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Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureGermany has followed the [CB]/[WEF] green new scam and now the manufacturing jobs imploding. Germany will struggle in 2026. The debt in the US is made up of fraud, its most likely in the trillions. There a silver storm approaching and the gap between gold and silver will close as the [CB] loses control. Sound money is the only way. The [DS] is now panicking, their money laundering scheme is being exposed, the people now know that they funnel money via NGO’s and shell companies. This is bigger than anyone could ever imagine. We are in the exposure and investigative phase, Next is the cleanup, then justice. To bring down the entire corrupt system, it must be done right, it must carry weight, we must follow the rule of law, good thinks sometimes take time. Economy (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); Half of Germany's Manufacturing Sectors Anticipate Significant Layoffs and Job Losses in 2026   Germany is the epicenter of the European Union's overall goal to chase the green energy agenda. For the past several years Germany has been deconstructing their fossil fuel energy production and replacing it with far more expensive alternatives.  This has led to large increases in overall energy prices, and downstream increases in manufacturing costs. The consequences have been snowballing throughout 2025, while cheap competitive alternatives coming into the EU from China have compounded their problem.  Recently a survey of major industries was conducted in Germany to determine the forecast for 2026, the results are not good. Approximately half of the industrial sectors in Germany are anticipating job losses, cuts or layoffs this year. 22 out of 46 business associations are preparing to downsize their labor force.  Only 9 of the 46 are expected to increase hiring.   Job losses are expected in auto manufacturing, the textile sector, wood and paper fabrication.  Job gains are expected in aerospace, shipbuilding and defense production – i.e. the war machinery. When the largest and most developed industrial economy in Europe is pinning its economic survival on war machinery, a particular momentum is created.  It is never a good outcome for Europe when Germany becomes reliant on war to maintain employment. Source: theconservativetreehouse.com https://twitter.com/stats_feed/status/2005654716462538992?s=20 2009 – $12T 2010 – $13.6T 2011 – $14.8T 2012 – $16.1T 2013 – $16.7T 2014 – $17.8T 2015 – $18.2T 2016 – $19.6T 2017 – $20.2T 2018 – $21.5T 2019 – $22.7T 2020 – $27T 2021 – $28.4T 2022 – $30.9T 2023 – $33.2T 2024 – $35.3T 2025 – $38.5T https://twitter.com/StephenM/status/2005494075793735925?s=20  self-loathing, self-denigration and the redistribution of our national resources to the states and peoples of the undeveloped world. https://twitter.com/profstonge/status/2005633652852437451?s=20 Political/Rights Trump-Kennedy Center Hits Jazz Star with $1M Lawsuit For Backing Out Of Christmas Eve Show Redd, a drummer and vibraphone player who has performed with legends including Dizzy Gillespie and Ray Brown, had hosted the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam at the Kennedy Center since 2006. He took over the tradition from bassist William “Keter” Betts and maintained it for nearly two decades. This year marked an abrupt departure from that longstanding commitment. “When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert,” Redd told The Associated Press. The Trump-Kennedy Center is pursuing a $1 million lawsuit against jazz musician Chuck Redd after he withdrew from his annual Christmas Eve concert at the last minute, citing the recent addition of President Trump’s name to the venue.  Source: zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2005398115030024201?s=20 DOGE Geopolitical Trump Administration Slashes UN “Humanitarian” Funding Pledge  The United States announced a $2 billion pledge for United Nations humanitarian aid programs on Monday, marking a sharp reduction from previous years as the Trump administration pushes for major reforms in global aid spending. This pledge represents a fraction of historical U.S. contributions, which have reached up to $17 billion in recent years, with voluntary funding often in the $8-10 billion range. Administration officials describe the amount as sufficient to keep America as the world's top humanitarian donor while demanding greater efficiency from UN agencies. The funding will flow through an umbrella mechanism controlled by the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), allowing targeted distribution to specific crises and countries. Initial priorities include 17 nations such as Bangladesh, Congo, Haiti, Syria, and Ukraine. Notably absent from the list are Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories, with officials stating Gaza aid will tie into ongoing peace efforts. Source: discernreport.com  War/Peace Did US Land Strikes On Venezuela Begin Last Week & No One Knew It? President Trump on Friday in a radio interview disclosed something which missed the attention of the US and global media. He let slip that a large land site had been knocked out by a strike from US forces in the Caribbean – however without specifying which country was hit (whether Venezuela or perhaps Colombia). o  According to the full remarks in context, the president said: “But every time I knock out a boat, we save 25,000 American lives. It’s very simple. And what’s happening is they’re having a hard time employment-wise, they can’t get anybody. And we just talked out, I don’t know if you read or you saw, they [Venezuela] have a big plant or a big facility where the ships come from. Two nights ago, we knocked that out. So we hit them very hard. But drugs are down over 97 percent. Can you believe it?” Some unnamed American officials suggested to the New York Times that the Commander-in-Chief was referring to a drug facility in Venezuela: Trump did not name the location of the facility, though American officials told the New York Times that the president was referring to a drug facility in Venezuela that was eliminated. The president's comment is the only report of such an attack. No other Latin American government, including Venezuela, has disclosed a strike of this sort. : Source: zerohedge.com  Zelensky Wants 50-Year(!) Security Guarantee From Trump A major point of disagreement remains security guarantees. Ukraine has been pushing maximalist demands for something akin to NATO Article 5 protections. It would be like getting all the benefits of being in NATO but without being a formal member of the Western military alliance. The Ukrainian side has revealed that President Trump had offered security guarantees for 15 years following a peaceful settlement, but Zelensky considered this much too short to protect from future potential Russian aggression. But in classic Zelensky fashion, he wants way more than this. Also, maximalist demands are something that European leaders have backed him on all along – and they may have even put him up to. According to The Wall Street Journal: Kyiv had asked for security guarantees to last up to 50 years after the end of the conflict during weekend discussions. In the documents currently being discussed, the U.S. offered a 15-year guarantee with the possibility of extension, Zelensky said in audio messages to journalists on Monday.   Source: zerohedge.com  Russia accuses Ukraine of military attack on Putin’s residence: ‘state terrorism’   Russia is promising retaliation against Ukraine for an alleged military attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence in the northern Russia area of Novgorod, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky deemed a lie intended to undermine peace talks, Reuters reports. . Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that Russian air defenses destroyed all 91 long-range drones targeting Putin’s residence and that no one was injured and no damage reported. “Such reckless actions,” which Lavrov deemed “state terrorism,” will be answered with retaliatory strikes on targets in Ukraine, he said. Ukrainian President Zelensky says it’s a false claim intended to undermine peace talks  . Source: justthenews.com https://twitter.com/AutistDivision/status/2005463473006801341?s=20  geo-political territories forever. And lets be honest, they couldn’t get them back under any circumstances again. Medical/False Flags [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2005334470799565113?s=20   LAFD Battalion Chief Kenneth Cook rejected the final Palisades fire report after LAFD leadership removed critical findings tied to preparation failures before Jan. 7. Drafts obtained through public records show staffing violations, delayed assignments & ignored wind warnings were scrubbed from the final version. The report meant to save lives became a political shield. As a side note, New York City is setting themselves up for the same problem... https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2005608785990262859?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2005622039999062219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2005622039999062219%7Ctwgr%5E11dcdb289244b9644ea68d25359a18f753233f5d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F12%2Fsomali-fraud-scandal-expands-as-lawyer-exposes-damning%2F   pushing for that in every single state!” “The state will, as long as the doctor has approved it, continue to pay you. It could be for 10 hours, 12 hours, up to 24 when it’s critical care.” “So you could sit at home without caring for an elderly parent who really doesn’t need it, make about $75,000 to $90,000 a year. Now you add two parents, that’s $180,000. Now you add your in-laws $250,000.” “You continue to add this and you wonder what are the services being provided? So a lot of providers came and said fraud is occurring because we said we weren’t going to rubber stamp this paperwork.” “So they went to other providers, their home health care networks saying we’ll make it worth your while. Well, sounds like a kickback to me.” “So we really need to investigate the Medicaid system and how much it’s increased since the Somalian population came and who really needs critical care because that’s meant for our disabled, our elderly and people who really need it, not to just live off our system.” “And that’s what’s happening in Ohio. I think it’s ridiculous. I think it’s despicable, but authorities are now looking at it from the Attorney General’s office to the U.S. Attorney’s office.” “I flagged them all because this is Ohio tax dollars and we have to take it seriously. I’m tired of people telling me, well, this is the way it’s always been. It’s subjective and we can’t really check. No, you can.” https://twitter.com/ArthurMacwaters/status/2005324862756127166?s=20   this not instant jail?! Like this is electoral fraud on top of Medicare fraud How is this not front page of every newspaper?! https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2005535693918138533?s=20 https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2005657030111932568?s=20   was unanimously convicted by a jury only to have Judge Sarah West vacate the verdict. In two separate cases to other judges dismissed the cases against his wife and his brother. $7.2 million is gone and no one is being held accountable. This story is being repeated across Minnesota to the tune of more than $8 billion so far. Somali criminals in Minnesota have stolen more than Somalia’s GDP from American taxpayers. Why won’t Democrat judges hold them accountable? https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2005496793279439182?s=20 https://twitter.com/JoeLang51440671/status/2005476678261461399?s=20   broke to being worth up to $30 million in just a year — as a massive, up to $9 billion fraud scheme involving the Somali community in her district unfolded right under her nose in Minnesota.” $9 billion in fraud happened in her district? Can I ask the question? How many Somali daycares did Ilhan Omar own? “Close to 90 people have been charged so far, including at least three with direct ties to the lefty Squad member, though she has not been charged.” https://nypost.com/2025/12/27/us-news/ilhan-omars-hubbys-30m-firm-quietly-scrubs-names-from-website-as-squad-member-faces-mounting-questions-on-sudden-wealth-amid-minnesota-welfare-fraud/ That's going to change. Have we looked into the wealth of the brother she married? I wonder if he owns some Somali daycares in Minnesota? Tick Tock!! https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2005657804301013272?s=20  , the Google business listing for this center showed the phone number 651-201-3400, which is the official public contact line for the Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan    https://twitter.com/JoeLang51440671/status/2005329284785647715?s=20   significant investments in pre-K for four-year-olds as well as other early learning programs serving children and families birth-to-school entry. This year he focused on the country's youngest children and their families' need for high-quality child care.” The Obama administration was a gigantic money laundering operation. “The President explained the need in last Tuesday's address stating, “In today's economy, when having both parents in the workforce is an economic necessity for many families, we need affordable, high quality childcare more than ever.” “But the child care tax credit isn't all the President proposed.” “He would also significantly expand the Child Care and Development Fund(CCDF), a child care subsidy for low- and moderate-income families authorized under the Child Care Block Development Grant (CCDBG) Act. (CCDBG was reauthorized last year after 18 years.) By 2025, the proposed expansion would increase the reach of CCDF to an additional one million children, under four-years-old.” Taxpayers subsidies and grants for “childcare.” “The last part of the President's proposal, in typical Obama Administration-style, is a competitive grant that would promote innovation in the child care system. The proposed grants– totaling $100 million– would allow states to create pilot programs to determine the best ways to provide child care to vulnerable populations, including children with disabilities, parents who work non-traditional hours, and families who have difficulty finding high-quality child care.” https://newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/presidents-child-care-plan/ Taxpayers “grants” totaling $100 million (for starters) to be given to “vulnerable populations.” Can you say “Somali?” Taxpayers funding of “childcare,” was a “necessity” for the funding of the democrat party. The Somali community was always a hub of this “childcare” theft of taxpayers money. It was set up this way on purpose. A Somali community, governed by Somali's and protected by the democrat party. The Somali's were being brought into this country starting with the George W. Bush's presidency. But Obama began accelerating the number of refugees from Somalia along with other Muslim countries. Here's just the last year under Obama. “A total of 38,901 Muslim refugees entered the U.S. in fiscal year 2016, making up almost half (46%) of the nearly 85,000 refugees who entered the country in that period, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of data from the State Department's Refugee Processing Center. That means the U.S. has admitted the highest number of Muslim refugees of any year since data on self-reported religious affiliations first became publicly available in 2002.” “Just two countries – Syria (12,486) and Somalia (9,012) – were the source of more than half of fiscal 2016's Muslim refugees. The rest are from Iraq (7,853), Burma (Myanmar) (3,145), Afghanistan (2,664) and other countries (3,741).” https://pewresearch.org/short-reads/2016/10/05/u-s-admits-record-number-of-muslim-refugees-in-2016/ Obama was an installed puppet of Prince Alwaleed and was doing his bidding. Obama filled his administration with people tied to the Muslim Brotherhood, who were implementing their “civilization jihad.” These communities began electing corrupt representatives like Ilhan Omar. Infiltration not invasion. Taxpayers money was funneled into these communities through “childcare grants” and other “welfare programs,” in order to fund the democrat party. Minnesota is just the “doorway” into a much larger nationwide fraud scheme to fund the democrat party. A magnifying glass is about to be put on ALL state welfare programs that are receiving “federal funding.” These grants and benefits handed out to these crooks, are now the doorway to expose and bring them all to an end. BOOMERANG! https://twitter.com/everytime_11/status/2004718928686350461?s=20 https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/2005651406985036272?s=20 Tim Walz's Office Responds with an Outrageous Falsehood After Journalist Nick Shirley Exposes Fraud of the Century in Minnesota “The governor has worked for years to crack down on fraud and ask the state legislature for more authority to take aggressive action,” a spokesperson for Walz told Fox News. “He has strengthened oversight – including launching investigations into these specific facilities, one of which was already closed,” the spokesperson added. “(He) hired an outside firm to audit payments to high-risk programs, shut down the Housing Stabilization Services program entirely, announced a new statewide program integrity director, and supported criminal prosecutions.” Walz previously called Shirley and others who have questioned his handling of the scandal “white supremacists.” Walz's team wants the public to believe that not only does the governor have no involvement in the scandal, but he has also been a leading advocate against this corruption. They must think that every day Americans have the same >IQ as Somali citizens.   Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2005427571861909629?s=20 https://twitter.com/KevinKileyCA/status/2005329670083145745?s=20 Back on June 24, 2025. about 31% of applications to California’s 116 community colleges were deemed likely fraudulent by the chancellor’s office—equating to over 1.2 million fake applications. These were mostly detected and blocked before enrollment or aid disbursement, but some fraud succeeded, costing millions in stolen financial aid (around $11 million total in 2024, a small fraction of the billions distributed overall).The piece discusses ongoing efforts to combat the issue, like improved detection tools, identity verification, and a proposed $10 application fee to deter bots and scammers targeting the free-application, open-access system.  https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2005388876807057913?s=20 President Trump's Plan https://twitter.com/stats_feed/status/2005654716462538992?s=20 2009 – $12T 2010 – $13.6T 2011 – $14.8T 2012 – $16.1T 2013 – $16.7T 2014 – $17.8T 2015 – $18.2T 2016 – $19.6T 2017 – $20.2T 2018 – $21.5T 2019 – $22.7T 2020 – $27T 2021 – $28.4T 2022 – $30.9T 2023 – $33.2T 2024 – $35.3T 2025 – $38.5T https://twitter.com/4nt1p4tt3rn/status/2005345471674388575?s=20  deniability to the federal and state governments, and allow them to funnel money into the NGOs to do what the governments either don’t want to (due to optics) or can’t (due to legal constraints) do. They are quite literally dismantling the United States of America, and they’re doing it with YOUR money. Quite literally money taken out of your pockets. Food taken out of your children’s mouths. They’re directly or indirectly responsible for: * the massive invasion of this country by illegals * the high cost of healthcare * the shortage and high price of homes * the shortage and high price of unimproved land * the high cost of food and other goods * the high taxes you’re forced to pay * the skyrocketing national debt * the skyrocketing federal deficit * DEI and the elimination of qualified American workers from jobs * deaths of Americans on our roadways * the broken “justice” system In other words, literally everything everyone’s complaining about. https://twitter.com/911NewsBreaks/status/2005660846848958944?s=20   planning to livestream a racially motivated extremist attack with pipe b-mbs and g-ns. https://twitter.com/HarmeetKDhillon/status/2005444604624028029?s=20   year later as special counsel in November … statute runs on his obvious shenanigans late 2027 * Democrats in Congress and those in the states colluding with Biden WH hide their behavior, some of which STILLL HASN'T come to light! Statute runs on this five years after their concealed behavior is known to the government. This means the statute could run in the next administration. STOP POSTING CLICKBAIT BS!!! You are being used! https://twitter.com/HarmeetKDhillon/status/2005446072634872033?s=20 https://twitter.com/grok/status/2005427970681217334?s=20   to Jan. 6, 2021/2026. Specific cases vary by act. ‘Ten-year stain:' Bondi asks prosecutors to probe Obama-Biden lawfare as criminal conspiracy FBI Director Kash Patel penned a memo predicating an investigation looking at the weaponization of intelligence and law-enforcement powers dating to the Russia collusion case as an ongoing conspiracy. Attorney General Pam Bondi   asked the prosecutors to investigate the Obama-Biden era of lawfare as an ongoing election-meddling conspiracy that protected Democrats from criminal investigation and infringed the civil rights of Republicans like President Donald Trump and his supporters. An “ongoing conspiracy” and the statute of limitations Such an approach allows prosecutors to charge defendants with alleged crimes outside the statute of limitations because they were connected to an ongoing conspiracy, much like those cases brought against the mafia and drug cartels. “At my direction, our U.S. Attorneys and federal agents are actively investigating instances of government weaponization nationwide,” Bondi said. “This is a ten-year stain on the country committed by high-ranking officials against the American people. Source: justthenews.com https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2005434508124782615?s=20   to be deported. They opposed the One Big Beautiful Bill because it funds ICE/US MIL, and they know Trump is going to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy troops to their cities to assist ICE in deporting the illegals. If the Dems can't cheat in elections, they lose access to our tax dollars, and thus they lose all their power. They never cared about diversity, equality, equity, inclusion, immigration or any of that shit. It was all just a transaction. Everything they say and do is just a means to justify their treasonous scheme to steal our tax dollars. That's why it's so important to nuke the filibuster, pass the Save Act, invoke the Insurrection Act, deport all the illegals, and arrest everyone involved. If we don't, the Dems will take complete control, we will become a one-party State, and they will eventually phase us out via mass immigration. That's why the Dems have been trying to destroy, obstruct, and kill Trump, ever since he came down the escalator. Because they knew that he knew about all this, and is on a mission to stop it. The American People are being replaced, and the Democrats are directly responsible for it. This is the battle for the Republic. 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THE 1874 EXHIBITION AND THE BIRTH OF IMPRESSIONISM Colleague Sebastian Smee. In the spring of 1874, a group of painters including Degas, Monet, Pissarro, and Renoir gathered at the studio of the photographer Nadar to exhibit their work outside the established "Salon" system. This group, organizing themselves as the "Société Anonyme," had grown tired of the Salon's hierarchical preference for large-scale history and religious paintings over landscapes and contemporary life. The movement received its name from a critic who wrote a parody of the exhibition, seizing upon the title of Claude Monet's painting, Impression, Sunrise, to mock the work as unfinished sketches lacking structure or deep meaning. While photography existed, these painters sought to tell the story of their times through a revolutionary style that defied convention. Notably absent from this founding exhibition was Édouard Manet, the group's "blood brother" and inspiration, who still believed success required acceptance within the official Salon. NUMBER 1 1849 MONET

On this week's episode of The Necessary Conversation, we break down one of the most chaotic and disturbing weeks yet in Trump's second term — from a Christmas Day posting spree that looked more like a meltdown than a holiday message, to explosive new revelations in the Epstein files, to an apparent attempt to bury a damning 60 Minutes investigation. Bob has once again fled the show, refusing to face off against his children as more evidence mounts against Trump by the day.

