Podcasts about realist

Draft is around the corner and so many questions still remain. To get 15% off your next gift, go to UNCOMMONGOODS.com/STEELCURTAIN. That's UNCOMMONGOODS.com/STEELCURTAIN, for 15% off! Don't miss out on this limited time offer! Uncommon Goods. We're all out of the ordinary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Der Absturz an den globalen Aktienmärkten kam für viele dann doch überraschend. Doch wie geht es nun weiter und worauf sollten wir jetzt achten? Hinter Trumps scheinbar chaotische Politik könnte ein strategisches Kalkül stecken?   Das nächste Finanz-Seminar ist in Planung. Wer dabei sein möchte oder Fragen hat, meldet sich gerne. Einfach E-Mail an: krapp@abatus-beratung.com   Viel Spaß beim Hören, Dein Matthias Krapp (Transkript dieser Folge weiter unten)   NEU!!! Hier kannst Du Dich kostenlos für meinen Minikurs registrieren und reinschauen. Es lohnt sich: https://portal.abatus-beratung.com/geldanlage-kurs/    

In their second project together, writer-directors Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s Warfare strikes a much different tone than last year’s Civil War. Garland’s solo writing and directing project, with Mendoza on as a military supervisor, served as a thematic look at the political divide found in the United States— Warfare, despite using similar thematic elements, takes a much more realist filming approach to the war in Iraq. Warfare follows a platoon of Navy SEALs in 2006 Iraq, going through the process of scouting insurgent territory, and eventually finding themselves in a gunfight with people they often identify as MAMs (military-age males). Told using the memories of those involved in this real event, the film isn’t focused on making a political statement on the war itself as much as it is putting together a chain of events that helps viewers understand one story a part of the greater picture of the war in Iraq. The film takes these stories and uses an ensemble cast of up-and-coming actors to help put together a linear story, with D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai notably portraying Mendoza, who was one of the Navy SEAL team members involved. Joining us, to discuss their directorial partnership and the work that went into telling this story as truthfully as possible, are Warfare writer-directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland.

Hope springs eternal as our thoughts for the 2025 season grow more optimistic. It isn't all rainbows and sunshine, but it's getting there. Perhaps there is some realism as Joey joins the pod here in mid-offseason. Enjoy!This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Two Homers and a Realist at twohomersandarealist.substack.com/subscribe

Can You Segway?Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.So exactly who was going to be sympathetic to their plight, who we cared about?Beyond my fevered dream of making a difference there was a pinch of reality. See, the Cabindans and the people of Zaire were both ethnic Bakongo and the Bakongo of Zaire had also once had their own, independent (until 1914) kingdom which was now part of Angola. The Bakongo were major factions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) -(formerly for a short time known as the nation of Zaire, from here on out to be referred to as the DRC and in the running for the most fucked up place on the planet Earth, more on that later)- and Congo (the nation) yet a minority in Angola. Having an independent nation united along ethnic and linguistic lines made sense and could expect support from their confederates across international boundaries.The Liberation Air ForceThe Earth & Sky operated under one constant dilemma ~ when would Temujin make his return? Since they didn't know and it was their job to be prepared for the eventuality if it happened tomorrow, or a century down the line, they 'stockpiled', and 'stockpiled' and 'stockpiled'.That was why they maintained large horse herds and preserved the ancient arts of Asian bowyers, armoring and weapons-craft. That was why they created secret armories, and sulfur and saltpeter sites when musketry and cannons became the new ways of warfare. They secured sources of phosphates and petroleum when they became the new thing, and so on.All of this boiled over to me being shown yet again I worked with clever, creative and under-handed people. The Khanate came up with a plan for a 'Union' Air Force {Union? More on that later} within 24 hours, and it barely touched any of their existing resources. How did they accomplish this miracle? They had stockpiled and maintained earlier generation aircraft because they didn't know when Temujin would make his re-appearance.They'd also trained pilots and ground crews for those aircraft. As you might imagine, those people grew old just as their equipment did. In time, they went into the Earth & Sky's Inactive Reserves ~ the rank & file over the age of 45. You never were 'too old' to serve in some capacity though most combat-support related work ended at 67.When Temujin made his return and the E&S transformed into the Khanate, those people went to work bringing their lovingly cared for, aging equipment up to combat-alert readiness. If the frontline units were decimated, they would have to serve, despite the grim odds of their survival. It was the terrible acceptance the Chinese would simply possess so much more war-making material than they did.Well, the Khanate kicked the PRC's ass in a titanic ass-whooping no one (else) had seen coming, or would soon forget. Factory production and replacement of worn machines was in stride to have the Khanate's Air Force ready for the next round of warfare when the Cease-fire ended and the Reunification War resumed.Always a lower priority, the Khanate military leadership was considering deactivating dozens of these reserve unit when suddenly the (Mongolian) Ikh khaany khairt akh dáé (me) had this hare-brained scheme about helping rebels in Africa, West Africa, along the Gulf of Guinea coast/Atlantic Ocean, far, far away, and it couldn't look like the Khanate was directly involved.They barely knew where Angola was. They had to look up Cabinda to figure out