Podcasts about notably

Hollow Knight: Silksong is finally available, and we've been playing the highly anticipated Metroidvania. In this week's episode of The Game Informer Show, we dive into our impressions of Silksong's first act (roughly the first eight hours until the Greymoor area) and boss fights. Beforehand, Marcus interviews Gearbox leads Graeme Timmins and Andrew Reiner (big disclaimer: Reiner was formerly EIC of Game Informer) about Borderlands 4, which was released a few days ago. Finally, we round out the show by breaking down our Hell is Us review, a fascinating investigation puzzle game with action elements. Notably, it's not a Soulslike. The Game Informer Show is a weekly podcast covering the video game industry. Join us every Thursday for chats about your favorite titles – past and present – alongside Game Informer staff and special guests from around the industry.Subscribe to Game Informer Magazine: https://gameinformer.com/subscribeFollow our hosts on social media:Alex Van Aken (@itsVanAken)Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7)Eric Van Allen (@seamoosi)Jump to a specific discussion using these timestamps:00:00 - Introduction03:35 - Borderlands 4 Interview50:32 - Hollow Knight: Silksong Act 1 Impressions01:27:17 - Hell is Us Review01:50:39 - Outro

Interview with Arturo Préstamo Elizondo, Executive Chairman & CEO of Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/santacruz-silver-tsxvscz-q1-revenue-hits-70m-as-turnaround-plan-delivers-results-7297Recording date: 11th September 2025Santacruz Silver Mining represents a compelling investment opportunity for investors seeking exposure to a financially disciplined silver producer with strong fundamentals and clear growth catalysts. The company has successfully completed a strategic financial restructuring that positions it as one of the cleanest balance sheet stories in the precious metals sector.The company's financial transformation is remarkable. Santacruz has completely eliminated its acquisition-related debt obligations, paying off the final $15 million of its Glencore asset acquisition ahead of schedule while securing an additional $40 million in savings through an acceleration clause execution. This achievement has resulted in a pristine balance sheet with no streaming agreements, no royalties, and minimal debt beyond a strategically structured $20 million promissory note in Bolivia that carries a negative implied interest rate.Operationally, Santacruz demonstrates impressive resilience and diversification through its portfolio of four producing mines and one ore sourcing company spanning Mexico and Bolivia. The company generates over 7 million ounces of pure silver annually alongside significant zinc credits, with management projecting $90-120 million in annual free cash flow. This operational strength was evidenced when recent flooding at two Bolivian veins was immediately offset by San Lucas trading operations, which sourced replacement ore from third-party miners to maintain full mill capacity utilization.The investment thesis is strengthened by favorable currency dynamics in Bolivia, where 80-85% of operational costs are denominated in Bolivianos. The recent devaluation of the Boliviano creates ongoing cost advantages that directly improve all-in sustained cash costs and enhance profit margins, particularly beneficial in the current rising silver price environment.Santacruz's primary growth catalyst centers on the advanced Soracaya brownfield project, which management characterizes as "advanced organic growth." This asset features existing 43-101 resource reporting and previous development work by Glencore, with full permitting expected within 7-10 months. Once operational, Soracaya will contribute an additional 4 million ounces of annual silver production - representing approximately a 60% increase in output - funded entirely through internal cash generation without equity dilution.The company's resource base offers exceptional longevity and expansion potential. Current reserves and resources provide approximately 12 years of mine life in Bolivia alone, supported by vein systems that allow for both deeper development and strike length extension. Notably, the Porco mine represents the longest continuously producing mine in the Americas with 500 years of non-stop operation, while other assets have maintained production for over 200 years, demonstrating the sustainability of these geological systems.From a valuation perspective, Santacruz appears attractively positioned with an enterprise value approximately six to seven times projected EBITDA of $110-120 million, trading at a discount to many precious metals peers. This valuation gap, combined with the company's strong cash generation capabilities and strategic flexibility for acquisitive growth, presents multiple pathways for value creation.The macro environment further supports the investment case, as silver benefits from dual demand drivers spanning both industrial applications and monetary hedge demand. Industrial consumption continues expanding through renewable energy infrastructure and electronics manufacturing, while supply constraints from primary silver operations create additional price support.For investors seeking exposure to a well-managed silver producer with proven operational capabilities, clean financials, and clear growth visibility, Santacruz Silver offers a compelling risk-adjusted opportunity in the current precious metals landscape.View Santacruz Silver Mining's company mining: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/santacruz-silver-miningSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

The discussion commences with a profound exploration of the latest developments in the realm of streaming services, with particular emphasis on the impact of Netflix on contemporary viewing habits. As we delve into Peacemaker Season 2, Episode 3, we engage in a critical analysis of the narrative intricacies and character dynamics that unfold within this episode. Notably, we examine the intriguing notion that the Sons of Liberty may not be the antagonists they initially appear to be, prompting a reevaluation of traditional hero-villain dichotomies. Additionally, we scrutinize the implications of Chris Smith's potential connection to Earth X, raising profound questions about identity and morality within the broader multiverse framework. Furthermore, our discourse encompasses a retrospective glance at some of the most egregious comic book retcons, specifically highlighting the notorious "Sins Past" in Spider-Man and the controversial "One More Day." In closing, we present a compelling argument for the merits of the Krakoan Age as the preeminent X-Men storyline, underscoring its transformative significance in the ever-evolving landscape of comic book narratives.

Cookies are out, context is in. People Inc.'s Jonathan Roberts joins The Big Impression to talk about how America's biggest publisher is using AI to reinvent contextual advertising with real-time intent.From Game of Thrones maps to the open web, Roberts believes content is king in the AI economy. Episode TranscriptPlease note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio.Damian Fowler (00:00):I'm Damian Fowler, and welcome to this edition of The Big Impression. Today we're looking at how publishers are using AI to reinvent contextual advertising and why it's becoming an important and powerful alternative to identity-based targeting. My guest is Jonathan Roberts, chief Innovation Officer at People Inc. America's largest publisher, formerly known as Meredith. He's leading the charge with decipher an AI platform that helps advertisers reach audiences based on real time intent across all of People Inc. Site and the Open Web. We're going to break down how it works, what it means for advertisers in a privacy first world and why Jonathan's side hustle. Creating maps for Game of Thrones has something for teachers about building smarter ad tech. So let's get into it. One note, this episode was recorded before the company changed its name. After the Meredith merger, you had some challenges getting the business going again. What made you realize that sort of rethinking targeting with decipher could be the way to go?Jonathan Roberts (01:17):We had a really strong belief and always have had a strong belief in the power of great content and also great content that helps people do things. Notably and Meredith are both in the olden times, you would call them service journalism. They help people do things, they inspire people. It's not news, it's not sports. If you go to Better Homes and Gardens to understand how to refresh your living room for spring, you're going to go into purchase a lot of stuff for your living room. If you're planting seeds for a great garden, you're also going to buy garden furniture. If you're going to health.com, you're there because you're managing a condition. If you're going to all recipes, you're shopping for dinner. These are all places where the publisher and the content is a critical path on the purchase to doing something like an economically valuable something. And so putting these two businesses together to build the largest publisher in the US and one of the largest in the world was a real privilege. All combinations are hard. When we acquired Meredith, it is a big, big business. We became the largest print publisher overnight.(02:23):What we see now, because we've been growing strongly for many, many quarters, and that growth is continuing, we're public. You can see our numbers, the performance is there, the premium is there, and you can always sell anything once. The trick is will people renew when they come back? And now we're in a world where our advertising revenue, which is the majority of our digital revenue, is stable and growing, deeply reliable and just really large. And we underpin that with decipher. Decipher simply is a belief that what you're reading right now tells a lot more about who you are and what you are going to do than a cookie signal, which is two days late and not relevant. What you did yesterday is less relevant to what you need to do than what you're doing right now. And so using content as a real time predictive signal is very, very performant. It's a hundred percent addressable, right? Everyone's reading content when we target to, they're on our content and we guaranteed it would outperform cookies, and we run a huge amount of ad revenue and we've never had to pay it in a guarantee.Damian Fowler (03:34):It's interesting that you're talking about contextual, but you're talking about contextual in real time, which seems to be the difference. I mean, because some people hear contextually, they go, oh, well, that's what you used to do, place an ad next to a piece of content in the garden supplement or the lifestyle supplement, but this is different.Jonathan Roberts (03:53):Yes. Yeah. I mean, ensemble say it's 2001 called and once it's at Targeting strategy back, but all things are new again, and I think they're newly fresh and newly relevant, newly accurate because it can do things now that we were never able to do before. So one of the huge strengths of Meredith as a platform is because we own People magazine, we dominate entertainment, we have better homes and gardens and spruce, we really cover home. We have all recipes. We literally have all the recipes plus cereal, seeds plus food and wine. So we cover food. We also do tech, travel, finance and health, and you could run those as a hazard brands, and they're all great in their own, but there's no network effect. What we discovered was because I know we have a pet site and we also have real simple, and we know that if you are getting a puppy or you have an aging dog, which we know from the pet site, we know you massively over index for interest in cleaning products and cleaning ideas on real simple, right?Damian Fowler (04:55):Yeah.Jonathan Roberts (04:55):This doesn't seem like a shocking conclusion to have, but the fact that we have both tells us both, which also means that if you take a health site where we're helping people with their chronic conditions, we can see all the signals of exactly what help you need with your diet. Huge overlaps. So we have all the recipe content and we know exactly how that cross correlates with chronic conditions. We also know how those health conditions correlate into skincare because we have Brody, which deals with makeup and beauty, but also all the skincare conditions and finance, right? Health is a financial situation as much as it is a health situation, particularly in the us. And so by tying these together, because most of these situations are whole lifestyle questions, we can understand that if you're thinking about planning a cruise in the Mediterranean, you're a good target for Vanguard to market mutual funds to. Whereas if we didn't have both investipedia and travel leisure, we couldn't do that. And so there's nothing on that cruise page, on the page in the words that allows you to do keyword targeting for mutual funds.(05:55):But we're using the fact that we know that cruise is a predictor of a mutual fund purchase so that we can actually market to anyone in market per cruise. We know they've got disposable income, they're likely low risk, long-term buy andhold investors with value investing needs. And we know that because we have these assets now, we have about 1500 different topics that we track across all of DDM across 1.5 million articles, tens of millions of visits a day, billions a year. If you just look at the possible correlations between any of those taxonomies that's over a million, or if we go a level deeper, over a hundred million connected data points, you can score. We've scored all of them with billions of visits, and so we have that full map of all consumers.Damian Fowler (06:42):I wanted to ask you, of course, and you always get this question I'm sure, but you have a pretty unusual background for ad tech theoretical physics as you mentioned, and researcher at CERN and Mapmaker as well for Game of Thrones, but this isn't standard publisher experience, but how did all that scientific background play into the way you approached building this innovation?Jonathan Roberts (07:03):Yeah, I think when I first joined the company, which was a long time ago now, and one of the original bits of this company was about.com, one of the internet oh 0.1 OG sites, and there was daily data on human interest going back to January 1st, 2000 across over a thousand different topics. And in that case, tens of millions of articles. And the team said, is this useful? Is there anything here that's interesting? I was like, oh my god, you don't know what you've got because if you treat as a physicist coming in, I looked at this and was like, this is a, it's like a telescope recording all of human interest. Each piece of content is like a single pixel of your telescope. And so if somebody comes and visit, you're like, oh, I'm recording the interest of this person in this topic, and you've got this incredibly fine grained understanding of the world because you've got all these people coming to us telling us what they want every day.(08:05):If I'm a classic news publisher, I look at my data and I find out what headlines I broke, I look at my data and I learn more about my own editorial strategy than I do about the world. We do not as much tell the world what to think about. The world tells us what they care about. And so that if you treat that as just a pure experimental framework where this incredible lens into an understanding of the world, lots of things are very stable. Many questions that people ask, they always ask, but you understand why do they ask them today? What's causing the to what are the correlations between what they are understanding around our finance business through the financial crash, our health business, I ran directly through COVID. So you see this kind of real time change of the world reacting to big shocks and it allows you to predict what comes next, right? Data's lovely, but unless you can do something with it, it's useless.Damian Fowler (08:59):It's interesting to hear you talk about that consistency, the sort of predictability in some ways of, I guess intense signals or should we just say human behavior, but now we've got AI further, deeper into the mix.Jonathan Roberts (09:13):So we were the first US publisher to do a deal with open ai, and that comes in three parts. They paid for training on our content. They also agreed within the contract to source and cite our content when it was used. And the third part, the particularly interesting part, is co-development of new things. So we've been involved with them as they've been building out their search product. They've been involved with us as we've been evolving decipher, one of the pieces of decipher is saying, can I understand which content is related to which other content? And in old fashioned pre AI days when it was just machine learning and natural language processing, you would just look at words and word occurrence and important words, and you'd correlate them that way. With ai, you go from the word to the concept to the reasoning behind it to a latent understanding of these kind of deeper, deeper connections.(10:09):And so when we changed over literally like, is this content related to that content? Is this article similar in what it's treating to that article? If they didn't use the same words but they were talking about the same topic, the previous system would've missed it. This system gets deeper. It's like, oh, this is the same concept. This is the same user need. These are the same intentions. And so when we overhauled this kind of multimillion point to point connection calculation, we drastically changed about 30% of those connections and significantly improved them, gives a much reacher, much deeper understanding of our content. What we've also done is said, and this is a year thing that we launched it at the beginning of the year, we have decipher, which runs on site. We launched Decipher Plus Inventively named right? I like it. We debated Max or Max Plus, but we went with Plus.(10:59):And what this says is we understand the user intent on our sites. We know when somebody's reading content, we have a very strong predictor model of what that person's going to need to do next. And we said, well, we're not the only people with intent driven content and intent driven audiences. So we know that if you're reading about newborn health topics, you are three and a half times more likely than average to be in market for a stroller. We're not the only people that write about newborn health. So we can find the individual pages on the rest of the web that do talk about newborn health, and we can unlock that very strong prediction that this purchase intent there. And so then we can have a premium service that buy those ads and delivers that value to our clients. Now we do that mapping and we've indexed hundreds of premium domains with opening eyes vector, embedding architecture to build that logic.Damian Fowler (11:56):That's fascinating. So in lots of ways, you're helping other publishers beyond your owned and operated properties.Jonathan Roberts (12:02):We believed that there was a premium in publishing that hadn't been tapped. We proved that to be true. Our numbers support it. We bet 2.7 billion on that bet, and it worked. So we really put our money where our mouth is. We know there's a premium outside of our walls that isn't being unlocked, and we have an information advantage so we can bring more premium to the publishers who have that quality content.Damian Fowler (12:24):I've got lots of questions about that, but one of them is, alright. I guess the first one is why have publishers been so slow out of the starting blocks to get this right when on the media buying side you have all of this ad tech that's going on, DSPs, et cetera.Jonathan Roberts (12:42):I think partly it's because publishers have always been a participant in the ad tech market off to one side. I put this back to the original sin of Ad Tech, which is coming in and saying, don't worry about it, publishers, we know your audience better than you ever will. That wasn't true then, and it's not true today, but Ad Tech pivoted the market to that position and that meant the publishers were dependent upon ad Tech's understanding of their audience. Now, if you've got a cookie-based understanding of an audience, how does a publisher make that cookie-based audience more valuable? Well, they don't because you're valuing the cookie, not the real time signal. And there is no such thing as cookie targeting. It's all retargeting. All the cookie signal is yesterday Signal. It's only what they did before they came to your site, dead star like or something, right? The publisher definitionally isn't influencing the value of that cookie. So an ad tech is valuing the cookie. The only thing the publisher can do to make more money is add scale, which is either generate clickbait because that's the cheapest way to get audience scale or run more ads on the page.(13:57):Cookies as a currency for advertising and targeting is the reason we currently have the internet We deserve, not the internet we want because the incentive is to cheap scale. If instead you can prove that the content is driving the value, the content is driving the decision and the content is driving the outcome, then you invest in more premium content. If you're a publisher, the second world is the one you want. But we had a 20 year distraction from understanding the value of content. And we're only now coming back to, I think one thing I'm very really happy to see is since we launched a cipher two years ago, there are now multiple publishers coming out with similarly inspired targeting architecture or ideas about how to reach quality, which is just a sign that the market has moved, right? Or the market moving and retargeting still works. Cookies are good currency, they do drive performance. If they didn't, it would never worked in the first place. But the ability to understand and classify premium content at web scale, which is what decipher Plus is a map for all intent across the entire open web is the thing that's required for quality content to be competitive with cookies as targeting mechanism and to beat it atDamian Fowler (15:15):Scale. You mentioned how this helps you reach all these third party sites beyond your properties. How do you ensure that there's still quality in the, there's quality content that match the kind of signals that makes decipher work?Jonathan Roberts (15:32):Tell me, not all content on the internet is beautiful, clean and wonderful. Not allDamian Fowler (15:36):Premium is it?Jonathan Roberts (15:36):I know there's a lot of made for arbitrage out there. Look, we, we've been a publisher for a long time. We've acquired a lot of publishers over the years, and every time we have bought a publisher, we have had to clean up the content because cheap content for scale is a siren call of publishing. Like, oh, I can get these eyeballs cheaper. Oh, wonderful. I know I just do that. And everyone gives it on some level to that, right? So we have consistently cleaned up content libraries every time we've acquired publishers. Look at the very beginning about had maybe 10 to 15 million euros. By the time we launched these artists and these individual vertical sites were down to 250,000 pages of content. It was a bigger business and it was a better business. The other side is the actual ad layout has to be good,Damian Fowler (16:29):ButJonathan Roberts (16:29):Every time we've picked up a publisher, we've removed ads from the site. Increase, yeah, experience quality,Damian Fowler (16:33):Right?Jonathan Roberts (16:36):Because we've audited multiple publishers for the cleanup, we have an incredibly detailed understanding of what quality content is. We have lots of, this is our special skill as a publisher. We can go into a publisher, identify the content and see what's good.Damian Fowler (16:54):Is that part of your pitch as it were, to people who advertisers?Jonathan Roberts (16:58):We work lots of advertisers. We're a huge part of the advertising market because we cover all the verticals. We have endemics in every space. If you're trying to do targeting based on identity, we have tens of millions of people a day. It'll work. You will find them with us, we reach the entire country every month. We are a platform scale publisher. So at no point do we saying don't do that, obviously do that, right? But what we're saying is there's a whole bunch of people who you can't identify, either they don't have cookies or IDs or because the useful data doesn't exist yet. It's not attached to those IDs. So incremental, supplementary and additional to reach the people in the moment with a hundred percent addressability, full national reach, complete privacy compliance, just the content, total brand safety. And we will put these two things side by side and we will guarantee that the decipher targeting will outperform the cookie targeting, which isn't say don't do cookie targeting, obviously do it. It works, it's successful. This is incremental and also will outperform. And then it just depends on the client, right? Some people want brand lift and brand consideration. They want big flashy things. We run People Magazine, we host the Grammy after party. We can do all the things you need from a large partner more than just media, but also we can get you right down to, for some partners with big deals, we guarantee incremental roas,Damian Fowler (18:26):ActualJonathan Roberts (18:26):In-store sales, incremental lift.Damian Fowler (18:29):So let's talk about roas. What's driving advertisers to lean in so heavily?Jonathan Roberts (18:34):Well, I think everybody's seen this over the last couple of years. In a high interest or environment, the CMOs getting asked, what's the return on my ad spend? So whereas previously you might've just been able to do a big flashy execution or activation. Now everybody wants some level of that media spend to be attributable to lift to dollars, to return to performance, because every single person who comes through our sites is going to do something after they come. We're never the last stop in that journey, and we don't sell you those garden seeds. We do not sell you the diabetes medication directly. We are going to have to hand you off to a partner who is going to be the place you take the economic action. So we are in the path to purchase for every single purchase on Earth.(19:19):And what we've proven with decipher is not only that we can be in that pathway and put the message in the path of that person who is going to make a decision, has not made one yet. But when we put the messaging in front of it of that person at the time, it changes their decisions, which is why it's not just roas, which could just be handing out coupons in the line to the pizza store. It's incremental to us, if you did not do this, you would have made less money. When you do this, you'll make more money. And having got to a point where we've now got multiple large campaigns, both for online action and brick and mortar stores that prove that when we advertise the person at this moment, they change their decision and they make their brand more money. Turns out that's not the hardest conversation to have with marketers. Truly, truly, if you catch people at the right moment, you will change their mind.Damian Fowler (20:10):They'll happily go back to their CFO and say, look at this. This is workingJonathan Roberts (20:15):No controversially at can. During the festival of advertising that we have as a publisher, we may be the most confident to say, you know what? Advertising works.Damian Fowler (20:27):You recently brought in a dedicated president to leadJonathan Roberts (20:30):Decipher,Damian Fowler (20:30):Right? So how does that help you take what started out as this in-house innovation that you've been working on and turn it into something even bigger?Jonathan Roberts (20:39):Yeah, I think my background is physics. I was a theoretical physicist for a decade. Theoretical physicists have some good and bad traits. A good trait is a belief that everything can be solved. Because my previous job was wake up in the morning and figure out how the universe began and like, well, today I'll figure it out. And nobody else has, right? There's a level of, let's call it intellectual confidence or arrogance in that approach. How hard can it be? The answer is very, but it also means you're a little bit of a diante, right? You're coming like, oh, it's ad tech. How hard can it be? And the just vary, right? So there's a benefit. I mean, I've done a lot of work in ad tech over the last couple of years. Jim Lawson, our president of Decipher, ran a publicly listed DSP, right? He was a public company, CEO, he knows this stuff inside a and back to front, Lindsay Van Kirk on the Cipher team launched the ADN Nexus, DSP, Patrick McCarthy, who runs all of our open web and a lot of our trade desk partnerships and the execution of all of the ways we connect into the entire ecosystem.(21:38):Ran product for AppNexus. Sam Selgin on the data science team wrote that Nexus bitter. I've got a good idea where we're going with this and where we should go with this and the direction we should be pointed in. But we have seasoned multi-decade experience pros doing the work because if you don't, you can have a good idea and bad execution, then you didn't do anything. Unless you can execute to the highest level, it won't actually work. And so we've had to bring in, I'm very glad we have brought in and love having them on the team. These people who can really take the beginnings of what we have and really take this to the scale that needs to be. Decipher. Plus is a framework for understanding user intent at Webscale and getting performance for our clients and unlocking a premium at Webscale. That is a huge project to go after and pull off. We have so many case studies proving that it will work, but we have a long way to go between where we are and where this thing naturally gets to. And that takes a lot of people with a lot of professional skills to go to.Damian Fowler (22:43):What's one thing right now that you're obsessed with figuring outJonathan Roberts (22:46):To take a complete left turn, but it is the topic up and down the Cosette this summer. There isn't currently any viable model for information economy in an AI future. There's lots of ideas of what it would be, but there isn't a subtle marketplace for this. We've got a very big two-sided marketplace for information. It's called Google and search. That's obviously changing. We haven't got to a point to understand what that future is. But if AI is powered by chips, power and content, if you're a chip investor, you're in a good place. If you're investing energy, you're in a good place of the three picks and shovels investments, content is probably the most undervalued at the moment. Lots of people are starting to realize that and building under the hood what that could look like. How that evolves in the next year is going to really determine what kind of information gets created because markets align to their incentives. If you build the marketplace well, you're going to end up with great content, great journalism, great creativity. If you build it wrong, you're going to have a bunch of cheap slop getting flooded the marketplace. And we are not going to fund great journalism. So that's at a moment in time where that future is getting determined and we have a very strong set of opinions on the publishing side, what that should look like. And I am very keen to make sure it gets done. You soundDamian Fowler (24:17):Optimistic.Jonathan Roberts (24:19):A year ago, the VCs and the technologists believed if you just slammed enough information into an AI system, you'd never need content ever again. And that the brain itself was the moat. Then deep seek proved that the brain wasn't a moat. That reasoning is a commodity because we found out that China could do it cheaper and faster, and we were shocked, shocked that China could do it cheaper and faster. And then the open source community rebuilt deep to in 48 hours, which was the real killer. So if reasoning is a commodity, which it is now, then content is king, right? Because reasoning on its own is free, but if you're grounding it in quality content, your answer's better. But the market dynamics have not caught up to that reality. But that is the reality. So I am optimistic that content goes back to our premium position in this. Now we just have to do all the boring stuff of figuring out what a viable marketplace looks like, how people get paid, all of this, all the hard work, but there's now a future model to align to.Damian Fowler (25:23):I love that. Alright, I've got to ask you this question. It's the last one, but I was going to ask it. You spent time building maps, visualizing data, and I've looked at your site, it's brilliant. Is there anything from that side of your creativity that helped you think differently about building say something like decipher?Jonathan Roberts (25:42):Yeah. So I think it won't surprise anyone to find out that I'm a massive nerd, right? I used to play d and d, I still do. We have my old high school group still convenes on Sunday afternoons, and we play d and d over Discord. Fantasy maps have been an obsession of mine for a long time. I did the fantasy maps of Game of Thrones. I'm George r Martin's cartographer. I published the book Lands of Ice and Fire with him. Maps are infographics. A map is a way of taking a complex system that you cannot visualize and bringing it to a world in which you can reason about it. I spent a lot of my life taking complex systems that nobody can visualize and building models and frameworks that help people reason about 'em and make decisions in a shared way. At this moment, as you're walking up and down the cosette, there is no map for the future. Nobody has a map, nobody has a plan. Not Google, not Microsoft, not Amazon, not our friends at OpenAI. Nobody knows what's coming. And so even just getting, but lots of people have ideas and opinions and thoughts and directions. So taking all that input and rationalize again to like, okay, if we lay it out like this, what breaks? Being able to logically reason about those virtual scenario. It is exactly the same process, that mental model as Matt.Damian Fowler (27:12):And that's it for this edition of The Big Impression. This show is produced by Molten Hart. Our theme is by loving caliber, and our associate producer is Sydney Cairns. And remember,Jonathan Roberts (27:22):We do not as much tell the world what to think about. The world tells us what they care about. Data's lovely, but unless you do something with it, it's useless.Damian Fowler (27:31):I'm Damian, and we'll see you next time.

