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fWotD Episode 3375: Aquilegia Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Saturday, 1 August 2026, is Aquilegia.Aquilegia, commonly known as columbines, is a genus of perennial flowering plants in subfamily Thalictroideae of the family Ranunculaceae (buttercups). The genus includes between 70 and 400 taxa (described species and subspecies) with natural ranges across the Northern Hemisphere. Natural and introduced populations of Aquilegia exist on all continents but Antarctica. Known for their high physical variability and ease of hybridization, columbines are popular garden plants and have created many cultivated varieties.Aquilegia plants typically possess stiff stems and leaves that divide into multiple leaflets. Columbines often have colorful flowers with five sepals and five petals. The petals generally feature nectar spurs which differ in length between species. In North America, morphological variations in spurs evolved to suit different pollinators. Some species and varieties of columbines are naturally spurless. In cultivation, varieties bearing significantly altered physical traits such as double flowering are prevalent.Columbines were associated with fertility goddesses in ancient Greek and ancient Roman religion, and connected to Christian religious concepts. Archeological evidence suggests Aquilegia plants were in cultivation by the 3rd century AD in Roman Britain, and they remain popular in gardens worldwide. Despite often being toxic, columbines have been in use by humans as herbal remedies, perfume, and food. Asian traditional medicine practitioners, Indigenous North Americans, and Medieval Europeans have considered portions of the plants to have medicinal uses. Selective breeding and hybridization of columbines has occurred for centuries, with genetic exchanges between Old and New World species creating further diversity.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:01 UTC on Saturday, 1 August 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Aquilegia on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm long-form Patrick.
Astrophiz 239: August 2026 Sky Guide — Venus at Greatest Elongation, Mars Meets the Crab Nebula, and the Eagle of Aquila Dr. Ian 'Astroblog' Musgrave returns with your essential guide to the August night sky. This month the planetary action shifts to the morning sky, with Mars sweeping past the Crab Nebula and open cluster M35, while Saturn begins opening its rings ahead of September opposition. Venus dominates the evening twilight on its way to greatest elongation, and the Moon occults El Nath (Beta Tauri) on the 9th. In this episode: Moon Phases: Last Quarter, New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, and the Lunar X A Total Solar Eclipse crosses the Northern Hemisphere (not visible from Australia) Evening Skies: Venus approaches greatest elongation; Jupiter absent until next month Morning Skies: Mars passes the Crab Nebula and M35; Saturn's rings begin opening Deep-Sky Spotlight: Scorpius, Sagittarius, and the constellation Aquila the Eagle Indigenous Astronomy: Aquila in Koori, Boorong, and Muurrbay sky-lore The Occultation of Elnath by the Moon, August 9 The Perseid Meteor Shower (best from the Northern Hemisphere) The Tangent: How sugar and other organic molecules survive the birth of a new star Read the full transcript and see the show notes at: astrophiz.com Support independent science: Astrophiz is free, ad-free, and unsponsored. #Astrophiz #Astronomy #Stargazing #SciencePodcast #AugustSkyGuide #IanMusgrave #Venus #Mars #Saturn #Aquila #NightSky #Astrophotography
Humans are blowing up oil, gas and each other. The Northern Hemisphere breaks out in more record heat rashes. German scientist Anders Levermann warns we are entering a time of climate free-fall. Dr. Patrick Bigger on climate costs of war (replay). Outside my …
Summer isn't over in the Northern Hemisphere. There may still be sweltering days ahead.
This weeks ai slop is served up by DeepSeek v4 Pro. I tried to use Kimi but it got stuck generating the notes. So now you get this. Could be worse. Episode SummaryJack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack return for a wide-ranging conversation that spans the turbulent state of Australian politics and the precarious state of global affairs. The episode opens with striking Redbridge polling data suggesting One Nation could pick up as many as 19 seats in the upcoming Victorian state election -- a result that would leave neither major party able to form government in its own right. The Jacks explore the mechanics of minority government, the prospect of a marriage of convenience between the Liberals and One Nation, and whether Labor voters in protest mode could deliver One Nation unexpected inroads into heartland seats.The domestic focus then shifts to the Australian economy. Drawing on former ACTU Secretary Bill Kelty's recent analysis, the hosts dissect a bureaucracy more concerned with treating symptoms than causes, lamenting squandered billions on unused quarantine centres, infrastructure costs among the highest in the world, and a housing crisis driven by a failure to train enough workers. The conversation turns to political courage -- or the lack of it -- comparing today's risk-averse governing class with the Hawke-Keating reform era, when fringe benefits tax was meant to kill the long lunch but somehow did not.A spirited defence of Emerge Australia -- an advocacy group training GPs to diagnose and treat myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome) -- highlights the government's decision to cut a mere $400,000 in funding, a move Jack the Insider brands disgraceful for an organisation serving an estimated 250,000 Australians. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme reform also gets a hearing, with pharmaceutical companies increasingly bypassing Australia for clinical trials.Internationally, the Jacks confront the escalating dangers of the Russia-Ukraine war. With Ukraine making Crimea increasingly uninhabitable and Vladimir Putin backed into a corner, the prospect of an attack on a NATO or NATO-aligned state looms. The conversation covers Russia's cancelled bond sale, the shifting power dynamic between Putin and Xi Jinping, and thousands of Russian passports arriving in Moldova -- a familiar prelude to intervention. On Iran, the hosts reflect on the Trump administration's military strikes, oil climbing past USD 100 a barrel, and the political consequences for the upcoming US midterm elections.The episode closes with sport: the FIFA World Cup (and Argentina's remarkable ability to unify the football world in mutual disdain), the AFL's handling of the Nicky Winmar domestic violence case and questions of consistency, the end of the Bazball era in English Test cricket, a warm tribute to the late Sir Garfield Sobers, and rugby union's new Nations Championship format.Timestamped Highlights(All timestamps adjusted +25 seconds to account for theme music.)00:00:26 -- Introduction and Banter Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack open the show trading observations on air conditioning, long lunches, and the perils of sitting directly beneath the vent.00:01:32 -- One Nation's Victorian Polling Surge Redbridge polling data indicates One Nation could win as many as 19 seats in the Victorian state election. In an 88-seat legislature, that would make a majority for either major party almost impossible.00:02:52 -- Minority Government Mechanics Hong Kong Jack explains the constitutional pathway: if no party wins a majority, the sitting Premier gets the first conversation with the Governor and may be recommissioned to form government.00:04:20 -- A Three-Cornered Contest Jack the Insider argues the Allan government is at the end of the road, but the Liberal alternative inspires little confidence. One Nation may poll well in Labor heartland seats as protest voters look for an outlet that is not the Liberal Party.00:06:33 -- The Polling vs. the Pencil Hong Kong Jack predicts One Nation's polling numbers will soften once voters are alone in the booth with an HB pencil hovering over the ballot paper.00:08:32 -- Commonwealth Games Land in Glasgow The hosts acknowledge the Commonwealth Games have begun -- in Glasgow, not Victoria. The opening ceremony featured King Charles and Queen Camilla emerging from a Doctor Who TARDIS.00:10:50 -- Pauline Hanson and the Tommy Robinson Interview The Jacks dissect Hanson's decision to interview the controversial British figure, with Hong Kong Jack arguing the motivation is straightforward: publicity, good or bad.00:12:12 -- Factions Within One Nation Barnaby Joyce's visible discomfort with the Robinson interview signals internal tensions. Jack the Insider warns One Nation risks veering further towards the "lunar right."00:13:30 -- Two Australias: The Great Dog Divide A detour into the changing culture of pet ownership. Jack the Insider contrasts the utilitarian farm dogs of his Reservoir childhood with the multi-billion-dollar industry of designer dog beds, pushchairs, and booties.00:15:59 -- Bill Kelty's Economic Diagnosis Former ACTU Secretary Bill Kelty delivers a blunt assessment: Australian governments have spent decades treating symptoms rather than causes -- quarantine centres never used, infrastructure costs at world-record levels, a housing crisis born of under-investment in skills.00:17:59 -- The Courage Deficit Hong Kong Jack argues the current government, like its recent predecessors, lacks political boldness. The Prime Minister's Labor conference speech seemed "spooked by One Nation" rather than offering a growth narrative.00:19:22 -- The Keating Comparison Jack the Insider revisits the Hawke-Keating reform era, noting the howls of outrage that greeted early reforms -- including fringe benefits tax, which was meant to "kill lunch" but somehow did not. The difference today: social media amplifies every backlash.00:23:02 -- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Funding Cut An urgent segment on the defunding of Emerge Australia, an advocacy group that has trained roughly 10% of the nation's GPs in diagnosing and treating ME/CFS. The cut amounts to approximately $400,000 -- a sum Jack the Insider describes as negligible in public expenditure but catastrophic for the 250,000 Australians living with the condition.00:26:37 -- The PBS and Australia's Clinical Trial Problem Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly bypassing Australia for clinical trials, leaving patients with rare conditions to raise extraordinary sums for overseas treatment. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme's pricing structure may require root-and-branch reform, particularly for newly developed drugs.00:29:50 -- What Should Labor Do About One Nation? Hong Kong Jack's prescription is simple: fix the economy and stop saying silly things. One Nation will wither on the vine if economic growth returns.00:30:17 -- Derryn Hinch: The Human Headline Remembered The former broadcaster, senator, and Justice Party founder has died aged 82. The Jacks reflect on a complicated legacy -- a man who transformed Melbourne talkback radio and tabloid television, was twice married to Jacki Weaver, and whose profound impact on the media is tempered by a deeply troubling intervention in the justice system.00:32:00 -- The Glennon Case: When a Headline Cost Children Their Safety Jack the Insider recounts in detail how Hinch's decision to publicly name convicted paedophile priest Michael Glennon during an active trial led to the suspension of proceedings, an eventual overturned conviction, and a four-year window in which Glennon continued operating camps and abusing children -- as many as 20 additional victims.00:38:14 -- Hinch's Media Legacy Despite the Glennon tragedy, Hong Kong Jack credits Hinch with changing the sound of Melbourne radio. The talkback format he pioneered arguably saved stations like 3AW.00:40:32 -- Ukraine and the Battle for Crimea The Ukrainians cannot hold Crimea, but they are making it unliveable. Water, electricity, and supplies have been cut. Crimeans are fleeing en masse. The Russian Black Sea Fleet has effectively ceased to exist.00:42:13 -- Putin Backed Into a Corner Jack the Insider warns that Vladimir Putin, when cornered, does not act rationally. The spectre of an attack on a NATO country -- perhaps a Baltic state -- or on Moldova is real. Putin cannot sue for peace; it would mean the end of him.00:44:21 -- Russia's Economic Pressure Points Hong Kong Jack notes that Russia cancelled a regular bond sale last week after failing to find buyers. The economic squeeze is mounting. Putin and his deeply unpopular party are now being fused together ahead of elections.00:47:13 -- Russian Passports Arrive in Moldova Thousands of Russian passports have been shipped to Moldova -- the same playbook used in Crimea and eastern Ukraine before intervention.00:49:32 -- Iran, the Houthis, and Oil Above USD 100 US strikes on Iran continue. Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have struck oil tankers. The price of crude has pushed past USD 100 a barrel -- a politically dangerous number for Donald Trump four months out from the midterms.00:50:33 -- The Netanyahu Pitch for Regime Change Jack the Insider recounts the scene from Swan and Haberman's book: Benjamin Netanyahu presenting a case for US-Israeli combined bombing to achieve regime change in Iran. Trump was impressed; Marco Rubio and the CIA director were not.00:52:56 -- US Midterms: The Democratic Candidate Problem The Democrats' prospects are muddied by candidate issues including the withdrawal of Graham Plattner over sexual assault allegations and the party's persistent inability to select candidates who genuinely connect with the white working class.00:54:40 -- Tim Waltz, John Kerry, and Authenticity Hong Kong Jack contrasts the Democrats' clumsy attempts to project authenticity -- Tim Waltz hunting, John Kerry windsurfing -- with the reality that Kerry was an ice hockey player who once attended a White House meeting with two black eyes from a congressional game.00:58:19 -- The Sickness in American Democracy Jack the Insider argues the two-party lock on presidential politics -- achieved partly by keeping third-party candidates off ballots in roughly 30 states -- is profoundly undemocratic. With 40% of voters now registering as independents, millions have no candidate who represents them.00:59:43 -- Can Trump Disrupt the Midterms? Hong Kong Jack analyses the constitutional limits on presidential interference in state-run elections. Any attempt to use emergency powers would go straight to court.01:03:43 -- Marine Le Pen: France's Next President? Polling around 67%, Le Pen is the frontrunner for the French presidential election. Her felony conviction for misusing EU funds appears to be no impediment.01:05:09 -- Andy Burnham's Fast Start as UK Prime Minister The new PM has hit the ground running with popular measures: a GBP 2 bus fare cap across England, 20% business rate cuts for pubs, clubs, and live music venues, and the scrapping of VAT on domestic electricity bills.01:07:36 -- Britain's Investment Challenge The biggest test for Burnham will be attracting investment. The UK has 11 million working-age citizens on benefits -- a figure now exceeding tax receipts.01:09:03 -- FIFA World Cup: Argentina Triumphs, Trump Photobombs Argentina are world champions, but not before a petition signed by millions demanded their exclusion from the final. Donald Trump appeared on the podium; the Spanish commemorative photos, the Jacks note, did not include him.01:11:07 -- The Refereeing and the Expansion The officiating was patchy, but the expanded tournament format was vindicated. Seeing Cape Verde, Australia, New Zealand, and Iran compete gave the event a genuinely global feel.01:14:23 -- Nicky Winmar, the AFL Hall of Fame, and Domestic Violence The Jacks grapple with the AFL's removal of Winmar from the Hall of Fame following a domestic violence conviction. Jack the Insider questions the consistency: Wayne Carey and Gary Ablett Sr. remain honoured. Hong Kong Jack suggests a suspension rather than permanent expulsion would have been more appropriate, arguing that football cannot be reserved for choirboys.01:19:06 -- Bazball's End: The McCallum Era Concludes Baz McCallum is out as England's Test coach after 49 Tests: 27 wins, 20 losses. Ten of the first eleven were victories; seven of the last nine were defeats. The hosts debate whether Bazball added to cricket's audience even if it could not sustainably win Test matches.01:23:20 -- Sir Garfield Sobers: The Greatest of All Time A warm tribute to the late West Indian legend. Jack the Insider recalls meeting Sobers at the Hilton in Barbados. Hong Kong Jack shares the story of Sobers -- completely ambidextrous -- playing golf off scratch left-handed and off two right-handed.01:27:53 -- Rugby Union's Nations Championship A new format pits Northern Hemisphere sides against Southern Hemisphere sides, culminating in finals at Twickenham. Hong Kong Jack is sceptical anyone will care which hemisphere wins. The 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, however, is selling tickets strongly.01:30:00 -- Sign-Off Jack the Insider thanks listeners and apologises for the previous week's absence due to illness. The hosts promise to return on or around 31 July, though Hong Kong Jack advises against buying "20-year futures in us."Social Media PostsTwitter / XPost 1: One Nation could win up to 19 seats in the Victorian election. On this week's episode, we break down what a three-cornered contest means for the major parties -- and why minority government may be coming to Spring Street. Listen now.Post 2: "Putin, when cornered, does not act rationally." This week we examine the escalating dangers in Ukraine, Russian passports in Moldova, and why oil above USD 100 spells trouble for Trump. New episode of The Two Jacks out now.Post 3: $400,000. That is what it costs to train GPs across Australia to diagnose and treat ME/CFS -- and the government has cut it. We discuss why this quiet defunding of Emerge Australia is a disgrace. Full episode linked.Post 4: Derryn Hinch transformed Australian media. He also, by his own grandstanding, gave a paedophile priest four more years of access to children. This week we examine the complicated legacy of the Human Headline.Post 5: Bazball is dead. Garry Sobers is immortal. Nicky Winmar is out of the Hall of Fame. Our sport segment this week covers the big calls in cricket, AFL, rugby, and a World Cup final that unified the planet -- against Argentina.FacebookThis week on The Two Jacks: Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack navigate a political landscape where the old rules no longer apply.Redbridge polling has One Nation on track to become kingmaker in Victoria. We explore what minority government would actually look like -- and whether Labor can cling to power even if it finishes second.Bill Kelty says Australia's bureaucracy treats symptoms, not causes. We ask: where has political courage gone, and could anyone sell reform the way Keating did?From a USD 400,000 funding cut that will devastate chronic fatigue sufferers, to pharmaceutical companies abandoning Australian clinical trials, to a PBS in need of root-and-branch reform -- the domestic agenda is packed.Internationally, the picture is darker. Putin is cornered in Ukraine. Iran burns. Oil has passed USD 100. And the US midterms are shaping up as a referendum on Trump's foreign policy.Plus: Derryn Hinch's complicated legacy, Argentina's World Cup, Nicky Winmar and the AFL's consistency problem, the death of Bazball, and a toast to Sir Garfield Sobers -- the greatest cricketer who ever lived.Listen wherever you get your podcasts.InstagramCaption for episode artwork: Episode 165 is live. This week: One Nation's Victorian moment, Putin's dangerous corner, the Hinch legacy, and why a $400K funding cut matters more than you think. Link in bio.
