766_reading-the-psalms-as-scripture — Key Topics Why the 20th century was revolutionary for the church (Vatican II, Pentecostalism, decolonization, ecumenical movement) Contestation as intrinsic to ecclesial life, not a bug but a feature Theological guardrails: the Nicene Creed, Scripture, faith-hope-love Limit cases: when does disagreement become denial of God's work? How to argue faithfully in a non-Roman Catholic ecclesiology Guest Myles Werntz, Professor of Theology at Abilene Christian University A podcast from Mere Orthodoxy

Rugby on Off The Ball
'Billy Bohan is there on merit!' | RUGBY GREEN XV EP. 15 | 'This is worse than Declan Rice...' Josh Brennan's rise

Rugby on Off The Ball

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 37:16


OTB's Dara Smith-Naughton presents the latest episode of the Irish rugby ‘Green XV', as Joey Carbery, Joshua Brennan & Billy Bohan dominate the conversation.Catch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app.SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/joinOff The Ball Breakfast is live weekday mornings from 7:30am across Off The Ball

Chasing Pars Golf Podcast
(Ep 202) Maddison Hinson-Tolchard

Chasing Pars Golf Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 96:06


In this episode I was joined by highly talented current Ladies European Tour pro Maddison Hinson-Tolchard who goes into 2026 season with confidence after a very solid rookie season finishing 32nd on LET Order of Merit which included 2 Top 10's & 7 Top 25's in 2025 with the highlights coming at Tenerife Womens Open (T8th) & career best 3rd at La Sella Open.  Maddison is from Perth, Australia and would pick up her first clubs at the age of 2 with her fathers influence (the classic way to spend quality time together) and would start competing in events round about the age of 8. At 13 Maddy would win Srixon Junior Championship which she would do a three peat winning in 2016 & 2017 too. Junior victories include 2017 Western Australian Amateur, 2018 Australian Girls' Junior Championship & 2018 Victorian Amateur Championship. Maddison would also represent Western Australia Junior Teams on 6 occasions and would be captain in 2018 & would also play in 4x WA Womens Team & would finish runner up at 2019 IMG Academy Junior World Championships. In 2020 would see MHT move to Oklahoma State University and in that time has been Big 12 Player of the Year twice & Karrie Webb award winner twice. In 2022 and 2023 Maddison would represent Australia at Espirito Santo Trophy with Kelsey Bennett & Kirsten Rudgeley in France then Justice Bosio & Caitlin Pierce in Abu Dhabi which would see Australia finish 6th in the team & Maddison 8th individually. She would also in 2023 play for International at Palmer Cup, for Asia/Pacific at Patsy Hankins Trophy, play in the Augusta National Women's Amateur & also the chance to play at US Women's Open at Pebble Beach. Thanks to Maddison for coming on to chat for another great story and definitely a player to keep your eye on in 2026. Be sure to download via Podbean, Apple Podcasts & Spotify!

The Country
The Country 28/01/26: Dr Robyn Dynes talks to Jamie Mackay

The Country

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 6:38 Transcription Available


Dynes was recognised in the New Year Honours for services to agricultural science. A farming systems scientist who has shaped more sustainable agricultural practices, she becomes a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bulletin
Alex Pretti Murder, Board of Peace, Ted Cruz Tapes, and The Body God Gives

The Bulletin

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2026 47:47


On Saturday, an ICE agent shot nurse Alex Pretti in the street after he stepped between a woman and the ICE agent who was pepper spraying her. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump announced his new Board of Peace to rebuild Gaza. And on Sunday, recordings of Senator Ted Cruz were leaked to the press, distancing himself from potential GOP presidential contenders in 2028. Mike Cosper and Clarissa Moll discuss these headlines, and Mike sits down with Robert Smith, author of the book The Body God Gives (recipient of Christianity Today's Book of the Year Award of Merit), to discuss a biblical response to transgender theory. REFERENCED IN THE SHOW: -The Body God Gives - Robert Smith -First Comes Sex, Then Comes Gender - CT review of The Body God Gives - J. Alan Branch GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN: -Join the conversation at our Substack. -Find us on YouTube. -Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice. ABOUT THE GUESTS: Robert Smith is an ordained Anglican minister and a lecturer in theology, ethics, and music ministry at Sydney Missionary and Bible College. He is the author of How Should We Think About Gender and Identity? and The Body God Gives. ABOUT THE BULLETIN: The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today's editor-at-large and columnist) and Mike Cosper (senior contributor). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more. The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more. “The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today Producer: Clarissa Moll Associate Producer: Alexa Burke Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs Music: Dan Phelps Executive Producer: Erik Petrik Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep366: 2. Guest Author: Victor Davis Hanson. Headline: Immigration, Amnesty, and the Erosion of Citizenship. Summary: Hanson critiques the 1965 Hart-Celler Act and subsequent amnesties for prioritizing family ties over merit and failing to secure the b

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2026 8:19


2. Guest Author: Victor Davis Hanson. Headline: Immigration, Amnesty, and the Erosion of Citizenship. Summary: Hanson critiques the 1965 Hart-Celler Act and subsequent amnesties for prioritizing family ties over merit and failing to secure the border. He argues that the resulting influx of illegal immigration serves corporate demand for cheap labor and political desire for new voters, ultimately undermining the value of American citizenship.1920 BRYAN SPEAKING IN MANHATTAN

Podagogies: A Learning and Teaching Podcast
DocTalks: Education Research in Medicine with Dr. Jonathan Sherbino

Podagogies: A Learning and Teaching Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2026 27:03


Have you been listening to DocTalks, the branch of Podagogies dedicated to exploring the world of medical education? We're cross-posting DocTalks Episode 9 here on Podagogies to share what we can learn from medical educators about how to improve our teaching practice. Emergency physician and award-winning educator Dr. Jonathan Sherbino joins DocTalks to unpack why education research matters, and how it improves patient care. Drawing on his work leading MERIT at McMaster University, Sherbino challenges assumptions about innovation, rigour, and legitimacy in medical education. The conversation explores competency-based education, diagnostic error, and why experience, not “thinking harder” or bias checklists, drives clinical expertise. A thoughtful, evidence-informed discussion on building safer systems, better training, and scholarship that truly translates to practice. Dr. Sherbino is a Professor of Medicine and Assistant Dean, Health Professions Education Research, McMaster University. He holds the William J. Walsh Chair in Medical Education. Dr. Sherbino is the past chair of the National Specialty Committee for Emergency Medicine, Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada, and the co-founder of a nationally certified medical education training program. He also directs the McMaster Health Education, Research & Innovation & Theory (MERIT) Centre. Read the transcript: https://tinyurl.com/2p9wt2m9 Follow DocTalks: https://on.soundcloud.com/elIc60UCZ9jrFJ86n4

Five Clubs
1.21.26 | Michael McCartin & Renee Powell |Inside the National Links Trust Situation + Access & Inclusion in Golf | 5 Clubs

Five Clubs

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 46:12


On this early Wednesday edition of 5 Clubs, Gary Williams opens with a look at TGL and the shot that may already rank among the league's all-time highlights, plus thoughts on Scottie Scheffler as his 2026 season begins at The American Express.Michael McCartin, co-founder of the National Links Trust, joins the show to explain NLT's mission to protect affordable, accessible municipal golf in Washington, D.C. — and to discuss the organization's current uncertainty after its long-term lease involving East Potomac, Rock Creek, and Langston was terminated.PGA of America Hall of Famer, Renee Powell, joins the show by ahead of receiving the NGCOA Award of Merit, reflecting on her journey in golf, the importance of access, and what progress still needs to be made to keep the game welcoming for everyone.Plus: Dogs & Picks to close out the show — including selections for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and The American Express.5 Clubs airs on Golf Channel and PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM (Channel 92).0:00 - 4:59 Opening Thoughts4:59 - 15:10 Scottie Scheffler begins 2026 season15:49 - 31:33 Michael McCartin32:00 - 42:45 Renee Powell43:18 - 46:13 Dogs & Picks of the Week

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep337: THE NEW MODEL ARMY AND THE REGICIDE Colleague Jonathan Healey. Parliament reorganizes its forces into the New Model Army under Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, prioritizing merit over social status. After defeating the Royalists at Naseby, po

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2026 11:53


THE NEW MODEL ARMY AND THE REGICIDE Colleague Jonathan Healey. Parliament reorganizes its forces into the New Model Army under Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, prioritizing merit over social status. After defeating the Royalists at Naseby, political divisions emerge between Presbyterians and Independents regarding the settlement. The Army debates a new constitution at Putney, pitting Henry Ireton against democratic Levelers. Charles I's refusal to negotiate leads to a second civil war. Concluding the King is a tyrant, radicals try and execute Charles I in 1649, a shocking public act performed in the name of the people. NUMBER 527TH CENTURY LONDON

New York’s Finest: Retired & Unfiltered Podcast
Merit or Quotas ? Inside the NYPD's Discretionary Promotion System

New York’s Finest: Retired & Unfiltered Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2026 196:18


In this episode of The Finest Unfiltered, we break down internal NYPD promotion data and a 2018 NYPD-commissioned study by Columbia Business School that raises serious questions about whether NYPD promotions are truly merit-based. The data shows a more than four-year difference in promotion timelines from Captain to Deputy Inspector based on race and gender. Asian male captains waited the longest on average, while other groups were promoted significantly faster disparities the NYPD has never clearly explained. Discussed is an NYPD-commissioned study, promotion data, and a former Chief's own words, which raises serious questions about merit, race, and discretion inside NYPD promotions. We break down the evidence. This episode is data-driven, source-based, and focused on process, accountability, and transparency not politics. *If you have ever felt you were wrongfully passed over for a discretionary promotion in the NYPD you are going to want to tune in. ️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5689366474915840 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

CryptoNews Podcast
#510: Matt O'Connor, Co-founder of Legion, on ICOs, IPOs, Private SAFT rounds, and Merit-based Compliant Token Offerings