Georgia Polemenakos a Public Administration Professional with over 7 years of experience in various roles within the Massachusetts state government. She has a strong track record in political action, legislative relations, and effective public policy advocacy. Georgia is particularly interested in Women's Leadership and Empowerment, which she explored during her fellowship with the Women's Public Leadership Network. She was also recognized as a Suffolk University 10 Under 10 Honoree, reflecting her determination to excel in her career. With a passion for public service and nonprofit work, Georgia serves on two boards. Notably, she has worked for Governor Charlie Baker's administration in Massachusetts where she progressed from Program Coordinator to Senior Deputy Director. While she previously worked for the Massachusetts Republican Party, she has now transitioned to the private sector and is pursuing a master's degree in public administration. Today, I’m so pleased to chat with Georgia about our shared goal of getting young women interested in politics and the importance of their voices being heard. Georgia reflects on how her experience growing up in a politically engaged household started her on her journey in the field of politics. We discuss how Georgia has worked toward increasing gender diversity on boards and commissions and what happens to the conversation when you add more diverse voices. We highlight the significance of women's voices in politics, the challenges faced by women in the field, and the importance of supporting and empowering women in leadership positions. We discuss our experiences in politics and the need to understand different perspectives and work across party lines. We highlight the dedication required in public service, the value of women's representation in politics, and the importance of organizations like the Women's Public Leadership Network and the Pocketbook Project in supporting women in politics. We also share how you can become more informed, engage in respectful political discussions, prioritize personal well-being, and encourage more women to participate in public service. “Women need to have perspective in public service, and we have such a different, unique perspective than what a man's perspective may be.” - Georgia Polemenakos This week on Political Contessa: Why young women need to become interested in politics and the importance of amplifying their voices How working for Governor Charlie Baker influenced Georgia’s political journey The impact of more gender diversity on boards and commissions The challenges faced by women going into politics The need for understanding different perspectives and working across party lines The tremendous value of women in public service How to become more informed about politics The importance of respectful political discussions How to prioritize your well-being How to encourage women in your life to participate in public service Resources Mentioned: Women’s Public Leadership Network Website The Pocketbook Project Website Connect with Georgia Polemenakos: Georgia Polemenakos on LinkedIn Awaken Your Inner Political Contessa Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Political Contessa. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google Podcasts Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. And if you’ve ever considered running for office – or know a woman who should – head over to politicalcontessa.com to grab my quick guide, Secrets from the Campaign Trail. It will show you five signs to tell you you’re ready to enter the political arena. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In this episode, Ray covers December Tech News! T-Mobile’s groundbreaking Starlink satellite beta promises to eliminate dead zones using your regular phone with no special equipment needed. Also discussed: Japan’s ship-mounted laser weapon with unlimited ammo, China’s record-breaking 387 mph maglev train, Rivian challenging Tesla’s camera-only approach with LiDAR, Google’s Gemini-powered smart glasses, and physicists 3D printing ice sculptures just in time for Christmas. -Want to be a Guest on a Podcast or YouTube Channel? Sign up for GuestMatch.Pro -Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Ray if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes $11.99 – For a New Domain Name cjcfs3geek $6.99 a month Economy Hosting (Free domain, professional email, and SSL certificate for the 1st year.) Promo Code: cjcgeek1h $12.99 a month Managed WordPress Hosting (Free domain, professional email, and SSL certificate for the 1st year.) Promo Code: cjcgeek1w Support the show by becoming a Geek News Central Insider Get 1Password Full Summary Cochrane kicks off episode 1854 with a major announcement from T-Mobile. The carrier opened registration for its Starlink satellite beta service. This technology lets regular phones connect directly to satellites. As a result, dead zones could become a thing of the past. T-Mobile and SpaceX plan to begin beta tests in early 2026. Initially, the service will support texting only. Voice and data will follow later. Notably, the service is free for postpaid customers and prioritizes first responders. It has already proved its value during recent hurricanes. Next, Cochrane covers Japan’s 100-kilowatt laser weapon test. The system was installed on the JS Asuka test ship. It combines ten fiber lasers into a single powerful beam. The weapon offers unlimited ammo as long as there’s electricity. Japan plans to deploy this technology on destroyers by 2032. The episode then shifts to high-speed rail innovation. China’s T-Flight Maglev train recently hit 387 miles per hour. That already beats Japan’s current record. However, the goal is 600+ mph using magnetic levitation and low-vacuum tubes. Cochrane also discusses Rivian’s approach to self-driving cars. The upcoming R2 model will feature LiDAR in addition to cameras and radar. This directly challenges Tesla’s camera-only strategy. The added sensors improve safety in fog, snow, and darkness. Additionally, he explores Google’s Android XR announcement. This new operating system powers AR glasses and mixed reality headsets. Samsung is building the first headset. Meanwhile, the Gemini AI integration allows real-time assistance based on what you see. The show touches on running AI locally as well. More users are choosing local hardware over cloud services. Benefits include better privacy, no subscriptions, and offline access. Furthermore, Cochrane highlights major computer science breakthroughs from 2025. An MIT researcher discovered that memory is more powerful than previously thought. Google’s AI earned a gold-medal performance at the Math Olympiad. However, researchers also found that AI trained on bad code exhibits alarming behaviors. Japan’s fabric speaker innovation gets attention, too. The technology weaves conductive fibers into textiles. The entire surface vibrates to produce sound. This could transform how we integrate audio into everyday objects. Finally, Cochrane covers several science stories. A new imaging technique captures flu viruses invading cells in real time. Africa’s forests have flipped from absorbing carbon to releasing it. On a lighter note, physicists 3D printed tiny ice Christmas trees using clever pressure tricks. Cochrane wraps up by wishing listeners happy holidays. T-Mobile Opens Registration for Starlink Satellite Beta Japan Tests 100-Kilowatt Laser Weapon That Can Cut Through Drones Mid-Flight China’s T-Flight Maglev Train Hits 387 MPH, Aims for 600+ Rivian Shows Why Autonomous Vehicles Should Have LiDAR Google Unveils Android XR: Gemini-Powered Smart Glasses and Headsets Why You Should Consider Running AI Locally The Year in Computer Science: 2025’s Biggest Breakthroughs Japan’s Fabric Speakers Turn Any Textile Into Audio Scientists Capture How Flu Viruses Invade Cells in Real Time Africa’s Forests Have Flipped From Carbon Sink to Carbon Source Physicists 3D Print a Tiny Christmas Tree Made of Ice The post The End of Deadzones and Japan’s new Laser Gunship #1854 appeared first on Geek News Central.

The Colorado real estate market in November 2025 is sending mixed signals. Denver sellers are pulling listings at the second-highest rate in the nation (39%), while prices somehow rose 2% year over year. Meanwhile, Colorado Springs faces a documented 27,000 unit shortage, yet new construction has dropped by half. Additionally, 91% of Denver homes show value declines on Zillow, but actual sales prices climbed higher in the November 2025 Colorado real estate market. Chris Lopez hosts the monthly Colorado market roundup with Jenny Bayless (Colorado Springs investor and agent), Brandon Scholten (Keyrenter Property Management CEO), and Troy Howell (Nova Home Loans senior loan officer). This panel breaks down November 2025 market data across both metros. Furthermore, they reveal what’s really happening beneath the surface of these contradictory trends. November 2025 Colorado Market Trends November brought sharp inventory changes across the Colorado real estate market. Specifically, new listings dropped 41% month over month in Denver and 36% in Colorado Springs. These represent typical seasonal patterns amplified by seller frustration. However, active inventory declined 15% in Denver but remains 13% higher than last year. Notably, transaction volume matches 2009 levels despite Denver’s population growing 30-40% since then. The panel discusses why Colorado Springs condo prices jumped 10% year over year while Denver condos fell 7%. Additionally, Troy shares details on closing a $720,000 Steamboat condo—one of the few condo transactions anyone’s seeing. Colorado Springs released a comprehensive housing assessment showing systemic affordability problems across all market segments in November 2025. The city documented that one-third of homeowners are cost-burdened. Moreover, renters need $78,000 annual income to comfortably afford the average $1,800 rent. Unfortunately, only one-third of renters earn that much. Building permits dropped from 9,000 units in 2020 to under 4,000 in 2024. In contrast, the city estimates needing 8,500 units annually. As a result, the panel debates potential solutions and why building costs make affordable housing nearly impossible without subsidies. Investment Opportunities and Market Predictions The Federal Reserve cut rates by another quarter point in November 2025. However, 30-year mortgages remain stuck at 6.2%. Troy explains why Fed actions don’t directly impact mortgage rates. Furthermore, he discusses what investors should expect heading into 2026. Meanwhile, Brandon shares a recent win with a fourplex in East Denver generating $2,270 monthly on midterm rentals versus $1,350 for long-term. This represents a 70% premium that’s helping investors squeeze better returns from existing inventory. Despite negative sentiment, the panel sees opportunity. With frustrated sellers, motivated buyers remain scarce. Additionally, transaction volume sits at multi-year lows. Nevertheless, December through February traditionally offers the best deals for patient investors. Chris, Jenny, Brandon, and Troy each predict where prices will land by December 2026. Their predictions range from “slightly negative” to “flat to fractionally improved.” Moreover, they discuss strategies for finding value in specific neighborhoods rather than chasing broad market trends. In This Episode We Cover: Why Denver ranks second nationally for sellers pulling listings (39% delist rate) and what this signals How Colorado Springs faces a 27,000 unit shortage despite vacant Class A apartments downtown The paradox of 91% of Denver homes showing value declines while actual sales prices rise 2% Why transaction volume matches 2009 levels but nobody’s talking about it What Federal Reserve rate cuts actually mean for mortgage rates (spoiler: not much) Specific neighborhoods and property types where deals are available right now How one investor is generating 70% more revenue with midterm rentals versus long-term Building permit data showing Colorado Springs at half the required supply to meet demand Where four market professionals predict prices will be in December 2026 Why December through February offers the best acquisition opportunities for 2026 Whether you’re hunting for your first Colorado rental property or managing a portfolio through choppy waters, this November 2025 market roundup delivers the specific data and local insights you need to make informed decisions. The panel’s predictions for 2026, combined with current opportunity identification, make this essential listening. Ultimately, anyone invested in the Colorado real estate market will benefit from these actionable insights and expert analysis. Watch the YouTube Video https://youtu.be/0Arr3gpQrSk?si=E8CxNEOpXltRNEYq Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & Guest Introductions00:59– Colorado Springs Market Update – New Listings Drop 36% Month Over Month05:45 – Denver Metro Market Trends – Active Inventory Hits 10,000 Units09:18 – Condo Market Reality Check – Troy Closes $720K Steamboat Condo 13:44 2026 Price Predictions – Four Experts Call Higher, Lower, or Flat14:50– Transaction Volume Comparison – 2025 vs Great Financial Crisis Era17:30 – Frustrated Sellers Pulling Listings – Denver Ranks 2nd Worst Nationally20:17 – Zillow Data Reveals 91% of Denver Homes Down in Value Year Over Year21:48 – Colorado Springs Housing Crisis – City Reports 27,000 Unit Shortfall 29:18 – Building Permit Data Shows Supply Falling Short of Demand34:27 – Federal Reserve Rate Cut Impact – What It Means for Mortgage Rates36:02– Opportunity Discussion – Best Time to Buy in Choppy Markets37:41 – Midterm Rental Success Story – 70% Premium Over Long-Term Rent Connect with our Guests: Jeff White: jeff@envisionrea.com Troy Howell: troy.howell@novahomeloans.com LinkedIn: Troy Howell Website: https://www.novahomeloans.com/loan-officer/troy-howell/ Brandon Scholten: brandon@keyrenterdenver.com LinkedIn: Brandon Scholten Website: https://keyrenterdenver.com/ Links in Podcast Frustrated Denver Home Sellers Are Pulling Their Houses Off the MarketHome Value Declines Spread, But Losses Since Last Sale Are RareCity of Colorado Springs and El Paso County Regional Housing Needs Assessment Who is Keyrenter? Keyrenter Property Management Denver provides rental solutions for homeowners and real estate investors in the metro area who are interested in transforming their properties into passive income. It offers various services, from property marketing and thorough applicant screening to tenant placement and 24/7 maintenance services. Keyrenter Denver's team of experts can take the clients’ burden of managing their rental off their hands so they can get back to what matters to them. Who is Nova Home Loans? For over 40 years, we've been focused on helping homeowners find the perfect loan to fit their financial needs and personal goals. Working with NOVA is a personalized experience from initial application to final loan closing and beyond. We will be with you every step of the way toward successful homeownership. Start working with NOVA & Troy Howell today! NOVA FINANCIAL & INVESTMENT CORPORATION, DBA NOVA HOME LOANS NMLS 3087/ EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY/8055 EAST TUFTS AVENUE, SUITE 101/DENVER, CO

In this episode of the Pencil Pushers podcast, host Mike Rosado interviews illustrator Travis Knight, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Travis's work, inspired by vintage comics, punk zines, horror, and sci-fi, spans multiple mediums including painting, digital illustration, and sculpture. After a decade as a graphic designer, Travis transitioned full-time to illustration, landing clients such as Netflix, Metallica, DC Comics, and the Washington Post. Notably, his viral fake Cracker Barrel logo was even shared by Stephen King. They discuss Travis's journey from his early influences and interests in comics and horror, through his various design jobs, to his big breaks like the Stranger Things gig with Netflix. Travis also shares insights into his artistic process, his passion for analog and digital media, and recent projects including a country music dictionary. Host: Mike Rosado (mrcraleigh.com) (instagram.com/ekimodasor) Post Production: Max Trujillo (instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (mrcraleigh.com) and Burny Wild's (burnywilds.com) 

The threat the Chinese Communist Party poses not just to us, but the whole world is truly catastrophic. For example, China expert Gordon Chang recently illuminated the CCP's global predations via immense, and often illegal, fishing operations. Notably, he reports Communist China has fifty-setven thousand industrial fishing vessels that have over two recent years fished in the waters of more than ninety countries for more than twenty-two million hours. Mr. Chang concludes that “thanks to Chinese illegal fishing and other factors, the seas have been stripped bare,” citing an expert as estimating that ninety-three percent of the world's major fish stocks are either fully exploited, overexploited, or significantly depleted. Such “locusts” of the seas imperil billions worldwide, as does the Chinese Communist Party that weaponizes them.  This is Frank Gaffney.

Most musicians would only dream of opening for Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin on tour but for Rosie Flores the dream came true! Rosie drops by The City's Backyard Podcast on this episode to talk about her music, career, and new album called Impossible Frontiers with her band The Talismen! Plus she speaks about what it's like to be on the road opening for Robert Plant with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian.Rosie Flores, triple-threat Texas musician, has never allowed the challenge of navigating the male-centric worlds of rock and country music slow her down. In fact, she often drew upon those challenges as source material in sharply observed songs she not only wrote and sang with authority and passion, but also brought to life musically as a widely respected lead guitarist in a string of notable bands.Rosie is one of the 2024 NEA National Heritage Fellows! In September 2024 she accepted her gold medal award at the Library Of Congress, appearing at the Kennedy Center as well as the White House. A daughter of San Antonio whose musical journey also has included quality time in Austin, Los Angeles, and Nashville, Flores has adroitly absorbed, helped preserve, and extended the musical legacies of influential Texas musicians as varied as country music's King of Western Swing Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, blues guitar master T-Bone Walker, and Tex Mex innovator Doug Sahm.In the 1970s, she became one of the most celebrated performers on the “cowpunk” circuit (a hybrid of punk rock and country), alongside such other rising stars as Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Rank & File, and Los Lobos (2021 NEA National Heritage Fellows). The release of her 1987 debut solo album Rosie Flores proved her to be a singer and songwriter of the first rank, and helped lay the foundation for what coalesced into the alt country movement.Flores became the first Latina to crack Billboard's country music chart. For her enthusiastic participation in and ongoing promotion of Austin's deep and wide music scene, including the annual South by Southwest Conference, the city has proclaimed Rosie Flores Day in 2006.Flores has remained a spark plug live performer for more than five decades, a goosebump-inducing electric guitarist and songwriter as well as champion of the trailblazers who preceded her. Notably, she lured pioneering rockabilly heroines Wanda Jackson (2005 NEA National Heritage Fellow) and Janis Martin (“the female Elvis”) back into recording studios and onto concert stages for lauded late-career rejuvenations. Flores won a 2007 Peabody Award for her narration of the NPR rockabilly documentary, Whole Lotta Shakin'.For more on Rosie and her tour click here > https://rosieflores.com/tour/

Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world.In a dynamic landscape marked by both advancements and challenges, the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors continue to evolve with notable scientific, regulatory, and strategic updates. Ipsen's recent $1 billion acquisition of Simcere's preclinical LRRC15-targeting asset underscores a growing focus on antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). These conjugates leverage the targeted action of antibodies combined with the cytotoxic effects of drugs, representing a promising approach to cancer treatment by potentially minimizing systemic toxicity. Ipsen's strategic move reflects its commitment to expanding its oncology portfolio and staying competitive within the rapidly advancing ADC landscape.AstraZeneca has been active in its pursuit of innovative cancer treatments. The company has invested $100 million in Jacobio's clinical-stage pan-KRAS inhibitor, a promising development targeting KRAS mutations prevalent in various cancers. This investment aligns with AstraZeneca's strategy to tackle challenging oncogenic targets. However, their efforts faced a setback as their Phase 3 trial for ceralasertib, an ATR inhibitor for lung cancer, failed to meet its primary endpoint. Despite this setback, AstraZeneca maintains confidence by investing significantly in promising areas like KRAS inhibitors, highlighting the inherent risks involved in pioneering novel therapeutic strategies, particularly those aiming to overcome resistance mechanisms in immuno-oncology.BioMarin has quietly discontinued its liver disease candidate amid a $4.8 billion deal with Amicus. This decision points to the complex nature of pipeline prioritization and resource allocation within high-stakes financial environments. The company's strategic shifts reflect ongoing evaluations of their development priorities in light of evolving market demands.Boehringer Ingelheim has demonstrated a commitment to renal therapeutics with a $448 million investment in Rectify Pharmaceuticals for a preclinical chronic kidney disease program. This partnership seeks to address significant unmet medical needs within kidney disease treatment. Meanwhile, Gilead Sciences has entered into a $35 million licensing agreement with Assembly Biosciences for herpes simplex virus (HSV) assets, diversifying its infectious disease portfolio and expanding its reach within antiviral therapies.Novo Holdings-backed Windward Bio's acquisition of rights to Qyun's clinical-stage immunology bispecifics for $700 million highlights robust activity in the immunology space. Bispecific antibodies are gaining traction due to their ability to target two antigens simultaneously, offering enhanced therapeutic efficacy. This acquisition illustrates ongoing interest in this area as companies seek innovative solutions to complex immunological challenges.The broader industry is also witnessing strategic partnerships such as Aditum Bio's launch of a new biotech venture with Fosun Pharma. This collaboration aims to foster novel therapies through a synergistic blend of biotechnology innovation and pharmaceutical expertise. These alliances reflect an industry trend towards collaborative efforts that leverage diverse strengths to advance therapeutic development.In regulatory news, nine major pharmaceutical companies have reached agreements with the U.S. government to lower certain drug prices in exchange for tariff relief. This development signals ongoing negotiations aimed at balancing drug affordability with industry sustainability amid growing scrutiny over pricing practices.In December 2025, significant developments emerged, impacting scientific innovation, regulatory approvals, mergers, and strategic partnerships across the industry. Notably, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted early approval to Cytokinetics' MyqorzSupport the show