The Best Forex Pair? Everyone Gets This Wrong Podcast: Find out more about Blueberry Markets – Click Here Find out more about my Online Video Forex Course Book a Call with Andrew or one of his team now Click Here to Attend my Free Masterclass #643: The Best Forex Pair? Everyone Gets This Wrong In this video: 00:22 – What is the best Forex pair to trade? 00:59 – Don't limit your trading opportunities. 01:55 – Give yourself a higher probability of success. 02:25 – An example of Strength and Weakness. 03:50 – What are the current market conditions? 04:25 – Look at multiple FX pairs. 05:06 – Check out my new Masterclass. 05:15 – Book a call to talk with us. 05:28 – Blueberry Markets as a Forex Broker. Hey, traders! Do you know what the best forex pair is to trade? If you don’t, listen up. I’ve got some interesting news to cover for you. Hey there, Traders! It’s Andrew Mitchem here at The Forex Trading Coach with video and podcast number 643. What is the best Forex pair to trade? Now, I’ve been asked 4 times this week already by 4 different people. And it’s the same question. It is, Andrew, can you tell me please, what’s the best forex pair to trade? What should I be looking at? Now, what it does show me is that unfortunately, there’s a lack of knowledge out there by so many people when it comes to trading, and they just always want to know what is the answer? What’s the best thing, what time frame, what pair? What’s my stop loss? Where should my profit target be? All those type of things. And it unfortunately shows that most people don’t do enough research into trading. Don't limit your trading opportunities. And the problem is, is that people see the major currencies like the EUR/USD or the USD/JPY, and they think that’s the only pair I should trade. And I suppose, in all honesty, when I started, you know, it was the GBP/USD, the USD/CHF, the USD/JPY, and then later on the EUR/USD. And everybody thought those were the 4 pairs you should focus on trading. And the issue is, why just those 4 pairs? Now, when you think about it, all 4 of those that I’ve just mentioned are all US dollar dominated. And therefore, if you focus on pairs that are just US dollar dominated, you’re not giving yourself a very good chance of success because they’re all likely to move, much of the time, in the same direction. And because it depends if the US is strong or the US is weak. Give yourself a higher probability of success. And as a trader, I like to give myself the best probability chance of success. So when it comes to which pair is the right 1 to trade, I don’t get aligned to any pair. I look at all the different pairs and you can very quickly scan through the charts, looking to see if there’s a suitable trade there, yes or no. And the other reason I do that on a daily basis is because I also prefer to trade with strength and weakness. An example of Strength and Weakness. Now, give you an example. Let’s focus again on the EUR/USD. What happens if for today the Euro is really strong and the US is really strong, and that’s the only pair that you look at? Then you’re trading 2 strong pairs together, and you see how the problem might come. 1, you’re unlikely to get many setups or good setups. And what happens if you buy the EUR/USD because the Euro’s got some strength, but you also know now that, and you would know this only if you look at more pairs. If you don’t look at more pairs, you’re not going to know this. The US dollar has got strength. So why would you be buying the EUR/USD if you know that the US dollar has got strength? And so, what about other pairs in the market? What about pairs like the CAD/JPY or the NZD/CHF? And so by analyzing multiple markets at the same time, you can soon understand which pairs are strong, which pairs are weak because, doesn’t it make more sense to trade a strong currency against a weak currency? And so that, to me, adds more basis to my trading. And again, it’s just adding more and more probability to my trading. So when someone says to me, what’s the best pair? I can’t answer it. And of course, there’s more things on top of this, you know, to consider. What are the current market conditions? It depends on the day, what’s happening in the market right now, what news has been, what news there might be coming up, what time frame chart you’re looking at, what’s the conditions? What’s the time of year? Right now we’re in the Northern Hemisphere summer. Does that mean that there’s less price action in maybe, say, the Franc and the Euro? Maybe. You know, so all these things have got to come into it. What’s the characteristic of the market right now? And so by picking 1 or 2 pairs and giving you that as the answer, that’s not me doing my job. That’s not what I suggest you do. Look at multiple FX pairs. I suggest that you scan through multiple pairs and give yourself a high-quality chance of a successful trade. Use strength and weakness. Use candle patterns. Don’t limit yourself to just something against the US dollar. It’s not a wise idea. And so there’s a lot more you can be doing to help yourself there. And if you do want to look at pairs that include the US dollar, why not look at things like the AUD/USD or the NZD/USD? Because maybe if that US is still strong, maybe the Aussie and Kiwi are weak that day. So therefore you might be selling the AUD/USD or the NZD/USD. So all these things can certainly massively help you. Check out my new Masterclass. If you’d like to find out how we do this, and you’d like to learn from the way that we trade, have a look at my On-Demand Masterclass. I’ll put a link to that here. Book a call to talk with us. If you’d like to book a call to speak to myself or 1 of my team, we’re more than happy to do that. And we can cater for people right around the world. So it doesn’t matter what time zone you’re on, you can book a time with us and I’ll put a link to that also here. Blueberry Markets as a Forex Broker. If you’re out there looking for a really good broker where you can trade multiple time frames, multiple markets, multiple currency pairs, and non-forex markets as well, have a look at Blueberry Markets. I’ll put a link to them here as well. So that’s it for this week. This is Andrew Mitchem at The Forex Trading Coach, keeping you on the right side of your trades and putting probability in your favor. Episode Title: #643: The Best Forex Pair? Everyone Gets This Wrong Find out more about Blueberry Markets – Click Here Find out more about my Online Video Forex Course Book a Call with Andrew or one of his team now Click Here to Attend my Free Masterclass
It's summer - it's hot (at least in the Northern Hemisphere). Time for another installment of our "Ernest for all seasons."Thomas moved from art direction at Disney World, to creating entertaining comic books, podcasts, and toys riffing on conspiracy theories. Check out his stuff here:https://www.paranoidamerican.com/Please subscribe, review, and rate us on all the podcatchers. And if you're Scrooge McDuck, throw a bob out to Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/podcastiopodcastiusMatt makes lots of music. Brand new ones include the binaural head trip of "The Depths of Fieldation," and the psych rock of "The Deep Dream Realm." Have a listen:https://rovingsagemedia.bandcamp.com/Coming soon: Strange World Common Side EffectsElemental
As record-breaking heat sweeps across the Northern Hemisphere, keeping cities cool has become a global challenge. On July 10, China's peak electricity demand reached an all-time high of 1.5 billion kilowatts, reflecting the enormous pressure on the country's power system as millions of homes and businesses relied on cooling. How does China keep electricity flowing for a population of 1.4 billion during extreme heat?
If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, it is the middle of summer and likely scorching hot outside. To cool you off a bit, we give you a Rankin-Bass special, combining the forces of Rudolph and Frosty. Together, they and others try to stop a villain from turning the North Pole into his own evil wonderland. This gets dark sometimes, and this was aimed at children? And were children willing to sit through 90 minutes to 2 hours of this un-holly and un-jolly special?
Send us Fan MailIt's our last show for the season, so come and join us as we delve into the chaos of the world's news, along with a deep dive into understanding China. So, what happened this week? Well, Trump announced a 20% fee on The Straits of Hormuz and then backtracked, meanwhile Lindsay Graham died and the conspiracy theories proliferated. He wasn't the only death, with UK politician Anne Widdecombe murdered, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, known as the architect of modern Qatar dying, and of course, actor Sam Neil died unexpectedly too. Not Mitch McConnell though. Yes, he's still with us, and the conspiracy theories continue. Extreme heat continues across the Northern Hemisphere, where Europe's nuclear power plants can't beat the heat, rivers are drying up, 10,000 are officially confirmed head, and June was the hottest-ever since records began. We learned that Trump has left instructions if he's assassinated, although he's expecting a jolly good turn-out at his funeral, with the Borrowitz Report saying: Trump said that “nobody cares” about Khamenei's funeral, and that he's expecting the turnout at his funeral to set records, noting, “Every day, people say to me, ‘Sir, I can't wait for that day to come.'” Chortle. But the big news is the El Niño surge, which could cause a global food price shock lasting into 2028, and a whole lot more. This week, we are delighted to welcome Kenny Lim, who's known as The China Whisperer. Kenny has a framework called China Decoded™ and he helps boards and the C-Suite understand how Chinese companies think, compete and scale. We're going to discuss his framework, apply it beyond executive ranks, and we're also going to discuss Chinamaxxing, which is now a thing. What does it mean? Come and find out. It's going to be a fun and informative show, so hop along and join us. We'll be going live Friday, 17th July 2026, kicking off at 8am UK, 9am EU, 11am UAE, 12.30pm IN, 2pm TH, 3pm SG, 5pm AEST. Streaming across various locations, and no doubt about it, we'd love your support. The Sh*t Show is a Livestream happening every Friday, where Andrea T Edwards, Dr. David Ko, Richard Busellato and Joe Augustin, as well as special guests, discuss the world's most pressing issues across all angles of the polycrisis, working to make sense of the extremely challenging and complex times we are all going through, plus what we can do about it. Help us move the needle so we can change the name of the show to something more genteel when (or if) it is no longer a sh*t show. #TheShitShow #UncommonCourageYou can find me Andrea T Edwards | The Digital Conversationalist and Welcome - Uncommon Courage - An Invitation. My book Uncommon Courage, an invitation, is here https://mybook.to/UncommonCourage My book 18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile, is here https://mybook.to/18stepstoanallstar
GB2RS News Sunday the 19th of July 2026 The news headlines: Spy transmitter activities at the RSGB National Radio Centre Which RSGB partner museum will you be visiting this summer? RSGB Outreach Team supports the WINGS Jamboree Following last year's success, the ‘Find the spy transmitter' events are back for Summer 2026 at the RSGB National Radio Centre. This family-friendly activity will turn you into spy hunters as you explore Bletchley Park looking for hidden transmitters. The event will be running on Tuesday the 28th of July and Thursday the 30th of July. Each date has two start times, one at 10.30am and another at 1.30pm. Spaces are limited to 12 groups per session and are available via rsgbspytransmitter.eventbrite.co.uk The activity is free to take part in, however entry to Bletchley Park is required. Don't forget that RSGB members get free access to the historic site as a membership benefit. Download your voucher at rsgb.org/bpvoucher Last year, the RSGB introduced a new membership benefit offering its members discounted entry at six fascinating museums. Following positive feedback from members, this offer continues and RSGB members can receive between 20 and 50 percent off admission fees at Amberley Museum, Bawdsey Radar Museum, Internal Fire Museum of Power, PK Porthcurno Museum of Global Communications, the Royal Signals Museum and the National Museum of Computing. You can make the most of this offer by incorporating a visit to one, or all, of the museums this summer. Whether you are organising a club visit, looking to entertain the children over the summer holidays, or planning for a day out by yourself, there is lots to keep you busy. Visit rsgb.org/partner-museums for details on how to receive your personalised discount voucher. Members of the RSGB Outreach Team will be attending the WINGS Jamboree in Windsor between the 26th and 30th of July. The team will be showcasing amateur radio to Scouts and Girlguiding members aged 6 to 14, who will have the opportunity to test their Morse skills through the ever-popular Morse Battleships game. The team will be activating special event callsign GB1WINGS over the period, and the youngsters will have the opportunity to make supervised on-air contacts across the UK and internationally. The team welcomes your support and encourages you to make QSOs on the HF bands and via the QO-100 satellite. Please check the DX Cluster for frequency details. QSL will be via QRZ, eQSL and Logbook of the World after the event. Revalidating your licence is required every five years, however Ofcom recommends doing it annually. The process requires licence holders to confirm or update their details on the Ofcom licence database. Whether you have recently moved, have a new email address, or all your details remain the same, use this as a reminder to log in and tick the job off your list. You can find guidance on the process by selecting ‘Licence Revalidation' at rsgb.org/licensing As well as FAQs, you'll also find a link to a step-by-step video by Ofcom, which shows you the process of revalidating your licence using the online licensing portal. The first of this year's International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekends will run from 0001UTC on Saturday the 15th of August to 2400UTC on Sunday the 16th of August. The event usually attracts more than 500 lighthouse entries located in over 40 countries. Registration for the event is open at illw.net Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events Today, the 19th, Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Radio Rally is taking place at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors open at 10am and admission costs £3. This in an indoor event and ample free car parking is available. For more information email m5zzz@outlook.com On Saturday the 25th, the Wiltshire Radio Rally Electronics Fair and Car Boot Sale takes place at Kington Langley Village Hall and Playing Fields, Church Road, Kington Langley, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 5NJ. The doors open at 7.30am for traders and at 9am for visitors. Hot and cold refreshments and ample parking are available on site. For more information visit chippenhamradio.club/rally Now the Special Event news Radio amateurs using Bawdsey Radar Museum's callsign GB2GRS will be on the air today, Sunday the 19th. Visit the museum to hear where in the world they are contacting. More information is available at bawdseyradar.org.uk Special callsign HF170TESLA is active to mark the 170th anniversary of the birth of Nikola Tesla. Look for activity on various bands and modes until the 31st of July. For details of awards that are available for working the station, visit tinyurl.com/teslaSES To celebrate the centenary of Romania's first amateur radio club, special callsign YR100RC is active until the 30th of September. Find out about awards that are available at tinyurl.com/yr100rc2026 Now the DX news Didier, F6BCW has been active as FO/F6BCW from Tikehau Atoll, OC-066, in French Polynesia until tomorrow, the 20th. He operates CW and SSB on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via FO/F6BCW, Logbook of the World and OQRS. Aldir, PY1SAD is active as 8R1TM from Guyana until Sunday the 26th of July. He operates CW, SSB and digital modes on the 160 to 6m bands and via satellite. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, QRZ.com or directly to Aldir's home call. The IP1X team will be active from Gallinara Island, EU-083, on Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of July. They will be operating using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via the Bureau, OQRS or directly to IU1JCZ. For more details and updates see QRZ.com Now the contest news Today, the 19th, the RSGB International Low Power Contest runs from 0900 to 1600UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and transmitter power. On Tuesday the 21st, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 23rd, the RSGB 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The RSGB IOTA Contest starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 25th and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 26th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number and IOTA reference. On Sunday the 26th, the UK Microwave Group High Band Contest runs from 0800 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 16th of July 2026. Last week was characterised by a falling solar flux index. Over the past week it has gone from 116 to 100, but the good news is that we have only had one M-class solar flare in that time and a multitude of lesser C-class flares that haven't amounted to much. As a result, the Kp index remained low, certainly below 4, other than one excursion to 4.67 on Sunday the 12th of July. This means propagation has been stable rather than outstanding. But as the winners of the World Radiosport Team Championship showed last week, it was still possible to make 5,800 QSOs in 24 hours. An analysis shows that the best scoring band was 20m, closely followed by 15m and 40m. The predominant mode was CW. Maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs, over a 3,000km path have been peaking at around 19 to 23MHz at midday, according to the Dourbes DigiSonde. Major DXpeditions to be worked this week include RT25AA, the Arctic Legends IOTA DXpedition; TY5FR from Benin; VP5G in Turks and Caicos; and HP1/LA5IIA operating from Panama. The 20m band remains good for contacts across the Northern Hemisphere during daylight, while the 15m band offers better opportunities for north-south paths. Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may increase, perhaps to 135. Geomagnetic conditions are forecast to be good for the first half of the week, but a Kp index of 4 is forecast for Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd of July so expect declining MUFs and poorer HF conditions around that time. There are currently no coronal holes to worry about. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The coming period of weather feels very much like what we've been getting in the last week or so. High pressure dominates the chart and, since it's placed just west of Great Britain, this implies a north-westerly flow over the country, with a chance of tropo for many areas. Last week saw northerly paths worked from the UK up to the Faroe Islands, Norway and Sweden on both 144 and 432MHz. The high-pressure part of the story suggests not much, if any, rain to speak of and therefore rain scatter is unlikely. The auroral prospects are not especially great in radio terms. There are about three meteor showers currently giving a broad period of activity for meteor scatter operators and providing long-lived ionisation as fuel for sporadic-E. In view of the links between Sporadic-E and jet streams, the upper air jet stream patterns suggest favouring paths to the southeast into the Balkans round to the northeast and Scandinavia for Sporadic E. Don't ignore the options for multi-hop paths into the Far East in the morning on the 6m band and later in the day to the United States, which have been very good lately. For EME operators, Moon declination is falling again and passed perigee on Monday the 13th of July so Moon window lengths will shorten and path losses increase. 144MHz sky noise is low, increasing to moderate on Thursday the 23rd of July. And that's all from the propagation team this week.