Justin Bieber BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Justin Bieber has made headlines yet again with the surprise release of his new album SWAG II, which dropped at midnight on September 5, 2025. This release comes just two months after his seventh studio album SWAG arrived in July, marking his most prolific period since his 2021 project Justice. SWAG II is not a typical sequel; it's a sprawling, 44-track reissue packed with 23 bonus songs, instantly capturing attention both for its size and its blend of styles from trap to R&B and even spiritual reflection. Major outlets like Good Morning America and Elle have spotlighted the album's midnight release, while music sites note that Bieber teased its arrival with a series of Instagram posts and dramatic billboards lighting up places like Times Square and even Iceland, where much of the album was reportedly recorded.Critically, SWAG and SWAG II have reasserted Bieber's pop dominance after his brief hiatus and the blockbuster sale of his music catalog in 2023. SWAG debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, hitting nearly 200 million streams out of the gate. The lead single Daisies also arrived strong at number two on the Hot 100 and became his 27th top ten single in the US, tying him with legends like Janet Jackson. Notably, the new tracks make direct references to his family life, with Mother in You being his first song to explicitly mention his son Jack, born in August 2024. Lines about Jack and wife Hailey in songs like this have drawn fan and media attention, especially as divorce rumors have circled the couple. Bieber seems to tackle these tabloid narratives head-on with heartfelt lyrics that emphasize stability and devotion.On the public appearance front, both Justin and Hailey Bieber skipped the high-profile MTV VMAs this week, despite his Best Pop Artist nomination, instead opting to celebrate the album's release privately in New York with family. Paparazzi last spotted them together with baby Jack shortly after SWAG II's debut, and Elle reports they shared new family photos on social media, fueling the wholesome narrative.Beyond music, Bieber is publicly supporting Hailey's business as Rhode, her skincare and makeup line, launches in Sephora stores across North America. He posted about Rhode's expansion using lyrics from his new music, underscoring the crossover between his family, business, and creative life. Hailey meanwhile continues to speak openly about motherhood's impact, recently telling Vogue that Jack is her priority.No interviews have been given yet about the new albums, and speculation swirls online about a possible accompanying tour, but so far, all Bieber's statements remain strictly about music and family, as reflected in his social media and recent public outings. In short, Bieber's SWAG II era is as much about creative output as it is about family—an unmistakable shift for the pop superstar as he moves into a new chapter under a brighter, more personal spotlight.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

Last time we spoke about the surrender of Japan. Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender on August 15, prompting mixed public reactions: grief, shock, and sympathy for the Emperor, tempered by fear of hardship and occupation. The government's response included resignations and suicide as new leadership was brought in under Prime Minister Higashikuni, with Mamoru Shigemitsu as Foreign Minister and Kawabe Torashiro heading a delegation to Manila. General MacArthur directed the occupation plan, “Blacklist,” prioritizing rapid, phased entry into key Japanese areas and Korea, while demobilizing enemy forces. The surrender ceremony occurred aboard the Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, with Wainwright, Percival, Nimitz, and UN representatives in attendance. Civilians and soldiers across Asia began surrendering, and postwar rehabilitation, Indochina and Vietnam's independence movements, and Southeast Asian transitions rapidly unfolded as Allied forces established control. This episode is the Aftermath of the Pacific War Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, 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 world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two 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 you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  The Pacific War has ended. Peace has been restored by the Allies and most of the places conquered by the Japanese Empire have been liberated. In this post-war period, new challenges would be faced for those who won the war; and from the ashes of an empire, a defeated nation was also seeking to rebuild. As the Japanese demobilized their armed forces, many young boys were set to return to their homeland, even if they had previously thought that they wouldn't survive the ordeal. And yet, there were some cases of isolated men that would continue to fight for decades even, unaware that the war had already ended.  As we last saw, after the Japanese surrender, General MacArthur's forces began the occupation of the Japanese home islands, while their overseas empire was being dismantled by the Allies. To handle civil administration, MacArthur established the Military Government Section, commanded by Brigadier-General William Crist, staffed by hundreds of US experts trained in civil governance who were reassigned from Okinawa and the Philippines. As the occupation began, Americans dispatched tactical units and Military Government Teams to each prefecture to ensure that policies were faithfully carried out. By mid-September, General Eichelberger's 8th Army had taken over the Tokyo Bay region and began deploying to occupy Hokkaido and the northern half of Honshu. Then General Krueger's 6th Army arrived in late September, taking southern Honshu and Shikoku, with its base in Kyoto. In December, 6th Army was relieved of its occupation duties; in January 1946, it was deactivated, leaving the 8th Army as the main garrison force. By late 1945, about 430,000 American soldiers were garrisoned across Japan. President Truman approved inviting Allied involvement on American terms, with occupation armies integrated into a US command structure. Yet with the Chinese civil war and Russia's reluctance to place its forces under MacArthur's control, only Australia, Britain, India, and New Zealand sent brigades, more than 40,000 troops in southwestern Japan. Japanese troops were gradually disarmed by order of their own commanders, so the stigma of surrender would be less keenly felt by the individual soldier. In the homeland, about 1.5 million men were discharged and returned home by the end of August. Demobilization overseas, however, proceeded, not quickly, but as a long, difficult process of repatriation. In compliance with General Order No. 1, the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters disbanded on September 13 and was superseded by the Japanese War Department to manage demobilization. By November 1, the homeland had demobilized 2,228,761 personnel, roughly 97% of the Homeland Army. Yet some 6,413,215 men remained to be repatriated from overseas. On December 1, the Japanese War Ministry dissolved, and the First Demobilization Ministry took its place. The Second Demobilization Ministry was established to handle IJN demobilization, with 1,299,868 sailors, 81% of the Navy, demobilized by December 17. Japanese warships and merchant ships had their weapons rendered inoperative, and suicide craft were destroyed. Forty percent of naval vessels were allocated to evacuations in the Philippines, and 60% to evacuations of other Pacific islands. This effort eventually repatriated about 823,984 men to Japan by February 15, 1946. As repatriation accelerated, by October 15 only 1,909,401 men remained to be repatriated, most of them in the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, the Higashikuni Cabinet and Foreign Minister Shigemitsu Mamoru managed to persuade MacArthur not to impose direct military rule or martial law over all of Japan. Instead, the occupation would be indirect, guided by the Japanese government under the Emperor's direction. An early decision to feed occupation forces from American supplies, and to allow the Japanese to use their own limited food stores, helped ease a core fear: that Imperial forces would impose forced deliveries on the people they conquered. On September 17, MacArthur transferred his headquarters from Yokohama to Tokyo, setting up primary offices on the sixth floor of the Dai-Ichi Mutual Life Insurance Building, an imposing edifice overlooking the moat and the Imperial palace grounds in Hibiya, a symbolic heart of the nation.  While the average soldier did not fit the rapacious image of wartime Japanese propagandists, occupation personnel often behaved like neo-colonial overlords. The conquerors claimed privileges unimaginable to most Japanese. Entire trains and train compartments, fitted with dining cars, were set aside for the exclusive use of occupation forces. These silenced, half-empty trains sped past crowded platforms, provoking ire as Japanese passengers were forced to enter and exit packed cars through punched-out windows, or perch on carriage roofs, couplings, and running boards, often with tragic consequences. The luxury express coaches became irresistible targets for anonymous stone-throwers. During the war, retrenchment measures had closed restaurants, cabarets, beer halls, geisha houses, and theatres in Tokyo and other large cities. Now, a vast leisure industry sprang up to cater to the needs of the foreign occupants. Reopened restaurants and theatres, along with train stations, buses, and streetcars, were sometimes kept off limits to Allied personnel, partly for security, partly to avoid burdening Japanese resources, but a costly service infrastructure was built to the occupiers' specifications. Facilities reserved for occupation troops bore large signs reading “Japanese Keep Out” or “For Allied Personnel Only.” In downtown Tokyo, important public buildings requisitioned for occupation use had separate entrances for Americans and Japanese. The effect? A subtle but clear colour bar between the predominantly white conquerors and the conquered “Asiatic” Japanese. Although MacArthur was ready to work through the Japanese government, he lacked the organizational infrastructure to administer a nation of 74 million. Consequently, on October 2, MacArthur dissolved the Military Government Section and inaugurated General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, a separate headquarters focused on civil affairs and operating in tandem with the Army high command. SCAP immediately assumed responsibility for administering the Japanese home islands. It commandeered every large building not burned down to house thousands of civilians and requisitioned vast tracts of prime real estate to quarter several hundred thousand troops in the Tokyo–Yokohama area alone. Amidst the rise of American privilege, entire buildings were refurbished as officers' clubs, replete with slot machines and gambling parlours installed at occupation expense. The Stars and Stripes were hoisted over Tokyo, while the display of the Rising Sun was banned; and the downtown area, known as “Little America,” was transformed into a US enclave. The enclave mentality of this cocooned existence was reinforced by the arrival within the first six months of roughly 700 American families. At the peak of the occupation, about 14,800 families employed some 25,000 Japanese servants to ease the “rigours” of overseas duty. Even enlisted men in the sparse quonset-hut towns around the city lived like kings compared with ordinary Japanese. Japanese workers cleaned barracks, did kitchen chores, and handled other base duties. The lowest private earned a 25% hardship bonus until these special allotments were discontinued in 1949. Most military families quickly adjusted to a pampered lifestyle that went beyond maids and “boys,” including cooks, laundresses, babysitters, gardeners, and masseuses. Perks included spacious quarters with swimming pools, central heating, hot running water, and modern plumbing. Two observers compared GHQ to the British Raj at its height. George F. Kennan, head of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff, warned during his 1948 mission to Japan that Americans had monopolized “everything that smacks of comfort or elegance or luxury,” criticizing what he called the “American brand of philistinism” and the “monumental imperviousness” of MacArthur's staff to the Japanese suffering. This conqueror's mentality also showed in the bullying attitudes many top occupation officials displayed toward the Japanese with whom they dealt. Major Faubion Bowers, MacArthur's military secretary, later said, “I and nearly all the occupation people I knew were extremely conceited and extremely arrogant and used our power every inch of the way.” Initially, there were spasms of defiance against the occupation forces, such as anonymous stone-throwing, while armed robbery and minor assaults against occupation personnel were rife in the weeks and months after capitulation. Yet active resistance was neither widespread nor organized. The Americans successfully completed their initial deployment without violence, an astonishing feat given a heavily armed and vastly superior enemy operating on home terrain. The average citizen regarded the occupation as akin to force majeure, the unfortunate but inevitable aftermath of a natural calamity. Japan lay prostrate. Industrial output had fallen to about 10% of pre-war levels, and as late as 1946, more than 13 million remained unemployed. Nearly 40% of Japan's urban areas had been turned to rubble, and some 9 million people were homeless. The war-displaced, many of them orphans, slept in doorways and hallways, in bombed-out ruins, dugouts and packing crates, under bridges or on pavements, and crowded the hallways of train and subway stations. As winter 1945 descended, with food, fuel, and clothing scarce, people froze to death. Bonfires lit the streets to ward off the chill. "The only warm hands I have shaken thus far in Japan belonged to Americans," Mark Gayn noted in December 1945. "The Japanese do not have much of a chance to thaw out, and their hands are cold and red." Unable to afford shoes, many wore straw sandals; those with geta felt themselves privileged. The sight of a man wearing a woman's high-buttoned shoes in winter epitomized the daily struggle to stay dry and warm. Shantytowns built of scrap wood, rusted metal, and scavenged odds and ends sprang up everywhere, resembling vast junk yards. The poorest searched smouldering refuse heaps for castoffs that might be bartered for a scrap to eat or wear. Black markets (yami'ichi) run by Japanese, Koreans, and For-mosans mushroomed to replace collapsed distribution channels and cash in on inflated prices. Tokyo became "a world of scarcity in which every nail, every rag, and even a tangerine peel [had a] market value." Psychologically numbed, disoriented, and disillusioned with their leaders, demobilized veterans and civilians alike struggled to get their bearings, shed militaristic ideologies, and begin to embrace new values. In the vacuum of defeat, the Japanese people appeared ready to reject the past and grasp at the straw held out by the former enemy. Relations between occupier and occupied were not smooth, however. American troops comported themselves like conquerors, especially in the early weeks and months of occupation. Much of the violence was directed against women, with the first attacks beginning within hours after the landing of advance units. When US paratroopers landed in Sapporo, an orgy of looting, sexual violence, and drunken brawling ensued. Newspaper accounts reported 931 serious offences by GIs in the Yokohama area during the first week of occupation, including 487 armed robberies, 411 thefts of currency or goods, 9 rapes, 5 break-ins, 3 cases of assault and battery, and 16 other acts of lawlessness. In the first 10 days of occupation, there were 1,336 reported rapes by US soldiers in Kanagawa Prefecture alone. Americans were not the only perpetrators. A former prostitute recalled that when Australian troops arrived in Kure in early 1946, they “dragged young women into their jeeps, took them to the mountain, and then raped them. I heard them screaming for help nearly every night.” Such behaviour was commonplace, but news of criminal activity by occupation forces was quickly suppressed. On September 10, 1945, SCAP issued press and pre-censorship codes outlawing the publication of reports and statistics "inimical to the objectives of the occupation." In the sole instance of self-help General Eichelberger records in his memoirs, when locals formed a vigilante group and retaliated against off-duty GIs, 8th Army ordered armored vehicles into the streets and arrested the ringleaders, who received lengthy prison terms. Misbehavior ranged from black-market activity, petty theft, reckless driving, and disorderly conduct to vandalism, arson, murder, and rape. Soldiers and sailors often broke the law with impunity, and incidents of robbery, rape, and even murder were widely reported. Gang rapes and other sex atrocities were not infrequent; victims, shunned as outcasts, sometimes turned to prostitution in desperation, while others took their own lives to avoid bringing shame to their families. Military courts arrested relatively few soldiers for these offenses and convicted even fewer; Japanese attempts at self-defense were punished severely, and restitution for victims was rare. Fearing the worst, Japanese authorities had already prepared countermeasures against the supposed rapacity of foreign soldiers. Imperial troops in East Asia and the Pacific had behaved brutally toward women, so the government established “sexual comfort-stations” manned by geisha, bar hostesses, and prostitutes to “satisfy the lust of the Occupation forces,” as the Higashikuni Cabinet put it. A budget of 100 million yen was set aside for these Recreation and Amusement Associations, financed initially with public funds but run as private enterprises under police supervision. Through these, the government hoped to protect the daughters of the well-born and middle class by turning to lower-class women to satisfy the soldiers' sexual appetites. By the end of 1945, brothel operators had rounded up an estimated 20,000 young women and herded them into RAA establishments nationwide. Eventually, as many as 70,000 are said to have ended up in the state-run sex industry. Thankfully, as military discipline took hold and fresh troops replaced the Allied veterans responsible for the early crime wave, violence subsided and the occupier's patronising behavior and the ugly misdeeds of a lawless few were gradually overlooked. However, fraternisation was frowned upon by both sides, and segregation was practiced in principle, with the Japanese excluded from areas reserved for Allied personnel until September 1949, when MacArthur lifted virtually all restrictions on friendly association, stating that he was “establishing the same relations between occupation personnel and the Japanese population as exists between troops stationed in the United States and the American people.” In principle, the Occupation's administrative structure was highly complex. The Far Eastern Commission, based in Washington, included representatives from all 13 countries that had fought against Japan and was established in 1946 to formulate basic principles. The Allied Council for Japan was created in the same year to assist in developing and implementing surrender terms and in administering the country. It consisted of representatives from the USA, the USSR, Nationalist China, and the British Commonwealth. Although both bodies were active at first, they were largely ineffectual due to unwieldy decision-making, disagreements between the national delegations (especially the USA and USSR), and the obstructionism of General Douglas MacArthur. In practice, SCAP, the executive authority of the occupation, effectively ruled Japan from 1945 to 1952. And since it took orders only from the US government, the Occupation became primarily an American affair. The US occupation program, effectively carried out by SCAP, was revolutionary and rested on a two-pronged approach. To ensure Japan would never again become a menace to the United States or to world peace, SCAP pursued disarmament and demilitarization, with continuing control over Japan's capacity to make war. This involved destroying military supplies and installations, demobilizing more than five million Japanese soldiers, and thoroughly discrediting the military establishment. Accordingly, SCAP ordered the purge of tens of thousands of designated persons from public service positions, including accused war criminals, military officers, leaders of ultranationalist societies, leaders in the Imperial Rule Assistance Association, business leaders tied to overseas expansion, governors of former Japanese colonies, and national leaders who had steered Japan into war. In addition, MacArthur's International Military Tribunal for the Far East established a military court in Tokyo. It had jurisdiction over those charged with Class A crimes, top leaders who had planned and directed the war. Also considered were Class B charges, covering conventional war crimes, and Class C charges, covering crimes against humanity. Yet the military court in Tokyo wouldn't be the only one. More than 5,700 lower-ranking personnel were charged with conventional war crimes in separate trials convened by Australia, China, France, the Dutch East Indies, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Of the 5,700 Japanese individuals indicted for Class B war crimes, 984 were sentenced to death; 475 received life sentences; 2,944 were given more limited prison terms; 1,018 were acquitted; and 279 were never brought to trial or not sentenced. Among these, many, like General Ando Rikichi and Lieutenant-General Nomi Toshio, chose to commit suicide before facing prosecution. Notable cases include Lieutenant-General Tani Hisao, who was sentenced to death by the Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal for his role in the Nanjing Massacre; Lieutenant-General Sakai Takashi, who was executed in Nanjing for the murder of British and Chinese civilians during the occupation of Hong Kong. General Okamura Yasuji was convicted of war crimes by the Tribunal, yet he was immediately protected by the personal order of Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-Shek, who kept him as a military adviser for the Kuomintang. In the Manila trials, General Yamashita Tomoyuki was sentenced to death as he was in overall command during the Sook Ching massacre, the Rape of Manila, and other atrocities. Lieutenant-General Homma Masaharu was likewise executed in Manila for atrocities committed by troops under his command during the Bataan Death March. General Imamura Hitoshi was sentenced to ten years in prison, but he considered the punishment too light and even had a replica of the prison built in his garden, remaining there until his death in 1968. Lieutenant-General Kanda Masatane received a 14-year sentence for war crimes on Bougainville, though he served only four years. Lieutenant-General Adachi Hatazo was sentenced to life imprisonment for war crimes in New Guinea and subsequently committed suicide on September 10, 1947. Lieutenant-General Teshima Fusataro received three years of forced labour for using a hospital ship to transport troops. Lieutenant-General Baba Masao was sentenced to death for ordering the Sandakan Death Marches, during which over 2,200 Australian and British prisoners of war perished. Lieutenant-General Tanabe Moritake was sentenced to death by a Dutch military tribunal for unspecified war crimes. Rear-Admiral Sakaibara Shigematsu was executed in Guam for ordering the Wake Island massacre, in which 98 American civilians were murdered. Lieutenant-General Inoue Sadae was condemned to death in Guam for permitting subordinates to execute three downed American airmen captured in Palau, though his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1951 and he was released in 1953. Lieutenant-General Tachibana Yoshio was sentenced to death in Guam for his role in the Chichijima Incident, in which eight American airmen were cannibalized. By mid-1945, due to the Allied naval blockade, the 25,000 Japanese troops on Chichijima had run low on supplies. However, although the daily rice ration had been reduced from 400 grams per person per day to 240 grams, the troops were not at risk of starvation. In February and March 1945, in what would later be called the Chichijima incident, Tachibana Yoshio's senior staff turned to cannibalism. Nine American airmen had escaped from their planes after being shot down during bombing raids on Chichijima, eight of whom were captured. The ninth, the only one to evade capture, was future US President George H. W. Bush, then a 20-year-old pilot. Over several months, the prisoners were executed, and reportedly by the order of Major Matoba Sueyo, their bodies were butchered by the division's medical orderlies, with the livers and other organs consumed by the senior staff, including Matoba's superior Tachibana. In the Yokohama War Crimes Trials, Lieutenant-Generals Inada Masazumi and Yokoyama Isamu were convicted for their complicity in vivisection and other human medical experiments performed at Kyushu Imperial University on downed Allied airmen. The Tokyo War Crimes Trial, which began in May 1946 and lasted two and a half years, resulted in the execution by hanging of Generals Doihara Kenji and Itagaki Seishiro, and former Prime Ministers Hirota Koki and Tojo Hideki, for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace, specifically for the escalation of the Pacific War and for permitting the inhumane treatment of prisoners of war. Also sentenced to death were Lieutenant-General Muto Akira for his role in the Nanjing and Manila massacres; General Kimura Heitaro for planning the war strategy in China and Southeast Asia and for laxity in preventing atrocities against prisoners of war in Burma; and General Matsui Iwane for his involvement in the Rape of Nanjing. The seven defendants who were sentenced to death were executed at Sugamo Prison in Ikebukuro on December 23, 1948. Sixteen others were sentenced to life imprisonment, including the last Field Marshal Hata Shunroku, Generals Araki Sadao, Minami Hiro, and Umezu Shojiro, Admiral Shimada Shigetaro, former Prime Ministers Hiranuma Kiichiro and Koiso Kuniaki, Marquis Kido Koichi, and Colonel Hashimoto Kingoro, a major instigator of the second Sino-Japanese War. Additionally, former Foreign Ministers Togo Shigenori and Shigemitsu Mamoru received seven- and twenty-year sentences, respectively. The Soviet Union and Chinese Communist forces also held trials of Japanese war criminals, including the Khabarovsk War Crime Trials, which tried and found guilty some members of Japan's bacteriological and chemical warfare unit known as Unit 731. However, those who surrendered to the Americans were never brought to trial, as MacArthur granted immunity to Lieutenant-General Ishii Shiro and all members of the bacteriological research units in exchange for germ-w warfare data derived from human experimentation. If you would like to learn more about what I like to call Japan's Operation Paper clip, whereupon the US grabbed many scientists from Unit 731, check out my exclusive podcast. The SCAP-turn to democratization began with the drafting of a new constitution in 1947, addressing Japan's enduring feudal social structure. In the charter, sovereignty was vested in the people, and the emperor was designated a “symbol of the state and the unity of the people, deriving his position from the will of the people in whom resides sovereign power.” Because the emperor now possessed fewer powers than European constitutional monarchs, some have gone so far as to say that Japan became “a republic in fact if not in name.” Yet the retention of the emperor was, in fact, a compromise that suited both those who wanted to preserve the essence of the nation for stability and those who demanded that the emperor system, though not necessarily the emperor, should be expunged. In line with the democratic spirit of the new constitution, the peerage was abolished and the two-chamber Diet, to which the cabinet was now responsible, became the highest organ of state. The judiciary was made independent and local autonomy was granted in vital areas of jurisdiction such as education and the police. Moreover, the constitution stipulated that “the people shall not be prevented from enjoying any of the fundamental human rights,” that they “shall be respected as individuals,” and that “their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness shall … be the supreme consideration in legislation.” Its 29 articles guaranteed basic human rights: equality, freedom from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin, freedom of thought and freedom of religion. Finally, in its most controversial section, Article 9, the “peace clause,” Japan “renounce[d] war as a sovereign right of the nation” and vowed not to maintain any military forces and “other war potential.” To instill a thoroughly democratic ethos, reforms touched every facet of society. The dissolution of the zaibatsu decentralised economic power; the 1945 Labour Union Law and the 1946 Labour Relations Act guaranteed workers the right to collective action; the 1947 Labour Standards Law established basic working standards for men and women; and the revised Civil Code of 1948 abolished the patriarchal household and enshrined sexual equality. Reflecting core American principles, SCAP introduced a 6-3-3 schooling system, six years of compulsory elementary education, three years of junior high, and an optional three years of senior high, along with the aim of secular, locally controlled education. More crucially, ideological reform followed: censorship of feudal material in media, revision of textbooks, and prohibition of ideas glorifying war, dying for the emperor, or venerating war heroes. With women enfranchised and young people shaped to counter militarism and ultranationalism, rural Japan was transformed to undermine lingering class divisions. The land reform program provided for the purchase of all land held by absentee landlords, allowed resident landlords and owner-farmers to retain a set amount of land, and required that the remaining land be sold to the government so it could be offered to existing tenants. In 1948, amid the intensifying tensions of the Cold War that would soon culminate in the Korean War, the occupation's focus shifted from demilitarization and democratization toward economic rehabilitation and, ultimately, the remilitarization of Japan, an shift now known as the “Reverse Course.” The country was thus rebuilt as the Pacific region's primary bulwark against the spread of Communism. An Economic Stabilisation Programme was introduced, including a five-year plan to coordinate production and target capital through the Reconstruction Finance Bank. In 1949, the anti-inflationary Dodge Plan was adopted, advocating balanced budgets, fixing the exchange rate at 360 yen to the dollar, and ending broad government intervention. Additionally, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry was formed and supported the formation of conglomerates centered around banks, which encouraged the reemergence of a somewhat weakened set of zaibatsu, including Mitsui and Mitsubishi. By the end of the Occupation era, Japan was on the verge of surpassing its 1934–1936 levels of economic growth. Equally important was Japan's rearmament in alignment with American foreign policy: a National Police Reserve of about 75,000 was created with the outbreak of the Korean War; by 1952 it had expanded to 110,000 and was renamed the Self-Defense Force after the inclusion of an air force. However, the Reverse Course also facilitated the reestablishment of conservative politics and the rollback of gains made by women and the reforms of local autonomy and education. As the Occupation progressed, the Americans permitted greater Japanese initiative, and power gradually shifted from the reformers to the moderates. By 1949, the purge of the right came under review, and many who had been condemned began returning to influence, if not to the Diet, then to behind-the-scenes power. At the same time, Japanese authorities, with MacArthur's support, began purging left-wing activists. In June 1950, for example, the central office of the Japan Communist Party and the editorial board of The Red Flag were purged. The gains made by women also seemed to be reversed. Women were elected to 8% of available seats in the first lower-house election in 1946, but to only 2% in 1952, a trend not reversed until the so-called Madonna Boom of the 1980s. Although the number of women voting continued to rise, female politicisation remained more superficial than might be imagined. Women's employment also appeared little affected by labour legislation: though women formed nearly 40% of the labor force in 1952, they earned only 45% as much as men. Indeed, women's attitudes toward labor were influenced less by the new ethos of fulfilling individual potential than by traditional views of family and workplace responsibilities. In the areas of local autonomy and education, substantial modifications were made to the reforms. Because local authorities lacked sufficient power to tax, they were unable to realise their extensive powers, and, as a result, key responsibilities were transferred back to national jurisdiction. In 1951, for example, 90% of villages and towns placed their police forces under the control of the newly formed National Police Agency. Central control over education was also gradually reasserted; in 1951, the Yoshida government attempted to reintroduce ethics classes, proposed tighter central oversight of textbooks, and recommended abolishing local school board elections. By the end of the decade, all these changes had been implemented. The Soviet occupation of the Kurile Islands and the Habomai Islets was completed with Russian troops fully deployed by September 5. Immediately after the onset of the occupation, amid a climate of insecurity and fear marked by reports of sporadic rape and physical assault and widespread looting by occupying troops, an estimated 4,000 islanders fled to Hokkaido rather than face an uncertain repatriation. As Soviet forces moved in, they seized or destroyed telephone and telegraph installations and halted ship movements into and out of the islands, leaving residents without adequate food and other winter provisions. Yet, unlike Manchuria, where Japanese civilians faced widespread sexual violence and pillage, systematic violence against the civilian population on the Kuriles appears to have been exceptional. A series of military government proclamations assured islanders of safety so long as they did not resist Soviet rule and carried on normally; however, these orders also prohibited activities not explicitly authorized by the Red Army, which imposed many hardships on civilians. Residents endured harsh conditions under Soviet rule until late 1948, when Japanese repatriation out of the Kurils was completed. The Kuriles posed a special diplomatic problem, as the occupation of the southernmost islands—the Northern Territories—ignited a long-standing dispute between Tokyo and Moscow that continues to impede the normalisation of relations today. Although the Kuriles were promised to the Soviet Union in the Yalta agreement, Japan and the United States argued that this did not apply to the Northern Territories, since they were not part of the Kurile Islands. A substantial dispute regarding the status of the Kurile Islands arose between the United States and the Soviet Union during the preparation of the Treaty of San Francisco, which was intended as a permanent peace treaty between Japan and the Allied Powers of World War II. The treaty was ultimately signed by 49 nations in San Francisco on September 8, 1951, and came into force on April 28, 1952. It ended Japan's role as an imperial power, allocated compensation to Allied nations and former prisoners of war who had suffered Japanese war crimes, ended the Allied post-war occupation of Japan, and returned full sovereignty to Japan. Effectively, the document officially renounced Japan's treaty rights derived from the Boxer Protocol of 1901 and its rights to Korea, Formosa and the Pescadores, the Kurile Islands, the Spratly Islands, Antarctica, and South Sakhalin. Japan's South Seas Mandate, namely the Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, and Caroline Islands, had already been formally revoked by the United Nations on July 18, 1947, making the United States responsible for administration of those islands under a UN trusteeship agreement that established the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. In turn, the Bonin, Volcano, and Ryukyu Islands were progressively restored to Japan between 1953 and 1972, along with the Senkaku Islands, which were disputed by both Communist and Nationalist China. In addition, alongside the Treaty of San Francisco, Japan and the United States signed a Security Treaty that established a long-lasting military alliance between them. Although Japan renounced its rights to the Kuriles, the U.S. State Department later clarified that “the Habomai Islands and Shikotan ... are properly part of Hokkaido and that Japan is entitled to sovereignty over them,” hence why the Soviets refused to sign the treaty. Britain and the United States agreed that territorial rights would not be granted to nations that did not sign the Treaty of San Francisco, and as a result the Kurile Islands were not formally recognized as Soviet territory. A separate peace treaty, the Treaty of Taipei (formally the Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty), was signed in Taipei on April 28, 1952 between Japan and the Kuomintang, and on June 9 of that year the Treaty of Peace Between Japan and India followed. Finally, Japan and the Soviet Union ended their formal state of war with the Soviet–Japanese Joint Declaration of 1956, though this did not settle the Kurile Islands dispute. Even after these formal steps, Japan as a nation was not in a formal state of war, and many Japanese continued to believe the war was ongoing; those who held out after the surrender came to be known as Japanese holdouts.  Captain Oba Sakae and his medical company participated in the Saipan campaign beginning on July 7, 1944, and took part in what would become the largest banzai charge of the Pacific War. After 15 hours of intense hand-to-hand combat, almost 4,300 Japanese soldiers were dead, and Oba and his men were presumed among them. In reality, however, he survived the battle and gradually assumed command of over a hundred additional soldiers. Only five men from his original unit survived the battle, two of whom died in the following months. Oba then led over 200 Japanese civilians deeper into the jungles to evade capture, organizing them into mountain caves and hidden jungle villages. When the soldiers were not assisting the civilians with survival tasks, Oba and his men continued their battle against the garrison of US Marines. He used the 1,552‑ft Mount Tapochau as their primary base, which offered an unobstructed 360-degree view of the island. From their base camp on the western slope of the mountain, Oba and his men occasionally conducted guerrilla-style raids on American positions. Due to the speed and stealth of these operations, and the Marines' frustrated attempts to find him, the Saipan Marines eventually referred to Oba as “The Fox.” Oba and his men held out on the island for 512 days, or about 16 months. On November 27, 1945, former Major-General Amo Umahachi was able to draw out some of the Japanese in hiding by singing the anthem of the Japanese infantry branch. Amo was then able to present documents from the defunct IGHQ to Oba ordering him and his 46 remaining men to surrender themselves to the Americans. On December 1, the Japanese soldiers gathered on Tapochau and sang a song of departure to the spirits of the war dead; Oba led his people out of the jungle and they presented themselves to the Marines of the 18th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company. With great formality and commensurate dignity, Oba surrendered his sword to Lieutenant Colonel Howard G. Kirgis, and his men surrendered their arms and colors. On January 2, 1946, 20 Japanese soldiers hiding in a tunnel at Corregidor Island surrendered after learning the war had ended from a newspaper found while collecting water. In that same month, 120 Japanese were routed after a battle in the mountains 150 miles south of Manila. In April, during a seven-week campaign to clear Lubang Island, 41 more Japanese emerged from the jungle, unaware that the war had ended; however, a group of four Japanese continued to resist. In early 1947, Lieutenant Yamaguchi Ei and his band of 33 soldiers renewed fighting with the small Marine garrison on Peleliu, prompting reinforcements under Rear-Admiral Charles Pownall to be brought to the island to hunt down the guerrilla group. Along with them came former Rear-Admiral Sumikawa Michio, who ultimately convinced Yamaguchi to surrender in April after almost three years of guerrilla warfare. Also in April, seven Japanese emerged from Palawan Island and fifteen armed stragglers emerged from Luzon. In January 1948, 200 troops surrendered on Mindanao; and on May 12, the Associated Press reported that two unnamed Japanese soldiers had surrendered to civilian policemen in Guam the day before. On January 6, 1949, two former IJN soldiers, machine gunners Matsudo Rikio and Yamakage Kufuku, were discovered on Iwo Jima and surrendered peacefully. In March 1950, Private Akatsu Yūichi surrendered in the village of Looc, leaving only three Japanese still resisting on Lubang. By 1951 a group of Japanese on Anatahan Island refused to believe that the war was over and resisted every attempt by the Navy to remove them. This group was first discovered in February 1945, when several Chamorros from Saipan were sent to the island to recover the bodies of a Saipan-based B-29. The Chamorros reported that there were about thirty Japanese survivors from three ships sunk in June 1944, one of which was an Okinawan woman. Personal aggravations developed from the close confines of a small group on a small island and from tuba drinking; among the holdouts, 6 of 11 deaths were the result of violence, and one man displayed 13 knife wounds. The presence of only one woman, Higa Kazuko, caused considerable difficulty as she would transfer her affections among at least four men after each of them mysteriously disappeared, purportedly “swallowed by the waves while fishing.” According to the more sensational versions of the Anatahan tale, 11 of the 30 navy sailors stranded on the island died due to violent struggles over her affections. In July 1950, Higa went to the beach when an American vessel appeared offshore and finally asked to be removed from the island. She was taken to Saipan aboard the Miss Susie and, upon arrival, told authorities that the men on the island did not believe the war was over. As the Japanese government showed interest in the situation on Anatahan, the families of the holdouts were contacted in Japan and urged by the Navy to write letters stating that the war was over and that the holdouts should surrender. The letters were dropped by air on June 26 and ultimately convinced the holdouts to give themselves up. Thus, six years after the end of World War II, “Operation Removal” commenced from Saipan under the command of Lt. Commander James B. Johnson, USNR, aboard the Navy Tug USS Cocopa. Johnson and an interpreter went ashore by rubber boat and formally accepted the surrender on the morning of June 30, 1951. The Anatahan femme fatale story later inspired the 1953 Japanese film Anatahan and the 1998 novel Cage on the Sea. In 1953, Murata Susumu, the last holdout on Tinian, was finally captured. The next year, on May 7, Corporal Sumada Shoichi was killed in a clash with Filipino soldiers, leaving only two Japanese still resisting on Lubang. In November 1955, Seaman Kinoshita Noboru was captured in the Luzon jungle but soon after committed suicide rather than “return to Japan in defeat.” That same year, four Japanese airmen surrendered at Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea; and in 1956, nine soldiers were located and sent home from Morotai, while four men surrendered on Mindoro. In May 1960, Sergeant Ito Masashi became one of the last Japanese to surrender at Guam after the capture of his comrade Private Minagawa Bunzo, but the final surrender at Guam would come later with Sergeant Yokoi Shoichi. Sergeant Yokoi Shoichi survived in the jungles of Guam by living for years in an elaborately dug hole, subsisting on snails and lizards, a fate that, while undignified, showcased his ingenuity and resilience and earned him a warm welcome on his return to Japan. His capture was not heroic in the traditional sense: he was found half-starving by a group of villagers while foraging for shrimp in a stream, and the broader context included his awareness as early as 1952 that the war had ended. He explained that the wartime bushido code, emphasizing self-sacrifice or suicide rather than self-preservation, had left him fearing that repatriation would label him a deserter and likely lead to execution. Emerging from the jungle, Yokoi also became a vocal critic of Japan's wartime leadership, including Emperor Hirohito, which fits a view of him as a product of, and a prisoner within, his own education, military training, and the censorship and propaganda of the era. When asked by a young nephew how he survived so long on an island just a short distance from a major American airbase, he replied simply, “I was really good at hide and seek.”  That same year, Private Kozuka Kinshichi was killed in a shootout with Philippine police in October, leaving Lieutenant Onoda Hiroo still resisting on Lubang. Lieutenant Onoda Hiroo had been on Lubang since 1944, a few months before the Americans retook the Philippines. The last instructions he had received from his immediate superior ordered him to retreat to the interior of the island and harass the Allied occupying forces until the IJA eventually returned. Despite efforts by the Philippine Army, letters and newspapers left for him, radio broadcasts, and even a plea from Onoda's brother, he did not believe the war was over. On February 20, 1974, Onoda encountered a young Japanese university dropout named Suzuki Norio, who was traveling the world and had told friends that he planned to “look for Lieutenant Onoda, a panda, and the abominable snowman, in that order.” The two became friends, but Onoda stated that he was waiting for orders from one of his commanders. On March 9, 1974, Onoda went to an agreed-upon place and found a note left by Suzuki. Suzuki had brought along Onoda's former commander, Major Taniguchi, who delivered the oral orders for Onoda to surrender. Intelligence Officer 2nd Lt. Onoda Hiroo thus emerged from Lubang's jungle with his .25 caliber rifle, 500 rounds of ammunition, and several hand grenades. He surrendered 29 years after Japan's formal surrender, and 15 years after being declared legally dead in Japan. When he accepted that the war was over, he wept openly. He received a hero's welcome upon his return to Japan in 1974. The Japanese government offered him a large sum of money in back pay, which he refused. When money was pressed on him by well-wishers, he donated it to Yasukuni Shrine. Onoda was reportedly unhappy with the attention and what he saw as the withering of traditional Japanese values. He wrote No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War, a best-selling autobiography published in 1974. Yet the last Japanese to surrender would be Private Nakamura Teruo, an Amis aborigine from Formosa and a member of the Takasago Volunteers. Private Nakamura Teruo spent the tail end of World War II with a dwindling band on Morotai, repeatedly dispersing and reassembling in the jungle as they hunted for food. The group suffered continuous losses to starvation and disease, and survivors described Nakamura as highly self-sufficient. He left to live alone somewhere in the Morotai highlands between 1946 and 1947, rejoined the main group in 1950, and then disappeared again a few years later. Nakamura hinted in print that he fled into the jungle because he feared the other holdouts might murder him. He survives for decades beyond the war, eventually being found by 11 Indonesian soldiers. The emergence of an indigenous Taiwanese soldier among the search party embarrassed Japan as it sought to move past its imperial past. Many Japanese felt Nakamura deserved compensation for decades of loyalty, only to learn that his back pay for three decades of service amounted to 68,000 yen.   Nakamura's experience of peace was complex. When a journalist asked how he felt about “wasting” three decades of his life on Morotai, he replied that the years had not been wasted; he had been serving his country. Yet the country he returned to was Taiwan, and upon disembarking in Taipei in early January 1975, he learned that his wife had a son he had never met and that she had remarried a decade after his official death. Nakamura eventually lived with a daughter, and his story concluded with a bittersweet note when his wife reconsidered and reconciled with him. Several Japanese soldiers joined local Communist and insurgent groups after the war to avoid surrender. Notably, in 1956 and 1958, two soldiers returned to Japan after service in China's People's Liberation Army. Two others who defected with a larger group to the Malayan Communist Party around 1945 laid down their arms in 1989 and repatriated the next year, becoming among the last to return home. That is all for today, but fear not I will provide a few more goodies over the next few weeks. I will be releasing some of my exclusive podcast episodes from my youtube membership and patreon that are about pacific war subjects. Like I promised the first one will be on why Emperor Hirohito surrendered. Until then if you need your fix you know where to find me: eastern front week by week, fall and rise of china, echoes of war or on my Youtube membership of patreon at www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel.