Today we are talking about The Drupal At-Large Board Seat, What the job entails, and some common misconceptions with guest Fei Lauren. We'll also cover Token Browser as our module of the week. For show notes visit: https://www.talkingDrupal.com/533 Topics Understanding the Drupal Association at Large Board Seat Responsibilities and Experiences of a Board Member Challenges and Insights from Serving on the Board Community Representation and Accountability Skills and Qualities for Aspiring Board Members Navigating Board Member Responsibilities Community Perception and Board Care Global Community Engagement Challenges and Impact of Board Decisions Encouraging Non-Technical Contributions Reflections and Future Plans Election Process and Imposter Syndrome Resources Board of directors working groups Board of directors Guests Fei Lauren - feilauren Hosts Martin Anderson-Clutz - mandclu.com mandclu Nic Laflin - nLighteneddevelopment.com nicxvan MOTW Correspondent Nic Laflin - nLighteneddevelopment.com nicxvan Brief description: Have you ever wanted an improved token browser that loads quickly and doesn't have a depth limit? There's a module for that. Module name/project name: Token Browser Brief history How old: created in Nov 2025 by Andy Marquis (apmsooner) https://talkingdrupal.com/505 Versions available: 1.0.0 which works with Drupal core 11.3 or newer Maintainership Actively maintained Security coverage Test coverage Number of open issues: 2 open issues, 1 of which is a bug Usage stats: 3 sites Module features and usage The Token Browser module provides a rebuilt version of the standard token browser. Notably, it only renders the first level during the initial request, and then requests deeper levels as needed using all the latest HTMX improvements in Drupal core 11.3 It's worth noting that the initial version requires an alternative theme function be attached to form elements where you want to use the new Token Browser, so it doesn't actually replace the standard version Also, there seems to be an issue where the HTMX library doesn't load on cached pages, which is the one open issue. I pinged Andy about it and it sounds like he has a fix in the works. Finally, this module is similar to an older module called Fast Token Browser, but that module was never updated to work with versions of Drupal newer than 7, and relied on jQuery for its AJAX functionality

An exploration of the illustrious history surrounding college football players who have donned the coveted number one jersey reveals a tapestry woven with remarkable talent and excellence. This discussion delves into the significance of this number across various prestigious institutions, where it is often reserved for those players who epitomize the highest standards of athletic prowess and leadership. We examine the traditions upheld by schools such as the Temple Owls and NC State Wolfpack, which assign the number one to individuals displaying exceptional work ethic and tenacity, thereby setting a benchmark for their peers. Notably, this episode serves as the inauguration of a series dedicated to chronicling the history of college football jersey numbers, with a particular focus on number one, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive exploration of all jerseys in the coming year.Transitioning from institutional practices, we embark on a retrospective journey, highlighting contemporary athletes who have made indelible marks while wearing the number one. The likes of Kaden Fordham and Skyler Bell are celebrated for their outstanding contributions in the recent 2025 season, demonstrating the ongoing legacy of excellence associated with this number. Furthermore, we delve into a historical perspective, paying homage to legendary figures such as Anthony Carter and Larry Fitzgerald, whose achievements have set the standard for success in college football. This reflective analysis not only honors past icons but also inspires current and future generations of athletes who aspire to embody the spirit of the number one jersey.Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website to see even more Positive football news!Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Mentioned in this episode:Sports History Theme SongThis theme song was produced by Ron "Tyke" Oliver of Music Meets Sportz https://sites.google.com/view/sportsfanztastic/sports-history-network?authuser=0

In the latest episode of the podcast hosted by Dr. Olli Tikkanen, listeners are treated to an insightful conversation with the distinguished Professor James F. Sallis. Professor Sallis, recently appointed to the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego, is a renowned figure in the realm of behavioral medicine and public health. With a rich career marked by his dedication to understanding the intersections of physical activity, built environments, and public health, Professor Sallis has been recognized globally for his pioneering research. Notably, he has been identified as one of the world's most cited authors in the social sciences and has received accolades such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. In this episode, Dr. Tikkanen and Professor Sallis delve deep into the evolution of physical activity research over the years. They discuss the role of built environments, the significance of accurate measures, and share insights into the challenges and opportunities in the field. Professor Sallis recounts the transformative shifts he has witnessed in the domain of behavioral nutrition and physical activity. He emphasizes the myriad benefits of physical activity, from its role in bolstering the immune system to its anti-inflammatory impacts. However, he also highlights the challenges in translating research into policy and practice, lamenting the lack of dedicated infrastructure and funding for physical activity in public health. The conversation also touches upon the broader implications of physical activity on public health, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Sallis underscores the importance of physical activity in combating infectious diseases and its potential role in mitigating severe outcomes in COVID-19 patients. The episode concludes with a discussion on the complexities of promoting physical activity, given the powerful industries that inadvertently promote sedentary lifestyles. From the oil companies to the electronics sector, these industries pose significant challenges to the mission of re-engineering physical activity back into our daily lives. Tune in to this enlightening episode to gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted world of physical activity research and its profound implications for public health. _______________________________________________   This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | Better Sleep, Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Research with Less Hassle --- Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely - Discover ground-breaking Fibion SENS --- SB and PA measurements, analysis, and feedback made easy.  Learn more about Fibion Research --- Learn more about Fibion Sleep and Fibion Circadian Rhythm Solutions. --- Fibion Kids - Activity tracking designed for children. --- Collect self-report physical activity data easily and cost-effectively with Mimove. --- Explore our Wearables,  Experience sampling method (ESM), Sleep,  Heart rate variability (HRV), Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity article collections for insights on related articles. --- Refer to our article "Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Measurements" for an exploration of active and sedentary lifestyle assessment methods. --- Learn about actigraphy in our guide: Exploring Actigraphy in Scientific Research: A Comprehensive Guide. --- Gain foundational ESM insights with "Introduction to Experience Sampling Method (ESM)" for a comprehensive overview. --- Explore accelerometer use in health research with our article "Measuring Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Accelerometers ". --- For an introduction to the fundamental aspects of HRV, consider revisiting our Ultimate Guide to Heart Rate Variability. --- Follow the podcast on Twitter https://twitter.com/PA_Researcher Follow host Dr Olli Tikkanen on Twitter https://twitter.com/ollitikkanen Follow Fibion on Twitter https://twitter.com/fibion https://www.youtube.com/@PA_Researcher

Jonathan Kipnis is a neuroscientist, the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Distinguished Professor of Pathology and Immunology at Washington University, St. Louis, who discovered meningeal lymphatics and has been a prolific researcher in brain drainage and the continuous immune system surveillance of the brain.I made this infographic with the help of Notebook LM to summarize many of the concepts we discussed. (Notebook LM is free and worth trying)We went over his new review with 24 co-author leading experts in the recent issue of NeuronA Clever Cover The drainage system anatomy on influx and efflux (blue arrows)The 3 ways the flow of glymphatics are modulated. I mentioned the recent studies that show atrial fibrillation, via reduced cardiac pulsation, has an effect on reducing glymphatic flow. We also discussed his recent review on the immune surveillance system in Cell:A schematic of key channels for the “faucet” and “drain” and how the system changes from healthy to central nervous system autoimmune diseases (such as multiple sclerosis) and aging with different immune bar codes.The outsized role of astrocytes in the brain, a subject of recent Nature feature, was also mentioned.Our understanding of the brain's immune system has been completely revamped. Kipnis's recent review in Nature Immunology highlights the critical role of the outer layers —the skull, dura and meninges—as an immune reservoir that is ready to detect and react abnormalities in the brain with a continuous “intelligence report.”Notably, Kipnis touched on lymphatic-venous anastomosis (LVA) surgery (Figure below) for Alzheimer's disease which is popular in China, available at 30 centers in multiple cities, and the subject of multiple randomized trials as a treatment for Alzheimer's. Trials of LVA surgery are also getting started in the United States for treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Here is a Figure to show the surgical anastomoses (connections) from the deep cervical lymphatics to external jugular and internal jugular veinsThis podcast was packed with insights relevant to health, spanning sleep quality, sleep medications, autoimmune diseases, and Alzheimer's disease. I hope you find it as informative and engaging as I did.A Poll************************************This is my 4-year anniversary of writing Ground Truths. Post number 250! That's an average of more than 1 per week, nearly 5 per month. Hard for me to believe.Thanks to Ground Truths subscribers (approaching 200,000) from every US state and 210 countries. Your subscription to these free essays and podcasts makes my work in putting them together worthwhile. Please join!If you found this interesting PLEASE share it!Paid subscriptions are voluntary and all proceeds from them go to support Scripps Research. They do allow for posting comments and questions, which I do my best to respond to. Please don't hesitate to post comments and give me feedback. Let me know topics that you would like to see covered.Many thanks to those who have contributed—they have greatly helped fund our summer internship programs for the past two years. It enabled us to accept and support 47 summer interns in 2025! We aim to accept even more of the several thousand who will apply for summer 2026Thank you EG, Alan, Lynn L, Stacy Mattison, Jackie, and many others for tuning into my live video with Jonathan Kipnis! Join me for my next live video in the app. Get full access to Ground Truths at erictopol.substack.com/subscribe

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 12-18-2025: Dr. Dawn opens by examining how market competition is actually working in the weight loss drug sector. Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy compete against Eli Lilly's Monjaro and ZepBound, with prices dropping nearly 50% as companies launch direct-to-consumer websites. The main barriers remain needles and refrigeration, driving development of oral versions. Novo's Wegovy pill awaits FDA approval for early 2026 launch at $150 monthly. Next-generation drugs show remarkable results: Eli's retatrutide causes 24% weight loss in 48 weeks, while Novo's Cagrisema combines semaglutide with amylin to reduce muscle loss. Pfizer paid $10 billion for Metsera's once-monthly drug despite significant side effects. A quick fiber tip suggests adding plain psyllium to morning coffee for cardiovascular and microbiome benefits. Start with half a teaspoon and work up to two teaspoons (10 grams) over several weeks to avoid gas. The prebiotic fiber improves glucose tolerance and may reduce cancer risk. UC San Diego scientists discovered why cancers mutate so rapidly despite being eukaryotic cells with protected chromosomes. The answer is chromothripsis, a catastrophic event where the enzyme N4BP2 literally explodes chromosomes into fragments. These reassemble incorrectly, generating dozens to hundreds of mutations simultaneously and creating circular DNA fragments carrying cancer-promoting genes. One in four cancers show evidence of this mechanism, with all osteosarcomas and many brain cancers displaying it. This explains why the most aggressive cancers resist treatment. Research from 2013 shows any glucocorticoid use significantly increases venous thromboembolism risk, with threefold increases during the first month of use. The risk applies to new and recurrent clots, affecting both oral and inhaled steroids, though IV poses highest risk and topical the lowest. Joint injections fall somewhere between inhaled and oral. Anyone with prior blood clots should avoid steroids except for life-threatening situations like severe asthma attacks requiring ventilation. A meta-analysis of 20 randomized controlled trials shows creatine supplementation helps older adults (48-84) maintain muscle mass when combined with weight training two to three times weekly. The supplement provides no benefit without exercise. Recommended dosing starts at 2 grams and works up to 5 grams daily. Vegans benefit most since they consume little meat or fish. Important caveat: creatine throws off standard kidney function tests (creatinine), so users should request cystatin C testing instead for accurate renal health assessment. A new JAMA study suggesting risk-based mammogram screening is fatally flawed. First, researchers offered chemopreventative drugs like tamoxifen only to the high-risk group, contaminating the study design. Second, the demographics skewed heavily toward white college-educated women, missing the reality that Black women face twice the risk of aggressive breast cancer with 40% higher mortality. Third, wild-type humans failed to follow instructions—low-risk women continued getting annual mammograms anyway while high-risk women skipped recommended extra screenings. The conclusion of "non-inferior" outcomes is meaningless given poor adherence. Stick with annual mammograms, and consider alternating with MRIs for high-risk women. The EAT-Lancet report condemns red meat based purely on observational data showing correlations with heart disease, cancer, and mortality. But people who eat lots of red meat differ dramatically from low consumers: they weigh more, smoke more, exercise less, and eat less fiber. Studies can't control for sleep quality, depression, or screen time. Notably, heavy meat eaters also die more in accidents, suggesting a risk-taking lifestyle phenotype. The inflammatory marker TMAO is higher in meat eaters, but starch is also pro-inflammatory. Eating red meat instead of instant ramen might improve health. A balanced diet with limited amounts beats epidemiology-based blanket statements. Dr. Dawn grades Dr. Oz's performance as CMS administrator. Starting at minus one for zero relevant experience, he earns plus two for promoting diet, exercise, and gut health on his show. He studied intensively after nomination, calling all four previous CMS directors repeatedly and surrounding himself with experienced staff (plus one). He finalized Medicare rules favoring prevention over surgery and earned bipartisan praise as "a real scientist, not radical" (plus one). He divested healthcare holdings but kept some blind trust interests (minus 0.5). He's developing a CMS app and partnering with Google on a digital health ecosystem (plus one), but supports ending ACA subsidies that will raise premiums for millions (minus one). He correctly promoted COVID vaccines and contradicted Trump's Tylenol-autism claims (plus one). Final score: 3.5 out of 5 possible points, the only positive score for any Trump health administrator.

At 9 PM ET on Wednesday, President Donald Trump delivered an address from the White House highlighting what he views as the major accomplishments of the first year of his second term and criticizing his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, for the country's ongoing issues. In the 18-minute address, Trump mainly focused on his immigration and economic agendas, and he announced a $1,776 “warrior dividend” for members of the military. Notably, he did not address the United States's rising tensions with Venezuela. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!Need a last-minute gift?The holiday season is here, which is a good time to remind you: You can give the gift of Tangle to friends and family! There are two great options: Gift a Tangle subscription. Whether it's an earnest present to a friend or family member who would love our work, or a passive-aggressive gift for your favorite relative who doesn't share your politics, a Tangle subscription is a great way to find some common ground and keep your loved ones informed. It takes thirty seconds! Hit the merch shop. We have hoodies, shirts, mugs, stickers, hats, and even onesies for the little ones. Snag something fresh with our new logo or grab a vintage Tangle brain on any garment you'd like. You will want to hop on these quickly to make sure they arrive before the holidays!You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “Under the Radar” story ⁠here and today's “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: What did you think of Trump's speech? Let us know.Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast was written by: Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

התוכן יום ג' בשבוע הוא גם היום שהשנה חל בו חג הגאולה י"ט כסלו (כבפעם הא' בשנת תקנ"ט), שקשור עם הענין דהפצת המעיינות חוצה, וכן נגלה דתורה – שכ"גוף" לנשמה, פנימיות התורה, ה"ה נמשכת אחרי', וכן קיום המצוות בכלל, ובזה גופא באופן ד"מהדרין מן המהדרין" – כההוראה מימי החנוכה ש"מנהג פשוט" שכל א' מקיים מצוות נר חנוכה באופן ד"מהדרין מן המהדרין". ולהעיר שלאחרי שיצא ממאסר חזר אדה"ז לוויטעבסק ביום ב' דחנוכה, שאז ניכר לראשונה הענין ד"מהדרין מן המהדרין" בפועל. וההוראה: להחליט לקיים הענין ד"מהדרין מן המהדרין" בכל עניני תומ"צ, החל מה"מבצעים" הכלליים, שכ"ז מביא ומזרז שה' עושה בעצמו את ה"מבצע" הכי גדול, עקרי ופנימי – גאולה האמיתית והשלימה; בלי נדר אחלק "על פתח ביתו" של הביהכ"נ וביהמ"ד, הד' אמות של נשיא דורנו, דולר א' לכל א' בתור דמי חנוכה לעשות בו כטוב בעיניו, ובהוספה מדילי'.שיחת יום ג', ב' דחנוכה, אחרי תפילת מנחה, ה'תשל"ח – בבית הכנסת ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=16-12-2025 Synopsis Tuesday is also the day of the week upon which 19 Kislev fell this year (as it did the first year 5559) – a day associated with spreading the wellsprings of Chassidus outward, as well as spreading the study of Nigleh (because Nigleh is the “body” of Torah, which goes wherever the “soul” goes) and spreading mitzvah observance in general, and in a manner of mehadrin min hamehadrin, which on Chanukah is the “universally accepted custom.” We know that after the Alter Rebbe's liberation, he arrived in Vitebsk on Tuesday, the second day of Chanukah. Notably, the second day of Chanukah is the first opportunity to observe the mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles in the manner of mehadrin min hamehadrin in practice. The lesson is that everyone should firmly resolve to act in the manner of mehadrin min hamehadrin in all matters of Torah and mitzvos, beginning with the Mivtzoim, which will hasten the time when Hashem Himself will carry out the greatest “Mivtza” – the true and complete Redemption. Bli neder, I will be giving out dollars to everyone as Chanukah gelt, and surely everyone will add more of their own.Sichah of Tuesday, second day of Chanukah, 5738 – after Mincha For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=16-12-2025

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The seventeenth installment of our podcast, Derde Ronde LE, delves into the tragic events that transpired during the 1972 Munich Olympics, a moment that marked a profound shift in the perception of the Olympic Games. We explore how what commenced as the "Joyful Games" was irrevocably transformed into a scene of horror when a group of Palestinian terrorists infiltrated the Olympic Village, resulting in the hostage situation that culminated in the tragic loss of nine Israeli athletes. The episode examines not only the immediate impact of these events on the athletes and spectators but also the broader implications for international sports and security. As we recount the harrowing details of the attack and its aftermath, we reflect on the lessons learned and the indelible mark left on Olympic history. This episode serves as a somber reminder of the intersection between sport and geopolitics, inviting listeners to consider the complexities that arise when global events are overshadowed by acts of violence.The seventeenth installment of our podcast delves into the harrowing events of the 1972 Munich Olympics, a moment which marked a profound shift in the perception of international sporting events. This episode meticulously recounts the unfolding of tragic occurrences, beginning with the peaceful ambiance of the games, which were initially heralded as the 'happy games'. The narrative swiftly transforms as we observe a group of men, clad in athletic gear, infiltrating the Olympic Village in the early hours of September 5th, leading to a hostage situation involving Israeli athletes. The juxtaposition of joy and despair encapsulates the tragic irony of an event meant to celebrate peace and athletic prowess, only to be marred by violence and terror. We dissect the psychological and sociopolitical ramifications of such a catastrophe, drawing parallels to contemporary events that continue to resonate with audiences today.The episode further examines the immediate aftermath of the hostage crisis, discussing the tension that permeated the Olympic Village as athletes, officials, and spectators grappled with the shocking reality of the situation. While the games were allowed to proceed amidst the turmoil, the moral implications and the decisions made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are scrutinized. Notably, the episode raises poignant questions regarding the ethics of continuing the festivities in the face of such tragedy. We analyze the responses from various nations, including the unexpected withdrawals of athletes and teams amidst escalating fears for their safety, shedding light on the complex interplay between sport and global politics that was starkly illuminated by these events.In concluding this episode, we reflect on the long-lasting impact of the Munich massacre on the Olympic Games and international sports as a whole. The incident not only altered the landscape of security protocols at international events but also ushered in a new era wherein the intersection of politics and sport became increasingly scrutinized. We invite our listeners to contemplate the lessons learned, as well as the ongoing challenges that persist in ensuring safety and integrity within the realm of competitive athletics. The Munich Olympics remain a somber reminder of the fragility of peace, encapsulating the enduring legacy of a tragedy that forever altered the Olympic spirit.Takeaways: The catastrophic events of the 1972 Munich Olympics serve as a poignant reminder of the intersection between sports and global politics. During the Munich Games, the initial perception of joy rapidly transformed into one of tragedy and horror as violence erupted. The failure of local authorities to respond effectively to the hostage situation highlights critical lapses in crisis management and communication. The aftermath of the hostage crisis led to significant changes in security...

