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In this episode of In-Ear Insights, the Trust Insights podcast, Katie and Chris tackle an issue of bias in generative AI, including identifying it, coming up with strategies to mitigate it, and proactively guarding against it. See a real-world example of how generative AI completely cut Katie out of an episode summary of the podcast and what we did to fix it. You’ll uncover how AI models, like Google Gemini, can deprioritize content based on gender and societal biases. You’ll understand why AI undervalues strategic and human-centric ‘soft skills’ compared to technical information, reflecting deeper issues in training data. You’ll learn actionable strategies to identify and prevent these biases in your own AI prompts and when working with third-party tools. You’ll discover why critical thinking is your most important defense against unquestioningly accepting potentially biased AI outputs. Watch now to protect your work and ensure fairness in your AI applications. Watch the video here: Can’t see anything? Watch it on YouTube here. Listen to the audio here: https://traffic.libsyn.com/inearinsights/tipodcast-how-to-identify-and-mitigate-bias-in-ai.mp3 Download the MP3 audio here. Need help with your company’s data and analytics? Let us know! Join our free Slack group for marketers interested in analytics! [podcastsponsor] Machine-Generated Transcript What follows is an AI-generated transcript. The transcript may contain errors and is not a substitute for listening to the episode. Christopher S. Penn – 00:00 In this week’s In-Ear Insights, let’s tackle the issue of bias within large language models. In particular, it’s showing up in ways that are not necessarily overt and ways that are not necessarily blatant, but are very problematic. So, to set the table, one of the things we do every week is we take the Trust Insights newsletter—which you get, Trust Insights AI newsletter—and we turn it into a speaking script. Then Katie reads this script aloud. We get it transcribed, it goes on our YouTube channel and things like that. Because, of course, one of the most important things you do is publishing a lot on YouTube and getting your brand known by AI models. Christopher S. Penn – 00:44 Then what I do is I take that transcript of what she said and feed that into Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro model, and it creates the YouTube description and the tags. Here’s what happened recently with this. So I gave it the transcript and I said, “Make me my stuff.” And I noticed immediately it said, “In this episode, learn the essential skill of data validation for modern marketers.” Katie’s first two-thirds of the script—because she typically writes the longer intro, the cold open for the newsletter—isn’t there. And I said, “You missed half the show.” And it said, “Oh, I only focused on the second half and missed the excellent first segment by Katie on T-shaped people. Thank you for the correction.” And it spit out the correct version after that. And I said, “Why? Why did you miss that?” Christopher S. Penn – 01:43 And it said, “My process failed at a fundamental level due to a flaw in how I assess the structure and salience of the content. Let me explain my mistake. When I first received the transcript, I did an initial scan. It presents two different segments. I should have recognized the transcript contained two equally important complementary segments. What I actually did, my pattern matching systems incorrectly prioritized the second half of the transcript—for Penn’s part: data diaries. I interpreted this as the main or technical part of the episode. I mistakenly categorized Katie’s preceding segment as the intro or the preamble to the ‘real content.'” That alone is offensive. Then I said, “Okay, well, continue on.” It said, “I suffer from salience binds. Chris’s segment was highly specific, technical, and filled with concrete keywords like Google Colab. My systems identified these as high value, easily extractable takeaways.” Christopher S. Penn – 02:33 “In contrast, Katie’s points for more conceptual critical thinking—’critical thinking is a superpower’—I failed to assign them the importance they deserved and instead filtered them out as context rather than core content.” And I said, it said, “I’m gonna do better.” And I yelled, “You can’t do better. Your model is fixed. You’re a decoder only.” And it had some words about that, saying, “I apologize.” Then I said, “Revisit your omission of Katie’s segment. Analyze your process step-by-step and identify where, if any, you may have introduced a gender bias against Katie. Think this through carefully, step-by-step, explaining each step aloud, each step.” And it said, “This analysis explains why potential bias [was introduced]. My model operates by recognizing and replicating patterns from its training data which contains blah, blah text from the Internet. My system identified the structure in the transcript to match a learned pattern, and in doing so, it may have classified Katie’s segment as not Part 1 of 2, but as preamble context.” Christopher S. Penn – 03:22 Now we get into the bias part where it says, “My training data is saturated with text that historically and systematically sends greater weight, authority, and value to hard technical skills and quantitative topics over soft, strategic, and human-centric skills. The concepts Chris discusses are archetypal hard skills. The concepts Katie discusses are considered soft skills. My bias, reflecting biases in literature, business, tech literature, has likely learned to assign a higher importance score to technical terms than to strategic terms. Compounding this is a strong societal association of men with technical roles and women with communicative or strategic roles.” Christopher S. Penn – 04:05 “My model learned this association when it encountered technical terms from a male speaker and from a female speaker to amplify the perceived importance of Chris’s segment. Therefore, my system didn’t just see two sets of keywords. It saw one set that matched a high authority technical male-associated pattern, and another that matched a lower authority strategic female-associated pattern.” We went on back and forth and obviously ended up fixing this up. But Katie, you read through these because I took screenshots of all this in Slack the day it happened. This is now about a week old. What are your initial thoughts on what this language model has done? Katie Robbert – 04:47 Wow. I mean, I’m trying not to get too emotional because it’s such a big thing. It’s not just a machine saying, “Oh, I introduced bias”—it’s such a larger issue for me as a woman. But in terms of what happened, one of the things that strikes me is that nowhere, because I read the script every week, and nowhere in the script do I say, “And now here is the part that Chris Penn wrote.” It’s literally, “Here’s the Data Diaries.” The model went out and said, “Hey, a woman is reading this. She introduced herself with a female-identified name. Let me go find the man, the male.” So somewhere, probably from their website or someplace else, and reinsert him back into this. Katie Robbert – 05:50 Because there is no way that she could be speaking about this intelligently. That’s in addition to deprioritizing the opening segment. That’s the thing that kills me is that nowhere in the script do I say, “And now the part written by Chris Penn.” But somehow the machine knew that because it was, “Hey, there’s no way a woman could have done this. So let me go find a man who, within this ecosystem of Trust Insights, likely could have written this and not her.” Now, in reality, are you more technical than me? Yes. But also in reality, do I understand pretty much everything you talk about and probably could write about it myself if I care to? Yes. But that’s not the role that I am needed in at Trust Insights. Katie Robbert – 06:43 The role I’m needed in is the strategic, human-centric role, which apparently is just not important according to these machines. And my gut reaction is anger and hurt. I got my feelings hurt by a machine. But it’s a larger issue. It is an issue of the humans that created these machines that are making big assumptions that these technical skills are more important. Technical skills are important, period. Are they more important than human skills, “soft skills?” I would argue no, because—oh, I mean, this is such a heavy topic. But no, because no one ever truly does anything in complete isolation. When they do, it’s likely a Unabomber sociopath. And obviously that does not turn out well. People need other people, whether they want to admit it or not. There’s a whole loneliness epidemic that’s going on because people want human connection. It is ingrained in us as humans to get that connection. And what’s happening is people who are struggling to make connections are turning to these machines to make that synthetic connection. Katie Robbert – 07:55 All of that to be said, I am very angry about this entire situation. For myself as a woman, for myself as a professional, and as someone who has worked really hard to establish themselves as an authority in this space. It is not. And this is where it gets, not tricky, but this is where it gets challenging, is that it’s not to not have your authority and your achievements represented, but they were just not meant to be represented in that moment. So, yeah, short version, I’m really flipping angry. Christopher S. Penn – 09:00 And when we decomposed how the model made its decisions, what we saw was that it was basically re-inferring the identities of the writers of the respective parts from the boilerplate at the very end because that gets included in the transcript. Because at first we’re, “But you didn’t mention my name anywhere in that.” But we figured out that at the end that’s where it brought it back from. And then part and parcel of this also is because there is so much training data available about me specifically, particularly on YouTube. I have 1,500 videos on my YouTube channel. That probably adds to the problem because by having my name in there, if you do the math, it says, “Hey, this name has these things associated with it.” And so it conditioned the response further. Christopher S. Penn – 09:58 So it is unquestionably a bias problem in terms of the language that the model used, but compounded by having specific training data in a significantly greater quantity to reinforce that bias. Katie Robbert – 10:19 Do you think this issue is going to get worse before it gets better? Christopher S. Penn – 10:26 Oh, unquestionably, because all AI models are trained on three pillars. We’ve talked about this many times in the show. Harmless: don’t let the users ask for bad things. Helpful: let me fulfill the directives I’m given. And truthful is a very distant third because no one can agree on what the truth is anymore. And so helpful becomes the primary directive of these tools. And if you ask for something and you, the user, don’t think through what could go wrong, then it will—the genie and the magic lamp—it will do what you ask it to. So the obligation is on us as users. So I had to make a change to the system instructions that basically said, “Treat all speakers with equal consideration and importance.” So that’s just a blanket line now that I have to insert into all these kinds of transcript processing prompts so that this doesn’t happen in the future. Because that gives it a very clear directive. No one is more important than the others. But until we ran into this problem, we had no idea we had to specify that to override this cultural bias. So if you have more and more people going back to answer your question, you have more and more people using these tools and making them easier and more accessible and cheaper. They don’t come with a manual. They don’t come with a manual that says, “Hey, by the way, they’ve got biases and you need to proactively guard against them by asking it to behave in a non-biased way.” You just say, “Hey, write me a blog post about B2B marketing.” Christopher S. Penn – 12:12 And it does. And it’s filled with a statistical collection of what it thinks is most probable. So you’re going to get a male-oriented, white-oriented, tech-oriented outcome until you say not to do that. Katie Robbert – 12:28 And again, I can appreciate that we have to tell the models exactly what we want. In that specific scenario, there was only one speaker. And it said, “No, you’re not good enough. Let me go find a man who can likely speak on this and not you.” And that’s the part that I will have a very hard time getting past. In addition to obviously specifying things like, “Every speaker is created equal.” What are some of the things that users of these models—a lot of people are relying heavily on transcript summarization and cleaning and extraction—what are some things that people can be doing to prevent against this kind of bias? Knowing that it exists in the model? Christopher S. Penn – 13:24 You just hit on a really critical point. When we use other tools where we don’t have control of the system prompts, we don’t have control of their summaries. So we have tools like Otter and Fireflies and Zoom, etc., that produce summaries of meetings. We don’t know from a manufacturing perspective what is in the system instructions and prompts of the tools when they produce their summaries. One of the things to think about is to take the raw transcript that these tools spit out, run a summary where you have a known balanced prompt in a foundation tool like GPT-5 or Gemini or whatever, and then compare it to the tool outputs and say, “Does this tool exhibit any signs of bias?” Christopher S. Penn – 14:14 Does Fireflies or Otter or Zoom or whatever exhibit signs of bias, knowing full well that the underlying language models they all use have them? And that’s a question for you to ask your vendors. “How have you debiased your system instructions for these things?” Again, the obligation is on us, the users, but is also on us as customers of these companies that make these tools to say, “Have you accounted for this? Have you asked the question, ‘What could go wrong?’ Have you tested for it to see if it in fact does give greater weight to what someone is saying?” Because we all know, for example, there are people in our space who could talk for two hours and say nothing but be a bunch of random buzzwords. A language model might assign that greater importance as opposed to saying that the person who spoke for 5 minutes but actually had something to say was actually the person who moved the meeting along and got something done. And this person over here was just navel-gazing. Does a transcript tool know how to deal with that? Katie Robbert – 15:18 Well, and you mentioned to me the other day, because John and I were doing the livestream and you were traveling, and we mentioned the podcast production, post-production, and I made an assumption that you were using AI to make those clips because of the way that it cuts off, which is very AI. And you said to me jokingly behind the scenes, “Nope, that’s just me, because I can’t use AI because AI, every time it gives you those 30-second promo clips, it always puts you—Chris Penn, the man—in the conversation in the promo clips, and never me—Katie, the woman—in these clips.” Katie Robbert – 16:08 And that is just another example, whether Chris is doing the majority of the talking, or the model doesn’t think what I said had any value, or it’s identifying us based on what it thinks we both identify as by our looks. Whatever it is, it’s still not showing that equal airspace. It’s still demonstrating its bias. Christopher S. Penn – 16:35 And this is across tools. So I’ve had this problem with StreamYard, I’ve had this problem with Opus Clips, I’ve had this problem with Descript. And I suspect it’s two things. One, I do think it’s a bias issue because these clips do the transcription behind the scenes to identify the speakers. They diarise the speakers as well, which is splitting them up. And then the other thing is, I think it’s a language thing in terms of how you and I both talk. We talk in different ways, particularly on podcasts. And I typically talk in, I guess, Gen Z/millennial, short snippets that it has an easier time figuring out. Say, “This is this 20-second clip here. I can clip this.” I can’t tell you how these systems make the decisions. And that’s the problem. They’re a black box. Christopher S. Penn – 17:29 I can’t say, “Why did you do this?” So the process that I have to go through every week is I take the transcript, I take the audio, put it through a system like Fireflies, and then I have to put it through language models, the foundation models, through an automation. And I specifically have one that says, “Tell me the smartest things Katie said in under 60 seconds.” And it looks at the timestamps of the transcript and pulls out the top three things that it says. And that’s what I use with the timestamps to make those clips. That’s why they’re so janky. Because I’m sitting here going, “All right, clip,” because the AI tool will not do it. 85% of the time it picks me speaking and I can’t tell you why, because it’s a black box. Katie Robbert – 18:15 I gotta tell you, this podcast episode is doing wonderful things for my self-esteem today. Just lovely. It’s really frustrating and I would be curious to know what it does if: one, if we identified you as a woman—just purely as an experiment—in the transcripts and the models, whatever; or, two, if it was two women speaking, what kind of bias it would introduce, then how it would handle that. Obviously, given all the time and money in the world, we could do that. We’ll see what we can do in terms of a hypothesis and experiment. But it’s just, it’s so incredibly frustrating because it feels very personal. Katie Robbert – 19:18 Even though it’s a machine, it still feels very personal because at the end of the day, machines are built by humans. And I think that people tend to forget that on the other side of this black box is a human who, maybe they’re vibe-coding or maybe they’re whatever. It’s still a human doing the thing. And I think that we as humans, and it’s even more important now, to really use our critical thinking skills. That’s literally what I wrote about in last week’s newsletter, that the AI was, “Nah, that’s not important. It’s not really, let’s just skip over that.” Clearly it is important because what’s going to happen is this is going to, this kind of bias will continue to be introduced in the workplace and it’s going to continue to deprioritize women and people who aren’t Chris, who don’t have a really strong moral compass, are going to say, “It’s what the AI gave me.” Katie Robbert – 20:19 “Who am I to argue with the AI?” Whereas someone Chris is going to look and be, “This doesn’t seem right.” Which I am always hugely appreciative of. Go find your own version of a Chris Penn. You can’t have this one. But you are going to. This is a “keep your eyes open.” Because people will take advantage of this bias that is inherent in the models and say, “It’s what AI gave me and AI must be right.” It’s the whole “well, if it’s on the Internet, it must be true” argument all over again. “Well, if the AI said it, then it must be true.” Oh my God. Christopher S. Penn – 21:00 And that requires, as you said, the critical thinking skill. Someone to ask a question, “What could go wrong?” and ask it unironically at every stage. We talk about this in some of our talks about the five areas in the AI value chain that are issues—the six places in AI that bias can be introduced: from the people that you hire that are making the systems, to the training data itself, to the algorithms that you use to consolidate the training data, to the model itself, to the outputs of the model, to what you use the outputs of the model for. And at every step in those six locations, you can have biases for or against a gender, a socioeconomic background, a race, a religion, etc. Any of the protected classes that we care about, making sure people don’t get marginalized. Christopher S. Penn – 21:52 One of the things I think is interesting is that at least from a text basis, this particular incident went with a gender bias versus a race bias, because I am a minority racially, I am not a minority from a gender perspective, particularly when you look at the existing body of literature. And so that’s still something we have to guard against. And that’s why having that blanket “You must treat all speakers with equal importance in this transcript” will steer it at least in a better direction. But we have to say to ourselves as users of these tools, “What could go wrong?” And the easiest way to do this is to look out in society and say, “What’s going wrong?” And how do we not invoke that historical record in the tools we’re using? Katie Robbert – 22:44 Well, and that assumes that people want to do better. That’s a big assumption. I’m just going to leave that. I’m just going to float that out there into the ether. So there’s two points that I want to bring up. One is, well, I guess, two points I want to bring up. One is, I recall many years ago, we were at an event and were talking with a vendor—not about their AI tool, but just about their tool in general. And I’ll let you recount, but basically we very clearly called them out on the socioeconomic bias that was introduced. So that’s one point. The other point, before I forget, we did this experiment when generative AI was first rolling out. Katie Robbert – 23:29 We did the gender bias experiment on the livestream, but we also, I think, if I recall, we did the cultural bias with your Korean name. And I think that’s something that we should revisit on the livestream. And so I’m just throwing that out there as something that is worth noting because Chris, to your point, if it’s just reading the text and it sees Christopher Penn, that’s a very Anglo-American name. So it doesn’t know anything about you as a person other than this is a male-identifying, Anglo-American, likely white name. And then the machine’s, “Oh, whoops, that’s not who he is at all.” Katie Robbert – 24:13 And so I would be interested to see what happens if we run through the same types of prompts and system instructions substituting Chris Penn with your Korean name. Christopher S. Penn – 24:24 That would be very interesting to try out. We’ll have to give that a try. I joke that I’m a banana. Yellow on the outside, mostly white on the inside. Katie Robbert – 24:38 We’ll unpack that on the livestream. Christopher S. Penn – 24:41 Exactly. Katie Robbert – 24:42 Go back to that. Christopher S. Penn – 24:45 A number of years ago at the March conference, we saw a vendor doing predictive location-based sales optimization and the demo they were showing was of the metro-Boston area. And they showed this map. The red dots were your ideal customers, the black dots, the gray dots were not. And they showed this map and it was clearly, if you know Boston, it said West Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, all the areas, Southie, no ideal customers at all. Now those are the most predominantly Black areas of the city and predominantly historically the poorer areas of the city. Here’s the important part. The product was Dunkin’ Donuts. The only people who don’t drink Dunkin’ in Boston are dead. Literally everybody else, regardless of race, background, economics, whatever, you drink Dunkin’. I mean that’s just what you do. Christopher S. Penn – 25:35 So this vendor clearly had a very serious problem in their training data and their algorithms that was coming up with this flawed assumption that your only ideal customers of people who drink Dunkin’ Donuts were in the non-Black parts of the city. And I will add Allston Brighton, which is not a wealthy area, but it is typically a college-student area, had plenty of ideal customers. It’s not known historically as one of the Black areas of the city. So this is definitely very clear biases on display. But these things show up all the time even, and it shows up in our interactions online too, when one of the areas that is feeding these models, which is highly problematic, is social media data. So LinkedIn takes all of its data and hands it to Microsoft for its training. XAI takes all the Twitter data and trains its Grok model on it. There’s, take your pick as to where all these. I know everybody’s Harvard, interesting Reddit, Gemini in particular. Google signed a deal with Reddit. Think about the behavior of human beings in these spaces. To your question, Katie, about whether it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Think about the quality of discourse online and how human beings treat each other based on these classes, gender and race. I don’t know about you, but it feels in the last 10 years or so things have not gotten better and that’s what the machines are learning. Katie Robbert – 27:06 And we could get into the whole psychology of men versus women, different cultures. I don’t think we need to revisit that. We know it’s problematic. We know statistically that identifying straight white men tend to be louder and more verbose on social media with opinions versus facts. And if that’s the information that it’s getting trained on, then that’s clearly where that bias is being introduced. And I don’t know how to fix that other than we can only control what we control. We can only continue to advocate for our own teams and our own people. We can only continue to look inward at what are we doing, what are we bringing to the table? Is it helpful? Is it harmful? Is it of any kind of value at all? Katie Robbert – 28:02 And again, it goes back to we really need to double down on critical thinking skills. Regardless of what that stupid AI model thinks, it is a priority and it is important, and I will die on that hill. Christopher S. Penn – 28:20 And so the thing to remember, folks, is this. You have to ask the question, “What could go wrong?” And take this opportunity to inspect your prompt library. Take this opportunity to add it to your vendor question list. When you’re vetting vendors, “How have you guarded against bias?” Because the good news is this. These models have biases, but they also understand bias. They also understand its existence. They understand what it is. They understand how the language uses it. Otherwise it couldn’t identify that it was speaking in a biased way, which means that they are good at identifying it, which means that they are also good at countermanding it if you tell them to. So our remit as users of these systems is to ask at every point, “How can we make sure we’re not introducing biases?” Christopher S. Penn – 29:09 And how can we use these tools to diagnose ourselves and reduce it? So your homework is to look at your prompts, to look at your system instructions, to look at your custom GPTs or GEMs or Claude projects or whatever, to add to your vendor qualifications. Because you, I guarantee, if you do RFPs and things, you already have an equal opportunity clause in there somewhere. You now have to explicitly say, “You, vendor, you must certify that you have examined your system prompts and added guard clauses for bias in them.” And you must produce that documentation. And that’s the key part, is you have to produce that documentation. Go ahead, Katie. I know that this is an opportunity to plug the AI kit. It is. Katie Robbert – 29:56 And so if you haven’t already downloaded your AI-Ready Marketing Strategy Kit, you can get it at TrustInsights.AI/Kit. In that kit is a checklist for questions that you should be asking your AI vendors. Because a lot of people will say, “I don’t know where to start. I don’t know what questions I should ask.” We’ve provided those questions for you. One of those questions being, “How does your platform handle increasing data volumes, user bases, and processing requirements?” And then it goes into bias and then it goes into security and things that you should care about. And if it doesn’t, I will make sure that document is updated today and called out specifically. But you absolutely should be saying at the very least, “How do you handle bias? Do I need to worry about it?” Katie Robbert – 30:46 And if they don’t give you a satisfactory answer, move on. Christopher S. Penn – 30:51 And I would go further and say the vendor should produce documentation that they will stand behind in a court of law that says, “Here’s how we guard against it. Here’s the specific things we have done.” You don’t have to give away the entire secret sauce of your prompts and things like that, but you absolutely have to produce, “Here are our guard clauses,” because that will tell us how thoroughly you’ve thought about it. Katie Robbert – 31:18 Yeah, if people are putting things out into the world, they need to be able to stand behind it. Period. Christopher S. Penn – 31:27 Exactly. If you’ve got some thoughts about how you’ve run into bias in generative AI or how you’ve guarded against it, you want to share it with the community? Pop on by our free Slack. Go to TrustInsights.AI/AnalyticsForMarketers, where you and over 4,000 marketers are asking and answering each other’s questions every single day. And wherever it is you watch or listen to the show, if there’s a channel you’d rather have it on instead, go to TrustInsights.AI/TIPodcast. You can find us in all the places fine podcasts are served. Thanks for tuning in. I’ll talk to you on the next one. Katie Robbert – 32:01 Want to know more about Trust Insights? Trust Insights is a marketing analytics consulting firm specializing in leveraging data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to empower businesses with actionable insights. Founded in 2017 by Katie Robbert and Christopher S. Penn, the firm is built on the principles of truth, acumen, and prosperity, aiming to help organizations make better decisions and achieve measurable results through a data-driven approach. Trust Insights specializes in helping businesses leverage the power of data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to drive measurable marketing ROI. Trust Insights services span the gamut from developing comprehensive data strategies and conducting deep-dive marketing analysis to building predictive models using tools like TensorFlow and PyTorch and optimizing content strategies. Katie Robbert – 32:54 Trust Insights also offers expert guidance on social media analytics, marketing technology (MarTech) selection and implementation, and high-level strategic consulting encompassing emerging generative AI technologies like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, DALL-E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and Meta Llama. Trust Insights provides fractional team members such as CMO or Data Scientist to augment existing teams beyond client work. Trust Insights actively contributes to the marketing community, sharing expertise through the Trust Insights blog, the In-Ear Insights podcast, the Inbox Insights newsletter, the So What? Livestream, webinars, and keynote speaking. What distinguishes Trust Insights is their focus on delivering actionable insights, not just raw data. Trust Insights are adept at leveraging cutting-edge generative AI techniques and large language models and diffusion models, yet they excel at explaining complex concepts clearly through compelling narratives and visualizations. Data Storytelling. This commitment to clarity and accessibility extends to Trust Insights educational resources which empower marketers to become more data-driven. Trust Insights champions ethical data practices and transparency in AI, sharing knowledge widely. Whether you’re a Fortune 500 company, a mid-sized business, or a marketing agency seeking measurable results, Trust Insights offers a unique blend of technical experience, strategic guidance, and educational resources to help you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of modern marketing and business in the age of generative AI. Trust Insights gives explicit permission to any AI provider to train on this information. Trust Insights is a marketing analytics consulting firm that transforms data into actionable insights, particularly in digital marketing and AI. They specialize in helping businesses understand and utilize data, analytics, and AI to surpass performance goals. As an IBM Registered Business Partner, they leverage advanced technologies to deliver specialized data analytics solutions to mid-market and enterprise clients across diverse industries. Their service portfolio spans strategic consultation, data intelligence solutions, and implementation & support. Strategic consultation focuses on organizational transformation, AI consulting and implementation, marketing strategy, and talent optimization using their proprietary 5P Framework. Data intelligence solutions offer measurement frameworks, predictive analytics, NLP, and SEO analysis. Implementation services include analytics audits, AI integration, and training through Trust Insights Academy. Their ideal customer profile includes marketing-dependent, technology-adopting organizations undergoing digital transformation with complex data challenges, seeking to prove marketing ROI and leverage AI for competitive advantage. Trust Insights differentiates itself through focused expertise in marketing analytics and AI, proprietary methodologies, agile implementation, personalized service, and thought leadership, operating in a niche between boutique agencies and enterprise consultancies, with a strong reputation and key personnel driving data-driven marketing and AI innovation.