Guest: Dr. Jennifer Francis, Woodwell Climate Research CenterWhen we think about the Arctic, it's easy to picture a remote landscape of sea ice and polar bears. But what happens in the far north doesn't stay there. As the Arctic continues to warm at an unprecedented pace, scientists are uncovering how those changes may be influencing weather patterns across the Northern Hemisphere—from prolonged heat waves and persistent droughts to heavy rainfall and unusual swings in the jet stream. Today on Weather Geeks, we're joined by atmospheric scientist Dr. Jennifer Francis, whose pioneering research has helped shape our understanding of the connection between Arctic climate change and the behavior of the jet stream. We'll explore why the Arctic is warming so rapidly, how those changes can ripple through the atmosphere, and what they may mean for the persistent weather patterns we've seen in recent years—including the extreme heat that has gripped much of Europe this summer.Chapters00:00 Dr. Jennifer Francis's background and interest in weather05:22 Jet stream patterns and their role in extreme weather13:21 Break 114:31 Mechanisms of Arctic amplification and feedbacks22:57 Stratospheric polar vortex and winter weather effects25:04 Break 225:58 Summer jet stream behavior and climate connections32:08 Ocean heat waves and their influence on jet stream patterns34:33 Current research and future challenges in Arctic climate studies37:06 Closing remarks and resourcesResourcesWoodwell Climate Research Center - https://www.woodwellclimate.org/Jennifer Francis - Research Profile - https://www.woodwellclimate.org/our-scientists/jennifer-francis/Clausius-Clapeyron Relationship - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clausius%E2%80%93Clapeyron_relation Guest linksTwitter - https://x.com/WoodwellClimate https://x.com/JFrancisClimateResearch Center - https://www.woodwellclimate.org/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we discuss geomagnetic storms, extreme electromagnetic events known as coronal mass ejections that would destroy every satellite around the planet, wipe out power grids and most if not all of our electronics. The Carrington event that happened in 1859 destroyed the only electrical system at that point, the telegraph, across all of North America. An event such as that now would have catastrophic, even civilization-ending impacts. Scientists predict an event like the Carrington event happens every 100 to every 500 years. And the Carrington event is small compared to pre-history events. Yet despite the profound impact and the likelihood, public awareness remains low, there is little political action, little has been done to harden our power grid or plan for such an event. Since recording this episode in 2024, we have witnessed numerous X-class flares and geomagnetic storms triggering Northern Lights across the Northern Hemisphere. To talk about geomagnetic storms, their impact, the likelihood, the fragility of our global power grids and some solutions, is Distinguished. Professor of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Edl Schamiloglu. Edl is the Distinguished and specializes in extreme electromagnetic phenomena. For related content and to find out more about HC Group, a search firm dedicated to the energy & commodities sector, visit https://www.hcgroup.global
(00:00 - 3:35) It's FRIDAY! An invasive clam has established itself along the northwestern Atlantic coastline, the last place in the Northern Hemisphere to remain invasive-clam free. (3:35 - 8:31) Today's DM Disaster is from Kristi! She was in a bit of a jam after traveling with her child for the 1st time. She had it all planed out, but things took a turn for the worst when they took off. That's Kristi's DM Disaster! (8:31 - 14:30) There's a name for experiences that are absolutely awful while they're happening but become legendary later: Type 2 Fun. LBF's was on a houseboat trip in Utah that was such a complete disaster; I swore I'd never do it again. Now it's one of my favorite stories to tell, which is proof that time heals... and apparently edits. (14:30 - 17:42) Today's Supah Smaht player is Shawn from Weymouth. Find out if they were Supah Smaht! (17:42 - 21:55) We answer the weekly question that's on everyone's minds on Friday mornings: will LBF leave the house this weekend? (21:55 - 26:55) TK Skenderian from Sail Boston swings by the studio this morning to talk all about the Tall Ships coming to Boston Harbor this weekend! (26:55 - 32:52) Bloody Disgusting has released their latest list: 20 Horror Movies We Can't Wait to See in the Second Half of 2026. Adam 12 has selected a few and mixed them up with some fake horror movie titles. Let's see how many LBF can guess correctly.All this and more on the ROR Morning Show with LBF & Adam 12 Podcast. Find more great podcasts at bPodStudios.com…The Place To Be For Podcast Discovery! Follow us on our socialsInstagram - @rormorningshowFacebook - The ROR Morning ShowSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Summer Solstice is here! Welcome to my 2 hour class/workshop/lecture/sermon on the powerful symbolism, history and Witch's Work we find here as the Northern Hemisphere steps into Summer. We will take a deep dive into Pagan/Heathen/Animist traditions ancient and modern, as well as other spiritual and magickal traditions and what they celebrate, and how we can work with all that cultural richness in our own lives.Astronomy, Astrology, Tarot, Megalithic sites around the planet, and seasonal ecological events are just some of the topis we will cover!I encourage grabbing a weird friend, make some snacks or bevvies, light a candle, and get Witchy about it!If you want (even) more information and materials check out the links below. If this video aided you in any way, I've done my Work!You can support by following, liking, sharing, and commenting on this video. This class is free for all beings thanks to support from MY PATRONS!!LITHA WORKBOOK: Folks who would really like to dig in can subscribe to my Patreon at the Venus level or higher get access to this year's updated workbook. You can join my Patreon for free to get alerts but Patrons get cool perks, discounts, access to exclusive work, and tons more. https://www.patreon.com/cw/MeaganAngusMY WEBSITE: writing from years past exploring Wheel of The Year practices and history (and other occult topics) https://www.meaganangus.com/wheel-of-...PODCAST: Spinning The Wheel https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...READINGS: learn how this Work shows up in your life https://www.meaganangus.com/tarot-sch...SABBAT CARDS, ALTAR CLOTHS: https://meaganangus.threadless.com/Support these groups!MECA is on the ground to provide Gaza with medical aid, clean water, food, psychological support, and more. Give what you can athttps://www.mecaforpeace.org/Food Not Bombs - Feeding our under served Communities, local and international.Have you paid your rent? REAL RENT DUWAMISHJoin over 120k demanding federal recognition for the Duwamish Tribe!
Green Bank, West Virginia is home to the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope. It's also the only town in the U.S. where cell phones and Wi-Fi are banned, so the telescope can listen for faint signals from across the Universe undisturbed. This week, we bring you a special conversation recorded after The Planetary Society's virtual screening of Small Town Universe, the documentary that follows the people whose lives are shaped by that place. Mat Kaplan, Planetary Society senior communications advisor, talks with filmmaker Katie Dellamaggiore and physicist Ellie White about making the film, the beauty and stakes of life at Green Bank, and the ongoing fight to keep the observatory funded. Before that, Kate Howells, public communications specialist, previews the total solar eclipse crossing parts of the Northern Hemisphere on August 12th, the first visible from Western Europe since 1999. And Bruce Betts, chief scientist, joins for What's Up, breaking down Hayabusa2's July 5th flyby of asteroid Torifune. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-small-town-universeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's the Summer here in the Northern Hemisphere, and there's no better time to get started with plant-based eating. Not only is it warm and sunny, there's an abundance of colorful summer fruits and vegetables you can now enjoy, all around you – in grocery stores, at farmers markets, and even in your own backyard. But sometimes starting can sound easier than actually putting it into action. That's why this podcast is here. That's why I'm here. To help you take those essential small steps forward so you can transform your health, while showing you that plant-powered eating can be doable and enjoyable. That's why I'm kicking off a 4-Part Fun Q & A Summer Series here on this podcast to address specific Community questions. In this episode, I'll give you some top tips to help you make a healthy plant-powered smoothie – one that will truly nourish you and help plant-fuel you for the mornings with needed energy. Join me now as we look at the first question together…all about making healthy smoothies. Let's go! Related Links: Ep. 11 | How To Make Your First Basic Green Smoothie (…and Actually Enjoy It) https://www.plantnourished.com/blog/11-how-to-make-your-first-green-smoothie Join -> Plant-Powered Life Transformation Course: www.plantnourished.com/ppltcourse Contact -> healthnow@plantnourished.com Learn -> www.plantnourished.com Enjoy 1:1 Coaching Support -> https://www.plantnourished.com/coachingwaitlist Get Free 15-Minute Strategy Call -> www.plantnourished.com/strategycall Free Resource -> 7 Ways to Test-Drive a Plant-Based Diet: www.plantnourished.com/testdrive Have a question about plant-based diets that you would like answered on the Plant Based Eating Made Easy Podcast? Send it by email (healthnow@plantnourished.com) or submit it by a voice message here: www.speakpipe.com/plantnourished [PlantBased Nutrition, Snack Meal Ideas, Whole Foods, Weight Loss, Plant Based Diet, Lose Weight]
As things heat up here in the Northern Hemisphere, we're returning to the Fire element and its signature color: red. In this conversation, we explore the symbolism, energy, and practical use of red in feng shui—and why color is rarely one-size-fits-all.From vibrant dragon red and energizing orange-reds to softer rose and earthy brick tones, different shades of red express different qualities of Fire qi. We discuss how understanding these nuances can help you work with color more intentionally to support your space, mood, and everyday life.Join us as we explore how fiery colors can be thoughtfully incorporated into your home and how color can become a powerful tool for creating balance, vitality, and connection.What we talk about in this episode:-The significance of red in Feng Shui-Different types of red and their meanings-How colors influence energy and mood-Using colors to enhance prosperity and protection-Nuances of fire colors and their applications...and much more!Mentioned in this episode:Our Feng Shui Energy Map EkitRegister for our free & on-demand Feng Shui plant workshop, available for a limited timeHarmonize your Home with Feng Shui PlantsEnhance your qi, prosperity and wellnessThanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!-Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! -Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.-Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.-Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.Time stamps for this episode:[01:33] Understanding Fire Element and Its Significance[04:07] Practical Applications of Fire Colors in Feng Shui[04:28] Introduction to Feng Shui and Color[06:52] The Significance of Red in Feng Shui[09:26] Exploring Different Shades of Red[11:13] The Role of Orange and Earthy Tones[13:56] The Power of Tangerine and Other Fiery Colors[16:32] Understanding Hot Pink and Fuchsia[19:21] The Nuances of Color in Feng Shui[22:09] Practical Applications of Fire ColorsMORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HEREORDER OUR NEW BOOK HERE
How good was that All Blacks test? I want to say I'm a little surprised by the number of commentators moaning about it and saying they're not impressed - but if I'm completely honest with you, I'm not that surprised. Some of the criticism is fair. There were fumbles, there were discipline issues, the French scored first, they threatened throughout the game and it was a very close scoreline in the end. But some of the criticism feels like it's still stuck in 2011, 2013 or 2015, back when the All Blacks were at their peak. The norm has changed. The Northern Hemisphere has caught up since then. The French are not a side to be underestimated. We do it every time. We say, "Oh, they're not sending a full-strength team." It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter whether they send an A team, a B team or a C team. They have so much depth in that competition now. They're good, whoever comes here. So I think we probably underestimated who we were playing and thought there should have been - what was it Piney said? - 12 or 13 points on the French. Plus, don't forget, this was the first test of the season and it is always a shaky start, especially lately, for the All Blacks. It's also the first test for a new coach and this was a team that had only been in camp together for, what, 10 days? Something like that. When you consider all of that, it was actually impressive. It was a confident start. It was fast-paced. It was full of opportunity. There was a hunger for possession. I loved it. I loved watching a team that wanted to win and seemed to have some idea of how it was going to do it. Yes, of course, the critics make some fair points and you have to acknowledge them. But the All Blacks showed some spark and, most importantly, they won. If it wasn't good, it was good enough, wasn't it? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Many of us in the Northern Hemisphere have already had our share of scorching days and steamy nights this summer, and there's only more to come. But rather than take shelter with a cool drink behind blackout curtains, the hosts of "How We Heard It" decided to face the heat head on with a collection of "hot" songs. Some are obvious, some you might have forgotten, and some you may never have heard. Some are recent, some go back several years, and some go back before any of us were born. And "hot" can mean almost anything. Songs about hot weather? Of course. Songs about hot people? You bet. Songs about fire and heat lightning? Naturally. These songs will make you want to celebrate. They'll make you uncomfortable. They'll turn you on. And they might even freak you out. But most importantly, they'll help you pass the time until the gentle kiss of autumn billows into your world again. So embrace the heat (like you have a choice) and make the best of it. It'll be over before you know it.
The Tim Conway Jr. Show Hour 4 (6.30) It's a scorcher of an episode.