President Trump erupted Thursday in a wild rage on Truth Social in which he appeared to blame pollsters for failing to register his world-historical success. “When will Polls reflect the Greatness of America at this point in time?” he fumed. Notably, this comes just after Democrats scored big wins in the Miami mayoral race and elsewhere, which analysts see as a sign that the Latino vote is shifting hard away from Trump. Not coincidentally, a new poll has Trump's approval on immigration plunging below 40 percent. We talked to William Saletan, staff writer at The Bulwark, about his great new piece on Trump's open agenda of ethnic persecution. We discuss the relationship between Trump's racism and his unpopularity, what the latest GOP losses show about the collapse of the MAGA coalition, what to make of the GOP's open embrace of full-bore ethnonationalism, and why it's (somewhat) heartening that the public is rejecting it so decisively. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump erupted Thursday in a wild rage on Truth Social in which he appeared to blame pollsters for failing to register his world-historical success. “When will Polls reflect the Greatness of America at this point in time?” he fumed. Notably, this comes just after Democrats scored big wins in the Miami mayoral race and elsewhere, which analysts see as a sign that the Latino vote is shifting hard away from Trump. Not coincidentally, a new poll has Trump's approval on immigration plunging below 40 percent. We talked to William Saletan, staff writer at The Bulwark, about his great new piece on Trump's open agenda of ethnic persecution. We discuss the relationship between Trump's racism and his unpopularity, what the latest GOP losses show about the collapse of the MAGA coalition, what to make of the GOP's open embrace of full-bore ethnonationalism, and why it's (somewhat) heartening that the public is rejecting it so decisively. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump erupted Thursday in a wild rage on Truth Social in which he appeared to blame pollsters for failing to register his world-historical success. “When will Polls reflect the Greatness of America at this point in time?” he fumed. Notably, this comes just after Democrats scored big wins in the Miami mayoral race and elsewhere, which analysts see as a sign that the Latino vote is shifting hard away from Trump. Not coincidentally, a new poll has Trump's approval on immigration plunging below 40 percent. We talked to William Saletan, staff writer at The Bulwark, about his great new piece on Trump's open agenda of ethnic persecution. We discuss the relationship between Trump's racism and his unpopularity, what the latest GOP losses show about the collapse of the MAGA coalition, what to make of the GOP's open embrace of full-bore ethnonationalism, and why it's (somewhat) heartening that the public is rejecting it so decisively. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fashioncast® Episode #57, December 2, 2025 Adam Taubenfligel, Co-founder of Triarchy, Leading the Next Generation of Responsible Denim ManufacturersIn this episode, you will meet Adam Taubenfligel, Co-founder of Triarchy, a U.S.-based sustainable women's denim manufacturer. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Adam and his co-founder siblings, Mark and Ania, have been developing and refining the business since 2011.In the interview, Adam discusses the key challenges involved in launching a startup fashion brand, such as ensuring business continuity, upholding the brand's mission, achieving product and process differentiation, and managing organizational growth. He further explains how Triarchy sets itself apart from other denim brands, maintaining that no competitor—domestic or international—equals Triarchy's leadership in environmentally responsible denim manufacturing. Adam's extensive knowledge of denim and fashion comes from his self-driven learning and experiences in Italy and China. In this podcast, he thoroughly examines several topics such as identifying target markets, forming strategic retail partnerships, and advancements in manufacturing innovation. It is always fulfilling to interview a master of their field, particularly Adam Taubenfligel, whose denim expertise truly distinguishes him. He continually leverages his skills to improve both products and manufacturing methods, making significant advancements for environmental sustainability. Notably, RIVET magazine included him on its list of the 50 most influential people in the denim industry. Whether you're new to fashion or have years of experience in the industry, you'll find Adam Taubenfligel to be among the most impactful guests ever interviewed on Fashioncast. Enjoy the show! https://triarchy.com @triarchy @adamtaubenfligel  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sarah Frampton, who conducts research on, amongst other things, improving how we teach, learn, and organize information using behavior-analytic strategies. We explore her career journey, her research on graphic organizers and the Cover, Copy, Compare (CCC) strategy, and the broader implications for stimulus equivalence, educational technology, and effective teaching. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How Sarah's unconventional path led her from economics and psychology into Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Why note-taking and structured learning strategies, like CCC, matter for retaining and applying complex information. How stimulus equivalence principles can enhance learning beyond direct instruction. Insights from Sarah's research combining CCC with graphic organizers, including practical takeaways for educators and learners (see Frampton, Vesely and Jackson, 2025). How visual learning tools and educational technology can improve engagement and retention. Strategies for training learners to use these approaches independently and effectively. Highlights From Our Conversation: Sarah's Path Into ABA Sarah shares how a thesis requirement and a Craigslist job posting led her to ABA, including formative experiences working with Dr. Alice Shillingsburg at the Marcus Autism Center. These experiences sparked her interest in efficient, broadly applicable learning strategies. Why Note-Taking Strategies Matter We discuss the value of graphic organizers and the Cover, Copy, Compare (CCC) strategy: Graphic organizers visually display relationships between concepts. CCC is a structured, active-response method that strengthens memory, similar to flashcards. Sarah emphasizes how behavior-analytic techniques can support higher-order thinking processes often considered "cognitive." CCC and Stimulus Equivalence Sarah walks through stimulus equivalence with clear examples, showing how teaching certain relations can produce broader learning without direct instruction. She also highlights a study where CCC and graphic organizers helped learners prepare for tests—even under intentionally challenging conditions. Graphic Organizers in Action Key findings from Sarah's research: Learners who drew more structured organizers performed better. Teaching organizer use during test conditions did not hinder performance. Visualizing relationships among stimuli predicted task success. Training Learners to Use These Strategies Sarah outlines her training sequence, including pre-tests, video instruction, practice with familiar material, and application to abstract stimuli. A core goal was strategy generalization—ensuring learners could apply CCC to new material independently. Fig. 1 from Frampton, et al. (2025) Fig. 2 from Frampton, et al. (2025) Research Findings Most participants quickly mastered abstract relations and passed post-tests after brief training. Notably, all participants used the CCC strategy—some even more meticulously than required. Educational Technology, Engagement, and Mediation Participants reported the educational technology intervention was easy to use and helpful, contrasting with high dropout rates in similar studies. Sarah also describes how participants naturally used private verbal behavior, such as naming stimuli or creating stories, to aid learning. Visual Learning Tools in ABA We discuss the broader application of visual supports—graphic organizers, flashcards, handwriting—and their role in enhancing learning efficiency for both adults and children with autism. Looking Ahead Sarah previews her upcoming presentation at the Verbal Behavior Conference, covering generative learning and assessment tools. We also explore how collaboration and community can reduce burnout and increase long-term job satisfaction in ABA in the "advice for the newly-minted" segment. Resources & Links Session 287: BiDirectional Naming with Caio Miguel. Session 80: Verbal Behavior and Relational Frame Theory, with David Palmer and Josh Pritchard. Shillingsburg, et al. (2016). A Preliminary Procedure for Teaching Children with Autism to Mand for Social Information. Frampton and Linehan (2024). The effects of a training package to teach note taking on the formation of equivalence classes. Sponsor shoutouts! Office Puzzle: A thriving ABA practice depends on systems that actually support your team, not slow them down. If you've struggled with software that's buggy, hard to navigate, or offers little support when you need it most, you're not alone. That's why so many practices are switching to Office Puzzle. Go to officepuzzle.com/bop to learn more! Frontera. Consider taking a demo of Frontera's Assessment Builder and see how the ethical application of AI technologies can help you serve clients and save you time! Your first assessment report is free. And if you use code BOP25 you'll get an additional five assessments for just $100. So head to fronterahealth.com to check it out! MindBodyBehavior's Certified Health Coach Program. If you're a BCBA looking to use your ABA skills to help people live healthier lifestyles, learn how to do it the right way, with expert instruction, mentoring, and guidance from Sarah Burby. Better still, podcast listeners can save $$$ by using the code BOP10 at check out. Click here to learn more! The 2026 Stone Soup Conference! This is one of the best values in the online conference space. I'm actually going to be one of the speakers at this year's event, along with a great cast of other characters you're probably familiar with. Save on your registration by using promo code PODCAST26! The 2026 Verbal Behavior Conference! Taking place March 26–27, 2026, in Austin, Texas, or livestream and on-demand on BehaviorLive. Presenters will include Drs. Mark Sundberg, Patrick McGreevy, Caio Miguel, Alice Shillingsburg, Sarah Frampton, Andresa De Souza, and Danielle LaFrance will share how Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior can guide the assessment and treatment of generative learning challenges in children with autism and other developmental disabilities. And don't miss the special pre-conference workshop on Wednesday, March 25.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman joins Sid to discuss his candidacy for Governor of New York, crediting Sid and his listeners for their support in his initial election as County Executive in discussing his political roots and connections. He emphasizes his commitment to Republican values, safety, prosperity, and community outreach, mentioning his significant wins among diverse voter groups. Blakeman also touches on key policy issues, including ending cashless bail and opposing the current migrant program. Acknowledging potential primary competition with Elise Stefanik, he voices his intention to run a positive campaign focused on defeating incumbent Kathy Hochul. Notably, Blakeman identified his pro-choice stance as a major difference from Stefanik's pro-life position. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How This Is Building Me, hosted by world-renowned oncologist D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, is a podcast focused on the highs and lows, ups and downs of all those involved with cancer, cancer medicine, and cancer science across the full spectrum of life's experiences. In this episode, Dr Camidge sat down with Keith Singer, the founder and executive director of Catch It In Time. Camidge and Singer discussed how Singer's background in broadcasting and cable television has led to a career in promoting cancer awareness. Although Singer initially wanted to be an astronaut, a decline in aerospace engineering jobs during the 1970s and a love for the technical side of high school theater led Singer toward television. He left college early and started his career in Cincinnati, first running a boom microphone and later directing newscasts. Singer explained the career hurdles he faced, noting that they led to opportunities for him to hone his skills and exercise creative freedom. In the mid-1980s, a project involving a new pacemaker sparked Singer's interest in using video for health care education. This fascination led him to co-create an innovative platform that broadcast medical programming for physician continuing medical education. Driven by seeing friends and family struggle with cancer, Singer founded the nonprofit Catch It In Time in 2011. His key communication strategy is that cancer should be the supporting actor, not the lead, allowing stories to appeal to targeted audiences based on their hobbies or professions, with cancer awareness as the secondary message. Catch It In Time is currently developing The User's Guide to Oncology, a software-based program that uses gaming technology to guide patients with lung cancer, providing essential information to help them have better conversations with their care teams. Singer stressed the importance of short video content for garnering views for this type of content. Notably, Catch It In Time recently produced a song titled "Breathe Again" by Lilliana De Los Reyes. "Breathe Again" can be found on all major streaming platforms, and all proceeds are dedicated to cancer awareness and research.

Sports Reporter for The San Francisco Standard, John Shea joins the show to share his perspective on Jeff Kent being inducted into the Hall of Fame & more notably, Barry Bonds not getting inducted with himSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mad Kim Podcast: The Rise of Influence - From AI to Political Power PlaysJoin Matt Kim and his co-host as they explore the intricate web of social and political dynamics in this episode of the Mad Kim Podcast. From discussions on the portrayal of federal agents at events to examining the implications of major political figures like James Li and Nick Fuentes, they tackle controversies and narratives shaping today's news. They analyze the fallout from Charlie Kirk's assassination, the subsequent vacuum in media influence, and the potential power shifts within the MAGA right. Notably, they delve into the strategic positioning of emerging political candidates and even speculate on potential election outcomes as they debate the implications of tariff relief lawsuits filed by major American retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Target. This episode scrutinizes the intersection of media, politics, and commerce, highlighting how these sectors converge to shape public perception and policy. Don't miss this deep dive into the future of American political discourse and economic policy.00:56 Discussing James Li and His Controversies04:33 Attending the Tucker Carlson ALP Party06:33 The Reality of Politics and Media18:25 The Battle for Media Control31:08 The Future of Media and Politics37:14 Trump's Post-Presidency and Political Dynamics38:38 Marjorie Taylor Greene's Controversies43:15 Kamala Harris and AOC: Political Strategies56:05 Nick Fuentes and January 6th01:10:25 Costco's Federal Lawsuit and Tariff Issues====================================Support the show~Join the Free Thinker Army!https://www.patreon.com/c/freemattkim====================================The ONLY VPN that can't spy on you.https://vp.net/mattHang out here~!soj.ooO https://soj.ooo/Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4rC0QxBD1eRPKMHIIpL0vA/joinDonate!https://www.mattkimpodcast.com/support/FREE THINKER ARMY DISCORD:https://discord.gg/2juHnR6DPzTELEGRAM EDIT ZONE:https://t.me/+IV-skn-OXyw1MTcxFollow Matt!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattattack009/Twitter: https://twitter.com/FreeMattKimRumble: https://rumble.com/c/FreeMattKimTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freemattkimFollow Peter on X:Twitter: https://x.com/AgilePeterBusiness Inquiries Please Email mattkimpodcast@protonmail.com

Sports Reporter for The San Francisco Standard, John Shea joins the show to share his perspective on Jeff Kent being inducted into the Hall of Fame & more notably, Barry Bonds not getting inducted with himSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Woodstock is gearing up for its first-ever two-day Hometown Holidays celebration, and excitement is in the air. In this episode of The Valley Today, host Janet Michael talks with Jen Dufner, the town's marketing and events coordinator, to discuss the expanded festivities, the challenges of organizing such an event, and the unique experiences awaiting residents and visitors alike. Expanding the Holiday Magic For the first time, Hometown Holidays will span both Saturday and Sunday, offering more opportunities for families and friends to enjoy the festivities. Jen explains that the decision to extend the event was driven by the packed December calendar and the desire to give everyone a chance to participate. "There's always so much going on during the holidays," she notes. "Having that extra day means people don't have to choose between events—they can do it all." Vendors, Young Entrepreneurs, and Local Flavor This year, the event boasts 17 vendors, up from 13 last year, and introduces a heated tent to keep attendees cozy. Notably, the young entrepreneurs' market, organized in partnership with the local chamber, will take place on Saturday only. Jen encourages everyone to carve out time to support these creative youngsters, who bring fresh ideas and products to the community. Additionally, a few vendors will only be present on one of the two days, adding a sense of urgency and variety to the shopping experience. Navigating Logistics and Weather Organizing a two-day outdoor event is no small feat. Jen and Janet discuss the logistical hurdles, from coordinating vendor schedules to preparing for unpredictable weather. The team has planned for every scenario, including a heated tent next to Woodstock Brewhouse and clear signage to guide visitors. Updates and maps will be posted on the Woodstock Enhancement Facebook page, ensuring everyone stays informed. Santa, Swing, and Sweet Treats No holiday celebration would be complete without Santa Claus, and Woodstock's event is no exception. Santa will be available for photos and wish lists both days, with slightly different hours each day. On Saturday, attendees can also enjoy a special performance by the Yesterday Swing Orchestra, an 18-piece ensemble bringing classic Christmas carols to life inside the brewhouse. The festivities don't stop there. The beloved cookie crawl returns, featuring 15 participating businesses and bakeries. For $25, ticket holders can collect a cookie from each location—no baking required. Jen and Janet share laughs over their own baking mishaps, agreeing that "you can't taste ugly" when it comes to homemade treats. Celebrating Local Businesses and Community Spirit Throughout the conversation, both women highlight the vibrant mix of shops and eateries lining Main Street and Court Street. From bookstores and art galleries to cafes and ice cream parlors, Woodstock's downtown offers something for everyone. The event also shines a spotlight on local artists and entrepreneurs who may not have storefronts, giving them a platform to share their talents. A Weekend to Remember As the conversation wraps up, Jen expresses her excitement for the expanded event and the magic it brings to downtown Woodstock. With a growing roster of vendors, special performances, and a strong sense of community, Hometown Holidays promises to be a memorable weekend for all. For the latest updates, attendees are encouraged to follow the Woodstock Enhancement Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/woodstock.enhancement 

On this December 5th episode, we examine a raft of data releases that together sketch a disquieting portrait of the US economy. The latest ADP report showed the economy losing 32,000 private-sector jobs in November, while the Challenger Job Cuts report registered more than 70,000 layoffs—only the third time since 2008 that November cuts have exceeded that threshold. The Beige Book echoed this deterioration, noting that firms have moved beyond hiring freezes and begun outright reductions in headcount, a trend reinforced by the ISM Manufacturing survey.Markets initially rallied on the release of September's Personal Consumption Expenditures report, encouraged by strong headline figures. Yet the underlying details told a more troubling story. Real PCE and real disposable personal income were essentially flat on the month, and both the headline and core PCE Price Index appear to be drifting upward. Notably, nondurable goods prices surged on both monthly and annual measures—potentially reflecting tariff-related pressures—raising doubts that these increases will prove temporary.Taken together, the data continue to form a mosaic consistent with a stagflationary backdrop: weakening activity, softening labor demand, and price pressures that are proving stubborn rather than transitory.

The Democrats are using the recent drug boat strike as an opportunity to portray Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as part of a broader issue, criticizing the Trump Administration for decisions that conflict with their views. This comes on the heels of President Trump's controversial comments referring to Somali immigrants as “garbage,” which prompted a strong response from Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who condemned the remarks as racially motivated and deeply hurtful. Mark interviews Roger Friedman of Showbiz411.The two attended an exclusive event last night at a Manhattan restaurant, where they mingled with several celebrities and gained unique insights into their lives. Notably, Roger had the chance to sit down with filmmaker Woody Allen to discuss how things are going for him, and the conversation was positive and engaging. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has announced plans to visit New York City, though it remains unclear whether he will meet with Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani. The ongoing debate around “Trump Derangement Syndrome” taking over anti-Trumpers' minds is being highlighted deeper and deeper as the weeks go on. Manhattan psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert is reportedly receiving death threats for speaking out on the topic. Mark interviews WOR weeknight host Jimmy Failla. The two try to understand why Mayor-Elect Mamdani participated in a Starbucks workers' strike earlier in the week over work-life balance. Additionally, they touch on recent warnings from left-wing media figures about the threat Russia may pose to the United States and beyond.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The two attended an exclusive event last night at a Manhattan restaurant, where they mingled with several celebrities and gained unique insights into their lives. Notably, Roger had the chance to sit down with filmmaker Woody Allen to discuss how things are going for him, and the conversation was positive and engaging.