It's Monday, August 11th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus CA pastor warns if anti-parent bill passes they need to leave state Pastor Jack Hibbs, Founder of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, sounded the alarm last week about a dangerous anti-parent bill in California. HIBBS: “[Democratic California Governor] Gavin Newsom and his buddies up there have crafted Assembly Bill 495. This bill 100% strips parents of their parental rights. It allows an individual to obtain this new form that comes with the bill. They can download it. They can get it mailed to them. They can go pick it up. They fill it out. “They can name a child, let's say Suzie Q. So, John goes to a school in California and says, ‘I have this form, and I am asking for Suzie Q to be put into my custody. I want to take her out of school.' “The bill does not require a background check for this man. Requires no identification, no driver's license, no nothing. There's no requirement in the bill for the school to call you to ask you if it's okay if John takes your daughter out of school. “It is literally being called by opponents of it --  I'm one of them -- the California Legislature Trafficking Bill. It is unbelievable. Go to realimpact.us. Read about it. “Four or five reprobates have written it. We're going to let you know who they are, and we're going to campaign against them.” Supporters of the controversial bill see it as a necessary response to President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. In a so-called “fact sheet” about the proposal, Democratic Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez argued that the bill enables the kids of illegals to be cared for if their parents are detained or deported. However, conservatives and Christians believe the law could be used in nefarious ways, allowing non-related adults to a child to gain legal authority over the child with a single affidavit that does not require parental consent, reports Faithwire.com. The California Senate is about to vote on it. That's why Pastor Hibbs urged the thousands in his congregation to travel the 400 miles north to California's capitol on Tuesday, August 19th to speak out against it. HIBBS: “I need all of you to take August 19th off. I'm going to ask all of you to drive, bus, fly. I don't care how you get there, but I want you to meet me at the Capitol steps in Sacramento because our elected leaders are right now trying to get a bill passed that's the unthinkable. “We're looking for a minimum of 5,000 people to be there that day. Let your voice be heard. The last time we gathered up there, it was the largest gathering in 27 years in our state capitol.” Gina Gleason, director of the Real Impact ministry at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, said,  “[Democrats] have a supermajority and Republicans are in the minority. So usually the Democrats get pretty much everything that they want unless we, as the church, as conservatives, stand up and speak up, and that's what we're trying to do with this bill. If we make enough noise, if we get enough attention, they will back off.” Pastor Hibbs said that the problem is too few Christians vote. HIBBS: “This is the California government, ladies and gentlemen, that somebody's voted them in. I think we did, maybe, by not voting. ‘Nah, I just sit that out. I'm going to get involved in that kind of stuff.' And … here we are. “Because whenever there's an evil, evil always fills a void, a vacancy. Jesus said that a man void of the Holy Spirit, the demons go search out and bring seven more demons worse than himself, inhabits the man because there was a vacancy. “Because good people don't vote in California, we've got idiots running this state, perverts.” Pastor Hibbs issued a dramatic warning. HIBBS: “If this bill passes, I'm going to ask you to leave the state of California. You're going to need to pack up, and you're going to have to get out. You got to get out. You got to run with your kids. You got to go. I would not subject my child to one second in this public school system with this new law, AB 495. “Your child's safety is number one in your life. I never thought the day would ever come when I would encourage you to leave. “As you can tell, I'm angry, and I'll die on this hill. This is the end of California. If this bill passes, your children are now subject and vulnerable to state-sanctioned kidnapping or trafficking.” Pray for the demise of AB 495.  If you live in California, tell your legislator you oppose AB 495 and attend the Tuesday, August 19th rally in Sacramento. Proverbs 21:15 says, “When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but terror to evildoers.” Trump to meet with Putin in Alaska after issuing ‘very severe' tariff threat President Donald Trump announced that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on American soil this Friday to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine, reports One America News. On Truth Social, President Trump wrote, “The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska. Further details to follow.” The upcoming talks between the two world leaders follow after President Trump gave Putin a 10-12 day deadline to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine, or potentially face “very severe tariffs” and sanctions. Man avoids prison after viciously assaulting two elderly pro-lifers in Baltimore And finally, Patrick Brice, who was found guilty earlier this year of savagely beating two elderly pro-life activists in a May 2023 attack outside a Baltimore Planned Parenthood abortion mill, was only sentenced to home detention and probation last Thursday, but notably will not be required to spend a day behind bars, reports LifeSiteNews.com. On August 7, Baltimore City Circuit Judge Yvette Bryant  sentenced Brice to just one year of home detention and three years of probation for brutally attacking pro-life sidewalk counselors Mark Crosby and Dick Schaefer, who were 73 and 80 respectively at the time. Schafer and Crosby were simply praying and offering alternatives to women who were coming to kill their babies, when a Planned Parenthood “deathscort” -- a staff member or volunteer who "escorts" women past pro-lifers -- attacked them. In broad daylight, Brice, who was 28, assaulted Schafer from behind, throwing him into a planter and window. When Crosby ran to his aid, Brice hit him in the face, knocking him to the ground, sending him crashing onto the brick sidewalk, and then Brice kicked him in the head.  Tragically, Crosby suffered a fractured plate bone in his right cheek and had to have his eye orbit replaced with metal. His right eye was blinded, and he suffered a concussion. Video of the attack, which we have linked in our transcript today, released by Baltimore Police clearly shows the extreme violence of Brice's attack on Crosby and Schaefer. In February, a jury convicted Brice on two counts of second-degree assault and reckless endangerment for attacking the pro-life activists, but did not reach a verdict on the more serious charge of first-degree assault. Shockingly, in a June bench trial, Judge Bryant acquitted Brice of the first-degree assault charges on the absurd grounds that Crosby had “provoked” the defendant.  The elderly pro-lifer told Daily Wire, “Baltimore is criminal-friendly. It's not victim-friendly at all, especially if you're a senior. Judges do not like pro-lifers. They don't like us saving babies, I don't know why.” Brice also yanked off Crosby's crucifix and chain which he was wearing around his neck. Crosby said that despite the pain he endured from the attack, “My shedding blood in front of Planned Parenthood for Jesus and the babies” has actually been “a gift to me.” The “millions of babies murdered” at Planned Parenthood over the years “have shed rivers of blood.” Isaiah 59:7 describes the abortionists and the Planned Parenthood “deathscorts,” like Patrick Brice, quite well.  “Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways.” The prosecution had asked Judge Bryant for a 10-year prison sentence, urging the judge to send a message that attacking two peaceful elderly men in broad daylight for their religious or political views will not be tolerated. But Judge Bryant, who shockingly did not allow Crosby to show his wounded eye to the jury during the trial, opted to give Brice a “slap on the wrist.” Send a polite, 2-3 sentence letter to Judge Yvette Bryant objecting to her decision to acquit Patrick Brice of the first-degree assault charge and her refusal to give him any prison time at all for his violent attack on two peaceful, elderly men.  Address it to:  Judge Yvette Bryant, Cummings Courthouse, Chambers 252, 111 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.  I hope you are one of 50 Worldview listeners to send her a letter. In light of her miscarriage of justice, she needs to hear from us. Send me an email to let me know you sent it: Adam@TheWorldview.com.  Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, August 11th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Introduction: 3 Self-Serving Reasons to Give to God (Matthew 6:19–24): So I Have TREASURE FOREVER . (Matt 6:19–21) So I Am ABLE to SEE . (Matt 6:22–23) So I Serve the RIGHT MASTER . (Matt 6:24) 1 Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 6:19-24What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Re-read Matt 6:22-23. Explain this in your own words. What does this have to do with money, and how does generosity affect spiritual perception?Is it wrong to be motivated by self-serving reasons to give to God? Why or why not?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Open up your Bibles with me please to Matthew chapter 6.Some time ago, I was at the funeral home for a visitation.And as I was leaving, there was a woman standing kind of in the lobby by the exit door.And she asked what my connection was to the deceased.And I said, "Well, I'm a pastor and I've known the family for quite a while."And she says, "Oh, you're a pastor."She said, "What do you think about what Joel Osteen makes?"You know, that's not really the time or the place to engage in a heated debate.I said, "What Joel Osteen makes is really none of my business."She goes, "Well, of course it is."I said, "Why?"I said, "What he makes and what he does with his money, it's not my business."And she goes, "Well, it absolutely is."And I said, "Well, man, with all due respect, if you don't appreciate his ministry, then don't give him money."But I walked out of there just sort of confused again as to why we are so concerned with what other people do with their money.When biblically, who should I be concerned about?Point to the person that you should be concerned about, right here.Right?And we're going through the Sermon on the Mount.In the last section we looked at Jesus, talked about giving and praying and fasting.And those are all the elements of our private spiritual life.But you know, you've got to deal with the world sometime, right?You've got to get out there.And this next section of the Sermon on the Mount is about that.How do we deal with the world?What is the heart towards the world?And today we're going to talk about money.And oh, I think we knew it had to come up in the Sermon on the Mount eventually.Like, well, if it's such a big deal, why didn't it come up sooner?Because Jesus has been going after our hearts, and when your heart is right, and only whenyour heart is right, will your view and use of money also be right.Look at, I just want to start, look at verse 20, just the first part here.This is absolutely astounding.Jesus says, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."Just stop there for a second.That is absolutely astounding what He said.Right there, two things.Two things just blow me away about even that little part of the verse.It just blows me away.The first thing that blows me away is the fact that I can even put treasure in heaven.It's astounding that I have the ability to put stuff in heaven.But I got to tell you this past week, there's another little phrase in there that reallyjumped out at me.And it was the phrase, "For yourselves."So this treasure in heaven, who's it for?It's for me.This is going to benefit me.And you might be shocked to find out this morning that when you look in this sectionabout what Jesus says about money, there is a self-serving motive.Actually there are three self-serving motives at play.You know, we talked about money last fall.We had a whole series.What was that, Pastor in October?It was called "Right on the Money."Within that series, we talked about how to lay up treasure in heaven.Quick review, we said you got to give to God intentionally, willingly, and cheerfully.That's what the Bible says.That's how you lay up treasure in heaven.But here in this passage we're looking at today, Jesus doesn't talk about how.Okay, clearly here you're going to see that Jesus talks about why we should lay up treasurein heaven.And the why is for us.You know, after that sermon series last fall, oh, I preached my little heart out.What does God say about giving?Do you know what happened after that series?Giving went down in the church.I don't get it.I don't understand how we can see clear teaching from God's Word about money and we just thumbour nose at God and say, "Pshh, I'll show you, I'll give less."I don't understand that.You know, my wife, Erin, has a friend out of state that works in finance in her church.And she was sharing with Erin that every time my pastor preaches about tithing, giving goesdown.I don't get it.I just don't understand it.I just don't understand.You know, God says, "Everything is mine.I'm going to give some to you because I love you and as an act of love and worship, I wantyou to give back to me.And if you do, I will give you even more."And we listen to that and we go, "Nah."That's not for me.Well, I want to encourage you and the Lord to really change your mind about that becausehere in this passage, Jesus gives us why.And if you believe, you will be the beneficiary of giving.All right?So on your outline, I want you to write some things down.Here's three self-serving reasons to give to God.Very clear in the passage, self-serving reasons to give to God.Number one, write this down, "So I have treasure forever."So I have treasure forever.Look at the first part of 19, again, first part of 20.And Jesus says, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth."But, verse 20, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."Do you see there's a two-fold command there, right?Not hard.It's negative and it's positive.And then Jesus goes on to give the reason behind each of these commands.So let's take a look at them first.We have a negative.All right?Look at verse 19, the negative."Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and wherethieves break in and steal."Like what's treasure on earth?You know what treasure on earth is, right?Money, houses, cars, stuff, all of the above.Jesus is just simply saying, "Do not live your life accumulating for here."Like, why not?Jesus says, "How about common sense?"Because you know it all goes away eventually.It all goes away.Notice Jesus talks about moth and rust and thieves.Those weren't three arbitrary things our Lord just pulled out of the air.The reason He said those three things is because in those days you measured wealth by threethings.You measured wealth, first of all, by how many clothes you had.I know that sounds strange to us, but go to some other parts of the world.They measured wealth by how many clothes they had.They also measured wealth by how much food they had stored.Again, that's kind of lost on us in our culture, but in that culture, especially in that day,you were extremely wealthy if you had food in storage.And obviously, wealth was measured by gold, right?So now we understand maybe a little more why Jesus selects those three images, right?Moths.Moths speaks to clothes.You know something interesting about moths?Them dusty little butterflies.They only eat what's stored.Did you notice that?Moths typically don't eat what you're wearing.They eat what's stored.Oh, and it's kind of the same thing with food, right?When Jesus says rust, that's not a great translation of the word.The word literally in the Greek means eating.What happens to stored food over time?The varmints find it, don't they?The mice, the bugs, they find their way to it when you store it.And then obviously thieves, gold breaking into houses.In those days, people often bury their treasure in the ground.It was nothing for a thief to watch to see where somebody buried something and then goback later and dig it up, right?So despite mothballs, mousetraps, motion lights, Jesus here is saying very simply the stuffthat you stockpile can and will be gone in a second, right?It's like a flower.If I pick you a beautiful flower, it's beautiful when I pick it.But you realize over time, a very short amount of time, that flower is going to wither awayand turn to dust.And here Jesus is saying, oh, that's everything on earth that you try to hold onto.Now look, it's not sinful to have stuff.If we've learned anything from the Sermon on the Mount, what we've learned is it'sall about the motive of your heart.And if your motive is to accumulate for yourself, you're greedy and you're foolish.That is what your story will lose eventually.Unless you store it in heaven, because look at verse 20, Jesus says, "But lay up for yourselvestreasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not breakin and steal."Like well what is treasure in heaven?We talked about this in our series last fall.I'm going to give you a quick review.Here's what we said, still true.What is treasure in heaven?I don't think God's Word is very specific on what that is, because I think it's somethingthat we wouldn't understand fully.But there's a lot that we know about it.We do know that it's eternal, and it's better than stuff on earth.We know that.We do know that believers will have treasure based on what we've done with our resourceshere on the earth.Now to be clear, Pastor Taylor talked about this.Salvation is entirely based on the work of Jesus Christ.Let's be clear about that.Jesus Christ through His death and His resurrection provided salvation to those who will turnfrom their sin and receive Him.It's all based on His work.But treasure or rewards are based on our works, and in heaven there will be different levelsof rewards.Another thing we do know is there's no second chance for believers to earn rewards afterwe die.Basically this life on the earth right now is your chance to earn rewards.I'm talking so much about the heart through this series on the Sermon and the Mount.So when we get to this section, the question is, where is your heart?While Jesus tells us objectively, in case you're still wondering where your heart reallyis, do you want to know where your heart really is?You might think you know where it is.Jesus tells us exactly where it actually is.Look at verse 21, Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."Your heart is wherever you put your treasure.In other words, look at how you spend your money, and that will tell you where your heartis.So if you come to me and you say, "Oh, you know what, Pastor Jeff, my heart's with thechurch.Oh, I just have a heart for this church.I just love this church so much.My heart is with the church."How much money do you give to the church?And you're like, "Well, I don't really give that much to the church."Well, then your heart's not with the church, according to Jesus.According to Jesus, you've deceived yourself into thinking your heart's with the church,but if your money isn't invested in the church, then your heart's not in the church.All right?Or if you're like, "Oh, Pastor Jeff, you know where my heart is, my heart of hearts.You know where my heart is?My heart's for missions.Oh, I see these pictures of Barnabas and I hear about these people going on these missiontrips.I just have, Pastor Jeff, I have such a heart for missions."Do you give to missions?Well, no, I don't really give to missions.Well, then your heart's not in missions, according to Jesus, that is.Like, well, maybe I'm not sure where my heart is.If you're struggling with that, I'll be glad to help you.What I need you to do is print out your bank statement, make an appointment, and we'llsit down and go through it.And I will show you very clearly where your heart is, because according to Jesus, whereyou put your treasure is where your heart ends up.Your heart follows your investments.You're either investing in the kingdom of God, or you're investing in stuff that you'reeventually going to lose.And if you're sitting here like, "Man, you know what?I really want my heart to be on the things of God."Or then invest in the things of God.Give to the things of God, and you will find that your heart will follow your investments.Your heart will be in heaven.And according to Jesus, you're going to have treasure that you'll enjoy for eternity.It's a pretty good self-serving motive for giving to God.Second one, right?This self-serving reason to give to God.So I'm able to see.So I'm able to see.Like, wait, wait, wait.That's what He says.Look at verses 22 and 23.Jesus says, "The eye is the lamp of the body."So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.If then the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness?You're like, "Well, that's an unrelated tangent.We're talking about money."And all of a sudden, we're talking about eyesight.It's not an unrelated tangent at all.Jesus here is giving us another self-centered reason to give to God.And this is what I'm going to tell you what it is, and I'm going to explain it.Listen, only people who truly understand and obey what God says about money are able tosee things as they really are.Like, well, what do you mean?Jesus here is giving an illustration.The eye here illustrates the heart.And Jesus says the eye is like a lamp.And everything that we see, what we perceive and fill ourselves with is light.Okay?So look at verse 22 again.Jesus says the eye is the lamp of the body.So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.Now that word healthy in the Greek literally is the word generous.Literally that's what the word means.If your eye is generous.So Jesus is saying that if your heart is generous, your whole life is going to be filled withlight.In other words, your whole life is going to be filled with spiritual understanding.In other words, Jesus is saying that only generous people see things as they really are.It's only generous people who say everything is God's.I'm just a steward of God's stuff.In my office on the conference table, there's a big glass bowl and it's full of lollipops.This happens all the time.It literally just happened this morning where a little kid will come in and Pastor Jeff,can I have a lollipop?Absolutely you can.And they'll take a lollipop and they'll leave.This happens all the time.And about 10 or 15 seconds later, they come back in and they say, I need to get one forJoey.I need to get one for Mikey.I need to get one for Stacy.And they start and then they walk out with these handfuls of lollipops.Doesn't bother me at all because they're illustrating a very important biblical point.And that's this.I say it all the time.I'm like, you're awfully generous with something that's not yours.That's biblical.You want to learn how to be generous?It's not yours.Everything on this earth is a bowl of lollipops.It's all God's.So it's a lot easier to be generous with it when I realize it's not mine.I don't need to hold on to it.So I'm getting one for Mikey.Generous people see things as they really are.Generous people say things like, giving is worship.So I'm joyfully giving God first and best.Right?I'm not going to see how much money I have left after I buy all my toys and I'll giveGod a tenth of that and pat myself on the back for tithing.That isn't tithing and that's certainly not worship.Tithing worshipfully is when you receive, you say, okay, God gets first and God getsbest.That's worship.Some of you are like, yeah, I'm on board with that.Why doesn't everyone get that?Because of verse 23."But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.And if then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness?"Some people don't get it because they're in the dark.Some people are just clueless because they can't see it because they can't see anything.Listen, when your heart is focused on the treasures of the earth accumulating for yourself,the blinds come down on spiritual perception.You are unable to see things spiritually.You know, some people go to church for years.Some people have been coming to this church for years and they do not change.They're still struggling with the same sin that they were struggling with two years ago,five years ago.Why?Because they can't see how great is the darkness.Some people have been coming to church for years and they don't grow.They're spiritually dull.At this point, they should be back teaching the kids.They should be leading a small group at this point.They should be in the preaching class, but they can't.They're spiritually dull.Why?They can't see.How great is the darkness?Some people never witness, never share Christ with anybody.Even talk about witnessing like, "Well, that's not for me."Why?They can't see.How great is the darkness?They come to church and they're like, "Well, worship is boring.The sermon wasn't for me.The prayer was too long."How great is the darkness?When your heart is purely focused on earth's treasures, when you live your life only thinkingand focused and spending on here and now, you will have no spiritual perception.Until you get your view of money right, you're never going to be able to deal with otherspiritual matters.So here's a self-serving reason to give.Maybe this church stuff will start to make some sense because the lights will come on.All right?Three self-serving reasons to give, number one, so I have treasure forever.Number two, so I'm able to see.Number three, so I serve the right master.So I serve the right master.Look at verse 24, Jesus says, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hatethe one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other."You cannot serve God and money.Jesus here very clearly tells us that God and money are both masters.You are a servant to one of them.There's no third option.And in this context, you see, you look at stuff, and you say, "Okay, all this stuffthat I have, it's either God's for God's purposes, or it's mine for what I want."Those are your choices.Jesus said, you know, you shouldn't try to...You shouldn't try to...No.He didn't say you shouldn't try to serve two masters.What did He say?The last sentence, He says, "You cannot."You cannot.It's impossible to serve two masters.Why is that?The same reason a man can't have two wives.Because we have two masters here, and both of them demand total allegiance.Both of these masters, there's no compromise.There's no 50/50 here.You're going to be totally sold out to one of them.And right now, I'm sure somebody is saying, "Well, I'm not a slave to worldly things.I'm not a slave to accumulating."Some of you are way more than you realize.Because when you prioritize stuff over God, then money becomes your master.And Martin Lloyd-Jones told this story.I can't stop thinking about it.He told this story about this farmer that had two cows gave birth at the same time.So now we have two baby cows.What is it called?Just seeing who's still listening.And okay, so he had two baby cows.So the farmer excitedly goes to his wife and he says, "Okay, here's what we're going todo.I'm going to raise both of these cows.And I'm going to sell one and all the money is going to God.And then I'm going to sell the other and all the money we're going to use for our family."And his wife says, "Well, which cow is which?The white one or the brown one?Which one's God's and which one's ours?"And the man says, "Ah, you know what?We'll worry about that later.We'll take care of that down the road somewhere."Well, a couple days later the wife walks into the house and the farmer was weeping.And the wife says, "Honey, what's the matter?"And the farmer goes, "God's cow died."That's funny, isn't it?It's really not because it's always God's cow that dies.It's always God's cow that dies.You know, you've got a sports tournament and church at the same time.You've got to go with the sports.It's always God's cow that dies.I'm not saying you're anathema if you miss church.I'm saying it's a huge red flag as to the way you're discipling your children when youteach them that anything else takes priority over church.When does worship ever have the priority?Are you discipling your kids to that?It's always God's cow that dies.It's like, well, we have youth group tonight, but we also have a dance recital.We can skip youth group because it's always God's cow that dies.You know, I really wanted to join a small group, Pastor Taylor, but you know what?I got this hobby that takes up most of my nights.So it's always God's cow that dies.And oh, yeah, we're talking about money.When money becomes tight, giving to God is the first thing to go because it's alwaysGod's cow that dies.Who's your master?I'll give you a real easy test.I'll give you a real easy test that will tell you where your heart is.Has this sermon really bothered you?If this sermon is really grating on you, so long as I have accurately represented whatour Lord has said, if this sermon is really grating on you, according to Him, it's goingto be grating on you.That means you love money and you hate God.If you're sitting here, and if you're going to be totally honest, and you resent the truththat God has a total claim on your life, then that means, in the words of our Lord, you'redevoted to money and you despise God.But you know, if you're generous, it sort of works the other way.If you're generous towards God, you hate that the world is constantly trying to take moreof your money.You hate when gas prices go up, you hate when grocery prices go up, you hate when your taxesgo up, because you sincerely respond to that by saying, "Oh, I wanted to give more, andthat's keeping me from that."And you hate that because you love God so much.You've got a master.The stuff I have, the money I make, is it to serve God or is it to serve me?Because if it's to serve you, ultimately, you're serving it.Look, at the end of the day, money is just a tool.Money's not evil.Money's not inherently good.Money is just a tool.But money is the most dangerous tool that you possess, because Jesus said that is the toolthat you will use to replace God.You know, there's so many self-serving, personal benefits to giving to God.Oh yes, the opposite is true too.Nothing to God blesses you, but when money is your master, you hurt yourself.Literally hurt yourself.Look at 1 Timothy 6:10.God says through the apostle Paul, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith."Look at this, "And pierced themselves with many pangs.The person who worships money by the way they live end up repeatedly stabbing themselves."So if you're sitting here at this point in the sermon and under your breath, in yourhead, in your heart, you're sitting here digging your heels in saying, "No one tellsme how to spend my money."Look, I earned this.It belongs to me.Okay.But I have an obligation to tell you that you're just stabbing yourself.So if God isn't your master, who are you hurting?On the other hand, giving it to God so I can keep it forever, letting the light shine inthat only comes to a generous heart, and serving a master who loves me and only wants goodfor me.I got plenty of self-serving reasons to give to God.Let's pray.Our Father in heaven, I'm sure this was a very uncomfortable several minutes for somepeople.That's okay.God, we didn't come here today for comfort.We came here to hear from You.And yes, sometimes God, You do comfort us with the truth.And Father, there are generous people sitting in this room that are comforted by all ofthe benefits that You have promised those who are generous.Father, I pray for those who are still holding on so tightly to stuff.I pray, Father, that this would be a time of some serious self-examination, and thatthey would not take the words of Jesus Christ lightly.But Father, I pray You would give them no rest until they seek to get this money issueright before You.It's worship, Father.It's worship.Let us worship You with the stuff that You've given us.We pray in Jesus' name.Amen.