precisely where that was. They brought in some of their 'reservist' air staff to this briefing and one of them, a woman (roughly a third of the E&S 'fighting'/non-frontline forces were female), knew what was going on. Why?She had studied the combat records and performance of the types of aircraft she'd have to utilize... back in the 1980's and 90's and Angola had been a war zone rife with Soviet (aka Khanate) material back then. Since she was both on the ball, bright and knew the score, the War Council put her in overall command. She knew what was expected of her and off she went, new staff in hand. She was 64 years old, yet as ready and willing to serve as any 20 year old believer in the Cause.Subtlety, scarcity and audacity were the watchwords of the day. The Khanate couldn't afford any of their front-line aircraft for this 'expedition'. They really couldn't afford any of their second-rate stuff either. Fortunately, they had some updated third-rate war-fighting gear still capable of putting up an impressive show in combat ~ providing they weren't going up against a top tier opponents.For the 'volunteers' of the Union Air Force, this could very likely to be a one-way trip. They all needed crash courses (not a word any air force loves, I know) in Portuguese though hastily provided iPhones with 'apps' to act as translators were deemed to be an adequate stop-gap measure. Besides, they were advised to avoid getting captured at all cost. The E&S couldn't afford the exposure. Given the opportunity ~ this assignment really was going above and beyond ~ not one of these forty-six to sixty-seven year olds backed out.No, they rolled out fifty of their antiquated aircraft, designs dating back to the 1950's through the mid-70's, and prepared them for the over 10,000 km journey to where they were 'needed most'. 118 pilots would go (72 active plus 46 replacements) along with 400 ground crew and an equally aged air defense battalion (so their air bases didn't get blown up). Security would be provided by 'outsiders' ~ allies already on the ground and whatever rebels could be scrounged up. After the initial insertion, the Indian Air Force would fly in supplies at night into the Cabinda City and Soyo Airports.The composition,14 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 jet fighters ~ though she entered service in 1959, these planes' electronics were late 20th century and she was a renowned dogfighter. 12 were the Mig-21-97 modernized variant and the other two were Mig-21 UM two-seater trainer variants which could double as reconnaissance fighters if needed.14 Sukhoi Su-22 jet fighter-bombers ~ the original design, called the Su-17, came out in 1970, the first 12 were variants with the 22M4 upgrade were an early-80's package. The other 2 were Su-22U two-seat trainers which, like their Mig-21 comrades, doubled as reconnaissance fighters. The Su-22M4's would be doing the majority of the ground attack missions for the Cabindans, though they could defend themselves in aerial combat if necessary.6 Sukhoi Su-24M2 supersonic attack aircraft ~ the first model rolled off the production lines in the Soviet Union back in 1974. By far the heaviest planes in the Cabindan Air Force, the Su-24M2's would act as their 'bomber force' as well as anti-ship deterrence.8 Mil Mi-24 VM combat helicopters ~ introduced in 1972 was still a lethal combat machine today. Unlike the NATO helicopter force, the Mi-24's did double duty as both attack helicopter and assault transports at the same time.4 Mil Mi-8 utility helicopters, first produced in 1967. Three would act as troop/cargo transports (Mi-8 TP) while the fourth was configured as a mobile hospital (the MI-17 1VA).4 Antonov An-26 turboprop aircraft, two to be used as tactical transports to bring in supplies by day and two specializing in electronic intelligence aka listening to what the enemy was up to. Though it entered production in 1969, many still remained flying today.2 Antonov An-71M AEW&C twin-jet engine aircraft. These were an old, abandoned Soviet design the Earth & Sky had continued working on primarily because the current (1970's) Russian Airborne Early Warning and Control bird had been both huge and rather ineffective ~ it couldn't easily identify low-flying planes in the ground clutter so it was mainly only good at sea. Since the E&S planned to mostly fight over the land,They kept working on the An-71 which was basically 1977's popular An-72 with some pertinent design modifications (placing the engines below the wings instead of above them as on the -72 being a big one). To solve their radar problem, they stole some from the Swedish tech firm Ericsson, which hadn't been foreseen to be a problem before now.See, the Russians in the post-Soviet era created a decent AEW&C craft the E&S gladly stole and copied the shit out of for their front line units and it was working quite nicely ~ the Beriev A-50, and wow, were the boys in the Kremlin pissed off about that these days. Whoops, or was that woot?Now, the Khanate was shipping two An-71's down to Cabinda and somewhere along the line someone just might get a 'feel' for the style of radar and jamming the Cabindans were using aka the Swedish stuff in those An-71's. The Erieye radar system could pick out individual planes at 280 miles. The over-all system could track 60 targets and plot out 10 intercepts simultaneously. NATO, they were not, but in sub-Saharan Africa, there were none better.Anyway, so why was any of this important?Why the old folks with their ancient machines? As revealed, since the Earth & Sky had no idea when Temüjin would return, they were constantly squirreling away equipment. World War 2 gave them unequaled access to Soviet military technology and training.Afterwards, under Josef Stalin's direction, thousands of Russian and German engineers and scientists were exiled to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan who were then snatched up (reportedly died in the gulags/trying to escape) and the E&S began building mirror factories modeled on the 'then current' Soviet production lines.So, by the early 1950's, the E&S was building, flying and maintaining Soviet-style