The Democrats are using the recent drug boat strike as an opportunity to portray Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as part of a broader issue, criticizing the Trump Administration for decisions that conflict with their views. This comes on the heels of President Trump's controversial comments referring to Somali immigrants as “garbage,” which prompted a strong response from Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who condemned the remarks as racially motivated and deeply hurtful. Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews Roger Friedman of Showbiz411.The two attended an exclusive event last night at a Manhattan restaurant, where they mingled with several celebrities and gained unique insights into their lives. Notably, Roger had the chance to sit down with filmmaker Woody Allen to discuss how things are going for him, and the conversation was positive and engaging.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The two attended an exclusive event last night at a Manhattan restaurant, where they mingled with several celebrities and gained unique insights into their lives. Notably, Roger had the chance to sit down with filmmaker Woody Allen to discuss how things are going for him, and the conversation was positive and engaging.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Democrats are using the recent drug boat strike as an opportunity to portray Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as part of a broader issue, criticizing the Trump Administration for decisions that conflict with their views. This comes on the heels of President Trump's controversial comments referring to Somali immigrants as “garbage,” which prompted a strong response from Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who condemned the remarks as racially motivated and deeply hurtful. Mark interviews Roger Friedman of Showbiz411.The two attended an exclusive event last night at a Manhattan restaurant, where they mingled with several celebrities and gained unique insights into their lives. Notably, Roger had the chance to sit down with filmmaker Woody Allen to discuss how things are going for him, and the conversation was positive and engaging. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has announced plans to visit New York City, though it remains unclear whether he will meet with Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani. The ongoing debate around “Trump Derangement Syndrome” taking over anti-Trumpers' minds is being highlighted deeper and deeper as the weeks go on. Manhattan psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert is reportedly receiving death threats for speaking out on the topic. Mark interviews WOR weeknight host Jimmy Failla. The two try to understand why Mayor-Elect Mamdani participated in a Starbucks workers' strike earlier in the week over work-life balance. Additionally, they touch on recent warnings from left-wing media figures about the threat Russia may pose to the United States and beyond.

The Democrats are using the recent drug boat strike as an opportunity to portray Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as part of a broader issue, criticizing the Trump Administration for decisions that conflict with their views. This comes on the heels of President Trump's controversial comments referring to Somali immigrants as “garbage,” which prompted a strong response from Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who condemned the remarks as racially motivated and deeply hurtful. Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews Roger Friedman of Showbiz411.The two attended an exclusive event last night at a Manhattan restaurant, where they mingled with several celebrities and gained unique insights into their lives. Notably, Roger had the chance to sit down with filmmaker Woody Allen to discuss how things are going for him, and the conversation was positive and engaging.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Show (12/02/2025) 3:05pm- Philadelphia Highway Patrol Officer Andy Chan has died six years after he was struck by a vehicle while on duty. Rich notes that Chan was a friend of the show. 3:15pm- On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in First Choice Women's Resource Centers v. Platkin. The case asks whether a federal court can hear First Choice's First Amendment challenge to a New Jersey investigatory subpoena when no state court has yet ordered the group to comply. While being questioned by Justice Clarence Thomas, NJ Attorney General Sundeep Iyer conceded that NJ hasn't received any public complaints to justify its subpoena against the pro-life health center. 3:40pm- On Tuesday, President Donald Trump held a press conference announcing the launch of federally supported savings accounts for babies and young children—which will go into effect on July 4th, 2026. In addition to $1,000 per account provided by the U.S. Treasury, Michael and Susan Dell have pledged an additional $6.25 billion donation, amounting to $250 per account for children 10 and under. 3:50pm- “Be Nice to Matt Week” continues, so we discuss two of his favorite things: Home Alone and autonomous vehicles! 4:05pm- Election Day in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District: According to the latest polling from Emerson College/The Hill, Republican Matt Van Epps leads Democrat Aftyn Behn by 2-points. Notably, Donald Trump won the district by 22-points in 2024. 4:20pm- On Tuesday afternoon, President Trump held a cabinet meeting where he predicted that “in the not-too-distant future you won't even have an income tax to pay” thanks to importation tariffs. 4:30pm- A Washington Post report states that Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized a series of deadly strikes on a drug trafficking boat in the Caribbean, ordering military officials to “kill everybody.” The directive, according to the report, led to a second strike killing several crew members that survived the initial assault on the vessel. The New York Times, as well as the White House, dispute that Hegseth explicitly authorized the second strike or ordered to eliminate survivors. The NYT also reports that the “U.S. military intercepted radio communications from one of the survivors to what [officials] said were narco-traffickers.” 5:00pm- Bill D'Agostino— Senior Research Analyst at Media Research Center—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to break down some of the worst moments from corporate media and Democrats. The New York Times corrects The Washington Post's sloppy boat strike reporting, far-left NYT op-ed columnist (and crazy person) Wajaht Ali calls the United States a “sh*tty country” and claims that white Americans have “lost” by allowing immigration, and Karoline Leavitt masterfully debunks ridiculous questions about President Trump's mental health. 5:30pm- Penn State Basketball

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 2: 4:05pm- Election Day in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District: According to the latest polling from Emerson College/The Hill, Republican Matt Van Epps leads Democrat Aftyn Behn by 2-points. Notably, Donald Trump won the district by 22-points in 2024. 4:20pm- On Tuesday afternoon, President Trump held a cabinet meeting where he predicted that “in the not-too-distant future you won't even have an income tax to pay” thanks to importation tariffs. 4:30pm- A Washington Post report states that Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized a series of deadly strikes on a drug trafficking boat in the Caribbean, ordering military officials to “kill everybody.” The directive, according to the report, led to a second strike killing several crew members that survived the initial assault on the vessel. The New York Times, as well as the White House, dispute that Hegseth explicitly authorized the second strike or ordered to eliminate survivors. The NYT also reports that the “U.S. military intercepted radio communications from one of the survivors to what [officials] said were narco-traffickers.”

Dirty Work Hour 2: JD and D-Pop break down the Warriors' shortcomings on the team's most recent homestand, notably losses to the Blazers and Rockets. They also talk about how the team can look to improve, using internal options or looking outside the organization. Andrew Luck joins the show to talk about Stanford football's loss to Notre Dame that closed the season, and the hiring of Stanford's new head football coach Tevita Pritchard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8/8. Conservation Battles: From the Extinction of the Ivory Bill to the Political Fight over Wolves — Dan Flores — The twentieth century witnessed simultaneous conservation efforts and continuing ecological tragedy, notably the probable extinction of the iconic ivory-billed woodpecker following industrial logging of its remaining habitat. Florescredits Rachel Carson's Silent Spring with catalyzing public ecological awareness, contributing to landmark legislation including the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Flores emphasizes that despite compelling scientific evidence demonstrating wolves and coyotes' essential ecological value, wildlife recovery remains politically intractable due to persisting ideologies of human exceptionalism and deep-seated cultural antipathy toward apex predators, reflecting unresolved tensions between wilderness conservation and rural extractive economies. 1844 AUDOBON

Support the Foundation of Jewish Camp: www.jewishcamp.org/callmebackSubscribe to Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=insideGift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/giftsSubscribe to Amit Segal's newsletter ‘It's Noon in Israel':arkmedia.org/amitsegal/Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastCheck out Ark Media's other podcasts: For Heaven's Sake: https://lnk.to/rfGlrA‘What's Your Number?': https://lnk.to/rfGlrAFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.orgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenorTo order Dan Senor & Saul Singer's book, The Genius of Israel: tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdn(00:00) Introduction(02:25) First reactions to Netanyahu's plea(07:00) Examining the precedents in Israeli presidential pardons(11:23) What does Netanyahu hope to achieve?(16:59) The case for pardoning Netanyahu(19:26) The cases against Netanyahu, and why the trial is taking so long(26:35) Does this all boil down to hatred of Netanyahu?(31:30) Is the widespread hatred of Netanyahu justified?(40:33) Unpacking the political landscape(45:59) Herzog's options and his legacyToday's episode: On Sunday, Prime Minister Netanyahu submitted a formal request to President Isaac Herzog for a pardon in Netanyahu's years-long corruption trial. The documents included an 111-page letter written by Netanyahu's lawyer Amit Hadad, in which he argued that a pardon would allow the Prime Minister to focus squarely on advancing Israel's interest and would help heal divisions within Israeli society. Notably, Netanyahu's letter does not include an apology or admission of guilt. President Herzog issued an official response, stating, “After receiving all of the relevant opinions, the president will responsibly and sincerely consider the request.” To unpack the details and implications of Netanyahu's request for a pardon, Dan was joined by Ark Media contributors Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal.CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive ProducerMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorMARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional EditingMAYA RACKOFF - Operations DirectorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