Dr. Ni'cola Mitchell is an extraordinary individual who has made a significant impact in the realms of entrepreneurship, entertainment, writing, and youth leadership. With an impressive array of accomplishments, she has emerged as a prominent figure in empowering and uplifting girls worldwide.​As an award-winning entrepreneur, Dr. Mitchell has demonstrated her innovative and strategic mindset across various ventures. Notably, she serves as the Executive Producer for Lifetime Movie Network, where she has played a vital role in bringing her compelling story to the screen in the film, Giving Hope: The Ni'Cola Mitchell Story, which captivates audiences and sheds light on important social issues. ​In addition to her contributions to the entertainment industry, Dr. Mitchell is a published author of 25 books, utilizing her literary talent to inspire and motivate others. Her works have undoubtedly touched countless lives, providing readers with valuable insights and empowering messages. ​ However, it is Dr. Mitchell's dedication to empowering young girls that truly sets her apart. Recognizing the need to nurture and support girls in their formative years, she founded Girls Who Brunch Tour, a nonprofit organization with a global reach. This remarkable initiative aims to cultivate, inspire, and empower girls ages 9 to 17 worldwide. ​ Dr. Mitchell's vision for the Girls Who Brunch Tour is grounded in fostering change and raising awareness about pressing socio-economic issues. By focusing on low-income communities and extending support to girls in foster care, victims of the sex trade, and teen mothers, she addresses the challenges faced by these marginalized groups. ​ Through mentorship programs, workshops, STEAM training, and panel facilitation, Dr. Mitchell ensures that her organization equips girls with the necessary tools and knowledge to succeed. By exposing them to diverse perspectives and teaching them alternative ways of thinking, she empowers girls to overcome obstacles and thrive. Dr. Ni'Cola Mitchell's impact is undeniable, as evidenced by the tremendous reach of the Girls Who Brunch Tour. Having already touched the lives of over 48,000 girls worldwide, her tireless efforts and dedication have made a tangible difference in their lives, providing them with the opportunity to achieve their full potential.KEEP UP ON INSTAGRAM:@DRNICOLAM@DBAMTV@DREAMSBYANYMEANS

Chewbacca and Orangutan: Descriptors in Yowie ReportsThe name "Chewbacca" is frequently used to describe the general appearance of a Yowie. Witnesses often refer to "Orangutan" when describing the color and look of the Yowie's hair. While there are black and white Yowies reported, the most common hair color described is a reddish brown. Some witnesses have noted longer hair under the arms, further enhancing the resemblance to an orangutan.Possible Origins: Gigantopithecus and IsolationThe orangutan's closest relative, Gigantopithecus, was believed to have been extinct for some time. However, evidence shows these creatures once lived in Indonesia, right near Australia. When sea levels rose and severed the land corridor connecting Australia to the rest of the world, any creatures present became landlocked—remaining isolated on the continent.Yowies in this area are often described as being covered in matted, orangutan-colored hair, with deep-set, large eyes that lack visible eye color—only dark or black eye balls. Their facial skin appears gray. Some speculate that the orange-colored Yowie may represent its own distinct species.Wollomombi is situated just west of Coffs Harbour and east of Armidale, within the Great Dividing Range. This region is known for frequent reports of Yowie and Big Cat sightings.When first discovered, this creature's reaction was one of shock, but, unlike many other cases, this did not escalate into aggression. Likely, it sensed more humans approaching and chose to flee. Notably, Yowie behavior can differ between day and night, and between encountering solo hikers versus groups, highlighting the importance of safety in numbers.For more comprehensive information, reports and history of the Yowie, visit our Website at www.yowiehunters.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/yowiehunters-witness-reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Major developments emerge in cryptos. While some anticipate Dogecoin reaching unprecedented values, another low-cost token creates substantial excitement and could disrupt the market. Experts monitor both tokens closely. The competition for leadership intensifies, generating significant discussion among traders and enthusiasts alike. Dogecoin (DOGE) Source: TradingView Dogecoin now trades inside a narrow band of $0.2011-$0.2304. The coin lost 3.17% over the last 7 days, trimming the recent rally. Price hugs the 10-day average at $0.215. A momentum reading above 80 hints that buyers are still active, yet the mood is cautious near the top of the range. Over the past month, DOGE is up 8.61%, and the 6-month score shows a 12.27% climb. The move lifted the price above the 100-day average at $0.2147, turning that area into fresh support. Each dip toward $0.1889 has drawn buyers, keeping mid-term sentiment upbeat. If demand pushes price beyond $0.2304, the next ceiling sits at $0.2475. A clear break could add about 12% and target $0.2768, roughly 20% higher. Failure to crack resistance may drag DOGE back to $0.1889, a 10% slip. A deeper fall toward $0.1596 would erase the 6-month gain, but the current data still favours a slow grind higher while momentum stays firm. $XYZ Unlocks the G.O.A.T. Status, Early Investors Positioned for Massive ROI XYZVerse ($XYZ) has brought a brand-new concept to the memecoin niche by blending the excitement of sports with the fast-moving energy of crypto. Designed for hardcore fans of football, basketball, MMA, and esports, this project goes beyond just being another token - it's a growing community built around passion for the game. With the bold Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.) vision, XYZVerse is aiming higher than the average meme coin. And people are taking notice - it has recently earned the title of Best New Meme Project. What sets $XYZ apart? It's not a short-lived trend. This project has a clear roadmap and a dedicated community focused on long-term growth. Fueled by the sports mentality, the $XYZ token has emerged as the ultimate contender ready to crush competitors. $XYZ is on its way to the winner's podium to become a badge of honour for those who live and breathe sports and crypto. $XYZ Already Delivers Even Before Hitting the Market The $XYZ presale is underway, providing access to the token at a special pre-listing price. Launch Price: $0.0001 Price Now: $0.005 Next Stage: $0.01 Final Presale Price: $0.02 Following the presale, the $XYZ token will be listed on major centralised and decentralised exchanges, with a target listing price of $0.10. If the project raises enough capital to support this valuation, early investors could see returns of up to 1,000x on their presale entries. So far, over $15 million has been invested, reflecting strong market interest. Notably, securing tokens at a lower presale price offers the potential for higher ROI upon launch. Demand for $XYZ is surging, driving rapid progress in the presale. Early buyers secure the lowest prices, maximising their potential returns. Join $XYZ Presale Now and See Your Pennies Grow Into Millions! Conclusion DOGE holds strong potential amid the 2025 surge; yet, the first all-sport memecoin XYZVerse (XYZ) targets 20,000% growth, blending meme hype with sports fandom for a fresh market lead. You can find more information about XYZVerse (XYZ) here: https://xyzverse.io/, https://t.me/xyzverse, https://x.com/xyz_verse

Dr. Emily Splichal returns as a guest to discuss her transformative journey—from conventional surgical training to pioneering sensory-based, functional podiatry—and to introduce her new book, Sensory Sapiens. In it, she presents a sensory-centric framework for movement that champions the foot (and entire sensory system) as the key to longevity, balance, and injury prevention. Notably, she details how our body's sensory intelligence—specifically through textured stimulation of the feet—enhances balance and proprioception; how foot stimulation supports bone density and even brain health by activating deeper tissues and circulation; how sensory stacking—layering various sensory inputs into movement practices—supercharges rehabilitation and performance; and how everyday contact with gravity as a “sensory hug” grounds and recalibrates both body and nervous system. Sensory Sapiens offers a compelling, research-backed blueprint for anyone wanting to age well and move better, organically and holistically. Dr. Emily Splichal is a functional podiatrist and human movement specialist who initially trained as a surgeon at Beth Israel Medical Center (NYC) and Mt. Vernon Hospital before shifting in 2017 to a practice grounded in functional and regenerative medicine s She's founder and CEO of Naboso, a sensory-technology company devoted to awakening the nervous system via the feet—and soon the hands—with textured products and neuro-stimulators. A globally recognized leader in barefoot science, she has educated over 25,000 professionals across 35 countries and created the Barefoot Training Specialist® certification and EBFA Global. She is also the author of Barefoot Strong and now Sensory Sapiens, continuing her mission to help people move better and live longer by reconnecting with their sensory selves. Sensory Sapiens Book:  Dr. Emily Website: NABOSO Website:

Detroit Lions 2025 Season Kickoff: Final Roster & Season Outlook Welcome to the start of the 2025 Detroit Lions NFL Season with the Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris & Jeff Risdon. Training camp concluded, and “football is back” begins. The Detroit Lions have trimmed their roster down to a streamlined core of 52 players heading into Week 1. With the clock ticking toward kickoff against the Packers, the final depth chart is nearly set - and the stakes couldn't be higher. Coach Dan Campbell made tough choices in the final roster cuts, ultimately arriving at a 52‑man squad - a number short of the full 53 roster limit. Notably, backup quarterback Hendon Hooker was released, solidifying Kyle Allen as the clear No. 2 under center behind Jared Goff. With three spots still open, the team is positioned to make strategic in-season additions to round out special teams and depth. Detroit Lions players to watch now rise under scrutiny. Isaac TeSlaa, a surprise choice to stay, and rising defenders like Aidan Hutchinson will have every rep count. Campbell's calm demeanor and message of internal focus—blocking outside noise and trusting the process—resonate as the roster battle concludes and the season beckons. The Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers matchup is more than tradition - it's a measuring stick for early season trajectory. Betting lines have tightened, with the Packers currently favored by 2.5 points at Lambeau Field, and the over/under set at 47.5 points. Detroit enters as the underdog on the road, yet the rivalry's history still carries weight. The Lions split earlier contests, and the NFC North title hangs in the balance from the opening whistle. This game kicks off NFL Week 1, where the depth chart's health and the Lions' preparedness will show. Who steps up under pressure, who chips in on special teams, and how well the rookies perform will all influence early momentum. Heading into the season, several 2025 Lions questions remain: Will John Morton weather the pressure as a new Offensive Coordinator? Can the offensive line hold firm against Green Bay's edge rush? Which players will emerge from the final roster cut as impact contributors? Will Campbell's leadership help dampen the early-season noise and maintain focus? Football is back, and with it, real answers to these questions are on the horizon. Tune in to this episode of the Detroit Lions Podcast as we break down the Detroit Lions depth chart, spotlight key players, and gear up for the Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers showdown—Season Kickoff is here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJNCy1TBB_c Let us know what you think about the show by commenting in the podcast thread in the subreddit, or by leaving us a voice mail message via Skype at: Detroit Lions Podcast  Your input will help make the show better, and if you leave us a message on Skype, you just might be featured in an upcoming podcast! You can also give us a call at (929) 33-Lions. Get yourself a Classic Detroit t-shirt here! Don't miss our great merch selection in the Detroit Lions Podcast store. Looking for the relief that CBD products can bring? Click here: https://bit.ly/2XzawlG Get your Lions Gear at: https://bit.ly/2Ooo5Px As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made here: https://amzn.to/36e2ZfD Donate Direct at: https://bit.ly/2qnEtFj Join the Patreon Crew at: https://bit.ly/2bgQgyj #lions #detroitlions #detroitlionspodcast #allgrit #onepride #nfl #week1 #seasonopener #greenbay #packers #greenbaypackers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Victims of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse are preparing to appear alongside members of Congress in a press conference at the U.S. Capitol, organized by Representatives Ro Khanna (D‑CA) and Thomas Massie (R‑KY). This event marks the first time in over a decade some survivors will speak publicly, and it is a central moment in a bipartisan push demanding the Justice Department release more comprehensive Epstein-related files. Notably, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R‑GA), a vocal Trump ally, is expected to attend and has thrown her support behind the discharge petition aimed at compelling full disclosure of these documentsAt the news conference, Khanna and Massie—and survivors—will spotlight how many victims were sidelined when Epstein's plea deal was struck. They're launching the “Epstein Files Transparency Act” and have introduced a discharge petition to force a House vote that, if successful, would require the Attorney General to publicly release all unclassified records, including those held by the DOJ, FBI, and U.S. attorneys' offices. The survivors' presence underscores mounting frustration with the partial release of around 33,295 pages of documents—most of which were already public—and amplifies calls for accountability and full transparencyto contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Epstein victims to speak at news conference calling for file release amid bipartisan push | Fox News

Victims of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse are preparing to appear alongside members of Congress in a press conference at the U.S. Capitol, organized by Representatives Ro Khanna (D‑CA) and Thomas Massie (R‑KY). This event marks the first time in over a decade some survivors will speak publicly, and it is a central moment in a bipartisan push demanding the Justice Department release more comprehensive Epstein-related files. Notably, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R‑GA), a vocal Trump ally, is expected to attend and has thrown her support behind the discharge petition aimed at compelling full disclosure of these documentsAt the news conference, Khanna and Massie—and survivors—will spotlight how many victims were sidelined when Epstein's plea deal was struck. They're launching the “Epstein Files Transparency Act” and have introduced a discharge petition to force a House vote that, if successful, would require the Attorney General to publicly release all unclassified records, including those held by the DOJ, FBI, and U.S. attorneys' offices. The survivors' presence underscores mounting frustration with the partial release of around 33,295 pages of documents—most of which were already public—and amplifies calls for accountability and full transparencyto contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Epstein victims to speak at news conference calling for file release amid bipartisan push | Fox NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Sean Combs, known as Puff Daddy, P Diddy, or simply Diddy, continues to make headlines, and the latest developments around the music mogul reveal a dramatic chapter in his career and public life. After a seven-week jury trial in Manhattan, Sean Combs was convicted of two lesser prostitution-related charges but was acquitted of more severe federal sex trafficking and racketeering counts. He remains behind bars at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center and is awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for October 3. Prosecutors recently argued against his second attempt for bail, and legal experts suggest Combs might face a prison sentence significantly longer than the initial four-to-five year estimate. In fact, federal prosecutors are pushing for a much harsher sentence, fueling extensive speculation about Combs' future.Since his guilty verdict, Combs' legal team has repeatedly pushed for a mistrial, citing prosecutorial misconduct and questionable testimony by witnesses, but their requests have been denied. His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, maintains Combs' innocence and has stated in recent interviews that he will not accept any plea deals, claiming the government is persecuting him and that Combs wants his fight to inspire others facing similar charges. Combs received a standing ovation from fellow inmates upon returning to his cell after the verdict, and while conditions in the jail have been described as horrific, his legal team now acknowledges that the facility has been responsive to his and their needs.Notably, Sean Combs is reportedly sharing a dormitory with Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced crypto mogul behind the FTX scandal, further adding intrigue to his current chapter. The area is reserved for high-profile defendants and those requiring special security.Outside the courtroom dramas, Diddy's business empire remains substantial. His collaborations, from Cîroc vodka to DeLeón Tequila, have delivered over $1 billion in revenue in recent years, and his influence in fashion and entertainment is undeniable. However, recent accusations and the ongoing criminal proceedings have overshadowed his business successes.Allegations involving elaborate sex parties, dubbed “freak offs,” continue to haunt him as more details and tapes allegedly emerge within Hollywood circles. Prosecutors claim violence and intimidation played a role in orchestrating these events, with women reportedly coerced and videotaped without their knowledge. Amid this whirlwind, rumors even suggest that his legal team has opened discussions with former President Donald Trump's staff about a possible pardon—a claim lawyer Marc Agnifilo disputed in a recent interview.Listeners, thank you for tuning in. Join us next week for more updates and headlines. This has been a Quiet Please production, and for more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