Antonov, Beriev, Ilyushin, Myasishchev, Mikoyan-Gurevich, Sukhoi, Tupolev and Yakovlev airplanes. First in small numbers because their pool of pilots and specialists was so small.The E&S remedied this by creating both their own 'private' flight academies and technical schools. They protected their activities with the judicious use of bribes (they were remarkably successful with their economic endeavors on both side of the Iron Curtain) and murders (including the use of the Ghost Tigers).By 1960, the proto-Khanate had an air force. Through the next two decades they refined and altered their doctrine ~ moving away from the Soviet doctrine to a more pure combined-arms approach (the Soviets divided their air power into four separate arms ~ ADD (Long Range Aviation), FA (Front Aviation), MTA (Military Transport Aviation) and the V-PVO (Soviet Air Defenses ~ which controlled air interceptors).).It wasn't until the collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of the various former SSR's that the E&S program really began to hit its stride. Still, while Russia faltered, China's PLAAF (Peoples' Liberation Army Air Force) began to take off. Since the Chinese could produce so much more, the E&S felt it had to keep those older planes and crews up to combat readiness. The younger field crews and pilots flew the newer models as they rolled off the secret production lines.Then the Unification War appeared suddenly, the E&S-turned Khanate Air Force skunked their PLAAF rivals due to two factors, a surprise attack on a strategic level and the fatal poisoning of their pilots and ground crews before they even got into the fight. For those Chinese craft not destroyed on the ground, the effects of Anthrax eroded their fighting edge. Comparable technology gave the Khanate their critical victory and Air Supremacy over the most important battlefields.What did this meant for those out-of-date air crews and pilots who had been training to a razor's edge for a month now? Their assignment had been to face down the Russians if they invaded. They would take their planes up into the fight even though this most likely would mean their deaths, but they had to try.When Operation Fun House put Russia in a position where she wasn't likely to jump on the Khanate, this mission's importance faded. The Russian Air Force was far more stretched than the Khanate's between her agitations in the Baltic and her commitments in the Manchurian, Ukrainian, Chechen and Georgian theaters.With more new planes rolling off the production lines, these reservist units began dropping down the fuel priority list, which meant lowering their flight times thus readiness. Only my hare-brained scheme had short-circuited their timely retirement. Had I realized I was getting people's grandparents killed, I would have probably made the same call anyway. We needed them.The KanateThe Khanate's #1 air superiority dogfighter was the Mig-35F. The #2 was the Mig-29. No one was openly discussing the Khanate's super-stealthy "Su-50", if that was what it was, because its existence 'might' suggest the Khanate also stole technology from the Indian defense industry, along with their laundry list of thefts from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the PRC, Russia and half of NATO.Her top multi-role fighters were the Su-47, Su-35S and Su-30SM. The Su-30 'Flanker-C/MK2/MKI were their 2nd team with plenty of 3rd team Su-27M's still flying combat missions as well.Strike fighters? There weren't enough Su-34's to go around yet, so the Su-25MS remained the Khanate's dedicated Close Air Assault model.Medium transport aircraft? The An-32RE and An-38. They had small, large and gargantuan transports as well.Bombers? The rather ancient jet-powered Tu-160M2's and Tu-22M2's as well as the even older yet still worthwhile turboprops ~ from 1956's ~ the Tu-95M S16.Helicopters? While they still flew updated variants of the Mil Mi-8/17 as military transports, the more optimized Kamov Ka-52 and Mil Mi-28 had replaced them in the assault role.Bizarrely, the Khanate had overrun several Chinese production lines of the aircraft frames and components ~ enough to complete fairly modern PLAAF (Peoples Liberation Army Air Force) FC-1 and J-10 (both are small multi-role fighter remarkably similar to the US F-16 with the FC-1 being the more advanced model, using shared Chinese-Pakistani technology and was designed for export,).They did have nearly two dozen to send, but they didn't have the pilots and ground crews trained to work with them, plus the FC-1 cost roughly $32 million which wasn't fundage any legitimate Cabindan rebels could get their hands on, much less $768 million (and that would just be for the planes, not the weeks' worth of fuel, parts and munitions necessary for what was forthcoming).Meanwhile, except for the An-26, which you could get for under $700,000 and the An-71, which were only rendered valuable via 'black market tech', none of the turboprop and jet aircraft the Khanate was sending were what any sane military would normally want. The helicopters were expensive ~ the 'new' models Mi-24's cost $32 million while the Mi-17's set you back $17 million. The one's heading to Cabinda didn't look 'new'.The Opposition:In contrast, the Angolan Air Force appeared far larger and more modern. Appearances can be deceptive, and they were. Sure, the models of Russian and Soviet-made aircraft they had in their inventory had the higher numbers ~ the Su-25, -27 and -30 ~ plus they had Mig-21bis's, Mig-23's and Su-22's, but things like training and up-keep didn't appear to be priorities for the Angolans.When you took into account the rampant corruption infecting all levels of Angolan government, the conscript nature of their military, the weakness of their technical educational system, the complexity of any modern combat aircraft and the reality that poor sods forced into being Air Force ground crewmen hardly made the most inspired technicians, or most diligent care-takers of their 'valuable' stockpiles (which their officers all too often sold on the black market anyway), things didn't just look bleak for the Angolan Air Force, they were a tsunami of cumulative factors heading them for an epic disaster.It