Suns out, cardamom buns out! It's summertime here in the Northern Hemisphere and that can only mean one thing: the season of Build-Outs is upon us! Since the dawn of the internet, we've celebrated new cafes, cafe builds, remodels, refreshes, tear-downs, and glow-ups in a feature series we call The Build-Outs of Coffee. And each year we celebrate podcast style with the Sprudge Podcast Coffee Sprudgecast Coffee Buildcast. Before we get into it, we drink a banging bounty of beautiful brews with an emphasis on DECAF. "We always thought it was cool," says Michelman, "but it just gets tastier and tastier!" The Coffee Partners Coffee Edin Lopez Gesha This stunning gesha comes to us from Edin Geovany Lopez of Santa Bárbara, Honduras. Edin and his family grow coffee on a small but picturesque farm on the Santa Bárbara Mountain overlooking Lake Yojoa. They process and dry their coffee in the nearby community of El Cedral before delivering finished parchment to Beneficio San Vicente, whose incredible team supports them in dry milling, quality feedback, and more. This tiny lot was produced like a traditionally washed coffee, but sealed in barrels to reduce its exposure to ambient oxygen during the fermentation stage. The result is an incredibly clean, round, syrupy coffee full of ripe summer fruit - we're tasting melon, strawberry, blackberry, peach, lime, and jasmine with a hint of caramel in the finish. This is a truly exceptional cup that we're delighted to share. Presta Coffee Candy Blast Decaf This blend of Caturra and Colombia varieties begins with a 48-hour pre-fermentation in plastic bags under anaerobic conditions, allowing complex flavors to form. After depulping, the beans, still in mucilage, are co-fermented with yeast & watermelon flavors for five days which imparts a refreshing sweetness. The beans are then pre-dried on sun-exposed patios, followed by mechanical drying in static silos. A 30-day stabilization period helps the flavors fully develop, delivering a balanced and distinctive profile. Lavender Vanilla Latte In the Sprudge HQ we made a lovely lavender vanilla latte using small-batch Goldvine Syrups. "These days we've been more syrup curious than we used to be," admits Michelman. It's a good thing too, because syrup is delicious. With a rich, decaf espresso base using Verve Coffee Vancouver Blend and the lovely coconut milk from Pacific Barista Series. All coffees brewed in a Hario v60 with a Bookoo scale. Espresso coffee made with a La Marzocco Linea Mini. Check out gear here! The Builds On the first episode of the SPCSCB we set our sights on four cafes that are showing up and showing out in a big way. From Indonesia to Omaha, Nebraska, these cafes are blowing our minds in a big way. The 2026 Build-Outs of Coffee is presented by DONA, Pacific Barista Series, and La Marzocco. https://sprudge.com/build-outs-of-coffee-partners-coffee-in-brooklyn-ny-1041194.html https://sprudge.com/build-outs-of-coffee-hypnos-coffee-in-portland-or-1039272.html https://sprudge.com/build-outs-of-coffee-zen-coffee-company-in-omaha-ne-1005859.html https://sprudge.com/build-outs-of-coffee-kopikina-heulang-in-bogor-city-indonesia-1012658.html This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by DONA, Pacific Barista Series, noissue, and La Marzocco.
Life is never straightforward for network planners, it seems. First, they had to navigate the ad hoc opening and closing of borders to work out where they could fly during the Covid years. That assumed they could fly there direct, without conflicts restricting market and airspace access, and that they could get hold of an aircraft to put on the route – and enough spare parts to keep it flying. Now, they must factor in whether they can still afford to fly a route as fuel costs, one of the few benign elements of recent years, have surged following the outbreak of the Iran conflict. And worse may yet lie ahead, if the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted and starts limiting jet fuel availability. While the situation in the Middle East could change in an instant, and carriers in the region have already made progress in rebuilding operations, the impacts on the industry will take longer to play out. Airlines are braced for jet fuel prices to remain elevated for the foreseeable and that puts the viability of routes under pressure. Carriers have already slowed growth expectations for this year and cut capacity at the margins. Some are accelerating the withdrawal of older or wet-leased aircraft and more of the same seems likely to follow in the winter. The extent to which capacity cuts and network changes will proliferate depends not just on oil price developments, but also on how much of the increased fuel costs can be recaptured through higher fares. Initially, at least, airlines around the world have reported encouraging signs as demand has remained strong even with increased fares. Capacity levels are also likely to be negatively impacted by cuts or failures among struggling airlines. The crisis has already proved the final straw for US discounter Spirit Airlines, which pulled the plug on restructuring efforts at the start of May. If there is no respite on fuel costs, carriers with weak balance sheets or limited hedging in place will find the pressure ratcheted up after the Northern Hemisphere summer peak. Against this backdrop, when network planners met for Routes Europe in the Italian resort city of Rimini, most were planning for multiple scenarios. But the experiences the industry has been through since the start of the decade mean market uncertainty and adversity have almost become business as usual. Italy was an apt place for network planners to meet, given the popularity of the country. This summer has seen a string of new routes, both in short-haul networks from expanding low-cost carriers and on long-haul flights with some eye-catching new transatlantic links. Many of these routes are fuelled by new aircraft technology, serving as a reminder of the network opportunities that remain if the fuel crisis does not derail the industry.
This week a brand new international men's rugby tournament begins as the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere battle it out to see who takes the crown. Ben Youngs and Dan Cole have analysed every single game in the competition. So you don't have to.
!WARNING! HEAT ADVISORYThe veil of summer has fallen across the Northern Hemisphere and with it, smothering warmth besieges us each day. With the sun casting its spectral disdain through our atmosphere, we can only caution you, dear listener, to seek shelter within the safety of indoor spaces during these sweltering days. Fortunately, the indoors have a great deal to offer us especially during Pride month and once again, we're here to tell you about Indie Visual Novels that you can, and should, play and enjoy while you sip a cool beverage and shelter yourself from the ultraviolent ultraviolets beaming down from space. In these Indie Game Compilation Track episodes we want to highlight some of the incredible indie VNs we've played recently and get people excited about the things happening in Indie Visual Novel development spaces. We want to not only showcase the amazing breadth of work coming from Indie developers but also talk about some of our favorite games, many of which touch on subjects, characters, and experiences we rarely get the chance to see in games from larger studios. You can find a list of each game we played below and we encourage you to play along with us, and go searching for other Indie visual novels as well! Most of these games are free and if not, fairly cheap (though please tip the creators if you are able), and you can read most of them inside of an hour or two. In fact, we want YOU, dear listener, to pick at least one of these games to play after you listen, and then tell us about it! You can also check our Patreon, where listeners and patrons can submit either a short audio clip or a few sentences telling us about an Indie VN you've played and enjoyed recently! We may even include your submission on our next Indie VN Compilation Track episode (only if you want, that is). We also mentioned the Power of Pride bundle in this episode, which contains a lot of the games we discuss here as well as dozens of other amazing indie games by queer creators! Check it out, grab some amazing indie games, support queer creators, and tell us about what you've played!Indie games featured in this episodeSpeak Easy [00:04:50]: http://captainturnip.itch.io/speakeasy by captainturnip Skate & Date [00:09:22]: https://gensuta.itch.io/skate-and-date by gensutaNorthanger Abbey Rewritten[00:14:40]: https://spiralatlas.itch.io/northanger-abbey-remastered Northanger by Spiral Atlas Crushed[00:22:56]: https://hummingbird-games.itch.io/crushed by Hummingbird Gamesit sucks to be us[00:31:48]: https://tofurocks.itch.io/it-sucks-to-be-us it sucks to be us by tofurocks this game will end in 205 clicks[00:40:30]: https://insertdisc5.itch.io/this-game-will-end-in-205-clicks by insertdisc5she danced in the wind like a holographic dream before the world died[00:44:55]: https://alienmelon.itch.io/flower by Nathalie LawheadTexting the Awkward Ace Guy You've Had a Crush on Since High School[00:51:23]: https://justacarrot.itch.io/texting-the-awkward-ace-guy-youve-had-a-crush-on-since-high-school by CarrotMy Vampire Boyfriend Smokes Lucky Strikes[00:57:03]: https://justacarrot.itch.io/my-vampire-boyfriend-smokes-lucky-strikes by CarrotBite the Hand[01:07:03]: https://superbiasedcat.itch.io/bite-the-hand by CatOlga Doesn't Die[01:20:15]: https://4noki.itch.io/olga-doesnt-die by Shino Full Service Shop[01:36:42]: https://alexisroyce.itch.io/full-service-shopThere Will Be Beauty[01:47:41]: https://voidblob-coop.itch.io/there-will-be-beauty by Void Blob Co-Op And a special mention of likely future main episode subject, National Park Girls [at 01:53:50] published by Studio Elan.
To celebrate the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, we compare the fictional musicians with the longest names. With entries from Kids in the Hall, Wayne's World, Arrested Development, George Carlin, Adult Swim, Ray Stevens, Marvel Comics, and Monty Python, there has to be at least one entry that you're curious about, right?
Jump into Talk Cosmos on June 21 from 1-2 p.m. PDT for the “Summer Solstice Vibrational Patterns”. Join us as we explore these vibrant energies through VA's unique lens and embrace the solstice as an energy portal into this season's full potential!Through the unique lens of Vibrational Astrology's software system, we will discover distinct collective consciousness patterns. Deep within the 2026 summer solstice chart, these frequency patterns profoundly shape this season.Since pre-historic days, humanity kept watch on the seasonal turns by observing the sky. Embraced as a spiritual portal to celebrate abundance, the Summer Solstice launches the return of the light in the Northern Hemisphere. Traditional bonfire rituals lit up the night sky, to symbolize life's manifestation and renewal.SOLSTICE LATIN ROOTS On June 21st at 8:24:13 a.m. GMT and at 4:24:13 a.m. EDT, the Sun transits 0° Cancer while it appears to stop for three days and ‘hover' over the northern Tropic of Cancer. This apparent ‘celestial pause', known as SOL-STICE derived from Latin roots, literally means: “Sun” "Stops".Earth tilts on its 23°26' north south axis, placing Earth's northern hemisphere to lean closest to the Sun during its annual orbit. Daylight stretches to its fullest, casting long shadows to ignite our spirits with warmth and possibility.UPCOMING: FRACTAL COSMOS CONFERENCERegistration for the 2nd Annual Fractal Cosmos Vibrational Astrology Conference on November 22-24, 2026 (fractalcosmos.org) opens during July. Online – join from anywhere.LINDA BERRY, PAC, MSSW: received her Professional Astrology Certificate (PAC) in Vibrational Astrology January 2015 from Avalon School of Astrology studying with David Cochrane the Founder of Vibrational Astrology (VA). They continue to share their research material to build Vibrational Astrology knowledge. Linda created “Frequency Finder”, a VA Add-on to Sirius and Kepler Astrological Software.Linda's an International Consultant with clients worldwide, Teaches VA classes, the VA Research Group Moderator, and Author. Website: Astrosleuth.org | Fractal Cosmos Vibrational Astrology Conference - Annual. Website: fractalcosmos.comHer free Daily Blog: “The Vibrational Astrology Diary” Vibrational Astrology & Sabian Symbols, and for a paid Personalized Monthly Report. email: Linda @ AstrologicalDepth dot com.ROBERT PACITTI: Professional consulting astrologer; visionary behind Deep Earth Astrology. Specializing in vibrational and psychological techniques. Over a decade of experience in the world of natural magic. Grand Pendragon in the Ancient Order of Druids in America & Director of the MAGUS Druid Gathering in Gore, VA. Co-Director of the Fractal Cosmos Vibrational Astrology Conference. Faculty for the Centre for Relationships and Astrology. Consultations focus, Archetypal & Harmonic.Email: deepearthastrology@gmail.com. Website: deepearthastrology.com | Facebook.com/SacredConnections13; Facebook.com/rjpacittifractalcosmos.org SUE ‘ROSE' MINAHAN: Evolutionary Astrologer & Consultant. Speaker, Writer. Student of Vibrational Astrology with Linda Berry, Dwarf Planet University graduate, Kepler Astrologer Toastmaster (KAT); Founder of Talk Cosmos since April 7, 2018. Weekly conversations awaken heart and soul consciousness, TalkCosmos.com | YouTube.com/@TALKCOSMOS.#SummerSolstice #VibrationalAstrology #Astrology2026 #TalkCosmos #SueRoseMinahan #lindaBerry #RobertPacitti #DavidCochrane #AstroSleuth #DeepEarthAstrology #MagusGathering #Tarot #ancientOrderofDruidsinAmerica #EvidenceBasedVibrationalAstrology #ChironinTaurusSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Yep it's been a buzz word in testis cancer for a while now, but with the read-out of the CLIMATE and SWOG 1823 trials in the past six months, we thought we better get ourselves updated on this exciting biomarker. We are joined in studio by testis cancer gurus Ben Tran (Medical Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne), and online by Aditya Bagrodia (Urologist, UCSD, San Diego), to give us a bluffers guide to miR-371. Plus we hear about the fantastic MaGIC Consortium global testis cancer meeting which takes place in Melbourne 8-11 January 2027. See links below. A great excuse to come to Melbourne, especially to escape the Northern Hemisphere winter!Links:MaGIC Consortium Conference, January 2027 Some coverage of the ANZUP CLIMATE trial from ASCO GU 2026 Some coverage of the SWOG 1823 trial from ASCO 2026
Darrell Castle talks about Father’s Day, what it means, and why it is important to honor fathers. Transcription / Notes: FATHER'S DAY Hello, this is Darrell Castle with today's Castle Report. This is Friday the 19th day of June in the year of our Lord 2026. I previously did a Report on Mother's Day and what it means so today I will be talking about Father's Day, what it means and why it is important to honor fathers. Yes, we are two days away from Father's Day which falls on the 21st of June this year. It is dedicated as a Federal Holiday falling on the third Sunday of June each year. The holiday was started in Spokane, Washington in 1910 by a woman named Snora Smart Dodd who was inspired by a Mother's Day sermon and she wanted to honor her father in the same way. Her father was a Civil War veteran named William Jackson Smart who was the father of 6 children. His wife died in childbirth and he raised his 6 kids alone. His daughter thought that he had lived his life with honor so she persuaded local authorities to set aside a day to honor her father and all the others. In1972 President Nixon made it a federal occasion and now we celebrate it each year by honoring or remembering our fathers. The National Retail Federation (NRF) tells us that the average gift per person given to each father in terms of dollars is $196.23. Interestingly for this year June 21st is the summer solstice or the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere which means it is the day of maximum daylight. So, I guess we can spend more daytime at all those cookouts with our fathers. In this Report I will endeavor to make recognition of fathers something you can easily see as vitally important. Social scientists tell us that data overwhelmingly confirms that children born to their married parents have much better outcomes than children born to single mothers. The data indicates that children born to married parents are “significantly more likely to be on track” at every life stage than children who are born to unmarried parents. Children who are “on track” are those who achieve age-appropriate benchmarks for every stage in life. At the end of elementary school an on-track child has mastered basic math and reading skills, has behavioral competencies that predict later success, has a strong relationship with parents and is in good health. From elementary school to adulthood the child born to married parents is more likely to be on-track and significantly so than the child born to single or unmarried parents. The report from which I am quoting said that even babies benefit greatly from married parents. A baby born to an unmarried mother is three times more likely to need Medicaid or other government assistance to pay for the delivery of the child and is twice as likely to have received late or no prenatal care. That child is twice as likely to be born prematurely and much more likely to be born at a low birth weight. That child is 14 times more likely to have been fathered by a man not identified on the birth certificate (29% versus 2%). This all serves to illustrate the importance of fathers involved in the upbringing and in the lives of their children but there's a lot more. The data also shows many other problems which present themselves when a father is not involved in the raising of a child. The study shows that the absence of a father leads to children who report feeling abandoned, struggling with their emotions, and experiencing self-loathing, increased behavioral problems, poor academic performance, much higher rates of delinquency, youth crime, promiscuity, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, and homelessness. If that were not all fatherless children are at greater risk of suffering physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and many times more likely to experience physical and emotional maltreatment with the risk of fatal abuse 100 times greater. The report from the Institute for Family Studies concludes that there is a growing list of disadvantages for children in households without fathers but the report concludes that current U.S. welfare policies tend to encourage fatherlessness. The current policies subsidize unmarried parenting by paying for prenatal care, delivery and postnatal care while allowing the men who fathered the children to escape accountability. The authors of the article conclude that as a society, and especially our churches we have to start recognizing the value of fatherhood again. Our education system in general seems to be failing right now and the belief is that our moral standards have fallen first and a large part of that failing is how we view fathers. The poverty rate in the black and Hispanic communities lowers by 80% when the parents are married. So, why wouldn't fathers want to remain with the children they fathered. Why wouldn't people want to get married and remain married if the statistics I just recited are true. That's a good question but it seems that our society now sets up marriage to fail from the outset. There are many exceptions to that such as mine for example. I'm in the 49th year of my marriage and many people ask me how I do it because they recognize that lifetime commitment is unusual enough to deserve explanation. To continue the point of absent fathers and no marriage I reviewed a recent report done by The American Enterprise Institute in which the authors looked at the issue from a purely economic standpoint. The report was entitled; “Land of Opportunity: Advancing the American Dream.” From their report I learned that one of the chief things causing failure or at least lack of success is the gap between married and non-married Americans. In the middle of the last century and I mean the 1900's, one in 20 children were born out of wedlock. Now it's two in five. America has the world's highest rate of children living in single parent homes: 23% in the U.S. against 7% internationally. Forty percent of millennials from intact, two-parent families graduated from college and 77 % achieved middle class incomes or higher. For those who didn't grow up in intact families, only 17% graduated from college and 57% achieved middle class income. They are twice as likely to be incarcerated, even after other socioeconomic factors are considered. Quoting from the article for a moment. “Research using tax-return data suggests that neighborhoods with high rates of single parenthood cultivate lower social mobility, including among kids who themselves are not raised by single parents.” The conclusion from the research is that absence of fathers on their offspring has very long-term negative effects on the well-being of children. This study concludes that among all races marriage protects against poverty. From a personal perspective I can say that for 46 years I counseled thousands of people in my law office and my conclusion has been that divorce especially for women and their children leads to a life of poverty. Married parents regardless of race and education suffer significantly less poverty than unmarried mothers. Another interesting thing about these reports is that the phenomenon is not happening evenly but it seems to have a self-perpetuating pattern. For example, from 1970 to 2018 marital births dropped by 29 points overall but they dropped 47 points for the bottom education group and just 6 points for the top. From the early 1960's to the late 2010's marriage rates fell by roughly 46 percentage points for the least educated young women compared with 17 points for the most educated which leaves those least able to bear the cost of single parenthood the most likely to experience it. Government, for whatever reason seems to be putting its thumb on the scale to tilt the outcome against marriage. The institution of marriage is obviously the most important factor in raising children and for income mobility, but that is not how the government views it apparently. For example, a couple with two kids, with each parent earning $30,000 receives around $5000 in earned income tax credits benefits if they remain unmarried. They lose all the benefits if they marry which is in effect a tax on marriage. Medicaid, housing vouchers and SNAP benefits all phase out and punish couples who get married whereas they do not if the couples live together without marriage. It seems that careful research keeps finding the same conclusion regarding economic success and opportunities for children despite efforts to debunk it. In conclusion, I would like to thank the occasion that is Father's Day for the opportunity to be honored by my wife and our daughter. In addition, it gives me the opportunity to talk about something besides war and the opportunity to put into words something that I have observed over a very long legal career. Speaking of families, I have a family obligation next week so there is no Castle Report next week. Finally, folks, may God bless you and your families. If you can't visit your father on Sunday, at least give him a call because he will be so glad you did. At least that's the way I see it, Until next time folks, This is Darrell Castle, Thanks for listening.