CryptoNews Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2026 32:35


Matt O'Connor is the Co-founder of Legion, a platform for compliant and merit-based public token offering that enables teams to select investors based on criteria such as onchain history, social clout, and developer contributions. He is the former lead algorithmic engineer for Bridgewater Associates; tokenomics researcher for the Stacks Foundation (SEC qualified 2019 ICO); and token economics lead for Status (2017 ICO). His open source book, Tokenomics for Builders, has been positively reviewed by founders and VCs from Monad, Placeholder, Tensor, AllianceDAO, Galaxy Digital, and more. In this conversation, we discuss:- ICOs, IDOs, launchpads, private SAFT rounds - Merit-based, compliant token offerings - Why IPO access has deteriorated for retail investors - How Legion differs from AngelList, Carta, Republic, or SeedInvest - The convergence of IPOs ICOs - Companies with equity holders and token holders - Tokenomics 101 - Common mistakes when designing tokenomics - KPI based vesting for founders LegionX: @legiondotccWebsite: legion.ccLinkedIn: Legion | Merit-based FundraisingMatt O'ConnorX: @matty_LinkedIn: Matt O'Connor---------------------------------------------------------------------------------This episode is brought to you by PrimeXBT.PrimeXBT offers a robust trading system for both beginners and professional traders that demand highly reliable market data and performance. Traders of all experience levels can easily design and customize layouts and widgets to best fit their trading style. PrimeXBT is always offering innovative products and professional trading conditions to all customers.  PrimeXBT is running an exclusive promotion for listeners of the podcast. After making your first deposit, 50% of that first deposit will be credited to your account as a bonus that can be used as additional collateral to open positions. Code: CRYPTONEWS50 This promotion is available for a month after activation. Click the link below: PrimeXBT x CRYPTONEWS50FollowApple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicRSS FeedSee All

Catching Up To FI
The College Discount Game You Need To Know Before Choosing A School | Ron Lieber | 191

Catching Up To FI

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2026 81:02


The cost of college is skyrocketing! To make sure you're not paying those sticker prices, we brought in New York Times 'Your Money' columnist, Ron Lieber. He is also author of 'The Price You Pay for College' and joins the show for a brutally honest walkthrough of what is actually going on behind the scenes. In this episode he breaks down: List price vs. cost of attendance Why most families don't pay rack rate How to read a school's 'Common Data Set' Merit vs. need-based aid How net price calculators and pre-reads can keep you from falling in love with a school you can't afford DEALS & DISCOUNTS FROM OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS:   MONARCH MONEY The modern way to manage money! Monarch will change the way you organize your financial life. Track, budget, plan, and do more with your money – together. Get 50% off the first year using this link and entering code: CATCHINGUP50   ALLOY The Alloy Market offers a seamless and efficient way to sell your gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, regardless of its condition. They are committed to transparency and fairness, ensuring you get the best possible value for your items. Use this special Link and enter code CUTOFI15 to get a $15 bonus when you sell items over $199 (limited time offer).    For a full list of current deals and discounts from our partners, sponsors and affiliates, click here: catchinguptofi.com/our-partners    SUPPORT THE SHOW

Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan
Temmu's New Year's Traditions

Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2026 46:38


For the first regular episode of the year (excepting our New Year's recap) we take a look at the New Year Traditions at Temmu's court.  How did the court celebrate the New Year in the late 7th century? For more, check out our blogpost:  https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-141 Rough Transcript: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is episode 141: Temmu's New Year's Traditions   The chill winter air meant that most of the assembled crowd had donned multiple layers of robes.  Men and women had assembled together, upon the open, rock-covered courtyard, both to see and be seen.  To the north and east of the courtyard were the walls and gates of the buildings that made up the royal palace, the rooves of the buildings just visible beyond the gates. The onlookers stood arrayed around the open lanes that had been created for the event—at one end of the rocky field were targets, while at the other were archers, also arrayed in their finest outfits.  While technically they wore hunting robes, cut to allow greater movement in the arm, many of these fabrics had no business being anywhere near a moor or the dirt of open fields.  After all, this wasn't just some hunt:  They were demonstrating their skills in the center of the State.  At the officials' command, the archers let loose their arrows.  The crowd murmured at the soft crack of the bowstring, the faint whisper of arrow as the fletchings cut through the air, and the thud as the arrows struck their targets.  Looking downrange, approval bubbled through the crowd: the targets were well-struck.  Behind the archers on the field, another group awaited their turn. The events of the day would be the talk of the court, from the lowest clerk to the highest prince , for days to come.   Not just the well-placed shot, but also the grace and poise of the one who had let loose an arrow of particular note.  And heaven forbid an arrow miss its target.  Even kicking up stones or scraping the earth could have negative social consequences.  A particularly good showing could inspire poetry, and beyond the prizes being offered to the winner, could also bring notice to those from more obscure backgrounds. The new year had just started, and a good performance might be just what was needed to help put the rest of the year on a good footing.     Welcome back!  This is the first episode of the new year, 2026, and we are still going through the reign of Ohoama, aka Temmu Tenno, covering the period from 672 to 686. Before we get started, though, a quick shout out to Suzuki for supporting us on Patreon.  It means a lot and helps us keep this thing going.  If you would like to support us or our efforts to maintain the website, where we also have the Armor manual, clothing, and a miscellany on various topics, we have information at Sengokudaimyo.com and we will have more information at the end of this and every episode.  Support is appreciated as I really do want to try and minimize ads—I don't put any into the podcast myself, though some platforms may place ads around the podcast, which I cannot always control.  Now we've covered a lot this reign, but this episode we are going to cover three things in particular.  First off, and perhaps a bit of a tangent, we'll talk about some of the issues with the Chronicles when it comes to reading it,especially in translation.  It seems quite clear to me that even the sources that the Chroniclers were using weren't always in agreement with each other on how they spelled certain things or even in properly recording when things happened. After that we'll cover the major topics of this episode, focusing primarily on the New Year traditions of the court—we'll look at the major events of the first month for each year in the reign, allowing us to see some of the similarities, and differences. Finally, we'll look at the last year of Ohoama's reign, particularly as he grew ill, because it can be a fascinating question:  What did people do when disease struck before we had modern medicine?  Here the Chronicles reveal a lot about not only the beliefs of the time, but of their syncretism: how people were willing to reach out to whatever power they could in order to cure disease.  Whether it was Yin-yang divination, beseeching the local kami, or attempting to make merit, all of these things were on the table when it came to illness and mortality. And so, let's get into it. One of the first things I want to talk about is the problem that we have in trying to read the Chronicles, both in the way they are written and then the translation issue on top of that.  Even in Japanese the Chronicles have to be translated out of an ancient form of kanbun—basically a Japanese version of Chinese, using Sinitic characters.  Like any document written by non-native speakers, the Chronicles have their idiosyncrasies that make it different from what someone in Chang'an might be writing at the same time.  There are times and places where it is clear that something is meant to be read in the Japanese pronunciation, which itself was different from modern Japanese.  Add to this the fact that there are many times that different Sinitic characters sound alike in Japanese—especially in modern Japanese.  So any English translation of the Chronicles which doesn't give the actual characters in the source text can add to the confusion.  This is why I like to consult either the Japanese Historical Text Initiative or an electronic version of the National History series text—though even those have issues at times when the characters used in the text don't exist in modern character sets, though that seems to be less and less of a problem. One example I want to give of the complexities of reading the Chronicles, and the need to dive deeper into the original language and consult multiple versions, is a set of records for Ki no Omi no Abemaro and others.  He is our first mention of a member of the Ki family: on the 9th day of the 8th month of 673, the first year since Ohoama's ascension and one year after the Jinshin no Ran, we are told that Ki no Omi no Abemaro and others were given favors and rewards for their service during the war in Iga province.  Indeed, Ki no Omi no Abemaro is listed prominently in the records of the Jinshin no Ran and appears to have been one of the generals for Ohoama and the Yoshino faction in general.  Less than a year later, on the 28th day of the 2nd month, Ki no Omi no Abemaro died and was posthumously awarded the rank of Daishi, which was 5th from the top in the old system of 26 ranks.  A rather respectable rank, to be sure. Later that same year we get a note that Ki no Omi no KATAmaro—another member of the family, apparently--was appointed, along with a "Prince Mino" as a commissioner for the erection of the Great Temple of Takechi. Two years later, however, we get a record on the 22nd day of the 4th month of 676 that the sovereign, Ohoama, sent an order to the Governor of Mino telling him to let the children of Ki no Omi no Abemaro, resident in the district of Toki, be removed to the East country and become peasants in that country.  On the face of it, this appears to be an incredible fall from grace.  Ki no Omi no Abemaro is basically one of the top generals and heroes of the Jinshin no Ran, but his children are so unruly that they are banished to the East and stripped of their noble status?  There has to be a story there, right? Then in 679, on the 3rd day of the 2nd month, we are told that Ki no Omi no Katamaro died.  For his service in the Jinshin War he received the posthumous rank of Upper Daikin.  That would have been roughly the 7th rank—two below Ki no Abemaro.  So was the Ki family back in the good graces of the court?  What is going on? First off, when we go to the original text, we see that Aston, whose translation of the Nihon Shoki we've been working on Ihas made an apparent error in translation.  Remember, Aston was translating the Chronicles back in 1896, without the aid of modern computers, along with a lot of other research that has happened since then, and I can hardly fault him for missing things here and there.  This is why, if you cannot check the original, you may want to also look at the new translation from John Bentley.  Here we can see that he translates the name not as "Ki no Omi no Abemaro", but rather that of "Ki no Omi no KASAmaro".  And if we compare Ki no Omi no KaSAmaro with the previous entry on Ki no Omi no KaTAmaro we can see that these are actually the exact same names except for a single character.  Which leads us to the question:  Are these the same person, and the scribes simply miswrote one of the characters in the name?  It may not even be on the Chroniclers so much as whatever texts they were, themselves, working on.  This isn't helped by the fact that we later on see another entry for Ki no KATAmaro, but that one uses character for "KATA", meaning "hard", using the kun'yomi, or Japanese reading, rather than using two phonetic characters in the on'yomi reading.  So is this just another way to write "KATAmaro" or is this a different person altogether? Ultimately, we cannot be entirely sure.  It does seem wild that there would be two "Ki no Omi no Katamaro" at court at the same time and nobody otherwise distinguished the two.  The question about KaSAmaro and KaTAmaro, and whose kids were sent into exile, is a bit harder to untangle. And, truth be told, it is ultimately a minor point.  We have only a couple of lines here, and maybe these passages will help illuminate something later in the histories, but for now, they are just fragments of the story of what was happening.  Parts of the tattered tapestry from which the royal history was ripped out and restitched together, the rest of the story largely discarded, unless it made its way to us through other means. The Chronicles may be flawed, but they are still our main source for the period, and while we might challenge individual items, we still get a glimpse at how things operated back at this time.  For instance, if we look at the events happening around the New Year, we can see some common threads. The New Year is an important tradition in many cultures.  Whether it was a solar or lunar cycle—or some combination—the new year indicated a new cycle, and was often accompanied by associated symbols and rituals.  Today in the US it is often celebrated with fireworks and champagne, followed by making resolutions for the new year.  In Japan, people will often go to their local shrine or temple for an important first visit, and temple bells will ring out 108 times. Another tradition is the osechi-ryori, the  traditional new years foods.  This has grown over time from a tradition of eating a large bowl of rice to various other foods that are seen as auspicious or having special properties, such as the hardening of teeth—a major concern before the era of modern dental hygiene!  Then there are traditions such as the Kagami Biraki, or opening of the mirror, and the creation of special mochi, or rice cakes for the purpose.  Of course all of these traditions started somewhere and have evolved over time, so what do we know about the New Year celebrations during the late 7th century? One caveat: in the Chronicles, we only really see what was happening in the court, and the Yamato court at that.  There may have been local traditions that others were following that, unless we find documentation about them, we likely would never know.  But many of the court traditions were passed down to later generations. These traditions appear to include the giving of gifts; large, celebratory banquets; and the annual archery tournament. Banquets are some of the first and most common things we see.  We see a banquet as Ohoama assumed the throne in 673—which probably was the event that overshadowed anything else they might have done that year.  The following year, 674, there doesn't seem to have been much recorded, and I wonder if they were still pulling everything together after the turmoil of Ohoama's ascension.  And so it is that in the first month of 675 we really get to see the annual new year's events in their full form.  On the second day of that year, from the Royal Princes on down, all of the public functionaries presented their respects to the sovereign.  I suspect that this was a large ceremony, where everyone gathered in the courtyard of the palace together or something similar, not that each person individually went up and presented their respects—I doubt Ohoama would have wanted to sit through all of that.  Also, as we've already seen, there were limits on what parts of the palace different functionaries were allowed to enter.  So some of these well-wishers may have been "outside", others in the courtyard, and others in the palace building itself, depending on their rank and importance in the bureaucratic hierarchy. On the following day, all public functionaries, from the initial rank upwards, presented firewood.  Aston notes that this is the first mention of what would become a yearly practice.  Firewood may not seem like much, but it would have likely been important to keeping things running, especially given how early people were supposed to arrive at the palace and administrative complex each day.  This wasn't firewood for a fireplace—they didn't have those—but probably would have been used either for cooking or, I suspect, for the large braziers that burned with wood and pitch to light the darkness, particularly in the winter months.  Firewood could also be processed into smaller pieces of coal for other uses.  It is interesting that for the first ceremony, the Chronicles describe the court from the Royal Princes on down, while for the giving of firewood the order is from the initial—which is to say the lowest—ranks upwards.  This could indicate the order in which things progressed in these cases. Several days after that, on the 7th day of the first month, a banquet was given at court for the Ministers—so only the higher ranking functionaries.  But ten days later, on the 17th, everyone of rank—the Ministers of State; the Daibu, or high officials; and all of the public functionaries from the initial rank upwards had an archery meeting in the Court of the Western Gate. Archery and archery contests had been important to the Yamato people for ages—and the same on the continent.  