wasn't only their enemies who derided their Air Force's lack of readiness. Their allies constantly scolded them about it too. Instead of trying to fix their current inventory, the Angolans kept shopping around for new stuff. Since 'new'-new aircraft was beyond what they wanted to spend (aka put too much of a dent in the money they were siphoning off to their private off-shore accounts), they bought 'used' gear from former Soviet states ~ Belarus, Russia and Ukraine ~ who sold them stuff they had left abandoned in revetments (open to the elements to slowly rot) on the cheap.To add to the insanity, the Angolans failed to keep up their maintenance agreements so their newly fixed high-tech machines often either couldn't fly, or flew without critical systems, like radar, avionics and even radios. Maybe that wasn't for the worst because after spending millions on these occasionally-mobile paperweights, the Angolans bought the least technologically advanced missile, gun and rocket systems they could get to put on these flying misfortunes.On the spread sheets, Angola had 18 Su-30K's, 18 Su-27, 12 Su-25's, 14 Su-22's, 22 Mig-23's, 23 Mig-21bis's and 6 Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano (a turboprop aircraft tailor-made for counter-insurgency operations), 105 helicopters with some combative ability and 21 planes with some airlift capacity. That equated to 81 either air superiority, or multi-role jet fighters versus the 12 Union Air Force (actually the Bakongo Uni o de Cabinda e Zaire, For as Armadas de Liberta  o, For a Area ~ Liberation Armed Forces, Air Force (BUCZ-FAL-FA) Mig-21-97's.It would seem lopsided except for the thousands of hours of flight experience the 'Unionists' enjoyed over their Angolan rivals. You also needed to take into account the long training and fanatic dedication of their ground crews to their pilots and their craft. Then you needed to take into account every Unionist aircraft, while an older airframe design, had updated (usually to the year 2000) technology lovingly cared for, as if the survival of their People demanded it.A second and even more critical factor was the element of surprise. At least the PRC and the PLAAF had contingencies for attacks from their neighbors in the forefront of their strategic planning. The Angolans? The only country with ANY air force in the vicinity was the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and they had ceased being a threat with the end of Apartheid and the rise of majority Black rule in that country nearly two decades earlier.In the pre-dawn hours of 'Union Independence Day', the FAL-FA was going to smash every Angolan Air base and air defense facility within 375 miles of Cabinda (the city). Every three hours after that, they would be hitting another target within their designated 'Exclusion Zone'. Yes, this 'Exclusion Zone' included a 'tiny' bit of DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) territory. The DRC didn't have an air force to challenge them though, so,Inside this 'Exclusion Zone', anything moving by sea, river, road, rail, or air without Unionist governmental approval was subject to attack, which would require neutral parties to acknowledge some semblance of a free and independent B U C Z. Worse for Angola, this 'Zone' included Angola's capital and its largest port, Luanda, plus four more of their ten largest urban centers. This could be an economic, military and humanitarian catastrophe if mishandled.The Angolan Army did not have significant anti-aircraft assets. Why would they? Remember, no one around them had much of an air force to worry about. The FAL-FA in turn could hit military convoys with TV-guided munitions 'beyond line of sight', rendering what they did have useless. It got worse for the Army after dark. The FAL-FA could and would fly at night whereas the average Angolan formation had Zip-Zero-Nadda night fighting capacity.Then geography added its own mountain of woes. As far as Cabinda was concerned, there was no direct land line to their border from Angola. Their coastal road only went as far as the port of Soyo where the Congo River hit the South Atlantic Ocean. Across that massive gap was the DRC where the road was not picked back up. Far up the coast was the DRC town of Muanda (with an airport) and though they did have a road which went north, it did not continue to the Cabindan border.Nope. To get at Cabinda from the south meant a long, torturous travel through northeastern Angola, into the heart of the DRC then entailed hooking west to some point 'close' to the Cabindan frontier before finally hoofing it overland through partially cleared farmland and jungle. Mind you, the DRC didn't have a native air force capable of protecting the Angolans in their territory so,In fact the only 'road' to Cabinda came from the Republic of Congo (Congo) to the north and even that was a twisted route along some really bad, swampy terrain. This had been the pathway of conquest the Angolans took 39 years earlier. The difference being the tiny bands of pro-independence Cabindan guerillas back then couldn't hold a candle to the Amazons fighting to free Cabinda this time around in numbers, zeal, training and up-to-date equipment.Next option ~ to come by sea. They would face a few, stiff problems, such as the FAL-FA having ship-killer missiles, the Angolan Navy not being able to defend them and the Unionists having no compunction to not strike Pointe-Noire in the 'not so neutral' Republic of the Congo if they somehow began unloading Angolan troops. It seemed the Republic of the Congo didn't have much of an Air Force either.Before you think the FAL-FA was biting off more than they could chew, Cabinda, the province, was shaped somewhat like the US State of Delaware, was half the size of Connecticut (Cabinda was 2,810 sq. mi. to Conn.'s 5,543 sq. mi.) and only the western 20% was relatively open countryside where the Angolan Army's only advantage ~ they possessed armed fighting vehicles while the 'Unionists' did not (at this stage of planning) ~ could hopefully come into play.Centered at their capital, Cabinda (City), jets could reach any point along their border within eight minutes. Helicopters