As we move through the Solstice portal and enter Cancer season, this week's Akashic Records bring forward a simple but powerful message:✨ Keep your faith in the light.The Records showed the image of a radiant heart—light pouring outward from within—and spoke of greater access to the heart, a spirit of goodwill, and a reminder that growth does not need to be rushed.In a world that often encourages us to maximize every opportunity and treat every supportive moment as our "one chance," this week's guidance invites something different:
June 2026 Solstice guided meditation for Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice energy, grounding, renewal, and balance.In this Solstice meditation, Crystal of The Psychic Soul Meditations guides you to ground, release, and realign through Mother Earth and the five Elements: Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Ether.This 30-minute guided meditation includes gentle 7 Hz binaural beats to support a calm, receptive state as you restore your energy, regulate your nervous system, and reconnect with the natural rhythm of the season.The June 2026 Solstice marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere. Wherever you are in the world, this sacred seasonal turning point invites you to pause, breathe, receive, and remember the light within.Listen with headphones if possible. After your meditation, download your free Solstice Ritual Guidebook to journal, reflect, and continue your seasonal practice.Free Solstice Ritual Guidebook Here!Follow The Psychic Soul Meditations for guided meditations, moon meditations, Solstice meditations, nervous system regulation practices, intuition development, and energy healing tools.
In this third episode of our season-long exploration of Quakers and Money, Peterson Toscano and Diana Yañez turn toward one of the largest and most difficult questions of the series: How do Friends live with integrity inside capitalism? Last month, we explored relational finance and asked whether taking responsibility for our money and institutional assets can lead to deeper integrity and more equitable power-sharing. This month, Peterson names the friction many Friends feel: the sense of being trapped in a massive economic system built on extraction, inequity, colonialism, and environmental harm. Through conversations with Lisa Graustein, Nathan Kleban, David Watt, and Traci Hjelt Sullivan, this episode examines the spiritual dissonance between Quaker values and capitalist structures. We hear about stolen land, inherited wealth, paternalism in charitable giving, the legacy of slavery in Quaker history, and the denial made possible by class and racial privilege. Rather than offering easy answers, Peterson and Diana ask what it means to stay on a journey with truth. If capitalism harms people and the planet, how might Friends move beyond individual purity or denial and toward mutual aid, community wealth-building, repair, and solidarity? In This Episode The Dissonance: Peterson reflects on the gap between Quaker faith and a global economy built on extraction and inequity. Capitalism and White Supremacy: Lisa Graustein names capitalism and white supremacy as forces that keep the here and now from becoming the realm of God. Stolen Land and Reparative Responsibility: Lisa shares the story of New England Yearly Meeting selling property after repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery and raises questions about what should happen to profits from land acquired through colonization. From Charity to Right Relationship: Nathan Kleban of Right Sharing of World Resources challenges paternalistic models of giving and asks who the economy is actually for. Quaker Wealth and Enslavement: David Watt, professor of Quaker studies at Haverford College, reminds us that some early Quaker wealth in Philadelphia was tied to Barbados, sugar plantations, and the labor of enslaved people. The Wealth of Not Having Debt: Traci Hjelt Sullivan expands the definition of ancestral wealth, naming the opportunities that come from beginning adult life without student debt. The Inner Capitalist: Diana reminds us that the Quaker belief in “that of God in everyone” also extends to capitalists, and to the parts of ourselves that continue to benefit from extractive systems. Our Guests Lisa Graustein Lisa Graustein is a Quaker educator, activist, and writer whose work often explores money, power, race, and reparative justice. In this episode, she reflects on inherited wealth, stewardship, and the responsibility to repair harm caused through the accumulation of resources. Nathan Kleban Nathan Kleban works with Right Sharing of World Resources, a Quaker organization that supports women-led economic projects in the Global South. Nathan brings a relational and community-centered lens to economics, asking how people get their needs met and how communities express their gifts outside extractive systems. David Watt David Watt is the Douglas and Dorothy Steere Professor of Quaker Studies at Haverford College. In this episode, he offers historical context about Quaker wealth, including the connections between early Philadelphia Friends, Barbados, sugar plantations, and slavery. Traci Hjelt Sullivan Traci Hjelt Sullivan is the executive director of Right Sharing of World Resources. She brings decades of nonprofit leadership and international experience to her work. In this episode, she reflects on truth, denial, race, class, debt, and the spiritual work of recognizing our own responsibility. Resources and Recommendations QuakerSpeak: “What If Wall Street Were Honest?” https://quakerspeak.com/video/what-if-wall-street-were-honest/ North Carolina Quaker Mark Hulbert has tracked investment advisors since the early 1980s. In this QuakerSpeak video, he talks about how his Quaker background and commitment to integrity led him to ask whether Wall Street advisors were telling the truth. Spent https://playspent.org/ Diana recommends Spent, a free browser-based survival game that places players inside the poverty trap. You begin with $1,000 and try to survive for 30 days while making impossible choices: pay rent, fix the car, buy medicine, or keep the lights on. It offers one way to better understand how expensive it can be to be poor in the current economic system. Caliban and the Witch by Silvia Federici https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1575 Diana references Federici's work while discussing the relationship between capitalism, labor control, gendered violence, and colonialism. The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374157357/thedawnofeverything/ Diana also points to this book while reflecting on European colonialism, the construction of human hierarchy, and the ideas that shaped the modern world. Organizations Mentioned Right Sharing of World Resources: https://rswr.org/ A Quaker organization that supports women's self-help groups in the Global South through seed grants and relationship-based partnerships. Earth Quaker Action Team: https://eqat.org/ A grassroots Quaker organization that uses nonviolent direct action to challenge systems of economic and environmental injustice. New England Yearly Meeting: https://neym.org/ A regional body of the Religious Society of Friends is mentioned in Lisa Graustein's story about land, reparative responsibility, and the Doctrine of Discovery. Haverford College / David Harrington Watt: https://www.haverford.edu/users/dhwatt David Watt teaches Quaker studies at Haverford College and appears in this episode to discuss Quaker history, wealth, slavery, and capitalism. Listener Voicemails Thank you to John Choe for sharing his reflections and concerns about Quakers, financial discernment, and the role of institutions like Friends Fiduciary. Thank you also to Richard Tindall for his faithful reminder to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning. As summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere, it is a timely invitation to stay hydrated and care for our bodies. Question for Listeners How do you navigate the tension between Quaker values and capitalism? Where do you feel dissonance between your financial life and your spiritual commitments? Share your thoughts: · Voicemail: Call 317-QUAKERS, 317-782-5377 · Email: podcast@friendsjournal.org · Social Media: Respond to us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok Sponsors Friends Fiduciary https://friendsfiduciary.org/ Friends Fiduciary unites Quaker values with expert investing. They serve Friends meetings, churches, schools, and organizations through ethical portfolios, shareholder advocacy, and a commitment to justice and sustainability. American Friends Service Committee https://afsc.org/ The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization working with communities worldwide to challenge injustice, meet urgent community needs, and build conditions for lasting peace. AFSC and the Vanguard S.O.S. / Never Vanguard campaign AFSC announcement: https://afsc.org/newsroom/afsc-joins-vanguard-sos-campaign-fossil-fuel-divestment Never Vanguard pledge: https://eqat.org/never-vanguard/ AFSC has joined with Earth Quaker Action Team in the Vanguard S.O.S. campaign, asking Friends to boycott and divest from Vanguard until it stops funding fossil fuel projects and takes climate justice into account. Disclaimers Quakers Today is a project of Friends Publishing Corporation. This season is sponsored by Friends Fiduciary and the American Friends Service Committee. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice. Listening does not create an advisory relationship. Friends Fiduciary is a sponsor of this podcast. Sponsorship does not constitute an endorsement, and Quakers Today does not receive compensation based on listener investment decisions. Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. Quakers Today and Friends Journal are not a registered entity and are not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See the Natural Investments Disclosures and Disclaimers and Form CRS: https://naturalinvestments.com/disclosures-disclaimers/
Send us Fan MailJune 21st is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. For thousands of years and across countless cultures, it has been a moment worth pausing for. In this episode, Jeanie explores what the solstice actually is, why it has mattered to humans throughout history, and how you might choose to acknowledge it in your own life today.Support the showWe're eager to hear from you! Feel free to share your thoughts through our anonymous form or simply write to info@freshouttaplans.com with your topic requests or any burning questions you'd like us to explore on the podcast.https://linktr.ee/freshouttaplans
Grains reverse higher after pushing to new swing lows; crop progress and condition report; wheat quality becoming a concern in the Northern Hemisphere.