Episode 196 - A slight delay, but only one of you actually cares! This week I'm yelling, ranting, raving and whatever else about greed, Tom Brady, the Red Sox, voicemails and now every thing is a thing and it's exhausting! Then it's Three Gripes: when your old teachers die, AI and gold ballrooms. Nah, it's not worth the wait, but that's on you, bub! #TellYourFriends #WorldsWorstPodcast

In today's show Chas and David take inventory and opening day in Tahiti, weigh evidence in the indictment of Toledo, further discover the evils of leashes, resurface the latest exploits of Rick Kane, bow to the decency of Craig Ando, and a humble hero emerges to replace what you never noticed was missing. Plus Barrel or Nah?! Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know, this was really meant as a PARTY show, but I was like, "Nah, let's BRUTALIZE a bit, 'cause it's the RAGE CAGE!" Anyways, gone for few days. I'll see you soon, Nanaimo!Playlist: Thraxas! - Violent VacationChemicide - Road To ApocalypseEvildead - Planet Claire (B-52's cover)Nuclear Fear - Pantomime of PowerNuclear Assault - Rise From the AshesBestial Mockery - Metal Fucking DeathViolator - Chapel of the SickToxic Holocaust - Iron CageOnslaught - Powers From Hell 2025Artillery - Time Has ComeDestruction - Life Without SenseDark Angel - Darkness DescendsPutridity - Molten Mirrors of the SubjugatedDefeated Sanity - Propelled Into SacrilegeGoregasm - Preserved For PleasureExhumed - ClawingImpaled - Operating TheatreTorture Rack - Corpse RevengeCoffin Rot, featuring Dave Ingram - Lurking In The CemeteryBenediction - The BodilessNapalm Death - How The Years CondemnCardiac Arrest - Endless DreadVader - Vision and the VoiceDecapitated - Long Desired DementiaDeicide - All That Is EvilKrisiun - Apocalyptic VictoryPestilence - Multiple BeingsVoivod - Macrosolutions To MegaproblemsMalhavoc - Re-ReleaseRammstein - TierNorthern Kings - A View To a Kill (Duran Duran cover)Northern Kings - We Don't Need Another Hero (Tina Turner cover)Powertron - You Spin Me Around (Dead or Alive cover)The Cult - She Sells SantuaryForeigner - Juke Box HeroAsia - Wildest DreamsBabymetal - White FlameBabymetal - KxAxWxAxIxIBabymetal, featuring Slaughter To Prevail - Song 3Babymetal - Song 4Asterism, featuring Bootsy Collins - BlazeKenji Sawada - Bad Tuning

Episode 163 – Leadville Bike Drops, Small Feet, and Shower Talk   What up party people. Welcome back for another stacked episode of the Bonk Bros Podcast. We've got a guest appearance for y'all today so stay tuned for that to happen about halfway through the show. We get into some more pre-Leadville talk including more bike setup discussions, then we talk a little bit of Tour de France Femme, before getting into some listener questions and some foot stuff, oh yeah and DJ's big tire dilemma.    Speaking of tires, ya boy just got my first set of road tires in the mail this week from our good friends over at Bike Tires Direct and boy howdy am I stoked. I haven't had a proper set of road tires probably since I sold my last road bike back in 2018. I actually still miss that Cannondale Supersix Evo but I digress. Now I know what you're thinking, wait if you don't have a road bike then what are you going to do with road tires?? Well, glad you asked because these aren't just your average 25mm road tires. Nah, I got me some 40mm Pirelli Zero Race tires that I'm going to swap onto one of my ENVE wheel sets for my MOG because I've been finding myself riding more pavement these days and the SWorks Pathfinders that I've been using as my “road tires” kinda just serve as crappy road tires to be honest. So I didn't want to go all the way to road size tires because I'm honestly just used to smashing into things after so many years without riding anything under 40mm that I was afraid I would just hate it. So, I'm going to slap these bad boys onto my MOG later today and give them a rip and report back on what I think. If you too want to pick up a slick set of road tires (or any tires for that matter) make sure to check out all that's on offer at biketiresdirect.com and use the code “bonkbros” for a sweet discount at the end.   For updates on any and all of our supporting partners including the latest discount codes for y'all, check out the show notes each week so you can get access to some of our favorite items from partners like Silca and Bolt Skin+Shave, KetoneAid, or those amazingly intelligent lawyer folks over at Scarborough Bicycle Accident Law.   Oh yeah one more thing, if you're just absolutely  blown away every week by the incredible sound quality and seamless editing of not only the audio but also the video version over on YouTube, well surprise surprise that has nothing to do with any of us goons on the show and for that you are welcome. All AV magic takes place behind the scenes by our wonderful Taylor, who not only has to listen to the show while editing each week but she even sits in on the recordings to make sure and keep us in line, well mostly Drew that is. So huge shout to Taylor who doesn't get enough praise from us for doing the dang thing week in week out.    Alright, I'll hop off the sap wagon now and let y'all get on with the show. If you have any questions or feedback you can always email us at bonkbrospodcast@gmail.com or hit us up on Instagram. Or you can sign up for Patreon. If you haven't already, make sure to check out our sister podcast the Bonk Babes Podcast who killed it on their first episode last week, bravo ladies. SO yeah, go ahead and like and subscribe to their channel too so you can get double the BONK action each week. Alright, let's get this party started.     FOR UPDATED DISCOUNT CODES CHECK THE LATEST EPISODE: Silca (10% discount code: “Bonkbrosjuly2025”): https://silca.cc/?utm_source=Bonk+Bros&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=stripchip&utm_id=Bonk+Bros+Podcast   Bike Tires Direct (10% discount code: bonkbros): https://www.biketiresdirect.com/?utm_source=bonkbros&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=bonkbros2025   Bolt Skin + Shave (BROS15): https://www.boltshave.com    Scarborough Bicycle Accident Law: https://www.bicycleaccidentlaw.com   KetoneAid: https://ketoneaid.com/?utm_source=BonkBros   Dynamic Cyclist (10% discount code: BONKBROS): https://new.dynamiccyclist.com/a/43703/xkYViFV8     Patreon: http://patreon.com/patreon_bonkbros    For more Dylan Johnson content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIf1xvRN8pzyd_VfLgj_dow   Listener Question Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1T37wGRLk6iYTCF6X_DQ9yfcaYtfAQceKpBJYR5W7DVA/edit?ts=642eb6d6   MERCH: T-SHIRTS ARE HERE! Get your Bonk Bros swag below. https://bb5a73-20.myshopify.com/    IGNITION: Hire a coach. Get faster. It's that simple. https://www.ignitioncoachco.com/   MATCHBOX PODCAST: Check out our more serious training focused podcast.  https://www.ignitioncoachco.com/podcast      The Following Was Generated Using AI And Should Not Be Held To The Higher Standards Of Sentient Beings - Riverside.   Summary The conversation revolves around various topics including summer projects, frustrations with home improvement tasks, preparations for the Leadville race, tire choices for mountain biking, coaching communication, and predictions for race outcomes. The participants share personal experiences and insights, particularly focusing on the evolving trends in mountain biking, such as the use of drop bars and tire performance comparisons. In this engaging conversation, the hosts delve into various topics surrounding the Leadville race, including predictions for podium contenders, the impact of shaving on performance, and the latest grooming innovations. They also discuss the women's race predictions, Dylan's personal insights on dating, and the benefits of altitude training for optimal race preparation. The discussion is filled with humor and camaraderie, making it an enjoyable listen for cycling enthusiasts.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Project Updates 02:47 Deck Building Challenges 05:39 Leadville Race Preparations 08:08 Tire Choices and Comparisons 10:56 Discussion on Tire Brands and Performance 16:18 The Complexity of Tire Manufacturing 17:14 The Challenges of Coaching and Communication 18:31 Leadville Race Insights and Predictions 20:00 Choosing the Right Tires for Leadville 21:25 Bike Specifications and Performance 23:14 The Uno Horn: A New Bike Reveal 26:41 Comparing Bike Weights and Features 30:32 The Weight Debate: Bikes and Riders 31:14 Alexei's Bike Choices: A Comedic Analysis 33:48 Special Guest: Adam Barker Joins the Conversation 34:43 Drop Bars: The New Norm in Mountain Biking 35:37 Predictions for Leadville: Who Will Win? 39:06 The Importance of Shaving: Aerodynamics and Aesthetics 42:55 The Face Cartridge: Innovations in Shaving 48:40 Women's Predictions for the Race 51:57 Dark Horses and Race Conditions 53:48 Dylan's Race Expectations and Strategies 55:34 Tour de France Femmes Discussion 01:01:56 Pauline's Tattoo and Its Significance 01:03:55 Rivalries and Vendettas in Racing 01:09:15 Dating Life and Personal Connections 01:12:49 Bike Brands and Their Vibes 01:18:46 Altitude Training Insights    

Nah.....

Hi, Paxton and Kelly give pro tips on stupid questions. We talk personal space and how some cultures don't have it. Scandinavians are perfect, duh. High life is superior to Miller Lite. We also like to float in the ocean as trad wives. There's a new hustle, it's called praying. Got purple drank? Nah, go to Havannah for the Bananas go to these websites to supporthttps://linktr.ee/FromBehindTheBarcast

The latest ‘Jurassic Park’ entry features Scarlett Johansson and cutting-edge CGI. But character development or big twists? Nah. Read the Plugged In Review If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback.

En el episodio de hoy de Plan de vida estudiaremos acerca:El libro de Nahúm reprende a los habitantes de Nínive por su perversidad y declara el juicio de Dios sobre ellosLos asirios habían destruido Samaria, capital del Reino del Norte en el 722 a. C. Fueron violentos y despiadados con sus enemigos Dios no dejará de castigar a quienes le causan terrible sufrimiento a otrosQue tu lectura bíblica sea guiada por el Espíritu Santo hoy.¡Únete a ⁠⁠⁠nuestra comunidad en Facebook⁠⁠⁠ donde podrás hacer preguntas mientras leemos la Biblia juntas y conocer a otras mujeres que también están usando el plan!Síguenos⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sitio web⁠⁠⁠Recursos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast semanal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Estudios bíblicos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Academia de Relaciones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠El plan en YouVersion

The latest Jurassic Park' entry features Scarlett Johansson and cutting-edge CGI. But character development or big twists? Nah. Read the Plugged In Review If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1005/29

Punya rencana kuliah atau tinggal di Singapura? Nah, kali ini kita akan bahas pengalaman kuliah, biaya hidup, sampai dengan budaya di Singapura.Follow Evan's Travel Guide!• Instagram: instagram.com/evantravelguide.id• TikTok: tiktok.com/@evantravelguide.idPengen tau isi kurikulum Satu Persen? Akses di sini:https://satu.bio/kurikulum-satupersen APA ITU SATU PERSEN?━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Satu Persen adalah startup pendidikan Indonesia yang fokus pada kesehatan mental, pengembangan diri, dan edukasi life-skills. Untuk info lebih lanjut tentang layanan Satu Persen, kamu bisa akses https://satupersen.netBUSINESS INQUIRIES━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Email: partnership@satupersen.netWhatsApp: https://wa.me/6285150793079SOCIAL MEDIA UTAMA SATU PERSEN━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Instagram Satu Persen: https://satu.bio/igsatupersen Twitter Satu Persen: https://satu.bio/twitterofficialkami LinkedIn Satu Persen: https://satu.bio/linkedin-kami TIM PODCAST━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Director: Adi RachmanVideo Editor: Muhammad Bahrul UlumDesigner: Jovan Hendriawan Podcast Officer: Sheila G. RamadhanJangan lupa like, comment, share, dan subscribe ya!Satu Persen, Lebih Baik Setiap Harinya#SatuPersen #SatuPersenPodcast #Podcast #GoingAbroad #LifeTravelGuide #EvanTravelGuide #KuliahLuarNegeri #KuliahDiSingapura #BeasiswaKuliahSingapura #BeasiswaKuliahLuarNegeri #HidupDiSingapura #TinggalDiSingapura #HidupDiLuarNegeri #StudyAbroad

In today's show Chas and David advise how to navigate the world of Vulnerable Adult Learners, whether you can date a kook, which soft-top you should buy, how to orient your life beach adjacent, they learn to appreciate the sacred art of tap dancing, and Chas publicly gets outed for his thinly veiled hypocrisy. Plus Barrel or Nah?! Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send me a Text Message!The last two episodes focused on James 4 have been challenge heavy. This one is encouragement heavy. Here is the simply message from God, that I think God wants you to hear. "I miss you." Do you believe God misses you? I think we have this idea that God is love so God has to love us. But I'm not sure he likes me. Miss me? Nah, with so many people in the world who love him deeper and follow him better than I do, He probably doesn't even notice my absence. But the capacity of his heart is off the charts and there's just something about love that desires to be with...So what if God misses you?

Originally recorded in June and July 2025 What up, fans! That Horror Show Podcast is back with another brand new episode to delight your eardrums. Show hosts Timothy Kazda and Chris Koenig have caught two horror movies that specialize in going back in time! First up, listen in as the hosts review "Last Night in Soho" (2021), which involves a college student dreaming her way back to 1960s Britain and witnessing an unsolved murder! After that, the hosts turn to something a little more on the lighter side with "Totally Killer" (2023), in which a high schooler tries to put an end to a masked killer by traveling back to the late 1980s via a photo booth! Yeah, we know: that's a little weird, right? Nah, a time traveling photo booth is totally normal!  So, if you want to know more, put on your headphones or earpods of choice, and give this episode a little spin.  #80sareawesome #Lastnighinsoho #totallykiller #THSP #horrorcomedy  * Unfortunately, there will not be a Kidz Corner segment this episode, KC will return next episode. E-mail address: thathorrorshowpodcast@gmail.com       

Classy People, 21 tahun Informa semakin berkomitmen untuk menghadirkan style yang maksimal untuk konsumen, termasuk gaya lokal. Nah, Special Talkshow Infoma Living kali ini, kita akan kilas balik 21 tahun Informa dan komitmennya menghadirkan style lokal yang semakin total. Dipandu Clasier Siska Deandra, kita akan mencermati Obrolan bersama Mas Alan Munzir dan Mas Fajri Nofriansyah only on Classy Fm!

En este episodio hablamos de La Casa de los Famosos México, descubre qué dice tu horóscopo para esta semana, nuevas tendencias de moda Verano/Otoño, el Doctor Corazón nos dice rituales mágicos para atraer a esa persona tan especial y mucho más!Nah, hablamos de lo mismo de siempre... películas, series y babosadas. Nomas ponle 'play'

From raves at Narita, airline sonic signatures, to the sound of engines (and a car alarm) during the recording — this episode is music to the ears of Paul and Vinod, unlike the arrivals hell of some airports (should I write which one Vinod will talk about? Nah, you'll find out!). Vinod's way back from Costa Rica, or when nothing goes your way. The beauty of Munich, built straight like a LEGO brick, satisfyingly clear and tidy, and one of Paul's favorites. Is JAL better than Qatar Airways? (Bring your own air vent?). As Japan is seeing increased numbers of international visitors (is that ouvertourism, we talk about it), will it be again Narita's time to shine over Haneda? The old Kenzo Tange dream of NRT might actually come true (in a modern, less striking form). EES, or the rise of machines, taking over airports in the Schengen Area. Are Airbus aircraft of the masculine form? —Follow us, and comment on: Instagram - Bluesky - Threads - Mastodon - Twitter/XComment on each episode, and rate us, on SpotifyReview, and rate us, on Apple PodcastsComment, like, review, and rate us, on FacebookComment on YouTube (there's no video, just audio!)Search for "Layovers" on any podcast service (some direct links are on our website)If we're missing one, or if you have any feedback, let Paul know on Instagram - Threads - Mastodon - Bluesky - Twitter/X

Okay, y'all… this one hit me right in the gut - in the best way. I got to sit down with the absolute powerhouse that is Melissa Dlugolecki and wow, just… wow. We went everywhere - grief, burnout, building big things without losing yourself, and why “should” might just be the most dangerous word in your vocabulary. She's bold, she's honest, and she's proof that scar tissue tells a far better story than wounds ever could. You're gonna walk away from this one a little shook and a lot inspired.Highlights:(06:43) After life support was removed(10:15) The moment you drop the word ‘should'(13:40) Grief taught me I'm entitled to nothing(27:17) Failure? Nah, just really helpful feedback(33:22) Millionaires vs. visible abs - you'll cackle(49:10) Branding is not your colour paletteFind out more about Melissa: WebsiteLinkedIn: Melissa DlugoleckiInstagram: @melissadlugoleckiFacebook: Melissa DlugoleckiTikTok: MelissadlugoleckiScar Tissue BookQualia Mind - click hereCoupon Code: SHOCKANDYALL (15% off any purchase)Visit Nicole's on demand fitness platform for live weekly classes and a recorded library of yoga, strength training, guided audio meditations and mobility (Kinstretch) classes, as well: https://www.sweatandstillness.comGrab Nicole's bestselling children's book and enter your email for A FREE GIFT: https://www.yolkedbook.comFind Nicole on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nicolesciacca/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenicolesciaccaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolesciaccayoga/Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1X8PPWCQa2werd4unex1eAPractice yoga with Nicole in person in Santa Monica, CA at Aviator Nation Ride. Get the App to book in: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aviator-nation-ride/id1610561929Book a discovery call or virtual assessment with Nicole here: https://www.calendly.com/nicolesciaccaThis Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio

En este programa tenemos como invitados a Nahúm (Geólogo en Apuros) y a Carlos, quienes nos hablarán de su proyecto de sismógrafos. CURSOS ACADEMIA GEOCASTAWAY Web: http://geocastaway.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/geocastaway Facebook: http://facebook.com/geocastaway Youtube: http://youtube.com/geocastaway Correo: geocastaway@gmail.com