could make it in fifteen. To be safe, some of the FAL-FA would base at the town of Belize which was in the northern upcountry and much tougher to get at with the added advantage the Angolans wouldn't be expecting the FAL-FA to be using the abandoned airfield there, at least initially.Where they afraid attacking Angolan troops in the DRC would invite war with the DRC? Sure, but letting the Angolans reach the border unscathed was worse. Besides, the DRC was in such a mess it needed 23,000 UN Peacekeepers within her borders just to keep the country from falling apart. Barring outside, read European, intervention, did "Democratically-elected since 2001" President (for Life) Joseph Kabila want the FAL-FA to start dropping bombs on his capital, Kinshasa, which was well within reach of all their aircraft?Congo (the country), to the north, wasn't being propped up by the UN, or anything else except ill intentions. In reality, it hardly had much of a military at all. Its officer corps was chosen for political reliability, not merit, or capability. Their technology was old Cold War stuff with little effort to update anything and, if you suspected corruption might be a problem across all spectrums of life, you would 'probably' be right about that too.If you suspected the current President had been in charge for a while, you would be correct again (1979-1992 then 2001- and the 'whoops' was when he accidently let his country experiment with democracy which led to two civil wars). If you suspected he was a life-long Communist (along with the Presidents of the DRC and Angola), you'd be right about that as well. Somehow their shared Marxist-Leninist-Communist ideology hadn't quite translated over to alleviating the grinding poverty in any of those countries despite their vast mineral wealth,At this point in the region's history, little Cabinda had everything to gain by striving for independence and the vast majority of 'warriors' who could possibly be sent against her had terribly little to gain fighting and dying trying to stop them from achieving her goal. After all, their lives weren't going to get any better and with the Amazons ability ~ nay willingness ~ to commit battlefield atrocities, those leaders were going to find it hard going to keep sending their men off to die.And then, it got even worse.See, what I had pointed out was there were two oil refineries in Angola, and neither was in Cabinda. Cabinda would need a refinery to start making good on their oil wealth ~ aka economically bribe off the Western economies already shaken over the Khanate's first round of aggressions.But wait! There was an oil refinery just across the Congo River from Cabinda ~ which meant it was attached to mainland Angola. That had to be a passel of impossible news, right?Nope. As I said earlier, it seemed the people of northern Angola were the same racial group as the Cabindans AND majority Catholic while the ruling clique wasn't part of their ethnic confederacy plus the farther south and east into Angola you went, the less Catholic it became.But it got better. This province was historically its own little independent kingdom (called the Kingdom of Kongo) to boot! It had been abolished by Portugal back in 1914.The 'good' news didn't end there. Now, it wasn't as if the leadership of Angola was spreading the wealth around to the People much anyway, but these northerners had been particularly left out of this Marxist version of 'Trickle Down' economics.How bad was this? This northwestern province ~ called Zaire ~ didn't have any railroads, or paved roads, linking it to the rest of the freaking country. The 'coastal road' entered the province, but about a third of the way up ran into this river, which they'd failed to bridge (you had to use a single track bridge farther to the northeast, if you can believe it). It wasn't even a big river. It was still an obstacle though.How did the Angolan government and military planned to get around? Why by air and sea, of course. Well, actually by air. Angola didn't have much of a merchant marine, or Navy, to make sealift a serious consideration. Within hours of the 'Union Declaration of Independence' anything flying anywhere north of the Luanda, the capital of Angola, would essentially be asking to be blown out of the sky.Along the border between Zaire province and the rest of Angola were precisely two chokepoints. By 'chokepoints', I meant places where a squad (10 trained, modernly-equipped troopers) could either see everything for miles & miles over pretty much empty space along a river valley and the only bridge separating Zaire province from the south, or overlook a ravine which the only road had to pass through because of otherwise bad-ass, broken terrain.Two.Zaire Province had roughly the same population as Cabinda ~ 600,000. Unlike Cabinda, which consisted of Cabinda City plus a few tiny towns and rugged jungles, Zaire had two cities ~ Soyo, with her seventy thousand souls plus the refinery at the mouth of the Congo River, and M'banza-Kongo, the historical capital of the Kingdom of Kongo, spiritual center of the Bakongo People (who included the Cabindans) and set up in the highlands strategically very reminiscent of Điện Biàn Phủ.Of Zaire's provincial towns, the only other strategic one was N'Zeto with her crappy Atlantic port facility and 2,230 meter grass airport. The town was the northern terminus of the National Road 100 ~ the Coastal Road. It terminated because of the Mebridege River. There wasn't a bridge at N'Zeto though there was a small one several miles upstream. N'Zeto was also where the road from provinces east of Zaire ended up, so you had to have N'Zeto ~ and that tiny bridge ~ to move troops overland anywhere else in Zaire Province.So you would think it would be easy for the Angolan Army to defend then, except of how the Amazons planned to operate. They would infiltrate the area first then 'rise up in rebellion'. Their problem was the scope of the operation had magnified in risk of exposure, duration and forces necessary for success.The serious issue before Saint Marie and the Host in Africa were the first two. They could actually move Amazons from Brazil and North