Confucius, in his day, suggested that archery was a martial skill that even nobles should cultivate.  I believe we've noted before how archery could be used both for warfare and for just feeding your family.  As such, it was considered a particularly useful skill for just about everyone to have.  It probably also helped that it was a martial skill that noblemen and others could use to show off without actually risking any injury to themselves in the process.  I'm just saying.  And as we described at the top of the episode, this particular archery contest would, for both participants and spectators, likely have been a chance to show off the top of their game, whether in martial prowess, clothing, or behavior. And since we are looking at the new year's celebrations, let's keep this going and look at later years in Ohoama's reign. As I go through these you'll start to see the patterns, where the events I've just described will generally recur year after year, but not identically, sometimes with a shuffle in the schedule. In 676, we see that the Ministers and public functionaries pay their respects on the first day of the new year.  On the 4th day, the sovereign granted gifts to the higher level officials, from Royal Prince Takechi, down to the high officials, or Daibu, of Shoukin rank.  Their not so secret Santa gifts included robes, hakama, lined garments, obi for their waist, leg straps, and staves, or walking sticks.  We are also told that everyone above the rank of Shoukin also got an armrest thrown in, as well.  Further gifts or grants were given out several days later, on the 7th, to everyone from Shoukin on up, based on their individual circumstances.  Then, on the 15th, we again see all of the functionaries present firewood and then they were all entertained at a court banquet. The following day they held the annual new year's archery contest, with prizes, at the court of the western gate.  Those who hit the target received prizes of different values.  In his recent translation of the Nihon Shoki, Bentley references Kuroita on Article 41 of Miscellaneous Statutes, saying that this archery event was apparently a regular new year's occurrence, and even the prizes were noted as varying over time. The same day they held the archery contest, that year, Ohoama held a banquet at the Shima Palace.  Shima was the name given to the Soga Prime Minister, back in the day, so I assume that this was at or near the site of the old Soga residence? In 677, by comparison, we don't see nearly as much referenced.  There is archery at the South Gate, vice the west gate, but that is it.  The festivities in 678 similarly only talk about the archery at the south gate.  There is also mention of a preparation for worshipping the kami of heaven and earth, for which a purification was held throughout the state.  In addition, an abstinence palace, or saiguu, was erected on the bank of the Kurahashi river.  Kurahashi appears to refer to a tributary of the Ohara river, in Sakurai.  This feels less like a New Year's celebration, however, and more like a sign of merit-making.  The Saiguu would have likely been to prepare for a trip to Ise shrine, and three months later Ohoama was preparing to go to the Saiguu, but that is when Princess Towochi suddenly died, and they scuttled the plans. In 679, the court greeted the New Year with a new decree.  Ohoama declared that Princes, Ministers, and public functionaries—anyone in service to the government, basically, were to refrain from paying respects during New Years or other ceremonies to anyone except relatives of the grade of elder brother, elder sister, and above, or to the senior members of the Houses.  Princes weren't even to pay respects to their own mothers unless they were, themselves, princesses.  Ministers were likewise not to pay respects to their mothers if they were of "mean" rank.  In other words, if they were commoners. These kinds of statutes are interesting.  First of all, you ask yourself why?  In all likelihood, there were various local traditions and individuals paid respects to their parents as well as to others to whom they owed respect for one reason or another.  Here the State is ordering society such that there is a clear hierarchy, at least among the members of the court.   Since women often found advancement by marrying up, it was usual for one's mother to have been born a lower rank in society than oneself.  And so we see them enforcing the social order. That new order was based on Confucian concepts of hierarchy, and this seems to go along with those same ideas. What we don't really see is how this was enforced—if at all.  The day after that, the yearly archery competition took place at the West Gate of the palace. The next year, 680, we see a New Year's Banquet at the Court of the Great Hall.  Ohoama himself occupied the Mukai-kodono, which appears to refer to one of the smaller wings.  Based on the palace layout that we see in the posthole remains, this probably means that he was set up in the smaller wing, likely in a more intimate space, while most of the other guests were in the large hall, maintaining that crucial separation of sovereign and subjects. This New Year's archery event included Princes of the Blood all the way down to the rank of Shouken—the very lowest rank in the court—and it was held at the South Gate. You may be noticing a pattern, that the archery competition is listed as being held at either the south or west gates.  The south gate probably refers to the main gate of the later Okamoto—aka the Kiyomihara—palace.  The West gate refers to the west gate of the Ebinoko enclosure.   We talked about these and the general layout of the palace back in Episode 134, and you can check out that podcast blog post for some images of what things looked like, as well.  These gates were on the north and east sides of a large, rectangular courtyard, which was likely the actual event location.  So it isn't as if these were separate areas, just a difference of where things were set up in what was otherwise the same relative space. The following year, 681, we see similar ceremonies.  We see offerings made to the kami of Heaven and Earth, and we once again see a note about various functionaries paying their respects at court.  Even though this wasn't mentioned every year, it could have been an annual thing and just wasn't always recorded so the Chroniclers just wrote down what they had records for.  There are certainly other things we don't necessarily witness in the records, such as the annual promotions and promulgations.  We see irregular promotions, of course, such as on someone's passing, but the regular administration of the government and promotions of people to new positions is not something we really see regularly documented, since it doesn't really shed much light on the sovereign and the royal household.  And so we sometimes see things if they get mentioned, but otherwise we only see glimpses.  That would change as records became more administrative and the histories were more about simply recording what was happening—though still from a particular angle.  At this point, however, we aren't dealing with a single court record, but rather with numerous records, stories, and recollections.  That same year, 681, we also see another banquet, with Ohoama situated in the Mukai no Kodono, while the Princes of the Blood and non-royal Princes were both introduced into the inner reception chamber.  Ministers attended in the outer reception chamber.  They all received sake and musical performances, and rank advancements were given out.  Kusakabe no Kihi no Ohogata was graduated from the rank of Upper Daisen to Lower Daikin, and given the title of Naniwa no Muraji.  A few days later, Sakahibe no Muraji no Iwazumi was granted a fief with 60 horses and received presents of coarse silk, floss silk, cloth, and one hundred mattocks—the last one being a rather interesting gift, I have to admit.  Of course, in true Chronicles fashion, we have no idea why these gifts were made—we don't even have another reference to Iwazumi around there, but he must have done something. We are later told that there was the annual archery shoot, and then a decree, possibly unrelated to New Years, that the various provinces were ordered to repair the shrines to the kami of heaven and earth. The year 682 is an anomaly.  There is no mention of a banquet, nor of an archery tournament.  I wonder if this may have to do with some of the sad events of that first month.  While it started fine—Toneri no Miyatsuko no Nukamushi was raised from Daisen to Lower Shoukin—we are told that on the 18th, Lady Higami, one of Ohoama's consorts, died in the palace.  The next day there was an earthquake, and she was buried on the 27th.  A prominent illness and death may have put a pall on the ceremonies, and could explain why we don't see any mention of them for that year. It is also possible that some of this New Year tradition had become so routine that people were no longer commenting on it, and therefore the Chroniclers weren't including references to it. The following year, in 683, we again see the functionaries paying their respects.  We also see the presentation of a three legged sparrow by the Viceroy of Tsukushi, Tajihi no Mabito no Shima, along with others.  A three legged sparrow would have been something: it is reminiscent of the three legged crow, often depicted in the sun.  It is unclear if it was still alive, but that wasn't the point.  They invited the Princes of the Blood down to the Ministers to great hall, the Daigokuden, for a banquet, where the three legged sparrow was displayed. .  Later that month, Ohoama issued a decree in regards to all of the auspicious omens and made presents to everyone, from Shouken rank upwards.  There was also a general amnesty—all crimes were pardoned, from capital offenses on down, and all forced labor was remitted, so that people didn't have to provide the normal service.  The phrasing for this particular entry is intriguing.  Ohoama is mentioned as Yamato Neko Sumera no Mikoto and is specifically called a "God Incarnate".  This is one of the rare times that we see the Chronicles explicitly call out the sovereign as a living deity.  Of course, they trace the royal lineage back to Amaterasu, but there isn't a lot suggesting that the sovereign is necessarily a deity. And in reality, this was probably something that was more honorific than anything else.  Heck, at times in Japanese history we would see sovereigns selling their calligraphy to help keep the royal palace funded while warriors went around actually being in charge of things.  However, this divine language did show up in the 19th and 20th century, especially as the Tennou, now called Emperor in English terminology, once again was recognized as the Head of State, and people would actually pray to him.  Not necessarily like praying at a shrine, but out of respect.  And remember, a lot of time the Tennou was kept out of sight of regular people and hidden, much like the way that the kami were treated.  The concept of the Emperor's divinity was very much tied up in the elevation of the State and the general sense of Nationalism that had gripped Japan in the early half of the 20th century.  And so the allies quite explicitly had Emperor Showa renounce his divinity after Japan  World War II. Those studying Japanese history have probably heard of this concept, and so it is interesting to see evidence of it here, as well as the nature of the royal house, where the sovereign is kept at a distance from those of lower rank, unless they are directly serving him.  But it was not as though the sovereign was a god in the sense of being all powerful.  Even if he were considered a living, visible kami, the kami were not omnipotent, and there was no getting over the fact that our particular sovereign, Ohoama, was getting older.  Only a year or so earlier, he had suffered a rather bad illness, so he clearly was not invincible.  And it is of course possible that this language was simply royal exaggeration, rather than any attempt to define the sovereign as something more than he was.  Still, that concept would continue to play a part throughout Japanese history. The same day in 683 that Ohoama issued the pardons, we are told that there was a special performance at the Woharida Court of dance and music from Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla—the "Three Countries" of the Korean peninsula, even if only one of them was still going strong.  The Woharida palace is thought to have been north, along the banks of the Asuka River.  It may have been moved over time—there appears to have been a palace in the Furumiya area, near Toyoura, but there is also evidence of a palace by a shared name over by Ikazuchi-no-oka, on the other side of the river.  Excavations at Ikazuchi no oka revealed pottery with the name of the palace, suggesting that this was the site, but even then, that pottery was from the later Tempyo era.  Regardless, it seems that the Asuka valley was just chock full of palaces, new and old, though the older ones were not as regularly used for government functions, one assumes. The following year, 684, we again get told about the annual archery shoot.  It took place in the Eastern court this time, with Ministers in attendance.  Apparently they had men skilled in archery shooting alongside palace attendants and little people—the word used in Japanese is "Shuju" or "Hikihito".  This word is often translated as "dwarf"; it appears to be a derogatory term for anyone considered short of stature, though it is also used to refer more generally to those seen as either lacking wit or to actors and performers. This isn't the first time we see the term.  Back in 675, about 9 years prior, Ohoama had sent orders to a number of regions near the capital, from Awaji to Tamba, to Afumi and to Mino and Wohari, among others, to send as tribute common people who could sing, shuju—or dwarfs—and jugglers.  More generally they seem to be referring to entertainers, and it strikes me that could be what is meant here.  Either way, the entertainment industry was hardly a lucrative one, and we can see that performers are almost more of a commodity, to be "paid" as tribute, rather than a professional who is "hired" to work.  