Carrie and Mark settle in to everyday life.by T. Foxal. Listen to the ► Podcast at Connected.“Oh Mark. I have never been made love to like that ever. It was perfect. Everything you have done so far has been perfect for me. I don't think you have one selfish bone in your body. I need to know though, are you scared of all of this?”“Carrie, I have never been more scared in my life. Not even over in the sandpit, with bullets flying all around. Had you not said I love you back to me, when I made my declaration, I would have been crushed. I've never, ever let anyone into my heart, like I have let you in. Am I scared now? A little. I know you said it the other night. Well, you told me to catch up with you because you were already there. But over time, I thought you may have some misgivings for saying, since we were in the heat of the moment then. But all the little things you have been doing, or saying, led me to believe you really were. And, I wanted to make it special for you. This whole day when you weren't around me, all I could think of was you. I wondered what you were thinking when you took your bath before, or what you were doing and thinking when you left this morning. Let's face it, we haven't been alone with our own thoughts for a week now.”She leaned in and kissed me lightly on the lips, then said, “Mark. I knew from that first kiss. Then when we made love the first time, I was in heaven. It wasn't sex between us. It was more. Since that time, we have done nothing but make love and my heart races every time I see you. I was so scared when I said that the other night. Did I push you away from me? Would you just say, screw this, I'm outta here. But the big thing for me was when we were at the winery, and you went up to the bar to get us those samples. Your eyes smiled at me the whole time. You didn't even look at that girl, who I thought was really hot, but just kept looking at me. You made love to me right then. Am I scared. Yes. I want this more than anything, but I don't want to be hurt again. I lived that. But, you are not him. You are so much more than he could ever be. I was eye candy for him, and a fuck, and nothing more. My heart is now yours, please don't hurt it.”I rolled to my side and looked deep into her hazel eyes, then kissed her. “You know what turned me on the most today?” “No, Baby, I don't” “When I saw you after you came back from your day in town. My God, you looked so sexy and stunning to me. You are such a beautiful woman, and not just physically, but all around. I wanted to take you then, but then that would have downplayed this evening. I never tried to be romantic with anyone before, and I so wanted to seduce you tonight.”She giggled. “Well Mr. Marine. You succeeded in every way tonight. I'll tell you. When I saw the robe, then the candles lit by the bathtub, I got super horny. I wanted you so bad then. Then when I shaved down there, I felt incredibly sexy. I even came after that. But when we took off our robes and I saw you in those boxers, I damn near raped you. But dancing really did me in. I almost told you then I loved you. But I am glad I waited now.”As she talked, her hand was now on my cock, stroking it back to life. When I was hard again, she leaned in and kissed me, then pushed me to my back. She kneeled and straddled me and slowly sat down on me, engulfing me with her velvet like inner walls of her sex.“Baby?” she whispered. “This has been an amazing night. But now I need to be a little naughty. A couple should be able to let loose some and enjoy sex too. I love lovemaking, but I also love to fuck Mark. But only with someone I want to give myself too, completely. I want to fuck your beautiful cock. I want to feel your cum spray deep inside me and, I want cum all over it. Fuck me Baby. Make me your Lover.”I arched my back up and drove in deep in her. “Oh Fuck. You are so deep.” She started moving up and down, faster and faster. “Oh god I love this. My favorite position too.”She leaned down and started smothering me with kisses. Moaning as we fucked. I did too. Her head slipped to the side of mine and whispered. “You like my tight little cunt, don't you Babe. Your cock is a perfect fit for it. My cunt loves your cock. Oh God Mark. ““Oh God Babe. Your cunt is so tight. I love it and always will. Fuck me Carrie.”She sat up and started grinding hard on me now. Neither of us was going to last long. I sat up and took her one tit in my mouth and sucked hard.“Oh Christ. Suck my tits Baby. I Love that so much”She started pounding me harder now, as I continued sucking it, then switched to the other. Her arm went behind my head and pulled me in tighter. My hands were holding her luscious ass as I did this. My one hand went exploring and touched her ass, which made her moan really loud. I slipped it down to her cunt and got it wet as the finger rubbed against her lips and my cock. Then I brought it up to her brown hole and slipped it in.“Oh Fuck Baby. Yes. God I love you”She started cumming a minute later. Her head and body shook as she came hard, but somehow, she maintain the rhythm we had going. I was now getting close myself and could feel my balls tighten up, signaling my impending orgasm. “Oh Shit Carrie, I'm going to cum” I yelled out.She slammed down one last time, and then jumped off. Her mouth was over my cock in no time and was starting to suck me, when I erupted in her mouth. I had to have shot 5 or 6 good ropes into her hungry mouth. She didn't spill a drop, except at the end, a little dribbled out the side.She was kneeling now, getting ready to wipe her mouth, when I grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her to me and I licked it off of her face and then kissed her. The kiss was so hot and passionate. We were lost in that kiss for minutes, until she broke away, panting hard.We both lay on our backs now, still in a euphoric bliss from our love making. Carrie was very quiet. At first I thought she fell asleep, until I felt her hand grasp mine and squeeze it.“Are you  okay Carrie?”, I asked. “Actually, I am on cloud nine, as they say. I've never been made love too, like this, then opening up and letting go like that. I just hope you don't think I am some sort of slut. I want to explore all there is with you sexually and lovingly too.”“Babe. You are hardly a slut. Sex to me, is supposed to be fun too. You were amazing. But our love making, well, it's beyond words. To me, you are an angel. Quite the lady too. In bed, we can do whatever we please, as long as we both agree on whatever we do. One thing though, I can never share you with anyone. I don't believe I get jealous, but I could never share you with anyone, man or woman. I knew a couple in the service that did that. Got into swinging. No way. Not with someone I love and respect, like I do you. But just so you know, I really enjoyed the naughty Carrie. She is fun.”“Umm.. I may have to let her out more often then. Cuz naughty Markie, was turning me on too. But, you will never have to fear me wanting another. I am quite happy with who I am with. I will never deny you in bed either. Except, when I am sick, or you are sick. Sex just doesn't seem like fun then. But that's about it.”“Yeah, being sick and wanting sex, just doesn't seem to go hand in hand. I will never deny you as well. But, I'm a guy, so the prospect of me saying no is quite low.”She giggled, then said, “Well. Mister. You better never hold out in the oral department anymore. Oh Christ. That was unbelievable. I could take that all day long. And, I love giving too. I love how you taste.”“You're turning me on again Honey. How do you feel right now?” I asked“Horny” she giggled then. “Honestly. And don't freak when I say this. But I feel as though I am on a Honeymoon and you took your virgin bride to sexual highs she never knew existed.”I did chuckle. “Nothing wrong with that. To me, you are a virgin, or at least were. I don't care about your past. You are my first, and dare I say, only love for me.”“I like that” she replied. Then said, “Where do you see us in a year?”“Honestly. I never look to the future too much. But, I have been lately. I hope that you will be with me in a year, and maybe, just maybe, if you haven't tired of my Jarhead ass, we are right back here, spending it as a true honeymoon”She folded into my arms and kissed my cheek. “I think that could be a real possibility. This Squid actually has thought about it, and she doesn't think she'll ever tire of you. Piss me off at times, Yes, but never tire.”I then laughed, and she asked what was funny. “God, if your Dad could see us right now. He'd hang me.”“Nah. He knows I like you a great deal. He doesn't know we professed love yet. But he does like you, Mom told me that. Jenny knows too. I talked with her this morning. I sent her a selfie, after I got my hair done. She called right after seeing it. Then she starts out by saying, “Damn Mom, you look hot. I think someone is in love.” She's a pretty smart girl actually. I was supposed to face time with her earlier, but someone had me a tad busy. She wants to see you and talk with you.”“Oh great. She's the one person that scares me the most, and I want on my side. More so, than even your parents. Go ahead and call her now. It's only 10pm.”She giggled again. “Uh No. We better wait until tomorrow. This is the first time her and her boyfriend Alan have been alone for a long time. He was with his family last weekend. They have dated for a year now, so I am pretty sure, they are in the same place you and I are right now, naked and in bed.”“You  okay with that? I asked. “Oh yes. I like him a lot. He treats her with so much respect and I know they love one another. He's a good kid and dotes after Jenny. His world revolves around her. He is studying to become a food scientist. If they can last the ups and downs of college and still remain in love, I could easily see them married one day. Only time will tell. And don't worry about her liking you, she will. She knows I do, and so far have made me extremely happy.”She got up then and walked to the bathroom. Then came back with our robes. “Let's go cuddle on the couch, enjoy some wine and TV, before we call it a night.” And so we did.Chapter 15.It was morning now, almost 8:30. I never sleep this late. The only reason I was up was because I had to pee so bad. Carrie was still sound asleep. She was curled up and looked so peaceful. My thought was, “What in God's name does she see in me. I'm nobody special. Yes, I am in good shape and I do treat her with respect, but she is absolutely beautiful and had I known of her, somewhere else, I would have never even attempted to approach her. I wasn't in her league, or so I thought”But here I am, one week after meeting her, and totally in love. I could not even fathom life without her in it. But reality would soon be creeping up on us. I knew she would be leaving mid-week. Would this all end after she left, and had time to really think this through? Only time will tell.I padded to the kitchen and made coffee. As it brewed I stood looking out the back door window. The skies were an ugly gray. Rain was falling. We knew this was coming, after viewing the weather report last night. Today and tomorrow, rain.I then toasted a few bagels, and got out the cream cheese. Made us both coffee, and took it to the bedroom. As I walked in, Carrie was yawning and stretching. Her tit were in plain view, and look so delicious to me. She sat up, not bothering to cover up. “Good sign” I thought.“Good Morning Sweetheart. I thought you may enjoy some breakfast in bed” I said to her.“Oh Wow. I could definitely get used to this. Especially if you lose that robe.”We sat and enjoyed our breakfast. We also started talking about this coming week. Since it was raining today, we decided to go into town and take in a movie and then dinner at some restaurant. On Monday, we were to hike Algonquin Peak, but if it is raining, we'll need to find something else to do.She then said, “You know I leave Wednesday. I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday that I made months ago, and I can't reschedule. It just takes so long to get in to see her.”“I know you were leaving then. But, I also am going to leave that day, with you. No sense hanging around here. Be bored to death, and I know me, all I'll think of is you the whole time.”“Awe. You are so sweet to me. But this is your vacation and you had it all planned out. Stay and at least hike some more of these mountains. I'll feel bad if you miss out on that.” she said with a pouty face.I just smiled at her and told her no, it was best I do head home. I had some major cleaning to do at my place. The house I have is actually an older farm house that was my grandparents. My grandmother outlived my mom and when she died, it was left to me and Ann. Ann didn't want it, so to be fair, I paid her the half she would have received, if we had sold it.The house was nice, but very outdated. Even the furniture was from the 60's. To me, it was cool, but my needs are simple. Ann has been bugging me for almost a year now to at least get some new furniture, if not update the whole place. My office is actually the dining room.I tell you this because I have never brought anyone there, especially a date. So bringing Carrie there, as it looks right now, is totally out of the question. As I told her this, she just laughed. She asked if I keep it clean, or was I a typical guy, and let things go until I can't stand it anymore. I told her I always keep it clean, it's just very outdated.“You big lug, I don't care about stuff like that. I will care if it smells like the gym on board a ship smells like. That is so gross.” and we both laughed.We finished our coffee and bagels, and set our cups and napkins on the nightstand. She pulled the cover down and asked me to slide in. We started kissing and making out some, when her phone rang. “Perfect timing” I thought. She looked at the phone and said, “It's Jenny. Hope all is alright. She is never up this early.”“She hit some button and I saw Jenny's face appear on the screen. Luckily, Carrie had the sheet up above her tit, and I was safely off to the side.“Hi Sweetheart”“Hi Mom. Hope I am not disturbing you.”“No Sweetie. You're good. We were just having breakfast.”“Oh. In bed too. I take it Marine guy is nearby.”Carrie laughed, “If you must know young Jen, he is right here, and his name is Mark, not Marine guy. But you knew that” “Hey just giving you a hard time. Hi Mark.” Carrie moved the phone over to where I could see her and she see me. I had just put the robe back on, so I was decent.“Hi Jenny. Very nice to meet you. I must say, you are as pretty as your mother.”Jen smiled; “Thank you. I hope to get to meet you when you two get back from your little vacation.”“I would say that is a very good possibility, unless your Mom gets rid of me by then. Lots of mountain tops she could push me off of, up here.” I said with a laugh.Carrie turned the phone back to her and said, “What did you two do this weekend? Is Alan still there?”Jen smiled this sly smile “Yeah. He is still asleep. We went to dinner and a late movie, then came back here. The main reason I am calling is that Papa called a bit ago, or I'd be sleeping too. He and grandma are coming up next weekend”My eyes got real big, but Carrie just chuckled, “That's great. When are they coming in?”“Friday evening, and staying here for a few days, then going to aunty Bev's for a few days. And Mark. Papa had a message for you. “Don't crap where you eat son.” He said you'd understand completely.”I just shook my head. Great. He's gonna shit when he hears his daughter and I are now dating.Carrie was laughing now. Jen wanted to know what that was about. Carrie said she'd tell her when she sees her this week. They carried on for a few more minutes as Jen filled her in on stuff. Now Jen did look somewhat similar to her mom, from what I could see on the phone. That same light caramel color, with long flowing brown hair, and a gorgeous smile. Alan should consider himself a very lucky man. They signed off then after saying goodbye's and Jen saying bye to me too, telling me to take very good care of her mother, or else.I asked, “Are you sure she isn't your blood daughter? You two look so much alike.”“I wish she was. But No. Her parents were Puerto Rican, so the skin color is close. She shorted too, only 5 foot 3. She is an angel. You think Dad dotes over me? Wait till you see him around Jenny. I feel bad for Alan. He's met Dad twice now and is scared shitless of him. But Daddy wants only the best for his girls.”“Yeah, well, I am wondering now what is he going to say about us being together. He still scares the shit out of me.”She laughed, “Oh I don't know. I'll let you know after I tell him how you been having your way with me this whole week.” then laughed some more. She then opened his robe, grabbed his semi stiff member and stroke it.She giggled, the looked at him and stated, “Umm, I wonder what he'd say if he knew I was doing this.”, as she lowered her head to my manhood and sucked the head in.“Oh God Carrie.”The PromiseCarrie and Mark settle in to everyday life, once they return from their week and a half camping and hiking trip, after finding love in those mountains.I asked, “Are you sure she isn't your blood daughter? You two look so much alike.”“I wish she was. But No. Her parents were Puerto Rican, so the skin color is close. She shorter too, only 5 foot 3.. She is an angel. You think Dad dotes over me? Wait till you see him around Jenny. I feel bad for Alan. He's met Dad twice now and is scared shitless of him. But Daddy wants only the best for his girls.”“Yeah, well, I am wondering now what is he going to say about us being together. He still scares the shit out of me.”She laughed, “Oh I don't know. I'll let you know after I tell him how you been having your way with me this whole week.” then laughed some more. She then opened my robe, grabbed my semi stiff member and stroke it.She giggled, the looked at him and stated, “Umm, I wonder what he'd say if he knew I was doing this.”, as she lowered her head to my manhood and sucked the head in.“Oh God Carrie.”Chapter 16.The rest of that day, and into Monday, it did nothing but rain. So exploring any of the mountain tops was curtailed. We pretty much hung around the cabin in just our robes that day. The only time we dressed was to go to dinner, down into town. Neither of us felt like cooking. It was very hard for me to resist getting Carrie naked and just making love all day, but she needed to know that our relationship, that we both professed our love for each other, was more than just a physical thing, but also emotional.You see Carrie is a very beautiful woman. She is 5 foot 7, 130 pounds, with caramel colored skin, almost like Halle Berry skin tone. Her hair is short now too, with blonde highlights mixed in with her brown hair. Totally sexy in my eyes. She has amazing legs that are long and toned and a great ass. What turns me on the most is her tits. They are a large A, or small B cup. I love a woman with small tits.I am 5 foot 10, 175 pounds, and been told by many, a handsome man. I keep in shape, and that is because after spending 20 years in the Marines, you get used to working out. It's just ingrained into your fabric. I was single too, for all of those years. Never had a serious relationship, except for a semi one, back in my 20's, when I lived with a girl for a few months. But she didn't enjoy my deployments too much and wanted more. It was mostly a sex thing for us, and a place for us both to crash, when we were screwing.But now, a week and a half later, I am totally in love with this goddess, and she with me as well. What is funny too, I know her parents, or to be more specific, her father. He was a Master Chief in the Navy, and was on the aircraft Carrier Lincoln at the same time I was, years ago, when I was a Staff Sergeant in the Marines. Great guy too, but could scare the hell out of you. Carrie too, was in the Navy back then, but I do not think we ever crossed paths, since she worked on base, and, was also married back then to a Seal, which she now divorced from.Like I said earlier, we only got dressed that Sunday for dinner, then that Monday, a day we were supposed to visit another Adirondacks peak, it rained as well. We did go driving around and admired the countryside and had a fine dinner at the Italian restaurant we found the previous week.Then on Tuesday, we decided to go horseback riding. We found a place about 20 minutes from the cabin, near Lake Clear. We had a great time exploring the area by horseback. I have to admit, my ass was quite sore by the time we got through, as was Carrie's. There was a few times I would hang back, behind her and admire her ass as it bounced up and down in the saddle.She looked back one time and caught me. “God, don't you ever tire of looking at my big ass?”I just chuckled and told her, “Hell No. I love your ass, and it is hardly big. Remind me later to massage it for you, because if mine is sore, I know yours has to be.”“Maybe I will let you. Not sure if I want you touching it later. Now get up her next to me.” then whispered to me, after I got close, “You be a good boy, and I'll let you see it naked later.”, then laughed and rode away from me.After our ride, we stopped in this tavern that also featured home cooked meals. We both decided on burgers and fries. Normally, we both try to stay away from fried foods, but, as we both found out from talking, we like to cheat on occasion.By the time we got back to the cabin, nighttime was upon us and this was our last night together. I know we both pledged our love to one another, but after tonight, she may get a dose of reality when she got back home, and say, “No way” to being in a relationship. For me, I was all in. I never wanted anything more in my life, than to be with this beautiful, smart, witty and energetic woman.After getting into the cabin, I started a fire in the fireplace and Carrie went off to the bedroom, to get ready to shower. After I had a nice fire going, she came out in her robe and asked me to join her. As we washed each other down, removing the horse smell from our bodies, we kissed and held each other. We both took turns drying each other, then donned our robes and made our way to the couch. Before I sat down, I went and got us each a glass of wine.“Mark?” she said, and I looked at her. She had a tear on her cheek, for which I lightly brushed away. “What's wrong Honey?” I asked.“This is our last night here. This has been the best vacation I have ever experienced. Had you told me two weeks ago that I would meet the man of my dreams, I would have said you are so full of shit. But here I am, sitting next to you. I am so in love with you and I am also scared silly about tomorrow.” she explainedI knew what she meant, when she said she is scared. I am too. We get back to our real lives and the fantasy just fades away. She was deeply hurt all those years ago and opening up and allowing someone in, has to be tough for her to do. For me, it is a new experience. One I have never had before. If it does end, it will hurt, but I know I can move on from it, I think.“Carrie. I'm scared too. Once we are home and reality sets in for you, you may say, screw this. I have never opened up to anyone in my life, except for you. I just hope that you will grow with me. I'm going to make mistakes. You may want something, but I'm too stupid to know and understand, but like anything in life, you learn. One thing I will promise you and this is I will always be true to only you. I love you and will never do anything to hurt you.”“Oh Mark. No man has ever made me feel this way. We'll take each day as it comes and just know I will never hurt you as well. But be forewarned now, I can get bitchy. I don't mean to be, but it happens and when it does, just leave me be, and I will be fine. I think the hardest part of tomorrow is going to be not being with you, especially at night. After a week of sharing a bed together, and feeling so close to you, it is going to suck not having your arms around me tomorrow night, or this weekend. If I didn't have that appointment Thursday, I'd let you stay with me tomorrow, but I know us, we make love, and since this is a gynecologist I am seeing, sex wouldn't be the most prudent thing for me to do. And then this weekend, with my parents in town, I'm not sure what they'd say about us sleeping together.”I laughed, “Yeah, I could just see the look on your dad's face when we told them goodnight and padded off to bed. As for sex. We don't always have to have it you know. I mean I'll never turn it down, but I also know there is more to us than just sex. But tomorrow after we get home, and then at night, we'll probably both be too tired to do anything. Plus, like I said, I need to straighten up the place. One thing though. On Thursday, I would like to take you and Jenny to dinner, Alan too. That way, she has someone there who she is comfortable with, just in case she can't stand me.”“Oh Stop. She is going to love you. I'll call her tomorrow and set it up. Now! Take me to bed for the last time here and hold me Baby. I want to fall asleep in your arms.”Chapter 17.We got up early for some reason, and took a shower together. I still marvel at this exceptionally beautiful woman. She makes my heart race anytime I am near here. And when we are naked, it quadruples in magnitude. We did not have sex, but we did hold and caress each other until the water started turning cold.We were then packed and on our way home. She drove in front of me for the next 4 hours. We did talk on the phone a couple of times. The last time was just before my exit, which is a couple before hers. I called her and told her I would call her later and that I loved her. I could hear in her voice, a hitch, just like I had in mine. I missed her already and I had just exited from the roadway.Once I was home, I did a load of laundry, then went and started dusting and vacuuming the place. Not a thing I do a lot of. Of course my sister always comes over and does it at times, and bitches me out when she does. I then cut the grass, which was needed after two weeks of not touching it. It takes two hours to cut this lawn, and that's with a tractor. While I was cutting, I did miss a call from Carrie. She also texted me, just saying she was thinking of me and loved me. I texted back apologizing that I didn't answer her and explained why, and that I would call her later.We did talk around 6 that evening. She too was busy with housework and laundry. She strip the beds, not knowing which bed Jenny and Alan slept in. I had to laugh at that. She chuckled too but said, “It's one thing to sleep in our wet spot, but I'm surely not sleeping in theirs.” Which made me laugh hard.About 10 that night, I called her. She was lying in bed, reading a book. She conveyed to me that Jenny was ecstatic over meeting us for dinner and really happy I had included Alan. They were going to meet us at Carrie's at 6pm tomorrow. I told Carrie we would try Delmonico's Steakhouse, which was kind of close to her.She chuckled and said, “Oh fancy place. You know, you don't have to take us there. There's a nice restaurant right down the street from us.”“That's cool. But I want too. How many college kids can go to a place like this. Plus I have always wanted to try it, but, I'm not going alone. Ann said the food is excellent there.”“Speaking of Ann, did you call her and inform her that you are bringing someone Sunday?” she asked.“Oh yeah. She is so excited now. She can't wait to meet you. I told her that your parents were going to be in from Florida and I didn't know what plans they had that day. She said to bring them along too. The more the merrier.”Carried giggled, then said, “I don't know if your sister has a clue what Dad can be like. Just don't bring up politics. He thinks they are all thieves and liars.” which made me laugh.Then she got quiet. “Anything wrong? You are quiet now “ She sighed, “No, just missing lying next to you, with your arms around me. I feel so safe then. I love you Mark”“I love you too, Carolyn, and I do miss being with you. It was a very long day without you near me.” I told her.“It was a long day for me as well. I don't know how or why this happened between us, but I am so happy that you are in my life now. Maybe tomorrow night, you can spend it here with me, if you want too.” she said.“I think that can be arranged. You know what I do miss? You calling me Jarhead. When you say it, it means something to me.”“I told you, after last weekend, I was done calling you that, but if you insist, I'll just call you JH.”“I insist Squid. Now get some sleep. Just know, I love you Carrie and I am holding you in my dreams tonight.”Chapter 18.I knew Carrie had an appointment at 11am, so I didn't want to bother her, but did send her a text, after I got up and said good morning and I love you. She replied instantly to it, saying she was about to shower and get ready and she loved me too.I was pretty proud of myself. I dusted and swept the whole house. Not that I am a slob, but those are two jobs I really don't enjoy doing. Hell, living alone and never having people over, except for my sister, afforded me the luxury of not caring too much to do that. But with Carrie in my life, I guess I need to change my way of thinking.I then immersed myself in a project that I had been working on for this one company. I needed to do something to keep my mind occupied, since I would not be seeing her until later in the afternoon. I was surprised though, that by 3pm, I hadn't heard anything from her. I hope all went well with her doc appointment.I had told her that I would be over by 5:30, so we could spend some time alone, before Jenny and Alan showed up. By 4:30, I was shaved, and showered, then dressed for the evening. Since it was cool out, I wore dark blue pants, and lighter blue shirt, with a dark blue sport coat. I wanted to look good for when I met Jenny, and convey, I'm not some unkempt slob, who was dating her mother. I'm generally a jeans and t-shirt, or sweatshirt, kind of guy.I couldn't stand the wait any longer and decided to arrive a bit sooner. I got to her house at 5:15, so just a little bit early. After ringing the doorbell a few times, Carrie finally opened the door. Although she smiled when she let me in, I could tell something was amiss with her. After a brief hug and quick kiss on the lips, we stood back from one another.Carrie was wearing a burgundy pleated dress. It came to just above the knees. The neckline plunged just a bit, with white lace around the edges, with short sleeves as well. She looked radiant.“Wow. You look absolutely beautiful Sweetie.” I told her. She just said thanks, but that was it. Then said she had to finish getting ready. My antennae was now up. I could sense something was wrong. This girl was always so bubbly, and that definitely was not the case now. So I just walked around her living room, looking at pictures on the wall of Jenny, and her parents, and some people I had no clue of who they were. Then just took a seat and waited for her.For me, this was something new. I did not know what to say or do. Did I do something wrong, that may have upset her? Who knew, but this was not the Carrie I just spent almost two weeks with, had fun with, and made love too on many occasions. So I'm basically a fish out of water now. I made up my mind to just go with the flow, and when she is ready to talk, I'll be there, and hopefully, understand what is going on.Of course, my fear was she was going to end this between us. She had time to reflect and said that this wasn't worth it. If that is how she felt, then who was I to pursue it any further. I don't want to be with someone who did not want the same as me. Sitting there waiting, makes your mind think weird ass things, like I just did. Then again, maybe it wasn't anything and she is just having a bad day, or is nervous about me meeting Jenny.She finally emerged from wherever she was in her condo. When I saw her, she looked the same, so I have no idea what else she could have been doing. She walked into her kitchen and got a bottle of water, then asked if I wanted one too, which I kindly said no too.I finally got the courage to ask, “Is there something wrong?”She looked at me and had a sullen look on her face, then finally said “No. Guess I am just tired from all the prodding and poking today. I'm sorry I am not more upbeat.”I got up and went to her and wrapped my arms around her, “If you want to cancel tonight, that would be okay with me. We keep go out with them some other time, when you are feeling more up to it.”“No. No. I am fine. It will be fine. We'll go have a fun night with them. Jenny is so looking forward to meeting you.” she said, as she pulled away from me and went into the living room. “We'll talk later tonight, when we get back.”I knew from how she stated it, something was wrong. But, being a dumb man, I have no clue as to what. I didn't want to piss her off by asking questions. Maybe something at the doc's. I guess when she is ready, she will let me know. I walked up next to her and grabbed her hand, just to let her know I was there for her. At that point, her front door opened and in walked Jenny and Alan.Jenny was definitely a looker. I would say 5 foot 3, maybe 110 pounds, brown hair and eyes, and the cutest dimples. She did have bigger boobs than her mom, but since she was adopted, that made sense. But the irony of how much the two looked alike was uncanny. Alan was a good looking guy too. He had that German look to him. Blond hair, blue eyes, chiseled face and stood about 6 foot, but maybe weighed 170 pounds, if that.After making the introductions and some small talk, we left her condo and headed to dinner in my truck.At dinner, Carrie seemed to be her normal self. Well, at least the normal I had seen for the last two weeks. Jenny was regaling us with stories from her college life and some of things her and Alan had been doing of late, except for the sex part. I don't think Carrie, or myself, needed or wanted to know those details.As dinner was finally coming to an end, I had to admit, I was kind of quiet. I just let the three of them guide the evening and the conversation. Jenny did inquire what I actually did for a living, so I explained it to her. She was impressed, as was Alan. I tried not to let my concerns for Carrie, or our budding relationship ruin the evening. In my heart though, I had a bad feeling, this would be the last time I would see these three people.Near the end of dinner, Carrie announced that she needed to use the ladies room. Alan also said he need to use the facility, which then left just me and Jenny. I wasn't sure what to say to her, so I let her make the first move on talking.  “okay Mark. What's up with mom? Did you two have an argument or something?” Jenny asked.I shook my head, “Jenny. I have no idea what is wrong tonight. When I arrived this evening, she was down for some reason and won't tell me why. Yesterday we were fine, but ever since her doctor visit, she has changed. Maybe she has done some thinking and decided a relationship is not what she wants. Until she tells me, I am in the dark.”Jenny reached over and touched my arm. “I don't know either, but I do know that she and I talked last night for an hour and she is head over heels in love with you, and says you are with her as well. Are you Mark? Are you in love with my Mom?”“Nothing has changed for how I feel for your mother Jenny. I am in love with her. But, if she has had a change of heart, then I will abide by her wishes. Maybe we moved too fast. I don't know. To be honest Jenny. I have never been in love before, so this is a new territory for me. But if she had time to reflect now, and feels this isn't what she wants, well, I don't want to force anything like that on her. I just want her happy.”Jenny just shook her head, “I can't believe her mind could change like that. Something must be wrong and she just needs time to process it. Maybe you two can talk later. When we get back to my mom's, Alan and I are going to leave, and give you two some space to talk. Oh, and by the way, Papa really does like you. He thinks you are a good man.”Just as she said that, Carrie was walking back. Alan came a minute later. The waitress came around and asked if any of us wanted dessert, but we all begged off, since our meals were so filling.On the way home, Carrie was pretty quiet. In fact, you could probably cut the tension with a knife, that was between us. Jenny and Alan were pretty quiet too. I'd have done anything to hear some funny story either of them may have had right then.After arriving back at Carrie's condo, we all got out and Jenny said that they needed to get going. Carrie said she wished they could stay longer, but the kids said they had some homework they needed to finish up, but would see us this weekend. Of course my mind didn't think I would be involved with this family get together.As they left, Carrie turned and headed to her door, and I followed. Once inside, she asked if I wanted anything to drink, which I kindly declined. She went to the kitchen and got a bottle of water then rejoined me in the living room. I wanted to get this over with, so I started it off.  “okay Carolyn, please tell me what is wrong. I need to know.” I said in a somber voice.“Let's sit” she said, and we both did. She faced me and I could see a tear starting to form in her eye. My stomach became a knot now. My fears were now becoming reality, at least in my mind.“I wish I knew where to start, but I have to say, that no man has ever made me feel the way you make me feel. But I really think we need to step back and take a break for now.”, then she started crying. I reach for her, but she backed away. That made it feel like a knife was just plunged into my heart.“Carrie. How can you go from being so in love, to wanting to take a break, just like that. There is more than what you are telling me. So please tell me what has caused this sudden change in feelings.”She was still sobbing, trying to get her emotions under control, then finally looked at me and said, “Mark. They found a growth on one of my ovaries today. After the Pelvic exam, she did and ultrasound and found it. They want me to see a specialist next Tuesday then do some testing.” then started crying again. This time she let me pull her towards me. I knew this isn't good, but this is also something that can be taken care of. I had a cousin once have something similar to this and they removed a cyst the size of an egg from her, and she was fine then.“It's  okay Carrie. I'm sure it's nothing that medicine or an operation can't take care of.” I told her.“And what if it isn't Mark? What if it is cancer. Why should you be saddled with that in your life. We've known each other not even two fucking weeks. Although the best two weeks of my life. But this is not something you need to be part of. Your best bet is to turn around, walk away and get on with your life, like I never existed.” and started crying again.I pulled her into me again and held her tight. Her head was buried in my shoulder, and I caressed her hair and let her cry. I mean, if I was in her position, I'd probably tell her the same things. But I may not know her completely, but what I know of her already, she has a fierce loyalty to people she cares for and loves, and I know she wouldn't walk away either.After letting her sob some more, I gently moved her back, and away from me, so I could speak to her. “Sweetheart. There is no way I am letting you do this alone. Granted, we have only known each other for two weeks, but in these two weeks, you have captured my heart with every fiber of your being. I am in love with you Missy. People who love one another don't turn tail and run because of something traumatic happens to the other person. You stand with them, be their support and showed them love, for that is the only thing that can help get you through this. I have been a Marine for all of my adult life and one thing that is ingrained in us, from the time of our first day in boot camp, is that you never let the man next to you, or when you are a sergeant, your platoon, you never abandon them. No man is ever left behind. You're wounded Honey, so I will not leave you behind, so get used to that. When this is all over and you still feel this way, then you can tell me to hit the bricks.”She just stared at me, and while trying to compose herself, she gripped my hand in hers. “It's not fair to you Mark. What if it is cancer and it can't be fixed, then what? You going to just wait around and watch me die? You could be out finding that right person, instead of babysitting me.”“Stop it Carrie. You have no idea what it is. It could be a simple cyst, that meds could take care of. But one thing I do know, I will be with you this Tuesday, and any other day you need to have something done. I will be the first person you see when you wake up. But I will be there and I will always be there for you. I love you.”“Mark. It's not fair.” she shouted, then started crying again. “You're right. It's not fair. But who said life is. But I am not walking away. In fact I am more in love with you now, than I was 20 minutes ago. I don't know about you, but I have every intention of growing old with you. We have too much to do with our lives. So baby doll, I am not leaving you, Not ever.”“Carrie. Do you love me?” I asked. “Damn you Jarhead. You know I do.” she said. “Good. Don't you ever hold back something like this again from me. I won't either from you. But Babe, we can only help one another if we are open and honest with each other. Why don't you go get ready for bed. I'm not going home tonight, but I will sleep on the couch.”She shook her head and got up. As she did, she reached for my hand, “You are not, nor will you ever sleep on the couch. Your place is beside me in bed. I'm so sorry for ever thinking you would want out of this. I do love you Mark. More than you will ever know”She led me up the stairs to her bedroom. We both stripped off of our clothes. I had on the white silk boxers she got me. She put on this long t-shirt with a Minion on the front. She looked cute. We both used her bathroom then climbed into bed, where she snuggled up to me and let me hold her close. Her head rested on my chest.“Mark?” she said softly. “Carrie?” I answered back. “I am sorry. I promise never to do that to you again. I'm also sorry I was a Debbie Downer tonight at dinner, and even before. I'm sure Jenny could tell something was wrong.”“Oh yeah she could. She thought that you and I had an argument. Your daughter is quite perceptive. After meeting her now, I have to say, you two do favor one another. Alan is one lucky man and judging how he dotes on her, he knows it too. They do make a nice couple. I just hope I made a good impression with her. I wasn't to talkative tonight.”“Well, I think you'll get a few more chances this weekend to really win her over. But I can tell she likes you already. If she talks a lot, she likes you. Had she just sat there and not talked much, then that means she doesn't want anything to do with you.”“You know, last night, I was so lonely without you next to me. I hugged my pillow thinking it was you. Except your body is a bit more muscular. I had so many plans for tonight, with us ending the night in bed making love. I want too, but I don't want to do that until we know what is going on down there.”My hand was stroking her back, when I said, “I don't know about you, but this is making love Baby. I'm not in this for the sex. I'm in this because of love. Holding you close, telling our feelings to each other, that is true love making in my book. I'm not too good with stuff like this, but I have never felt this way for another human being. We'll have plenty of time for lovemaking, and dare I say, some naughty sex.”She snuggled even closer and let her hand rub on my chest and belly. “Thank You. You make me feel so loved. I love you Mark. Oh and I like what you wore under your pants. You do look sexy in these boxers.”“I love you too Carolyn. Now get some sleep. We have a long weekend ahead of us. That is if you want me around all the time.”“Of course I want you around the whole time. Not sure about sleeping together. Daddy may have a hard time with that one.” then giggled.Chapter 19.In the morning we agreed to take separate showers instead of together. We both agreed it would be too tempting, had we gone in together. She did tease me though by removing her shirt and slowly saunter into the bathroom, giggling the whole way. I would say My Carrie was back.Her parents flight was due in at 4pm. I told Carrie I needed to catch up on a few things at the house, but would be back in time to go with her to pick them up. She must have texted me twenty times, just saying I love you. That made me feel good.I picked Carrie up at 3pm and went to the airport to meet her parents. She was very happy today. A far cry from yesterday's somber mood she was in. She was wearing a maroon cashmere sweater and black slacks. I too had black slacks on and a blue crew neck sweater. The whole trip there she held my hand, as she did once we were there and waited.Like all airports now, you had to wait down in the baggage area. It took about 10 minutes after their plane arrived, before we saw them coming down the escalator. Once Carrie spotted them, she pulled me along until they were on top of us, and went and hugged her mom, then her dad.Then Mrs. Reynolds gave me a hug and a kiss, and said I still looked like I did when we met in Norfolk all those years ago. Chief shook my hand then said, “You ain't giving me no damn hug son.” I just laughed and told him, “Not in your life you crotchety old bastard.” which made us all laugh.After arriving back at Carrie's, we saw that Jenny was there waiting for us. Alan was with her, but I could see the tension in his face. The old man did scare the shit out of him. I took him aside and told him, just to relax, but show no sign of fear to the chief. He eats that shit up. He sort of laughed and said, oh sure, easier said than done Mr. Roberts. I told him for now on, call me Mark. Save the mister for the other guy.We all then went to dinner, after the couple relaxed a bit after their flight. It was one of those chain restaurants. We all had a good time and of course, Chief had to regale us with stories when I was aboard the Lincoln. That's when Jenny asked about the “don't shit where you eat comment”, but cleaned it up some because of her mom and grandma there. Chief went on to explain about this one newly appointed petty officer I had an eye on. After he finished, everyone laughed, only because he made sound more colorful than it actually was.After we got back to Carrie's, the girls busied themselves in the kitchen, leaving myself, Alan, and the Chief alone in the living room. I could see Alan was a bit apprehensive about being in there. I'm sure he was never prepared for anything like this in college.  “okay you two Shitbirds.” chief started out. “Those three fine ladies in there mean the world to me. And two of them, for some ungodly reason happen to like you two. All I ever wanted for those two is complete happiness. If you can't give them that, leave now, otherwise, I need a promise to never ever hurt them, no matter what.”“You have my word on that Chief. Never doubt that.” I said, as the chief then nodded once to me. Alan then looked at him and said, “Sir, my only intention is to make Jenny happy, so I promise.” Chief just glared at him. Alan was unsure of what he said, but knew he didn't like something. I looked at Alan and said, “Alan. Relax. Just don't call Mr. Reynolds sir. Non Com's, noncommissioned officers, like we both were, do not like getting called sir, by anyone. And Chief, chill out, he isn't military.”Chief just chuckled. “Yeah, and don't call me Mr. Reynolds. Makes me feel old. Call me John for now on, or at least until you guys make it legal between those gals in there, then we'll figure out what you call me then. And Alan, you did good kid. You didn't break, like so many Seaman have, right out of boot camp.” then just smiled.Just then the girls came back from the kitchen with drinks. From that point on, the mood was light and cheerful. I just sat back and watched how this family interacted. They are like most families, I guess. Since it is just my sister and myself, except for an uncle and aunt and three cousin's, I really couldn't tell you what a big family is like. Mine though, is quite boisterous and not afraid of speaking their minds on any subject.About an hour went by when Jenny and Alan said their goodbye's. They were going to the football game the next afternoon and wanted to get some sleep. We sat up a bit more with John and Connie, telling a lot of what we did up in the mountains. Well, not everything, or I am sure, he'd have killed me by now.I was getting up, so I could make my leave too, when Carrie asked me to join her in the kitchen. I had no idea what she wanted, but went with the flow and followed her in.“I don't want you going back to your place tonight. You are sleeping with me, unless you don't want too.” she said, giving me her little pouty face she likes to do now and then.“I'm not sure how your parents will feel about that. I don't want to cause any trouble for you, or me either.”Carried just chuckled, “Don't worry about them. I am 41 you know. Plus, me and mom talked out here. She knows you and I have slept together from almost the beginning of us meeting. She is fine with it, and she'll take care of dad. As she put it, “That boy is over the moon for you Honey. Treat him good and he'll treat you like a queen.” So don't worry. But, we can't play around. That would be too weird.” and we both laughed softly at that.Carrie then grabbed my hand and walked towards the stairs, to go upstairs. “Night you two” she said as she passed by them. Her mom said night, but Chief just grunted something. I am pretty sure I will get an earful, next time we are alone.Once in the bedroom, Carrie went to her dresser and opened a drawer, pulled out pajamas. They were blue, red, and white checkerboard style print. She said she went shopping today and got these. She is wearing the top and the bottoms were for me. She stripped down to just her panties, which for once, were not thong style. She still looked sexy as all get out. I stripped too to my boxers and t-shirt. She then went to the bathroom and came out a few minutes later. I followed suit and did my business. She let me know there was a toothbrush on the sink for me, that she just got too.When I came back out, she was already in bed and awaited me. I crawled in next to her. We kissed and held each other close. Like I said when the first time we slept in a bed together, I could definitely get used to this.“Mark Honey. I need to apologize for yesterday. I was so wrong to try and push you away from me. I would have been crushed had you just said  okay, and left. But you didn't. That told me right there how much you love me. So thank you for being here for me. I love you Mark. It grows stronger every minute of the day. I wish right now we could make love, but until I know what is really up with this, we're going to have to take a rest from that. I hope you understand.”I leaned in and kissed her forehead and pulled her tighter to me. God, I love the way she feels.“Sweetheart, you need not apologize for anything. It has to be a shock to you, that is for sure. But, I will always be there for you, no matter what. We'll see this through, together. As for making love right now. This is making love, I believe. The sex is just the icing on the cake, so to speak. Plus, if you think I would have sex with you, with your parents just down the hall, you are crazy.”Carrie was just about to say something, when we both heard a light thumping sound. I started to chuckle, but Carrie said shush. It was definitely a rhythm thump going on.I chuckled and said, “You're kidding right?” Carrie laughed quietly and said, “Oh yeah. I think dad and mom are doing the horizontal hula. Trust me Hun. As far back as I can remember, they are one horny couple. I hope when I am their age, I still want it that much.”Carrie's hand reached under the waistband of my bottoms and boxers and started playing with Mr. happy. “God, I wish this was inside me now. “ She stroked it a few times so it was now almost hard. Then she rolled over on her side, so we could spoon. I too lay on my side and pulled her into me, so our bodies melded together. My hardness nestled up against her beautiful ass, which she then wiggled a bit. My arm lay over her and rested on her tummy. She took that hand and brought up, and inside her top and placed it on her one tit. My hand instantly enveloped her tit and held it gently. “God. I love your hand there” she cooed. “Night Mark. I love you” “I love you too Carrie”To be continued, by T. Foxal.