America to bolster their numbers for the upcoming offensive. Even in the short-short term, equipment wouldn't be a serious problem. What the Amazons dreaded was being left in a protracted slugfest with the Angolan Army which the Condottieri could jump in on. The Amazons exceedingly preferred to strike first then vanish.There was reason to believe a tiny number could have stayed behind in Cabinda to help the locals prepare their military until they could defend themselves. They would need more than a hundred Amazons if Cabinda wanted to incorporate Zaire. The answer was to call back their newfound buddy, the Great Khan. While he didn't have much else he could spare (the Khanate was ramping up for their invasion of the Middle East after all, the Kurds needed the help), he had other allies he could call on.India couldn't help initially since they were supposed to supply the 'Peace-keepers' once a cease-fire had been arranged. That left Temujin with his solid ally, Vietnam, and his far shakier allies, the Republic of China and Japan.First off ~ Japan could not help, which meant they couldn't supply troops who might very well end up dead, or far worse, captured.. What they did have was a surplus of older equipment the ROC troops were familiar with, so while the ROC was gearing up for their own invasion of mainland China in February, they were willing to help the Chinese kill Angolans, off the books, of course.The ROC was sending fifteen hundred troops the Khanate's way to help in this West African adventure with the understanding they'd be coming home by year's end. With Vietnam adding over eight hundred of her own Special Forces, the Amazons had the tiny 'allied' army they could leave shielding Cabinda/Zaire once the first round of blood-letting was over.To be 'fair', the Republic of China and Vietnam asked for 'volunteers'. It wasn't like either country was going to declare war on Angola directly. Nearly a thousand members of Vietnam's elite 126th Regiment of the 5th Brigade (Đặc cáng bộ) took early retirement then misplaced their equipment as they went to update their visas and inoculations before heading out for the DRC (some would be slipping over the DRC/Cabindan border).On Taiwan, it was the men and women of the 602nd Air Cavalry Brigade, 871st Special Operations Group and 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion who felt the sudden desire to 'seek enlightenment elsewhere, preferably on another continent'.They too were off to the Democratic Republic of Congo, man that country was a mess and their border security wasn't worth writing home about, that's for damn sure, via multiple Southeast Asian nations. Besides, they were being issued fraudulently visas which showed them to be from the People's Republic of China, not the ROC/Taiwan. If they were captured, they were to pretend to "be working for a Communist Revolution inside Angola and thus to be setting all of Africa on fire!" aka be Mainland Chinese.There, in the DRC, these Chinese stumbled across, some Japanese. These folks hadn't retired. No. They were on an extended assignment for the UN's mission in, the DRC. OH! And look! They'd brought tons of surplus, outdated Japanese Self Defense Forces' equipment with them, and there just so happened to be some Taiwanese who had experience in using such equipment (both used US-style gear).And here was Colonel Yoshihiro Isami of the Chūō Sokuō Shūdan (Japan's Central Readiness Force) wondering why he and his hastily assembled team had just unloaded,18 Fuji/Bell AH-1S Cobra Attack helicopters,6 Kawasaki OH-6D Loach Scout helicopters,12 Fuji-Bell 204-B-2 Hiyodori Utility helicopters,6 Kawasaki/Boeing CH-47JA Chinook Transport helicopters and4 Mitsubishi M U-2L-1 Photo Reconnaissance Aircraft.Yep! 46 more aircraft for the FAL-FA!Oh, and if this wasn't 'bad enough', the Chinese hadn't come alone. They'd brought some old aircraft from their homes to aid in the upcoming struggle. Once more, these things were relics of the Cold War yet both capable fighting machines and, given the sorry state of the opposition, definitely quite deadly. A dozen F-5E Tiger 2000 configured primarily for air superiority plus two RF-5E Tigergazer for reconnaissance, pilots plus ground crews, of course.Thus, on the eve of battle, the FAL-FA had become a true threat. Sure, all of its planes (and half of its pilots) were pretty old, but they were combat-tested and in numbers and experience no other Sub-Saharan African nation could match.The Liberation Ground Forces:But wait, there was still the niggling little problem of what all those fellas were going to fight with once they were on the ground. Assault/Battle rifles, carbines, rifles, pistols, PDW, SMGs as bullets, grenades and RPG's were all terrifyingly easy to obtain. The coast of West Africa was hardly the Port of London as far as customs security went. They were going to need some bigger toys and their host nations were going to need all their native hardware for their upcoming battles at home.And it wasn't like you could advertise for used IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicles), APCs (armored personnel carriers) and tanks on e-Bay, Amazon.com, or Twitter. If something modern US, or NATO, was captured rolling around the beautiful Angolan countryside, shooting up hostile Angolans, all kinds of head would roll in all kinds of countries, unless the country,A) had an Executive Branch and Judiciary who wouldn't ask (or be answering) too many uncomfortable questions,B) wasn't all that vulnerable to international pressure,C) really needed the money and,D) didn't give a fuck their toys would soon be seen on BBC/CNN/Al Jazeera blowing the ever-living crap out of a ton of Africans aka doing what they were advertised to do and doing it very well in the hands of capable professionals.And politics was kind enough to hand the freedom-loving people of Cabinda & Zaire a winner, and it wasn't even from strangers, or at least people all that strange to their part of the Globe. If you would have no idea who to look for, you wouldn't be alone.That was the magic of the choice. See, the last three decades had seen the entire Globe take a colossal dump on them