I suspect that, as in many other times and places, individuals who were shorter than average often found work as entertainers in this sense—whether they wished it or not. The year 685 we don't see any mention of archery, though it probably still happened.  Instead the Chronicles focus on the various government officials paying their respects to their sovereign.  The rest of the entries for the month are largely concerned with changes to the rank system as of that year. The year 686, we get the last records of various new years festivals—four months later, the sovereign would grow terribly ill, and he would eventually pass away later that year.  However, for those still celebrating the new year in 686, that was all in the future. The last year of Ohoama's reign started out relatively like others. Ohoama went to the Daigokuden, the Great Hall of Audience, and gave a banquet to the Princes and High Officials.  There he decided to have something of a riddle challenge.  He would ask riddles, and then offer prizes for the correct answer. And no, unfortunately we don't have any of the riddles, at least that I have seen.  Aston calls these "conundrums" and notes that they are specifically nonsensical questions, and provides examples such as "Why does a horse, after a rapid run, listen to the earth? Why does a dog, when he goes slowly, raise his leg?"  Ohoama's son, Prince Takechi, answered correctly, and so did Prince Ise.  Their prizes differed in content, but in both cases were pretty extensive.  The winners received ceremonial robes, brocade or purple hakama, numerous bolts of coarse silk, many pounds of thread, hundreds of pounds of flossed Silk, and hundreds of bolts of cloth. I think that makes it quite a bit more lucrative than any of the quiz nights I've ever been to. Later that month, there was another banquet, this time for nine Buddhist monks of Daikan-daiji. Besides its status as a national temple, this may have also been related to the year before, when Ohoama had fallen ill, and prayers had been offered at Daikandaiji for his recovery.  The courthad likewise provided gifts to the temple in the last month of the previous year, and then, at the banquet, gave to the attending monks silk and cloth, based on their rank. But that wasn't the end of the gifts.  The following day the Princes and High Officials all received upper garments and hakama—likely referring to official garments—each getting one suit, each. Then, on the 13th day of the new year, the court invited 20 exceptional individuals to a banquet.  These were talented people, professors, divination specialists, and physicians.  They were also wined and dined and presented various gifts. On the 16th day, the Princes and High Officials were then invited to a banquet in the Daigokuden.  They were given gifts of silk and cloth, based on their rank.  Then they held another riddle competition, with correct answers rewarded with gifts of coarse and flossed silk. This was only a short time after disaster had struck, though a bit removed—two days earlier, in the evening, the royal storehouse at Naniwa had caught fire, eventually burning the entire Toyosaki palace complex to the ground.  Some claimed that it was actually started at a private residence,  that of Ato no Muraji no Kusuri, and then spread to the Palace.  In the end, only the military storehouse was spared. This would have been quite the tragedy for the government, but it did not halt the festivities happening down in Asuka.  The Naniwa Palace appears to have been a major government center for the administration of the state, but it was not the royal court which had been in Asuka for over a decade.  Indeed, I imagine that the news probably reached Asuka around the time of the Banquet itself. And yet, rather than putting a damper on the festivities, they continued another couple of days – presumably everything was already prepared and there was no point in canceling.  On the 17th, the court sponsored a banquet in the rear palace, presumably for the Queen and members of the imperial family.  Then the following day there was a great revel at the palace.  Ohoama took his place in front of the royal muro and made presents to performers, as well as to the singers.  As before everything varied according to rank. Asuka wasn't the only place to get in on the festivities.  The same month, the court also sponsored a banquet for the Silla envoys in Tsukushi, sending Prince Kawachi and others. Regrettably, that would be the last new year that Ohoama would see.  In the fifth month, he grew ill, and what we see in the Chronicles after that is an interesting look into how people of the time dealt with sickness. First, the court had the Sutra of Yakushi expounded at Kawaradera and held a Buddhist retreat in the palace, inviting monks to come and expound Buddhist teachings.  Yakushi, or Yakushi Nyorai—Bhaisajyaguru in Sanskrit—was known as the Medicine Buddha, and his name in Sinitic characters was basically "Master of Medicine".  It is said that he was responsible for the Eastern Pure Land, and that, as a Bodhisattva, he had made 12 great vows to cure the illnesses of all living beings in the world.  For that reason, Yakushi Nyorai was often called upon to cure illness.  In fact, six years earlier, when the Queen, Uno no Sarara Hime, had taken ill, Ohoama erected an entire temple to Yakushi Nyorai, known as Yakushiji.  He then had 100 people take vows as priests, and they attributed her recovery to this effort. In this case, however, it seems that it didn't have quite such an effect, and Ohoama remained under the weather.  We are also told that the court sent Palace Attendants, the Oho-toneri, to clean the pagodas of various temples and that a general amnesty was announced for all under heaven, emptying the prisons.  All of this points to the idea of making merit in the hope of bringing good karma, and thus healing. But the following month, Ohoama was still ill.  Divination was performed by the Onmyoji, the court diviners, and they claimed that there was a curse from Kusanagi, the sword that is considered one of the three main royal symbols.  This is the sword that was said to have been found by Susanowo in the tale of Yamata no Worochi, and which gained its name, Kusanagi, when used by Yamato Takeru, cutting down the grass to save him when his enemies tried to catch him by setting fire to the field where he was hunting.  For more on that, check out Episodes 34 and 35. Given the importance of Kusanagi, I suspect that the idea of destroying it to remove the curse was out of the question, and so it was sent to Atsuta Shrine, where it was enshrined and would largely stay except when needed for enthronement ceremonies.  And yet, even after the sword was taken away, the illness remained.  Six days later, on the 16th day of the 6th month, the court sent Prince Ise and officials to Asukadera and asked the monks there to make and oath with the Buddha to make Ohoama whole through the power of the Three Treasures of Buddhism.   For their work, the three Buddhist Officers, the Master of the Law, and the Upadhyaya and temple directors, as well as those monks with the rank of "master" each received a donation of one robe and one cover, or "Ohi". Three days later, the court ordered the hundred officials to go to Kawaradera and perfom the ceremony of lighting lanterns and giving offerings to Buddha.  Then they held a great feast and offered repentance for their transgressions.  All of this sounds like a continued attempt to make merit for the state, and thus for Ohoama. We then see the court granting the monks Hounin and Gishou 30 stipend-households to provide for them in their old age, which may be more merit-making, or possibly was related to some of the many other activities so far.  There are a few issues with this entry, and Aston and Bentley don't seem to agree on the actual date.  Bentley has it on the 28th, but that seems odd as it comes before the entry for the 22nd of the same month.  Aston has it as the 20th, but then claimes that there is something odd about the date of the 22nd. On the 22nd, we are simply told that the district kitchen of Nabari caught fire.  Aston notes that this would have been the official government arm in the district gathering food to supply the royal household—rather than being a kitchen in terms of a place to prepare food. Merit-making continued into the 7th month.  We see the Soujou and Soudzu, the primary and secondary prelates of the Asukadera, performing ritual repentance.  The following day there is another general amnesty, and Aston specifically mentions performing a Oho-harai, or cleansing. The day after taxes were halved from the provinces and corvee labor with local conscripted labor was exempted for the year.  Then we see the court presenting paper offerings to the Kunikasu Kami in Ki provinces, as well as the four shrines in Asuka and the Great Suminoe—aka Sumiyoshi—shrine. On the 8th day of the 7th month, 100 monks were invited to the court to read the Golden Light Sutra—Konkoymyou kyou.  And on the 15th there was another court issued amnesty. Despite all of these attempts to make merit and intercede with the Buddha or with various kami, Ohoama's illness continued.  We see that the court issued a decree that all things that should occur, great or small, should be reported to the queen and the crown prince—presumably because Ohoama was no longer in a state to be able to do so. Continuing with their efforts, the court declared that destitute commoners who had been forced to borrow rice seed or money before the 12th month of the previous year would be exempted from repayment.  And then the court changed the name of the year to Akami-tori, or Shuuchou.  They also renamed the palace in Asuka to "Kiyomihara"—again, go check Episode 134 for more on the palace.  "Shuuchou" is the Red Bird, likely referring to Suzaku, though Aston also points out that "Asuka" here is given as "flying bird", as well, and there had been numerous bird-related omens reported throughout the reign. Although these names would not have been used prior to this point—the 7th month of the final year of the reign—the Chroniclers applied the nengo, Shuuchou, to all of the entries for this year, and the name of the palace is often given as "Kiyomihara" is given to distinguish it from the Later Okamoto Palace, even though it was simply the latter palace with the addition of the Ebinoko enclosure. The changing of the era name was likely another attempt to change the seemingly inauspicious year, along with all of the merit-making that the court had been undergoing. And yet they kept going. The court selected 70 people who were diligent in keeping Buddhist laws and had them take the tonsure, and they sponsored a feast—or festival—in the Royal Muro of the Palace. At the same time the various princes had a statue of the Boddhisatva of Compassion, Kannon, made for the sovereign and had the Lotus sutra—the sutra where Kannon is first mentioned—read out at Daikandaiji. Kannon, or Avalokitesvara, was originally seen as a male Boddhisatva, but is often depicted as a woman.  They are also known as Guanyin, from which we get Kannon in Japanese.  Guanyin is also seen as Goddess of Mercy, and is one of the most popular figures across multiple sects of Buddhism and even outside of the Buddhist faith, where she is still seen as a goddess.  In this case, however, it seems clear that the princes were seeking compassion to relieve the sovereign of his affliction. And yet it persisted. They had 80 more people take the tonsure, and then 100 more men and women, placed 100 statues of the Boddhisatva, Kannon, in the palace, and then read out 200 volumes of the Lotus Sutra. And then they made prayers to the kami of Heaven and Earth.  And they dispatched Hata no Imiki no Iwakatsu to present paper offerings to the Tosa great shrine.  Nothing seemed to be working. In the 9th month, we see the royal princes and others, down to the various ministers, all gathered at Kawaradera making oaths for the health of the sovereigns.  This last ditch effort would go unrewarded.  Five days later, and Ohoama would pass away.  Of course, they couldn't just say that he died:  The Chronicles actually say that he divinely departed.  After all, didn't they call him an incarnate kami? Two days later, the court began the ritual of mourning, raising voices in lamentation, and setting up a temporary palace of interment in the courtyard, south of the palace.  Ohoama's body was placed there some thirteen days later, and people mourned his passing. For the rituals, we see monks and nuns performing ritual lamentation in the courtyard between 3 and 5 am, around the time that court officials would normally be waiting at the gates.  Over the next several days, various ceremonies were held and eulogies given.  We are told that the court presented offerings of food for the dead for the first time, and over the next several days monks and nuns would offer their laments and then various individuals would provide their eulogies.  Finally, on the last day of the ninth month, the eulogies concluded with Nyang-u, a Baekje prince, who pronounced a eulogy on behalf of his father, and then the Miyatsuko of various provinces came and did likewise.  There were also performances of all manner of singing and dancing. With that, the reign of Ohoama would come to an end.  The government would continue under his wife, the Queen, and Crown Prince.  We'll get into the succession in a later episode.  For now I'll just say that he was eventually buried in a large tomb in the modern Noguchi area of Asuka, and you can still go see it. And while that does bring us to the end of the reign, we still have a few more things that I want to discuss.   This episode just seemed a good time to talk about all of the various new years ceremonies, and that seemed to lead naturally into the very last year, but there is still more to discuss.  For one thing, we still haven't quite covered the spread of Buddhism and the changes in the structure.  There are also various laws and punishments that are worth covering.  Finally, there are the Chronicles themselves: we've talked about it all along, but the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki are attributed to this era, as is the start of what would become the capital of Fujiwara-kyo—many works that Ohoama would not live to see to the end, but is largely held responsible for starting. But until then, if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  