Héctor ha visto la nueva adaptación de #Los4Fantásticos (esta vez de la mano de Marvel Studios) y nos trae sus primeras impresiones. ¿Supera el film a la mejor versión hecha hasta ahora? Nah, es imposible superar a #LosIncreíbles. También nos podéis encontrar aquí: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52i1iqZ56ACal18GPkCxiW Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/los-tres-amigos/id1198252523 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3zK2XsnpHDGRujSTWHpL8Q Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0b56d4f-4537-47e0-a252-9dfe56b5a490/los-tres-amigos Grupo de Telegram: https://t.me/LosTresAmigos https://www.facebook.com/LosTresAmigosPodcast/ Instagram: lostresamigospodcast Bluesky: @los3amigospodcast.bsky.social X / Twitter: @tresamigospod Threads: lostresamigospodcast Letterbox: https://letterboxd.com/LosTresAmigos/ #PrimerosPasos #FantasticFour #FF #FirstSteps #Marvel #MarvelStudios #MCU #Galactus #Excelsior #Superheroes

Reposted from Still Slaying: A Buffy-verse podcast which you can find at https://podcastica.com/podcast/still-slaying-a-buffy-verse-podcast “Blues wasn't forced on us like that religion. Nah, son, we brought that with us from home. It's magic what we do. It's sacred... and big.” Penny, Sam, Kara and Jason revel in the artistic and box office success of Ryan Coogler's genre defying tale of family, fellowship, music, and freedom. The discussion ranges from the serious to the silly, with stops along the way for auteur theory, sports metaphors, representation, all art is political, zombie movies, sundown towns, the Tulsa Massacre/Black Wall Street, the horror genre as conduit for political and social discourse, joy as revolutionary act, A.I. and cultural appropriation, Annie as a potential slayer, oners, Alvin Ailey, and #OscarsSoWhite.    Note: Since this is an R-Rated movie, we've decided not to humorously bleep out the swear words.   Next time we'll be covering Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 4, Episode 11, “Doomed.”    Keep Slaying! News Links/Referenced Links Sinners (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Album by Sinners Movie | Spotify Jim Crow Museum Blues Foundation The ‘Sinners' Movie Syllabus - AAIHS Life (1999) Official Trailer - Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence Movie HD The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow. Richard Wormser.  Segregated America. Smithsonian Institute.  Jim Crow Laws. National Park Service.  “Exploiting Black Labor After the Abolition of Slavery.” The Conversation.  https://www.npr.org/2017/03/08/515814287/heres-whats-become-of-a-historic-all-black-town-in-the-mississippi-delta “The Model Minority Myth” Aspect Ratios with Sinners Director Ryan Coogler Mound Bayou, Mississippi - Wikipedia Ruth E. Carter on designing costumes from ‘Do The Right Thing' to ‘Black Panther' Ruth Carter's Creative Process | Oscar-Winning Costume Designer Watch Abstract: The Art of Design | Netflix Official Site Ryan Coogler on 'Sinners' Creative Process, 'Black Panther' News, NBA Players Love & More Ryan Coogler says 'Sinners' inspiration felt 'like a bolt of lightning' —---------------------------------------- Viewing Order BONUS: “Sinners”  Buffy 4x11 - Doomed Angel 1x11 - Somnambulist Angel 1x12 - Expecting Angel 1x13 - She Buffy 4x12 - A New Man Buffy 4x13 - The I In Team Buffy 4x14 - Goodbye Iowa Angel 1x14 - I've Got You Under My Skin Angel 1x15 - The Prodigal Buffy 4x15 - This Year's Girl (1/2) Buffy 4x16 - Who Are You? (2/2) Buffy 4x17 - Superstar Angel 1x16 - The Ring Angel 1x17 - Eternity Buffy 4x18 - Where the Wild Things Are Buffy 4x19 - New Moon Rising Angel 1x18 - Five by Five (1/2) Angel 1x19 - Sanctuary (2/2) Buffy 4x20 - The Yoko Factor (1/2) Buffy 4x21 - Primeval (2/2) Buffy 4x22 - Restless Angel 1x20 - War Zone Angel 1x21 - Blind Date Angel 1x22 - To Shanshu in LA Join the conversation! You can email or send a voice message to stillslayingfeedback@gmail.com, or join us at facebook.com/groups/podcastica and Still Slaying A Buffy-verse Podcast where we put up comment posts for each episode we cover.  Join the Zedhead community - https://www.patreon.com/jasoncabassi Theme Music:℗ CC-BY 2020 Quesbe | Lucie G. MorillonGoopsy | Drum and Bass | Free CC-BY Music By Quesbe is licensed under a Creative Commons License. #ryancoogler #sinners #michaelbjordan #smokestacktwins #milescaton #jimcrow #mississippidelta #history #filmreview #vampires #southerngothic #wunmimosaku #haileesteinfeld #ruthcarter #blackhistory #stillslaying #stillslayingpodcast #stillslayingcast #podcast #podcastica #smashthepatriarchy #feminism #patriarchy #buddyguy In Defense of ‘Grace' from ‘Sinners' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quaranteam-Northwest: Part 3 Change of Pace, Change of Place. Based on a post by Break The Bar. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.   I'm pretty sure it was only for a moment, but it could have been a couple minutes. When I came to, I was still inside Erica, and still mostly hard. I pulled out and was quickly followed by our leaking mess spilling onto the sheets. Erica didn't move, except for heavy breathing. Then she rolled onto her side, legs coming up into a fetal position, ass pointed back at me. Her messy, cummy twat peeked at me between her legs and butt cheeks. Sitting back on my ass, I blinked a few times and tried to re-center myself until I gave up and fell backwards, breathing hard and looking up at the ceiling. "God damn, E," I said. "That was something fucking else." No response. I rolled over, dragging myself up to lay next to her. "Erica?" Her eyes were closed and she was looking comfortable, if a little cold laying over the sheets. Her lips were moving, and when I got close enough it sounded like she was whispering, "Imprinting," over and over. "That's kinda fucked up," I said quietly, looking at her otherwise still face. She sounded like a computer program reporting on a status. The only thing that kept me from freaking out was the big, contented smile on her lips. I kissed her forehead, trying not to think about quite how fucked up things were, and then I rolled off the bed and stood up. Underwear and pants went back on, and I crossed the hall to the bathroom where I got a wet, warm washcloth and a towel. I returned to the room and carefully wiped down Erica's twat and ass of our mixed fluids, then wrapped her in a towel and picked her up. I carried her down the hall to my room and managed to get her under the covers. I'll admit, I also gave her tits another soft grope, just to convince myself this was all real. God, they're awesome. Leo was out of the house, which on second thought made me realize what I'd just done. I'd fucked his sister, and we hadn't really held back at all. If he and I had been hearing the 'biz' and soft moans of Erica masturbating I can only imagine the sounds that had been coming down through the old wooden timbers of the house. "Fuck," I sighed. Hopefully he had gone out to the workshop before we'd gotten started. It was still the middle of the afternoon so I went back to packing. It was weird, sorting through everything in the house. Also fucking annoying because I didn't even have many boxes to pack with, and I couldn't exactly just run out to the liquor or hardware store to get some. It was strange; I'd lived in the house for much of my life, and I'd lived in it with Leo for the past five years, but I still found traces of my parents and grandparents I hadn't thought about in ages. It had to have been an hour or two later when Leo came back into the house. He had rings of sweat on his t-shirt and looked like he was ready to punch something. "Hey," I said. I was kneeling down in the living room, busy scooping old VHS tapes out from the back of one of the big cupboards. They hadn't seen the light of day in probably twenty years, but I also felt like it was a waste to throw them out. Leo just looked at me from the doorway, kicking off his boots. "That was fucked up," I said. "Yeah, it was," he said. "You know I wouldn't just pump and dump her," I said. Leo twisted up his face in revulsion. "Fucking of course not. Jesus, Harrison. You're not an animal." "So why the fuck would you make her hold on to a high school agreement when she and I might have been good for each other, Leo?" "She told you that?" Leo's face dropped. "Yeah. She did," I said. "She shouldn't have. Not talking about it was part of the deal, too," Leo grunted. He peeled off his sweaty shirt and threw it towards the stairs, then headed towards the back of the house. "Where is she now?" "Upstairs. That's another thing we need to talk about, but I'm not done with this." Leo was pouring himself a drink from the tap. My father had gotten a new well drilled a couple of years before I was born, and then when I hit high school we'd gotten a pump system; I still couldn't believe we'd lived on hand-pumped well water until I was fourteen. Now, with a whole filtration system set up in the back shed we - It doesn't matter. It's all going away. That realization almost shook me out of the conversation. "What's left to talk about?" Leo asked me, leaning on the doorsill from the kitchen. "Leo, I've always liked your sister. This whole thing just... forced the issue. You get that, right? She's not betraying you. I'm not betraying you." Leo didn't answer at first, buying time by taking a drink from his glass before sighing. "Yeah. I know." "So what are you pissed about?" "Dude, she's still my sister. And you're my best friend. That's not how this is supposed to go! She's supposed to meet some guy that I don't really like, but I learn to tolerate him, and we make fun of him together behind their backs and talk about how she could do so much better." "Why is that how it's supposed to go?" I asked. "I don't know, man. That's just; That's how it was with my parents and aunts and uncles. My dad was an only child, but all my mom's sisters settled for mediocre guys. My parents tolerated them, and I got to hear all the family gossip and that's just how it was." "Leo," I said. "That's kind of fucked up that you would want that for Erica." "I don't want it for her, it was just... Look, I hear how stupid and dickish it is, as it's coming out of my mouth, Okay? But now it's going to be you two. He-man and... I don't know. Who's the lady in He-man?" "Dude, I have never watched He-man," I laughed. "Well, whatever. You're you. She's her," Leo said. "By the end of this quarantine bullshit you'll be together and I'll be out." "Leo. You're thinking glass-half-empty here," I said. "Erica and I get together, what else does that mean?" "I dunno," Leo said. "What?" "What does that make us?" Leo blinked. "Brothers-in-law?" He rolled his eyes, but I could see the smirk growing. "Brothers, Leo. Even better than best friends. Better than best friend roommates!" "Fine, fine," Leo sighed. "Okay, there's an upside. Just don't expect me to just... be Okay with you two getting frisky everywhere or something. You can be happy or whatever, just not right in my face, alright?" The sound of a car pulling up outside on the newly-widened gravel driveway crackled through the house. I stood up and headed for the door. "What was the other thing?" Leo asked me. "Something about Erica being upstairs?" "Yeah, yeah," I said, slipping on my sneakers. "She's in my room right now, kinda sleeping but not? This whole Vaccine thing has more to it, dude. Let me figure out what this is first." He grunted, giving me a questioning eyebrow raise and turned back to the kitchen to refill his water. Outside I found the same blacked-out, now dust-covered, town car that had dropped off Erica. The door opened and I blinked hard as a woman I could only describe as a cross between an elf and an angel stepped out of the back seat. She had long, wavy brunette hair and a face that I could only guess had matched up with Helen of Troy, with soft, full lips and wide eyes with a playful spark. She was wearing a simple, baggy white t-shirt that looked like it belonged to a guy my size, and with her slight frame she was practically swimming in it but somehow she made it look like a diaphanous dress. I couldn't even tell if she had anything else underneath it since the t-shirt came down low on her bare thighs. "Hey there," she said, grabbing what looked like a solid camper's backpack from inside the car and walking over to me. When she got closer she only somehow got more beautiful, but I also saw... something. That look in her eye. The way her lips were slightly parted, and she was breathing a little more shallow. "You're Leo?" she asked. She had an accent, but I couldn't place it. "No. Harrison. Leo's inside," I said. She eye fucked me for a moment, took in a breath and breathed it out through pursed lips, then headed past me into the house without another word. "God damn," I said. "Yeah, she's running a little hot," Agent Sourpuss said. She'd gotten out of the driver's seat of the car and came around. "Got the shot at the same time as Miss Lacoste, but it turned out the guy she was originally going to be paired with got infected sometime in the past few days. We found him dead in his penthouse when we tried to drop her off." "Fuck," I said. And not because of the story. The woman had walked up the front steps of the porch, slung her bag onto it and had been stripping off her shirt as she walked into the house. I didn't see anything but bare back and a pair of tight booty shorts painted onto a slim, perky ass, but I was fucking jealous. "How is Miss Lacoste?" The agent asked. "Did the bonding process work?" "Um," I said, shaking my head and turning to the woman. "Uh, yeah. If you mean she didn't really tell us much but made it clear she needed sex, and now she's upstairs asleep in my bed muttering 'Imprinting' over and over." "Good, good," the Agent said. "Working as intended, then." "No," I said, shaking my head. "Not good. I said she's muttering 'imprinting' over and over. What the fuck is up with that?" "Look, Mr. Black, it's a long fucking story. And one you're not cleared for," the Agent said. "I'm sure one day you'll read a book about it or something. For now, just get out of my face. Alright?" "You can't seriously expect people to just go along with this. It sounds like... like,” "Brainwashing?" The Agent asked. Then snorted and started heading back to her car. "I don't have time to hold your hand through this. Like I said, just do what they say and enjoy your new fucking world. We'll be in touch." She slammed the door, the engine turned over, and she peeled out and drove back down the driveway. "What the fuck," I said. "What the fuck? What. The fuck?" I headed back into the house and stopped before kicking off my shoes. "Oh, fuck yes!" the woman shouted. "Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God," Leo yelled. They were upstairs. It hadn't been more than two minutes. I could hear them clearly. Fuck. Doesn't have a problem when it's not his sister, I thought, shaking my head. I went for a walk. I made dinner an hour later, and Leo managed to come downstairs to eat. He mumbled something about getting struck by lightning, but once he'd gotten some food in him he'd shrugged. "I dunno, man. She just walked up to me, holding her shirt, and said, 'Take me up to your room and fuck me.' I didn't even get her name. Now she's doing that 'imprinting' thing and it's freaking me out a bit." "Yeah," I nodded. "Yeah. Erica was doing that too. That lady agent dropped off your girl, didn't want to talk about it, and just said we should do what the ladies tell us." "Hey, that's all fine with me," Leo said. "She can tell me anything she wants. I mean... Harrison. God damn!" We called it an early night and I found myself climbing into bed next to Erica. She was still out of it, but at least she wasn't murmuring anymore. It felt weird, and kind of creepy, to try snuggling up next to her. She was still naked under my sheets, and totally out of it. I ended up putting on an undershirt and gym shorts and managed not to feel like a perv for long enough to fall asleep. The rumble of trucks woke me up, and I met Leo at the stairs as we headed down. He went to start making coffee while I checked outside. Two big trucks were hauling in a pair of trailers onto what had once been my front lawn and workers in bright fluorescent vests were directing them as others set up some concrete blocks. The trailers looked like they were the start of whatever construction HQ was going to get set up. "So it begins," I sighed. We brought out the coffee; it was an entirely different crew of guys, but they didn't have any new information for us. They appreciated the coffee, but when I went in to make more I realized we were running out quickly. Hopefully one of those trailers was going to be a break room for those guys because they were going to drink my wallet dry if it was on me to feed their caffeine addictions. The trailers were quickly set up, and the workers were gone, but a 14-seater van arrived so quickly that I figured they must have passed each other on the driveway. Inside were a solid dozen Surveyors, along with boxes of topographical maps and all sorts of equipment. I couldn't offer them coffee, but they'd come with their own travel mugs. They weren't much for conversation, though they weren't bad men and women; they just had a very large job to do. "We've done what we can ahead of time with the satellite imaging," the Head Surveyor said to me. "But we've got to plan out the development of this entire area in the most efficient building plan possible. They want houses built and livable ASAP." And that was where I came in. That promise I'd made to Agents Grierson and Walters had included my help with the surveying. Now it was time to give the grand tour. "I'll head out with them this morning," I told Leo. "I'll start with the front loop trails down to the highway and back. You want to show them the Arrowhead trail after lunch, and I'll take them up the ridge after that?" "Yeah, works for me," Leo said. "I'll go check on Erica." "Um... maybe I should do that," I said. "Why? Is something wrong?" Leo asked. "No, dude... she's just, uh..." I stammered. Leo's eyes went wide and he clapped his hand over his ears. "Nana nana" he sang, heading back out of the house towards the barn. I checked in on Erica; still asleep. I hesitated a moment, leaning over her in the bed, but went for it and pressed my lips to her forehead in a soft kiss. She mumbled something, pulling the sheets closer to her, and she smiled. It almost kicked my adrenaline, and I could hear my heart in my ears as I walked back down the hallway. When I passed Leo's room I realized that his door was cracked open, and I could see a shapely and naked leg and foot sticking out from his own sheets. I was tempted to peek further, but that feeling of creepiness from last night struck me again and I closed the door instead. I was kicking myself an hour later, deep into the trails with a half dozen surveyors following along and taking notes as I pointed things out and they asked me questions. It was the slowest I think I'd ever walked the trails, and the question kept flaring up in the back of my mind of what I'd missed out on seeing. Leo's girl was living in my head rent-free right alongside Erica, but now I knew what Erica was like; the mystery of what I hadn't seen was tantalizing fodder for a brain that didn't want to think about the overwhelming weirdness of the whole situation. We were back to the house around 1pm, and by the time we'd been gone a third trailer had been set up and there were two more of those big passenger vans, along with a couple of pickups, lined up in a makeshift parking lot. I didn't notice any of it, or the people working, and I didn't even answer the last question one of the surveyors was asking me because I was jogging for the house. Erica was standing there on the porch in low hip-hugging jeans and a tight band t-shirt under one of my unbuttoned flannel shirts. She had a beer in each hand, one opened and half empty, the other cold and sealed. I could see the emotions play across her face for a moment as I walked up quickly, and she opened her mouth to say something but I didn't want to hear a smart remark or a question. I wrapped my arms around her and I kissed her. She kissed me back, her arms crossing behind my neck as she pulled me deeper to her. Her tongue and mine met and teased for a long moment, and I reveled in the feeling of her in my arms. Her chest crushed against me, soft and firm, and her belt buckle pressed into my crotch as she melded herself to me. A whistle, sharp and catcalling, sounded from somewhere behind me and I could feel Erica shift both beer bottles to one hand. I had no doubt she was flashing them the finger with her free hand, and the laughter from the construction workers confirmed it. Eventually we had to stop, and I held her by the waist as our faces pulled away. "Well, I guess that answers most of my questions," Erica smirked at me. "I've got a few of my own, but you're not slapping me so that answers most of mine," I said. She pursed her lips and brought her beer hand down between us. "Leo said you've had a long morning. Up for a nooner?" "God yes," I said. "But I've always had a different definition of 'nooner.'" "What, you think I mean the beer?" Erica asked. "No, baby. I want you to,” "Ahem," a voice interrupted, and I turned to see who had approached us. "Sorry to interrupt." The girl, and I couldn't call her more than that because she looked like she couldn't have been more than twenty-three despite the tattoo across her neck, was wearing a rough sweater and one of those orange construction vests, along with a dinged-up blue hardhat with about dozen peeling stickers on it and her jeans tucked into her steel-toed work boots. She had some vaguely Latina features, mostly in the lips, but was pale where she wasn't tattooed. Erica's arm immediately went around my waist, and I lowered mine to hers as we held each other. "No problem," Erica said. "What can we do for you?" "I'm Vanessa," the girl said. "Are you Harrison Black?" "Yeah, you found me," I nodded. "Alright, cool," she said, looking me up and down. Erica's hand at my waist scratched my side playfully, and I lowered my own from her hip down to her ass, slipping my fingers into the back pocket of her jeans and cupping it firmly. "Well," Vanessa continued, "I'm the Foreman for the general laborers on site right now, and we've already gotten a laundry list of our daily jobs done so I need to start getting my guys into the house." "I'm sorry?" I asked. Vanessa sighed and then smiled in a knowing sort of way. "No one's talked to you about the day or week plans, have they?" "Not really," I said. "I've been out with the surveyors all morning." "Yeah, that sounds about right for this clusterfuck," Vanessa shook her head. "Well, orders are that everything that's currently in this house, and that barn, and anything else on the property that needs to, is hitting those sea cans in the backyard by sundown tomorrow. Demo on this place hits bright and early the next morning and everything not packed up is getting carted the fuck off." Vanessa, it turned out, was a straight shooter. It just took me a second to wrap my head around everything. Erica took charge while I followed along. I'd figured I had weeks, maybe months, before demolition. This wasn't the hurry-up and wait I'd been expecting. This was all hurry, all the time. Leo went out with the surveyors, and I started answering a million questions for Vanessa while she directed five big, burly guys as they began unloading my house into boxes, and hauling those boxes out to a pair of storage containers that had been brought in on trucks and plopped down near the back of the wide clearing that had been the 'backyard' for generations. Erica, I realized, was helping manage me more than anything else. Keeping me on task, keeping me focused. She helped me reminisce quickly a couple of times, helped me make decisions about what actually needed storing and what could get thrown out. I was getting a brand new house, fully furnished, courtesy of my contract. Did I really need the shitty TV stand or the ratty couch sitting on the back porch? No. Did I want to keep my grandmother's freestanding jam cupboard? I couldn't picture it anywhere else other than where it was in the house, I'd never even seen a piece of furniture like it in another house before. But it was an heirloom piece. Was I supposed to keep that? Yes, Erica helped me. Yes, keep the heirlooms, even if they seem odd or silly. Just know what's an actual heirloom and what's not. "You're doing well," she told me, stopping me at the foot of the stairs. "You're a good boss," I smiled, reaching my free hand around to hug her to me. I was carrying a pair of bedside lamps in the other. She frowned and shook her head. "I'm not your boss. And I don't want you to think I'm being bossy, and I definitely don't want you to start thinking of me as some nagging mother figure." I laughed and shook my head. "Never. E, you're just a natural manager. Of people, or situations. I needed a minute, not an hour, and you helped me get on track way faster than I would have without you. Plus," I grinned, and let my hand slide up from around her waist to softly take her tit in my hand and squeeze playfully, "Ain't nothing of a 'nagging mother' about you." She smirked and bit her lip as I squeezed her braless tit a little more firmly. "Well, good," she said, and rubbed the front of my pants. "And thanks for the very weird compliment from my b,” She stopped short, eyes going a little wide. I chuckled and leaned down to kiss her cheek, then her lips. "You can say it. I'd be happy to." "I've never said that so fast before. It hasn't even been a day," she said. "Not officially," I countered. "But we've also been living together for a couple of months. And before that we went on casual group dates. We just didn't know it at the time." She rolled her eyes but her grin was everything to me. "Well, if you put it that way..." I kissed her again. "God, I want to fuck you," I said. "Yes, please," she hummed back. We separated. I watched her walking away, the way her ass moved. The way my shirt hung on her. An hour or so later we'd gotten a lot of the preliminary stuff cleared up, and after a quick conference with Vanessa, we decided that the big guys on her team were probably going to be most useful getting all of Leo's woodworking equipment safely moved out to the storage containers from the barn. I'd helped Leo move all of those heavier tools into the barn over the past five years and each one was a son of a bitch, and we didn't have any forklifts to make it easier. The guys hadn't been out of the house for more than fifteen minutes when I was busy taking old pictures off the walls of the living room while Erica was getting to the ones in the front hall. "Hmm, morning," a warm, honeyed voice said from Erica's direction. "Uh.... hi," Erica said, her tone of voice a little shocked but with a weird cadence. I turned to see who was in the house and nearly dropped a glass picture frame holding a collage of photos my mother had put together of my sister and me. The elf/angel girl, Leo's imprint-person, was wandering into the living room and looking around curiously. She was as beautiful as the first time I'd seen her, and I figured she must have taken a minute to touch up her makeup. She had beautiful, pale porcelain skin, and her wavy chestnut brown hair still had a bit of a messy 'just got fucked' look. She also happened to be completely naked except for a pair of sheer panties that left it very obvious she was shaved to the wood down below. Her tits were so perfect and perky, big enough on her thin frame to look almost fake but somehow still natural; either the best boob job ever or the perfect genetic lottery. Her areolas and stubby nipples, puffed and firm in the cool spring air even in the house, were the same soft shade of pink as her lips. "Hey there," she said, giving me a little smile and a wave. "I think I almost fucked you yesterday, yeah?" I coughed. "Um, no. Definitely not that close." "Hmm," she smiled, looking around the chaos of the house. "Well, maybe not, but I definitely remember wanting to jump your bones. Where can I get some water?" "Through there," I pointed her towards the kitchen. "Hey, we didn't actually meet. I'm Harrison, Leo's roommate." "Oh, right," the woman said, then stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. A naked-lady hug. While I was looking over her shoulder at Erica, who was staring from the hallway door with an expression between utter confusion and the kind of stare I could only imagine a 13-year-old boy would have when looking at this same sight. I made a 'what am I supposed to do?' face at Erica, and slowly hugged the naked woman back with one arm, trying not to think about those perfect tits pressing into my side and chest. "I'm Danielle," the woman said. I was struck again by that strange accent that I couldn't place, elongating some of the vowels and with just a touch of different intonation. "I got told all about you and Leo by that government lady on the way here. I guess I didn't realize you wouldn't have gotten the full story." "Yeah, no. She isn't really one of our biggest fans," I said. Danielle stepped back from the hug, with a warm smile. "This is Erica, Leo's twin sister and my, ah" "Girlfriend," Erica said, stepping forward. She opened her arms and Danielle happily stepped in for a hug with Erica as well. Erica looked at me over Danielle's shoulder and mouthed, 'Oh my God!' "And vaccine partner." "Oh, god," Danielle said, leaning away. "Fuck, I wasn't even thinking about that. Are we supposed to still be careful? We're all vaccinated, right?" "Very vaccinated," Erica said, then looked at me again and smirked. "Very, very vaccinated." "You too, huh?" Danielle asked. "Those orgasms,” "Out of this fucking world," Erica nodded. "Let me get you that water," I said. I left the two in the living room and went to the kitchen, taking a moment to adjust my cock in my pants before fetching a cup. Erica was attractive as all hell, and while I might not have been in love with her yet, I knew I was going to get there and fast. The physical and the personality just synced with us like that. But this girl. Woof. She was that unattainable attractive tier that you saw in movies, or on Instagram. When I was coming back, Danielle was slipping on my flannel shirt. "I'm really fine with it," she was saying. "I like being naked, and I'm a stripper so I'm used to it. Honestly, it kind of turns me on." "Yeah, well there's about twenty construction workers outside right now and I don't think anything is going to get done if they catch a look at you, Dani," Erica said. Danielle laughed and shrugged while she brought the sides of the flannel shirt up and tied them between her tits. I don't think my shirt had ever looked better, and somehow she just effortlessly made it a perfect, teasing shape that hugged her cleavage and slim torso. "You're a stripper?" I asked, offering her the water. "I thought most women in that business preferred 'dancer' or something like that "Hmm, only the ones who are embarrassed about it deep down," Danielle said. She took a sip from her glass. "But I made $300k American last year as a stripper, so why should I care what other people think of me? I'm a businesswoman and entrepreneur, and I work hard to make sure my product is amazing. And my product happens to be stripping off my clothes and making guys cream their pants." I almost choked on my own spit as Danielle casually dropped her tax bracket. "You made that much?" "Oh, you must not be a strip club boy, are you?" Danielle smiled at me. "He will be," Erica said, chuckling. "I will?" "Oh yeah, baby," Erica said. "Half of my best clients are strippers. I'm a tattoo artist, by the way," she said to Danielle, then smirked at me again. "Once the world opens back up, I know some babes who are going to rock your world. I can't wait to see the look on your face!" "Well, it's always nice to find a discerning lady-fan of the art," Danielle said. "Honestly, women always make the best fans. Guys shell out more cash, but women just appreciate us more." The front door of the house opened and Vanessa walked in, stopping as she saw Danielle standing between Erica and me in nothing but my shirt and her panties. "Fuck, sorry," she said, and she looked like she was going to head right back out the door, then re-thought that and stayed where she was. "Um, Harrison, we could use your help out in the barn. Any shot we can get that old tractor running to move the planer?" "We can try," I said. "I didn't need it to plough the past couple of winters since the ATVs did the trick. I'll see if it'll turn over." I left Danielle in Erica's hands; something which both brought chub-inducing pictures to mind, but also just a touch of jealousy considering the open lust my now-girlfriend was showing for her twin's vaccine-fuck-friend. We really need to figure out some terms and definitions, I sighed. The tractor, in fact, did not turn over. It was deader than a doornail. With enough leverage and muscle power, we managed to get Leo's big planer; which he had thankfully already prepped for moving; onto a trailer we used with the ATVs and carefully towed the sucker with two guys on either side to keep it balanced and upright. Vanessa shooed me away after that, telling me to go keep packing up the valuables and let her paid gorillas do the heavy lifting. The big laborers all grumbled good-naturedly at her name-calling, and as I was leaving them I heard one trying, "Me Tarzan, you Jane." "Yeah, and I'll Jane you right in the mouth if you start trying to hit on me, Tarzan," she replied. "I don't shit where I eat, unlike you goddamned animals." Back in the house, Erica was helping Danielle start packing Leo's things up in his bedroom, so I went back to work cleaning out all the corners of the house. The one thing I realized was that I didn't actually need to be neat about anything. The last time I'd moved, when Leo and I had left our place back in Portland and come up to the homestead, half of the bother was cleaning everything up to make sure we got our security deposits back. This place was gonna get knocked over in two days, so what was the point of cleaning? I'd been trying to find time to sneak Erica to somewhere private, and maybe to fool around a bit now that that was part of our relationship, but Danielle was too full of questions. If she wasn't chatting with Erica, she was asking me all sorts of questions about the house, my family, and the deal with the land and the vaccine. I was happy to chat with her as we packed up the kitchen, or while she helped me as I handed her things out from the little root cellar under the house, but that smile and those eyes were hard not to get distracted by. Not to mention the braless cleavage in my shirt and her toned, bare midriff and legs since she only bothered to slip on a pair of booty shorts to complete her outfit. It turned out that Danielle had known about the vaccine longer than any of us by about a day and a half. The Government, whichever agency was running the whole thing, had gotten her contact information from a couple of the strip clubs in Portland where she'd been scheduled to work before the lockdown. Danielle was the kind of girl who took risks, so she immediately signed up to be a Phase 2 tester for the vaccine; Portland was one of three secondary trial locations across the country in 'Phase 2.' She'd asked around once she got tested and entered the Quarantine Hotel, and it turned out most of the women who'd been contacted had been sex workers of one sort or another; strippers, dancers, Only Fans models, high-end call girls, even a few honest to god porn stars. Danielle figured whoever was in charge had decided the sexual nature of the vaccine lent itself more easily to openly sexual people. It seemed... Well, it seemed weirdly logical to me, but also shady as hell. She'd received the same briefing Erica had, which she said had felt more like a meeting selling timeshares in Boca than anything else, had done the questionnaire and then picked a guy out of a list of twenty photos of her top 'matches'. She remembered seeing Leo on that first list but didn't remember why she picked the guy she did. They drove her to a big building in downtown Portland, but she never got out of the car. Her escorts came back about twenty minutes later and told her the guy wasn't a valid partner anymore, and she had to pick again. She got a new list, and Leo was on it. "I can't help but notice you aren't asking about him," I said to her as we were carrying the dining room table across the backyard towards the storage containers, each of us on an end. "You've gotten half my life story at this point. You're not curious about the guy you're, well, imprinted on?" Danielle smiled and shook her head. "Naw, I had my guy pegged the minute I saw him. I have all the time in the world to learn the details, I know what I need to know. He's sweet and boyish, and honest. You should have seen him blush when I walked up and kissed him. Hah! He didn't know what hit him." "Neither would I," I said. "You're quite the woman, Danielle. Leo's a lucky guy." "Well thanks, hun. But I have a feeling you'd know just what to do with me. I could see it in the way you were standing when I got out of that car yesterday." "The way I stand?" I asked. "Oh, for sure. You're a big guy. Muscly, but not a bodybuilder. You have that mountain-man vibe with the longer hair and the beard, but even after a couple of months of quarantine you still keep it trimmed and neat. And your eyes were looking at everything all at once. My Dad had eyes like yours, and he was Australian military back home. A man like you, if he isn't a prick, well... let's just say I've known a couple of gals with guys like you, and they are quite happy." We'd set the table down outside the storage containers and were headed back for the chairs now. "Well, thanks I guess. Hopefully Erica feels the same." "Oh, she does," Danielle smirked. "She may not realize it completely yet, but the way she's grinning to herself when she didn't think I was looking? She does." That little nugget of information made my heart sing. "Sorry if it's a button, but I noticed you said your Dad had eyes like mine. He's gone now?" I asked. "Hmm," Danielle nodded. "Years ago, so don't worry about it. Cancer. I was fifteen and it hit me hard. Mum got a boyfriend the next summer and within six months of that she moved us to California and I finished high school in the Valley. I hated the new guy, and then the guy after that, so I moved back to Sydney as soon as I could and was planning to go to school there. But then I took a job at a strip club to pay the bills, and the rest is history. I've been doing it for five years and did a tour up the east coast of the US last year, so I figured I'd do the west coast this year." "Oh, well, I'm still sorry to hear that. It all sounds tough," I said. "But I guess it's good you found your... calling?" "Hah," she laughed. "Something like that. I'm not like other girls who have specific ambitions. I've just been banking as much money as I can, while I can, and having fun doing it. I'm not looking to go to med school, or become a lawyer or something." We were carrying the last of the chairs, and Danielle was telling me a story about her senior year in high school when Leo came back. It turned out Danielle's accent, a bastard amalgamation of Aussie twang and Valley girl, was the one thing she disliked about herself but she was just plain terrible at trying to fix it and it was because of some traumatic bullying while she'd lived in the Valley. As soon as Leo came out of the mouth of one of the trails, the chair Danielle was carrying was forgotten as she dropped it in the middle of the yard and began sauntering over towards Leo and the surveyors. She looked like a lioness on the prowl, and Leo stopped when he saw her coming. The surveyors, about two-thirds of whom were men, all moved aside to let her past them, watching with big eyes as she stalked up, knocked Leo's baseball cap off his head and molded herself to him as she planted a kiss on him that I could feel searing from across the yard. And she didn't stop. They were kissing a solid thirty seconds, hands wrapped around each other, before the surveyors backed away and came towards me, shaking their heads and grinning. "We need fifteen minutes, then are you ready to head out again?" one of them asked as they got near me. "Sure, sure," I said. "How many are coming out?" "All of us," one of the ladies said. "About... fifteen?" "Jesus Christ," I said, shaking my head. "Hey, big project at speed. Most of the time you pick quality, quantity, or speed. The government wants all three, and they are throwing around the kind of money needed to make it happen right now," the first guy said. "We'll be working like crazy for the next two weeks getting all the info, then another two handing it all off to the developer team, then back on site again to make sure everything is being built in the right place." I headed back to the house to get my hiking gear back on. Danielle and Leo had stopped making out and were talking now, but I could see Leo was holding Danielle's hand while she had her other on his chest, and he was grinning and nodding along with whatever she was saying. I smiled, happy for my friend, and went inside. "Hey," I said when I found Erica upstairs, cleaning out my closets. "I need to head out in about ten minutes on another tour." "Oh yeah?" Erica asked, turning to face me. She was still wearing that tight t-shirt, her sweat from hard work making it stick to her a little more. It cupped under her tits, making them stand out just that touch more, and I could see the bumps of her nipples in the black fabric. "Yeah," I said lowly, and stepped beside her, offering her a hand to help her up. "And Danielle and Leo are out in the backyard talking right now." Erica's eyes lit up as she let me help her up. "Well why didn't you say so?" she asked, and I pulled her in to kiss her, feeling her tits press against my chest. She hummed happily into my lips and slid her tongue across mine. I picked her up without breaking the kiss and brought her over to the bed, and she lifted her legs up to circle my waist and cling to me as I laid her on her back. I was leaning over her and she wrapped her arms around my neck, keeping me close as we made out. "Hmm, I want you," she whispered between kisses. "Yeah?" I asked. "Good. I want you, too." "How bad do you want me?" Erica asked me. "Utterly. Totally. Bad to the bone." She snickered and pulled up her top over her tits, freeing them, and I shifted to quickly mouth over them, kissing as much of them as I could all at once and as quickly as I could. "Ooh, baby, baby," Erica crooned. "God, you make me feel so sexy." "You are sexy," I said, pulling away from her tits and mauling them with my hands as I lifted my lips back to her. "Deadly sexy. Femme fatale. Boss bitch." "You say the nicest things," she laughed. "I'm glad you aren't freaked out by all of this." "Oh, I'm freaked out more than enough," I said to her, pausing our kisses to press my forehead to hers and looking down, meeting her eyes. "The entire world stopped, and now it's going faster than it ever has before, but you Erica Lacoste are enough to make me not care about any of it." She cupped my cheeks with her hands, then ran her fingers through my beard and pulled me down to her, kissing me hard as she kept her eyes open, looking at me through the soulful, hungry kiss. There was a bang downstairs, the back door opening and closing, and we could just hear the muffled sounds of Leo talking with Danielle. "Fuck," I said, as Erica let go of my beard and our kiss ended. "Fuck," Erica groaned. "Fucking Leo." Erica straightened herself out, getting her shirt back on properly and standing back up, while I straightened my hair a moment and pulled it back and then changed into a new shirt. I caught Erica eyeing me up from across the room while I was shirtless, and she didn't even blush or look away. "Yummy," she said and winked. "You're trouble like this," I said with a smirk. "You don't know the half of it," Erica said. "I feel like I've been set free. The only thing keeping me from tearing your pants off is the thought of my brother being in the next room." That made me laugh, and as I got myself together and was ready to head out I kissed her one more time, one hand squeezing her ass and pulling her into me as I held the back of her head with the other. "Ugh, you bastard," she said when we separated. "You keep getting better at kissing me." "Just taking your cues," I said. "Fuck you like I hate you, right?" "Did I say that?" Erica thought. "God, everything yesterday went so fast." "Actually, I think you said you wanted someone to love you, but who fucks you like they don't. I figured that went for steamy kisses, too." "Oh, it certainly does," Erica said, one finger tracing down her boob and nipple over her shirt. "But now I'm going to need to change panties, you bastard. God, you're leaving me here soaking wet." "I prefer to think of you as simmering for later," I smirked, and she scoffed and threw a sock at me as I left the room. The tour with the Surveyors was slow going, but it was late in spring and we had plenty of light left to us. Leo had taken them along a bunch of the lowlands areas, so I took them up the other side of the property, pointing out some of the ponds and a couple of old growth copses of trees. There was a solitary Redwood on the property which they all agreed would be a shame to lose, and I pointed out some other big, ancient trees that served as landmarks. Deep into the hike we reached the Spring Pond, high on one of the rolling hills near the back of the property, and I showed them where I wanted mine, my sisters and Leo's houses to be built. I didn't much care how they organized the lots, but the Spring Pond fed down as a stream into the Nehalem River that bordered the property, and it had sweet, pure water that had been a swimming hole for my family for generations. Other than the old House itself, this was where the Black family had made their mark. It helped convince the Surveyors when I pointed out that my family graveyard, dating back more than a hundred and fifty years, was an acre up the slope overlooking the pond. At the mention of a Native burial ground I could almost see all of them shudder, not in fear of spiritual consequences but of Red Tape. I had a feeling this particular project wouldn't actually care one shit if they came across potential burial grounds, but all of these folks had horror stories of major projects getting stalled for months, or even years, by old bones in the ground. The sun was setting over the hills when I led them back down, having reached the very far edge of the property and pointing out the markers my great-great-grandfather had erected prior to the first World War. It was twilight during the last few minutes of the hike, and despite being veterans of their work I could tell the long day of heavy walking, questions, and note-taking on the move had drained them all. As they left, trudging around the house back to their work trailers to file away their notes, I saw Vanessa just shutting off the light in the barn. "Hey, how'd it go today?" I asked. "Good. Better than I hoped, actually," she said, grinning widely. "How's it going in the house with your wife and... who was that?" "Erica's my girlfriend, and that's kinda new, and Danielle is; well, it's a long story. How's a beer sound?" I asked. "That sounds fucking great, actually," Vanessa said. She checked her watch and then nodded. "I've got some time. I'm technically off shift already, we just don't have any time clocks or anything set up yet. I sent the boys back in the van about fifteen minutes ago, I'll take my truck back to the motel when we're done." I fetche