as a Nation and a People. They were highly unpopular for all sorts of things, such as Crimes Against Humanity and 'no', we were not talking about the Khanate.We would be talking about Република Србија / Republika Srbija aka Serbia aka the former Yugoslavia who had watched all their satellite minions (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia) slip away. Despite being reduced to a tiny fraction of their former selves thus fighting two incredibly brutal and bloody World Wars for nothing, Serbia insisted on maintaining a robust armaments industry.Mind you, they didn't make the very best stuff on the planet. That didn't stop them from trying though. Of equal importance was their geographic location and the above mentioned desire for some hard currency without asking too many questions. The geography was simple, you could move even heavy gear unnoticed from central Serbia to the Montenegrin port of Bar by rail and load them up on freighters and off to the Congo you went.The Serbians produced an APC called the BVP M-80A's which weren't blowing anyone's minds away when they started rolling off the production lines back in 1982, plus some over-eager types on the Serbian Army's payroll sweetened the deal by offering 'the rebels' some BVP M-80 KC's and a KB as well.Then they slathered on the sugary-sweet Maple syrup by upgrading a few of the M-80A's to BVP M-98A's. Why would they be so generous? The KC's and KB were the Command & Control variants, so that made sense (C = company & B = battalion commander). The -98A had never been tested in the field before and they were kind of curious how the new turrets (which was the major difference) would behave. 'Our' procurement agents didn't quibble. We needed the gear.Besides, these Slavic entrepreneurs gave them an inside track on some 'disarmed/mothballed' Czech (introduced in 1963) armored mobile ambulances and Polish BWP-1 (first rolled out in 1966) APC's which were either in, or could be quickly configured into, the support variants those ground-fighters would need. The 'disarmed' part was 'fixable', thanks to both the Serbians and Finland. The 'missing' basic weaponry was something the Serbians could replace with virtually identical equipment.It just kept getting better. Unknown to me at the time, the Finnish firm, Patria Hágglunds, had sold twenty-two of their 'most excellent' AMOS turrets ~ they are a twin 120 mm mortar system ~ then the deal fell through. Whoops! Should have guarded that warehouse better. Those bitches were on a cargo plane bound for Albania inside of six hours.The ammunition for them was rather unique. Thankfully, it was uniquely sold by the Swiss, who had no trouble selling it to Serbia, thank you very much! Twenty-two BWP-1's became mobile artillery for the Unionist freedom fighters, though I understood the ship ride with the Serbian and Chinese technicians was loads of fun as they struggled to figured out how to attach those state-of-the-art death-dealing turrets to those ancient contraptions.To compensate, the Serbians added (aka as long as our money was good) two Nora B-52 155 mm 52-calibre mobile artillery pieces and one battery of Orkan CER MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) for long-range artillery, two batteries of their Oganj 2000 ER MRLS for medium range carnage and six batteries of their M-94 MRLS for 'close support' as well. More field-testing new gear for the "freedom fighters" We also managed to 'purchase' ten M-84AS Main Battle tanks plus an M-84A1 armor recovery vehicle. It should have been twelve tanks, but two had 'loading issues'.Not to be deterred, our busy little procurement-beavers discovered four tanks no one was using, in neighboring Croatia. Why wasn't anyone immediately keen on their placement? They were two sets of prototypes, Croatia's improvements on the M-84; the M-95 Degman which was a 'failed redesign' and the M-84D, which was a vast up-grade for the M-84 line which had been sidelined by the 2008 Global economic collapse, after which the project stagnated.It seemed they were all in working order because late one night 'my people' exited a Croatian Army base with them, never to be seen again, until two weeks later when an intrepid news crew caught the distinctive form of the M-95 sending some sweet 125 mm loving the Angolan Army's way. Whoops yet again! At least they hit what they were aiming at and destroyed what they hit, right?By then, millions of other people would be going 'what the fuck?' right along with them as Cabinda's camouflage- and mask-wearing rebel army was laying the smack-down on the Angolans. That was okay; over a million 'free Cabindan Unionists' were in the same boat. Over a thousand Asians with their mostly-female militant translators were right there to prop up their 'Unionist Allies', but then they were the ones with the tanks, armored vehicles, planes and guns, so they were less worried than most.To pilot these tanks, APC, IFV and man this artillery, they had to go back to the Khanate. Sure enough, they had some old tankers used to crewing the T-72 from which the M-84's and -95 Degman were derived. They'd also need drivers for those BVP M-80A's and Polish BWP-1's and OT-64 SKOT's... who were, again, derived from old Soviet tech (just much better). The Serbian artillery was similar enough to Soviet stuff, but with enough new tech to make it 'more fun' for the reservists to 'figure out' how to use.More volunteers for the Liberation Armed Forces! More Apple sales, great apps and voice modulation software so that the vehicle commanders would be heard communicating in Portuguese if someone was eavesdropping. As a final offering the Turkish Navy spontaneously developed some plans to test their long range capabilities by going to, the South Atlantic.On the final leg they would have six frigates and two submarines, enough to give any navy in the region, which wasn't Brazil, something to think about. This was a show of force, not an actual threat though. If anyone called their bluff, the Khanate-Turkish forces would have to pull back. These were not assets my Brother, the Great Khan, could afford to gamble and lose.If someone didn't call that bluff, he was