Cats at Night with John Catsimatidis
John Solomon: Did Biden's FBI Hire on Political Leanings Rather than Merit? | 01-15-26

Cats at Night with John Catsimatidis

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2026 8:59


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clare FM - Podcasts
Golf Ireland Unveils Major New Women's Amateur Circuit

Clare FM - Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2026 9:21


Golf Ireland has unveiled a major boost for the women's amateur game with the launch of a new national championship circuit for 2026 — and it's a development that couldn't come at a better time. Joining Alan Morrissey on Thursday's Morning Focus was Ennis native and Lahinch member Aideen Walsh, the 2025 Bridgestone Women's Order of Merit winner, to get her reaction to the new North, South, East and West of Ireland Women's Championships and what it means for the future of the game. Photo (c) Clare FM

The Robert Scott Bell Show
Revolutionary Resolve Rising, Vaccine Liability Shift, Pro-Parent CDC Policy, Merit Over Credentials - The RSB Show 1-12-26

The Robert Scott Bell Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 157:22


TODAY ON THE ROBERT SCOTT BELL SHOW: Revolutionary Resolve Rising, Vaccine Liability Shift, Pro-Parent CDC Policy, Tellurium Metallicum, Merit Over Credentials, Weight Regain Reality, Drug Faith Fading, Fluoride Labels Changed, Hidden Household Toxins and MORE! https://robertscottbell.com/revolutionary-resolve-rising-vaccine-liability-shift-pro-parent-cdc-policy-tellurium-metallicum-merit-over-credentials-weight-regain-reality-drug-faith-fading-fluoride-labels-changed-hidden-ho/https://boxcast.tv/view/revolutionary-resolve-rising-vaccine-liability-shift-pro-parent-cdc-policy-merit-over-credentials---the-rsb-show-1-12-26-y1mnmq0rcn06hrgrovfl Purpose and Character The use of copyrighted material on the website is for non-commercial, educational purposes, and is intended to provide benefit to the public through information, critique, teaching, scholarship, or research. Nature of Copyrighted Material Weensure that the copyrighted material used is for supplementary and illustrative purposes and that it contributes significantly to the user's understanding of the content in a non-detrimental way to the commercial value of the original content. Amount and Substantiality Our website uses only the necessary amount of copyrighted material to achieve the intended purpose and does not substitute for the original market of the copyrighted works. Effect on Market Value The use of copyrighted material on our website does not in any way diminish or affect the market value of the original work. We believe that our use constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you believe that any content on the website violates your copyright, please contact us providing the necessary information, and we will take appropriate action to address your concern.