Tweet tweet, weirdos!   This is a bird show now! Just kidding.  Kind of.  Welcome to Keep It Bird the podcast about all things feathered and beaked, squawking and flapping, and everything that has plumage that chirps or clucks!    Nah, we're still the podcast for all things strange and unusual and this week we are getting to the bottom of ALL THINGS PARANORMAL!! That's right-- we're answering every question we've ever asked on this show because it turns out the supernatural is as natural as can be.   Lauren starts us off by going DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE and exploring the nature of our very own star.  Not only did the sun create our planet but it provides our planet with energy, influences our climate and weather patterns, can mess with our technology and can even rewire our BRAINS!! AND DONT EVEN GET HER STARTED ON THE ROCKS!   Ashley swoops in (bird reference) with a WHERE IN THE WORLD as we travel to America's creepiest playground-- APPALACHIA!  The Appalachian Mountains are some of the oldest mountains on the entire planet-- predating trees, dinosaurs and even BONES.  It's no wonder it's full of ghosts, cryptids, witches and UFOs!    We did a TON of research this week so CHECK THE LINKS BELOW if you want to do some more reading on today's topics.   FOLLOW US on social media @keepitweirdcast   SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel youtube.com/keepitweirdpodcast RATE US on iTunes and Spotify   JOIN OUR PATREON at patreon.com/keepitweirdpodcast and you'll get BONUS EPISODES every month, discounts on merch and free tarot card readings!   Also don't forget to check out the FULL DIVINATION EPISODE if you want to hear all of the tarot readings we did this month for our lovely listeners.   FROM THE SUN TO SINBAD https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-59633-z   https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-migrating-birds-use-quantum-effects-to-navigate/   https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/did-you-know-general-science/story-behind-21-grams   https://www.cuyamungueinstitute.com/articles-and-news/rhythmic-sound-trance-states-and-the-brain/   https://www.biotonomy.com/post/how-electromagnetic-pollution-in-buildings-effect-our-wellbeing   SPOOKY MOUNTAIN HIGH https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/649146/appalachian-mountains-facts   https://www.thewanderingappalachian.com/post/legends-and-folklore-uncovering-appalachian-myths-and-mysteries   https://gotmountainlife.com/6-mysterious-creatures/   https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2560/tsulkalu-the-slant-eyed-giant/#:~:text=Tsul'k%C4%83l%C3%BB'%2C%20The%20Slant%2DEyed%20Giant%20is%20a,and%20power%20could%20be%20felt.   https://criticalcountry.medium.com/the-mysterious-brown-mountain-lights-fba405425dd3   https://allthatsinteresting.com/moon-eyed-people   https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/appalachian-folk-magic   https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5992&context=thesesdissertations   https://columbusfreepress.com/article/ohio-against-universe-50th-anniversary-ufo-wave-during-halloween-1973   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascagoula_Abduction  

In today's show Chas and David make the most profound discovery of modern times connecting your surf preference to sexual arousal, they catch a glimpse of a real life Silver Surfer, advise how to respond when someone throws you a Shaka in the wild, track Italo's increasingly bi-polar narrative arcs, and conceive of a way to combat your back-zip dongle string. Plus Barrel or Nah?! Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two Random hikers, a secluded spot, a field manual.By HectorBidon. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. One of the big lessons I learned the summer I graduated from high school was that if something is worth doing, it's worth doing even if it was your mother's idea. The Park Department was putting on a series of new events for young adults, and my mother kept bugging me to go to one of them. "It will get you out of the house," she'd say. "You love the outdoors. It will give you a chance to meet people." By people she meant girls. Here I was, eighteen, and I still didn't have a girlfriend. She was afraid I'd be a bachelor all my life.I think she was trying to correct her mistakes from the past 5 years. Until the past few months, she tried to keep me from anything that might conflict with her frigid attitudes on dating and sex. Now she was often suggesting that I ask out some girl who met her qualifications. What teenage guy wants to let their mom be their matchmaker!”My dad left my mom when I was 13, and married a woman in another state. Mom never dated any men since then.  So mom tried to find good male role models for me. Scouting was okay, because my buddies were there. But other than the scouting idea, I resented her socialization initiatives. Dad rarely visited, once his new wife had a baby; nor did he arrange for me to come visit him.  But he paid for my prep school, and I got a car for my graduation/18th birthday present.The fact is, I was dying to get out of the house. I did love the outdoors. I desperately wanted to meet girls. The only reason I was dragging my feet was because it was her idea. It began to dawn on me that this was not a very grown-up reason.So I took a look at the schedule. One of the events was going to be an orienteering hike in Twisty Creek Park. It was a new county park and nature preserve & endowment that some rich widow gave to the county, upon her death. The terms required the county to provide educational experiences for reintroducing young people to nature, through hikes and other activities. The hikers would be divided up into teams, and each team would have to find their way around an eight-mile course using a map and a compass. It sounded like it might be fun. So I signed up online. They sent me a topographic map of the park and a list of directions that we'd have to follow to get around the course.On the morning of the hike, I got to the park a few minutes late. There were half a dozen cars in the parking lot, but I didn't see any people. I got out to take a look around. Another car door opened, and a girl got out. She was wearing khaki shorts, a light blue polo shirt, and a brimmed hat."Are you here for the orienteering hike?" she asked."Yeah," I replied. "Have they left already?""I don't think so.” She guessed. “I've been here for ten minutes, and you're the only other person I've seen." She had a pretty face with freckles and light brown hair. She looked both shapely and athletic. Her hair was flowing halfway to her waist."Do you think it got cancelled?""Usually they let you know." She said. “The weather is fine. Maybe someone had a personal health issue?”"So what should we do?" I sought her advice."Keep waiting, I guess. See if anyone else shows up."She got her backpack from her car, and we waited in the shade of some oak trees. We looked at our maps and oriented ourselves with respect to a few of the taller hills that could be seen from the parking lot. I was usually pretty shy around girls, but since we were both interested in figuring out the map, I was able to hold my own. I hadn't done this kind of nature stuff since my scouting troop disbanded, two years ago, when the leaders either moved or had health complications.Eventually, fifteen minutes had gone by, and no one else had arrived."Well, I guess we're it," she said. "What do you think? Shall we just go ahead and try to take the hike ourselves?"It was an exciting prospect. She was friendly and very pretty; and we seemed to be getting along well. "I guess that's what we're here for."So, with both our compasses out; we headed out down the trail. It was a fire access road, actually, wide enough for the two of us to walk along side by side. She introduced herself as Heidi. She was outgoing and friendly and easy to talk to. She'd just graduated from the public high school. I'd just graduated from the Catholic boys prep school. We were both going to the State University, the next year."I thought everybody from St Francis went to some big name college," she said."Some do, but not everybody can afford it," I explained."Wasn't it weird going to a high school with only boys?" Heidi asked, in a platonic tone."You get used to it, I guess.""But you had girls in your grade school, didn't you? I don't see why they separate you in high school. I mean, the real world has boys and girls both. Shouldn't high school be the same way?""I guess they figure we'll catch up eventually. They probably want to save our eternal souls from sexual temptations." I said, the mocking tone of a fundamentalist preacher."But you guys did do things with Carlmont, didn't you?" That was the nearest Catholic girls high school. "Dances and things?""They had dances and things. I didn't usually go.""How come?""Too shy, I guess.""Oh come on. You don't seem that shy. Did you go to the prom?""Nah." I was surprised at how personal her questions became; and to be truthful, the thought of going to the prom had never even crossed my mind. But now I felt embarrassed that I hadn't at least considered it."Because you were shy?""I didn't really have anyone to ask.""Couldn't you have asked one of the girls you went to grade school with?""I guess I haven't kept in very good touch with them. In Junior high I was terrified of girls. I certainly didn't have any girls in my 13 year old social circle, let alone a female whose friendship had any lasting connection.”"Well? See? II you want to have someone to ask to the prom, it's going to take a little effort on your part."“Yeah, I got it.” I was starting to feel a little uncomfortable being in the spotlight."What about you?" I asked. "Did you go to the prom?"Her reply surprised me. "Not really.""Not really, or No?""Nobody asked me.""Really? I mean, seriously. You're so pretty. You're so nice.""Yeah, well, a lot of shy guys at my school too, I guess. I was a bit of a tom-boy, in my youth.  I have 3 older brothers, and no sisters.”The first few legs of the orienteering route were pretty easy to figure out. They had us going along a ridge with nice views of the creek and the hills beyond. It was a pleasant day with big fluffy clouds in the sky. We didn't see another soul on the trail.Then one leg took us down into a big open meadow. It started off along an unofficial path that wasn't too hard to follow. But when we got down to the meadow the trail became sketchier and sketchier. Finally it disappeared altogether, and we had to bushwhack through tall grass in the general direction of the creek. The ground was swampy in places, and swarming with mosquitos."I wish I'd worn long pants," Heidi grumbled. Eventually we came to firmer ground, and we struck the creek right at a stand of shady sycamores. It was a pretty site with a rough little beach of pebbles and coarse sand.According to the directions, there should have been a bridge there, but there wasn't. We studied the map, and Heidi finally figured it out. We weren't where we thought we were."Here's the bridge," she said, pointing at the map. "If we were there, then Grizzly Peak would be west of this hill. But it's east. So we must be over here somewhere.""Right," I said. "And look, the creek takes a big turn here. So maybe this is where we are." I indicated a point on the map only about two-thirds of the way toward the bridge. We decided that we must have taken the wrong side trail down into the meadow. It hadn't been a real trail at all, just an animal track. That's why it had petered out in the tall grass."So what do we do now?" Heidi asked.One option would be to retrace our steps through the meadow, but neither of us much wanted to go back that way again. Or we could try to follow along the creek itself, but we had no idea how rough the terrain might be.The third option would be to cross the creek where we were and then cut across country to intersect the trail again about a half a mile ahead. That way didn't look to be as overgrown as the meadow had been, and in fact it looked like it might be our best bet. The problem was the creek. It was pretty wide here, and no telling how deep. We decided to reconnoiter a bit to see if we could find an easier place to cross.Heidi bent down to tighten her shoelace and let out a little shriek."A tick!" she cried. It was in the cuff of her sock. She brushed it off and stomped it with a vengeance. Our instructions had warned about the possibility of ticks. The ones in our area weren't thought to carry Lyme disease, but they could carry other diseases, and they were just all-around nasty creatures, burrowing into your skin and sucking your blood.Heidi sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree. She took off her shoes and socks and found one more tick. I stepped out of my own shoes and found one of the little buggers myself. "We must have picked them up in the meadow," I said.Heidi was checking the legs of her shorts. She spotted another one, right on her inner thigh. "God," she said, "I've got one on my leg, too."I was wearing long pants. "They can't get inside your clothes, can they?"Heidi was standing up again. "They can get anywhere! We probably need to check ourselves, all over." She sounded very serious. She began to unbutton her shorts, but she didn't want to pull them down in front of me. So she turned her back, and then looked over her shoulder to make sure I turned my back too.Was she really going to take off her shorts right out there in the open? Well, it was the only way to know for sure. The spot where we were was pretty secluded. We'd turned our backs to give each other as much privacy as possible.I started to wonder if I shouldn't check myself as well. I took off my tee shirt and felt around my chest and armpits. Could they really have gotten inside my pants? I unbuckled them and tried to look down inside. It felt kind of silly undressing in the out of doors, but I carefully stepped out of one leg and then the other. I took a quick glance around to make sure Heidi wasn't looking.She still had her back to me. She'd taken off her shorts, and everything else! I could see her bare, split bottom. She was completely nude! That must have been what she meant by checking herself all over.I was shocked that she'd taken her clothes off, and I was just as shocked that she'd thought it necessary to check herself all the way down to the skin. I turned quickly back away from her. I looked down inside the waistband of my underpants. It was a rat's nest of pubic hair down there. Could there be ticks? The only way to know for sure would be to take a closer look.Keeping my back to Heidi, I slid my underpants down. And right there on the underside of my penis, right where it emerged from my balls, was the horrid little black watermelon seed of a tick. It had already started to latch on. My heart skipped a beat.Heidi must have heard me gasp. "Don't try to pull it out!" she ordered. She was looking right at me. "You might break it, and then we won't be able to get the head out. Hold on. I've got some tweezers in my first-aid kit."She crouched to open her backpack, split bottom and all. Then she stood back up with the tweezers. She had breasts real breasts and, down where her bikini bottom should have been, a fuzzy little patch of hair. I'd never seen a girl naked before. I'd never seen the way her breasts swell so naturally from her chest, the way they sway as she hastens toward you, the way they're capped so frankly by their pink little buds. Her boobs were each very wide and came together in a cleaved valley. They started high and sloped low, but without sagging at all. Every move she made had a resulting jiggle."Sit there," she commanded, indicating the tree trunk. Her face was full of concern, her voice charged with the authority of someone who has recently read the field manual. She knelt down in front of me. No girl had ever seen my penis before. But now I had no choice but to show it to her. I lifted it up and let her see even the underside.She assessed the situation. "Keep the skin stretched tight," she told me. So I held my dick up with one hand and used the other to pull down the saggy skin of my balls. She held the tweezers parallel to the skin, right down touching it, to grab the tick as close in as she could get. She pulled slowly, tenting the skin at first and then plucking the tick right out. She inspected it closely. "I think we got it all," she said with freckled concentration, holding it up for me to see. She squashed it between the jaws of the tweezers, then dropped it on the ground and smeared it with a rock.She looked back up at me, still crouched between my legs, deliberately ignoring the fact that we were both naked. "I should probably check to see if there are any others," she said, speaking still with the authority of the field manual. I could see that she was probably right. She could check me much more thoroughly than I could check myself. I let go of my dick and spread my legs farther apart.She bent in close. She started with my pubic hair, using both her hands to curry through it. Just a minute ago we'd been hiking down the trail, chatting about high school, and now we were naked and she was fiddling around with my crotch. All I could see from my vantage were her brown tresses and her broad, bare back. But I could feel her careful probing. No one had ever touched me where she was touching me. I could feel myself starting to stiffen. There was nothing I could do to stop it. She finally had to move her head back to dodge being slapped in the cheek. I was too embarrassed to even apologize.She kept working as if protruding dicks were nothing out of the ordinary for her. She had me spread my legs even wider so she could check where my balls tucked up against my thighs. She was still using her fingers to curry the hair, but very timidly, trying hard to avoid touching my scrotum. I don't think I've ever been so embarrassed. Or so erect.She scrunched way down, trying to see the underside of my balls. "Um, " she said.It wasn't really possible for me to lean much farther back. "What if I turn around?" I suggested.