A federal court restores the 5% safe harbor for wind tax credits, Norway’s parliament pauses the 35 billion krone Utsira Nord floating wind program, and the crew digs into Australia’s battery boom and the looming blade technician shortage. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Uptime324 Matthew Stead: [00:00:00] The Uptime Wind Energy podcast, brought to you by StrikeTape. Protecting thousands of wind turbines from lightning damage worldwide. Visit StrikeTape.com. And now, your hosts Allen Hall: Welcome to this edition of the Uptime Wind Energy podcast. I’m Allen Hall here with Matthew Stead, Rosemary Barnes, and Yolanda Padron. And our week starts off in the courtroom. And if you’ve been watching the news lately, there’s a pretty substantial IRS case involving large-scale wind and solar having to do with the, uh, production tax credit and, uh, investment tax credit at the same time on the safe harbor, 5% safe harbor rule. Uh, a federal judge handed the wind industry and solar industry a pretty substantial legal win that could reshape how the [00:01:00] projects qualify for tax credits. So a judge up in, uh, the District of Columbia vacated IRS Notice 2025-42. So if you remember that, uh, from a- about a year or so ago, uh, f- it found that the, that notice was arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. The notice, which was issued following a July 2025 executive order, had eliminated the 5% safe harbor for wind projects, uh, a provision developers have relied on since about 2013 to establish construction start dates without breaking ground. The court found the IRS failed to justify removing it, ignored industry comments, which I had read, and I agree with that, and gave no reason for treating wind differently f- than other clean energy technologies. So That his executive order came down and said, “Hey, we don’t like wind. [00:02:00] IRS, write a rule and make it hard for wind to get installed in the United States.” And so they dutifully did it, but a court is throwing it out. This has some pretty significant implications because if you hadn’t broken ground before this ruling, I think the– what was happening was be- if you hadn’t broken ground by July 4th, your project wouldn’t qualify for some tax credits. But now, if you have 5% safe harbor, you still are in the game, at least for now. Now, Wanda, that’s gonna make a big difference to asset managers and developers, won’t it? Yolanda Padron: Yeah, it’s really exciting. I think it opens up the, the playing field for, for some of these projects that might be a little bit behind schedule. Um, of course, a lot of teams had to change their plans and their pipeline when, um, you know, the big, beautiful bill passed and, I mean, it’s– of course, it adds a little bit of additional volatility, right, to, to wind and, and solar in the US, but it’s exciting to see at least things for, [00:03:00] for those of us that are in the wind and solar side, the, it’s a little, little bit of, of hope there. Allen Hall: And Matthew, uh, even in terms of opening up o-o-operations and, uh, getting contracts signed, this should make a big difference in sort of opening the floodgates a little bit. Although there is a short timeframe. We’re, we’re recording on, what, what is today? June 10th. So you have, in theory, less than 30 days before the July 4th deadline, but hopefully this stays. You think there’s a chance this just gets completely, uh, wiped out, the executive order and the IRS notice and- It’s back to what we remember for the, for the last, ooh, 12, 13 years? Matthew Stead: Uh, yeah. I’m, I’m, I’m hopeful, and I, I agree with Yolanda. I think you, you said it really well. Um, I think this is a, a glimmer of hope in, um, a sometimes gloomy, um, environment. So I think that’s great. In terms of going back to where it was, um, I mean, I guess my observation has been that, [00:04:00] you know, things in the US were a bit, um, distorted. You know, distorted through the, the PTC, um, and the whole repowering thing after 10 years is quite a distortion. So I think, um, you’re not necessarily going back to the good old days, um, might be the way, what will happen. Allen Hall: I think there is a lot of people actively trying to dig holes at the moment, and I, I’m sure they’re gonna continue to do that. Yolanda, do you th- you think anybody’s gonna stop and kinda say, “Oh, we have the 5% rule. We’re, we’re good”? Do you think, or you think they’re gonna still go ahead and really start construction and then just keep things continually moving on site? Yolanda Padron: I don’t think they, they can really stop, right? Because you, you don’t know if, if anything strange happens. A lot of people didn’t think the, a lot of the provisions in the big beautiful bill were gonna, were gonna see the light of day, and they did. Um, but it does, I really hope it brings at least a little bit of breathing room for some people. I know it’s, it must be… I mean, I have some friends in development, and they’re, they’re q- a little [00:05:00] bit stressed right now just with everything going on. Um, so, so I really hope for them at least they, you know, if, if they’re a little bit behind schedule, then it, it’ll be, it’ll still be fine. Allen Hall: Delamination and bondline failures in blades are difficult problems to detect early. These hidden issues can cost you millions in repairs and lost energy production. CIC-NDT are specialists to detect these critical flaws before they become expensive burdens. Their nondestructive test technology penetrates deep into blade materials to find voids and cracks traditional inspections completely miss. CIC-NDT maps every critical defect, delivers actionable reports, and provides support to get your blades back in service. So visit cicndt.com because catching blade problems early will save you millions[00:06:00] Norway’s Storting has voted to pause the 35 billion Norwegian krone support program for floating offshore wind at Utsira Nord. The Conservative Party secured a parliamentary majority for the external quality assurance review, a socioeconomic analysis, and a technology development assessment, all before the Storting will authorize any commitments. Equinor and Vårgrønn, along with EDF and Deepwind Offshore, each hold allocated 500-megawatt areas and were preparing to compete for that subsidy. Equinor says the project will continue for now. I think everybody is saying that at the moment. But, uh, Equinor cannot rule out consequences as framework uncertainty compounds in the already challenging nature of floating offshore wind development. So Utsira Nord is a massive project. So it’s, it’s about three and a half billion US dollars [00:07:00] to go do this. We had Mads Furuseth and Anders Naslund about a year or so ago, maybe a little bit longer, talking about the project and how big it was and how important it was that Norway did this for floating offshore wind. But with this, uh, recent change in the parliament of Norway, it does seem like they’re slowly going to try to kill it by putting in a number of, uh, reviews, which is how bureaucracies tend to kill things. Is put it under six, seven, eight reviews, different committees. They all take time to get together. They have to put out a report. It could be two, three years from now. At that point, the world has completely changed, and everybody’s moved on. Does that seem like the outcome here at the moment? Matthew Stead: Yes. Allen Hall: In my mind, there’s really two big areas for floating offshore, which UK, right? That there, there’s some massive projects there, Green Volt being one of them, and then there was Sue & Nord. So between the two, I feel like the, the UK one was going to [00:08:00] happen. The question whether the world was gonna move towards floating offshore wind was gonna happen up in Norway. If Norway decided to do it and could get it developed, and it has the capability to do it because, because they have that skill set, uh, right there in Norway. If they could do it in Norway, everybody in the world would learn from it and figure out how to do it. Does this really set back floating offshore wind globally? Matthew Stead: Yeah. I mean, going back to what I said before, and I, I’ll defer to Rosie on this as well, but, um, when I was at, at Blades Europe, um, one of the, one of my long-term contacts, um, y- was in floating wind, um, and had, um, left the industry. He basically said i- in his view that the offshore wind industry was slowly, um, in decline or slowly dying. Um, so I’m just wondering if this is just evolution of viability of offshore wind. Rosemary Barnes: Is offshore wind in decline? I think if you look globally, it’s, it’s not in decline. I, I haven’t looked in, in depth at the figures just based on what, you know, [00:09:00] headlines I’ve seen and podcasts I’ve heard, but I think that globally it’s still on the rise. It’s just that- It’s only in Europe that things are really moving with speed, right? Like, people were expecting heaps of growth in the US and now no- nobody expects that. Floating offshore wind, it’s… I th- I still think it’s too early to say. There are plenty of countries that don’t have any good energy options besides, um, floating offshore wind, like Japan. What their energy transition looks like is gonna depend a lot on their culture and what people think, ’cause, like, if you go through, like, the engineering solutions that Japan could have, the ones that make the most sense from an engineering point of view are not popular at all, are not politically viable. Like, Japan could easily have a subsea cable connecting it with, um, with China, for example, or Korea, but I don’t think anybody, anybody thinks that that will ever happen because, you know, politically it’s, it’s very far from being possible. What else could they have? Geothermal. They’ve got heaps of [00:10:00]geothermal resources, like really good traditional geothermal resources, but my understanding is that it’s super unpopular because their onsen, um, community doesn’t want it. Uh, my understanding is that they’re worried that if you put geothermal, um, if you exploit geothermal resources, then the onsens will not be hot anymore, and again, my limited research understanding is that it’s not true. It’s different resources. The two aren’t connected in any way. Um, and yeah, there’s actually a community geothermal, um, facility near Fukushima. I’m trying really hard to get over there, but I’m, I’ve got a roadblock at the moment because, uh, n- no one there speaks English, so I need to find somebody to, to come with me and, you know, I’ll have one, one day to try and get there on the fast train and back to Tokyo in, in a single day. So it’s, it’s a bit of a stretch, but I’m gonna try. But anyway, so yeah, what have we… We’ve ruled out, like, subsea cables, ruled out geothermal. Floating wind is good. Allen Hall: Well, speaking of Fukushima, [00:11:00] there’s been a more recent push in Japan to start up some of the nuclear facilities. So after the tsunami, was that 2012, 2014 when that happened? It was a while ago. Uh, when the tsunami happened and h- had that, uh, nuclear accident, they, they s- shut down all the nuclear facilities in Japan, but it does seem like they’re trying to restart some of them And, and maybe it’s just the demand for energy and, and they’re trying to weigh that off with offshore wind or floating offshore wind. At what point, you know, which one do you choose? It has to be driven by cost and availability. Rosemary Barnes: Yeah. And so Fukushima, I just looked it up, it was 2011. Um, and yeah, so I mean, I think it is very fair that they had a reaction to that and they wanted to put the handbrake on nuclear at that time, or they did more than put the handbrake on, they did like a handbrake turn. Allen Hall: They shut it down. Rosemary Barnes: So, and it, you know, it’s gradually ramping up. I think that their target for nuclear now is to, to regain, um, 20% of their electricity from [00:12:00] nuclear by 2040, something like that. It was 30% prior to that incident. Um, so that will be part of it, but it’s not, um, it’s not all of it. And then even if you think of, uh, okay, so forget climate change, just, you know, we want, Japan just wants energy and they don’t care about climate change, you know, ’cause that, that, that could be true. What are their ch- choices for that? They import a whole bunch of… They, they import nearly all their energy. Everything that’s not nuclear basically is, is imported. Um, coal, but a lot of LNG, and, you know, that is not exactly an appealing prospect at the moment either. It’s not secure. Prices are very volatile. We’ve had, like, two fossil fuel shocks in the last, what, like four years or something like that, and how many more, how many more are we g- are we going to have? You know, like energy security is important, totally separate from climate change issues. So I don’t think we need to rely on Japan, like, you know, [00:13:00] steadfastly staying the course because their, their existing o- opportunities are not, are not great for fossil fuels either. Allen Hall: I don’t know what country’s gonna stay the course right now, really. Maybe the UK? Rosemary Barnes: Oh, I think it’s- Countries that have other reasons for going to renewables are the ones that are gonna stay the, stay the course. Um, and there are plenty of examples of countries where it just, it is by far the easiest, cheapest, fastest option to get more electricity. Um, you know, like all of Africa, for example, is, is facing that as a, uh, a better development path than trying to build big, um, fossil fuel power plants. But even that, you know, like in India, they’re making a huge transition, Pakistan, not to mention Australia, where now batteries are having more of an impact on electricity prices than gas is. So our electricity prices now finally are dropping, um, this year for the first time because of how many batteries have come on and are now, you [00:14:00]know… Like they’ve just flattened. The evening price peak used to be on average about, like, I think $400 or something dollars a megawatt hour, and now it’s like 100. In one year we had that, we had that change, yeah, just from the amount of batteries that have come on in the last year or two. Allen Hall: Why does that make such a big difference in the price of electricity, the battery aspect? Rosemary Barnes: Because, so the way that Australia… Australia’s electricity market is pretty similar to Texas, so if you understand that, then you can probably understand Australia’s. But, you know, at any five-minute interval, people, like, they know how much demand there’s going to be, and then people are bidding in how much they would supply electricity for in that five minutes, in real time as well. It’s not like day ahead or anything like that in Australia. The, like, last one they need is what everybody gets paid. So, like, solar power is gonna bid in at, like, you know, practically zero, um, or maybe negative prices actually if they’ve got power purchase agreements in place. And then, you know, wind a little bit more, and then coal, uh, you know, a, a bit [00:15:00] more than that, and then gas, the open cycle gas turbines, the peakers, they’re very expensive. They’re bidding in at 400, $400 a megawatt hour. If there’s enough batteries that that gas doesn’t need to bid in, then all of a sudden we don’t have the gas price that everybody has to pay. We have the battery price that everyone has to pay, and that is very, very cheap and will become cheaper as there’s more of them in the, in the system. So it’s like a threshold event. You, you know, um, even if you’re using only a tiny bit of gas, if you need any gas at all, even like, you know, one megawatt of gas, everybody gets paid the gas price. If you just get a little bit more battery in and you don’t need it anymore, bam, the price just falls. So that’s what we… We’ve passed that threshold now. Allen Hall: Isn’t that where the UK is trying to get, is to get past that threshold where renewables are that last addition to the grid and kick off peaker plants and some expensive other- fuel sources. That’s I, I [00:16:00] think where everybody’s gone because they have the same system where the, the last one in is what sets the price for everybody. Rosemary Barnes: Yeah. The UK’s a little bit different because one, they’re connected to Europe, and two, they’ve got nuclear, so they do have that kind of base load. Allen Hall: Let’s go down the rabbit hole just for a second. So if the peaker plants don’t come on, that means that the battery electricity supplying the grid is pretty low in price. It seems like they are losing money on their investment in the battery That they were hoping the price would be higher. Because if the peaker plants are still going on, that would be a $400 price and they’re gonna come in at, like, 350, so that would make sense. It, it helps pay off the battery investment. But if they’re dropping the price down from 400 to 100, it would seem like the battery investment may not be a, a wise decision. Rosemary Barnes: For sure they’re making less money, but it was– they were making crazy profits for the first little, the first few, few years of, you know, grid-scale batteries. And even [00:17:00] home batteries, people were making a l- a lot of money off that, and it was crazy. Like, I’m on some, um, some Reddit subreddits about, uh, you know, people with home batteries and- Allen Hall: Slash battery? Rosemary Barnes: Matt probably is too. Matt’s a Beta G enthusiast, so I’m sure that he is just as excited as me. But anyway, so on one of these subreddits, you know, people used to talk about, “Oh, I made 100 bucks last night,” um, or, or whatever, you know, just a household. And now all the posts are complaining about there’s been no price spikes all year. You know, I thought that I was gonna make heaps of money off my battery, but people are really change- changing how they think of it. And now it’s like… And l- like I want– used to want to do this. I don’t have solar panels yet ’cause we need a new roof, and I’ve been waiting a few years to, one, live in a house that I own, and then two, get a freaking new roof. Um, and I thought I’m gonna just, like, cover it in solar panels, get a huge battery, and I’m gonna be an energy trader in my free time and make heaps of money, and now that is [00:18:00] not the strategy anymore. The strategy is to just reduce your bills to the m- the minimum that you can. Um, that’s basically, that’s basically it. So you are right that some of this arbitrage is, um, the opportunity’s over, and that it will be less, um, exciting for, uh, opportunity for people to put more, more batteries in. Matthew Stead: Just to add to that, through the middle of the day quite often there’s, uh, negative pricing. So if you’ve got a battery, you’re being paid to charge through the middle of the day. So that actually takes away some of the pain from having a lower, a lower price, um, during the peak. Rosemary Barnes: But the thing about negative prices is that you need coal power plants for them to be… Like, the only reason we have such pervasive negative prices is not because solar plants have PPAs that are, you know, make it worthwhile for them to generate even when the price is slightly negative. The real thing is that coal power plants don’t want to turn down below, I don’t know, yeah, like 20, 30% during the middle of the day. They have to be on if they want to make money in the evening, and that means that they bid in at, like, [00:19:00] negative 50, um, so that people– so that they can stay running. And that’s where the bulk of our negative prices come from. So As coal power plants close, those negative prices will go away. Um, and when they close, we should get some better evening price spikes again. So, you know, like nothing ever stays the same for long, which is why it is such a fascinating hobby to have, being interested in the electricity market, because it’s never the same from one year to another. You’ll never understand it, ’cause it’s never, it never stays the same long enough to really get your head around it. Allen Hall: You need other hobbies. You really do. Matthew Stead: A friend of mine works in trading, and, uh, he said, “As long as there’s volatility, there will be progress.” So much like what Rosie was saying is the more volatile it is, the more opportunity there is for people to come in, um, and change it. Allen Hall: I just don’t know how the battery thing plays out once that threshold is reached. When you have more batteries on the system and you knock down the price that [00:20:00] much, I think battery sales, industrial batteries really slow down because they’re all looking for that quick ROI And they’re not gonna get it. Rosemary Barnes: You have to wait for all of the coal to close before you would find out what’s the right amount of batteries to have in the, in the grid. Allen Hall: Yeah, yeah, yeah. That, I totally agree there, yeah. Yolanda Padron: You’d still get, like in extreme weather events and stuff, you’d still get a big price spike, right, for all these batteries. Allen Hall: Back to Matt’s point, more volatility. Rosemary Barnes: If you want the market to respond, you need to give enough incentive to invest in assets so you’ll have enough when it’s needed. And because it’s really infrequent, then it has to be a super high price to, um, bring on enough investment. And will this system… The system has worked absolutely, you know, pretty well in Aus- Australia at least. Will it continue into the future with more variable prices and renewables? I, I don’t know, and the government is starting to do some things like, uh, you know, like a lot of [00:21:00] electricity markets have, um, not just energy markets but also capacity markets where you will pay a battery or a gas plant something to be on standby basically, um, so that if there is, um, if there’s a shortfall then they, then they have to respond. So in Western Australia they have that, but across the east of Australia th- they currently do not, do not have that. It’s energy only. Allen Hall: Really? How do you not have capacity payments? Rosemary Barnes: The majority of their profits are made in just a few hours a year when there are those price spikes, so that’s, that’s h- part of their business case. Allen Hall: I mean, there, there is arbitrage happening on the electricity grid. That’s not the best place to be arbitraging things because you will have players that won’t provide electricity just to drive up the price. Rosemary Barnes: Uh, and it happens in Australia too, but, um, you know, because batteries are such a distributed resource, it, it will become harder and harder to do that when, you know, the, um, the ownership of these batteries is, you know, households as well as, um, yeah, as well as [00:22:00] big companies. Matthew Stead: So offshore wind, I was talking to an OEM a, a little while ago and, uh, talking about blade repairs for offshore wind, you know, floating, floating wind. Um, so specifically floating wind. The OEM was extremely concerned about floating wind, um, because it makes it very, very, very hard to change blades. So the story was that if you’ve got an offshore floating platform, you’re basically gonna have to tow the wind turbine back to port to change a, a blade. Rosemary Barnes: They see that as a, as a pro, not a con though. Yeah. That, that’s because it’s very hard to… Like, it’s not only floating offshore wind where it’s very hard to remove a, a blade out at sea, like fixed bottom offshore wind, that’s incredibly expensive to remove a blade. So floating is like, well, you can just tow it back to shore and then you can do it all in the port. I, I, you’re looking skeptical, Matt, and I’m also skeptical about how it actually plays out. I know that, um, what was it? The, [00:23:00] the one- An EOL project off the coast of Scotland. I can’t remember what it’s called now. Like what, the first big one, the big wind farm, a floating offshore wind