PREVIEW: KING CHARLES.: Colleague Gregory Copley comments on the challenge for the King to steady the brittle Starmer government and at the same time to reassure the public watching the doubts in leadership. More. 1901 OLD HOUSE Comment on Excerpt from "P-COPLEY-KING-9-2.mp3": This segment introduces a discussion about the upcoming state visit of Donald Trump hosted by the King and Queen of England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The conversation highlights significant turmoil within the London government, citing unresolved issues such as migration, unfulfilled promises by the Labour Party, an unsettled budget, and a dispute in Downing Street between the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. A key question posed is whether the King can intervene to help calm the situation, similar to his earlier role in quelling riots related to migration. However, the effectiveness of his intervention in the current climate remains unclear, with Gregory Copley noting the King must be careful not to take sides. Comment on Excerpt from "P-COPLEY-KING-9-2.mp3": This excerpt delves into the King's influence and the delicate balance he must maintain to avoid appearing political, especially concerning "visceral street causes" related to people's economic well-being. While the King can exert pressure on Prime Minister Starmer, Starmer is described as "tonedeaf," failing to recognize help. Notably, the King previously "bailed out" the Labour administration by calming massive street riots and is expected to do so again. However, there's a limit to how much people can be appeased when continually ignored or subjected to adverse social and economic conditions. The segment also suggests a potential "revolt" and leadership change within the Labour Party at some point.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Randy Rosin returns to the Cognitive Crucible to support his assertion that warfare is informational and the US Department of Defense needs an entirely new information paradigm. Recording Date: 28 Aug 2025 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #7 Randy Rosin on Russia and Applied Cybernetics #187 Randy Rosin on Reflexive Control #125 Journey from conception through JP 3-04 Cybernetics: Or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine by Norbert Wiener Programming the Universe: A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes On the Cosmos by Seth Lloyd The Bit and the Pendulum: From Quantum Computing to M Theory--The New Physics of Information by Tom Siegfried The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood by James Gleick Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Dr. Randy Rosin was formerly a faculty member of the National Intelligence University in Bethesda, Maryland. He taught courses in propaganda, foreign information and cyber strategy, cyber threat intelligence, denial and deception, and leadership. He is a 32-year active-duty Army veteran who has served in combat arms, psychological operations, information operations, as a middle eastern foreign area officer, and in human intelligence operations. Notably serving as the information operations chief in Iraq, at US Central Command, and as the Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché in Yemen.  His research interests are in the intersection of technology and manipulative communication and on the development of information-based theoretical frameworks in military applications. Currently he teaches critical thinking courses in the Honors College at Montana State University. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Climate Education for YouthClimate education has the potential to drive the public towards climate science literacy, an individual's understanding of their influence on climate and climate's influence on them and society. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a climate-literate person: understands the essential principles of Earth's climate system,knows how to assess scientifically credible information about climate,communicates about climate and climate change in a meaningful way, andis able to make informed and responsible decisions with regard to actions that may affect climate.Climate change education is more than just science education; it is an interdisciplinary topic that involves understanding the relationship between climate change, history, economics, social studies, and more. A robust and interdisciplinary climate education provides an understanding of the large-scale social transformation necessary to increase climate resiliency and implement effective solutions.Empowering Future Solution Makers Climate education can provide younger generations with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that are necessary to make more environmentally informed decisions. By equipping students with a thorough understanding of climate science and illuminating the scientific process utilized by climate scientists, students become armed to critically assess climate discourse and solutions. Moreover, climate education fosters a sense of agency: youth may grow up to vote for climate positive policies, pursue careers that strive towards climate solutions, have a more eco-conscious lifestyle, or facilitate constructive conversations with family members and friends. Implementing effective climate solutions relies on an informed public, and climate education provides youth with a starting point to act as agents of positive change amidst our planetary emergency. Additionally, climate education can provide youth with the tools necessary to alleviate and cope with climate anxiety. A 2021 Lancet Study asked 10,000 young people between the ages of 16–25 in ten countries what they felt about climate change, and found that more than 50% of young people reported experiencing sadness, anxiety, anger, powerlessness, helplessness, and guilt. Effective climate education will not only help youth understand the causes and impacts of climate change, but it will also provide young people with insight on how they can contribute to solutions and exercise their own agency to make meaningful changes. Further, climate education can provide coping strategies by fostering hope and highlighting the collective efforts being made to address climate change. Barriers to Effective Climate Education According to an article from Science, data from 1500 public middle- and high-school science teachers from all 50 US states found that the median teacher devotes only one to two hours to climate change instruction. Climate confusion among U.S. teachers further contributes to this educational gap within American education, and limited training and scientific consensus among teachers leads to mixed messages. For example, the research published in Science found that of the teachers who teach climate change, “31% report sending explicitly contradictory messages, emphasizing both the scientific consensus that recent global warming is due to human activity and that many scientists believe recent increases in temperature are due to natural causes.” Progress in climate science and scientific consensus have outpaced teachers' training. Additionally, teachers may face political threats and external pressures from parents or administration to avoid climate instruction. Teachers' lack of knowledge on climate science and exclusion of climate instruction is further compounded by variations in learning standards and requirements. Climate education within the US faces challenges due to the absence of consensus on the inclusion of climate change in educational curricula and the absence of national science standards on the subject. In 2013, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were developed and recommended that human-made climate change be taught in all science classes beginning in fifth grade. However, these standards remain voluntary, and 44 states have used the NGSS or created standards based on them. Since 2007, The Campaign for Environmental Literacy has continued to organize stakeholders and push for passage of the Climate Change Education Act, leading to the subsequent efforts to reintroduce and pass the bill four times since then. Despite these efforts, federal grants to fund climate change education projects have been miniscule and initiatives in Congress to support climate change education have been unsuccessful. New Jersey became a pioneer in climate education in 2020, becoming the first state to mandate the teaching of climate change beginning in kindergarten. Notably, New Jersey has taken an interdisciplinary approach to climate education as students are learning about climate change in ceramics and physical education classes. Making Climate Change Education Accessible and Engaging for YouthOutside of the traditional classroom setting, many environmental organizations, activists, content creators, and informal education institutions like museums or zoos provide opportunities for students to engage in climate education. Collectively, these actors play critical roles as environmental educators who bridge the educational gaps related to climate change and increase climate literacy amongst young people. In an era dominated by digital communication, media serves as a dynamic and influential tool in climate education initiatives. In a survey conducted by the EdWeek Research Center, social media emerged as the third most frequently mentioned source of information on climate change amongst teenagers. Young people consume climate-related media through various social media platforms, like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Environmental educators understand that leveraging various forms of media allows them to create engaging, relatable, and inspiring climate education for today's youth. While leveraging these platforms to educate youth and the wider public on climate change, storytelling remains a central element. Media-driven climate education empowers environmental educators to effectively break down barriers and make climate science more accessible, relatable, and inspiring for youth of all ages. Who is Suzie Hicks?Suzie Hicks is an award-winning filmmaker, author and television host specializing in environmental communication for kids of all ages. Suzie emphasizes the power of children's media and learning communities, connecting youth advocates and educator allies. Their current project includes “Suzie Hicks the Climate Chick,” which started out as a college-produced Studio TV series, then transformed into a preschool teaching persona, a social media account, and now an award-winning children's pilot. “Suzie Hicks the Climate Chick” aims to educate everyone about the local impacts and solutions of climate change through puppetry, comedy, and music. ResourcesSuzie Hicks Website United Nations, Education is key to addressing climate changeNOAA, What is Climate Science Literacy?Hickman et al., Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey (The Lancet, 2021)Plutzer et al., Climate Confusion Among U.S. Teachers (Science, 2016)Renee Cho, Climate Education in the U.S.: Where It Stands, and Why It Matters (Columbia Climate School, 2023)Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)Seyma Bayram, New Jersey requires climate change education. A year in, here's how it's going (NPR, 2023).Arianna Prothero, Most Teens Learn About Climate Change From Social Media. Why Schools Should Care (EdWeek, 2023)Cleary Vaughan-Lee, Executive Director of Global Oneness Project, Immersive Storytelling and Climate Change: Fostering the Development of Social-Emotional Learning (UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development)For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://climatebreak.org/educating-kids-about-climate-change-through-musical-storytelling/

About Ryan Jenkins Mr. Kevin “Ryan” Jenkins has more than two decades of field experience in logistics, base life support, training, maintenance, and facilities management supporting United States and Allied Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine services in the most remote and austere locations in the world. Specific expertise in Portfolio Management, Federal Contracts, Finance and Business Development. Mr. Jenkins contracting career began with Engility (now Sincerus) supporting Vectrus (now V2X) in the Kuwait Base Operations Service Support Security (KBOSSS) contract. From 2011 – 2015, he managed all U.S. Army Training Support in Southwest Asia comprising range maintenance and logistics support across 23 countries and overseeing the maintenance and upkeep of one of the largest U.S. Army training areas. In 2016, Mr. Jenkins was sent to Afghanistan as the Program Manager providing oversight management of the Afghan Air Force (AAF) in the functional areas of Finance/Budget, Operations, Engineering Projects/Facilities Maintenance, IT infrastructure, Human Resources, Intelligence, Logistics and Maintenance. Later that year, Mr. Jenkins was asked to become the Senior Finance Advisor to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) advising the senior executives on treasury oversight, budget formulation and execution of the $5.5B budget. In 2017, Mr. Jenkins joined Constellis (Centerra group) as the Program Manager of the Bahrain Base Operations Support contract (BBOS) at the US Naval Base that hosts the 5th Naval Fleet and 3 other military sites. He executed close out operations of this $20M annual revenue contract with 550 employees. In 2020, Mr. Jenkins became Amentum's Senior Business Manager over one of the largest contracts in Afghanistan consisting of 1100 employees and $118M in annual revenue. The contract provided theater-wide support of all US maintenance, transportation, and property management. He led the Business Management Directorate with five reporting sections: Financial Planning & Analysis, Payroll/Cash management, Contracts, Travel and IT. Notably this contract was tasked with the full retrograde mission of all US vehicles, equipment and property from Afghanistan. Upon leaving Afghanistan he has held SVP and Director level postions in DoD Business Development and Capture Management in firms such as Palladium International, Taylors International Services and J&J Worldwide Services. Currently serving as a US Army Reservist, Lieutenant Colonel Jenkins is the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion Commander. He has also had previous roles as: Aviation Officer (UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter pilot), Logistics Officer, Strategic Plans Officer, Information Operations Officer, and Trade & Commerce Officer. Episode Notes 11:46  Lesson 1: Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise 16:34 Lesson 2: Discipline is freedom 21:08 Lesson 3: Choose the hard path - it's the only one worth walking 23:43 Lesson 4: You are not a victim ever 28:53 Lesson 5: Pay life's tuition 34:19 Lesson 6: Sometimes you must draw a line in the sand, step over and never look back 38:19 Lesson 7: If you want to be the 1%, you must do what the 1% do 42:56 Lesson 8: Avoid addictions 48:00 Lesson 9: You are a composite average of the five people you spend the most time with 51:47 Lesson 10: Seek out leadership opportunities

In this episode, I speak with Chandra about her path into trauma-informed work with young children and their caregivers. Raised in San Francisco by parents who worked in child welfare, Chandra was exposed early to stories of trauma and healing. Before age 7, several of her friends lost their parents to cancer, which inspired her to become a doctor. In high school, during an internship on a pediatric oncology ward she noticed that while physical health was prioritized, children's emotional needs were often overlooked. This realization led her to study psychology. After college, Chandra worked at a residential program with children aged 6–12. She found the children often opened up about trauma during informal moments—car rides, bedtime, or watching TV—highlighting the need to involve caregivers in the healing process. In 1998, Chandra interned with Dr. Alicia Lieberman at UCSF's Child Trauma Research Program, where she trained in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), an evidence-based treatment for young children under age 6 who have experienced trauma. She later developed the CPP fidelity framework and co-authored the second edition of the manual. Chandra noted a key challenge: although many parents recognize their child's trauma, few clinicians are trained to work effectively with young children. Many therapists also avoid discussing trauma directly with young children, which can leave them alone with their experiences. CPP begins with the therapist meeting alone with the caregiver to supportively explore the child's symptoms, experiences of trauma, the caregiver's own history, including how past experiences may shape the parent's responses. Then the therapist and caregiver gently acknowledge past traumatic experiences to the child—“speaking the unspeakable”—and help the child process their experiences using developmentally attuned pacing and modalities, including play and art. As children process their experiences they sometimes shift topics or activities or seek physical comfort when they begin to move outside their window of tolerance. Therapists help parents understand this process, attune to their child's needs, and support their child. CPP has a strong evidence base, including five randomized controlled trials. It has shown positive outcomes for preschoolers exposed to violence and infants and toddlers who experienced maltreatment. Notably, a recent study found CPP is associated with lower epigenetic age acceleration in trauma-exposed children aged 2–6—suggesting a measurable impact at the biological level. Chandra Ghosh Ippen, Ph.D. is a child trauma psychologist specializing in working with families with children under age 6. She is co-developer of Child-Parent Psychotherapy, the associate director of the Child Trauma Research Program at the University of California, San Francisco, and a member of the Board of Directors of Zero to Three. She has spent over 30 years conducting clinical work, research, and training in the area of childhood trauma and diversity-informed practice. She is also an award-winning children's book author and has written 5 children's books as well as the free Trinka and Sam disaster series, which has been translated and distributed to over 400,000 families around the world.

Andrew Humberman BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Andrew Huberman has been especially active and visible over the past week with developments spanning science advocacy, public speaking, and media attention. He recently appeared on HBO's “Overtime with Bill Maher” alongside Frank Bruni and Christopher Rufo, engaging in a lively debate on issues ranging from free speech to modern culture—a segment that generated strong buzz among both neuroscience followers and general viewers, with PBS News Weekend and CBS Evening News recapping highlights. On the business front, Huberman continues to expand his podcast's reach, with “Huberman Lab” dropping two major episodes. The first, “Science and Health Benefits of Belief in God and Religion,” featured Dr. David DeSteno and explored topics that go well beyond neuroscience: the impact of religious rituals on mental health, nuanced distinctions between community-based support and faith-based resilience, and the intersection of AI and religious experience. This episode attracted tens of thousands of viewers and contributed to ongoing discussions about how belief systems affect longevity and psychological wellbeing, as confirmed by David DeSteno's longitudinal research at Northeastern University. A fresh “Huberman Lab Essentials” episode focused on fasting and time-restricted eating, distilling decades of metabolic research from Stanford's Christopher Gardner and Salk Institute's Satchin Panda. Here, Huberman shared protocol-level advice on 8-hour feeding windows, the circadian rhythm's role in fat loss, and how even simple strategies—like post-meal walking—can accelerate glucose clearance. Social media is abuzz with references to these episodes, amplified by Huberman's trademark dissemination of evidence-based actionable routines, including his Daily Blueprint which remains a top resource for his 800,000-plus newsletter subscribers, as confirmed on his site.Notably, a viral Men's Journal article revealed Huberman's top “dog trick” for instant stress relief, pointing readers to short, rapid breathing as a potent tool for anxiety—this simple protocol was highlighted by Huberman as rooted in comparative animal behavior and neuroscience and has already been widely circulated among health and wellness creators. Meanwhile, the anticipation grows for his public keynote at the Summit of Greatness in Los Angeles next month. Lewis Howes announced on Threads that Huberman is a headline speaker, with tickets already in high demand, and numerous videos on social media document the excitement and scramble for seats. There is no credible evidence of controversy, major business pivots, or speculative claims about his activities. The overarching headlines emphasize Huberman's unflagging pace in both science outreach and mainstream discourse, cementing his status as not just a leading neuroscientist but a cultural force in the public understanding of health and human performance.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

Armed with incontrovertible evidence that DEI Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook has committed repeated mortgage fraud, the great and powerful President Donald J. Trump has fired Cook for cause.Naturally, being a DEI appointed woman of a certain sort, Cook has refused to be fired and has filed a lawsuit against Trump in Federal court.  Notably, nowhere in Cook's filed complaint does she deny the mortgage fraud claimed by Trump—that within a single two-week period Cook secured two federally-backed mortgages on separate properties in separate states and claimed both as her primary residence—a status that secures Cook more favorable federally-backed mortgage interest rates, lower insurance rates, and so on.  Apparently false filings on yet a third property also have now come to light.All of these acts of mortgage fraud would qualify as federal felonies for anybody.  These credible and uncontested accusations of mortgage fraud against a Governor of the Federal Reserve, tasked with setting mortgage and other interest rates for the entire nation, obviously makes Cook's continued service on the Board untenable, and provide more than adequate grounds for Trump to fire her for cause. Importantly, removing known Trump-hater Cook from the Federal Reserve Board—she's publicly referred to Trump as a “fascist”—would open the door for a replacement of Cook that would be more amenable to rationally lowering the nation's interest rates, saving billions in interest cost for the nation generally, and turbo-charging home and other purchases for individuals. The #1 guide for understanding when using force to protect yourself is legal. Now yours for FREE! Just pay the S&H for us to get it to you.➡️ Carry with confidence, knowing you are protected from predators AND predatory prosecutors➡️ Correct the common myths you may think are true but get people in trouble​➡️ Know you're getting the best with this abridged version of our best-selling 5-star Amazon-rated book that has been praised by many (including self-defense legends!) for its easy, entertaining, and informative style.​➡️ Many interesting, if sometimes heart-wrenching, true-life examplesGet Your Free Book: https://lawofselfdefense.com/getthebook

Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, University of Adelaide is joined by Jenelle Dziano, Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, The University of Adelaide and Jared Bunch, MD, FHRS, University of Utah School of Medicine, to discuss a study that investigated the relationship between atrial fibrillation (AF), brain glymphatic function, and cognitive performance. Using MRI-derived diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS), the authors found that patients with AF especially those with no paroxysmal AF exhibited impaired glymphatic activity compared to healthy controls. This reduced glymphatic function was associated with poorer cognitive performance in domains like attention and executive function, and mediation analyses suggested that glymphatic dysfunction partially explains the link between AF and cognitive decline. Notably, in patients who underwent catheter ablation to restore sinus rhythm, glymphatic function significantly improved post-procedure. These findings highlight a novel mechanistic pathway beyond stroke or vascular risk by which AF may contribute to neurodegeneration, and they suggest that rhythm control could offer protective benefits for brain health. https://www.hrsonline.org/education/TheLead https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/46/18/1733/8029578 Host Disclosure(s): M. Middeldorp:   Nothing to disclose. Contributor Disclosure(s): J. Dziano: Nothing to disclose. J. Bunch: Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting: Pfizer, Inc., Heart Rhythm Society

Justin Bieber BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Justin Bieber has been generating buzz once again with a series of striking new photos posted to Instagram around August 15, prompting widespread commentary and fan speculation about a possible glow-up era or deeper personal change. According to Just N Life, these images—showcasing Bieber's signature tattoos and straight-on gaze—have fueled debates about his current state and relationships, especially after he posted a serene shot with Kendall Jenner. This post reignited old rumors of a romantic connection, which Hailey Bieber playfully dismissed, demonstrating confidence in her marriage. Bieber quickly followed up with an image alongside Hailey, the couple appearing close and content, which shut down some persistent rumors about marital discord.Meanwhile, Bieber's recent public appearances in New York have sparked concern among fans and the entertainment press, including IMDB and The Hollywood Gossip, with some observers remarking on worries about his health and wellbeing. His fashion choices and see-through underwear photos have led to mixed reactions, with debates about whether they reflect marketing savvy or genuine personal struggle. Despite the scrutiny, Bieber remains a visible presence in New York, even as some fans speculate on changes in his appearance and mood.On the business front, Justin has continued to expand his comfort-focused SKYLRK brand, teasing a futuristic orange bench prototype on Instagram. Entertainment Now reports that SKYLRK, launched in July alongside Bieber's seventh studio album Swag, is pushing further into lifestyle and possibly homeware products, although an official release date hasn't been confirmed. Notably, Bieber severed ties with his previous fashion venture, Drew House, in April, signaling a significant business shift. SkyLRK appears to be absorbing much of his creative energy, while his wife Hailey's Rhode Beauty just announced a blockbuster $1 billion sale to e.l.f. Cosmetics according to AOL. Hailey will remain as Chief Creative Officer, and the brand's viral lip-gloss phone cases and pop-ups have cemented the Bieber family's considerable influence and net worth, which PEOPLE estimates near $400 million.Musically, Bieber's recently released album Swag marks his first full-length project since 2021, showcasing a darker, more vulnerable sound shaped by fatherhood and his marriage to Hailey. A PEOPLE source notes that the son Jack Blues's arrival has heavily influenced the album's tone and lyrics, deepening his creative narrative. While the internet isn't fully convinced about every aspect of Bieber's personal journey, his willingness to put both his emotional life and entrepreneurial ambitions on display continues to draw intense scrutiny and admiration. Whether capturing hearts with Met Gala support posts—where he affectionately shouted out Hailey's solo appearance and fashion choices, per AOL—or filling New York venues with music fans, Justin Bieber remains firmly in the public eye, shaping headlines and driving conversations about celebrity reinvention.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

In this JCO PO Article insights episode, Dr. Jiasen He summarized the JCO PO article "Mucin 16–Directed Therapy in Pediatric Sarcomas: Case Evidence of Ubamatamab Efficacy in Epithelioid Sarcoma and Its Implications for Other Sarcoma Subtypes" by Connolly et al. TRANSCRIPT Jiasen He: Hello, and welcome to JCO Precision Oncology Article Insights. I'm your host, Jiasen He, and today we'll be discussing the JCO Precision Oncology article, "Mucin 16-Directed Therapy in Pediatric Sarcomas: Case Evidence of Ubamatamab Efficacy in Epithelioid Sarcoma and Its Implication for Other Sarcoma Subtypes" by Connolly et al. Epithelioid sarcoma and malignant rhabdoid tumor are rare pediatric soft tissue sarcomas, characterized by INI1 loss, high recurrence rates, and poor outcome despite multimodal treatments. Emerging evidence has shown that Mucin 16 is expressed in both tumor types. Mucin 16 is a transmembrane glycoprotein whose extracellular domain can be cleaved and released as CA-125. Both Mucin 16 and CA-125 are well-established biomarkers in several adult epithelioid malignancies, particularly ovarian cancer. Ubamatamab is a specific T-cell engager targeting CD3 and Mucin 16. It has demonstrated antitumor activity in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, and clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate its efficacy as monotherapy or in combination regimens. In this manuscript, Connolly et al. present the first reported case of a heavily pretreated patient with epithelioid sarcoma who responded to ubamatamab, followed by an investigation into mechanisms of resistance after disease progression. Furthermore, the authors retrospectively assessed Mucin 16 expression in a cohort of pediatric and young adult sarcomas, finding high expression in both epithelioid sarcoma and malignant rhabdoid tumor. In this case report, the authors describe a 23-year-old woman with relapsed metastatic epithelioid sarcoma. Initially diagnosed at age 12, she had received multiple lines of treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Following disease progression after all these treatments, her tumor was tested for Mucin 16 expression and it demonstrated 100% positivity with markedly elevated CA-125 levels, providing a rationale for treatment with the Mucin 16-CD3 bispecific T-cell engager, ubamatamab. Ubamatamab was administered in an escalating dose schedule up to 250 mg once weekly during cycle one and continued for a total of 162 weeks. The best response was observed at week 11, with a 40% reduction and a marked decline in CA-125 levels. Disease progression was first detected in a single left lower lobe lung nodule, which on biopsy showed a reduction in Mucin 16 expression from 100% to less than 5%. Post-treatment analysis revealed changes in the tumor microenvironment, including increased expression of T-cell exhaustion markers such as PD-1 and LAG-3. Ubamatamab was generally well tolerated. Cytokine release syndrome occurred during the escalating phase of cycle one, presenting with fever and hypoxia. Other notable adverse events included pleural and pericardial effusion, both of which resolved spontaneously. Given its favorable safety profile and limited alternative treatment options, ubamatamab was continued beyond the initial progression. The patient ultimately received 28 cycles of treatment before she passed away due to disease progression. In the second part of the paper, the authors examined Mucin 16 expression in a cohort of pediatric and young adult sarcomas. Among 91 samples, Mucin 16 was expressed in six out of eight epithelioid sarcomas and two out of four malignant rhabdoid tumors. H-score analysis showed that all Mucin 16-positive tumors showed moderate to high expression levels. In conclusion, this manuscript presents the first reported use of a Mucin 16-CD3 bispecific T-cell engager for epithelioid sarcoma, along with an investigation into resistance mechanisms following progression. The treatment achieved a substantial partial response with a favorable safety profile. The findings suggest that resistance may be associated with loss of Mucin 16 expression and T-cell exhaustion. Follow-up studies are needed to confirm these mechanisms. Notably, the study also identifies INI1-deficient sarcoma as a group with high Mucin 16 expression, warranting additional validation and mechanism exploration. These findings offer valuable insight for future therapeutic strategies and support the use of Mucin 16/CA-125 as both a treatment target and a biomarker for patient selection and disease monitoring. Thank you for tuning in to JCO Precision Oncology Article Insights. Don't forget to subscribe and join us next time as we explore more groundbreaking research shaping the future of oncology. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions.  Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement.  

Gary Morton has spent a lifetime working on cattle outfits throughout the West, most notably the legendary Bell Ranch in New Mexico. He also has established himself as a respected Western artist, painting scenes of working cowboys and beautiful landscapes of the American West (visit garymortonart.com). As a founding member and current board member of the Working Ranch Cowboys Association, Morton has helped promote and preserve the ranching lifestyle for decades. Recently, he contributed to a new audio book, I'll Drop You Off, which is a Christian devotional written by Kris Wilson. Learn more by sending an email to illdropyouoff40@gmail.com, or shop online at amazon.com More Information on the Bell Ranch  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Ranch    