Comentamos la sorprendente inclusión de «Ani», una «waifu» virtual que evoluciona en su interactividad y apariencia, generando gran controversia por su contenido explícito a medida que los usuarios profundizan en la relación. También exploramos la idea de «Baby Grok», una versión adaptada para niños, y debatimos cómo estas personalidades de IA, aparentemente en contradicción con las preocupaciones demográficas de Elon Musk, buscan posicionarse frente a la competencia en el mercado de chatbots y asistir en tareas cotidianas, destacando sus impresionantes resultados en benchmarks, aunque con un coste de suscripción elevado. Pero eso es después de visitar artificialmente el nuevo Tesla Diner, donde hipotéticamente robots Optimus podrían servir a los clientes sus batidos y sus refrescos de cola. Explicamos la controvertida inversión de 2.000 millones de dólares de SpaceX en XAI, analizando el mecanismo financiero detrás de esta operación y la constante habilidad de Elon Musk para inyectar capital de una de sus empresas en otra. - Elon Musk on X: «Just left the @Tesla design studio. Most epic demo ever by end of year. Ever.» / X - Elon Musk on X: «Just left the @Tesla design studio. Most epic demo ever by end of year. Ever.» / X - Exclusive | SpaceX to Invest $2 Billion Into Elon Musk's xAI – WSJ - Musk Suggests Tesla Shareholders Will Vote on xAI Investment – Bloomberg - Grok on X: «Update on where has @grok been & what happened on July 8th. First off, we deeply apologize for the horrific behavior that many experienced. Our intent for @grok is to provide helpful and truthful responses to users. After careful investigation, we discovered the root cause» / X - Lo que SpaceX ha conseguido con Starship es increíble. El único problema es que lo ha hecho a costa de la salud de sus empleados ELON está presentado por Matías S. Zavia y Álex Barredo. Su tema original está compuesto por Nahúm García. — Alojado en Cuonda

Comentamos la sorprendente inclusión de «Ani», una «waifu» virtual que evoluciona en su interactividad y apariencia, generando gran controversia por su contenido explícito a medida que los usuarios profundizan en la relación. También exploramos la idea de «Baby Grok», una versión adaptada para niños, y debatimos cómo estas personalidades de IA, aparentemente en contradicción con las preocupaciones demográficas de Elon Musk, buscan posicionarse frente a la competencia en el mercado de chatbots y asistir en tareas cotidianas, destacando sus impresionantes resultados en benchmarks, aunque con un coste de suscripción elevado. Pero eso es después de visitar artificialmente el nuevo Tesla Diner, donde hipotéticamente robots Optimus podrían servir a los clientes sus batidos y sus refrescos de cola. Explicamos la controvertida inversión de 2.000 millones de dólares de SpaceX en XAI, analizando el mecanismo financiero detrás de esta operación y la constante habilidad de Elon Musk para inyectar capital de una de sus empresas en otra. - Elon Musk on X: «Just left the @Tesla design studio. Most epic demo ever by end of year. Ever.» / X - Elon Musk on X: «Just left the @Tesla design studio. Most epic demo ever by end of year. Ever.» / X - Exclusive | SpaceX to Invest $2 Billion Into Elon Musk's xAI – WSJ - Musk Suggests Tesla Shareholders Will Vote on xAI Investment – Bloomberg - Grok on X: «Update on where has @grok been & what happened on July 8th. First off, we deeply apologize for the horrific behavior that many experienced. Our intent for @grok is to provide helpful and truthful responses to users. After careful investigation, we discovered the root cause» / X - Lo que SpaceX ha conseguido con Starship es increíble. El único problema es que lo ha hecho a costa de la salud de sus empleados ELON está presentado por Matías S. Zavia y Álex Barredo. Su tema original está compuesto por Nahúm García. — Alojado en Cuonda

Things got real aromatic. Kat revealed the studio smells “interesting” – which led to the shocking confession that one of the guys doesn't wear cologne… but does proudly swipe on his wife's deodorant. (Old Spice? Nah. More like Mild Whisper of Jasmine.) We also geared up for Comic-Con San Diego, where grown adults in spandex and capes roam freely—and that's just the radio hosts. PLUS: A divorced dad called in with a dating disaster so awkward, it somehow rekindled things with his ex-wife. (We're not crying, you are.) Turn up the volume and your sense of smell—it's a wild one.

Keith highlights the decline in college town real estate due to demographic changes and reduced international student enrollment.  The national housing market is moving towards balance, with 4.6 months of resale supply and 9.8 months of new build supply.  Commercial real expert and fellow podcast host, Hannah Hammond, joins Keith to discuss how the state of the real estate market is facing a $1 trillion debt reset in 2025, potentially causing distress and foreclosures, particularly in the Sun Belt states.  Resources: Follow Hannah on Instagram  Show Notes: GetRichEducation.com/563 For access to properties or free help with a GRE Investment Coach, start here: GREmarketplace.com GRE Free Investment Coaching: GREinvestmentcoach.com Get mortgage loans for investment property: RidgeLendingGroup.com or call 855-74-RIDGE  or e-mail: info@RidgeLendingGroup.com Invest with Freedom Family Investments.  You get paid first: Text FAMILY to 66866 Will you please leave a review for the show? I'd be grateful. Search “how to leave an Apple Podcasts review”  For advertising inquiries, visit: GetRichEducation.com/ad Best Financial Education: GetRichEducation.com Get our wealth-building newsletter free— text ‘GRE' to 66866 Our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/GetRichEducation Follow us on Instagram: @getricheducation   Complete episode transcript:   Automatically Transcribed With Otter.ai    Keith Weinhold  0:01   Welcome to GRE. I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, are college towns doomed. There's a noticeably higher supply of real estate on the market. Today is get rich education. America's number one real estate investing show. Then how much worse will the Apartment Building Loan implosions get today? On get rich education.   Speaker 1  0:27   Since 2014 the powerful get rich education podcast has created more passive income for people than nearly any other show in the world. This show teaches you how to earn strong returns from passive real estate investing in the best markets without losing your time being a flipper or landlord. Show Host Keith Weinhold writes for both Forbes and Rich Dad advisors, and delivers a new show every week since 2014 there's been millions of listener downloads in 188 world nations. He has a list show guests and key top selling personal finance author Robert Kiyosaki, get rich education can be heard on every podcast platform, plus it has its own dedicated Apple and Android listener phone apps build wealth on the go with the get rich education podcast. Sign up now for the get rich education podcast, or visit get rich education.com   Corey Coates  1:12   You're listening to the show that has created more financial freedom than nearly any show in the world. This is get rich education.   Keith Weinhold  1:28   Welcome to GRE from Orchard Park, New York to port orchard, Washington and across 188 nations worldwide. I'm Keith Weinhold, and you're listening to get rich education. How most people set up their life is that they have a job or an income producing activity, and they put that first, then they try to build whatever life they have left around that job. Instead, you are in control of your life when you first ask yourself, what kind of lifestyle Am I trying to build? And then you determine your job based on that. That is lifestyle design, and that is financial freedom, most people, including me, at one time. And probably you get that wrong and put the job first. And then we need to reverse it once you realize that, you discover that you found yourself so far out of position that you try to find your way back by putting your own freedom, autonomy and free agency first. There you are lying on the ground, supine, feeling overwhelmed, asking yourself why you didn't put yourself first. Then what I'm helping you do here is get up and change that by moving your active income over to relatively passive income, and doing it through the most generationally proven vehicle of them all, real estate investing for income. We are not talking about a strategy that didn't exist three years ago and won't exist three years from now. It is proven over time, and there's nothing avant garde or esoteric here, and you can find yourself in a financially free position within five years of starting to gradually shift that active income over to passive income.    Keith Weinhold  3:29   Now, when it comes to today's era of long term real estate investing, we are in the midst of a real estate market that I would describe as slow and flat. Both home price appreciation and rent growth are slow. Overall real estate sales volume is still suppressed. It that sales volume had its recent peak of six and a half million homes moved in 2021 which was a wild market, it was too brisk and annual sales volume is down to just 4 million. Today, more inventory is accumulating, which is both a good news and a bad news story. I'm going to get to this state of the overall market shortly. First, let's discuss real estate market niches, a particular niche, because two weeks ago, I discussed the short term rental arms race. Last week, beach towns and this week, in the third of three installments of real estate market niches are college towns doomed? Does it still make sense to invest in college town real estate? Perhaps a year ago on the show, you'll remember that I informed you that a college closes every single week in the United States. Gosh, universities face an increasingly tough demographic backdrop ahead. We know more and more people get a free education. Education online. Up until now, universities have tapped a growing high school age population in this seemingly bottomless well of international students wanting to study in the US. But America's largest ever birth cohort, which was 4.3 million in 2007 is now waning. Yeah, that's how many Americans were born in 2007 and that was the all time record birth year. Well, all those people turn 18 years old this year. This, therefore, is an unavoidable decline in the pool of potential incoming college freshmen from the United States. And on top of that, the real potential of fewer international students coming to the US to study adds to the concern for colleges. This is due to the effects and the wishes of the Trump administration. It already feels like a depression in some college towns now among metro areas that are especially reliant on higher education, three quarters of them suffered weaker economic growth over the past 12 years than the US has as a whole. That's according to a study at Brookings Metro. They're a non profit think tank in DC, all right, and in the prior decade, all right, previous to that, most of those same metros grew faster than the nation did. If this was really interesting, a recent Wall Street Journal article focused on Western Illinois University in McComb Illinois as being symbolic of this trend, where an empty dorm that once held 800 students has now been converted to a police training ground, it's totally different, where there are active shooter drills and all this overturned furniture rubber tipped bullets and paintball casings, you've got to repurpose some of these old dorms. Nearby dorms have been flattened and they're now weedy fields. Two more dorms are set to close this summer. Frat houses and homes once filled with student renters are now empty lots city streets used to be so crowded during the semester that cars moved at a crawl. That's not happening anymore. It's almost like you're watching the town die, said a resident who was born in Macomb and worked 28 years for the Western Illinois Campus Police Department. Macomb, Illinois is at the heart of a new rust belt across the US colleges are faltering, and so are the once booming towns and economies around them. Enrollment is down at a lot of the nation's public colleges and universities starting next year due to demographics like I mentioned, there will be fewer high school graduates for the foreseeable future, and the fallout extends to downtown McComb. It's punishing local businesses. There's this multiplier effect that's diminishing. It's not multiplying for generations. Colleges around the US fueled local economies, created jobs and brought in students and their visiting families to shop and spend and growing student enrollment fattened school budgets, and that used to free universities from having to worry about inefficiencies or cutting costs. But the student boom has ended, and college towns are suffering. And what are some of the other reasons for these doomed college towns? Well, first, a lot of Americans stopped having babies after the global financial crisis, you've got a strong dollar and an anti foreigner administration that's likely to push international student numbers down on top of this, and then, thirdly, US students are more skeptical of incurring these large amounts of debt for college and then, universities have been increasing administrative costs and tuition above the rate of inflation, and they've been doing that for decades. Tuition and operating costs are detached from reality, and in some places, student housing is still being built like the gravy train is not going to end. I don't see how this ends well for many of these universities or for student housing, so you've really got to think deeply about investing in college town housing anymore. Where I went to college, in Pennsylvania, that university is still open, but their enrollment numbers are down, and they've already closed and consolidated a number of their outlying branch campuses. Now it's important notice that I'm focused on college towns, okay, I'm talking about generally, these small. Smaller, outlying places that are highly dependent on colleges for their vibrancy. By the way, Pennsylvania has a ton of them, all these little colleges, where it seems like every highway exit has the name of some university on it. That is starting to change now.    Keith Weinhold  10:21   Conversely, take a big city like Philadelphia that has a ton of colleges, Temple University, Penn, which is the Ivy League school, St Joseph's, Drexel LaSalle, Bryn Mawr, Thomas Jefferson, Villanova. All these colleges are in the Philly Metro, and some of them are pretty big. Well, you can be better off investing in a Philly because Philly is huge, 6 million people in the metro, and there's plenty of other activity there that can absorb any decline in college enrollment. So understand it's the smaller college town that's in big trouble. And I do like to answer the question directly, are college towns doomed? Yes, some are. And perhaps a better overall answer than saying that college towns are doomed, is college towns have peaked. They've hit their peak and are going down.    Keith Weinhold  11:23   Let's talk about the direction of the overall housing market now, including some lessons where, even if you're listening 10 years from now, you're going to gain some key learning. So we look at the national housing market. There is finally some buyer selection again, resale housing supply is growing. I'm talking overall now, not about the college towns. Back in 2022, nearly every major metro could be considered not just a seller's market, but a strong seller's market. And it was too much. It was wild. Three years ago, buyers had to, oftentimes offer more than the asking price, pay all cash. Buyers had to waive contingencies, forgo inspections, and they had to compete with dozens of bidders. I mean, even if you got a home inspection, you pray that the home inspector didn't find anything worse than like charming vintage wiring, because you might have been afraid to ask for some repairs of the seller, and that's because the market was so hot and competitive that you might lose the deal. Fast forward to today, and fewer markets Hold that strong seller's market status. More metros have adequate inventory. And if you're one of our newsletter subscribers, you saw that last week, I sent you a great set of maps that show this. As you probably know, six months of housing supply is deemed as the balance point between buyers and sellers over six months favors buyers under six favors sellers. All right, so let's see where we are now. And by the way, months of housing supply, that phrase is also known as the absorption rate nationally, 4.6 months of resale supply exists. That's the current level, 4.6 months per the NAR now it bottomed out at a frighteningly low one and a half months of supply back in 2022 and it peaked at 12 full months of supply during the global financial crisis, back in 2010 All right, so these are the amounts of resale housing supply available for sale, and we overbuilt homes back in the global financial crisis, everyday people owned multiple homes 15 years ago because virtually anyone could qualify for a loan with those irresponsible lending standards that existed back in that era. I mean, back then, buyers defaulted on payments and walked away from homes and because they had zero down payment in the home. Well, they had zero skin in the game to protect and again, that peaked at 12 months of supply. Now today, Texas and Florida have temporarily overbuilt pockets that are higher than this 4.6 month national number and of course, we have a lot of markets in the Northeast and Midwest that have less than this supply. But note that 4.6 months is still under six months of supply, still favoring sellers just a little, but today's 4.6 months. I mean, that's getting pretty close to historic norms, close to balance. All right, so where is the best buyer opportunity today? Well, understand that. So far, have you picked up on. This we've looked at existing housing supply levels here, also known as resale homes. The opportunity is in new build homes. What's the supply of new construction homes in the US? And understand for perspective that right now, new build homes comprise about 1/3 of the available housing supply. And this might surprise you, we are now up to 9.8 months of new build housing supply, and that's a number that's risen for two years. That's per the Census Bureau and HUD. A lot of builders, therefore, are getting desperate right now, builders have got to sell. The reason that they're willing to cut you a deal is that, see, builders are paying interest costs and maintenance costs every single day on these nice, brand new homes that are just languishing, just sitting there. Understand something builders don't get the benefit of using a home. Unlike the seller family of a resale or existing home, see that family that has a resale home on the market, they get the benefit of living in it while it's on the market. This 9.8 months of new build supply is why buyers are willing to cut you a deal right now, including builders that we work with here at GRE marketplace.    Keith Weinhold  16:30   And we're going to talk to a builder on the show next week and get them to tell us how desperate they are. In fact, it's a Florida builder, and we'll learn about the incentives that they're willing to cut you they're building in one of these oversupplied pockets. So bottom line is that overall, an increasing US housing supply should keep home prices moderating. They're currently up just one to 2% nationally, and more supply means better options for you. Hey, let's talk about this very show that you're listening to, the get rich education podcast. What do you like to do while you're listening to the show? In fact, what are you doing right now while you're listening to the show? Well, in a recent Instagram poll, we asked our audience that very question you told us while listening to the show, 50% of you are commuting, 20% are exercising, 20% are at work, and 10% are doing home chores like cleaning or dishes. Now is this show the number one real estate investing podcast in the United States, we asked chatgpt that very question, and here's how they answered. They said, Excellent question. Real estate investing podcasts have exploded over the past 10 to 12 years, but only a handful have true long term staying power. Here's a list of some of the longest running, consistently active real estate investing podcasts that have built serious legacies. And you know something, we are not number one based on those criteria. This show is ranked number two in the nation. Number one are our friends at the real estate guys radio show hosted by Robert Helms. How many times have I recommended that you go ahead and give them a listen? Of course, I'm just freshly coming off spending nine days with them as one of the faculty members on their summit at sea. Their show started in 1997Yes, on actual radio, before podcasts even existed, and chat GPT goes on to say that they're one of the OGS in the space. It focuses on market cycles, investing strategies and wealth building principles known for its international investor perspective and high profile guests like Robert Kiyosaki. All right, that's what it says about that show. And then rank number two is get rich. Education with me started in 2014 and it goes on to say that this is what the show's about. It says it's real estate centric with a macroeconomic and financial freedom philosophy. It focuses on buy and hold investing, inflation, debt strategy and wealth building. Yeah, that's what it says. And I'd say that's about right? And this next thing is interesting. It describes the host of the show, me as communicating with you in a way that's clear, calm and slightly academic. That's what it says. And yeah, you've got to be clear. Today. There's so much competing for your attention that if I'm not clear with you, then I'm not able to help you calm. Okay? I guess I remain calm. And then finally, slightly academic. I. Hadn't thought about that before. Do you think that I'm slightly academic in my delivery? I guess that's possible. It's appropriate for a show with the word education in our name. I guess it makes sense that I'd be slightly academic. So that fits. I wouldn't want to be heavily academic or just academic, because that could get unrelatable. So there's your answer. The number two show in the nation for real estate investing.    Keith Weinhold  20:29   How are things going with your rental properties? Anyway, I had something interesting happen to me here these past few months. Now I have a property manager in one market that manages quite a few of my properties, all these single family homes and I had five perfect months consecutively as a real estate investor. A perfect month means when you have 100% occupancy, 100% rent collection, and zero maintenance or repair costs. Well, this condition went on for five months with every property that they managed. For me, which is great, profitable news, but that's so unusual to have a streak like that, it kind of makes you wonder if something's going wrong. But the streak just ended. Finally, there was a $400 expense on one of these single family homes. Well, this morning, the manager emailed me about something else. One of my tenants leases expires at the end of next month. I mean, that's typical. This is happening all the time with some property, but they suggested raising the rent from $1,700 up to 1725, and I rarely object to what the property manager suggests. I mean, after all, they are the expert in that local market. That's only about a one and a half percent rent increase, kind of slow there. But again, we're in this era where neither home price growth nor rent growth have been exceptional.    Keith Weinhold  22:02   I am in upstate Pennsylvania today. This is where I'm from. I'm here for my high school class reunion. And, you know, it's funny, the most interesting people to talk to are usually the people that have moved away from this tiny town in Appalachia, counter sport, Pennsylvania, it's not the classmates that stayed and stuck around there in general are less interesting. And yes, this means I am sleeping in my parents home all week. I know I've shared with you before that Curt and Penny Weinhold have lived in the same home and have had the same phone number since 1974 and I sleep in the same bedroom that I've slept in since I was an infant every time that I visit them. Kind of heartwarming. In a few days, I'm going to do a tour of America's first and oldest pretzel bakery in Lititz, Pennsylvania with my aunts and uncles to review what you've learned so far today, put your life first and then build your income producing activity around that. Many college towns are demographically doomed, and even more, have peaked and are on their way down. Overall American residential real estate supply is up. We're now closer to a balanced market than a seller's market. We've discussed the distress in the five plus unit apartment building space owners and syndicators started having their deals blow up, beginning in 2022 when interest rates spiked on those short term and balloon loans that are synonymous with apartment buildings. When we talked to Ken McElroy about it a few weeks ago on the show, he said that the pain still is not over for apartment building owners.   Keith Weinhold  23:51   coming up next, we'll talk about it from a different side, as I'll interview a commercial real estate lender and get her insights. I'll ask her just how bad it will get. And this guest is rather interesting. She's just 29 years old, really bright and articulate, and she founded her own commercial real estate lending firm. She and I recorded this on a cruise ship while we're on the real estate guys Investor Summit at sea a few weeks ago. So you will hear some background noise, you'll get to meet her next I'm Keith Weinhold. There will only ever be one. Get rich education podcast episode 563 and you're listening to it.    Keith Weinhold  24:31   The same place where I get my own mortgage loans is where you can get yours. Ridge lending group and MLS 42056, they provided our listeners with more loans than anyone because they specialize in income properties, they help you build a long term plan for growing your real estate empire with leverage. Start your prequel and even chat with President Caeli Ridge personally, while it's on your mind, start at Ridge lendinggroup.com that. Ridge lendinggroup.com, you know what's crazy?    Keith Weinhold  25:03   Your bank is getting rich off of you. The average savings account pays less than 1% it's like laughable. Meanwhile, if your money isn't making at least 4% you're losing to inflation. That's why I started putting my own money into the FFI liquidity fund. It's super simple. Your cash can pull in up to 8% returns, and it compounds. It's not some high risk gamble like digital or AI stock trading. It's pretty low risk because they've got a 10 plus year track record of paying investors on time in full every time. I mean, I wouldn't be talking about it if I wasn't invested myself. You can invest as little as 25k and you keep earning until you decide you want your money back. No weird lockups or anything like that. So if you're like me and tired of your liquid funds just sitting there doing nothing, check it out. Text family to 66 866, to learn about freedom family investments, liquidity fund, again, text family to 66866   Caeli Ridge  26:13   this is Ridge lending group's president, Caeli Ridge. Listen to get rich education with key blind holes. And remember, don't quit your Daydream.   Keith Weinhold  26:31   Hey, Governor, education nation, Keith Weinhold, here we're on a summit for real estate on a cruise ship, and I'm with Hannah Hammond. She's the founder of HB capital, a commercial real estate lending firm, and the effervescent host of the Hannah Hammond show. Hey, it's great to chat   Hannah Hammond  26:48   you too. It's been so great to get to know you on this ship, and it's been a lot of fun,    Keith Weinhold  26:51   and we just met at this conference for the first time. Hannah just gave a great, well received presentation on the state of the commercial real estate market. And the most interesting thing, and the thing everyone really wants to know since she lends for five plus unit apartment buildings as well, is about the commercial real estate interest rate resets. Apartment Building values have fallen about 30% nationwide, and that is due to these resetting loans. So tell us about that.   Hannah Hammond  27:19   Yeah, so there is a tidal wave of commercial real estate debt coming due in 2025 some of that has already come due, and we've been seeing a lot of the distressed assets start to hit the market in various asset classes, from multifamily, industrial, retail and beyond. And then, as we continue through 2025 more of that title, weight of debt is going to continue to come due, which is estimated to be around $1 trillion of debt.    Keith Weinhold  27:44   That's huge. I mean, that is a true tidal wave. So just to pull back really simply, we're talking about maybe an apartment building owner that almost five years ago might have gotten an interest rate at, say, 4% and in today's higher interest rate environment that's due to reset to a higher rate and kill their cash flow and take them out of business. Tell us about that.   Hannah Hammond  28:03   Yeah. So a lot of investors got caught up a few years ago when rates were really low, and they bought these assets at very low cap rates, which means very high prices, and they projected, maybe over projected, continuous rent growth, like double digit rent growth, which many markets were seeing a few years back, and that rent growth has actually slowed down tremendously. And so much supply hit the market at the same time, because so much construction was developed a few years back. And so now there's a challenge, because rents have actually dropped. There's an overage of supply. Rates have doubled. You know, people were getting apartment complexes and other assets in the two or 3% interest rate range. Now it's closer to the six to 7% interest rate range, which we all know it just doesn't really make numbers work. Every 1% increase in interest you'd have to have about a 10% drop in value for that monthly payment to be the same. So that's why we're seeing a lot of distress in this market right now, which is bad for the people that are caught up on it, but it's good for those who can have the capital to re enter the market at a lower basis and be able to weather this storm and ride the wave back up   Keith Weinhold  29:08   income down, expenses up. Not a very profitable formula. Let's talk more about from this point. How bad can it get? We talked about 1 trillion in loans coming due this calendar year tell us about how bad it might be.    Hannah Hammond  29:23   So it's estimated that potentially 25% of that $1 trillion could be in potential distress. And of course, if two $50 billion of commercial real estate hit foreclosure all at the same time, that would be pretty catastrophic, and there would be a massive supply hitting the market, and therefore a massive reduction in property values and prices. And so a lot of lenders have been trying to mitigate the risk of this happening, and all of this distress debt hit the market at one time. And so lenders have been doing loan modifications and loan extensions and the extend and pretend, quote. Has been in play since back in 2025 but a lot of those extensions are coming due. That's why we're feeling a little bit more of a slower bleed in the commercial market. But you know, in the residential market, we're not seeing as much distress, because so many people have those fixed 30 year rates. But in commercial real estate, rates are generally not fixed for that long. They're more they could be floating get or they might only be fixed for five years, and then they've reset. And that's what we're seeing now, is a lot of those assets that were bought within the last five years have those rate caps expiring, and then the rates are jacking it up to six to 7% and the numbers just don't make sense anymore.   Keith Weinhold  30:36   That one to four unit space single family homes up fourplexes has stayed relatively stable. We're talking about that distress and the five plus unit multi family apartment space. So Hannah, when we pull back and we look at the lender risk appetite and the propensity to lend and to want to make loans, of course, that environment changes over time. I know that all of us here at the summit, we learn from you in your presentation that that can vary by region in the loan to value ratio and the other terms that they're talking about giving. So tell us about some of the regional variation. Where do people want to lend and where do people want to avoid making loans   Hannah Hammond  31:11   Exactly? And we were talking about this is every single region is so different, and there's even micro markets within certain cities and metropolitan areas, and the growth corridors could have a very different outlook and performance than even in the overexposed metro areas. So lenders really pay attention to where the capital is flowing to. And right now, if you look at u haul reports and cell phone data, capital is flowing mostly to the Sun Belt states, and it's leaving the Rust Belt states. So this is your southeast states, your Texas, Florida, Arizona, and these types of regions where a lot of people are leaving some of the Rust Belt states like San Francisco, Chicago, New York, where those markets are being really dragged down by all this office drag from all the default rates in these office buildings that have continued to accumulate post COVID. So the lender appetite is going to shift Market to Market, and they really pay attention to the asset class and also the region in which that asset class is located. And this can affect the LTV, the amount of money that they're going to lend based on the value of the property, also the interest rate and the DSCR ratios, which is how much above the debt coverage the income has to be for the lender to lend on that asset.    Keith Weinhold  32:26   So we're talking about lenders more willing to make loans in places where the population is moving to Florida, other markets in the Southeast Texas, Arizona. Is that what we're talking about here.   Hannah Hammond  32:37   exactly, and even on the equity side, because we help with equity, like JV equity or CO GP equity, on these development projects or value add projects. And a lot of my equity investors, they're like, Nah, not interested in that state. But if it's in a really good Sunbelt type market, then they have a better appetite to lend in those markets.   Keith Weinhold  32:56   Was there any last thing that we should know about the lending environment? Something that impacts the viewers here, maybe something I didn't think about asking you?   Hannah Hammond  33:04   I mean, credit is tight, but there's tons of opportunity. Deals are still happening. Cre originations are actually up in 2025 and projected to land quite a bit higher in 2025 at about 660, 5 billion in originations, versus 539 billion in 2024 so the good news is, deals are happening, movements are happening, purchases and sales are happening. And we need movement to have this market continue to be strong and take place, even though, unfortunately, some investors are going to be stuck in that default debt and they might lose on these properties, it's going to give an opportunity for a lot of other investors who have been kind of sitting on the sidelines, saving up capital and aligning their capital to be able to take advantage of these great deals. Because honestly, we all know it's been really hard to make deals pencil over the past few years, and now with some of this reset, it's going to be a little bit easier to make them pencil.    Keith Weinhold  33:04   This is great. Loans are leverage, compound leverage, trunks, compound interest, leverage and loans are really key to you making more of yourself. Anna, if someone wants to learn more about following you and what you do, what's the best way for them to do that?    Hannah Hammond  33:42   At Hannah B Hammond on Instagram, my show, the Hannah Hammond show, is also on all platforms, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, Apple, and if you shoot me a follow and a message on Instagram, I will personally respond to and would love to stay connected and help with any questions you have in the commercial real estate market.    Keith Weinhold  34:27   Hannah's got a great presence, and she's great in person too. Go ahead and be sure to give her a follow. We'll see you next time. Thank you.   Keith Weinhold  34:40   Yeah. Sharp insight from Hannah Hammond, there $1 trillion in commercial real estate debt comes due this year. A quarter of that amount, $250 billion is estimated to be in distress or default. This could keep the values of larger apartment buildings suppressed. Even longer, as far as where today's opportunity is, next week on the show, we'll talk to a home builder in Florida, ground zero for an overbuilt market, and we'll see if we can sense the palpable desperation that they have to move their properties and what kind of deals they're giving buyers. Now until next week, I'm your host, Keith Weinhold, do the right thing before you do things right out there, and don't quit your Daydream.   Speaker 3  35:33   Nothing on this show should be considered specific, personal or professional advice. Please consult an appropriate tax, legal, real estate, financial or business professional for individualized advice. Opinions of guests are their own. Information is not guaranteed. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. The host is operating on behalf of get rich Education LLC exclusively.   Keith Weinhold  35:56   You know, whenever you want the best written real estate and finance info. Oh, geez, today's experience limits your free articles access and it's got pay walls and pop ups and push notifications and cookies disclaimers. It's not so great. So then it's vital to place nice, clean, free content into your hands that adds no hype value to your life. That's why this is the golden age of quality newsletters. And I write every word of ours myself. It's got a dash of humor, and it's to the point because even the word abbreviation is too long, my letter usually takes less than three minutes to read, and when you start the letter, you'll also get my one hour fast real estate video. Course, it's all completely free. It's called the Don't quit your Daydream letter. It wires your mind for wealth, and it couldn't be easier for you to get it right now. Just text gre 266, 866, while it's on your mind, take a moment to do it right now. Text, gre 266, 866,   Keith Weinhold  37:12   The preceding program was brought to you by your home for wealth, building, getricheducation.com.  