The Country
The Country 13/01/26: Neil Bateup talks to Hamish McKay

The Country

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 6:14 Transcription Available


Former Rural Support Trust chairman on being elevated to a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the rural sector. He discusses the history of the Rural Support Trust, and what the organisation means to him and the people it helps.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chasing Pars Golf Podcast
(Ep 199) Avani Prashanth

Chasing Pars Golf Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2026 72:16


In the first recorded episode of Chasing Pars Golf Podcast it was great to be joined by the talented Indian star Avani Prashanth fresh off a full rookie season on Ladies European Tour where she would finish 36th on LET Order of Merit standings including 2 5th placed finishes at Hulencourt Open where she would be the leader and at her home event at Hero Indian Women's Open at DLF and would also finish the season strong 11th at Andalucia Open de Espana. Avani is from Bangalore in India and would start playing the game at 3 years of age and would win her first event on IGU Tour at 14 years old in 2021 as an amateur.  Avani would have some great experiences as a junior and amateur playing in prestigious events such as Patsy Hankins Trophy for Team Asia, 2023 Asian Games in China with India & one of the major highlights being the individual winner of 2023 Queen Sirikit Cup and helping India finish 2nd in the team aspect. Avani would also become the first Indian amateur player to at Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship & the first Indian player to qualify for US Womens Amateur Open. In 2023 on LET Access Series would see Avani Prashanth win Ahlsell Trophy defeating Matilda Björkman & Isabell Ekström by a shot to further enhance her status as a really promising amateur to be feared.  Known for her driving distance and accuracy as well as her fearless approach on the golf course it's clear to see how talented Avani is even at 19 years of age! She also is a big advocate for inspiring other young golfers to take up the game! Thanks Avani for a good chat and wish you well for the start of this season and beyond! Be sure to download via Podbean, Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Thanks for the continued support!

A Fork In Time: The Alternate History Podcast

Send a Message to the TeamIn this episode, the team examines the ramifications of martial law not being declared in Poland in 1981.Panel:Dylan, Kai, Evan, and Special Guest Larry ReedBackground on Professor Reed-A good high-level summary of Reed's work in Poland:https://fee.org/articles/a-tribute-to-the-polish-people/Reed receiving the Order of Merit, and various links to Reed's Poland-related works:https://fee.org/articles/fee-s-president-emeritus-lawrence-reed-to-be-honored-in-warsaw-and-receive-order-of-merit/You can follow and interact with A Fork In Time on….Discord: https://discord.com/invite/xhZEmZMKFSFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/aforkintimeTwitter: @AFITPodcastOur YouTube ChannelIf you enjoy the podcast and want to support it financially, you can help by:Supporting us monthly via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aforkintime....or, make a one-time donation via Podfan to A Fork In TimeWebsite: www.aforkintimepodcast.comE-Mail: aforkintimepodcast@gmail.comTheme Music: Conquer by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.comSupport the show

Harvest Chapel International - Kumasi
LRH: Honour in Fellowship - 2

Harvest Chapel International - Kumasi

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2026 28:57


Are you a spectator or a soldier? While everyone deserves respect, Scripture reserves "double honor" for those who fight. Rev. Obeng uses the stories of David and Saul to show how service transforms you from a "zero" into a "hero." Find out why your contribution to the spiritual war effort determines your standing with God.This message was aired on Radio HCI Today via the WeLove Radio App.

Treeleaf Zendo Podcasts
Treeleaf Zendo Podcast - Eko Echoes

Treeleaf Zendo Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2026 37:47


To welcome and celebrate an auspicious new year, we will look through the beautiful and meaningful words of our 'Dedication of Merit', or Eko, as it is called in Japanese. The eko is recited during services, after the chanting of sutras and verses, directing the merit, or good will, good aspirations, to all beings or for specific causes.  For more information on Treeleaf Sangha teachings, practice and offerings, please visit treeleaf.org

The Cam & Otis Show
Serving Beyond the Uniform: Veteran Advocacy and Leadership - General Mike Fleming | 10x Your Team Ep. #458

The Cam & Otis Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2026 60:17


Join us for an inspiring conversation with Brigadier General (Ret.) Michael Fleming, a distinguished military leader and veteran advocate, as we explore his journey from the battlefield to influential roles in business and education. In this episode, Cam and Otis delve into General Fleming's extensive experience in leadership, his dedication to veteran advocacy, and his efforts to bridge the gap between military and civilian sectors."Leadership is about service," General Fleming shares, reflecting on his career spanning over 30 years in the military and his subsequent roles in community relations and veteran support. From founding the Jacksonville Military Veterans Coalition to his work with the Cohen Veterans Network, General Fleming offers invaluable insights into creating opportunities for veterans and addressing critical issues like veteran suicide.Whether you're a military professional transitioning to civilian life, a business leader seeking to understand veteran perspectives, or someone passionate about community service, this episode provides a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.More About General Fleming:Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Michael “Mike” Fleming is a respected Northeast Florida military and veteran leader with senior experience across the military, business, and higher education sectors. He currently serves as Senior Manager, Community Relations for Cohen Veterans Network. Previously, he held leadership roles with the Stephen A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone, Jacksonville University, and Deutsche Bank, where he was a Managing Director and Site Lead in Jacksonville.A career military officer with more than 30 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard, he retired as a Brigadier General. He holds degrees from Jacksonville State University, the University of North Florida, and the U.S. Naval War College, and completed fellowships at Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and the U.S. Congress.Gen. Fleming is the founder and chair of multiple veteran-focused coalitions, including the Jacksonville Military Veterans Coalition, and chairs The Fire Watch, a regional initiative to prevent veteran suicide. His honors include the Legion of Merit, the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame, and numerous military and civilian leadership awards.#10xyourteam #VeteranLeadership #ServantLeadership #MilitaryToCivilian #VeteranAdvocacy #LeadershipWithPurpose #MissionDriven #CommunityLeadership #VeteranSupport #PurposeDrivenLeadership #ImpactThroughServiceChapter Times and Titles:Introduction to General Mike Fleming [00:00 - 10:00]Overview of General Fleming's career and achievementsTransition from military to civilian leadership rolesFounding the Jacksonville Military Veterans CoalitionLeadership Lessons from the Military [10:01 - 20:00]Key leadership principles from military serviceThe importance of adaptability and resilienceInsights from international competitions and fellowshipsVeteran Advocacy and Community Relations [20:01 - 30:00]General Fleming's role in the Cohen Veterans NetworkInitiatives to support veteran employment and mental healthThe impact of public/private partnershipsBridging Military and Civilian Worlds [30:01 - 40:00]Challenges and opportunities in veteran transitionsBuilding relationships with government and business leadersStrategies for effective community engagementCreating Opportunities for Veterans [40:01 - 50:00]Success stories from the Jacksonville Military Veterans CoalitionAddressing veteran suicide through The Fire Watch initiativeFinal thoughts on leadership and serviceClosing Remarks and Resources [50:01 - End]How to connect with General Fleming and his initiativesEncouragement for listeners to get involved in veteran supportFinal reflections on leade

Dhammatalks.org Short Morning Talks

A talk by Thanissaro Bhikkhu entitled "Complete Merit"

merit thanissaro bhikkhu
On Point
How should American colleges measure merit?

On Point

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2025 35:07


The Trump Administration ordered universities to turn over data to prove they're not considering race in admissions. But education expert Richard Kahlenberg argues that for college admissions to look at merit fairly, they need to look at class. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: www.wbur.org/giveonpoint

College and Career Clarity
Best of 2025: How Small Academic Changes Can Mean Big Merit Aid Dollars with Brian Eufinger

College and Career Clarity

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2025 38:32


In this episode, Lisa and Brian discuss:Strategies for maximizing college scholarships given by the institutionsThe difference in merit vs. need-based financial aidThe role of GPA and standardized testing, ACT, and SAT, in scholarship awardsColleges with merit scholarship grids where students can know the amount they can earn for good grades and scoresTransparency of college financial aid policiesKey Takeaways: Merit aid is often more predictable than need-based aid because many colleges offer fixed scholarships based on GPA and ACT and SAT scores, making it easier to estimate college costs.Skipping standardized tests can cost students thousands in scholarships, as many schools that are “test-optional” for admission still require test scores for merit aid or reduce the award if applying test-optional.At some universities, it is possible to calculate the number of additional correct answers on the ACT that a student needs to raise their merit aid award, making test prep a highly valuable investment.Over 90% of scholarship money comes directly from colleges rather than private sources, meaning that researching a school's financial aid policies is more effective than chasing small external scholarships. “When the airplane is going down, you put the mask on yourself first—you first, your kids second. The merit aid from the school is the 'putting your mask on yourself'… after that, if a kid has free time, definitely apply to some of the outside scholarships.” – Brian EufingerAbout Brian Eufinger: Brian Eufinger is the President of Atlanta-based Edison Prep and has tutored over 14,000 students for a combined 35,000+ hours on the SAT, PSAT, and ACT over the past two decades.Episode References:Merit Aid Grids: https://meritaidgrids.com/Student Email Template: How to Get Clear Answers About College Merit Aid https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/merit #042 Will grade inflation hurt your teen with Brian Eufinger?  https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/042 Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).flourishcoachingco.com/videoConnect with Brian Eufinger:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edisonpreptutoring/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edisonprepWebsite: https://www.edisonprep.com/Email: brian@edisonprep.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eufinger/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EdisonPrepTutoringConnect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishcoachingco/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep211: ROMAN KINGSHIP: FROM CITIZEN SELECTION TO THE IDEAL OF SERVICE Colleague Professor Edward J. Watts. Early Roman kings were selected by citizens based on merit rather than heredity, but figures like Servius Tullius began bypassing this consent. C

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2025 10:00


ROMAN KINGSHIP: FROM CITIZEN SELECTION TO THE IDEAL OF SERVICE Colleague Professor Edward J. Watts. Early Roman kings were selected by citizens based on merit rather than heredity, but figures like Servius Tullius began bypassing this consent. Conversely, Cincinnatus exemplifies the Roman ideal of service; he accepted absolute dictatorial power to save the state during a crisis, then immediately resigned to return to his farm. NUMBER 9 1583 LIVY

Desert Island Discs
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Computer Scientist