Last time we spoke about the Battle for South Sakhalin and the Kurile Islands. In August 1945, as Japan teetered on the edge of destruction following the atomic bombings, a desperate situation unfolded. The Soviet Union launched a sudden invasion of Manchuria, catching Japanese forces off guard. On August 14, Japan's decision to surrender was made, announced to the world the following day. However, the Kwantung Army resisted fiercely, engaging in frantic evacuations. In South Sakhalin, Japanese defenders clashed with advancing Soviet troops, facing overwhelming odds. By August 18, chaos reigned on the Japanese side, with forces surrendering and civilians in panic. As the Soviets pushed forward, the situation became increasingly dire for Japan. Despite valiant resistance, the imminent defeat became clear. In a moment of critical decision, Emperor Hirohito accepted the surrender terms, officially sealing Japan's fate and marking the end of the Pacific War. However the Soviets had not yet stopped their onslaught.  This episode is the Soviet Victory in Asia Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, 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 world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two 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 you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  We are drawing near to the real conclusion of this series! Japan has officially surrendered, however the Soviets are not done just yet. East asia is a delicious piece of cake, laid wide open and Stalin intends to take every piece he can grab before the curtain falls. Now as we last left off it was August 18, and General Yamada's Kwantung Army had surrendered to the Soviet forces led by Marshal Vasilevsky, who were advancing rapidly through Manchuria. Yet, some Japanese units, like those at Kalgan, continued to resist occupation until the month's end. On August 19, following Yamada's announcement that all military operations had ceased, a Soviet delegation arrived at Hsinking.  A daring operation took place, where a 225-strong detachment from the 6th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade, part of the 5th Guards Tank Corps, was airlifted to the city's main airfield. This mission, along with others, was carried out under orders from Marshal Vasilevsky on August 18, following the commander's initial offer of surrender from the Kwantung Army. Vasilevsky's directive was urgent: “The Japanese resistance is broken, and the challenging road conditions hinder the swift advance of our main forces. We need to deploy specially formed, fast-moving, and well-equipped units to capture Changchun, Mukden, Jilin, and Harbin immediately. These units should remain flexible for future missions, regardless of their distance from the main forces.”The push to accelerate operations came directly from Stalin himself. In Kulichkin's biography of Marshal Vasilevsky, he recounts a pivotal phone call on August 15. Stalin was informed that the Japanese had “lost command and control” and were unable to mount a strong defense, with their forces divided into several fragmented groups. Vasilevsky confidently stated, “Even a miracle cannot save the Japanese from total defeat,” stressing the need to maintain the momentum of the offensive. Stalin's response was straightforward: “Good. We need to increase the pace. What proposals do you have?” Vasilevsky revealed plans to use airborne assault forces against larger cities like Harbin, Changchun, Jilin, and Mukden, alongside advanced mobile units across all combined arms armies. These units, consisting of tanks and assault guns, were fully equipped with desantniki, ready to engage firmly in the ongoing operations. The landing at Shenyang revealed a remarkable twist of fate. Waiting at the airfield for evacuation to Japan was none other than the recently abdicated Emperor Puyi of Manchukuo. On August 15, 1945, Puyi tuned in to the radio and listened to Emperor Hirohito's address announcing Japan's surrender. In this historic speech, the Showa Emperor referred to the Americans' use of a "most unusual and cruel bomb," which had just devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For Puyi, this was the first revelation of the atomic bombings, information that the Japanese had conveniently withheld from him until that moment. The aircraft carrying Major Chelyshev's force, escorted by fighter planes, landed at 1:15 PM without any opposition and captured him. This small unit's survival hinged on remaining unchallenged, and they successfully secured the airfield. They also freed several Allied personnel held at the nearby Hoten prisoner-of-war camp. As soon as the landing was secured, additional reinforcements were airlifted in later that day, led by General Kravchenko, the commander of the 6th Guards Tank Army. He formally accepted the city's surrender, and the Soviets then transported Puyi to the Siberian town of Chita.  Meanwhile, Vasilevsky's ground offensive pressed on, mostly unopposed, though some resistance persisted. In the Transbaikal Front, Marshal Malinovsky's General Pliyev led his cavalry-mechanized units against the Japanese forces at Kalgan. Other units reached Jehol and accepted the surrender of the 108th Division. General Danilov's 17th Army secured the Shanhaiguan coast, while General Managarov's 53rd Army pushed towards Kailu. The main force of General Kravchenko's 6th Guards Tank Army regrouped at Tungliao and Kaitung, preparing to advance south toward Mukden. General Lyudnikov's 39th Army steadily approached Changchun, confronting the bypassed 107th Division, and General Luchinsky's 36th Army occupied Tsitsihar, accepting the surrender of the 136th Independent Mixed Brigade. At the same time, on General Purkayev's 2nd Far Eastern Front, General Teryokhin's 2nd Red Banner Army continued its siege of the Aihun fortified region. Meanwhile, a forward detachment moved slowly south through the Lesser Khinghan Mountains. General Mamonov's 15th Army began capturing and processing prisoners from the many retreating Japanese units after a successful amphibious assault secured Sansing. The Amur Flotilla supported the army's push towards Harbin, while General Pashkov's 5th Rifle Corps finally reached Poli, which had already been occupied by other Soviet units. In Marshal Meretskov's 1st Far Eastern Front, forward detachments of General Zakhvatayev's 35th Army began arriving at Linkou, focusing on the surrender of Japanese units in the area. Rear elements effectively eliminated the last traces of enemy resistance in the Hutou fortified area.  After a challenging struggle through the wetlands and the capture of Mishan on August 12, advanced detachments of the 35th Army's main force, the 66th and 363rd Rifle Divisions, continued their advance against minimal opposition. The situation was starkly different to their rear, where the 1056th Rifle Regiment of the 264th Rifle Division, supported by the heavily reinforced 109th Fortified Region, worked to dismantle the now-isolated Hutou fortified area. Despite the dire circumstances, the garrison refused to surrender. Thus, the focus shifted to systematically eliminating their defenses, which became a painstaking task. The attackers deployed an artillery destruction group, secured air supremacy, and utilized well-trained assault formations. Their techniques included pouring kerosene or gasoline into ventilation shafts of underground structures, sometimes in alarming quantities. For instance, two tonnes of gasoline were recorded being poured into a single installation before ignition was applied. Despite the brutal and methodical obliteration of their positions, the defenders continued to ignore orders to surrender. Notably, on August 18, a Japanese prisoner was sent under a flag of truce to inform those still holding out that the war was officially over; tragically, he was hacked to death by a sword-wielding officer. Ultimately, this stubbornness led to catastrophic consequences: about 3,000 defenders were killed, blasted and burned, before a small number finally capitulated. Additionally, advanced detachments of General Beloborodov's 1st Red Banner Army reached Shangzhi before continuing towards Harbin, and forward elements of General Krylov's 5th Army pushed on toward Jilin. General Chistyakov's 25th Army commenced disarming General Murakami's 3rd Army, while the 10th Mechanized Corps advanced rapidly westward, crossing the Laoilin Mountain passes to arrive at Tunhua by nightfall. Over in North Korea, the 335th Rifle Division successfully landed in Chongjin, as General Kabanov's Southern Defense Region prepared for an assault on Gensan. In South Sakhalin, despite the surrender of the 125th Regiment and ongoing negotiations with General Mineki's 88th Division, Soviet forces opted to proceed with the planned landing at Maoka. Consequently, Admiral Andreyev's Northern Pacific Flotilla departed from Sovetskaya Gavan in the morning, carrying the bulk of the 113th Rifle Brigade along with a battalion of marines for the long and challenging voyage to Maoka. On Shumshu Island, as General Gnechko's forces were landing their artillery to renew their assault, Japanese officers unexpectedly approached the Soviets under flags of truce, carrying a letter from General Tsutsumi proposing negotiations for surrender. Representatives from both sides began discussions, and by 6 PM, the 91st Division formally surrendered the garrisons of Shumshu, Paramushir, and Onekotan. On August 20, Gnechko dispatched a small detachment on six vessels to seize control of the airfield at Kataoka. However, as they crossed the Second Kuril Strait, batteries on both sides of the narrow waterway opened heavy fire on the Soviet ships, forcing them to withdraw. This breach of the surrender agreement sparked a renewed offensive at 1 PM, coordinated with air strikes. The bases at Kataoka and Kashiwabar were bombed by 61 aircraft, which dropped over 200 bombs, enabling ground troops to push forward up to six kilometers. It was not until General Tsutsumi intervened that the Soviets were assured the Japanese would indeed lay down their arms. Meanwhile, Andreyev's convoy arrived at Maoka harbor on the morning of August 20, successfully landing the first wave of marines amid heavy fog. They quickly spread out and secured the area while the second and third waves of infantry followed behind. By noon, the port area was secured, and the marines began advancing eastward into the city, supported by infantry on their flanks. Taken by surprise, the Japanese defenders were ultimately compelled to retreat, with the 113th Rifle Brigade pursuing them through the mountains to the villages of Futamata and Osaka. In Manchuria, between August 20 and 21, Vasilevsky's units continued their advance to occupy the region's main centers. Stalin urged for greater speed, fearing that any delay might prompt President Truman to order General MacArthur's air-naval assault forces to land there. Notably, Pliyev's first column successfully captured Kalgan, while his second column moved south toward Beijing, securing Gubeikou at the border. Located in one of the passes through the Great Wall, marking the border between Manchukuo and China, the town was garrisoned by Japanese units. These forces surrendered upon the approach of the Soviet troops, who then quickly advanced toward Beijing, about 100 kilometers away. Although not the former capital itself, this area was under the control of Chinese Communist forces known as the 8th Route Army, who aligned with the Soviets. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek was acutely aware that any Japanese capitulation to the Communists in northern China would allow the latter to occupy vital territories, making their removal difficult. Consequently, he commanded the 8th Route Army not to accept any Japanese surrenders, insisting they only surrender to Nationalist forces, with dire punishments threatened for defiance. Adding to the complexity, the Soviet Union and China had signed the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance, discussed at Yalta, just six days earlier on August 14. This treaty promised mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. The Soviets had also committed to providing “moral support and aid in military supplies and other material resources” exclusively to the National Government as the legitimate central authority of China. Thus, a significant political and military predicament loomed. However, the Soviets quickly extricated themselves from this situation when Malinovsky issued an order forbidding Pliyev's forces from crossing the border. As Pliyev recounted, his formations were poised just halfway between Chengde and Beijing, needing “only one 'leap' to the Chinese capital.” He noted, “I had to suspend the offensive and move north beyond the Great Wall.” Units from the 6th Guards Tank Army occupied both Changchun and Mukden, initiating a rail movement towards Port Arthur and Dairen. For those curious, at Pingfan and Changchun, General Shiro Ishii and the remaining personnel from Units 731 and 100 were captured by Soviet forces. In a tragic turn of events, all test subjects were murdered and cremated, while the Japanese attempted to destroy evidence of their facilities but were unable to do so in time. Following their capture, the Soviets launched an extensive campaign to uncover the secrets behind Units 731 and 100, leading to the Khabarovsk Trial. If you want to learn more about what I would call “japans operation paperclip”, the secret dealings between Unit 731 and the Allies after the war, I did make an episode about it over on my patreon. Its pretty gruesome stuff so big disclaimer there.' The Soviets arrived to Dairen on 24 August, although these places had surrendered to air-landed forces two days earlier. This was, no doubt, much to the relief of Stalin, as these were amongst the main locations where he most feared American intervention. Indeed, on the day of the landing he had told Vasilevsky to ‘keep in mind' the fact that any delay could mean ‘Truman will order General MacArthur to land his naval assault forces'. The long-resisting 135th Independent Mixed Brigade finally surrendered at Aihun, while advanced units of the 2nd Red Banner Army secured Nencheng and Peian before pushing towards Tsitsihar and Harbin. Forward detachments from the 15th and 1st Red Banner Armies also reached the already-occupied Harbin. Furthermore, advanced units of the 5th and 25th Armies arrived in Jilin to reinforce the air-landed detachment there. Additionally, units from the 88th Rifle Corps and the 10th Mechanized Corps began their southward movement into Korea, heading toward the 38th Parallel. In North Korea, Kabanov dispatched a marine battalion and other units, totaling around 2,000 men, to occupy the fortified port of Gensan on August 20. The following morning, the landing force arrived and disembarked without opposition. However, the Japanese garrison refused to surrender until orders from higher command were received. Meanwhile, Japanese troops began to peacefully surround the harbor area, while Soviet sailors and marines, in a similarly calm manner, took up their defensive positions. As Kabanov noted, “An incomprehensible situation arose, neither peace nor war. The enemy has numerical superiority, but he neither fights nor wants to capitulate.” Unsurprisingly, he added, “the night passed in suspense.” The surreal situation was resolved when Rear Admiral Hori Yugoro and Colonel Tado boarded the frigate EK-3 to meet with Captain Studenichnikov on the morning of August 22. During their discussions, they attempted to negotiate terms, but the Soviet captain issued a bold threat of an immediate large-scale air strike and the initiation of hostilities at the port unless they surrendered unconditionally. While the latter was likely an empty threat, the Japanese officers signed the surrender agreement nonetheless. The process of surrendering the garrison began that evening and continued until August 26. In total, the Soviets captured more than 7,000 officers and men, along with all their military equipment. Looking toward the northern Kuriles, Japanese forces on Shumshu finally began to lay down their weapons on the afternoon of August 22, as Gnechko's units spread out to secure the island. In Manchuria, airborne detachments were also landed at Dairen and Port Arthur to secure these key administrative centers before the Americans could take control. Vanguard units of the 6th Guards Tank Army arrived to reinforce them two days later. Meanwhile, in South Sakhalin, heavy fighting persisted at Futamata despite Mineki's ceasefire agreement on August 22. Soviet air strikes supported the ground forces when weather conditions allowed, and the Japanese finally surrendered by the nightfall of August 23. At the same time, Andreyev dispatched three marine battalions on a small convoy to capture Otomari. However, a fierce storm forced the flotilla to seek refuge in the port of Honto on the morning of August 24. Once the storm subsided that evening, the force left a company of marines to garrison the port and resumed their voyage to Otomari, arriving there on the morning of August 25, just as elements of the 113th Rifle Brigade reached the eastern outskirts of the city. By noon, the 88th Division surrendered, and the city was secured. Shortly after, the 214th Tank Brigade arrived at Toyohara to secure South Sakhalin's administrative center. Thus, the South Sakhalin operation concluded with nearly 18,320 Japanese soldiers taken prisoner. Yet, this wouldn't mark the end of operations for General Cheremisov's 16th Army. Stalin pushed for the 87th and 135th Rifle Brigades, along with three marine battalions, to assemble at Otomari and execute amphibious landings on the southern Kurile Islands, specifically, Etorofu, Shikotan, and Kunashiri, and the islets of the Habomai group. The failure to include the Kuril Islands in the areas designated for surrender to Soviet forces in Truman's General Order No. 1, originally issued on August 15, exacerbated Stalin's inherent suspicions regarding American intentions. Consequently, Vasilevsky was instructed to organize landings on the Kurils, ensuring that, similar to Port Arthur, Soviet occupation would manifest physically through boots on the ground. Despite Truman's subsequent correction of the omission, mistrust endured, as did the directive to occupy the islands. However, where Stalin hesitated was concerning Hokkaido. Truman's somewhat abrupt rejection of Stalin's demand for a portion of Hokkaido undoubtedly irritated the Soviet dictator, yet he chose not to take further action. Scholarly debates have arisen around the rationale behind Stalin's ‘retreat.' When viewed within the framework of his stated geostrategic goal of securing the Soviet Union's sea lines of communication in the Pacific, it becomes understandable. Churchill once likened the Soviet Union's challenges in this regard to those of a “giant with his nostrils pinched.” A look at the map reveals that control of the Kurils would significantly alleviate this pressure in the Far East, making their acquisition crucial. Similarly, occupying southern Sakhalin would allow the Soviet Union to control the northern side of the La Pérouse Strait, which connects the Sea of Japan to the Sea of Okhotsk. The strait's opposite shore is formed by the northern coast of Hokkaido, and possessing this area would undeniably enhance the security of communications and is therefore highly desirable. However, any unilateral action in this regard would incur a significant and public breach with the Americans, the consequences of which could not be easily predicted. Given that Stalin's claim to the Kurils was firmly based on the agreement reached at Yalta, an agreement which Truman honored, his choice to avoid completely rupturing relations with the U.S. was motivated by strategic self-interest. Consequently, Andreyev's flotilla, carrying these units, departed Otomari on August 27, reaching the west coast of Etorofu at 3:15 AM on August 28. The landing, conducted using small boats, went unopposed and was met by the surrender of General Ogawa's 89th Division. The occupation of the other islands was also peaceful, with the Soviets securing Kunashiri by September 2, and Shikotan and the Habomai islets by September 5. The remaining northern Kurile Islands surrendered without incident as elements of Gnechko's Kamchatka forces arrived at Paramushir on August 24, Onekotan and Shiashkotan on August 25, Matsuwa by August 26, Shimushiru on August 27, and Uruppu by August 29. In total, 63,840 prisoners were taken throughout the Kuriles. On August 24, air-landed detachments arrived at the cities of Pyongyang and Kange to secure the last administrative centers in North Korea. Two days later, units of the 25th Army reached Gensan. With this move, albeit with some geographical liberties, Chistyakov asserted that "the troops of the 25th Army, on the orders of Marshal Meretskov, reached the 38th Parallel.” In the days that followed, units of General Kushibuchi's 34th Army gradually began to surrender and disarm. Finally, in Manchuria, most of Yamada's units had surrendered and were being disarmed. However, one unit continued to resist until the end of the month. The bypassed and encircled 107th Division was engaged in fierce fighting for survival against the 94th Rifle Corps. Due to a lack of communication with Kwantung Army Headquarters, they did not receive any ceasefire orders. As a result, a staff officer from General Iida's 30th Army was dispatched by plane to locate the division and deliver the ceasefire orders. The 107th Division was found near Chalai, and the plane made a forced landing between the Japanese troops and the opposing Soviet forces. The staff officer successfully delivered the orders terminating hostilities in that sector on August 30, which the Japanese troops promptly complied with. By September 1, units of the 53rd Army occupied Kailu, Chaoyang, Fuhsin, and Gushanbeitseifu, while forward detachments secured the Chinchou area on the Liaotung Peninsula. This marked the conclusion of the Manchurian campaign, with the Soviets claiming to have captured between 594,000 and 609,000 prisoners of war across Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, and North Korea. The captured Japanese military personnel were subjected to forced labor in Siberian internment camps, as well as camps in Sakhalin, Manchuria, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia. A significant number were assigned to the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline. Unfortunately, the treatment of prisoners of war was deemed inhumane and mishandled. Many suffered from malnutrition, overwork, cave-ins, floods, unsanitary working conditions leading to epidemics, harsh winter weather, violent guards, and brutal suppression of even mild resistance. Disturbingly, some Japanese prisoners were even lynched by their fellow captives. Estimates suggest that between 60,000 and 347,000 Japanese died in captivity. Although 18,616 prisoners were released in 1946, the process of repatriating prisoners of war extended into the 1950s. Those who remained after 1950 were detained for various convictions. However, their release began in 1953 under different amnesties. Following Josef Stalin's death and the subsequent Khrushchev Thaw, the Soviet attitude toward the remaining Japanese prisoners shifted significantly. Accompanied by Soviet officials, they were taken on tours of cities and allowed to purchase gifts for their families. Before repatriation, a banquet in Khabarovsk, hosted by Nikolai Gagen, included high-ranking prisoners such as Jun Ushiroku as attendees. The last major group of 1,025 Japanese POWs was released on December 23, 1956. After that, some Japanese POWs were released in small groups, with some only returning in the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Interestingly, some prisoners who had been held for decades, many of whom had married and started families during their captivity, chose not to return permanently to Japan. The Soviets committed numerous war crimes during their invasion and occupation of Manchuria and other Japanese territories. During the invasion, Soviet soldiers killed and raped Japanese civilians and looted civilian property. Following the Soviet invasion of Manchuria on August 9, 1945, a large number of Japanese citizens residing in the region sought to repatriate to Japan. The Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers supervised this mass movement and, in October 1945, delegated responsibility to Japan's Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Kwantung Army, which was meant to protect the Japanese settlers in Manchuria, quickly retreated and abandoned them. With most able-bodied men drafted into the army, the majority of those left behind were women, children, and the elderly, rendering them highly vulnerable to attacks from Soviet soldiers and local Chinese seeking revenge.In Soviet-occupied Manchuria and North Korea, the repatriation of Japanese civilians was characterized by violent expulsions, accompanied by widespread looting, mass killings, and rampant sexual violence perpetrated by both Soviet soldiers and local populations seeking retribution. Many Japanese civilians succumbed to starvation, disease, mass killings, and mass suicides. Approximately 223,000 Japanese civilians residing in the Soviet-occupied zones died, most within a year and a half after August 9, 1945. Regarding the extensive rape of Japanese women and girls by Soviet soldiers, a former Japanese soldier, Wakatsuki Yoshio, detailed these grim experiences in his memoir, The Records of Postwar Repatriation “What word can possibly describe the violence committed by the Soviet soldiers on Japanese women? I can only think of the word “hideous”. The victim could be a girl of twelve or thirteen years old or an old lady of almost seventy years old. These soldiers did not choose the sites where they raped them, in public, in broad daylight, even on snow-covered roads”. The Soviet invasion of Manchuria in 1945 left many Japanese women stranded after their male family members were either conscripted or killed. These women, including young girls, endured severe hardships, facing gang rapes by Soviet soldiers and local Chinese militia groups. In a desperate effort to survive, many were forced to marry Chinese men, either out of necessity or in exchange for assistance in repatriating their remaining family members. Disturbingly, some victims were as young as thirteen. Some women were held in groups and subjected to repeated sexual violence over extended periods. In certain instances, to ensure the safety of the group, members of the Japanese community offered women to their perpetrators. There were also reports of women voluntarily submitting themselves to protect their families, younger peers, or others in their communities. After Japan's defeat in 1945, leaders of the Kurokawa Settler Group in Manchuria offered approximately 15 young women, aged 17 to 21, to Soviet soldiers in exchange for protection. This tragic practice continued from September to November 1945, with some of the women later being offered to Chinese soldiers as well. With no protection from Japanese soldiers, Japanese women often had to devise unique strategies to avoid rape. Memoirs from female repatriates detail various escape tactics. Some women hid in attics every night, narrowly avoiding capture or even gunfire. Others managed to trap intruders in rooms before fleeing or bribed Soviet soldiers with valuables, such as wristwatches, to secure their escape. Notably, some women, particularly former geisha and bar workers, voluntarily went with Soviet soldiers to protect others. These women were referred to as tokkōtai (kamikaze) for their self-sacrifice. Additionally, it wasn't just Japanese women who suffered; Korean and Chinese women were also victims of sexual violence at the hands of various perpetrators in Manchuria. British and American reports indicate that Soviet Red Army troops looted and terrorized the local population in Shenyang, a city in Manchuria. A foreign witness described how Soviet troops, formerly stationed in Berlin, were permitted by the Soviet military to enter Shenyang for "three days of rape and pillage." In Harbin, Soviet forces ignored protests from leaders of the Chinese Communist Party regarding the widespread mass rape and looting committed by their troops. In the immediate aftermath of the war in 1945, in areas of Manchuria occupied by the National Revolutionary Army, 176 Koreans were killed, 1,866 were injured, 3,468 were detained, and 320 were raped by armed Chinese mobs. The attacks against Korean residents in Manchuria were believed to stem from a perception of Korean collaboration with Japanese colonial rule. One of the most infamous instances was the Gegenmiao massacre. On August 10 and 11, Xing'an was bombed, nearly destroying its urban functions. It is estimated that 3,000 of the 4,000 civilians. Anticipating the Soviet invasion, Xing'an had prepared an evacuation plan divided into three groups based on residential area and workplace. The Kwantung Army, however, failed to inform the General Office officials about their retreat. As a result, residents in the eastern area, many of whom were self-employed or office workers, had difficulty obtaining information and securing transportation, while those in the western area had military personnel who were first to learn of the situation. Some of the civilians with a handful of armed men had proceeded on foot towards Gegenmiao Township, about 35 kilometers southeast of Xing'an Street, to wait for a train at Gegenmiao Station and then evacuate to Baichengzi. They aimed to receive protection from the Kwantung Army in Baichengzi. Around 11:40 AM on August 14 in the vicinity of Gegenmyo Hill, where a Lamaist temple was located, they encountered an infantry unit consisting of 14 Soviet medium tanks and 20 trucks. The column reportedly stretched for two kilometers, with about a hundred survivors among them. Soviet troops launched an attack from the hilltop, deploying tanks with machine-gun fire. The tanks attacked multiple times, and when they ceased, Soviet soldiers disembarked and ruthlessly shot and bayoneted survivors. Many who escaped death from gunfire were still severely injured or witnessed family members being killed. Some were left holding their loved ones or chose to commit suicide. It is estimated that only about a hundred survivors were later confirmed, including nearly 200 schoolchildren from the Xing'an Street Zaiman National School. Kwantung Army units, which were supposed to escort the civilians and counterattack, had already retreated southward. Even after the Soviet soldiers left, sporadic gunfire continued, presumably due to suicides. Local residents began to plunder the bodies, stripping them of clothes and valuables. Others drowned in the river while attempting to escape. Reports tell of one woman who had her child killed by Soviet soldiers, only to later face an attack from Chinese militia, who stripped her of her clothes and mutilated her. Surviving mothers and children were also attacked, and those separated were often taken by the Chinese. At the time, it was common for Japanese boys to be sold for 300 yen and girls for 500 yen. Some survivors gathered together and began committing mass suicide, killing those who wished to end their lives. Others expressed intentions to form a death squad with rifles for revenge but ultimately did not resist.   After the war ended on August 15, attacks on displaced persons continued. A 12-year-old girl who joined a group of about ten women after the incident reported that they were attacked and robbed, taking over a week to reach Zhenxi Station, 10 kilometers from Gegenmiao Station. The women sought shelter in an abandoned house near the station but were discovered by Soviet soldiers that night who assaulted them until midnight. Afterward, the soldiers piled dry grass into the house, setting it ablaze in an attempt to burn the women alive. The girl and her sister managed to escape through a window, but many others could not flee in time due to the fire's rapid spread. The girl was forced to live as a residual orphan afterward. Fortunately, some Chinese, Mongolians, and Koreans provided food for the survivors, with some Chinese showing kindness towards the children. Those orphaned children, whose parents had been killed, became known as residual orphans, with about 30 in this unfortunate situation. Many women were forced to become residual women as well. Tragically, around 200 students from a local school, including the headmaster and his wife, were killed during this chaos. Some historians believe the attack stemmed from Soviet soldiers mistaking the refugees for armed Japanese troops because men within the group were carrying firearms for protection. In general, displaced persons at this time often carried small weapons like rifles, and some groups were even armed with light machine guns. In the pioneer groups, women sometimes participated in fighting against bandits, and in the Sado pioneer group incident, children above the fifth grade were forced into combat, regardless of gender. There may also have been prior skirmishes with other Japanese civilian groups before the war's end, further complicating the situation as the Soviet Army, which included female soldiers, may have regarded these mixed civilian and armed groups as a threat. According to Soviet military combat records, on August 14, the Soviet 17th Guards Rifle Division, 19th Guards Rifle Division, 91st Guards Rifle Division, and 61st Tank Division were stationed northwest of Gezhne Temple, but there was no combat activity in the area. On August 15, this unit advanced toward Bai Chengzi and occupied Bai Chengzi Station, which was then taken over by tanks from the 61st Tank Division. Despite extensive documentation, nothing about this incident was revealed until 2014 during the process of perestroika. Reports from British and American sources indicate that the 700,000 Soviet troops occupying Manchuria also terrorized and looted the local population in Mukden. They were not deterred by Soviet authorities and engaged in what was described as "three days of rape and pillage," with similar atrocities occurring in Harbin and across the country. Amid the mass repatriation of Japanese civilians living in the region, Japanese women in Manchuria faced repeated sexual violence at the hands of Russian soldiers every day. In North Korea, it was similarly reported that Soviet soldiers raped both Japanese and Korean women. Additionally, Soviet soldiers looted the property of Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans residing in Manchuria and North Korea. 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. Amid chaotic surrenders, Emperor Hirohito accepted defeat, but Soviet advances continued relentlessly. As they pushed deeper, the Soviets captured key cities, including Harbin, while Japan's soldiers and civilians struggled for survival against the onslaught. War crimes committed by Soviet troops added to the tragedy, with rampant violence against Japanese civilians. Amidst political tensions, the Soviets secured territory, culminating in the surrender of remaining Japanese forces. The grim conclusion of this campaign marked a profound shift in the power dynamics of East Asia and paved the way for post-war ramifications.