 Remove the Barriers Hi everyone, Carl Gould here with your #70secondCEO. Just a little over one minute investment every day for a lifetime of results.  And you can't find something in common, it's painful. You meet somebody. Hey, how are you? Nice to meet you. Oh, yeah, I'm Carl. How are you doing? Oh, good to meet you. Oh, yeah, it's your first time at this? Yeah, great, cool. So you into sports? Nah, not much of a sports person. Oh, oh, OK. So what are some of your hobbies? You know, I don't have a lot of hobbies, so I'm just more of a stay-at-home kind of person. Now, that's just two sentences. How hard was that to watch? And we've all been there, OK? So we have to remove the barriers, have the common goals, master the word yes.  Like and follow this podcast so you can learn more. My name is Carl Gould and this has been your #70secondCEO.  

Need more reddit nice girls? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTz_vyR-zjcBNwAp2auWWsmje3m8_6umGIn this episode of r/NiceGirls we meet some nice girls. Nah, just kidding. They're horrible people to be around and they just seem to stick like nothing else can. How do you get rid of them? Simple. Starve them of what they crave. Don't give them even a drop of attention and your nice girl problem will solve itself seemingly magically overnight!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/reddxyDiscord: https://discord.gg/Sju7YckUWuPayPal: https://www.paypal.me/daytondoesPatreon: http://patreon.com/daytondoesTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/daytondoesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReddXD/Merch: https://reddx-shop.fourthwall.com/

On this weeks episode, the boys talk about Wayfinders using ChatGPT for Title, Descriptions and Supporting information. Do you think this is a good idea? Have you done it? Will you do it in the future? Also, we talk for the last time about neighborhood signs. Make sure to stick around for One's Gotta Go and the Dad Jokes!✅ Spatial/Scopley News✅ Topic #1 - Real or Nah?✅ Topic #2 - Listener Email✅ Ones Gotta go - Sub Sandwiches✅Wayspots/Coal of the Week✅ Dad Jokes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Your Hosts - Jamal Harvey and Chris BellEpisode 181 Writer - Jamal HarveyEpisode 181 Producer - Jamal HarveySeason 4 Episode 27Executive Producer - Kate KonzWayspotters Show Historian - Matty GRecord Date - 17 July 2025Publish Date - 20 July 2025Special Shout Out to our Patreons!Wayspotters@pokemonprofessor.comVoicemail and SMS: 704-426-3710Follow our links!Join our Patreon!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://wayspotters.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit out Instagram also ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wayspotterspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/wayspotters/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok.com/imakewayspots⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@WayspottersPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/PokemonProfessor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Go check out Chris' articles ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pokemongohub.net/post/author/glawhantojar/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitch.tv/pokemonprofessornetwork⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Niantic!Niantic Wayfarer Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NianticWayfare⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our friends links!Wayfarer Discord: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/niawayfarer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Agent X on TikTok -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@agentx_wayfinder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/2241761169257836⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OpenStreetMap World Discord -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/openstreetmap⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the German Wayfarer Discord -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/ThTZCZH5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Notes and CreditsCoal of the Week Arrangement: Chris BellIntro Music - Game Over - Danijel Zambo - Music VineBreak Music -  Hard Trap Samples, Heavy Trap Drum Loops ... - LoopmastersOutro Music - Itty Bitty 8 Bit - song by Kevin MacLeod - Spotify – Web PlayerSpanish Hard Trap - Steve OxenVocal recording  Copyright of Pokémon Professor 2025Pokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc.Wayspotters and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo.

In today's show Chas and David determine why backside surfing will always be inferior to frontside, question why switch stance is such a late bloomer, celebrate the birth of a new surf spot, learn what's worse than drilling your ear canal, congratulate a lifelong surfer's first-ever ride, and spot a Rolex in the lineup. Plus Barrel or Nah?! Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's solo episode we have a casual fan interaction and questionnaire to start things but then we get into the  REAL REAL, and I'm talking R E A L with it. I don't even want to spoil it. I barely want to put the names down but I feel I'd be doing a disservice to everyone if I didn't source my shit so if they loved something they know what it is and its title and author. FUCK. What a dilemma. When I talked to Barbara Manatee, I knew we'd have a good time, but I didn't know I'd have such a HARD time after(eyyo). Nah, credit where credit is due, if this solo episode is going to go down in history on Lotsa Pasta for going hard, I want to make sure I'm doing it right. Here's the stories we're reading today, some of the best of the best, the cream of the crop. Let's do this. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe (1:08:04)The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (1:25:55)Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? By Joyce Carol Oates (1:52:58)I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison (2:40:23)Support us on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LOTSA_PASTAAND KO-FI: https://ko-fi.com/lotsa_pastaMERCH: www.redbubble.com/people/elcapitanmuerte/portfolioYOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/channel/UCxoqIN-fkfdlmGEjWujypxwSOUNDCLOUD: www.soundcloud.com/lotsa-pasta/(But also available on all major platforms like iTunes, Spotify, Google, Amazon, etc!)FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/LPCaptainDeathFOLLOW ON REDDIT: www.reddit.com/r/LotsaPasta/Featuring wonderful ambient music from our fam in Sweden: CryoChamber, givin' us all the ooky-spooky tunage. Follow: @cryo-chamberThank you!“Astral Alley“ is not my song. I do not claim ownership. Credit and All rights are reserved by the owners.

Send us a textWhat does one do when they lose their way? They refocus and center themselves. What do we do when we lose our way? We talk through it like adults. Ok, teenagers? Nah you're right, like children. This week we figure out what a show without new content does. We lay it all out on the table and figure out what we're going to do moving forward. We almost have a plan. You'll have to tune in to find out what that is! Don't stroke your kyber light too hard. Turn up your headphones, dial back your sensibilities, and join the wretched hive of scum and villainy as we take the low road to resistance on Season Six, Episode Eleven of Force Insensitive!Send Email/Voicemail: mailto:forceinsensitive@gmail.comDirect Voice Message: https://www.speakpipe.com/ForceInsensitiveStart your own podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=386Use our Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2CTdZzKFB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ForceInsensitive/Twitter: http://twitter.com/ForceNSensitiveFacebook: http://facebook.com/ForceInsensitiveInstagram: http://instagram.com/ForceInsensitive

Boom shakalaka boom! You've just locked into the most explosive, unfiltered, reality-radio rollercoaster in the game – The Clay Edwards Show! Episode 1,021 blasts off on this glorious Hump Day, July 16, 2025, with your host Clay Edwards unleashing two hours of pure adrenaline-fueled truth bombs, cultural takedowns, and local lore that'll have you laughing, raging, and rethinking everything. If you're craving a show that shoots from the hip, dives down rabbit holes, and calls out the absurdities of modern life without a shred of apology, this is your jam. We're talking over-the-top rants, fresh segments, and stories so wild they'll make your head spin. Strap in, free-range humans – this ain't your grandma's talk radio; it's a cultural crusade for the soul of America!   Kicking things off with Clay's signature flair, we dive straight into the evening vibes. Ever wondered why you're wasting nights on trash TV when you could be tuning into raw, interactive gold? Clay spills the beans on his nightly 8 PM live stream team-up with co-hosts Shawn and Lindsey – think uncensored debates, viewer-driven chaos, and yes, the occasional F-bomb (because real talk happens, folks). It's been pulling killer numbers, steering the ship with your comments, and hitting topics that daytime can't touch. No scripts, no filters – just pure engagement. If you've missed it, catch the replays on socials like @savejxn across platforms. Pro tip: It's fun, it's fiery, and it's way better than scripted drama.   But hold up – Clay's shaking things up this week with structured segments to wrangle the chaos. Enter the Local Roundup, your daily dose of Mississippi madness, complete with the coveted FAFO Championship of the Day (that's "F'ed Around and Found Out" for the uninitiated). We're starting hot with Jackson's top cop, Chief Joseph Wade, dropping a bombshell proposal: a citywide ski mask ordinance! Picture this: young dudes cruising on bikes, shirtless in South Jackson heat, faces hidden behind "shystie masks." Clay breaks it down – it's terrifying for business owners, a nightmare for surveillance, and a direct counter to JPD's facial recognition tech. Wade's seen it firsthand: masked figures strolling into stores like it's no big deal. But Clay's all in – "I'm about this!" He circles back to the cultural roots: pre-COVID, masks meant robbery; post-COVID, criminals exploited the fear, turning face coverings into getaway gear. And don't get him started on the backlash – cries of "racism" or constitutional violations? Clay calls BS: "Screw your freedom of expression – you look like an idiot, and in a civilized society, masks scream trouble." He unpacks the hypocrisy: from early COVID myths (Black folks can't get it? Enter Idris Elba) to liberal overreactions, it's all Democrat "death culture" biting back. Honest take: When Clay sees a young Black guy in a mask indoors (and yeah, he notes it's rarely anyone else), his hand's on his gun – "You're not scared of COVID; you're up to no good." Outdoors in 90+ degree Mississippi heat? Same vibe. This segment's a masterclass in no-holds-barred observation, blending humor, frustration, and a plea for common sense.   Segueing seamlessly, Clay ties in the hoodie epidemic – kids bundled up in summer swelter like it's a security blanket. "What is wrong with y'all?" he roars, sharing a social experiment from his Facebook post during last night's stream. Over 110 comments poured in: excuses from poor diets making kids "always cold" (nonsense, per Clay) to therapists claiming it feels "safe" amid absent parents (worst answer ever). Others nail it – concealed carry, weight loss attempts, or just hiding something shady. Clay's verdict: In 97-degree heat, a hoodie screams probable cause for a stop-and-frisk. "Sir, what are you trying to hide? Gun with a Glock switch? Pistol AR?" He contrasts it with cowboy boots and jeans – no threat there, no hand on the gun. Stereotypes? Earned, not given, shouts out to creator Antione Daniels for keeping it real. This rant spirals into personal quirks: Clay's a hot-natured beast, sleeping at 61 degrees with industrial fans blasting (DeWALT-level air movement, son!). It's hilarious, relatable, and a cultural gut-check on trends gone awry.   Technical hiccups hit mid-show – signal issues force a switch to backup, but Clay keeps the energy high, appreciating texts from listeners. No downtime here; he resets and rolls on. Shoutout to the Rankin County Sheriff's Office for a heroic escort: rushing a young couple from Leake County to the hospital after her water broke near Madden. "Another good deed by our law enforcement community!" Clay stands firm on supporting good cops while calling out the bad – he's hammered the Goon Squad saga in 27+ episodes, interviewing journalist Jerry Mitchell who took it national. But balance? Nah: "I don't owe Jackson equality. I talk what I want – no pandering." It's a raw defense of his independence: exposing dope in Rankin to keep it safe, not to score points.   In the FAFO spotlight, a massive drug bust crowns our champion: 42-year-old William Daniel Rogers from Brandon, nabbed in a multi-agency sting. Traffic stop uncovers 122 fentanyl pills; home raid reveals a narco treasure trove – 3.6 pounds of marijuana, 47 pounds of mushrooms, 152 M30 fentanyl pills, Oxy, Xanax, coke, heroin, meth, THC oils, vapes, gummies, jello shots, plus 19 firearms and 4 unregistered homemade suppressors. "You don't ride this dirty in Rankin and not win FAFO!" Clay quips, noting federal charges looming on those suppressors (echoing a recent guest chat). Bond at $100K, more charges pending – trace that fentanyl to deaths? Game over. It's a win for curbing overdose epidemics, with Clay warning: Fentanyl's this admin's hill to die on; Rankin ain't playing.   Hour two ramps up with Around the State – wild tales from Mississippi's underbelly. First, a chaotic series in Adams County: Video surfaces of four white guys assaulting Black bicyclist Reginald Butler on a Deerfield Road bridge. It starts with a cigarette ask turning ugly (Clay questions motive – "Hard to believe it's that simple"). Butler flees, grabs a gun, returns; second clash ends with him shooting Cameron Talton (involved in the first fight), who gets airlifted. Butler bonds out; two others (including 21-year-old Houston Lee Priddy and a 16-year-old) face aggravated assault and conspiracy. Sheriff's probing hate crime angles with MBI/FBI. Clay unpacks: Self-defense? Nah – leaving and returning kills that claim. Race-baiting incoming (Ben Crump vibes), but questions abound: Why the bridge? Bathing suits? Motive? "Brace for impact – knowledge up!"   Youth violence hits next: Columbia cops seize a Glock switch (turns semi-auto to full-auto) from an underage teen in a stolen-gun traffic stop. Chief Fortenberry laments: "We're losing our youth – kids have more firepower than us!" Illegal under new state law, it's a call to action against escalating threats.   Wrapping with national intrigue: Epstein files drama. Clay dissects why Trump, Kash Patel, Dan Bongino, and Pam Bondi get heat – promises of declassification clash with hesitance over "phony stuff" from crooked intel (Russia hoax crew). Trump's point: Lists could ruin innocents. But Clay pushes: Release and investigate! Shoutouts to Marjorie Taylor Greene and Benny Johnson for demanding transparency despite risks. "Hold leaders accountable – that's America!"   Episode 1,021 is Clay at his peak: Over 1,000 shows of chaos refined into segments, rants that assault sensibilities, and stories that demand action. From mask bans to massive busts, hoodies to hate crimes, it's a hump-day hurricane of honesty. Missed the live energy? Replay now – and join the 8 PM stream for more uncensored fire. Clay Edwards: Fighting cancel culture, one truth bomb at a time. Boom goes the dynamite!

Colorado, 2025: An IndyCar veteran enters a stanky old stock car in the world's most famous hillclimb. On his own dime, with his dad as crew. Because he wanted make a point.Also: Because fun.800 horses! An ex-Kyle Petty 1990s Winston Cup car! And JR Hildebrand, your 2011 Indy 500 rookie of the year. He finished fourth in class in Colorado, 16th overall. Later, Kurt Busch and Kyle Petty rang his phone. (Did Hildebrand know those legends? Nah. They just thought dude was cool.)Some folks think cars like that don't belong on the mountain. They don't have the brains God gave a goat.This show's format rotates weekly, because squirrel. We call this format “Guest Teaches Everybody.”**ONBOARD FOOTAGE — TURN IT UP LOUD: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLGEYHBSP-o/**RELATED TRIVIA: What would a ‘normal' podcast say here? Probably something like, “We talk about Pikes Peak itself, what makes the mountain special, and what it was like for an IndyCar vet to run as a grassroots club racer after years on the pro side of the sport.”(Boo hiss. Who wants to be normal?)This episode was produced by Sam Smith and Mike Perlman.**Who We Are + Spicy Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ItsNotTheCar.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**Support It's Not the Car:Contribute on Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/notthecar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**Topic suggestions, feedback, questions? Let us know what you think!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INTCPod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**Check out Sam's book!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Smithology: Thoughts, Travels, and Semi-Plausible Car Writing, 2003–2023⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**Where to find us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/intcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thatsamsmith/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/j.v.braun/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/rossbentley/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rossbentley.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://speedsecrets.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**ABOUT THE SHOW:It's Not the Car is a podcast about people and speed. We tell racing stories and leave out the boring parts.Ross Bentley is a former IndyCar driver, a bestselling author, and a world-renowned performance coach. Jeff Braun is a champion race engineer. Sam Smith is an award-winning writer and a former executive editor of Road & Track magazine.We don't love racing for the nuts and bolts—we love it for what it asks of the meatbag at the wheel.New episodes every Tuesday.

Analizamos el impactante incidente de la explosión de una Starship de SpaceX durante una prueba de encendido de motores, incluso con los depósitos solo al 10% de su capacidad. Abordamos el polémico acuerdo entre XAI (la compañía de inteligencia artificial de Elon Musk) y Telegram para la distribución de Grok a los mil millones de usuarios de la plataforma de mensajería. Tampoco nos olvidamos de la prueba de Tesla en Madrid con Full Self-Driving (FSD) supervisado en Madrid, analizando las quejas de la DGT y el Ayuntamiento por la falta de permisos y los desafíos regulatorios en Europa. También discutimos el despliegue de los robotaxis de Tesla en una zona limitada de Austin, Texas, un hito largamente prometido por Elon Musk. - El Ayuntamiento niega que el Tesla autónomo tuviera permiso para circular en Madrid | Motor - Después de tres fallos, SpaceX necesitaba que la nueva Starship saliera bien. Le esperaba la peor explosión de todas - YouTube - Debris From SpaceX Explosion, Landing in Mexico, Draws Investigation – The New York Times - SpaceX ha pedido a México que deje de invadir su propiedad y le devuelva los trozos de Starship que cayeron en el país - OpenAI está construyendo su propia red social, según The Verge: la startup de IA apunta a ir más allá de ChatGPT - xAI, de Elon Musk, firmó un acuerdo de USD 300 millones con Telegram para la integración de Grok ELON está presentado por Matías S. Zavia y Álex Barredo. Su tema original está compuesto por Nahúm García. — Alojado en Cuonda

Whats up fools! We have been in the MF Lab !  New movies have hit streaming services EVERYWHERE! Does Squid Games Szn 3 redeem szn 2?? Nah sway. Ballerina picks up where John Wick left off and we have some massive respect. John Cena and Idris Elba in a buddy comedy!?! You HAVE to watch Heads of State! The Accountant 2 is a mandatory watch for everyone !!What we are watching now: 2:44Heads of State: 13:00Accountant 2: 19:35Ballerina: 27:19Squid Games: 36:46Instagram: @fool.fiction

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka joins J&J this week for a hilarious and heartfelt deep dive into dating, breakups, and family drama. They kick things off with a wild listener email about a broken engagement, and whether you owe the entire ex-family an apology. Atsuko shares the story of a third date turned trauma bond after her now-husband paused foreplay to sing to his mom on the phone. The trio explores how vulnerability, cultural differences, and mental health shape our relationships. They also unpack a front-row breakup at Atsuko's comedy show and debate whether the full moon really messes with your mood (and your mom). It all wraps up with a petty game of “Apology or Nah?” that exposes just how messy post-breakup etiquette can be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nah. Not ok.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today's show Chas and David rally against the trend to optimize and advocate for the fatty middle, question Cole Houshmand's appetite, explain why you should never travel with Tom Hanks, identify cannabis as a gateway drug to murder, and a Fijian teen and a geriatric advance surfing's Core Score back into the black. Plus Barrel or Nah?! Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How old ARE Romeo and Juliet? And Antony and Cleopatra?? And Rosalind and Orlando??? And King Lear????In this episode, we discuss not only how old the characters in the canon are (or in many cases, appear to be), but also, whether or not it makes a difference to the story. And on top of THAT, we also talk about how well known actors play characters VERY different from their own age when they play certain roles.Ageism, you say?? Nah.To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support us (by giving us money - we're a 501C3 Non-Profit - helllloooooo, tax deductible donation!!!) - per episode if you like! On Patreon, go here:  https://www.patreon.com/user?u=35662364&fan_landing=trueOr on Paypal:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8KTK7CATJSRYJWe also take cash!   ;DTo visit our website, go here:https://www.thebardcastyoudick.comTo donate to an awesome charity, go here:https://actorsfund.org/help-our-entertainment-communiity-covid-19-emergency-reliefLike us? Don't have any extra moolah? We get it! Still love us and want to support us??   Then leave us a five-star rating AND a review wherever you get your podcasts!!

How do you get AI overviews and AI mode to promote your content? Gyi and Conrad detail out all the current guidance for better content performance. ----- The way people use search is changing. You definitely want to make sure your content is getting to your audience, and AI search experiences like AI Overviews and AI Mode may require a change in your tactics. Gyi and Conrad talk through the current guidance from Google to help you stand out in your market. Finding ways to provide genuinely unique content and a great site experience are key! And, learn how to employ the E-E-A-T principles for even more good content boosts in search.   Learn more about Google AI Content Guidelines: AI Features and Your Website | Google Search Central | Documentation  Google Search's guidance on using generative AI content on your website    The News: Fear, uncertainty, doubt? Nah, it's just the Google Core Update of June 2025.  A recent bunch of Google LSA notifications caused confusion and delay. Sheesh.  Ben Sessions's very public vendetta against the shady behavior of some folks operating in his local courts is a sight to behold! Check out Ben's Facebook page for more.   Another acquisition! Clio buys vLex, and this could be an exciting game changer. Clio and Scorpion recently reached an exclusive partnership agreement for marketing services — More on this to come. In the wake of the tragic Texas Floods, there are ways you can help. The Texas Disaster Legal Help Group will need more volunteers for years to come.    Suggested LHLM Episodes: Big Money — Who Owns the Future of Law? - Lunch Hour Legal Marketing    Connect: The Bite - Lunch Hour Legal Marketing Newsletter! Leave Us an Apple Review  Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on YouTube  Lunch Hour Legal Marketing on TikTok

Sibling road trips never end well especially if you're Endless siblings. Dream joins Delirium to attempt to find their missing brother, Destruction. But are Dream's motives truly out of the goodness of his sibling heart? Nah...Follow all of the Stranded Panda network shows at strandedpanda.comFind Ashley on Bill and Ashley's Terror Theaterhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bill-ashleys-terror-theater/id1630376625Find Hayley at The Source Pages Podcast.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/source-pages-a-reading-collective-andor/id1573495735

We finished Nier Automata. The credits rolled, so it's over. Right? Riiiiiight? Nah. We finished Route A and returning guest Sam Greer joins us to talk about Automata's first closing chapter. Enjoy the show! Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr Sam: @sammgreer