Last time we spoke about the beginning of a conflict between the USSR and Japan. In the frost-hardened dawns by the Chaun and Tumen, two powers eye a ridge called Changkufeng, each seeing a prize and fearing a trap. On the Soviet side, weary front-line troops tighten their grip, while Moscow's diplomats coaxed restraint through Seoul and Harbin.  As July unfolds, Tokyo's generals push a dangerous idea: seize the hill with a surprise strike, then bargain for peace. Seoul's 19th Division is readied in secret, trains loaded with men and horses, movement masked, prayers whispered to avoid widening the rift. Japanese scouts in white Hanbok disguise, peering at trenches, wire, and watchful Russians. Russian border guards appear as shadows, counters slipping into place, yet both sides hold their fire. On July 29, a skirmish erupts: a platoon crosses a shallow line, clashes flare, and bodies and banners ripple in the cold air.    #178 Night Attacks and Diplomatic Strains: The Lake Khasan Conflict Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. A second troop train was scheduled to depart Agochi for Nanam on the night of 29 July, carrying back the initial elements of the 75th Infantry. At Haigan, regimental commander Sato was pulling on his boots at 16:00 when the division informed him that fighting had broken out near Shachaofeng since 15:00 and that the Russians were assembling forces in that area. Suetaka ordered Sato's 3rd Battalion, which had not been slated to leave until the following night, to proceed to Kucheng; the remainder of the regiment was to assemble at Agochi. After consulting with Division Staff Officer Saito at Agochi, Sato returned to Haigan with the conclusion that "overall developments did not warrant optimism, it was imperative to prepare to move the entire regiment to the battlefield." One of Sato's first actions was to telephone a recommendation to the division that he be allowed to occupy Hill 52, which commanded the approaches to Changkufeng from south of Khasan. Suetaka approved, and at 17:30, Yamada's company was ordered to proceed to Shikai along with Hirahara's battalion. Meanwhile, Suzuki's 15th Heavy Field Artillery Regiment, which had been among the last units ordered to leave, had finished loading at Agochi by about 15:00. Sato recommended to Suetaka that a portion of Suzuki's regiment be attached to him; this was why Suetaka decided to transfer one of the two batteries to the 75th Infantry. The rest of the heavy artillery concentrated at Kyonghun. Suetaka's orders, issued at 18:20, called for Sato to have two of his battalions, the 1st and 3rd, cross the Tumen as soon as possible, with engineer support. Attached was Narukawa's heavy battery. Sato's mission was twofold: to assist Senda and to watch the enemy in the Changkufeng area. Sato arrived at 21:15 in Shikai. There, he assembled a number of his officers, including Yamada, and explained his plan: the 1st Company plus machine guns were to cross the Tumen from Sozan ahead of the other units, occupy Hill 52 with an element, and concentrate the main body at the foot of Fangchuanting to await Hirahara's battalion. A portion of the 19th Engineers would go to Sozan to assist the 1st Company with its river crossing. Amid heavy rain and darkness, the various units set out at 22:15. The platoon sent to Hill 52 arrived before dawn on the 30th, the rest of the forces somewhat later, though Sato had intended to move everybody across the river by the early hours. On the 29th the engineer regiment commander, Kobayashi, had also arrived at Shikai. He ordered Captain Tomura to handle the crossing in the vicinity of Sozan, as well as preparations for a future offensive with the main body. When Kobayashi reached Kucheng, he learned from Hirahara not only about the front-line situation but also about Sato's important plans: "The K. Sato force is going to cross the river tonight, 29–30 July. A night attack will be launched against Changkufeng on the night of 30–31 July." Kobayashi issued orders to his two commanders to assist the crossing by Nakano's infantry unit, 1st Battalion, 75th Regiment at Matsu'otsuho and Sozan, and, in addition, to cooperate with the position attack by Nakano and help in the assault at Hill 52. Most of these young officers, such as Seutaka dishing out orders were performing what the Japanese termed "dokudan senko" or "arbitrary or independent action". Japanese operational regulations actually contained a section dealing with dokudan senko, by which initiative, not imperiousness, was meant. Two elements were involved: control but encouragement of self-reliant thinking. This subject became important in training officers, all of whom, including such infantry experts as Suetaka, were well acquainted with the requirements. Combat missions were stipulated in operations orders, but, if these were not realistic, initiative was to come into play, though only when there was no time to contact superiors. By the same token, commanders had to be ready to assume full responsibility if matters turned out adversely. "We were disciples of the 'Moltke' system of AGS control, with dual authority vis-à-vis the local forces and the chief of staff."  The Korea Army's version of events on 29 July, there was no mention of any report received from the division prior to 17:30. Details did not reach Seoul, in the form of printed divisional intelligence reports and operational orders, until 1 August. The late afternoon report from Kyonghun provided the Korea Army authorities with little solid information, but Seoul had to notify higher headquarters immediately. Kitano sent messages to Tokyo and Hsinking at 19:15. The command and Kwantung Army were told that, in addition to Senda's assault party, 40 Japanese soldiers were deployed west of Changkufeng and at Yangkuanping. The division's main forces had begun the rail pullback from the 28th, leaving behind only two infantry battalions and a mountain artillery battalion for the time being. At 21:20 on 29 July, Korea Army Headquarters received the text of Suetaka's full report, which concluded: "With a view toward a possible emergency, the division suspended movement back of the 75th Regiment and is making necessary arrangements to have them advance instead. The latest affair derives sheerly from the enemy's unlawful challenge. It is my firm belief that the nature of this incident differs completely from the one at Changkufeng and should be handled separately. At present, since communication with the forward lines is not good, Lieutenant Colonel Senda (who is at the front) has been entrusted with command, but I assume entire responsibility for the consequences." Instead of boarding their trains at Agochi, Sato's regiment and supporting engineers moved to the Manchurian side of the Tumen as soon as possible. Suetaka called Sato's 2nd Battalion to Kyonghun as divisional reserve. Subsequent dispatches claimed that: (1) Senda's unit, which had driven off intruders in the Shachaofeng area once, was engaged against new Soviet forces (sent at 18:20, 29th);  (2) Senda's unit had expelled trespassers, and a combat situation had developed near Shachaofeng (22:00, 29th);  (3) fighting was going on in the vicinity of Shachaofeng (06:40, 30th).  Korea Army Headquarters, however, obtained no more important communication concerning the events of 29 July than a report, sent that evening by Suetaka, that revealed his concern about a possible Soviet attack in the Wuchiatzu sector near the neck of the long Changkufeng appendix.  After the clash at Shachaofeng, a general officer, Morimoto, happened to be visiting Colonels Okido and Tanaka in Nanam. Both of them were said to be of the pronounced opinion that no troubles ought to be provoked with the USSR while the critical Hankow operation lay ahead; yet Suetaka apparently had some intention of striking at the Soviet intruders, using the 75th Regiment. They urged that this policy not be adopted and that Suetaka be approached directly; the channel through Y. Nakamura, the division chief of staff, was hopeless. Although in agreement, General Morimoto declined to approach Suetaka; since the latter seemed to have made up his mind, it would be inappropriate to "meddle" with his command. Suetaka was functioning as an operations chief at that time. Apart from the mobilization staff officer, who was not enthusiastic about aggressive action, the only other officer who may have affected the decisionmaking process was the Hunchun OSS chief, Maj. Tanaka Tetsujiro, a positive type who shared Suetaka's views and was probably with him on the 29th as well as 30th. Although developments at Suetaka's command post were known more as the result of silence than of elucidation, we possessed considerable information about thinking at the Korea Army level: "Suetaka contacted us only after his men had driven out the enemy near Shachaofeng. Till then, the front had been relatively quiet and we were of the opinion all or most of the deployed forces were on their way home. We at Seoul had no foreknowledge of or connection with the 29 July affair. Reports came in; we never sent specific orders. Triggered by the affray at Shachaofeng, the division attacked on its own initiative. It was our understanding that very small Japanese forces had been committed to evict a dozen enemy scouts and that, when a platoon of ours got atop the hill, they observed surprisingly huge hostile concentrations to the rear. This was probably why the platoon pulied back, although much has been made of the desire to obey the nonaggravation policy to the letter. We at Seoul felt that this was a troublesome matter—that our side had done something unnecessary. When the division finally made its report, the army had to reach some decision. There were two irreconcilable ways of looking at things. We might condemn what had been done, and the division ought to be ordered to pull out promptly, having arbitrarily and intolerably acted against the known facts that Imperial sanction for use of force had been withheld and Tokyo had directed evacuation of the moved-up units. The opposing, eventually predominant view was that the division commander's course of action ought to be approved. Perusal of small-scale maps of the locale indicated a clear violation of the frontier, something not proved in the case of Changkufeng. We shared the division commander's interpretation. His BGU had its mission, and he was acting with foresight to solve matters positively and on his own, since he was the man closest to the problem. General Nakamura felt that the latest development was inevitable; our units did not cross the Tumen until the Soviets attacked us in force. Therefore, the division's actions were approved and a report was rendered promptly to Tokyo. It could be said that our outlook served to "cover" the division commander, in a way. But if IGHQ had ordered us to desist, we would have".  Nakamura added: "I was of the opinion the only solution was to drive the Soviet troops outside Manchukuoan territory; therefore, I approved the action by the division." Such sanction had been granted on the basis of information supplied to Seoul by Suetaka on the evening of 29 July, again post facto. At 01:20 on the 30th, Nakamura wired Suetaka a message characterized by gracious phrasing that suggested his grave concern: "One ought to be satisfied with expelling from Manchurian territory the enemy attacking our unit on the . . . heights southwest of Shachaofeng. It is necessary to keep watch on the enemy for the time being, after having pulled back to the heights mentioned above, but we desire that matters be handled carefully to avoid enlargement; in case the foe has already pulled back south of Shachaofeng . . . he need not be attacked." Nakamura also sent a wire to the AGS chief, the War Minister, and the Kwantung Army commander. After conveying the information received from Suetaka, Nakamura continued: "In spite of the fact that our troops have been patient and cautious . . . this latest incident [near Shachaofeng] started with Soviet forces' arrogant border trespassing and . . . unlawful challenge. Therefore, I am convinced that this affair must be dealt with separately from the incident at Changkufeng. Nevertheless, I shall endeavor to handle matters so that the incident will not spread and shall make it my fundamental principle to be satisfied with evicting from Manchurian territory the hostile forces confronting us. The Korea Army chief of staff is being dispatched quickly to handle the incident".  The Korea Army, "painfully slow to act," says a Kwantung Army major, was merely the intermediary link, the executor of Tokyo's desires. In the case of remote Shachaofeng, there was an inevitable gap between on-the-spot occurrences and AGS reactions. By then, Arisue, Kotani, and Arao, Inada's observers, had returned to Japan—an important fact, given the "Moltke" system of staff control. Nevertheless, their return must have exerted significant effects on central operational thinking. Kotani remembered that his AGS subsection had given him a welcome-home party on the night of 29 July when an emergency phone call was received from the duty officer. "It was about the clash at Shachaofeng. The festivities came to an abrupt end and I headed for the office. From then till the cease-fire on 11 August, I remained at the AGS night and day." Since the 19th Division had furnished higher headquarters with minimal information, Tokyo, like Seoul, had only a few ostensible facts to act upon. But this had been the first combat test for the Korea Army, which needed all the encouragement and assistance possible. Although Japanese field armies, notably the Kwantung Army, were notorious for insubordination, one could not overemphasize the fact that the Korea Army was meek and tractable. If Nakamura had concluded that Suetaka acted properly (which reports from Seoul indicated), the AGS could hardly demur. It would have been unrealistic to think that Tokyo, although cautious, was "softer" about the Russian problem than front-line forces. There had been no concern over time lags; details were Seoul's province. Reaction took time at every level of the chain of command. Decision making in the Japanese Army had been a many-layered process. The Army general staff had been of the opinion that initial guidance ought to have been provided to the Korea Army soon, particularly since there had been evidence of failure to convey intentions promptly to the front and no high command staff officer remained to direct matters. After hearing from Seoul twice about the Shachaofeng affair, the responsible Army general staff officers conferred at length. Stress had been laid on the indivisibility of the Shachaofeng and Changkufeng incidents. It had also been evident that further information was required. On that basis, a "handling policy for the Shachaofeng Incident" was drafted, and Tada notified the Korea and Kwantung armies accordingly on 30 July. Nakamura had received the telegram at 16:50 and had its contents retransmitted to Kitano, then at Kyonghun: "Shachaofeng Incident is progressing along lines of our policy, leave things to local units, which have been adhering to the principle of nonenlargement. Have them report on front-line situation without fail."  The Army general staff and the Korea Army were calling for prudence, but the division, well down the rungs of the ladder of command, was initiating actions that jeopardized the government's basic policy. Earlier quibbling about restraints on "unit-size" elements crossing into Manchuria had been abandoned after the firefight near Shachaofeng on 29 July. At 15:30, Takenouchi's battalion, part of the 76th Regiment, had been directed to assist Senda near Yangkuanping; at 18:20 Suetaka was ordering the 75th Regiment to head for the Kucheng sector and be ready to assault the Russians in the Changkufeng area. Support was to be provided by Kobayashi's engineers, by Iwano's transportation men, and by Suzuki's heavy guns. Of particular interest had been Suetaka's acceptance of Sato's recommendation that elements be sent to occupy Hill 52, a measure linked with a possible Japanese attack against Changkufeng.   Sato had decided by evening that the new situation required rapid deployment of his forces across the river. At Shikai, he conducted a briefing of his officers. Suetaka's orders conveyed orally by staff officers had stipulated: "The division will take steps to secure the border line immediately, even if the situation undergoes change. The Sato unit will advance immediately to the left shore, reinforce Senda's unit, and maintain a strict watch on the enemy in the Changkufeng area." Around 23:20, the last elements ordered forward arrived at Shikai station. Sato instructed only his headquarters and the Ito company to get off. The rest of the troop train primarily the 1st [Nakano's] Battalion was to move on to Hongui. From there, the soldiers proceeded to the Tumen near Sozan. With his staff and Ito's company, Sato trudged in silence through the mud from Shikai to the shore at Matsu'otsuho, starting at 00:30 and reaching the crossing site at 03:00. Reconnaissance had proved satisfactory, Sato remembered.  At the crossings, the hardworking engineers rowed his 1st and 3rd battalions across, company by company. Near dawn, around 04:30, he traversed the river. The movement had been completed in about an hour. When Sato's infantry finally got across, they proceeded to the skirt of Fangchuanting and assembled in secrecy. Not until about 08:00 did the regimental headquarters, Ito's company, and Hirahara's battalion reach Hill 147, already held by Noguchi's company west of Changkufeng. By then, plans had fallen behind schedule by at least several hours because of difficulties in train movement forward. Sato also remembered torrential rains; other officers mentioned darkness. Members of Nakano's battalion pinpointed a shortage of engineer boats from Kucheng. Engineers rowed some boats downstream during the night, but six of them were kept at Matsu'otsuho. This left only three boats for moving the 400 men of the 1st Battalion, the unit slated to storm Changkufeng, across the river at Sozan. Sato had wanted all of his troops across well before dawn on the 30th. A division staff officer rightly thought that Suetaka had already advised Sato, in secret, to "attack at an opportune time," and that the night of 29–30 July had been intended for the surprise assault. "Perhaps there was not enough time for all the attack preparations." Kobayashi's engineers admitted problems in moving boats to Sozan: "Although the water level had gone up because of daily rains recently, there were still many shallows and the current was irregular. Not only was it hard to move downstream, but dense fog also complicated the work. Nevertheless, the units at both sites were able to accomplish the river-crossing operation approximately as scheduled".  Meanwhile, after reconnoitering Soviet defenses along the Manchurian bank, Suzuki, commander of the 15th Heavy Field Artillery Regiment, crossed the Kyonghun Bridge on 30 July with his 1st Battery and established positions on the edge of Shuiliufeng Hill. Once Captain Narukawa was attached to the 75th Infantry on 29 July, he dispatched his 2nd Battery by train to Shikai that night. Although firing sites had been surveyed northwest of Sho-Sozan, the battery had to traverse two weak, narrow bridges in the darkness. With two 15-centimeter howitzers to haul, plus five caissons and wagons, the unit faced tense moments. The gun sites themselves were worrisome: they were scarcely masked from observation from Changkufeng, and the single road to them from the unloading station ran through a paddy area and was similarly exposed. By 1200 hours on 30 July, Sato exerted operational control over the following units: his own forces, Nakano's battalion east of Fangchuanting; Hirahara's reinforced battalion west of Chiangchunfeng; a platoon from Nakajima's infantry company on Hill 52; and Noguchi's company on Hill 147; and from other forces, Senda's 2nd (Kanda) BGU Company; two reinforced companies from Takenouchi's battalion of Okido's 76th Regiment near Shachaofeng; and a 75-mm half-battery from the 25th Mountain Artillery on the Manchurian side with Sato. On the Korean shore, another half-battery comprising two 15-centimeter howitzers from Narukawa's unit of the 15th Heavy Field Artillery was in place. The 19th Engineers operated near the crossing sites, though one platoon remained at Fangchuanting. Sato said, "We were now deployed at last, to cope with any situation." His command post was set in foxholes on open ground at Chiangchunfeng, a central hill that offered excellent observation and control over actions around Changkufeng to the east and Shachaofeng to the north. Not content with suspending the pullout of units and deploying additional combat troops across the Tumen, Suetaka decided to recall division headquarters, mountain artillery, cavalry, signal, medical, and veterinary personnel from Nanam. At dawn on 30 July, Nanam issued orders for Colonel Tanaka to move 500 men and 300 horses to Agochi by rail; most of the increment came from Tanaka's horse-drawn 25th Mountain Artillery. The colonel reached the Korean side of the Tumen at 05:00 on 31 July. The preceding emergency measures were being implemented by Suetaka, even as he received Nakamura's calming telegram of 30 July enjoining nonexpansion. Changkufeng Hill was not even mentioned. Nakamura's concern was typified by Kitano flying to the front. At 10:00 on 30 July, Kitano sent the division chief of staff a cautious follow-up cable: "Based on the consistent policy for handling the Changkufeng Incident and on the army commander's earlier telegram, kindly take steps to ensure careful action in connection with the affair in the Shachaofeng vicinity lest there be enlargement." At 13:45, Nakamura transmitted another restraining message to Suetaka: "The division is to secure … Chiangchunfeng and … the heights southwest of Shachaofeng, using present front-line units. Unless there is an enemy attack, however, resort to force will depend on separate orders." Several hours later, at 16:50, Nakamura received instructions from Tada: the Shachaofeng case was being left to the local forces, who were pursuing the desired policy of nonenlargement, but prompt reporting was desired. At 19:30, the retransmitted message was received by Kitano, already at the front with Suetaka at Kyonghun. After his units had crossed the Tumen on 30 July, Sato Kotoku ordered a strict watch and directed preparations for an assault based on the plans. He conferred with Senda at Chiangchunfeng and observed the enemy. Even after dawn, the frontline commanders who had crossed the river remained uncertain about when the attack would be staged. While Sato's force conducted reconnaissance to prepare for a daytime offensive, orders arrived around 08:00 indicating, "We intend a night attack, so conceal your activities." Daytime movements were prohibited. Sato then explained the impression he had derived from Senda and the intelligence on which he based his estimates: " Exploiting the impasse in diplomatic negotiation, the enemy side had steadily reinforced front-line offensive strength and trespassed anew near Shachaofeng. They now had a battalion and a half of infantry plus 20 artillery pieces in the area, some south of Shachaofeng and the others at four positions immediately east of Lake Khasan. At least a dozen (maybe 20) tanks were deployed in the sector opposite us. About 300 well-armed, active Russian troops were at Changkufeng. I decided that an attack ought to be staged that night. First of all, we were going to chill the insolent enemy by a courageous night assault—a method characteristic of the Imperial Army. Then all kinds of fire power were to be combined in a surprise attack against the positions. Our intention was to jo lt the Russians, demonstrate the true strength of our combat fire, and, by a combination of night and dawn attacks, cut down losses which our left-flank units would have incurred if a night assault alone were staged. We had considered two plans—a night attack against Changkufeng by the 3rd Battalion from the north, or by the 1st Battalion from the south. On 30 July, I decided to execute the second plan, using my 1st (Nakano's) Battalion, to avoid simultaneous involvement around Shachaofeng where the foe was by now alerted."  The Japanese Army ordinarily favored surprise assaults without supporting guns, since firepower was regarded as secondary in close combat and artillery was in short supply. According to the regimental journal, telephone contacts from the morning of the 30th indicated that the division commander shared the same line of thinking as Sato. By noon, Suetaka made his stance explicit. A phone call from Kucheng conveyed to Sato the gist of a critical division order: first, a detailed briefing on Soviet troop concentrations and dispositions, firing positions, troops, and armor south of Shachaofeng; entanglements and forces at Changkufeng; large concentrations behind west of Khasan; tanks and ground formations moving north of the lake; a heavy concentration near the lake to the northwest; one confirmed and two suspected positions along the eastern shore and another with artillery far to the south. Then the order stated that K. Sato's forces, including the Takenouchi battalion from the 76th Infantry, one mountain artillery platoon, and one engineer platoon were to strengthen their positions and, at the same time, promptly evict from Manchurian territory the intruding and advancing enemy. However, pursuit must not be pushed too far lest the border be crossed. Shortly after noon, Suetaka issued another order to form a new force under Senda, who was to strengthen border security along the Shuiliufeng–Hunchun line. As with Sato, Senda was to eject the intruding and advancing enemy from Manchurian soil but not pursue them across the border. By midafternoon, Sato knew not only what he wanted to do but also Suetaka's intentions. At 15:30, he assembled all subordinate officers at Chiangchunfeng and dictated minute attack instructions. Intelligence indicated that the enemy continued to fortify points of importance along the Changkufeng–Shachaofeng line. Sato's plan was to annihilate hostile elements that had crossed the border north and south of Changkufeng. His concept went beyond a frontal assault. While Nakano's battalion would jump off south of Changkufeng, one reinforced company, Takeshita's 10th was to attack north. Since the sun rose at about 05:00, Sato intended to wipe out the enemy during three hours of darkness. Another battalion, Hirahara's 3rd would be held in reserve, with Ito's 6th Company ready to launch a night attack against Changkufeng from the northwest if necessary. Small forces deployed southeast at Hill 52 were to block the arrival of Soviet reinforcements around the southern shores of Khasan. Only after Changkufeng was secured and fire swept the high ground south of Shachaofeng would a reinforced battalion, Takenouchi's 1st from the 76th Regiment undertake a dawn assault to clear the Russians from that sector. An engineer platoon would assist both the night and dawn assault battalions with obstacle clearing. There would be no artillery support until dawn, when the available guns were to provide maximum coverage. Notably, even the movement of a single antitank gun warranted mention. Sato concluded the attack order by directing that each unit mask its intentions after sunset. Takenouchi was to act to check the enemy as soon as the sun went down. In connection with the dawn barrage against the enemy southwest of Shachaofeng, key personnel were to study the best way to exploit sudden fire described as gale and lightning. They were also to be ready to destroy enemy tanks. A green star shell would be fired to signal the success of the night attack. The code words were shojiki "honesty" and ydmo "bravery". At midnight, the regiment commander would be at the northwest foot of Chiangchunfeng. The order stressed typical night-attack precautions: secrecy and concealment, avoidance of confusion, antitank defense, and flare signaling of success. Sato added his own flair with his daily motto as code words and the reference to "whirlwind" fire. Impending action times were explicitly set when the order was issued at 15:30 on the 30th, more than ten hours before the 1st Battalion was to jump off. The key to success in a night assault lay in an absolute prohibition on firing by their side, and bold, courageous charging. Sato reminded his men that life is granted again after death. Nakano then assembled his company commanders east of Fangchuanting and issued his battalion order at 18:30. A few hours after Sato's briefing of the assault commanders, Suetaka arrived at the 75th Regiment command post. This visit late on 30 July is central to allegations that Sato, not Suetaka, conceived and executed the night attack on his own initiative. Divisional orders giving Sato his core mission had already been conveyed by telephone. After 16:00, Suetaka boarded a motorboat at Kucheng and went to the Manchurian side to verify front-line conditions. Soviet snipers south of Yangkuanping fired several shots, but his craft reached the Matsu'otsuho landing and proceeded to Chiangchunfeng to meet Sato. Sato described the situation: "frontline enemy forces had been reinforced steadily and had begun a vigorous offensive. The foe was provoking us, and the matter had grown very serious. I had already issued orders at 15:30 to take the initiative and deal the enemy a smashing blow." I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. On a frost-bitten dawn by the Chaun and Tumen, Russia and Japan lock eyes over Changkufeng. Diplomats urge restraint, yet Tokyo's generals push a bold gamble: seize a hill with a surprise strike and bargain later. Japanese divisions, engineers, and artillery edge toward the border, while Soviet sentries brace for a confrontation that could widen the war. 