Interview date: October 29, 2024Episode Summary:Nika Kljun, a renowned dancer, choreographer, and life coach, to discuss her extraordinary journey from Slovenia to Hollywood. Nika shares insights on her humble beginnings in her parents' dance studio and how her early success in Europe led to major international opportunities. She talks about her experience working with A-list artists like Beyoncé, JLo, and Britney Spears, and the importance of resilience in the dance industry. Nika also opens up about her transition into life coaching, offering holistic support to dancers and non-dancers alike.Throughout the conversation, Nika discusses the value of perseverance, the impact of social media, and how dancers can handle comparison and negative self-talk. She encourages dancers to trust the process, stay grounded, and embrace their true selves.Show Notes:(00:00) - Introduction to Nika Kljun(04:15) - Nika's Early Dance Journey in Slovenia(08:00) - Transition from Slovenia to LA and the O-1 Visa Process(15:40) - The Struggles and Successes of Starting in LA(24:30) - The Role of Social Media and Comparison in Dance Careers(30:45) - Nika's Transition into Life Coaching and Helping Dancers Mentally(36:20) - The Importance of Self-Care, Mental Health, and Physical Wellbeing(42:00) - Advice for Dancers: Resilience, Forgiveness, and Personal Growth(50:00) - Final Thoughts and Closing RemarksBiography:World renowned choreographer and professional dancer Nika Kljun was born into a family of respected dance pioneers in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The apple didn't fall far from the tree, and Nika shone from a young age. A national and international champion herself, by the time she was a teenager, she coached and choreographed dancers from her family's studio, Bolero, to new heights and world titles. Meanwhile, she built her professional resume and impressive reputation across Europe and the world. Soon enough, Nika moved to Los Angeles, California to further pursue her dreams. It was not long before she had worked with the likes of Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber, and appeared on mainstream televised award shows such as the MTV Video Music Awards, the Latin Grammys, X-Factor, and more. All the while, Nika continued to fulfill her passion for education, teaching often sold out classes to dancers at Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles, and touring the country and world teaching master classes, both individually, and with elite dance convention programs. She is currently on faculty at Jump dance convention. Nika's choreography can be seen on prime time television shows such as Fox TV's So You Think You Can Dance and The Masked Singer, CBS's Come Dance With Me, and more, and in both live and virtual arenas across the world - to name only two of many, Nika choreographed for Taiwanese “Queen of C-Pop” Jolin Cai's Ugly Beauty World Tour in 2019 and J. Balvin's Live TikTok Concert Performance in 2021. In 2018, Nika was a choreographer for Britney Spears' Las Vegas Residency “Domination”, a full circle moment following Nika's portrayal of the megastar during the 2011 VMA Vanguard Britney Spears Tribute Performance. Notably, not only has Nika choreographed for pop culture, music, and dance legend Paula Abdul, but she has been her creative right-hand-woman for six years. Her work on Paula's “Forever Your Girl” Las Vegas Residency in 2019, and her outstanding performance at the Billboard Music Awards in 2019. Their collaborative power continues to flourish throughout current projects. Throughout it all, Nika deeply understands and intently spreads the value of wellness. Now a certified life coach, Nika recently and successfully launched “Shaped By Nika” - a professional-level dance intensive marked by an emphasis on how the mind, body, and spirit can work together towards one's dreams. Connect on Social Media:https://www.instagram.com/nikakljun/profilecard/Website: https://nikakljun.com

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Robin: EVERYTHING WAS HOLY….       What are five things no one would know about Burt Ward who played Robin in the TV show Batman?   ### 1. **A Speed-Reading Sensation**   Before hitting the big time, young Burt became an accomplished speed-reader. He was tested before the American Medical Society in Beverly Hills and clocked a staggering **30,000 words per minute with 90% comprehension**—far beyond average reading speeds. ([Classic Movie Hub - CMH][1], [TV Banter][2])   ---   ### 2. **World's Youngest Professional Ice Skater**   At just **two years old**, Burt was featured in the magazine *Strange as It Seems* as the **world's youngest professional ice skater**, thanks to a traveling ice show owned by his father. ([Wikipedia][3], [Classic Movie Hub - CMH][1])   ---   ### 3. **He Did (Most of) His Own Dangerous Stunts**   Unlike many stars, Burt performed most of his own stunts, even though his face made using a stunt double difficult. This led to multiple emergency room visits—**dozens**, he says—due to injuries from stunts like being tied to a table with a real buzz saw inches away or suspended above Bengal tigers. ([Wikipedia][3], [Express][4])   A Reddit user humorously shared one of Burt's more wild stories, recalling how during one stunt he was flung from the Batmobile when the door unexpectedly opened—and cracked an arm. ([Reddit][5])   ---   ### 4. **Musical Collaborations with Frank Zappa**   During *Batman*'s peak, Burt recorded several tracks produced by Tom Wilson and arranged by Frank Zappa. Notably, he released a single featuring "Boy Wonder, I Love You" (written by Zappa) and a cover of "Orange Colored Sky." ([Wikipedia][3], [Classic Movie Hub - CMH][1])   ---   ### 5. **Rescue Work for Giant-Breed Dogs**   Beyond Hollywood, Burt—and his wife Tracy—devoted themselves to canine welfare. In **1994**, they founded *Gentle Giants Rescue and Adoptions*, significantly impacting the lives of giant-breed dogs. Their nonprofit has facilitated **over 15,500 adoptions** and often houses around **50 dogs at home** awaiting forever families. ([Wikipedia][3], [People.com][6]) Additionally, their company *Gentle Giants* produces natural pet food aimed at boosting pets' longevity and wellbeing. ([People.com][6])   ---   ### Bonus Tidbits:   * Burt actually chose his own stage name: swapping “Gervis” for *Ward* (his mother's maiden name) and altering “Bert” to “Burt” because it had more punch. ([Wikipedia][3], [Classic Movie Hub - CMH][1]) * He holds a **Guinness World Record** for portraying the same live-action superhero in the most episodes (120 as Robin). ([Facts.net][7], [The Famous People][8]) * In **2020**, Burt received a star on the **Hollywood Walk of Fame**—a fitting tribute to the iconic Boy Wonder. ([Hollywood Walk of Fame][9])   To understand the deep meaning of redemption in Greek scripture, it is essential to explore the key terms used by New Testament writers, primarily agorazō and its cognates (exagorazō), and lytron with its related forms (apolytrōsis, lytrōsis). These words paint a picture of redemption as a decisive, costly, and legally binding rescue from the slavery of sin and its consequences.  Key Greek words for redemption Agorazō (ἀγοράζω) and exagorazō (ἐξαγοράζω) The verb agorazō means "to buy or purchase" and is derived from agora, the Greek marketplace or slave market. The related verb exagorazō, which means "to buy out or buy from," intensifies this meaning.  Bought at a price: The use of agorazō emphasizes that humanity was on the auction block of sin but has been purchased by Christ. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:20, "For you were bought with a price" (ēgorasthēte timēs), underscoring the high cost of this purchase. Freedom from the Law: The more intensive term exagorazō highlights a targeted purchase designed to remove something or someone from their previous state. For example, Galatians 4:5 says Christ came to "redeem those who were under the law" (exagorazō tous hupo nomon). This signifies not just a general purchase but a deliberate act of freeing people from the curse and bondage of the Law.  Lytron (λύτρον), apolytrōsis (ἀπολύτρωσις), and lytrōsis (λύτρωσις) This cluster of words emphasizes the idea of a ransom payment that brings about release. Lytron (ransom price): Lytron specifically refers to the monetary price paid to free a slave or captive. In Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45, Jesus says he came "to give his life as a ransom (lytron) for many," directly comparing his death to a payment made to secure the freedom of others. Apolytrōsis (completed redemption): The preposition apo is an intensifier, making apolytrōsis a "stronger form" of the word that denotes a complete and finalized liberation. This is the word used when describing the future, full redemption of believers' bodies at the resurrection (Romans 8:23) and the day of ultimate redemption (Ephesians 4:30). Lytrōsis (the experience of release): This noun refers to the deliverance or liberation that results from the payment of a ransom. Hebrews 9:12 explains that Christ "obtained eternal redemption (lytrōsis) for us".  The holistic and progressive nature of redemption The deep meaning of redemption in the Greek New Testament moves beyond a simple, one-time transaction to a multi-faceted and progressive work of God.  Past: An accomplished fact The price for sin has been paid through Christ's death on the cross, accomplishing a decisive and objective redemption for all believers. The sacrifice of Christ is the ultimate ransom (lytron), securing our justification and the forgiveness of sins (Romans 3:24).  Present: An ongoing reality The power of redemption is at work in believers' lives, delivering them from sin's power and purifying them to be a people for God's possession (Titus 2:14). As part of this transformation, believers are no longer slaves to sin but bondservants of righteousness (Romans 6:18).  Future: A complete deliverance Redemption is not yet fully realized. Believers "groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" (Romans 8:23). The final stage of redemption will be the complete liberation from corruption and the resurrection of our bodies when Christ returns (Luke 21:28).  A covenantal and communal significance Understanding the Greek word for redemption also brings with it significant implications for our relationship with God and others.  A treasured possession (peripoiēsis) 1 Peter 2:9 refers to believers as "a people for his own possession (peripoiēsis)." The Greek term highlights that God did not simply purchase us to release us, but to acquire and preserve us as his treasured property. This identity echoes the Old Testament concept of Israel as God's segullah, his special, prized possession.  Motivating holiness - HOLY MOTIVATION BATMAN The knowledge that we belong to God motivates believers to live holy lives and not grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). The infinite cost of our redemption, the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18–19), calls believers to live not for themselves but for Christ. 

MasterMind Minutes One Guest, One Question, One Expert Answer in Minutes Not Hours. Today our guest is Mohaimina (“Mina”) Haque Mina is a trailblazing CEO, attorney, and educator, breaking barriers as the first woman CEO of Tony Roma's in its five-decade history. As she spearheads the global restaurant chain, Mina is also actively engaged in the legal sphere, serving as the founder of the Law Office of Mohaimina Haque, PLLC, based in Washington DC, and as an Adjunct Professor of Law Practice Management at American University Washington College of Law.In her legal practice, Mina's expertise spans various areas, including corporate law, immigration law, and litigation. Notably, her immigration practice has facilitated the successful acquisition of Einstein visas, investor visas, and multinational executive visas for numerous individuals from diverse backgrounds.Beyond her roles in business and law, Mina is a pioneer in law practice management. She educates on building virtual firms and managing remote operations with the latest technological advancements, ensuring her students are equipped for the evolving landscape of legal practice.Mina's commitment to innovation extends to her tenure at Tony Roma's, where she is always at the forefront of testing innovative solutions for an agile and adaptable workforce. Her leadership and vision drive the chain's expansion and innovation, while her ongoing legal practice keeps her abreast of legal developments.An inspiring educator, Mina shares her wealth of knowledge and experience with aspiring legal professionals, mentoring them to excel in their careers.Named one of Women We Admire's ‘Top Women Leaders of DC for 2025,' Mina's remarkable achievements, leadership, and dedication to excellence have firmly established her as a true pioneer in both the legal and business communities.Contact Gary: info@frangrow.comVisit: https://www.tonyromasfranchise.com/

Cristiano Ronaldo BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Cristiano Ronaldo has been at the center of attention again this week after a significant moment in his career during the Saudi Super Cup final. According to ESPN and AccessWDUN, on August 23rd, he made history by becoming the first player to score 100 competitive goals for four different clubs—Real Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus, and now Al Nassr. This achievement puts him in an exclusive category above icons like Romario and Neymar, making sports pages around the world highlight his legendary status. But in a narrative twist, Ronaldo's milestone came during a dramatic loss for Al Nassr, who fell in a penalty shootout to Al Ahli after a 2-2 draw. This defeat marks his third consecutive season in Saudi Arabia without a major trophy, which instantly sparked more comparisons to Lionel Messi, who has enjoyed recent title success in the United States. Still, Ronaldo's first-half penalty and his performance through the match were enough to dominate headlines, especially with thousands of fans packed into Hong Kong Stadium witnessing him light up the event, as described by both ESPN and the South China Morning Post.Away from the pitch, Ronaldo's brand continues to soar globally. Forbes and OnFocus report he is again the world's highest-paid athlete for 2025, bringing in an astonishing 275 million dollars this year through both his Al Nassr contract and endorsement deals with Nike and Herbalife. Business media outlets like Ronaldo7 detail how the CR7 brand has diversified aggressively, with investments in luxury real estate, the expansion of his Pestana CR7 hotel chain, and a growing fitness empire. Notably, his investments are described as calculated for long-term stability, with the CR7 name now a symbol of luxury, sport, and hospitality.Social media is another realm Ronaldo dominates—Exploding Topics states that he is the most followed person in the world, with over 1.02 billion followers across all major platforms. His activity, including high-profile posts documenting training sessions in Hong Kong and moments from the Super Cup, continually generates massive engagement. However, there was a hint of controversy this week as a viral Instagram post accused him of being selfish after Al Nassr's loss, which has circulated throughout fan accounts but remains speculative and not commented on by any official source.Even as questions swirl about missed trophies, Ronaldo's influence only seems to broaden, both as an athlete and a global business icon. His philanthropic activities continue in the background, reinforcing a carefully curated image that's still very much in control of the headlines and the billion-strong fanbase watching his every move.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

Peso Pluma BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Peso Pluma has spent the past week both cementing his status as a musical icon and landing in the public eye for reasons beyond his rapid chart success. Notably, he was the surprise guest at Kali Uchis's Kia Forum show in Los Angeles on August 21, turning her North American arena tour highlight into a social media sensation as fans flooded platforms with excitement for their electric joint performance. The tour, dubbed The Sincerely Tour, has been making waves and Peso's appearance there further confirms his genre-straddling appeal with both fans and critics expressing envy at missing the sold-out Los Angeles dates, as reported by Sportskeeda and PopCrave.On the business side, Peso Pluma's career faced indirect turbulence when music executive Ángel del Villar, a pivotal figure in his early development, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for money laundering. Digital Music News revealed Del Villar's involvement with concert promoters sanctioned for cartel money laundering, casting a shadow over the regional Mexican scene but not directly implicating Peso Pluma in the case.Musically, this week saw Peso Pluma's creative and industry recognition soar. He picked up five nominations for the 2025 Premios Juventud awards, placing him among the year's top Latin hitmakers as per the Los Angeles Times. The ceremony has expanded with new categories reflecting shifting musical trends and will take place for the first time outside the United States, signifying Peso's rise in an ever-globalizing market.Peso Pluma also reconnected musically with Argentine rapper Duki and streetwear mogul Nigo for the single and music video Alley Oop, depicting the duo in lowrider scenes and signaling cross-border collaborations likely to reshape Latin urban music, according to RollingStone and IMDb News.On the personal front, relationship drama dominated headlines after Argentinian singer Nicki Nicole hinted at a split on Instagram, just days following their joint Grammy appearance and sightings together at Grammys and NBA events. Her emotional posts, widely paralleled by fan reactions, were sparked by videos of Peso Pluma reportedly holding hands with another woman during Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas. The breakup has been covered by People and AOL News and has further amplified the narrative of Peso as both an artist and a tabloid fixture.An Esquire interview published August 21 captured Peso Pluma in a reflective mood, working on new music and discussing lessons learned from fame and current sociopolitical issues, especially border tensions. He advised fans to be patient and promised that his evolving sound would soon address unity and culture—fueling speculation about his forthcoming album.Social media continues to buzz about Peso Pluma, from concert footage to fan selfies, with recurring themes about his influence on corridos, Latin pop, and even fashion—his image at events and collaborations draws continuous coverage from outlets like Hispanxs and Instagram reels.Speculation is swirling about the themes and collaborators for his next album due to these public appearances and introspective interviews, but nothing beyond his remarks about unity and cultural learning has been confirmed. Peso Pluma remains at the center of changing Latin music narratives, his every move watched and debated by a rapidly growing audience.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: 3:05pm- Last year, New York Judge Arthur F. Engoron found that Donald Trump inflated the value of assets controlled by the Trump Organization in past financial statements. With no jury, Judge Engoron unilaterally chose to fine Trump $500 million and barred him from conducting business in New York for three years. Notably, in 2018, while campaigning to become New York Attorney General, Letitia James vowed to “sue” Trump and routinely spoke of how she would like to see him imprisoned—providing evidence to the defense's legal argument that this civil suit is entirely political. Trump's legal team appealed the decision—and now, a New York Appeals Court has thrown out the half-billion-dollar judgement. In his opinion, Justice Peter Moulton wrote: “While harm certainly occurred, it was not the cataclysmic harm that can justify a nearly half billion-dollar award to the State.” 3:30pm- Jack Ciattarelli—Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey and a former New Jersey State Representative—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his tireless efforts to defeat Democrat Mikie Sherrill in November's election. Ciattarelli reacts to a new Eagleton Center for Public Interest/ Rutgers University poll which shows he trails Sherrill by 9-points (their poll last month had Ciattarelli down 20-points). He notes that the poll undercounted male voters and Republicans—which means this race is a coin toss. Plus, energy prices in NJ are skyrocketing and Sherrill's policies are the reason why. 3:50pm- Matt is nearly “concussed” by a falling studio microphone. Rich expresses very little interest in Matt's wellbeing—and is more concerned with the fact that he used the term “concussed.”

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 3: 5:05pm- Last year, New York Judge Arthur F. Engoron found that Donald Trump inflated the value of assets controlled by the Trump Organization in past financial statements. With no jury, Judge Engoron unilaterally chose to fine Trump $500 million and barred him from conducting business in New York for three years. Notably, in 2018, while campaigning to become New York Attorney General, Letitia James vowed to “sue” Trump and routinely spoke of how she would like to see him imprisoned—providing evidence to the defense's legal argument that this civil suit is entirely political. Trump's legal team appealed the decision—and now, a New York Appeals Court has thrown out the half-billion-dollar judgement. In his opinion, Justice Peter Moulton wrote: “While harm certainly occurred, it was not the cataclysmic harm that can justify a nearly half billion-dollar award to the State.” 5:10pm- BREAKING NEWS: There is an active shooter alert on Villanova University's campus. 5:20pm- Is Burgermeister Meisterburger (who made toys illegal in “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”) making a guest appearance on MSNBC right now? 5:40pm- Dr. Victoria Coates—Vice President of the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation & former Deputy National Security Advisor—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the Trump Administration's attempts to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia. Plus, Dr. Coates reacts to a Sky News report that Italy has arrested a Ukrainian suspected of involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline explosions in 2022.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Show (08/21/2025): 3:05pm- Last year, New York Judge Arthur F. Engoron found that Donald Trump inflated the value of assets controlled by the Trump Organization in past financial statements. With no jury, Judge Engoron unilaterally chose to fine Trump $500 million and barred him from conducting business in New York for three years. Notably, in 2018, while campaigning to become New York Attorney General, Letitia James vowed to “sue” Trump and routinely spoke of how she would like to see him imprisoned—providing evidence to the defense's legal argument that this civil suit is entirely political. Trump's legal team appealed the decision—and now, a New York Appeals Court has thrown out the half-billion-dollar judgement. In his opinion, Justice Peter Moulton wrote: “While harm certainly occurred, it was not the cataclysmic harm that can justify a nearly half billion-dollar award to the State.” 3:30pm- Jack Ciattarelli—Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey and a former New Jersey State Representative—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his tireless efforts to defeat Democrat Mikie Sherrill in November's election. Ciattarelli reacts to a new Eagleton Center for Public Interest/ Rutgers University poll which shows he trails Sherrill by 9-points (their poll last month had Ciattarelli down 20-points). He notes that the poll undercounted male voters and Republicans—which means this race is a coin toss. Plus, energy prices in NJ are skyrocketing and Sherrill's policies are the reason why. 3:50pm- Matt is nearly “concussed” by a falling studio microphone. Rich expresses very little interest in Matt's wellbeing—and is more concerned with the fact that he used the term “concussed.” 4:05pm- Dr. Wilfred Reilly—Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University & Author of “Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me”—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss Cracker Barrel changing its logo, Donald Trump vowing to eliminate “woke” from the Smithsonian museums, and the history of progressivism. Plus, should Rich and Dr. Reilly write a book together? 4:40pm- While appearing on Fox Business, FBI Director Kash Patel said of the raid on President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in 2022 by Biden's Justice Department: "There was no predicate to go and invade his home—and we have answered that definitively." 4:50pm- During an interview on Thursday, President Donald Trump revealed he'll do a ride along through Washington D.C. with police and military tonight. 5:05pm- Last year, New York Judge Arthur F. Engoron found that Donald Trump inflated the value of assets controlled by the Trump Organization in past financial statements. With no jury, Judge Engoron unilaterally chose to fine Trump $500 million and barred him from conducting business in New York for three years. Notably, in 2018, while campaigning to become New York Attorney General, Letitia James vowed to “sue” Trump and routinely spoke of how she would like to see him imprisoned—providing evidence to the defense's legal argument that this civil suit is entirely political. Trump's legal team appealed the decision—and now, a New York Appeals Court has thrown out the half-billion-dollar judgement. In his opinion, Justice Peter Moulton wrote: “While harm certainly occurred, it was not the cataclysmic harm that can justify a nearly half billion-dollar award to the State.” 5:10pm- BREAKING NEWS: There is an active shooter alert on Villanova University's campus. 5:20pm- Is Burgermeister Meisterburger (who made toys illegal in “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”) making a guest appearance on MSNBC right now? 5:40pm- Dr. Victoria Coates—Vice President of the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation & former Deputy National Security Advisor—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the Trump Administration's attempts to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia. Plus, Dr. Coates reacts to a Sky News report that Italy has arrested a ...

Sustainable Stock Picks for August 2025. Includes 12 articles featuring sustainable stock and green bond picks from mostly North America. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 158, August 22, 2025 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 158, published on August 22, 2025, titled “Sustainable Stock Picks for August 2025.” Before I begin, I would like to inform you that I'm adjusting the release schedule for these podcasts. So, for the foreseeable future, this podcast will be released on the last Friday of every month. Hence, my next podcast will be on September 26th. This podcast is presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your go-to site for vital global, ethical, and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material, on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. I have a great crop of 12 articles for you in this podcast! ------------------------------------------------------------- 12 Best Ethical Companies to Invest in 2025 The first article is by someone who has been on this podcast a few times. His name is Faheem Tahir, and his article is titled 12 Best Ethical Companies to Invest in 2025. It's found on fool.com. The methodology underlying his stock selection is fascinating and impressive. Here's some of what he has to say about it and brief quotes on each of his picks. “To curate our list of the 12 Best Ethical Companies to Invest in 2025, we used Ethisphere's list of ‘World's Most Ethical Companies'. Ethisphere's list relies on its Ethics Quotient, which evaluates companies based on their ethics, compliance, governance, and corporate responsibility across multiple criteria. We then used Insider Monkey's database to assess hedge fund sentiment on the shortlisted stocks. Finally, we ranked the stocks in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in the respective stocks as of Q1 2025. Our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. (See more details here.) 12. Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSK) Number of Hedge Funds: 82 On July 23, Loop Capital started coverage on Autodesk with a ‘Hold' rating, setting a $320 price target… Autodesk is a global 3D design, engineering, construction, and entertainment software company, offers cutting-edge tools for everything from infrastructure to animation. 11. Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ:WDAY) Hedge Funds: 85 On July 14, 2025, Workday was selected by Seattle University as its partner… Serving global corporations, universities, and now, government entities, Workday offers AI-driven enterprise cloud applications, particularly for finance, HR, and student segments. 10. Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN) Hedge Funds: 85 Investor confidence is growing in Eaton Corporation with KeyBanc increasing its price target on the company from $355 to $410… The company has paid dividends every year since 1923… By designing and delivering electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical solutions, Eaton Corporation has made itself a leader in the intelligent power management solutions market, helping industries improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability. 9. Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ:LRCX) Hedge Funds: 91 On July 21, 2025, UBS increased its price target on Lam Research Corporation from $95 to $120, maintaining a ‘Buy' rating… Lam Research Corporation, serving major foundries and integrated device manufacturers worldwide, manufactures advanced semiconductor processing equipment for chip production. 8. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) Hedge Funds: 91 On July 24, 2025, Intel Corporation reported its financial performance for Q2, surprising Wall Street with a revenue of $12.86 billion that beat estimates of $11.92 billion. However, the company reported a net loss of $2.9 billion… Intel Corporation designs and manufactures computing products for tech companies worldwide. 7. Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MU) Hedge Funds: 96 With rapid growth acceleration in the space economy, Micron Technology announced the launch of the industry's highest-density, radiation-tolerant SLC NAND flash memory on July 22, 2025. This memory chip is designed to survive space's harsh environment, marked by radiation, extreme temperatures, and vacuum pressure… Micron Technology is the only major U.S.-based memory maker, delivering advanced DRAM, NAND, and NOR solutions with its Micron and Crucial brands. 6. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) Hedge Funds: 99 On July 24, 2025, Pfizer finalized the global licensing agreement with 3SBio, Inc…. Leveraging 3SBio's proprietary CLF2 platform, this innovative treatment enhances Pfizer's oncology pipeline and solidifies its competitive edge in cancer research… Operating globally, Pfizer discovers, develops, and sells biopharmaceuticals. 5. ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) Hedge Funds: 106 On July 23, 2025, ServiceNow reported financial results for Q2, beating guidance across all areas… On the same day as the earnings release, Jefferies increased its price target on ServiceNow from $1,025 to $1,150, maintaining a ‘Buy' rating. Stifel also increased its target to $1,200 on the same day. With its Now platform, ServiceNow offers a cloud-based solution for digital workflows globally. 4. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) Hedge Funds: 119 On July 18, Leerink Partners maintained its ‘Buy' rating on the company, citing growth potential through the GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) space… On the same day, Jefferies also maintained a ‘Buy' rating, setting its price target at $1,057… Operating globally, Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals. 3. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) Hedge Funds: 140 Salesforce is demonstrating a mixed performance as of the time of writing… Previously, on July 16, 2025, Citizens JMP maintained a ‘Market Outperform' rating on Salesforce with a price target of $430, citing future growth driven by the company's AI and cloud services. Offering Agentforce, Data Cloud, Salesforce Starter, and Tableau, Salesforce provides customer relationship management (CRM) technology, bridging companies and customers. 2. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) Hedge Funds: 155 Ahead of its Q2 earnings, Truist decreased its price target on Mastercard Incorporated from $640 to $612, maintaining a ‘Buy' rating, reflecting its continued confidence in the stock… Mastercard Incorporated… offers transaction processing and other related products and services. 1. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) Hedge Funds: 165 Truist Securities decreased its price target on Visa from $400 to $397, maintaining a ‘Buy' rating. Despite the price target reduction and recent underperformance of the fintech sector, the firm cited optimism regarding the company's strong fundamentals and promising outlook for the fintech sector. Visa is a global payment technology company, offering credit, debit, and prepaid card products, and VisaNet, a transaction processing network.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Best Sustainable Companies to Own: 2025 Edition The second featured article is titled Best Sustainable Companies to Own: 2025 Edition. It's by Emelia Fredlick and Leslie P. Norton and seen on morningstar.com. (Note: follow the article link on this podcast episode's webpage to all 83 companies that Morningstar considers the best 2025 sustainable companies.) The article also highlights the three companies below. Here are some brief quotes from the authors. “Morningstar's research finds that the biggest ESG risk is in energy and utilities, with the smallest in technology and real estate. Morningstar Sustainalytics measures this with the Sustainalytics ESG Risk Rating… We didn't include valuations for these (83) companies. Rather, we focused on the criteria that set a company up for success in the long term. So, while not all these names can be considered a buy today, this can serve as a great watchlist… Data Source: Morningstar Direct as of Jun. 30, 2025. 1) RELX RELX UK-based RELX is a global provider of business information, analytics, and decision-making tools for professionals across industries. The firm generates revenue mainly by creating and selling access to curated information databases, analytics, and journals. Morningstar senior analyst Rob Hales assigns RELX a wide Morningstar Economic Moat Rating… Sustainalytics gives RELX an ESG Risk Management Rating of Strong. 2) Danaher DHR Danaher focuses primarily on manufacturing scientific instruments and consumables in the life science and diagnostic industries. The firm aims to accelerate core growth at acquired companies, including Cytiva (formerly GE Biopharma), by making research and development and marketing-related investments… Sustainalytics gives Danaher an ESG Risk Management Rating of Strong. Morningstar senior analyst Julie Utterback assigns Danaher a wide economic moat. 3) Keysight Technologies KEYS Keysight Technologies is the leader in communications testing and measurement solutions. We think it has the strongest and broadest communications testing capabilities in the market across hardware, software, and services. Its wide moat rating, according to Morningstar senior analyst William Kerwin, owes to ‘intangible assets in the design of test and measurement equipment and software and switching costs for its portfolio of solutions.' Because of Keysight's strong ESG reporting and oversight of ESG issues, Sustainalytics gives the company an ESG Risk Management Rating of Strong.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Top Wind Energy Stocks That Will Drive Long-Term Portfolio Growth The last article I'm covering is by Avisekh Bhattacharjee, for Zacks, and found on nasdaq.com. It's titled Top Wind Energy Stocks That Will Drive Long-Term Portfolio Growth. Here are some quotes from his article. “As clean energy technologies evolve, they are set to capitalize on growth opportunities and provide lucrative investment prospects. Our Wind Energy Screen helps identify stocks with high growth potential in this dynamic sector. 1) Arcosa ACA is a well-known provider of infrastructure-related products and services that serve the energy, construction and transportation markets. The company's Engineered Structures business provides wind towers, utility structures and telecommunication structures for wind power generation, electricity transmission and distribution, and wireless communication markets. This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company's Engineered Structures business continues to witness strong demand for its wind towers and engineered structures. Arcosa, Inc. (ACA): Free Stock Analysis Report. 2) Dominion Energy D together with its subsidiaries, produces and transports energy in the United States… The company has a portfolio of nearly 30,300 MW of electric-generating capacity, 10,600 miles of electric transmission lines and 79,700 miles of electric distribution lines… By 2035, the Zacks Rank #2 company also intends to make zero and low-emitting resources accountable for 99% of its electric generation. Dominion Energy Inc. (D): Free Stock Analysis Report. 3) Brookfield Renewable Partners BEP owns and operates several renewable power generating facilities. The company's power generating portfolio is comprised of hydroelectric generating, wind facilities and natural gas-fired plants. It has operations in the United States, Canada and Brazil. The Zacks Rank #2 company's exposure in wind and utility-scale solar generation sectors has been enabling it to capitalize on the growing opportunities across the renewable power sectors, with high cash margins and minimum fuel input cost. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP): Free Stock Analysis Report. 4) DTE Energy DTE is a diversified energy company that develops and manages energy-related businesses and services. The company has been investing steadily to enhance its renewable generation assets… Notably, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company plans to reduce carbon emissions of its electric utility operations by 65% in 2028, 85% in 2032 and 90% by 2040 from the 2005 level. DTE Energy Company (DTE): Free Stock Analysis Report.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- More articles with Sustainable Stock & Bond Picks for August 2025 from around the world. 1. Title: Three Stocks For The Global Energy Transition on finimize.com. By Blair Couper. 2. Title: Unlocking Sustainable Income: Why the CIBC Sustainable Canadian Core Plus Bond ETF is a Must-Have for Resilient Portfolios on ainvest.com. By Wesley Park. 3. Title: Kroger a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock With 2.0% Yield (KR) on nasdaq.com. By BNK Invest. 4. Title: Biblically Aligned Fixed Income: The Case for the Inspire Corporate Bond Impact ESG ETF (IBD) in a Shifting Market Environment on ainvest.com. By Isaac Lane. 5. Title: Green Bonds and Sustainable Income Generation: Assessing VanEck Green Bond ETF (GRNB) as a Monthly Distribution Play in a Decarbonizing World on ainvest.com. By Samuel Reed. 6. Title: Enphase Energy: A Best-In-Class Balance Sheet Positioned To Thrive As Rates Decline on seekingalpha.com. By Gustavo Ribeiro. 7. Title: Baker Hughes Named Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock with 2.1% Yield on ainvest.com. Author name unavailable. 8. Title: This Company Could Be the Amazon of AI Infrastructure on fool.com. By Harsh Chauhan. 9. Title: 11 Best Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now on insidermonkey.com. By Neha Gupta. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment These are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips for this podcast, “Sustainable Stock Picks for August 2025.” Please click the like and subscribe buttons wherever you download or listen to this podcast. That helps bring these podcasts to others like you. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote ethical and sustainable investing as a force for hope and prosperity in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. As I mentioned earlier, the release schedule for these podcasts is changing. So, for the foreseeable future, this podcast will be released on the last Friday of every month. So, my next podcast will be on September 26th. See you then. Bye for now.   © 2025 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

Despite nuclear power's unmatched ability to produce reliable, carbon-free energy at scale, it is often dismissed by clean energy advocates in favor of renewable resources like wind and solar. Cost arguments and public misconceptions around safety and radioactive waste have kept it out of many mainstream climate strategies. But as Tim Gregory argues in his new book Going Nuclear: How Atomic Energy Will Save the World, this exclusion may be the greatest obstacle to achieving net zero goals. In fact, Gregory says in his book “net zero is impossible without nuclear power.” “Claiming renewables on their own are enough to replace fossil fuels is underestimating the challenge of achieving net zero,” Gregory said as a guest on The POWER Podcast. “Fossil fuels have basically defined the world order for the last couple of centuries, and to think that we can replace them with wind power and solar power, which are fundamentally tied to the whims of the weather, and the rotation of the planet in the case of solar, is really underestimating the scale of the challenge,” he said. “We need power that comes in enormous quantities exactly where we need it and when we need it,” Gregory continued. “I don't want to live in a world without solar panels or wind turbines, but to think that they can do it on their own, I think, is honestly naive. We need something that's reliable to compensate for the intermittence of renewables, and nuclear power would be absolutely perfect for that.” Notably, innovative companies and many government leaders around the world are backing nuclear power projects. “Big tech in North America has really cottoned on to these small modular reactors,” said Gregory. “Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are all going to be using small modular reactors to power their data centers. … This isn't just a pipe dream—this is actually happening now in real time. … It's been very, very encouraging watching that unfold.” Public perceptions on nuclear power are also trending in a positive direction, and the movement seems to be bipartisan. “It's very, very encouraging that more than half of people in the UK either strongly support or tend to support nuclear power. Strong opposition to nuclear power, according to the latest poll, is actually below 10%,” Gregory reported. “As such, the two major political parties in the UK—that's the Labor Party, which is kind of our left leaning party, and the Conservative Party, which is our right leaning party—they both support the massive expansion of nuclear power, which is really, really nice actually. It's maybe something that both sides of the political spectrum can agree on.” The same is true in the U.S., where both Democrats and Republicans have gotten behind nuclear power. A case in point is the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act, which was signed into law in July 2024. It passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate with a vote of 88–2, and in the House of Representatives with a vote of 393–13. “If your politics has you more concerned with environmental stewardship, and climate change, and phasing out fossil fuels, and getting rid of oil from the energy system, then nuclear power is for you. But then at the same time, if your politics has you perhaps more leaning towards economic growth, and the economy, and prosperity, and all that kind of thing, then nuclear power is for you as well, because it provides the energy that enables that economic growth,” Gregory said. “And so, it's actually very, very encouraging to see that, at least in most countries, nuclear power is not a partisan issue, which is all too rare in the world these days.”