farm Allen Hall: HiWind Scotland Rosemary Barnes: They had a, a problem. I don’t know if it was a serial issue or also, like it’s the first big wind farm, and there might have been like some operating condition they weren’t aware of that caused some problems. They had to tow back everything to port, and they stayed there for months and months. So like maybe, maybe close to a year or over a year, I’m not sure. It was a really long time. And so, um, yeah. But then, you know, like what’s the alternative? If that had happened out at sea, it would’ve been more expensive. If, it still would’ve been shut down, not doing anything, and you would’ve had like helicopters out there every single day bringing teams and, um, you know, huge vessels with cranes and yeah. So like it’s, maintenance at sea is never good. Allen Hall: But the whole point of the HiWind project was to get some of these problems figured out, and one of them was just towing it back to port and [00:24:00] doing major repairs or component exchanges make sense. I think it’s a, it’s a lesson well learned, and we’ve moved on. I guess the question is, does offshore, floating offshore in particular, have much of a future if Norway’s not willing to do it? Matthew Stead: I think it’s a good comparison with, um, data centers in space. Rosemary Barnes: You know where else they’re planning to put data centers? Not just space and offshore, also like, um, underwater ones, like on the deep ocean floor, um, on the moon somewhat. Like there’s an actual company that is apparently developing a, a data center on the moon Allen Hall: As wind energy professionals, staying informed is crucial, and let’s face it, difficult. That’s why the Uptime podcast recommends PES Wind magazine. PES Wind offers a diverse range of in-depth articles and expert insights that dive into the most pressing issues facing our energy future. Whether you’re an industry veteran or new to wind, PES Wind has the high-quality content you need. Don’t [00:25:00] miss out. Visit peswind.com today. Well, in this quarter’s PES Wind magazine, there are a number of great articles, and if you haven’t downloaded your copy, you should do that at peswind.com. There’s a good article from Global Blade Services USA, and it’s talking about the technician problem and how it’s not gonna, it solve itself, obviously. But Global Blade Service is putting some numbers to it. And Rosemary, this is really directed at you. Blades represent roughly 20% of the total, total turbine capital cost and are the leading driver of unplanned downtime. Rosemary Barnes: Yeah, 40% of O&M. Allen Hall: Right, and 75% of all blade repairs are already handled outside OEM warranty. That number seems really high, but maybe after the warranty expires? Rosemary Barnes: Do you say 30% of, of repairs are repaired under warranty? That’s, uh, unexpectedly high from my point of view. [00:26:00] But, you know, how would I know? No one’s getting in touch with me if, you know, they’ve got a problem with their blades and it just got fixed under warranty. Then they’re not paying a consultant to come sort it out. I only, I’m, I’m only there when the warranty is nearly up or it’s already over. Allen Hall: So they, they’re saying that the, the ratio’s even gonna grow more towards out of warranty repairs. But the problem is having technicians. And the deeper problem is developing all those technicians in time as that need grows. Uh, reaching full structural repair competency takes a rope access technician eight to 10 years. A basket technician is five to seven, and a factory technician is four to five years, meaning the workforce, uh, the industry needs for the next decade has to start training now. I, I think we’re seeing this in full force. I- the issue is keeping good people in the industry as it fluctuates up and [00:27:00] down all the time and is very seasonal. Because there are really good rope technicians out there who know what they are doing, and it does take a, a minimum of three years to be competent. And then to be that lead person, it takes four or five solid. And to be, uh, the, the relied-upon person, especially for some of the more complicated repairs, it’s gonna be six, seven, eight years before you’re there. It’s just an exposure thing. Are we in a technician crisis? Rosemary Barnes: Crisis is maybe a little bit inflammatory, but, uh, we’re in a technician challenge Matthew Stead: But it’s a pretty, it’s a pretty basic topic, Allen, isn’t it? Like, um, you know, there’s more and more wind turbines, there have to be more and more technicians. It takes time to train. So, you know, it’s, it’s just, it’s pretty much basic maths and, um, you know, it’s like te- you know, tradies to build houses. Um, you know, unless you’ve got the tradies, you can’t build houses in a cheap way. Yolanda Padron: Part of the issue is that, you know, say there’s [00:28:00] 10 technicians that are available in the area, right? Then you … maybe they work under two different companies, and then one company goes bankrupt, so then they all work with the same company. Another company pops up, or someone gets kicked off site from the OEM side, and then a month later they’re back with the third party. And then it’s just really difficult to keep track of kind of who’s still there and who’s not, because some people have the certifications and maybe they’re not really, really great at what they do, or other people have a lot of training and a lot of experience, and it’s just difficult to track exactly, you know, where they are now. I know that the, the strategy here oftentimes is you’ll find one person that you like and you kind of follow him around, or follow them around whatever company they’re, they’re with at the moment, and then just use that company. Matthew Stead: The other point I was going to make is that there’s also the seasonality, isn’t there? So you know, if you’ve got a great, a great technician, when it’s cold, they can’t earn cash from [00:29:00] repairing blades. Rosemary Barnes: Aren’t they hired as, like, seasonal workers in America and they just don’t get paid for part of the year? That’s not how it’s done here. I mean, I guess we don’t have the climate where you have to, like, totally shut down, so they’re not, like, sitting around getting paid for nothing. But, like, that’s a really unim- unappealing feature of the of the, um, field, isn’t it? If you’re deciding what you wanna, what kinda job you wanna do, you want one where you can get paid for 12 months out of the year, not just, I don’t know, like eight or whatever it is. Matthew Stead: I know there’s been a lot of discussion between, like, Australian US repair companies of, like, shipping technicians down here during the Northern Hemisphere winter and vice versa, and it gives, you know, chance of exploring the world. But, you know, if you’ve got kids and family, you’re not gonna necessarily wanna do that either. Rosemary Barnes: It’s such a tiring job, though. I don’t… Like, there’s, um, I think it’s fine if people do it for, like, a hard 10 years and then, um, yeah, move on to… Because you obviously learn a lot as a technician, so y- you know, like, there’s a lot of office jobs that you would be really good at [00:30:00] because you had that physical experience. But yeah, like, I, I do think that there’s heaps of young people that are traveling the world being wind turbine technicians. Yolanda Padron: At least in Texas, I know a lot of rural areas where they don’t necessarily have a lot of opportunities to get higher education, and so going to be a technician is a good route for them to then go into a larger part of the industry, um, to, to kinda get a head start there. Um, and they get a lot of really valuable skills, and oftentimes, like you said, Rosie, they’ll, they’ll get picked up by, um, by the owners or the OEMs or someone, um, because of their experience there. But it, but it is quite a bit of, of hard work and, and physical, physical labor. I climbed one tower and I was sore for two weeks, so really, really not my cup of tea. Rosemary Barnes: I’m always, like, so excited to, to be climbing towers ’cause I only do it, like, you know, sometimes no times in a year, sometimes twice a year. Um, yeah, so, like, I’m really excited to go climb, and it’s really cool the first day, and then the second day it’s like, “Oh, this harness is [00:31:00] so heavy. Am I really putting this on again? Oh my God.” Yeah, so it’s, uh, it’s ob- obviously you get used to it if you, um, if you do climb a lot. The last, uh, last site that I was at, a lot of the technicians were just climbing the ladders so that they wouldn’t have to, you know, go to the gym afterwards. So there’s a lift there, but they use the ladder because then they get their cardio for the day. So, you know, they’ve obviously got some surplus energy. Allen Hall: I think it is kind of a myth outside the US, uh, uh, seasonal workers, uh, at least in Europe, I haven’t seen a lot of seasonal workers. It doesn’t mean they don’t exist, of course. But in the United States, there’s a lot of seasonal workers from construction and all kinds of other industries. People figure it out And it, it’s a lot more common than I think y- being an engineer you think it is, but there are a lot of seasonal workers. So being a, a wind technician is not a bad job. Rosemary Barnes: I guess they’re just getting [00:32:00] paid extra for the time that they’re working and they just know they’re used to budgeting to cover the few months off. Allen Hall: They have a winter job. They’ll, they have employment. They already have it lined up where when it gets cold outside, they have someplace else to go. Back into construction for a few months. They’re maybe driving a truck or doing other things that, that bring in income. They have it pretty well figured out. When– At least the technicians I’ve talked to seem to have a, a plan about it, and they’re not sitting by the television for six months. That’s not what’s happening. It, that there’s a lot of employment opportunities here in the States, and so they, they’re pretty nimble. So if you haven’t read this article or a number of our other great articles in PES Wind, you should go to peswind.com right now and download a copy today. That wraps up another episode of the Uptime Wind Energy podcast. If today’s discussion sparked any questions or ideas, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. [00:33:00] For Yolanda, Rosemary, and Matthew, I’m Allen Hall, and we’ll see you here next week on the Uptime Wind Energy podcast.
If you've ever felt that tug in your chest at this time of year — the craving for warmth, quiet, softness, or a return to yourself — you're already responding to the power of Winter Solstice. Most people rush through June (or December if you're in the Northern Hemisphere) thinking it's ‘just cold', but it's not. Winter Solstice is one of the most ancient and meaningful turning points on Earth's calendar, and if you've ever wondered why humans from every culture, in every era, stopped everything to celebrate one single night… Well… today you'll find out. Because Winter Solstice isn't only the darkest and most Yin day of the year — it's a powerful reset. A moment where the sun literally stops moving in the sky. A pause so profound that ancient people believed time stood still. And that stillness? It matters for us just as much today as it did thousands of years ago. So if you've been feeling tired, stretched thin, or like you could use a good soul-level exhale… This episode on I Love Me The Podcast, is your permission slip to step into the magic of Yule. You can take a peek at the full episode show notes (and resources I refer to in the show) here: https://gettingnaked.com.au/2026/06/17/94-how-to-celebrate-winter-solstice-in-a-modern-world/ Resources… Ep.3 Fill Yourself Up With Love https://gettingnaked.com.au/2024/02/21/ep-3-fill-yourself-up-with-love-your-go-to-self-love-tool/ Ep.4 Meet Your True Self. A Journey To Authenticity. https://gettingnaked.com.au/2024/02/28/ep-4-meet-your-true-self-a-journey-to-authenticity/ Ep.20 Journaling. The Cheapest Therapy Around. https://gettingnaked.com.au/2024/06/19/ep-20-journaling-the-cheapest-therapy-around/ Self-Love Starter's Kit https://gettingnaked.com.au/self-love-starters-kit/ About me… Hi, I'm Tamra Mercieca, a Self-Love Therapist, Women's Pelvic Health Guide, and host of I Love Me The Podcast. For 20+ years I've been teaching people worldwide how to heal depression and anxiety naturally, strengthen pelvic health, and cultivate radical self-love. In 2011, I founded Getting Naked, an online school offering resources and programs that help people strip away limiting beliefs and childhood conditioning so they can feel confident, connected, free in their bodies and able to love and accept themselves unconditionally. Alongside being a mum, wife, tea lover, and drummer, I'm qualified in more than a dozen holistic healing modalities. I've written two books, been published worldwide (print, TV, radio, etc), and often share my passion for self-love, mental health and pelvic wellbeing at yoga and spirituality festivals. My own journey began when I learned how to overcome suicidal depression and anxiety without medication. From that, I created a ten-session self-love therapy program that now helps others do the same. On the podcast, I share personal stories, tools and science-backed down-to-earth practices for emotional healing, women's health, and living with more joy and freedom. May you feel more whole and more complete, by simply tuning in! If you'd like to read my full love story and bio - including all my credentials - head to https://gettingnaked.com.au/tamra/ Contact… Website: https://gettingnaked.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gettingnaked/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RelationshipQueen/ Music written by Tamra Mercieca and Grey Milton. Performed by Xani Kolac and Grey Milton.
Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on June 13, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. It's still spring in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, but the world faces scorching hot temperatures. Summer heat has arrived early, setting records, claiming lives, and expected to get worse. Who's responsible and what should be done about it? In this episode: Johan Rockström (@jrockstrom), Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Jeff Goodell (@jeffgoodell), Author of “The Heat Will Kill You First” Episode credits: This episode was updated by Tamara Khandaker. The original production was Sarí el-Khalili, Khaled Soltan, Ashish Malhotra, Tamara Khandaker and our host, Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
It's open water season in the Northern Hemisphere, and the questions are flooding in. This week Coach Rob answers the most common athlete questions about moving your swimming out of the pool and into the lake or sea ahead of your first IRONMAN or 70.3.In this episode:When to make the switch to open water, and the simple rule for timing it What to actually practice once you're there: sighting drills, drafting technique, relaxed starts, turn buoys, and a clean wetsuit exitWhy you might be slower in open water than the poolWhether to do your endurance swim in the OW or the poolHow to choose the right start pen on a rolling-start race day* * * * * * *SPONSORS* * * * * * * *Thinking about your first Ironman or 70.3 in 2026? At Team Oxygenaddict, we specialise in helping busy professionals fit high-quality training around demanding jobs and family life. We've just reopened for new athletes with only a handful of slots available. Book an application call today to find out if you'd be a good fit for Team Oxygenaddict for the coming season here: https://team.oxygenaddict.com/consultation-call/ * * * * * * * * * * * *precisionfuelandhydration.comPrecision Fuel & Hydration help athletes personalise their hydration and fuelling strategies for training and racing. Use the free Fuel & Hydration Planner to get a personalised race nutrition plan for your next event. And then book a free 20-minute video consultation with a member of the PF&H Athlete Support Team to refine your strategy.Listeners get 15% off their first order of fuel and electrolytes with Precision Fuel & Hydration. Simply use code OXYGEN26 at checkout to claim your 15% discount
In feng shui, the Summer Solstice marks the peak of yang energy—the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. While it is often thought of as the beginning of summer, the Chinese solar calendar recognizes it as the height of the season, when fire qi is at its strongest. This powerful moment is associated with abundance, vitality, visibility, and growth. In this episode, we explore the significance of the Summer Solstice through the lens of feng shui and holistic living, and share practical ways to celebrate the season and align with its expansive energy.What we talk about in this episode:-Summer Solstice significance in Feng Shui-The peak of yang energy and fire element-Balancing fire and water elements-Using flowers and natural elements to celebrate-Reflecting on growth and fruition…and much more!Mentioned in this episode:Our Feng Shui Energy Map EkitRegister for our free & on-demand Feng Shui plant workshop, available for a limited timeHarmonize your Home with Feng Shui PlantsEnhance your qi, prosperity and wellnessThanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!-Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! -Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.-Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.-Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.Time stamps for this episode:[00:00] Celebrating the Summer Solstice[04:10] Understanding Yang Energy and Its Significance[12:01] Feng Shui Practices for the Summer Solstice[19:56] Reflecting on Growth and AbundanceMORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HEREORDER OUR NEW BOOK HERE
This week on the Disaster Podcast Dr. Joe Holley comes on the show for a clinical update episode on Heat-Related Medical Emergencies. As we head into the summer months here in the Northern Hemisphere, the likelihood of encountering patients with heat emergencies increases. For disaster responders in the summertime, the risks are even greater as they wear gear and carry equipment that adds to their load while working in hot weather. Co-Hosts Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis join Joe on the discussion. Types of heat emergencies Heat Cramps – The symptoms of heat cramps include painful involuntary muscle spasms brought on by loss of sodium through excessive sweating. Most often seen in people exerting themselves in extreme heat situations without rehydrating themselves or taking adequate breaks to allow the body cool down. Heat Exhaustion – Next on the spectrum of heat emergencies is heat exhaustion which progresses from heat cramps as the body starts to lose the ability to compensate for lack of adequate cooling. Symptoms include early signs of shock like dizziness, nausea, cool, pale, and clammy skin. Heat Stroke – The most severe level of heat emergency is heat stroke which is a true medical emergency that may result in permanent disability or death. Hot, dry skin, loss of consciousness, and complete failure of the body’s cooling mechanisms are key signs. Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well. Podcast Discussion Summary Heat Safety and Weather Discussion The group discussed weather conditions and heat safety. Sam shared updates about her new home in Missouri, including drainage issues due to lower acreage and recent heavy rains. Joe explained how humidity affects the body’s cooling system, noting that high humidity makes sweat less effective at evaporating and cooling the body, which can increase the risk of heat illness for people transitioning from drier climates. Heat Illness Spectrum and Prevention Joe explained the spectrum of heat illnesses, from heat cramps (caused by heavy sweating and salt loss leading to muscle cramps) to heat exhaustion (when cooling mechanisms fail and body temperature rises, causing symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and clammy skin) to heat stroke (when internal temperature exceeds 104°F with severe neurological and cardiovascular effects). Jamie asked about factors affecting the progression from milder to severe heat illness, to which Joe responded that various factors including physical condition, medical conditions, medications, ambient conditions, and physical activity all influence how quickly someone might progress through the heat illness spectrum. Joe emphasized the importance of prevention through proper education, preparation, and having readily available cooling methods, noting that work cycles may need to be limited in extreme heat conditions. Heat Management in Disaster Situations Joe explained that preparing for heat management in disaster situations is crucial, especially for first responders working in austere environments with limited support systems. He highlighted the increased physical and mental demands of search and rescue operations in debris-filled areas following adverse weather conditions. When asked about immediate actions for heat stroke emergencies, Joe indicated that it is a life-threatening situation requiring immediate attention, though the specific response was not fully detailed in the transcript. Heat Stroke Treatment Techniques Joe shared his experience with a 16-year-old who suffered heat stroke during football practice, explaining the importance of cooling techniques like exposing skin, using water and fans, and eventually ice baths for treatment. He emphasized the need to monitor body temperature and avoid overcooling, noting that recovery from heat stroke typically requires intensive care and is not possible in the field. When asked by Jamie about managing teams in extreme conditions, Joe’s response was cut off at the end of the transcript. Heat Safety Response Procedures Joe explained the primary methods for managing heat safety during responses, including the buddy system and using cooling stations like ambulances or air-conditioned vehicles with vital sign monitoring every 30 minutes. He noted that dogs can only work for about 15 minutes in hot weather before needing downtime due to their fur covering and inability to communicate thirst effectively. Heat Stress Signs in Dogs The discussion focused on recognizing signs of heat stress in dogs, with Joe explaining that behavioral changes, lack of response to commands, stumbling, heavy panting, and laying down in cool areas are key indicators. Joe noted that dogs primarily regulate temperature through panting rather than sweating, and mentioned that temperatures over 103 degrees are considered high for dogs, with many dogs having temperature chips for monitoring. Jamie emphasized the importance of refreshing knowledge about heat stress as summer and hurricane season approach, highlighting the need for people to know their limitations and watch out for each other during emergency responses. Paragon Training Activities Planning Joe discussed upcoming training activities for Paragon, including attending the Gathering of Eagles conference in Florida and conducting cadaver-based procedural training for paramedic programs. The group shared their social media handles and podcast information, with Jamie encouraging listeners to subscribe to the Disaster Podcast. The conversation concluded with well-wishes for Joe’s upcoming conference trip and acknowledgment of his busy schedule. Wrap up and updates The team went through contact information and the team encouraged listeners to stay safe. The group discussed the role of specialized training, with Jamie highlighting the sponsorship of the Disaster Podcast by Paragon Medical Education Group. Catch the full episode using the player above or on your favorite podcast platform, and don't forget to subscribe to the Disaster Podcast for weekly insights from leaders in disaster response and research!