Desert Island Discs

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2025 51:13


Sir Tim Berners-Lee is a computer scientist and the inventor of the World Wide Web. He was born in 1955, a golden year for technology innovators. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were also born in the same year. A curious child, he learned about electronics from his train set and spent his pocket money on transistors. His first significant connecting invention was building an intercom as a teenager for the family home before moving on to build his first computer. His parents were both mathematicians and coders who met whilst building one of the first commercially available computers in the early nineteen fifties. Sir Tim came up with the idea of the World Wide Web whilst working at CERN and insisted that the technology be released to the world without commercial reward so that it would be free for everyone to use. He was knighted for his world changing invention and also appointed to the Order of Merit. In 2016 he was given the Turing Award. Sir Tim Berners-Lee divides his time between the US, the UK and Canada with his wife Rosemary, who is also a technology entrepreneur.Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast many computer scientists away over the years including Dame Wendy Hall and Sir Demis Hassibis. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

X22 Report
Infiltration Runs Deep,[DS] Is Panicking As Trump Pushes For Peace,It's All Being Exposed – Ep. 3782

X22 Report

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 81:19


Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureTrump is leading the economy and the Fed is trying to crash it. The people will see that in the end we do not need the Fed. The fake news/[CB] narrative is falling apart. Trump puts up graph showing they are lying. The economy, Bitcoin and Gold/Silver are about to boom. The [DS] infiltration runs deep in DC and across the country. The [DS] players, Obama/Soros and other had many years to create their system. Trump is exposing and dismantling their system at lightening speed. Trump is now pushing for peace in regards to Ukraine and Russia, the [DS]/EU/NATO do not want peace and they will fight back to the very end. The entire corrupt criminal system is being exposed to the people . Economy (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/TKL_Adam/status/1993316668232417726?s=20  https://twitter.com/BitcoinMagazine/status/1993075213194740140?s=20 Political/Rights https://twitter.com/RichardGrenell/status/1993306352358506974?s=20 https://twitter.com/esaagar/status/1993054375854719415?s=20 https://twitter.com/CMDROpAtLargeCA/status/1993018252466045032?s=20 https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/1993124677582033146?s=20 the grand jury in the Epstein (Southern District of Florida) and Maxwell (Southern District of New York) cases. This includes a broad set of DOJ-held files related to Epstein, including: – Investigative materials from Epstein’s cases. – Internal DOJ communications about the investigations. – Files referencing individuals involved in Epstein’s prior cases (e.g., potential “client list” mentions). – Details on sex-trafficking allegations. – Records concerning Epstein’s 2019 death in custody (initially ruled a suicide but long questioned). These materials stem from Epstein’s 2008 Florida plea deal, his 2019 federal charges (which ended with his death), and Maxwell’s 2021 conviction. This targeted unsealing could reveal long-buried details about Epstein’s network, high-profile associates, and DOJ coverups. DOGE https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1993106213480112322?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1993087579105775858?s=20 What is Trump Going to Use It For?The executive order positions the Genesis Mission as a tool to unleash a “new age of AI-accelerated innovation and discovery” to solve 21st-century challenges and maintain U.S. technological dominance. Specifically, Trump intends to use it for: Accelerating Scientific Breakthroughs: By harnessing the world’s largest collection of federal scientific datasets (built over decades) to train AI foundation models and create AI agents that test hypotheses, automate research workflows, and drive discoveries comparable to historical efforts like the Manhattan Project. Combining National Resources: Integrating efforts from American scientists (including at DOE national labs), pioneering businesses, world-renowned universities, existing research infrastructure, data repositories, production plants, and national security sites to achieve dramatic advancements in AI development and utilization. Addressing Key Domains: Focusing on national priorities to revolutionize areas like infrastructure, data management, production, and security; build on innovations in semiconductors and high-performance computing; and secure energy dominance. Economic and Strategic Benefits: Dramatically enhancing workforce productivity, multiplying returns on taxpayer investments in research and development, strengthening national security, and furthering America’s global strategic leadership in technology. Broader Impacts: Enabling AI-directed experimentation, manufacturing, and problem-solving to tackle existential risks and opportunities, while ensuring secure, interoperable systems across government and partners. This initiative is framed as a response to global competition in AI, building on prior actions like America’s AI Action Plan, with an emphasis on urgency to outpace adversaries and foster economic growth. Geopolitical https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1993073948704096715?s=20  Second Amendment rights for MILLIONS of Americans,” AG Bondi said https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/1993094085570126026?s=20  prohibited on private property open to the public unless the owner explicitly opts in. It would establish nationwide that the Second Amendment, post-Bruen, FORBIDS states from inverting the historical presumption—carry is allowed on such property unless the owner affirmatively prohibits it—forcing Maryland, California, New Jersey, New York, and any similar regimes to FLIP their private-property rules and dramatically expand where permit holders may carry for self-defense. It's set to be ruled on likely in June 2026, and to me, it's a GUARANTEED WIN Trump ready to talk with Maduro – Axios US President Donald Trump plans to speak directly with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro despite Washington's move to designate him as the head of a terrorist organization, Axios reported on Tuesday, citing administration officials. The US has formally designated the ‘Cartel of the Suns' – a purported criminal network alleged to operate within Venezuela's security services – as a foreign terrorist organization, putting it in the same category as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Announcing the step on Monday, the US Treasury reiterated long-standing allegations that Maduro, whose legitimacy Washington disputes, heads the group. Source: rt.com War/Peace https://twitter.com/WallStreetMav/status/1993323843482427656?s=20 EU Approves €1.5BN Plan To Build Up Ukraine’s Military-Industrial Sector Even as the Trump-backed Ukraine peace plan is said to be advancing as negotiations intensify ahead of a Washington-imposed deadline of Thursday, the European Union continues its efforts to ramp up support to Ukraine’s defense sector. On Tuesday European Parliament voted to approve a 1.5 billion euros ($1.7bn) program which seeks to deepen integration between Ukraine and Europe on military-industrial relations.  Source: zerohedge.com Ukraine Tentatively Agrees To Trump-Backed Peace Plan, Sending Oil Sliding A US official privy to negotiations is claiming major progress Tuesday, telling ABC News the Ukrainian delegation has agreed to the United States’ potential peace plan, at a moment it’s still being hotly debated, especially among the Europeans. “The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal,” the US official said, but without specifying much in the way of details. “There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal.” Of course, the proverbial devil is in the details, along with each side’s ‘red lines’ – and so this claim should be taken with caution at this still very early point. The Trump White House has set a deadline of Thursday, or Thanksgiving Day in America, for the warring sides to reach a deal. This suggests these talks are moving along with intensity and a sense of urgency. Source: zerohedge.com Proceed Carefully: U.S. Media Reporting Zelenskyy Has Agreed to President Trump Terms for End to Ukraine-Russia Conflict Remember, (1) Zelenskyy is ideologically opposed to coming to terms for a ceasefire against Russia. (2) Zelenskyy has the full support of the European nations to continue fighting. (3) Ukraine has a habit of using positive statements as tools to try and box in President Trump, only to hold firm to certain positions in an effort to derail peace negotiations. Source: theconservativetreehouse.com Medical/False Flags https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1993298834714403297?s=20 [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1993329083606827182?s=20  defender, acquitted Abdi Fatah Yusuf on all charges after jurors found he and his wife ran a fake home-health business out of a mailbox and stole $7.2M in Medicaid funds. Jurors say they are stunned because the evidence of fraud, overbilling and luxury spending was “obvious.” Community pressure and political considerations are now being blamed for the decision. Yusuf walks free while taxpayers eat the loss. Abdi will get to keep his new wardrobe from Coach, Canada Goose, Michael Kors, Third Degree Heat, Nike, and Nordstrom and his whip a Porsche 911. https://twitter.com/drawandstrike/status/1993178893960851620?s=20 housing.   affiliates in our major cities start going under. Because their cheap illegal labor is no longer going to be affordable. And I’m going to enjoy watching every minute of it. President Trump's Plan https://twitter.com/JoeLang51440671/status/1993319619403169935?s=20  to do anything. “Sen. Rand Paul on Sunday warned that President Donald Trump's focus on Venezuela may lead to a “fracture” among those who were drawn in by his campaign promise of avoiding foreign wars.” “Over the last few months, Trump has launched a campaign to eliminate alleged drug trafficking in international waters near Central and South America, mostly through controversial boat strikes – although he has also floated the idea of taking the strikes to land. On Monday, the Trump administration will officially designate Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization – a decision Paul on Sunday criticized. “I think by doing this, they are pretending as if we are at war,” said Paul, chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. “They're pretending as if they've gotten some imprimatur to do what they want,” he warned. “When you have war, the rules of engagement are lessened.” How many years has Rand Paul, been in office and when has he ever lifted a finger to go after the drug cartels? Trump is the first president who is waging a real war against drug cartels worldwide and Rand is doing his best to try and stop him. Trump cares about the millions of Americans who are dying from drug addiction and the families, who have lost loved ones. Rand Paul cares more about the drug cartels. And he's crying because Trump doesn't need him for anything. “Democrats in Congress have also expressed outrage over the strikes and the lack of briefings on the administration's actions – something Paul said he too has not received despite his position on the Senate Homeland Security Committee.” “I've been given zero, not one briefing because I am skeptical of what they are doing,” Paul said. “They don't brief me or the general Senate at all. A few hand-selected people may have gotten a briefing but I have not been invited to any briefings on Venezuela.” Why isn't Trump briefing Rand Paul or the democrats? Because you don't brief your enemies on your plans, when you are engaged in war. Rand Paul is nothing but a grandstanding politician and he can't stand the fact, that Trump ignores him and doesn't need him for anything. Do you want to know why else, Trump doesn't listen to him about fighting drug cartels? Here's Rand's solution to the problem: “Paul conceded that the flow of drugs into the country remains an issue but insisted that the government should focus on eliminating the demand for drugs here at home. “We should be trying to work on the demand side, treating it as a health problem, as an addiction problem in our country and trying to lessen demand. And that is part of the overall solution,” he said.” https://politico.com/news/2025/11/23/rand-paul-gop-venezuelan-strikes-00666488 To Rand Paul, millions of Americans dying from “illegal” drugs is just an “issue.” He thinks the solution is to pass legislation that takes more money from the American taxpayer and puts a bandaid on the problem. Trump on the other hand, is enforcing the laws already on the books and waging war against narco drug trafficking states that are clearly killing Americans for profit. We don't need Rand Paul in the Republican Party. He's only trying to get in the way and slow down Trump's efforts to Make America Great Again. The sooner he is removed from Congress the better.  Marjorie Taylor Greene's Resignation Could Spark Another Shutdown Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's (R-GA) resignation from Congress could handicap Republicans in a critical period during which government funding expires, with dire consequences for the MAGA movement. Georgia law dictates that within ten days of a congressman's resignation, the state's governor must call a special election to take place after at least 30 days from his pronouncement. If no candidate wins a majority in the jungle election (during which all candidates run against one another regardless of party), a runoff with the top two vote-getters takes place 28 days later. By prolonging her election, Greene all but assures her seat will be empty during a period where Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) — and the American people dependent on a functioning federal government — may need every vote they can get. Greene, by prolonging her resignation for a month and a half, removes much of the urgency of scheduling a special election. Georgia political operatives project Kemp to set a date in March. Source: breitbart.com Vindman Brothers, Who Helped Impeach Trump In 2020, Are Now Under Investigation Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., and his twin brother Alexander are reportedly under investigation for illegally acting as “paid brokers” for U.S. defense firms seeking business in Ukraine. “Pentagon General Counsel Earl Matthews alleges that Vindman and his twin brother Alex did not have approval from the U.S. government before seeking to act as ‘paid brokers' for American defense firms pursuing contracts with Ukraine after Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion,” the Washington Post revealed over the weekend, citing a Nov. 19 letter for War Secretary Pete Hegseth.   https://twitter.com/YVindman/status/1992069421372985528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1992069421372985528%7Ctwgr%5E5f28cda2d29a3d17d474e14a7cdd0e88aa077fe9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fgeopolitical%2Fvindman-brothers-who-helped-impeach-trump-2020-are-now-under-investigation Source:zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/mrddmia/status/1993025823268651228?s=20  application and committed bank fraud. The prior U.S. attorney refused to prosecute these Democrat operatives. So the Attorney General picked a new one who is unafraid to follow the law. What is the Democrats' response? Unsurprisingly, an Obama judge hand-selected a Clinton judge. Then the Clinton judge tossed both indictments. And the first sentence in both nearly identical orders, in which the Clinton judge personally and gratuitously attacks Lindsey Halligan, makes it crystal clear this judge is a Democrat partisan. Democrat politicians, including in robes, shamefully protect their own. Unfortunately, we have two systems of justice. One Democrats weaponize against enemies. And one Democrats weaponize to protect allies. The Justice Department must appeal. And it must move aggressively to bring charges against the Lawfare Democrats in Fort Pierce, Florida. https://twitter.com/julie_kelly2/status/1993096660734689379?s=20 https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/1993064224420249957?s=20 https://twitter.com/mrddmia/status/1993348171221659741   the Senate Judiciary Committee. Because too many Republicans would vote NO. Home-state senators do not want to give away their power to hand-select the U.S. attorney who would prosecute them, the U.S. district judge who would oversee their trial, and the U.S. marshal who would escort them to prison. The solution is simple: Have all Senate Judiciary Republicans and at least 50 Senate Republicans sign a letter saying this: “We will vote to confirm President Trump’s U.S. attorney nominees who lack blue slips from home-state senators.” Then Grassley can move forward with a committee vote. But why would Grassley anger all his colleagues and waste limited committee resources, if the nominees will fail? https://twitter.com/DataRepublican/status/1993291465137831953?s=20 https://twitter.com/C__Herridge/status/1993308443667472479?s=20 Kash Patel Talks In Depth About Attempted Trump Assassin And His Motives FBI Director Kash Patel told investigative journalist Catherine Herridge that hatred for the U.S. government and the two-party system played a role in Thomas Matthew Crooks' attempt to assassinate President Donald Trump on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pa. Herridge asked Patel what motivated Crooks, 20, to try to kill Trump, then the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Patel's answer appeared to depart from previous FBI statements when bureau officials said they were unable to find a motive or ideology behind the assassination attempt. The FBI director — appearing on Herridge's show “Straight to the Point” by the Los Angeles Times Media Group — told her that Trump was “satisfied” with his agency's investigation into that fateful day. Patel stopped short of saying the case was closed. “He [Crooks], as has been publicized, had a basically hateful relationship with the United States government, talked disparagingly about both political parties, to include President Trump, and talked about the need to take matters into his own hands. And, unfortunately, that's what he did,” Patel said when Herridge asked about Crooks' motive.  Patel was later asked if Trump was satisfied with the FBI's findings regarding the July 2024 assassination attempt. He emphatically responded “yes.” Herridge asked Patel, “Is the Thomas Crooks case a closed case?” “How we treat cases like this of such great public importance is we put them in a pending-slash-inactive status, so if there's new information that comes in, we can receive it and react to it, and we don't want to foreclose that possibility,” the director said. Source: dailycaller.com https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1993323400173887975?s=20   like the Kuwait Liberation Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal sit in more prominent inboard positions. On the ribbon bar, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon are placed ahead of higher-precedence decorations such as the Air Medal and Navy Commendation Medal. On the medal cluster below, the Legion of Merit and Air Medal are buried beneath service medals like the NATO Medal and National Defense Service Medal, which should be near the bottom of the stack. These reversals violate Navy precedence rules requiring the highest honors to appear inboard and for full-size medals to match the order of their corresponding ribbons. https://twitter.com/overton_news/status/1993150617770996056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1993150617770996056%7Ctwgr%5E44d0521508949894625558b46595b8eb2aec23cc%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Fsister-toldjah%2F2025%2F11%2F25%2Fmark-kelly-makes-a-damning-admission-when-asked-specifically-about-illegal-orders-n2196541   specific, potentially illegal orders that you were thinking about that were the sort of precipitating cause for you guys to get together and do that?” KELLY: “Here's the thing, Rachel. You don't want to wait for your kid to get hit by a car before you tell them to look both ways.” In other words, no examples and no specifics. https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1993282070152724582?s=20 https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1993345626067853800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1993345626067853800%7Ctwgr%5Eca09c94a37f7c22b3856e0c640694000c3fafa26%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Fnick-arama%2F2025%2F11%2F25%2Ffbi-to-interview-the-six-democrats-who-made-illegal-orders-video-n2196542 https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/1993367383281746424  the lower ranks of the nation's military against said elected leadership. https://twitter.com/JoeLang51440671/status/1993138036385701971?s=20   confirmed plans to designate the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), the White House formally announced on Monday evening that the president has initiated the process to classify specific chapters and subdivisions of MB as FTOs.” “Trump’s order cites MB’s violent activities and support for militant factions, including participation in attacks on Israeli civilians and military targets after October 7, 2023, as well as calls for violence against U.S. allies. These actions, the order says, threaten American citizens and destabilize the Middle East.” https://zerohedge.com/political/trump-tells-john-solomon-muslim-brotherhood-terrorist-designation-imminent Do you think it's just a coincidence, that Mamdani just met with Trump at the White House and the meeting was nothing like what anybody expected? Instead of the meeting being tense, Trump and Mamdani were joking around and acting like old friends. Both willing to work together for the benefit of the people in New York. And now Trump just designated the group that was one of Mamdani's biggest fundraisers, as a terrorist organization. Just a coincidence? The ball is now in Mamdani's court. Trump proved to the world, by how he treated Mamdani, that what he really cares about, are the people of New York. Is Mamdani going to work with Trump, or choose to be a puppet of the Muslim Brotherhood? Mamdani now gets to choose which side he is on. https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1993079037611397563?s=20 President Trump Recognizes Certain Muslim Brotherhood Chapters for Potential Foreign Terrorist Designation The Muslim Brotherhood is the political arm of authentic Islam, and can be considered much like the umbrella organization for a host of different factions of Islamic fundamentalism. The Brotherhood is the unified political voice of many regional chapters, each with a varying degree of authentic Islam behind it. Qatar is the central bank for the Muslim Brotherhood; Turkey represents the Brotherhood's biggest national support network, and Egypt is the intellectual or scholastic battleground where the values of political Islam are debated. The executive order instructs the State Dept to officially begin the process to look at each chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood as a separate entity, and then see if the designation of a terrorist organization can apply to that chapter. As noted in the Executive Order, “relevant here, its chapters in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt engage in or facilitate and support violence and destabilization campaigns.”  It looks like Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt chapters of the Brotherhood will get the first review. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi already dealt with the extremist Muslim Brotherhood once, kicking their leadership out of Egypt.  The leaders fled to Qatar, and then ultimately ended up in Turkey, where Recep Erdogan absolutely loves the usefulness of the Brotherhood. Jordanian King Abdullah has been balancing the Muslim Brotherhood influence for years, and Lebanon is a hot mess with the Hezbollah faction of the Brotherhood.  The Muslim Brotherhood, as a political structure, holds all kinds of extremist factions under its umbrella (al-Qaeda, al-Nusra etc.).   Source: theconservativetreehouse.com 1237 Apr 22, 2018 1:31:31 AM EDT Q !xowAT4Z3VQ ID: 3e4934 No. 1141069  “The process of settlement is a ‘Civilization-Jihadist Process' with all the word means. The Ikhwan [MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD] must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging' its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers…” https://clarionproject.org/muslim_brotherhood_explanatory_memorandum/ Q 3881 Feb 24, 2020 8:36:43 PM EST Q !!Hs1Jq13jV6 ID: b03e04 No. 8238822  EMHyS2xXkAA8JrB.png https://twitter.com/cain_nate/status/1231066589996318720 Listen carefully. Think: re: why [no] arrests (justice) yet? What if (almost) every critical position [sr] within the US GOV apparatus was infiltrated? WHAT MUST BE DONE FIRST? THE SWAMP RUNS DEEP. +Sleepers Backgrounds are important. MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD List of ‘in the news now [names]‘ w/ known ties to Islam? THIS IS NOT ANOTHER 4-YEAR ELECTION. [assumptions correct – package well rec [known]] Q (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");