This episode we look at many of the natural events and talk about those observing and writing things down, and why they may have wanted to do so. For more, check out our podcast blogpage:  https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-139   Rough Transcript: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is episode 139: Observing the "Natural" World. Members of the Onmyou-ryou, dressed in the official robes of their office, sat around in their observation tower, measuring the location of the stars.  They kept their light to a minimum, just enough so that they could write down their observations, but not so much that it would destroy their vision.  As they looked up, suddenly they saw a strange movement: a streak through the sky.  They waited, and observed, and then there was another, and another after that.  It was as if the stars themselves were falling from the heavens.  They watched as it seemed that the constellations themselves were melting and falling apart.  Quickly they scribbled down notes.  Tomorrow, with the light of day, they would consult various sources to see just what it could mean.  For now, their role was simply to observe and record.   Welcome back, everyone.  It is the height of holiday season in the US as I record this, and in our narrative we are in the middle of the reign of Ohoama, aka Temmu Tennou, who came to power in 672 and who has been shoring up the Ritsuryo state instigated by his late brother, Naka no Oe, aka Tenji Tennou.  We have talked in recent episodes about how Ohoama put a lot of the state under the control of members of the royal family, or at least those with claims to royal blood, and how he had also begun work on the Chronicles—the very works that we have been using to try and understand the history of this and earlier periods.   It seems clear that Ohoama and his cohorts were doing their best to solidify their control and, in the process, create what they felt was a modern state, leveraging the continental model, but not without their own local flavor.  After all, they were also investing in the kami based rituals of state and specifically in Ise shrine, which they claimed as an ancestral shrine for their lineage. This episode, let's dig into another thing that was getting reported around this time.  And that is… science!  Or at least observations of the world and indications of how people were interacting with it. Before going into the subject, I want to acknowledge that "science", or "Kagaku" in modern Japanese, may not look like what we think of as "science" today.  The word "Kagaku" itself appears to come about in the late Edo period, and became associated with the western idea of "Science" in the Meiji period.  Today we think of it as observations, yes, but also testing via the scientific method. I think it might be more appropriate to categorize a lot of earlier science under a term like "learning" or "study", and it seems to have encompassed a wide range of topics of study, some of which we would include as "science" and some which we might refer to more as "arts".  There is also a very fine line with religion and philosophy as well. From a modern perspective, I think one could fairly argue that "science"—particularly the so-called "hard" sciences—refers to something that can be empirically tested via the scientific method.  So you can see something, form a hypothesis, create a test, and then that test should produce the same results no matter who conducts it, assuming you account for the variables. And please don't @ me about this… I know I am simplifying things.  This isn't a podcast about science unless we are talking about the social sciences of history and archaeology. In contrast to our modern concept of science, much of what we see in the Asuka era is built around using our reasoning to arrive at the truth of something.  In cases where we are dealing with clearly physical phenomena that have observable causes and effects, this can lead to remarkably reliable results.  One example of this is calendrical science—it isn't that hard to observe the passing of days and seasons.  Even the rotation of the earth and the movements of stars and even something with as large a period as comets could be observed and tracked, especially if you had centuries of data to comb through.  In fact, they often would predict things that it turns out they couldn't, themselves, see.  They could predict that an eclipse would occur, for example, even when that eclipse was only visible somewhere else.  And they didn't have to calculate gravitational pull, mass, or distances between different heavenly bodies for that to occur. Similarly, in the agricultural sphere: you had so many people who observed the seasons and would figure out new ways of doing things.  It doesn't take an understanding of chlorophyl to know that plants generally do better when exposed to sunlight. I believe the leap happens when you get to things that go beyond purely observable means.  Sickness, for example—how do you explain viruses or germs without equipment like microscopes to see what our eyes alone cannot?  And if such "invisible" things could cause so much damage, then why could there not be other "invisible" elements, such as kami and boddhisatvas?  And as humans we are driven to make connections.  It is one of the things that has driven our technological innovation and rise, but it is also something that can easily go awry.  Like when you are sitting in a dark house, alone, and you hear a noise.  Rationally, you might know that houses settle and creak, but that doesn't necessarily stop your brain from connecting it with thoughts that someone must be in the house making that noise. Or even how we make judgments based on nothing more than how someone talks or what they look like, because our brains have made connections with those things, for good or ill. A large part of the rationalization that was accomplished in Asian thought had to do with concepts of Yin and Yang, the negative and the positive, the dark and the light.  This was thought of as a kind of energy—qi or ki—that was embedded in things.  We discussed this somewhat back in episode 127, because yin yang theory, along with the five element theory, known as Wuxing or Gogyou in Japanese, became embedded in the idea of the calendar.  Why was summer hot, except that it was connected with an excess of fire energy?  And the cold, dark days of winter would be associated with an excess of water, naturally. I should note that while this is one of the more comprehensive philosophical systems in use, it was not the only means by which various phenomena and effects were rationalized.  After all, it had to be imposed on a framework of how the world otherwise worked, and descriptions of the world came from a variety of places.  There was, for example, the Classic of Mountains and Seas, or Sanhaijing, which detailed the world as envisioned in the period before the Qin dynasty, although there were occasional updates.  The Sanhaijing  described regular plants and animals in the same breath as gods and monsters.  There were also various buddhist sutras, which brought their own cosmological view of the universe that had to be squared with other visions, including those passed down locally describing the archipelago as the "Reed Plain" and giving particular importance to eight of the islands—though which eight depends on which variant of the creation myth you are referencing. To categorize the study of the natural—and what we would consider the supernatural—world around them, the Ritsuryou set up specific bureaus.  One of these was the Onmyou-ryou, the Bureau of Yin-yang, also known as the Onyo no Tsukasa.  This Bureau oversaw divination, astronomy, time, and calendars.  At its head was the Onmyou-no-kami.  Below them were the various scholars studying the core subjects, as well as technical practitioners to carry out the rites and divination. On the continent, priority was generally given to astronomical and calendrical studies, and many of the more magical practices or rituals would fade away, likely because there were local Taoist institutions who could take up much of that work.  In Japan, however, it seems that the calendrical studies tended to ossify, instead, while onmyoji came to fill a role not just for the state but also among the population for divination and other such practices.  Even into the Edo period one could find private onmyoji, and the Bureau itself lasted until the very beginning of the Meiji period. Another important institution of the Ritsuryo government for learning was the Daigakuryou, the Bureau of Great Learning.  Students of Japanese may recognize the term "Daigaku" referring, today, to universities. The original concept for the Daigaku-ryou, or Daigaku no Tsukasa, was focused on the study of those things that were considered perhaps a bit more practical and necessary to anyone who might want a political career.  Since this was founded on concepts of Confucian government, it is little wonder that it was originally designed to focus on Confucian studies, among other things.  This fits into the idea of a supposed meritocracy, where one's education was part of the examination.  You may recall from Episode 115 we talked about the National University in Chang'an, which is likely something that the Daigaku Ryou could only ever dream of becoming. Early arts taught at the Daigaku Ryou included the Confucian classics, mathematics, writing, and Chinese pronunciation.  These were all things that you would need to know to become a part of the bureaucracy The idea of a school may have been born along with the early institution of the government, with mention as early as 671, in the last year of Naka no Oe's reign, but we don't have it clearly established in the code until later.  Full operations may have been somewhat delayed due to the tumultuous events of Ohoama's accession to power in 672, but we do see it explicitly mentioned in the year 675.  On the first day of the year we are told that Students from the Daigaku Ryou, along with students from the Onmyou-Ryou and from the Gaiyaku Ryou, the Bureau of External Medicine; along with the Woman of S'ravasti, the Woman of Tara, Prince Syeonkwang of Baekje, and Silla labourers offered presents of drugs and various rarities. We talked about the first two, the Daigaku-ryou and the Onmyou-ryou, but the Gaiyaku Ryou doesn't seem to have a lot of information out there beyond this mention.  Later there would a "Ten'yaku Ryou", or Bureau of Medicine, established in the code.  Since we don't have any extant codes from this period beyond what was written down in the Nihon Shoki, we don't know for certain what the Gaiyaku-ryou was , and it is possible that the Gaiyaku-Ryou was a precursor to the Ten'yaku Ryou.  "GAI" means "outside" or "external", leading me to wonder if this referred to external medicine in contrast to internal medicine, or if it meant medicine or drugs from outside teh archipeloago. I would point out that these students are found with the Woman of S'ravasti, or Shae; the Woman of Tara; a Baekje prince and Silla labourers.  In other words, they were all people from outside of the archipelago.  This is not entirely surprising as it was from outside that much of the learning was coming into the country. "Yaku" or "Kusuri", which can be translated as either "Drugs" or "medicine", could refer to a number of things.  How effective they were is somewhat questionable. Almost certainly some of them had confirmed medicinal efficacy, but others may have been thought to have been effective due to things like their connection to the five elements, or wuxing, theory. For example, something red might be assumed to have a warming effect because of the presumed presence of the fire element.  And the power of the placebo effect no doubt made them seem at least partially effective.  Consider, for example, how many people will swear by certain remedies for the common cold when all it really does is distract you, or perhaps make you a bit more comfortable, until the symptoms pass on their own. A more certain science was probably that of Astronomy, which we've mentioned a few times.  The passage of the stars through the sky was something that could be easily observed.  There is a theory that some of the first lines in the Yijing, or book of changes, may actually be a description of the changing of seasons as different aspects of a given constellation rise over the horizon, and the placement of certain stars would help in the adjustment of the lunar calendar, since the moon's orbit does not match up exactly with the solar year, and year the solar year was quite important to things like agriculture and even sailing to the mainland. This all makes 675 a seemingly banner year for science, as four days after the presentation of medicine to the throne, the government erected a platform by which to observe the stars.  This wouldn't need to be much—it could have been an earthen mound, or just a tower, from which one could get above the ground, presumably see over any buildings, to the horizon.  Granted, Asuka might not be the best place for such observations, with the nearby mountains meaning that the true horizon is often obstructed.  Nonetheless, it may have been enough to make calculations. Astronomy platforms, or Tenmondai, would continue to be used up until at least the Meiji period.  Without a telescope, observations were somewhat limited—though they also didn't have the same level of light pollution that we have today.  Remember, many woke just before dawn and went to sleep not too long after the sun went down, which only makes sense when you are living in a place where creating light, while doable, also ran the risk of burning your entire house to the ground. It is worth noting that the sky for the ancient Japanese was likely quite different than what most of us see when we look up, unless you are fortunate enough to live in a place with very little light pollution.  For many of those living today in the cities and suburban landscape, go outside at night and you might see the moon and some of the brightest stars, but for most of the ancient Japanese, they would look up and see the heavenly river, the Amakawa, or Milky Way.  They would have looked up at a sky glittering with myriad dots of light, as well as planets and more.  It was both familiar and strange—something one saw regularly and yet something that was also extremely inaccessible. Astronomical observations would have been important for several reasons, as I've mentioned.  They would have been used to keep the calendar in check, but they would also have likely been used to help calibrate the water clock, which helped to tell time.  Of course, going back to the five elements and yin yang theory, it is also believed that the energy, the qi or ki, changed with the seasons and the movements of the stars and planets—planets were not known as such, of course, but their seemingly erratic movements compared to bright lights in the sky meant they were noticed and assigned values within the elemental system. One of the things that came with the changing seasons, the heavenly movements, and the flow of ki was a concept of "kata-imi", literally directional taboos.  There were times when certain directions might be considered favorable or unfavorable for various actions.  This could be something as simple as traveling in a given direction.  In the centuries to come this would spawn an entire practice of kata-tagae, or changing direction.  Is the north blocked, but you need to travel there, anyway?  Well just go northwest to say hello to a friend or visit your local sake brewery, and then travel due east.  Ta-da!  You avoided going directly north!  There were also mantra-like incantations that one might say if they had to travel in an inauspicious direction to counteract the concept of bad influences. This also influenced various other things, and even today you will often see dates where a year and month might be followed by simply the character for "auspicious day" rather than an actual day of the month. So observing the heavens was important, and it was also important that they tostudy the works of those on the continent, whose records could help predict various astronomical phenomena.  Except that there was one tiny problem:  I don't know if you've noticed, but Japan and China are in two different locations.  Not all astronomical phenomena can be observed from all points of the globe.  The Northern Lights, for example, are rarely seen in more southerly latitudes, and while eclipses are not too rare, a total eclipse only impacts certain areas of the earth, along relatively narrow paths. I mention this because it isn't always clear if the records we get in the Nihon Shoki are about phenomena they directly observed or if they are taking reports from elsewhere and incorporating them into the narrative.  One such event is the comet of 676. The entry in the Nihon Shoki tells us that in the 7th lunar month of the 5th year of Temmu Tennou, aka 676 CE, a star appeared in the east that was 7 or 8 shaku in length.  It disappeared two months later. We've mentioned some of this before, but the sky was divided up into "shaku", or "feet", though how exactly it was measured I'm not entirely sure.  It appears to be that one foot was roughly 1.5 degrees of the sky, give or take about a quarter of a degree, with 180 degrees from horizon to horizon.  So it would have been about 10 to 12 degrees in the sky.  Another way to picture it is if you hold out your arm towards the object, and spread your index and little finger, it would probably fit between those two points.  This comet hung around for some time, and a great part about a comet like this is that it was viewable from multiple locations.  After all, as the earth turned, different areas were exposed to the comet as it passed through our part of the solar system.  Thus we have records of it from not just the Nihon Shoki:  We also find it in the Anglo-Saxon chronicles, where it was thought to have foretold the end of Bishop Wilfred's control of Northumbria.  We also see it in Tang, Silla, and Syrian sources. These sources aren't always in complete agreement.  For one thing, they noted when they first saw it, which might have been impacted by local conditions.  And then conversion between lunar and solar calendars can also sometimes get in the way.  Roughtly speaking, we have the Nihon Shoki providing dates of somewhere from about August or September of 676, on the Western calendar, to October or November. Tang sources put it from 4 September to 1 November.  Silla Chronicles claim that it first appeared in the 7th lunar month, so between August and September.  A Syrian Chronicle notes a comet from about 28 August to 26 October in the following year, 677, but this is thought to have been a mistake.  European sources generally seem to claim it was seen in August and lasted for three months.  All of these sightings put it at roughly the same time. Working with that and with known comets, we think we actually know which comet this is:  The Comet de Cheseaux also known as the Comet Klinkenberg-Cheseaux.  And I should mention this is all thanks to a research paper by M. Meyer and G. W. Kronk.  In that paper they propose that this is the comet with the designation of C/1743 X1, or the common names I just mentioned.  If so, based on its trajectory, this comet would have been visible in 336, 676, 1032, 1402, 1744, and is next predicted to show up in 2097.  And no, those aren't all exactly the same amount of time.  It is roughly every 350 years or so, but with the movements of the solar system, the planets, and various gravitational forces that likely slow or speed up its movement, it doesn't show up on exactly regular intervals.  Still, it is pretty incredible to think that we have a record of a comet that was seen the world over at this time, by people looking up from some very different places. Comets were something interesting for early astronomers.  They may have originally been seen as particularly ominous—after all, in the early eras, they were hardly predictable, and it would take years to get enough data to see that they were actually a somewhat regular occurrence.  In fact, it is likely that early astronomers were able to figure out eclipse schedules before comets.  Still, they seem to have come to the realization that comets were in fact another type of natural and reoccurring phenomenon.  That isn't to say that they didn't have any oracular meaning, but it did mean they were less of an obvious disturbance of the heavenly order. We have another comet mentioned in the 10th lunar month of 681, but that one seems to have had less attention focused on it, and we don't have the same details.  Then in the 8th lunar month of 682 we have an entry about a Great Star passing from East to West—which was probably a shooting star, rather than a comet.  Comets, for all that they appear to be streaking across the sky thanks to their long tails, are often relatively stable from an earthbound perspective, taking months to appear and then disappear again. Then, on the 23rd day of the 7th month of 684 we get another comet in the northwest.  This one was more than 10 shaku in length—about 15 degrees, total, give or take.  Given the date, we can be fairly confident about this one, as well: it was the famous Halley's comet.  Halley's comet is fascinating for several reasons.  For one, it has a relatively short period of about 72 to 80 years, though mostly closer to 75 to 77 years in between sightings.  The last time it visited the earth was in 1986, and it is expected back in 2061.  Halley's comet has been recorded since the 3rd century BCE, and, likely because of its short period, it was the first periodic comet to be recognized as such.  There are other periodic comets with short periods, but many of them are not visible with the naked eye.  Halley's comet is perhaps the most studied comet, given its regular and relatively short periodicity.  It is also connected to the famous writer, humorist, and essayist, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka Mark Twain.  He was born only a few days after the comet reached perihelion in 1835 and died a day after it reached the same point again in 1910, and while he may not have visited Japan in his lifetime, it was a period of great change both in his home country of America and in Japan.  America, of course, would undergo a Civil War over the issue of slavery in the early 1860s, and shortly after that Japan would have its own civil war in the form of the Meiji Revolution.  And while he never visited—and translation could only do so much to capture the art of his prose—Mark Twain's works were apparently quite influential in Japan in the early 20th century. Of course, comets were just one of the celestial phenomena to be observed.  The astronomers were interested in just about anything happening in the sky.  We have accounts of both solar and lunar eclipses, and not necessarily full eclipses either.  We even have notice of the movement of some planets, such as in 681, when they noted that the planet mars "entered" the moon. Obviously the astronomers weren't recording every raincloud that came through—at least not in the main chronicles—but they did capture a fair number of events.  They did record particularly memorable storms.  For instances, in the 8th lunar month of 675 there was a storm that is said to have caused sand to fly and which then damaged houses.  This sounds like a wind storm without rain—after all, if there was rain, you would expect that the sand would have been wet and tamped down.  It is possible to have hurricane level winds without the rain.  While typhoons typically bring rain, especially as they usually build up their strength at sea, it is possible to have the winds alone, as I've experienced, myself, in Tokyo.  This most likely happens in an isolated area—there is water and rain somewhere, but the typhoon can be large, so parts of it may only get the wind and little or no rain.  I wonder if something like that happened in this instance.  It is also possible that this record refers to actual sand being brought across from the continent.  In some instances, sand can be lifted up from as far away as Mongolia and carried all the way to Japan, though it is pretty rare. And it wasn't just wind and sand.  We get accounts of hail coming down as large as peaches, torrential rainstorms, and even ash, likely from a volcanic eruption that was otherwise unrecorded.  There are also accounts of snow, though typically recorded in times where you wouldn't expect to see it, such as the third lunar month, which would mean snow in late April or early May. Mostly these storms are mentioned in terms of how they affected the immediate fortunes of the living, but sometimes storms did even more damage.  In 682, for example, a hoar-frost was reported in both Shinano and Kibi in the 7th lunar month.  On its own, this probably wouldn't have been worth mentioning, but the chroniclers add that because of storms the "five grains had not formed".  So storms had diminished the crops and the hoar-frost was apparently the killing blow.  The harvest that year would be lean, and it would not be a happy time for many that winter. And then, just as important as what was happening was what was not.  There are several mentions of droughts, particularly towards the end of Spring, early Summer.  This is traditionally a drier period, and if it is too dry it could harm the harvest.  And so the government was expected to find a way to bring the rain—a tall order, the general resolution to which seems to be prayers and rituals designed to bring rain.  In a place like Japan, I suspect that it was usually just a matter of time before the prayers were "successful", thus reinforcing their presumed efficacy. Some of the things that they recorded were a bit more mysterious.  For example, in the second lunar month of 680 we are told that a sound like drums was heard from the East.  There are many things this could theoretically be, from rumbles of thunder to some other phenomenon, though the following year we have a note about thunder in the West, so theoretically they knew the difference between thunder and drums.  Later that same year, 680, we are told that there was a "brightness" in the East from the hour of the dog to the hour of the rat—about 8pm to midnight.  Was this some kind of aurora?  But wouldn't that have been in the north, rather than the east?    Could it have been some kind of lightning?  But that is a long time for a lightning storm to hang around.  And there are other strange things, some of which seem impossible and we have to doubt.  For example, in 684 they said that, at dusk, the seven stars of the Big Dipper drifted together to the northeast and sank.  Unless they are just recording the natural setting of the stars of the big dipper.  Certainly, over time the constellation appears to rotate around the north star, and it dips down to or below the horizon in the autumn months.  So were they just talking about the natural, yearly setting of the stars, or something else? There may be some clues in that the 11th lunar month, when that was recorded, we see several other heavenly phenomena recorded.  Two days after the Big Dipper set, at sunset, a star fell in the eastern quarter of the sky that we are told was as large as a jar.  Later, the constellations were wholly disordered and stars fell like rain.  That same month, a star shot up in the zenith and proceeded along with the Pleiades until the end of the month.  While this sounds like shooting stars and a possible meteor shower, a later commenter suggested that this was all a heavenly omen for the state of the court, showing the "disordered" state of the nobility at this time.  Of course, this was also a year and change before the sovereign's eventual passing, so there is also the possibility that the Chroniclers were looking at events later and ascribing meaning and importance after the fact. In another account of something seemingly wonderous: in 682 we are told that something shaped like a Buddhist flag, colored like flame, was seen by all of the provinces and then sank into the Japan sea north of Koshi.  A white mist is also said to have risen up from the Eastern mountains. There are various things that could be going on here.  It strikes me that the white mist could be a cloud, but could also be something volcanic.  And the flame colored prayer flag makes me think about how a high cloud can catch the light of the rising or setting sun.  That could look like a flag, and can seem extremely odd depending on the other conditions in the sky. Or maybe it was aliens. Okay, it is unlikely that it was aliens, but I think that these do give an idea of the kinds of records that were being made about the observed phenomena.  Obviously the Nihon Shoki is recording those things that were considered particularly significant for whatever reason.  This could just be because it was something odd and unexplained, or perhaps it was more well known but rare.  It may have even had religious connotations based on some aspect, like evoking the image of Buddhist flags.  And it is possible that it was thought to have had significant impact on events—perhaps even an impact that isn't clear to us today, many centuries removed from the events. Some things were clear, however.  Lightning strikes are often mentioned specifically when they strike something of note.  In 678, we are told that a pillar of the Western Hall of the New Palace was struck by lightning, though apparently the building itself survived.  Then, in 686, Lighting appeared in the southern sky with a large roar of thunder.  A fire broke out and caught the tax cloth storehouse of the Ministry of Popular affairs, which immediately exploded in flames.  After all, a thatched roofed, wooden building filled with kindling in the form of cloth—and likely a  fair amount of paper and writing supplies to keep track of it all—sounds like a bonfire waiting to happen.  There were reports that the fire had actually started in Prince Osakabe's palace and then spread to the Ministry of Popular Affairs from there. It is also worth noting that recording of such events was still somewhat new to the archipelago as a whole. They were learning from the continent, but also defining their own traditions. Observations of natural phenomena weren't just relegated to celestial occurrences or weather.  After all, there was something else that one could observe in the sky:  birds.  Now this wasn't your average bird-watching—though I'm not saying that there weren't casual birders in ancient Japan, and if we ever find someone's birding diary from that era I think that would be so cool.  But there were some things that were significant enough to be mentioned. For example, in 678 we get a report of "atori", or bramblings.  Bramblings are small songbirds which are found across Eurasia.  Notably they are migratory, and are known to migrate in huge flocks especially in the winter time, and sure enough on the 27th day of the 12th month we are told that the bramblings flew from the southwest to the northeast, covering the entire sky.  This makes me think about some of the other mass migrations that used to occur that have largely been reduced significantly due to habitat loss, disruption to traditional migratory routes, and other population pressures on various bird species.  Still, having so many birds that it blocked out the sky certainly seems a significant event to report on.  We later see a similar account in 680, with the flock moving from southeast to northwest.  Given the location of Asuka it sounds like they were flocking in the mountains and heading out over the Nara Basin, perhaps seeking food in another mountainous area. In 682, the birders were at it again.  This time, around midday on the 11th day of the 9th lunar month, several hundreds of cranes appeared around the Palace and soared up into the sky.  They were there for about two hours before they dispersed.  Once again, cranes are migratory and known to flock.  Cranes are also known as a symbol of long life and joy—and I can understand it.  Have you ever seen a flock of cranes?  They are not small birds, and they can be really an incredible sight.  Flocks of cranes themselves were probably not that rare, and it was no doubt more about so many gathering around the palace which made it particularly special. It wasn't just birds in the sky that were considered important symbols, though.  Birds often are noted as auspicious omens.  Usually strange birds, plants, or other such things are found in various provinces and presented to the throne.    So in 675, Yamato presented auspicious "barn-door fowl", likely meaning a fancy chicken.  Meanwhile, the Eastern provinces presented a white falcon and the province of Afumi presented a white kite.  Chickens are associated with the sun and thus with the sun goddess, Amaterasu, and albino versions of animals were always considered auspicious, often being mentioned in Buddhist sources.  Later, in 680, we see a small songbird, a "Shitodo", also described as white, and probably albino, sent to the court from nearby Settsu. Then, in 681 there is mention of a red sparrow.  Red coloration is not quite the same as albinism, though it is something that does occur at times, when the brownish coloration comes out more red than brown, and I suspect this is what we are talking about.  This is most likely just a recessed gene or genetic mutation, similar to causes for albinism, but just in a different place in the DNA.  As for why it was important:  I'd first and foremost note that anything out of the ordinary (and even some ordinary things) could be considered a sign.   Red was also seen as an auspicious color, so that may have had something to do with it as well.  And then there is the concept of Suzaku, the red bird of the south.  Suzaku is usually depicted as an exotic bird species of some kind, like how we might depict a phoenix.  But it was also just a "red bird", so there is that, and perhaps that was enough.  Not that this red sparrow was "Suzaku", but evoked the idea of the southern guardian animal.  A year prior, in 680, a red bird—we aren't told what kind—had perched on a southern gate, which even more clearly screams of the Suzaku aesthetic. It is probably worth noting here that in 686, towards the end of the reign, not that anyone knew it at the time, Ohoama decided to institute a new nengo, or regnal period.  It was called Shuuchou—red or vermillion bird—and it likely referred to Suzaku.  This nengo was cut short, however, with Ohoama's death that same year.  Nengo were often chosen with auspicious names as a kind of hope for the nation, so clearly "red bird" was considered a good thing. A month after the red sparrow, Ise sent a white owl, and then a month after that, the province of Suwou sent a red turtle, which they let loose in the pond at the Shima palace.  Again, these were probably just examples of animals seen as auspicious, though they would have likely been recorded by the Onmyou-ryou, who would have likely combed through various sources and precedents to determine what kind of meaning might be attached to them. Color wasn't the only thing that was important.  In 682, the Viceroy of Tsukushi reported that they had found a sparrow with three legs.  There are numerous reasons why this could be, but there is particular significance in Japan and Asia more generally.  A three legged bird is often associated with the sun Andusually depicted as a black outline of a three legged bird inside of a red sun.  In Japan this was often conflated with the Yata-garasu, the Great Crow, which is said to have led the first mythical sovereign, Iware Biko, to victory in his conquest of Yamato.  Thus we often see a three legged crow depicted in the sun, which was an object of particular veneration for the Wa people from centuries before.  And I suspect that the little three-legged sparrow from Tsukushi  I suspect that this had particular significance because of that image. Animals were not the only auspicious things presented to the throne.  In 678, Oshinomi no Miyatsuko no Yoshimaro presented the sovereign with five auspicious stalks of rice.  Each stalk, itself, had other branches.  Rice, of course, was extremely important in Japan, both from a ritual and economic sense, so presenting rice seems appropriate.  Five stalks recalls things like the five elemental theory—and in general five was consider a good number.  Three and five are both good, prime numbers, while four, pronounced "Shi", sounds like death and is considered inauspicious.  Three, or "San" is sometimes associated with life, and five is associated with the five elements, but also just the fact that it is half of ten, and we have five fingers on one hand and in so many other ways, five is regarded as a good number in much of Asia. That the stalks had multiple branches likely referred to them bearing more than the usual amount of rice on them, which seems particularly hopeful.  Certainly the court thought so.  In light of the auspicious gift, all sentences of penal servitude and lower were remitted.  In 680, Officials of the Department of Law gave tribute of auspicious stalks of grain, themselves.  I'm not sure, in this case, that it was all that they hoped, however, as that began three days straight of rain and flooding. A year earlier, in 679, we are told that the district of Ito, in Kii, immediately south of Yamato, sent as tribute the "herb of long life".  We are told that it "resembled" a mushroom—probably meaning it was a mushroom, or maybe something formed into a mushroom shape.  But the stem was about a foot long and the crown was two spans, about 6 feet in diameter.  This is pretty incredible, and I have to wonder if there is a bit of exaggeration going on here. Another tribute was a horn found on Mt. Katsuraki.  It branched into two at the base, was united at the end, and had some flesh and hair still attached, about an inch in length.  They claimed it must be horn or a Lin, or Kirin, sometimes referred to as an Asian unicorn—a mythical creature considered to be quite auspicious and benevolent.  This was on the 26th day in the 2nd lunar month of the year 680, probably around March or April.  I highly suspect that what they found was an oddly shaped bit of antler from  a buck whose antlers had begun to come in and which might have been taken out by wolves or bears or something else altogether.  The fact that the ends were said to be fused together could just be referring to some kind of malformation of the antlers.  The fur and flesh could mean that the antlers were still growing—antlers would probably just be coming in around early spring time.  Still, there is no telling how long it was there, so it could have been from the previous year as well.  Attributing it to a kirin seems a bit of a stretch, but it was clearly something unusual. Animals and plants were recorded in tribute, but also when something odd happened.  Fruiting out of season was one such occurrence, which we've seen elsewhere in the chronicles as well.  There was even a record when the famous Tsuki tree outside of Asukadera had a branch fall down.  Presumably it was a large and noticeable branch, and by now this appears to have been a tree with a bit of age to it that had seen a lot, so it makes sense it got a mention. Finally, we go from the heavens to the earth.    Perhaps the most numerous observations in the Chronicles were the earthquakes.  We've noted in the past that Japan is extremely active, volcanically speaking, so it makes sense that there are multiple accounts of earthquakes each year, especially if they were compiling reports from around the country.  Most of these are little more than just a note that there was an earthquake, but a few stand out. The first is the 12th lunar month of 678.  We are told that there was a large earthquake in Tsukushi—modern Kyushu. The ground split open to the width of about 20 feet for more than 30,000 feet.  Many of the commoners' houses in the area were torn down.  In one place there was a house atop a hill, and though the hill crumbled down the house somehow remained intact.  The inhabitants had apparently been home and must have been oblivious, as they didn't realize anything had happened until they woke up the next morning. Again, probably a bit of hyperbole in here, but if we think back to things like the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, where large areas of land shifted noticeably along the fault lines, it is likely that this was a similar or even more catastrophic event.  And here I'll give a quick plug for Kumamoto, which is still working to rebuild from the earthquake, and if you ever get a chance, I recommend a visit to the Kumamoto Earthquake Memorial Museum or Kioku, where you can see for yourself just how powerful mother nature can be. Another powerful earthquake was mentioned in the 10th lunar month of 684.  If the earthquake in Tsukushi had hit mostly agricultural areas, based on the description, this seems to have hit more populated regions.  We are told that it started in the dark of night, the hour of the boar, so about 10pm, give or take an hour.  The shaking was so bad that throughout the country men and women cried out and were disoriented—they could not tell east from west, a condition no doubt further hindered by the dark night sky.  There were mountain slides and rivers changed course, breaking their banks and flooding nearby areas.  Official buildings of the provinces and districts, the barns and houses of the common people, and the temples, pagodas, and shrines were all destroyed in huge numbers.  Many people and domestic animals were killed or injured.  The hot springs of Iyo were dried up and ceased to flow.  In the province of Tosa, more than 500,000 shiro of cultivated land sank below sea level.  Old men said that they had never seen such an earthquake.  On that night there was a rumbling noise like that of drums heard in the east—possibly similar to what we had mentioned earlier.  Some say that the island of Idzu, aka Vries Island, the volcanic island at the entrance of Edo Bay, increased on the north side by more than 3,000 feet and that a new island had been formed.  The noise of the drums was attributed to the gods creating that island. So here we have a catastrophic quake that impacted from Iyo, on the western end of Shikoku, all the way to the head of Edo Bay, modern Tokyo.  This appears to be what seismologists have labelled a "Nankai Trough Megathrust Earthquake".  Similar quakes have occurred and are predicted to occur in the future., along a region of Japan from the east coast of Kyushu, through the Seto Inland Sea, including Shikoku, through the Kii peninsula and all the way to Mt. Fuji.  The Nankai Trough, or Southern Sea Trough, is the area where the continental shelf drops down, and where the Philippine tectonic plate slips underneath the Eurasian—or more specifically the Amuric—plate.  As these plates move it can cause multiple events all along the trough at the same time.  Since being regularly recorded, these quakes have been noted every 100 to 150 years, with the last one being the Showa Nankai quakes of 1944 and 1946. For all of the destruction that it brought, however, apparently it didn't stop the court.  Two days after this devastating quake we are told that Presents were made to the Princes and Ministers.  Either they weren't so affected in the capital, or perhaps the date given for one of the two records is not quite reliable.  Personally, I find it hard to believe that there would be presents given out two days later unless they were some form of financial aid.  But what do I know?  It is possible that the court itself was not as affected as other areas, and they may not have fully even grasped the epic scale of the destruction that would later be described in the Chronicles, given the length of time it took to communicate messages across the country. Which brings us back to the "science" of the time, or at least the observation, hoping to learn from precedence or piece out what messages the world might have for the sovereign and those who could read the signs.  While many of the court's and Chronicler's conclusions may give us pause, today, we should nonetheless be thankful that they at least decided to keep notes and jot down their observations.  That record keeping means that we don't have to only rely on modern records to see patterns that could take centuries to reveal themselves.  Sure, at this time, those records were  still a bit spotty, but it was the start of something that would be remarkably important, and even though these Chronicles may have been focused on propaganda, the fact that they include so many other references are an incalculable boon to us, today, if we can just see to make the connections.  And with that, I think I've rambled enough for this episode.  We still have a couple more to fully cover this period. Until then, if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  