Friends of the Rosary,Every August 20, we honor St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), abbot, theologian, poet, orator, and writer, and Doctor of the Church, who perfected the monastic rule that would become the model for 163 monasteries of the Cistercian reform.St. Bernard was an apostle of the Crusades, reconciler of kings, leader of peoples, and counselor of popes. He studied grammar, poetry, literature, rhetoric, dialectics, Scripture, and theology.He also held a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, continually seeking her intercession and seeing her as our Mediatrix and as the Star of the Sea who guides us through the darkness of life. The prayer of the Memorare is attributed to him.He wrote De Consideratione, and many of his sermons are excerpted in the Breviary.Notably, his treatise “On Loving God” articulated the reasons we should love God to an immeasurable degree. In all of his works, Abbot Bernard sought to teach to draw our hearts to conversion and love. He regularly emphasized the personal nature of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, our call to mystical union with Him, the need for humility, the benefits of asceticism, and the central role that the Blessed Virgin Mary must play in our lives.He was a theologian, contemplative, and mystic whose central goals were to love God and to draw others into that same love.Many miracles were attributed to him. He had the charism of spiritual discernment and was able to read the inner thoughts and intentions of people.Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play

Send us a textIn this episode of The Dream Collective podcast, Holly explores the intricate meanings behind dreams involving ex-partners and crushes, addressing common inquiries and shared experiences. She delves into how dreams of exes often reflect a quest for closure, illuminating unresolved emotions that may require processing. Notably, she discusses a case where dreams symbolize unaddressed grief over life choices rather than past relationships.Transitioning to crushes, Holly examines the excitement and emotional complexity of these dreams, emphasizing that they often serve as a means to connect with our desires for love and connection, rather than as prophetic messages. The episode highlights the importance of understanding the emotional energy at play in our dreams while encouraging listeners to share their own experiences, fostering a community around our subconscious journeys.HIGHLIGHTS:2:56 Closure in Dreaming6:58 Grieving the Path Not Taken9:58 Manifesting Through Crush DreamsExplore more about me and my offerings:https://www.hollyemmerson.com/site/work-with-meFor more great content, connect with me on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/dreamoracleholly/FREE Dream Meditation:https://www.hollyemmerson.com/freemeditation

What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?Do you ever worry about losing touch with your kids as they grow up? In this episode of Teenagers Untangled I'm joined by Catherine Hickem, a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and founder of Parenting Adult Children Today to explore the growing issue of family estrangement.Catherine is leading a conversation around one of the most overlooked family dynamics: the relationship between parents and their adult children. Despite how common this phase of life is, few resources exist to help parents navigate the transition from authority figure to trusted ally.  *Research shows that about one in four American adults—27%—report estrangement from a family member. Notably, 26% of adult children have experienced estrangement from a father, compared to only 6% from a mother—and many of these rifts eventually heal.We discuss why adult children might cut ties with parents, and what we can do now—while our kids are tweens or teens—to build a strong, lasting relationship.We cover:The most common reasons adult children become estranged from their parentsThe key mistakes parents make (and how to avoid them)How to adapt your parenting style as your children grow into adulthoodThe impact of parental expectations, grief, and cultural pressures on family bondsPractical strategies for fostering trust, open communication, and unconditional loveReal-life stories of reconciliation and hopeCatherine Hickem brings decades of experience working with thousands of families, offering actionable advice and heartfelt encouragement.CATHERINE HICKEM:https://www.parentingadultchildrentoday.com/https://www.instagram.com/parentingadultchildrentoday/Research sources:A longitudinal U.S. study (Reczek et al.), Cornell's Fault Lines project, and the YouGov poll conducted in 2022. OtoZen — a new driving safety appAre you worried about your teenager getting distracted behind the wheel? The OtoZen app helps in real time — not just after something's gone wrong. It has voice alerts, drive scores, and even safe driving challenges you can set together, it's the kind of tech that actually helps your teen build better habits. OtoZen — a new driving safety app OtoZen helps build better habits in real time with voice alerts, drive scores, and safey challenges.Support the showThis episode is sponsored by OtoZen: The brilliant new driving safety app https://www.otozen.com Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com And my website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me:www.teenagersuntangled.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk

The e-discovery company Reveal Data recently announced that it will launch its new generative AI-powered document review platform, called “aji,” in late September. Notably, the company said it is offering full access to the platform at no cost through Dec. 31, in order to enable “the entire legal community to explore and master the next era in GenAI review innovation.”   To discuss the launch of aji, today's episode features Reveal's founder and CEO Wendell Jisa, together with the company's chief technology officer, Matthew Brothers-McGrew. This launch, Jisa says, represents the culmination of a deeply personal 30-year journey in legal tech from delivering photocopies in Chicago during blizzards to leading what he believes is one of the most significant technology companies in the legal industry.    In their conversation with host Bob Ambrogi, Jisa and Brothers-McGrew make the case that generative AI presents the legal profession with the opportunity to become technology trailblazers rather than laggards. Their goal, they say, is to support the profession by democratizing access to AI across firms of all sizes and types.    They also discuss Reveal's recent launch of Reveal Private Deployment, an initiative to support customers in whatever way they want to deploy Reveal's software, whether in the cloud, on-premises, or hybrid. At a time when other companies are pushing their customers away from on-premises deployments and into the cloud, Jisa and Brothers-McGrew say this is yet another way in which Reveal is seeking to democratize access by accommodating the interests of all its customers. Thank You To Our Sponsors This episode of LawNext is generously made possible by our sponsors. We appreciate their support and hope you will check them out.   Paradigm, home to the practice management platforms PracticePanther, Bill4Time, MerusCase and LollyLaw; the e-payments platform Headnote; and the legal accounting software TrustBooks. Briefpoint, eliminating routine discovery response and request drafting tasks so you can focus on drafting what matters (or just make it home for dinner). Paxton, Rapidly conduct research, accelerate drafting, and analyze documents with Paxton. What do you need to get done today?    If you enjoy listening to LawNext, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.  

Last time we spoke about the Soviet invasion of Manchuria. Following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki amidst relentless Allied aerial campaigns, chaos engulfed Japan. Prime Minister Suzuki's cabinet debated surrendering to avoid annihilation while fearing for the imperial family's future. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union launched an unexpected invasion of Manchuria, rapidly advancing and catching Japanese forces off guard. As negotiations unfolded, a group of military conspirators, led by Major Hatanaka, attempted a coup to halt the surrender, believing they could rally support. They seized the Imperial Palace but failed to find the Emperor's recorded surrender speech amid the chaos. In a decisive moment, Emperor Hirohito accepted the Potsdam Declaration, stipulating the emperor's continuation, thus sealing Japan's fate. That same day, the world learned of Japan's capitulation, marking the end of the Pacific War. The once powerful nation now lay in ruins, yet the Emperor's decision bore the weight of a nation saved from further destruction, embodying a fragile hope for the future amidst the horrors of war. This episode is the Battle for South Sakhalin and the Kurile Islands Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, 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 world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two 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 you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  As we previously discussed, the Japanese Empire made the difficult decision to surrender on August 14, amid the turmoil of the Soviet invasion of Manchuria and South Sakhalin. The following day, this decision was announced to the world. However, in Manchuria, General Yamada's Kwantung Army chose to continue fighting until they received a clear ceasefire order. At this moment, several developments unfolded. General Hongo's 44th Army was on a forced retreat toward the Hsinking-Mukden line under General Ushiroku's command, leaving their 107th Division trapped behind Soviet lines. Meanwhile, General Iida's 30th Army was redeploying to Hsinking, which was starting to be evacuated, while General Uemura's 4th Army had orders to withdraw to Meihokou, taking over positions left by the 30th Army.  The advance of enemy armored columns in the west was severely hindering the evacuation of Japanese nationals. On the 10th, the Kwantung Army requested the Manchukuoan Government to facilitate the evacuation of Japanese residents in Hainking and its surroundings. They directed the Continental Railway Command to prepare ten trains for this purpose, with the first train scheduled to depart from Hsinking that same day. However, the Manchukuoan Government found it nearly impossible to carry out the withdrawal swiftly. They managed to transport only the families of officers and civilians linked to the army, and these families had to flee with just a few hours' notice, taking almost nothing but the clothes on their backs. By the 12th, Hsinking was in a state of chaos. The advance of enemy armored units, coupled with the retreat of the main force of the 44th Army, led to the evacuation of the capital by the Kwantung Army General Headquarters. This turmoil coincided with the arrival of the first refugee trains, carrying Japanese evacuees from the western border areas, causing widespread panic among local residents. Many hurried to the already overcrowded train station, desperate to escape the unfolding crisis. In the face of enemy pressure, the 80th Independent Mixed Brigade and the 119th Division continued to resist assaults at Hailar and Pokotu, respectively. The 123rd Division and the 135th Independent Mixed Brigade were heavily engaged in the fortified regions of Sunwu and Aihun, and the 136th Independent Mixed Brigade was directed to reinforce Tsitsihar, while the 134th Division retreated to Fangcheng. General Shimizu's 5th Army prepared for a last stand at Mutanchiang, while the isolated 124th Division made plans to withdraw. The 132nd Independent Mixed Brigade had already retreated to Tachienchang, and the 128th Division was getting ready to confront the enemy advance at Lotzokou, with General Murakami's 3rd Army holding strong in the Tumen fortified region. Meanwhile, the Nanam Divisional District Unit successfully repelled an amphibious invasion in Chongjin, and the 88th Division's 125th Regiment staunchly defended Furuton on South Sakhalin. In a desperate bid to avoid further disaster, Yamada finally instructed Ushiroku to adhere to their original plan and prepare for a withdrawal to the Hunjen area, even if it meant leaving Japanese citizens and their cities vulnerable to the approaching Soviets. Ushiroku hesitantly agreed to the order but never got the chance to act on it. On August 15, Marshal Vasilevsky's offensive advanced much like the previous days, facing an enemy that continued to resist fiercely. To counter this, orders came to intensify the assault to gain control of key operational and strategic points as quickly as possible. In Marshal Malinovsky's Transbaikal Front, General Pliyev's cavalry-mechanized units encountered heavy opposition from the Inner Mongolian 3rd, 5th, and 7th Cavalry Divisions at Kanbao. Meanwhile, General Danilov's 17th Army pressed toward Chihfeng but was hindered by water shortages, intense heat, and challenging sandy terrain. General Managarov's 53rd Army began its advance toward Kailu, while General Kravchenko's 6th Guards Tank Army continued its march along two fronts. The 7th Guards Mechanized Corps moved east toward Changchun, while both the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps and the 5th Guards Tank Corps advanced southeast toward Mukden. Notably, General Lyudnikov's 39th Army finally captured Tepossi and Wangyemiao.  Heavy Japanese resistance persisted in the sector of the 36th Army, notably in the Hailar Fortified Region and along the road and rail line through the Grand Khingan Mountains leading to Pokotu. The Japanese 119th Infantry Division put up a determined defense of Pokotu, successfully delaying the Soviet forces of the 2nd Rifle Corps from August 15 to 17, despite heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, in the rear of the 36th Army, the fighting in Hailar remained intense. The 86th Rifle Corps employed heavy artillery to systematically dismantle enemy strongholds in the hills to the northwest and southwest of the city. Position after position fell to relentless artillery bombardments, combined with sapper and infantry assaults. Ultimately, the Soviets extinguished the last vestiges of Japanese resistance in Hailar on August 18 when the remaining garrison of 3,827 men surrendered. Concurrently, in Marshal Meretskov's 1st Far Eastern Front, forward detachments of General Zakhvatayev's 35th Army secured Poli. General Beloborodov's 1st Red Banner Army broke through the frontline of the 135th Division and initiated an assault on the last Japanese positions just outside Yehho. Meanwhile, General Krylov's 5th Army, having successfully breached the Ssutaoling heights the previous evening, launched attacks against the 126th Division's positions at Aiho but was ultimately repelled by the defenders. In light of these developments, Generals Kita and Shimizu decided to order a withdrawal toward Hengtaohotzu, which they executed successfully after sunset, leaving behind some units to cover the retreat. Further south, General Chistyakov's 25th Army split into two columns at Heitosai. The 17th Rifle Corps and the 72nd Mechanized Brigade advanced west toward the Taipingling Pass, while the 39th Rifle Corps, along with the 72nd and 257th Tank Brigades, headed southwest toward Wangching. The 17th Rifle Corps effectively breached the main defenses of the Japanese 128th Division, forcing it to retreat to second-line positions southwest of Taipingling. On the morning of August 15, enemy air activity against Army Headquarters intensified significantly. Meanwhile, the Army Commander and several staff officers set out via Pataohotzu to inspect the defenses in the Hoeryong area, where the 101st Regiment was retreating from the Chonghak sector. At noon, while at the headquarters of the 127th Division in Pataohotzu, General Murakami and his accompanying staff listened to the Emperor's broadcast announcing the termination of the war. Opinions among the officers were divided regarding the veracity of this broadcast. After a brief discussion, they decided to continue military operations as per existing instructions until they received a formal cessation order. Later that night, a formal order arrived from First Area Army Headquarters, directing that all active resistance be halted, though self-defense measures were still to be implemented if necessary. Around the same time, a report came in from the 1st Mobile Brigade indicating that their positions in the Wangching area, about 25 miles northeast of Army Headquarters at Yenchi, were under attack by a sizable Soviet tank force. In response, a counterattack force was hastily assembled, consisting of two infantry battalions from the 127th Division. They were directed to advance to Wangching along the Yenchi-Chiulungping road to confront the enemy tanks. These battalions likely included the 3rd Battalion of the 280th Regiment and the 3rd Battalion of the 281st Regiment. Additionally, the 88th Rifle Corps took control of Hunchun and crossed the Inanho River, where they encountered well-entrenched Japanese forces from the 112th Division. To further pressure the enemy, the 258th Rifle Division crossed the Tumen River at Hunyong to attack the Japanese right flank. In General Purkayev's 2nd Far Eastern Front, General Mamonov's 15th Army continued its two-pronged advance toward Chiamussu, while General Pashkov's 5th Rifle Corps pushed forward to Poli. Meanwhile, General Teryokhin's 2nd Red Banner Army assigned some elements to maintain the siege of Sunwu and Aihun while forward detachments bypassed these fortified regions, moving south toward Nencheng and Peian. In South Sakhalin, General Cheremisov's 16th Army faced fierce resistance from Japanese forces at Furuton. Admiral Andreyev's Northern Pacific Flotilla prepared for an amphibious landing at Toro, while the Pacific Fleet, under Admiral Yumashev, successfully landed Major-General Vasily Trushin's 13th Naval Infantry Brigade at Chongjin in the early hours of August 15. This effort aimed to relieve the besieged Soviet naval units and gradually push back against the defending Japanese forces. On August 16, the entire Soviet force, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sergey Kabanov, secured Chongjin city and its port after overcoming strong resistance, just as the 393rd Rifle Division was arriving in the area. Simultaneously, Andreyev's fleet departed from Sovetskaya Gavan and approached Toro in the early hours of the day. At 05:17, 141 marines from the initial reconnaissance detachment successfully landed ashore quietly, and by 06:00, they had taken the port with virtually no opposition. The reconnaissance group then advanced about three kilometers east, where they encountered heavy resistance; meanwhile, the rest of the marine battalion landed successfully by 10:00. After securing Shakhtyorsk at midday, the Soviet marines began their push south toward Esutoru, their main objective, while a supporting infantry battalion landed behind them. To the north, the 56th Rifle Corps managed to break through and capture Furuton, though it failed to seize the strategically significant Happo Mountain. In Manchuria, the 88th Rifle Corps continued its attacks on the 112th and 79th Divisions but was unsuccessful. The 39th Rifle Corps column advanced toward Tumen and Yenchi, while the 17th Rifle Corps column effectively expelled Japanese forces from the Taipingling area to secure the pass. By evening, units from the 1st Red Banner Army cleared Mutanchiang, and the 5th Army units moved south of the city to continue their southwest advance toward Ningan. The 15th Army executed a coordinated amphibious assault, successfully capturing Chiamussu. The 39th Army advanced along the railroad from Wangyemiao to Changchun, with its main force ultimately securing Taonan by the end of the day, while other units reduced the Halung-Arshaan fortified region. Finally, forward detachments of the 5th Guards Tank Corps and the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps secured Tungliao and Kaitung, respectively. On August 17, Prince Takeda Tsuneyoshi, on behalf of the Emperor, arrived at Hsinking to deliver the official ceasefire order. However, this did not cancel ongoing operational missions, as the order stipulated that the cessation of hostilities did not apply to unavoidable acts of self-defense during enemy attacks made before the completion of armistice negotiations. Tokyo's orders demonstrated that Yamada was authorized to conduct on-the-spot negotiations for an armistice with the Soviets. Consequently, the Manchurian Campaign continued amidst the negotiations. Pliyev's Soviet-Mongolian units successfully defeated the Inner Mongolians at Kanbao; the 17th Army overcame light opposition from the 108th Division to occupy Chihfeng; the 39th Army concentrated its forces at Taonan while the 94th Rifle Corps mopped up rear areas; and the 36th Army defeated the 119th Division to capture Pokotu. Simultaneously, the 2nd Red Banner Army directed heavy artillery and air strikes to reduce the Aihun and Sunwu Fortified Regions, while the 15th Army initiated a push south along the Sungari River toward Sansing. The 363rd Rifle Division passed through Chihsi, with the 66th Rifle Division focusing on Poli. Units from the 1st Red Banner Army advanced northwest toward Harbin, and the 72nd Rifle Corps marched southward along the east bank of the Mutan River, attempting unsuccessfully to cross the river north of Ningan. The 17th Rifle Corps pursued the 128th Division, and forward elements of the 10th Mechanized Corps moved sixty kilometers from the Taipingling Pass to secure the critical rail and road junction at Tahsingkou. Additionally, the reinforced 72nd Tank Brigade intercepted the counterattacking force of the 127th Division at Nianyantsun. The 39th Rifle Corps broke through the northern defenses of the 79th Division to seize the outskirts of Tumen, while the 88th Rifle Corps successfully pushed aside enemy defenders at Mayusan to occupy Onsang. At South Sakhalin, as the marine force surrounded Esutoru, the 22nd Independent Machinegun Company was deployed to support the marine assault, which quickly penetrated the urban area and secured the city by midday. Meanwhile, fighting continued around Mount Happo, where the 214th Tank Brigade was dispatched south toward the ultimate objective of Toyohara. However, given the distance involved, it was decided to conduct a second amphibious assault on the port of Maoka. On August 18, Yamada finally issued the ceasefire orders to the 1st, 3rd, and 17th Area Armies, as well as to the 4th Army and the 2nd Air Army. His chief of staff, Lieutenant-General Hata Hikosaburo, met with Marshal Vasilevsky in Harbin to discuss procedures for disarmament, the protection of Japanese nationals in Manchuria, and related matters. Meanwhile, the Kwantung Army Headquarters made extensive efforts to relay as much information as possible about the termination of hostilities and disarmament to its subordinate commands using all available communication methods. However, these efforts were hindered by the wide dispersal of forces, many of which initially refused to surrender. General Higuchi's 5th Area Army received the ceasefire orders on August 17. Although he quickly notified his units—particularly those in Sakhalin and the Kuriles, war continued in these islands for a short period as he sought to prevent a potential invasion of Hokkaido. In Sakhalin, Major Yoshio Suzuki, the Chief of Staff of the 88th Division, received Higuchi's combat order on the afternoon of August 16, preparations for ceasefire were already underway, such as the disbandment of mobilized units, the discharge of some troops, and the disposal of the regimental flag. The division had no tanks or aircraft, and certainly no anti-tank or anti-aircraft weapons that could withstand Soviet forces. In light of this, Suzuki quickly ordered the re-arming of units and the occupation of positions, in accordance with the desire of Mineki and Higuchi to prevent the fall of South Sakhalin and a possible invasion of Hokkaido. Civilians, at this point, were already voicing complaints, wondering if the military was still going to continue fighting. After the surrender of the 125th Infantry Regiment, the Japanese command in the Northern District was effectively assumed by the staff of the 88th Division stationed at Kamishikika. During the fighting on the central military road, by the morning of August 17, evacuation of the civilian population from Kamishikika had been completed, and the town was burned to the ground by Japanese forces' scorched earth tactics, along with an air raid by 20 Soviet aircraft. Kamishikika was abandoned on August 20, marking the start of a full retreat. The construction of a defensive line involving the destruction of the Uro Bridge and the Chidori River Bridge was considered but ultimately abandoned due to the presence of evacuees. Meanwhile, in the Kuriles, a new operation was unfolding. According to Vasilevsky's orders, once operations against Manchuria and South Sakhalin were sufficiently advanced, a small force from the Kamchatka Defense Region, supported by naval units from the Petropavlovsk Naval Base, was to conduct amphibious assaults on the Kuril Islands in preparation for a future landing at the port of Rumoi on Hokkaido's west coast On August 15, President Truman and Soviet Premier Stalin agreed that Japanese forces north of the 38th Parallel would surrender to the Soviets, while those to the south would surrender to the Americans. Stalin's agreement surprised the US, as there was little chance of American forces landing on the Korean peninsula at that time. In what many scholars interpret as an attempt to achieve reciprocal generosity from Truman, Stalin proposed amending the order to include the northern half of Hokkaido and all of the Kuril Islands in the region of surrender to Soviet forces. This northern portion, he stated, should be demarcated by a line drawn ‘from the town of Kushiro on the eastern coast . . . to the town of Rumoe (Rumoi) on the western coast . . .', with both towns included in the occupation area However, Truman only acquiesced concerning the Kuriles, honoring the pact reached at Yalta, while specifying that all the islands of mainland Japan were to surrender to General MacArthur. Nonetheless, concerned by the exclusion of the Kuriles from the original agreement, Stalin instructed Vasilevsky to organize landings to occupy the islands. This mission was assigned to Purkayev's 2nd Far Eastern Front and Yumashev's Pacific Fleet, which, in turn, designated Major-General Aleksei Gnechko's Kamchatka Defense Region and Captain Dmitri Ponomarev's Petropavlovsk Naval Base to execute the first landings on Shumshu and Paramushir, followed by a subsequent amphibious assault on Onekotan. These inexperienced commanders had limited time to plan for their operations, assemble the necessary commercial vessels for transportation, and hurriedly gather the army units dispersed across Kamchatka. Ultimately, the primary unit chosen for the landings was Major-General Porfiry Dyakov's 101st Rifle Division, supplemented by a battalion of marines. Meanwhile, Ponomarev managed to gather an invasion flotilla of 64 vessels. Although the Soviets had air superiority, it was unreliable due to the peculiar climatic conditions. “There were very peculiar climatic conditions in the Far East and Sakhalin; almost every airfield had its own special microclimate. In the coastal zone, frequent outbursts of moist sea air, forming a curtain of thick fog, caused a lot of trouble.”. The limited firepower of Ponomarev's flotilla forced the Soviets to land on the northeast corner of Shumshu, which could be targeted by the coastal guns at Cape Lopatka. Additionally, Gnechko planned a diversionary landing on the southeast side of the island. Opposing the Soviets, Higuchi had Lieutenant-General Tsutsumi Fusaki's 91st Division garrisoning the northern islands of Shumshu and Paramushir, the 41st Independent Mixed Regiment on Matsuwa Island, the 129th Independent Mixed Brigade on Uruppu Island, and Lieutenant-General Ogawa Gonosuke's 89th Division stationed on the southern islands of Etorofu, Shikotan, and Kunashiri.  Shumshu is the northernmost island in the Kuril chain, separated from Cape Lopatka, the southernmost tip of the Kamchatka Peninsula, by the 11-kilometer-wide First Kuril Strait. Covering an area of approximately 388 square kilometers and roughly oval in shape , Shumshu's proximity to Soviet territory, similar to its larger neighbor to the south, Paramushir, ensured that it was strongly defended. The garrison on Shumshu comprised about 8,500 troops, whereas the larger island boasted a garrison of approximately 14,500. The strait between the two islands narrows to about 2.5 kilometers at its smallest point, thus allowing these garrisons to provide mutual support. As Slavinsky notes: “Shumshu and Paramushir, with their naval bases located opposite each other on both sides of the Second Kuril Strait, were, in essence, a single key position.” The capture of Shumshu was crucial to the success of subsequent island operations. While there were several airfields on these islands, they housed very few aircraft, which had been withdrawn earlier to the Japanese main islands in preparation for the anticipated “final battle” with the Americans. However, Shumshu was defended by a tank force from the 11th Tank Regiment, commanded by Colonel Sueo Ikeda. This force consisted of thirty-nine medium tanks, including nineteen Type-97 Chi-Ha tanks and twenty Type-97 ShinHoTo Chi-Ha (improved Type-97) tanks, alongside twenty-five Type-95 Ha-Go light tanks. Both Shumshu and Paramushir were equipped with permanent defensive works along the coast and inland. On Shumshu, these defenses included 34 bunkers and 24 pillboxes within several powerful strongpoints, featuring around 100 guns of varying calibers, some reaching up to 100mm. Approximately 300 prepared firing points were established for both heavy and light machine guns. Most of Shumshu's coast is bordered by cliffs, leading to a concentration of the strongest defenses in areas deemed vulnerable to amphibious assault. Notably, a battery was installed in the wreck of the Soviet tanker Mariupol, which had become stranded on the beach between Cape Kokutan and Cape Kotomari in 1943. Although the island is relatively flat, it possesses several hills with sides that are nearly bare of trees, and these heights also housed additional strongpoints. Shumshu features 120 kilometers of roads, which facilitated terrestrial communication between various points. Additionally, the garrison constructed numerous dummy installations to mislead reconnaissance efforts. Nevertheless, Ponomarev's flotilla departed from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at approximately 05:00 on August 17, moving slowly and stealthily toward their objective in foggy conditions. This weather ultimately forced Gnechko to cancel the planned diversionary landing. In any event, the first landing craft approached the beach at 04:22 hours on 18 August still hidden in the murk, but were forced to halt some 100–150m from shore in water up to 2m deep; they had been overloaded which prevented them getting closer in. The troops of the advanced detachment (two companies of marines, a maritime border guard company, and a submachine gun company) had then to wade, heavily burdened, to dry land. This went on undisturbed until personnel on one of the landing craft opened fire; this, spreading to the other ships, alerted the defenders, who replied with ‘promiscuous' machine-gun fire. Nevertheless, by 05:00 hours, and having suffered only ‘insignificant' losses, the advanced detachment was ashore and its main force, under Major Pyotr Shutov, was moving off the beach into the interior of the island. Two groups of marines moved left and right to deal with enemy positions on the capes flanking the landing ground. They managed to destroy several firing points, but were too few to overcome the stronger resistance nests protecting the gun positions. A series of hills inland formed the initial objective of the advance. Behind them, Dyatlov's first wave faced heavy bombardment from Japanese artillery, suffering significant casualties as the troops struggled to scramble ashore by 09:00. The second wave experienced a similar fate but managed to disembark by 13:00, joining the first wave in advancing on the high ground to the southwest. This second wave successfully repelled a series of Japanese tank counterattacks, resulting in the loss of Colonel Sueo. Despite being pushed back somewhat, the Soviets held their position while their aircraft targeted the naval bases on the island's southern side, aiming to hinder reinforcements from Paramushir. By nightfall, Gnechko's forces had secured a beachhead approximately 4 kilometers wide and 5 kilometers deep, while assault groups successfully destroyed Japanese artillery positions on Cape Kokutan and Cape Kotomari. Meanwhile, Kabanov's new Southern Defense Region command was ordered to quickly land naval units at Odaejin and Gensan to prevent the Japanese from evacuating their forces from Korea to the Home Islands. Consequently, a small naval force from the 13th Naval Infantry Brigade departed from Chongjin, successfully landing unopposed at Odaejin at 08:00 on August 18. Elsewhere in eastern Manchuria, the 25th Army consolidated its hold on northeastern Korea, dispatching the 10th Mechanized Corps west toward Tunhua and Kirin and northwest toward Tungchingcheng amidst the surrender of Murakami's 3rd Army. The 72nd Rifle Corps successfully crossed the Mutan River north of Ningan, while units from the 1st Red Banner Army and the 5th Army were deployed to receive and process surrendering Japanese units of Shimizu's 5th Army. To the north, the 2nd Red Banner Army maintained pressure on the Aihun and Sunwu Fortified Regions, leading to the surrender of the 123rd Division, although the 135th Independent Mixed Brigade continued to resist at Aihun. Be that as it may, the Japanese artillery positioned at Cape Kokutan and Cape Kotomari wreaked havoc on the second echelon, which was comprised of the 373rd Rifle Regiment. During this engagement, a patrol boat and four landing craft were lost, while eight others sustained serious damage. Once again, Soviet troops were forced to improvise ways to reach dry land; however, this time, the echelon's commander, Colonel P.A. Artyushen, along with his headquarters, managed to land via a torpedo boat. It took until 13:00 hours to fully disembark the second echelon, by which point its forward units had linked up with those forces advancing on the high ground to the southwest. By then, Artyushen had assumed command of all the forces ashore. While the number of troops was considerable, they still lacked heavy weapons, with only four 45mm anti-tank guns having been landed. Unsurprisingly, the Japanese counterattacked as soon as possible, with the advanced forward units under Shutov bearing the brunt of the assault. In a reversal of the combat situations previously encountered throughout the war with Japan, Soviet infantry now found themselves facing several tank attacks from the Japanese. One of these assaults was personally led by Colonel Sueo Ikeda, the commander of the 11th Tank Regiment, who was reported to be waving a samurai sword and Japanese flag from the turret, according to some accounts. Fortunately for the Soviets, these Japanese tanks were relatively weak compared to the T-34. While they posed a threat to unsupported infantry, they proved vulnerable to Degtyarev PTRD-41 anti-tank rifles and RPG-43 anti-tank grenades. The tank-led attacks were ultimately repelled, with Colonel Sueo perishing in the fighting. Despite being pushed back somewhat, the Soviets managed to withstand the onslaught. For his heroism during this challenging combat situation, in which he was wounded three times, Shutov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, along with the Order of Lenin and the Golden Star medal. Despite being somewhat pushed back, the Soviets held their ground while their aircraft targeted the naval bases on the southern side of the island to hinder reinforcements from Paramushir. The weather cleared sufficiently in the late morning, allowing Soviet air strikes to commence that afternoon. These strikes involved groups of eight to sixteen aircraft and were primarily directed at the Kataoka and Kashiwabar naval bases, successfully preventing the transfer of Japanese reinforcements from Paramushir. However, the sky remained cloudy enough to hinder any close battlefield support. As Zakharov et al. described it, the situation on the ground “remained tense.” The thinning fog later allowed seven Japanese aircraft to appear at 10:30 hours, attempting to strike at the shipping gathered off the landing beach. Their first strike targeted the Kirov, but it was unsuccessful, and the attackers were driven off by anti-aircraft fire. A second attempt at 12:00 hours focused on the minesweeper T-525, which also failed, resulting in two of the attacking aircraft being shot down by gunfire.  By nightfall on 18 August, it was evident that the Soviet landing had succeeded to the point where the forces would not be driven back into the sea. The invasion force had established a beachhead approximately 4 kilometers wide and 5 kilometers deep, and they were capable of defending this position against any immediate Japanese counterattacks, despite most of their artillery still being stuck offshore. Gnechko, stationed at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, ordered that enough artillery be transported ashore overnight to resume the offensive, with the goal of occupying the island by the end of 19 August. He also dispatched several self-propelled barges and kungas (shallow-draft boats used for fishing or transport) to assist with the unloading, although these vessels could not arrive until the following morning. To eliminate further artillery attacks on shipping, assault groups were formed to attack and destroy the Japanese strongpoints on Cape Kokutan and Cape Kotomari during the hours of darkness. Shortly after midnight on 17 August, a second order regarding the cessation of hostilities was received from the First Area Army, directing that all fighting be stopped. At daybreak, General Murakami dispatched his intelligence chief, Lt. Col. Fujimoto, to Chiulungping to inform the Soviet tank battalion commander of the end of hostilities. Simultaneously, he ordered all divisions under his command to cease all combat operations. At approximately 16:00 hours, the Soviet tank battalion commander arrived at the Army Officers Club in Yenchi, where he conferred with Major General Hanjiro Iketani, the Army Chief of Staff. The following day, General Iketani traveled to Wangching to conduct armistice negotiations. The 72nd Rifle Corps finally crossed the Mutan River north of Ningan, while units from the 1st Red Banner Army and the 5th Army were deployed to receive and process the surrendering Japanese units of Shimizu's 5th Army. Since the Army began its withdrawal, communications with Area Army Headquarters in Tunhua had been completely disrupted. On the morning of the 17th, a member of the Manchurian Telegraph and Telephone Company's Harbin office sent a message via railway telephone concerning disarmament, stating that he had been asked by the First Area Army Headquarters to relay the information. The Army Commander and his staff, however, suspected it might be another ruse from the enemy's fifth column. They agreed to exercise caution in addressing the matter and decided to send Staff Officer Maeda to Area Army Headquarters in Tunhua by railway gasoline engine car to verify the truth. Colonel Maeda proceeded to the railway station, and while preparing to depart, he received a railway telephone call from Staff Officer Tsumori at Area Army Headquarters regarding the cease-fire order. Subsequently, around 14:00 hours, the Army convened a meeting with representatives from each unit to announce the cease-fire orders. That evening, Soviet forces began entering Hengtaohotzu and immediately started disarming Japanese forces.  Looking west, the bulk of the 36th Army advanced southward and seized the railroad station at Chalantun amid the surrender of the 119th Division. The 86th Rifle Corps, after several days of intense artillery bombardment, finally extinguished the last remnants of Japanese resistance at Hailar, forcing the 80th Independent Mixed Brigade to surrender. Meanwhile, the 39th Army forces prepared for transport to Changchun and then on to the Liaotung Peninsula. The 17th Army moved toward the coast, capturing Pingchuan and Linguan before reaching the coastline at Shanhaiguan, directly across from the Liaotung Peninsula. Additionally, Pliyev's Soviet-Mongolian forces approached the outskirts of Kalgan, where they encountered a small contingent of the China Expeditionary Army. Indeed, with the surrender of the Kwantung Army, the war was coming to an end. However, several independent units, including the one mentioned, would continue to resist into the last days of August, thereby prolonging the Pacific War by another week. 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. In August 1945, amidst Japan's turmoil, the Soviet Union surprisingly invaded Manchuria. As chaos ensued, Japanese forces in South Sakhalin faced robust Soviet resistance. Ultimately, Japan's surrender shattered its imperial power, marking a historic end to the Pacific War, leaving a nation in ruins yet igniting a fragile hope for the future beyond the horrors of conflict.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 3: 5:00pm- Abel Maldonado—former Lieutenant Governor of California—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss California Governor Gavin Newsom's pledge to gerrymander the state even further in order to counter Texas's redistricting efforts. Notably, Republicans currently hold just 17% of the congressional seats in CA—despite nearly 40% of the state voting for Donald Trump in 2024. Plus, Maldonado reacts to a recently resurfaced clip of Newsom from 2011 where he discusses his plan to make California great again. 5:20pm- In a bizarre video he voluntarily posted to social media, former FBI Director James Comey went into great detail about how much he loves Taylor Swift and her music. He's even in a Taylor Swift fan group text! 5:40pm- Daniel Turner—Founder and Executive Director of Power The Future—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his call for the “Trump administration to investigate what it suspects is a coordinated ‘national lawfare campaign' by left-wing climate activists aimed at influencing thousands of judges on how to approach climate litigation.”