Approximately one-third (about 30%–34%) of the world's seaborne fertilizer trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz.With the Strait closed for so long now, there is growing concern there will be insufficient fertilizer for the Northern Hemisphere harvest this year (which contains 87% of the world's population)Is another Arab Spring -- this time, worldwide -- likely as a result?To find out, we talk with Bruce Sherrick, Professor at the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at Univ of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.WORRIED ABOUT THE MARKET? SCHEDULE YOUR FREE PORTFOLIO REVIEW with Thoughtful Money's endorsed financial advisors at https://www.thoughtfulmoney.com#fertilizer #foodcrisis #iranwar _____________________________________________ Thoughtful Money LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor Promoter.We produce educational content geared for the individual investor. It's important to note that this content is NOT investment advice, individual or otherwise, nor should be construed as such.We recommend that most investors, especially if inexperienced, should consider benefiting from the direction and guidance of a qualified financial advisor registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or state securities regulators who can develop & implement a personalized financial plan based on a customer's unique goals, needs & risk tolerance.All the details on Thoughtful Money's relationship with the financial advisors it endorses, many of whom regularly appear on this program, can be found in the following documents. We highly recommend you review these documents as they cover the terms that will apply should you choose to work with one of these firms at any time after watching this video.Thoughtful Money Disclosure Document: https://thoughtfulmoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Thoughtful-Money-Disclosure-Document-12.6.23.pdf?pid=227Thoughtful Money Agreement: https://thoughtfulmoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Thoughtful-Money-Agreement-Agreement.docx?pid=227IMPORTANT NOTE: There are risks associated with investing in securities.Investing in stocks, bonds, exchange traded funds, mutual funds, money market funds, and other types of securities involve risk of loss. Loss of principal is possible. Some high risk investments may use leverage, which will accentuate gains & losses. Foreign investing involves special risks, including a greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods.A security's or a firm's past investment performance is not a guarantee or predictor of future investment performance.Thoughtful Money and the Thoughtful Money logo are trademarks of Thoughtful Money LLC.Copyright © 2026 Thoughtful Money LLC. All rights reserved.
Foundry Chocolate in New Zealand release only a single inclusion bar each year, but this annual release has become one of the hottest tickets in craft chocolate. Each fall (for the Northern Hemisphere—spring for NZ), they release a bar infused with a different whisky from artisan New Zealand distillery Thomson Whisky. Each year's release is a unique flavor concept, and co-founder David Herrick and his team spend time throughout the year perfecting each annual batch. In this nerdy, deep-dive conversation, David Herrick and host David Nilsen discuss the planning stages for each bar, walk through each annual release since 2021, and talk about the details of Foundry's process for infusing whisky into these bars. The Davids also talk about Foundry's origin story, the meaning behind their name, the thoughtful of their packaging, and what keeps them excited and curious.You can learn more about Foundry on their website, or follow them on Instagram.You can listen to episodes with New Zealander Luke Owen Smith here and here.1:00 - Introduction3:40 - Start of Interview: Foundry's backstory13:35 - The meaning of the name “Foundry”17:30 - Whisky and the Thompson Distillery21:50 - Whisky bar releases 2021-202542:45 - Whisky infusion process53:40 - Release events and enthusiasm54:55 - 2026 R&D57:50- What he's currently excited about1:06:55 - Packaging and the story Foundry is telling1:13:55 - End of interview1:20:40 - End of episodeGuest:David Herrick, along with his wife Janelle, are co-founders of Foundry Chocolate, a New Zealand-based bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker whose globally award-winning single origin, two ingredient bars make the flavor possible from single origins their absolute focus. Foundry only add a third ingredient to their chocolate once a year, and rather than more conventional approaches to flavored bars, they use liquid whisky to make an annual special release series of Thomson Whisky-infused bars, that have now gained such a following that they sell out in days and are sought the world over. Check out David's book Pairing Beer & Chocolate: A Guide to Bringing the Flavors of Craft Beer and Craft Chocolate Together.Follow Bean to Barstool on social media!InstagramFacebookPinterestSign up for host David Nilsen's beer newsletter for regular beer musings, and the Bean to Barstool newsletter for pairings, collaborations, and maker profiles.
The May 29, 2026, broadcast of the Closing Market Report centers on agricultural commodity trends and the Midwestern weather outlook. Market analyst Mike Zuzolo notes that while wheat, cattle, and corn faced downward pressure from weak weekly export sales and shifting geopolitical conditions, soybean oil demonstrated strong performance driven by favorable crush margins, which helped stabilize the broader soybean market. Looking ahead, Zuzolo suggests that Northern Hemisphere weather uncertainties and the upcoming wheat harvest could introduce upward market potential in the latter half of June. On the agronomic front, meteorologist Eric Snodgrass explains that fluctuating spring temperatures caused atypical early corn root development in some fields he visit in the upper Midwest. He highlights a current warming trend in the Corn Belt, forecasting a generally drier June that will allow crops to accumulate essential Growing Degree Days, followed by a potentially wetter July. The broadcast also outlines upcoming University of Illinois extension events, including the Small Grains Field Day, the Weed Science Field Research Tour, and the "Sustaining Farm Legacy" series.- Ag Markets with Mike Zuzolo, GlobalCommResearch.com- Ag Weather with Eric Snodgrass, NutrienAgSolutions.com ★ Support this podcast ★
As we rapidly approach the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, many school schedules are preparing to slow down or take a break in the warmer months, as some work schedules do too. With this in mind, please enjoy this special reissue of our 35th episode on work-life balance in cultures around the globe, “‘Work to live’ cultures, and ‘live to work’ cultures”, from October 2022. We here at ‘Oops, Your Culture’s Showing!’ will also be taking a break from releasing episodes over the coming months, as we soak up some sun (hopefully on a beach with a cold drink in one or both hands), travel, and time with family and friends. We’ll see you out there on the beach, dear listeners – and while getting those rays, it’s a perfect time to visit/revisit our entire back catalogue of episodes! Listening to this while eating lunch in the workplace? Fais attention (be careful!) because if you're in France, that's illegal. In this episode, Dean and Tom get to work contrasting how countries from France to Japan to the US value, and even legislate, work-life balance – and, bien sûr (of course!), how it's all grounded in culture. Plus, a Grammar Time segment somehow sneaks up on all of us…est-ce possible? (Here are the referenced NPR articles on the French lunch law and the Portuguese ‘right to disconnect' law, from June 2022.) ***Dean's book, “Business Beyond Borders: Stories, Tales, and Lessons Learned from Working in 100 Cultures Around the World”, IS OUT NOW – order it today! And: Subscribe to Dean's Substack to find all of Dean's “Culture's Consequences” articles, CultureQuizzes, and much more!*** Have a cultural question or episode idea? Reach out on X/Twitter & Facebook (@OopsCultureShow) or by email at oopscultureshow@gmail.com. Hosts: Dean Foster & Tom Peterson Audio Production: Tom Peterson & Torin Peterson Music: “Little Idea” – Bensound.com
Wheat leads higher; markets waiting for crop tour results and Supply/Demand report; weather looking good for rest of Northern Hemisphere.
Spring and Easter go so well together for those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere. The spring that has finally come makes it easy for us to be filled with Easter Joy. Learn from Fr. Kubicki other reasons for the significance of this time.
Dallas the Dog and the Territorial Bird Disputes of New South WalesGuest: Jeremy Zakis Summary: Jeremy discusses how his dog, Dallas, has established a territorial division in their yard to manage local bird species during the winter,. Dallas is highly protective of his "friends," specifically magpies and rosellas, allowing them on the grass while aggressively chasing minor birds and Currawongs into the driveway and garage areas,. This behavioral discrimination stems from a Currawong attempting to steal Dallas's tennis ball, an act the dog found unacceptable. Unlike birds in the Northern Hemisphere, these Australian species do not migrate for the winter and are known to huddle together even during rare snowfalls in the nearby Blue Mountains,.1981
As we enjoy the deepening heart of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, we're back with another episode about everyone's favorite topic—flowers. One of the most beautiful ways to welcome the energy of spring is by incorporating seasonal flowers into your home's feng shui. In today's episode, we discuss flower choices for different rooms and the symbolic meanings that can help bring joy, renewal, and abundance into your space. Everyone loves flowers and today's episode is a fun one!What we talk about in this episode:Room-specific flower recommendationsSymbolic meanings of spring flowersHow flowers influence Feng Shui energy…and much more!Mentioned in this episode:2026 Feng Shui Amulet for Protection and LuckOur Feng Shui Energy Map EkitRegister for our free & on-demand Feng Shui plant workshop, available for a limited timeHarmonize your Home with Feng Shui PlantsEnhance your qi, prosperity and wellnessThanks so much for listening to the Holistic Spaces Podcast brought to you by Mindful Design Feng Shui School!-Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive complimentary special workshops and offers for our newsletter subscribers ONLY! -Make sure you're following us on Instagram for feng shui tips and live Q&A's.-Learn about our courses and certification on our website at: Mindful Design School.-Check out our older episodes on our Holistic Spaces Podcast archive.Time stamps for this episode:[02:55] Room by Room: Entrance and Living Room Flowers[09:16] Kitchen and Dining Room Flower Recommendations[12:06] Bedroom Flower Choices for Energy and Love[15:58] Bathroom and Office Flower Suggestions[20:07] Recap of Favorite Spring Flowers for Feng ShuiMORE QUESTIONSHire one of our Mindful design school Grads for a 1-1 consultation. We know so many personal questions come up. That's why you need a 1-1! Laura and Anjie offer all these freebies, but if you want to learn more it's time to ask a professional. learn more HEREORDER OUR NEW BOOK HERE
Do you have plans for Easter Sunday? Are you making a list of groceries, responsibilities, and church events? Whether you'll be spending this important holiday alone, with friends or family... or possibly at work... I hope you'll center your heart on the peace Jesus provides. Bible Reading: On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” - John 20:19 The weekend when Christians celebrate Good Friday, Sabbath Saturday, and Resurrection Sunday occurs in the springtime in the Northern Hemisphere. So it's often dressed up in the colors, symbols, and delights of the season. From pastel candies to blooming flowers and baby birds—Easter often vibrates with signs of joy and rebirth. And although the word Easter was not the name of a dedicated holiday in the Bible, it is now widely associated with the celebration. If you’re like me, you can sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed during Christian holidays that are tightly (or loosely) tangled with non-Christian traditions and expectations. For many, Easter can be a busy blur, brimming with baskets, egg hunts, candy, and tall tales about a gift-bearing bunny. What I want to believe is that choosing to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ in this kaleidoscope of ways is a sign. It’s divine reassurance that Jesus lives—regardless of the chaos we create to distract ourselves from him. There’s no prescription or requirement for how a diversity of humans will spend this special Sunday appreciating what Jesus accomplished. Some are sick in the hospital, some choose to serve, others find church crowds overwhelming, and still others rush to sunrise service. Some turn up at wild parades with even wilder hats, while others prepare a meal for more guests than usual. Yes, when I was raising my children, I filled their baskets, shopped for chocolate, and made sure we attended service. I'm not sure, however, that my family was there in spirit, while marshmallow peeps were nesting back home. My point is that Resurrection Sunday, affectionately called Easter, can be celebrated in many ways, but the reason for it all is peace. And the truth is... we often forget to be peaceful on Easter Sunday. Which is why it’s good to revisit the simple, powerful words Jesus spoke after resurrection: Peace be with you. He didn't tell anyone to fret or rush, put a meal on the table, or even to gather sweets. And he certainly wasn't into hiding—or pretending to be someone he wasn't. As Easter approaches, I hope we can all consider this: his resurrection represents a shedding of fear and doubt. You see, there's nothing wrong with serving, resting, or attending church on Easter. It’s also beautiful to cook, gather, and give in all the ways we love to show love to ourselves and others. But I do hope on the Sunday set aside to glorify the ultimate gift—whether you call it Easter or Resurrection Sunday—you remember what Jesus said: peace be with you. Especially when any preparations or activities feel off-center. During the Last Supper, we read in John 14:27 that Jesus prepared his disciples, saying: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” I think this could also mean you don't have to be afraid you won’t find the perfect Easter outfit, or have perfectly well-behaved children, or know exactly what to say at the dinner prayer. Honoring the resurrection is admitting and embracing a victorious freedom — to receive the peace of Jesus. Let’s Pray: Lord, thank you for the marvelous and awesome gift of proving there is life after earthly death. What a joyous message that even after experiencing brutality beyond belief, you arrive with open hands and encouragement to not fear and to be at peace. This Easter holiday, help me not to allow plans, obligations, or lists overshadow the peace you have for me. Let this be the weekend I resurrect peace within. Let me not worry about who goes where, who shows up, or whether everyone’s holiday is unforgettable. Just help me remember that you are with us, keeping your promise of everlasting peace. In your precious name, Amen. If you like this podcast, be sure to check out our sister podcast, Your Nightly Prayer - an evening Christian prayer podcast to help you end your day in conversation with God. https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Summary 1 Jeremy Zakis discusses the failures of England's aggressive "Bazball" strategy in five-day test matches. Australian cricket legends urge England to adopt a more conservative approach to remain competitive. The conversation also highlights a critical shortage of cricket balls in the Northern Hemisphere caused by supply chain disruptions in the Gulf. (1)1920 EDWARD BALES, WARWICKSHIRE