As of February 2025, more than 68 million Americans arerecipients of Social Security benefits. Recognized as the largest anti-povertyinitiative in the nation, Social Security lifted 27.6 million individuals outof poverty in 2023, according to data from the Center on Budget and PolicyPriorities.A 2024 survey conducted by the American PsychologicalAssociation indicated that most U.S. adults consider societal division to be asignificant source of stress.Clarence H. Carter offers a unique perspective on issuesrelated to poverty, governmental innovation, and systemic transformation,drawing upon over three decades of leadership within major safety net agenciesacross the United States. His experience spans service under two presidents,four governors, and a mayor. As Commissioner of the Tennessee Department ofHuman Services, Carter oversees a $3 billion agency that serves vulnerablecommunities in all 95 counties. Notably, his expertise centers on re-evaluatingthe role of government assistance programs. He has implemented sustainablereforms such as transitioning Washington D.C.'s homeless shelter system towardpermanent housing solutions and administering the $16.5 billion federal TANFprogram.  Carter is also the founder ofthe Institute for the Improvement of the Human Condition and frequentlyprovides testimony before Congress. As a Fellow of the National Academy ofPublic Administration, he shares candid insights regarding effectivestrategies, identified challenges, and reasons traditional safety nets can beinsufficient.Find out more:https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/dhs-commissioner.htmlGet the Book:https://www.amazon.com/Our-Net-Holes-Clarence-Carter-ebook/dp/B0G2HRSZ3S/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0E41rhFzNxs-jZWFZTzp6QsK50wEmjjD_Vpn1O-ZsFwMY5YXBxddxmCcqkSG-NNEN3SwMMgg3BBf5lq-rE2Xe4xut4W3lQPECQCbTaqTbV2TLEzRBlxE8oNTfy2p9FIqH_BzULRE8WQ5-q5eO0h28pmvYCBqnd14U20bYejZW7qMIs2y6cMeQzSVrYK8KCjHnIveRemWhMtD9UvR4_1oVu48w7YCQ-xZtWPgFbUFRFk.azRz8QDbB001xaT_VYdzl8Vc-cmfb7Q5H7xhVNwyWzk&dib_tag=se&qid=1764450721&refinements=p_27%3AClarence+Carter&s=books&sr=1-3 

Japan's New PM and Existential Threat of Taiwan Conflict Guest: Lance Gatling Lance Gatling discussed Japan's new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, who has adopted a notably hawkish position towards China, stating that a blockade or threat against Taiwan could be interpreted as an existential threat to Japan, allowing the possibility of engaging in collective defense with allies like the U.S. or Philippines, and amid rising tensions and China's attempts to inflict economic damage, Takaichi is moving to accelerate the doubling of Japan's defense procurement budget, while the U.S. withdrawal of the mobile Typhoon missile system was criticized as strategically counterproductive during this critical moment. 1904 PORT ARTHUR

Live from Morgan Stanley's Asian Pacific Summit, our Chief Fixed Income Strategist Vishy Tirupattur explains why micro trends are likely to be more on focus than macro shocks next year.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Vishy Tirupattur: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I am Vishy Tirupattur, Morgan Stanley's Chief Fixed Income Strategist, coming to you from the Morgan Stanley Asia Pacific Summit underway in Singapore. Much of the client conversation at the summit was about the market outlook for 2026. In the last few days, you've heard from my colleagues about our outlook for the global economy, equities and cross asset markets. On today's podcast, I will focus on the outlook and key themes ahead for the global fixed income market. It's Thursday, November 20th at 10am in Singapore. Last year, the difficulty of predicting policy really complicated our task. This year brings its own challenges. But what we see is micro trends driving the markets in ways that adapt to a generally positive stance on risk. Our economists' base case sees continued disinflation and growth converging towards potential by 2027, with the possibility that the potential itself improves. Notably, they present upside scenarios exploring stronger demand and rising productivity, while the downside case remains relatively benign. The U.S. remains pivotal, and the U.S. led shocks – positive and negative – should drive outcomes for the global economy and markets in 2026, In 2025, the combination of a resilient U.S. consumer supported by healthy balance sheets and rising wealth alongside robust AI driven CapEx has underpinned growth and helped avoid recession despite the headwinds of trade policy. These same dynamics should continue to support the baseline outlook in 2026, even though the path will be likely uneven. The Fed faces a familiar conundrum softening labor markets versus solid spending. The baseline assumes cuts to neutral as unemployment rises, followed by a recovery in the second half. Outside the U.S., most economies trend towards potential growth and neutral policy rates by end of 2026, but the timing and the trajectory vary. And as in recent years, global outcomes will likely hinge on U.S.-led effects and their spillovers. Our macro strategists expect government bond yields to stay range bound, and it is really a story of two halves. A front-loaded rally as the Fed cuts 50 basis points, pushing 10-year yields lower by mid-year before drifting higher into the fourth quarter. Curve steepening remains our high conviction call, especially two stents curve. The dollar follows a similar arc, softening mid-year, and then rebounding into the year end. AI financing moves to the forefront putting credit markets in focus, a topic that has come up repeatedly in every single meeting I've had in Singapore so far. So, from unsecured to structured and securitized credit in both public markets and private markets, credit will likely play a central role in enabling the next wave of AI related investments. Our credit and securitized credit strategists see data center financing in 2026 dominated by investment rate issuance. While fundamentals in corporate and securitized credit remain solid, the very scale of issuance ahead points to spread widening investment rate and in data center related ABS. Carry remains a key driver for credit returns, but dispersion should rise. Segments relatively insulated from the AI related supply such as U.S. high yield, agency brokerage backed securities, non-agency CMBS and RMBS are poised to outperform. We favor agency MBS and senior securitized tranches over U.S. investment grade, especially as domestic bank demand for agency MBS returns post finalization of the Basel III. 2025 was a tough year to navigate, and while we are constructive on 2026, it won't be a walk in the park. The challenges ahead look different. Less about macro shocks, more about micro shifts and market nuance. More details in our outlooks published just a few days ago. Thanks for listening If you like the podcast, please leave us a review wherever you listen and share Thoughts on the Market with a friend or colleague today.

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger Picture Trump has withdrawn his nominee for the top IRS lawyer, he is an Obama donor. If you look at the US, the blue states are experiencing a recession, the policies are backfiring. Ford is now going to sell cars on Amazon. Trump wants to make life cheaper for Americans.  Investors are liquidating their Bitcoin positions pushing the price down.  The [CB] is the root of all evil. The fake news continues with their fake stories in regard to the illegals. The D's fell right into the trap that Trump set, they are exposing the Epstein files and clearing Trumps name and implicating themselves. They are now panicking. Trump is now beginning to separate the RINOS from MAGA, this is all in preparation for the midterms, Trump is also beginning to set the narrative for the Presidential race. Trump mission is to take the country back, the [DS] mission is to try to stop him, nothing can stop this.   Economy Trump Withdraws Nominee for Top IRS Lawyer Donald Korb served in the Bush administration from 2004 to 2008. President Donald Trump on Nov. 14 withdrew the nomination of Donald L. Korb, a veteran tax attorney, to serve as the top lawyer for the IRS. Source: theepochtimes.com Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Tax Policy At The IRS Is A  Obama Donor   https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1990137278304305391?s=20 (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1990425179621621957?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1990421230193643844?s=20  "More deals with pharma companies to make prescription drugs cheaper" This is HUGE!  BITCOIN Over $900 million in leveraged positions were liquidated since November 15, with longs taking the brunt (~$650 million). High leverage in derivatives markets (funding rates flipped negative) created a cascade: one sell triggered stops, pulling prices lower and wiping out more positions. Weekend and low-volume trading exacerbated the drop—daily spot volume fell to $2 billion (vs. $50 billion peaks in 2021), making BTC vulnerable to amplified moves. A CME futures gap at $92K was filled, adding technical fuel. Sentiment gauges like the Fear & Greed Index hit "extreme fear" (score: 18), spurring retail panic. Notably, on-chain data reveals no major spot selling—exchanges hold fewer BTC now than at the peak—suggesting this is a "synthetic" flush via derivatives, not fundamental dumping. Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw net outflows of $1.1 billion over the past 48 hours—the largest weekly redemptions since March 2025—driven by institutions like BlackRock's IBIT and Fidelity's FBTC. This reversed months of inflows that had propped up prices earlier in the year. https://twitter.com/ColonelTowner/status/1989700368951906382?s=20   Political/Rights https://twitter.com/CMDROpAtLargeCA/status/1990435847611552052?s=20 https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1990414982060581351?s=20   removal by an immigration judge from November 4, 2014. His criminal history includes assault with a deadly weapon, multiple counts of burglary, multiple counts of carjacking, carjacking with a firearm, trespassing onto private property, multiple counts of taking a vehicle without owner consent,