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Show (08/18/2025): 3:05pm- On Monday, President Donald Trump held a multilateral meeting from the White House—which included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. 3:30pm- While speaking with the press, President Donald Trump expressed optimism about ending the war between Russia and Ukraine—noting that he didn't think an initial ceasefire agreement was necessary while simultaneously forging a path towards a permanent, lasting peace agreement. 3:40pm- President Trump said of the corporate media's coverage of his peace efforts: “No matter what I do, [Zelenskyy] comes out good—maybe Putin comes out good. They'll say Trump was absolutely horrible. And I've lived with that for a long time." 3:45pm- While taking questions from the press, President Trump was asked if American troops would be used to guarantee/enforce any hypothetical peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Trump said that the U.S. would be involved though he would not explicitly state American troops would be involved. 3:50pm- During an interview with Margaret Brennan, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that he saw “movement” from the Russian delegation during Friday's Alaska summit—expressing optimism that an end to the war may be possible at some point. 4:05pm- While speaking with Bill Maher, actor Chris Pratt said of President Donald Trump and the far-left's over-the-top, vitriolic reactions to his administration's policies: "I'd hate to be so mired in hatred for the president that any success from his administration is something I'd have an allergic reaction to...be reasonable here. There are certain things that would be a good thing to have. I want them all to be successful." 4:15pm- Nearly a decade later, Hillary Clinton still thinks the results of the 2016 presidential election may not be legitimate—noting, it's “why we still litigate the election.” Who the heck is still “litigating” the 2016 election (aside from her)? 4:20pm- Following Friday's summit in Alaska, Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted that he would not have invaded Ukraine in 2022 had Donald Trump been president of the United States instead of Joe Biden. 4:30pm- In a post to social media, Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced she will run for Governor of Pennsylvania—challenging incumbent Josh Shapiro. But will Doug Mastriano challenge her in the Republican Primary? 4:45pm- MSNBC is changing its name to “MS NOW”—that'll completely solve the network's ratings problems, right? 5:00pm- Abel Maldonado—former Lieutenant Governor of California—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss California Governor Gavin Newsom's pledge to gerrymander the state even further in order to counter Texas's redistricting efforts. Notably, Republicans currently hold just 17% of the congressional seats in CA—despite nearly 40% of the state voting for Donald Trump in 2024. Plus, Maldonado reacts to a recently resurfaced clip of Newsom from 2011 where he discusses his plan to make California great again. 5:20pm- In a bizarre video he voluntarily posted to social media, former FBI Director James Comey went into great detail about how much he loves Taylor Swift and her music. He's even in a Taylor Swift fan group text! 5:40pm- Daniel Turner—Founder and Executive Director of Power The Future—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his call for the “Trump administration to investigate what it suspects is a coordinated ‘national lawfare campaign' by left-wing climate activists aimed at influencing thousands of judges on how to approach climate litigation.” 6:05pm- Prior to Monday's multilateral meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump was caught on a hot mic telling Emmanuel Macron: “I think [Vladimir Putin] wants to make a deal for me, you understand that? As crazy as it sounds.” 6:30pm- In a post to Truth Soc ...

I'm excited to welcome John Hamer back to the show. John is a Seventy in the Community of Christ and a remarkable historian of Restoration Churches. Earlier this month, he was in Utah for the 50th Anniversary of Sunstone, and today we'll be talking about the many ways to Mormon, including some of the Restoration Churches/schismatic groups that were represented at Sunstone. This episode will be part of a broader conversation about various Latter Day Saint schismatic movements. Join us for the discussion! https://youtu.be/1-hvle_929o Don't miss our other episodes with John Hamer! https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-hamer/ Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Exploring the "Multiple Ways to Mormon" at Sunstone's 50th Anniversary The recent 50th anniversary of the Sunstone Symposium in Utah provided a unique opportunity to delve into the rich and diverse landscape of the Mormon culture and restoration heritage. John Hamer is a three-time guest on Gospel Tangents and a Seventy with the Community of Christ. Sunstone serves as an "open diverse forum" that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, whether they are orthodox LDS, fundamentalists, or members of the Community of Christ. This gathering truly embodies the idea that there is "more than one way to Mormon". There are various schismatic groups that emerged after the pivotal 1844 schism which Joseph Smith died. These groups form distinct branches of the restoration tradition, each with its own unique history and practices. Major Restoration Churches of the Restoration Following the 1844 schism, two primary branches emerged: The Brighamite Branch: This branch is by far the largest expression of the restoration tradition. It includes: ◦ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ◦ All of the fundamentalist churches, such as the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) which is also called “The Work”, & the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church). ◦ The "new emerging remnant movement" with Denver Snuffer. The Josephite Branch: Named for Joseph Smith III, this branch includes the Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Within the Josephite tradition, there are also: ◦ Independent expressions or "restorationists". These groups broke away from the mainline Community of Christ Church over issues like women in the priesthood and lineal succession. Some of these have grouped together in a confederacy of churches, like the Joint Conference of Restoration Branches (JCRB. See our interview with apostle Patrick McKay.) ◦ The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which is considered a "restorationist church" by Josephites. Figures like Terry Patience, the new prophet-president, and Jim Vun Cannon have been prominent within this church. (Jim now leads a different church, the Everlasting Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Day.) These "Josephite fundamentalists" are distinct from polygamists. Lesser-Known but Significant Restoration Churches Sunstone also provides a platform for understanding smaller, yet historically significant, schismatic groups: The Bickertonites (Church of Jesus Christ with headquarters in Monongahela, Pennsylvania): ◦ They are generally considered the third largest branch to emerge after the 1844 schism, with an estimated 25,000 members. ◦ They see themselves as "the true one true church" and are noted for retaining spiritual gifts from the Kirtland era, including speaking in tongues and spontaneous services. Their services feature spontaneous talks and no pre-written bulletins, similar to practices found in the Centennial Park group. ◦ Their heartlands are primarily in Pittsburgh and Detroit. ◦ Notably, they have recently produced an academically trained historian, Daniel Stone, who has focused on William Bickerton and their own history.

Please Subscribe and leave a 5-Star revue. Click here to go to the Doss house's Website. https://www.thedosshouse-pa.com/ Click here to go to our Patreon Page. https://www.patreon.com/222ParanormalPodcast Click here to go to our Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/222paranormal Click here to see Jen's Book Ohio the haunt of it all. https://a.co/d/gpXyvGm Click here for Joe's Book From Zero to Podcaster. https://a.co/d/2EVPJ7B Click here to save on High-End Clothing. https://poshmark.com/closet/happie22   In this hauntingly atmospheric episode, we take you deep into the heart of Loretto, Pennsylvania, as we explore one of the most intriguing—and eerily enigmatic—haunted sites in the region: The Doss House. Joined by paranormal investigator Shanna, we uncover layers of history, mystery, and ghostly lore surrounding a house built in 1810 that continues to chill visitors to this day.   Historical Foundations The Doss House stands as the first home constructed in Loretto on land once belonging to Native American tribes such as the Shawnee, Lenape (Delaware), Asswikales, and Mingoes. Erected in 1810, it's a tangible relic of early American settlement in the area.   Who Were Its Inhabitants? This old house once served dual roles in daily town life—the residence of Loretto's only dentist and later its only barber. According to local lore, both figures may never have left. Visitors frequently report feeling their presence linger in the halls, lending the house its reputation as a nexus of strange encounters.   Paranormal Encounters & Chilling Tales Shanna walks us through some spine-tingling reports: A little girl in a green dress has been seen drifting through the halls—an apparition that has become one of the house's most repeated sightings.   Basement phenomena include shadowy figures and a low, guttural audible growl, creating a sense of dread that many describe as unlike anything they've experienced elsewhere. Upstairs, the staircase is not just historic—it's haunted. One visitor reported being pushed down the stairs by what seemed to be a spirit that reenacts past actions.   A Legacy of Hope Amid the Haunting Shanna's connection to the Doss House runs deeper than spectral sightings. She, along with her wife Danielle, acquired the house in memory of her beloved mother, Holley Cataldo. Their goal? To transform it into a symbol of hope and resilient spirit, weaving Holley's legacy into the fabric of paranormal exploration.   Events, Tours & The Creep It Real Festival The Doss House offers more than ghost stories. It hosts themed events, guided paranormal investigations, and even daytime tours—an immersive experience for history buffs and ghost hunters alike. Notably, Shanna and Danielle organized the wildly successful 2025 Creep It Real Festival, held at the Summer Solstice. Featuring celebrity guests, field researchers, authors, and psychic mediums, it celebrated both the macabre and the meaningful.   How to Visit & Contact Info Located at 278 St. Mary Street, Loretto, PA, The Doss House welcomes paranormal enthusiasts seeking both thrill and storytelling . For bookings or to book an investigation, you can contact them via thedosshouse278@gmail.com or look up Unique Paranormal 1.5 on Facebook   Welcome to the 222 Paranormal Podcast, your gateway to the captivating world of the supernatural. Immerse yourself in our expertly crafted episodes, where we delve deep into a wide range of paranormal phenomena, including ghostly hauntings, cryptid sightings, and unexplained mysteries that defy logic. Each episode is meticulously researched and features engaging discussions with leading experts, seasoned ghost hunters, and renowned paranormal investigators. We cover the latest advancements in ghost hunting technology, offer practical tips for both amateur and experienced investigators, and review essential equipment for your paranormal adventures. Our podcast also explores the rich history of haunted locations, sharing true stories and firsthand accounts that will send chills down your spine. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the paranormal or just curious about the unknown, our content is designed to entertain, inform, and ignite your imagination. Stay tuned as we uncover secrets from the most haunted places around the world and analyze the most intriguing supernatural events. We also provide in-depth interviews with notable figures in the field and explore theories that challenge conventional understanding of reality. By subscribing to our Paranormal Podcast, you'll stay updated with the latest episodes, allowing you to join a community of like-minded individuals who share your fascination with the unexplained. Don't miss out on our exclusive content and special features, which bring you closer to the mysteries that lie beyond our everyday experiences. Dive into the world of the unknown with our Paranormal Podcast and experience the thrill of discovering what lies just beyond the veil of reality. Ohio The Haunt of it All, By Jennifer Shortridge. Discover why Ohio is considered one of the most haunted states. Authentic ghost stories from each of Ohio's eighty-eight counties promise to keep you on the edge of your seat as we delve into legends and lore, from crybaby bridges to headless horsemen, witches' graves to spooky cemeteries, and spectral sightings to terrifying encounters with ghosts. Places marked by murder, mausoleums, and ancient mounds await those who dare to visit. Haunted prisons, long forgotten insane asylums, historic mansions, and ghostly hotels all contribute to Ohio's distinctive and supernatural history. Every county boasts its own folklore, tales, and profound history. Join me in discovering why I believe Ohio is not just the Heart, but also the Haunt of it all.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are meeting in Alaska, ostensibly to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Notably absent, however, is Ukraine President Zelensky. His position on a ceasefire has been consistent since the beginning of the war, as you'll hear from Christiane's conversation with him, recorded at the Munich Security Conference in February.    Also on today's show: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov; Bill Browder, CEO and Co-founder, Hermitage Capital Management, who was deported from Russia in 2005  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brian Parana's BIO:  Brian Parana is not merely a health coach; he is a transformative catalyst who comprehends the intricate balance between professional achievement, personal well-being, and family responsibilities. Brian's over two decades of helping 1,000's of clients0 in the nutrition and fitness industry serve as a testament to the importance of consistency and dedication in impacting individuals' lives. His experience comes from owning 2 CrossFit gyms for years, online speaking opportunities, and serving busy professionals globally as a health & lifestyle coach. Weight loss and improving poor health situations are just the start of his coaching. Notably, he has had the privilege of coaching a 2-time Olympian and CrossFit World Champion. With 15+ years of entrepreneurship, while raising a young family, Brian blends using science-back strategies to empower his clients to regain control and confidence through building a sustainable lifestyle with the relentless demands of managing a successful business and, more importantly, supporting a family. He married his high school sweetheart, Amber, for nearly two decades, while raising 4 children, ranging in age from 15-9: 3 boys and 1 girl. The Paranas share a passion for travel, exploring all 50 states and 3 continents. Their next BIG goal is to visit all 7 continents! In this episode, Virginia and Brian  talked about: How Brian started his fitness journey  How to balance business, family and fitness Motivation vs. Will Power Why AI might be ruining your referrability  Why it's so hard to get results  Takeaway: -If your body wears out, who will run your business? -Who's in your “Me Team” -In the absence of structure, habit always wins (Jay Fiset) -People helping other people..that's just business. -We are in a trust recession - slow down and build relationships.  Connect with Brian on his social media accounts to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively: LinkedIn URL https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachbrianparana/ Facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/coachbrianparana Instagram URL https://www.instagram.com/coachbrianparana/   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

Justin Bieber is back with his seventh studio album: the aptly-titled SWAG. The lo-fi, reverb-laden record is a remarkably candid look inside the world of Bieber, using the palette of both underground pop and 90's R&B to accentuate lyrics about his wife, his struggles, and his "standing on business." Notably, it's his first album post-split with manager Scooter Braun, and the first where Bieber has been in full artistic control. On this episode of Switched On Pop, we tap into the SWAG mindset and attempt to understand Bieber's newfound vision, what it's saying, and ultimately, if it even still matters. Songs discussed: Justin Bieber – DAISIES Justin Bieber, Daniel Caesar, Giveon – Peaches Justin Bieber, Sexyy Red – SWEET SPOT The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber – STAY Justin Bieber, Druski – STANDING ON BUSINESS Justin Bieber – ALL I CAN TAKE Peter Gabriel – In Your Eyes Justin Bieber – GO BABY Justin Bieber – TOO LONG Justin Bieber, Gunna – WAY IT IS Justin Bieber, Dominic Fike – Die For You Justin Bieber, Burna Boy – Loved By You Justin Bieber, Lil B – DADZ LOVE Mk.gee – Alesis Mk.gee – Are You Looking Up Dijon – The Dress Justin Bieber – WALKING AWAY Haim – Don't Wanna Justin Bieber, Dijon – DEVOTION Justin Bieber – One Less Lonely Girl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Key changes in tax law related to the newly passed One Big Beautiful Bill significantly impact the financial independence (FI) community. Notably, the extension of tax rates and the higher standard deduction provide more planning certainty for early retirees, allowing greater financial management under these new regulations. Brad & Sean Mullaney discuss the critical tax provisions like enhanced charitable contribution deductions for non-itemizers, updates to state and local tax deductions, and the introduction of a senior deduction for retirees. They also explore strategies for maximizing premium tax credits starting in 2026.   Disclaimer Sean's discussions on the ChooseFI podcast and articles and messages published on ChooseFI.com are intended for general educational purposes and are not tax, legal, or investment advice for any individual. The ChooseFI podcast and its owners, employees, and agents do not endorse Sean Mullaney, Mullaney Financial & Tax, Inc., or their services.   Key Topics Discussed: Introduction to the New Tax Bill 00:00:00 Overview of the One Big Beautiful Bill and its significance for the FI community. Impacts of Extended Tax Rates 00:02:20 Explanation of the permanence of the tax rates and the increased standard deduction. Changes to Charitable Contributions 00:13:12 Details on new deductions for non-itemizers and adjustments to itemized deductions. State and Local Tax Deduction Update 00:23:26 Increase of deductible cap from $10,000 to $40,000, impacting itemization strategies. Exploration of the Senior Deduction 00:30:05 Introduction of a $6,000 deduction aimed at seniors aged 65 and older. Understanding Premium Tax Credits 00:39:10 Strategic planning opportunities utilizing bronze ACA plans and HSAs to maximize tax benefits. Actionable Takeaways: Maximize Your Standard Deduction: Consider traditional contributions to optimize your tax situation. 00:10:15 Utilize Bronze ACA Plans: Start in 2026 to lower premiums and leverage HSA contributions for enhanced tax benefits. 00:42:07 Key Quotes: "The new standard deduction is a game-changer for those pursuing financial independence." 00:08:46 "These are crucial planning implications that can optimize your tax situation." 00:17:36 "Shift your income from high tax brackets to the 0% tax bracket for maximum savings." 00:12:19 Timestamps: 00:00:14 - Importance of premium tax credits for the FI community. 00:03:05 - Risk of the standard deduction decreasing without the new law. 00:10:15 - Optimizing tax situation with traditional contributions. 00:14:00 - Details on the charitable contributions deduction. 00:25:19 - Update on the state and local tax deduction cap. Related Resources: YouTube Video on Premium Tax Credits: Watch Here [Timestamp: 00:45:00] Cody Garrett and Sean Mullaney's Book Notification: Sign Up Here [Timestamp: 00:59:35] Discussion Questions: How does the new tax bill affect your approach to retirement planning? 00:00:10 What strategies can be adopted to make the most of the new standard deduction? 00:10:15 Summary: This episode dives into the legislative changes that may significantly influence financial planning for those aiming for early retirement. By understanding the implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill, listeners can better navigate their financial futures.