also sending two smaller, older corvettes and three even smaller, but newer, fast attack boats, a "gift" to the Unionists ASAP. The frigates would then race home, they had 'other' issues to deal with while the submarines would hang around for a bit. The naval gift was necessitated by the reality the Unionists would have to press their claim to their off-shore riches and that required a naval force Angola couldn't hope to counter.As things were developing, it was reckoned since a build-up of such momentous land and air power couldn't be disguised, it had to happen in a matter of days ~ four was decided to be the minimum amount of time. More than that and the government of the Democratic Republic might start asking far too many questions our hefty bribes and dubious paperwork couldn't cover. Less than that would leave the task forces launching operations with too little a chance of success.Our biggest advantage was audacity. The buildup would happen 100 km up the Congo River from Soyo, the primary target of the Southern Invasion, in the DRC's second largest port city, Boma. Though across the river was Angolan territory, there was nothing there. The city of roughly 160,000 would provide adequate cover for the initial stage of the invasion.There they grouped their vehicles & Khanate drivers with Amazon and Vietnamese combat teams. The Japanese were doing the same for their 'Chinese' counterparts for their helicopter-borne forces. Getting all their equipment in working order in the short time left was critical as was creating some level of unit dynamic. Things were chaotic. No one was happy. They were all going in anyway.What had gone wrong?While most children her age were texting their schoolmates, or tackling their homework, Aya Ruger ~ the alias of Nasusara Assiyaiá hamai ~ was getting briefings of her global, secret empire worth hundreds of billions and those of her equally nefarious compatriots. She received a very abbreviated version of what the Regents received, delivered by a member of Shawnee Arinniti's staff.When Aya hopped off her chair unexpectedly, everyone tensed. Her bodyguards' hands went to their sidearms and Lorraine (her sister by blood), also in the room on this occasion, stood and prepared to tackle her 'former' sibling to the ground if the situation escalated into an assassination attempt. No such attack was generated, so the security ratcheted down and the attendant returned her focus to her Queen. Aya paced four steps, turned and retraced her way then repeated the action three more times."How many people live in the combined areas?" she asked."The combined areas? Of Cabinda and Zaire?""Yes.""I," the woman referenced her material, "roughly 1.1 million.""What is the yearly value of the offshore oil and natural gas production?""Forty-nine billion, eighty hundred and sixty-seven million by our best estimates at this time,""How many live in Soyo City proper?""Roughly 70,000.""We take Soyo," she spoke in a small yet deliberate voice. "We take and hold Soyo as an independent city-state within the Cabindan-Zaire Union. From the maps it appears Soyo is a series of islands. It has a port and airport. It has an open border to an ocean with weaker neighbors all around.""What of the, Zairians?""Bakongo. As a people they are called the Bakongo," Aya looked up at the briefer. "We relocate those who need to work in Soyo into a new city, built at our expense, beyond the southernmost water barrier. The rest we pay to relocate elsewhere in Zaire, or Cabinda."By the looks of those around her, Aya realized she needed to further explain her decisions."This is more than some concrete home base for our People," she began patiently. "In the same way it gives our enemies a clearly delineated target to attack us, it is a statement to our allies we won't cut and run if things go truly bad.""In the same way it will provide us with diplomatic recognition beyond what tenuous handouts we are getting from Cáel Wakko Ishara's efforts through JIKIT. Also, it is a reminder we are not like the other Secret Societies in one fundamental way, we are not a business concern, or a religion. We are a People and people deserve some sort of homeland. We have gone for so long without.""But Soyo?" the aide protested. "We have no ties to it, and it backs up to, nothing.""Northern Turkey and southern Slovakia mean nothing to us now as well," Aya debated. "No place on Earth is any more precious than another. As for backing up to nothing, no. You are incorrect. It backs into a promise from our allies in the Earth & Sky that if we need support, they know where to park their planes and ships."Aya was surrounded with unhappy, disbelieving looks."The Great Khan is my mamētu meáeda," she reminded them, "and I have every reason to believe he completely grasps the concept's benefits and obligations."The looks confirmed 'but he's a man' to the tiny Queen."Aya, are you sure about this?" Lorraine was the first to break decorum."Absolutely. Do you know what he sent me when he was informed of my, ascension to the Queendom?""No," Lorraine admitted."We must go horse-riding sometime soon, Daughter of Cáel, Queen of the Amazons."More uncertain and unconvinced looks."He didn't congratulate me, or send any gifts. He could have and you would think he would have, but he didn't. He knew the hearts of me & my Atta and we weren't in the celebratory mood. No. The Great Khan sent one sentence which offered solace and quiet, atop a horse on a windswept bit of steppe."Nothing.Sigh. "I know this sounds Cáel-ish," Aya admitted, "but I strongly believe this is what we should do. We are giving the Cabindans and Bakongo in Zaire independence and the promise of a much better life than what they now face. We will be putting thousands of our sisters' lives on the line to accomplish this feat and well over two hundred million dollars.""What about governance of the city ~ Soyo?" the aide forged ahead."Amazon law," Aya didn't hesitate. "We will make allowances for the security forces of visiting dignitaries and specific allied personnel, but otherwise it will be one massive Amazon urban freehold.""I cannot imagine the Golden Mare, or the Regents, will be pleased," the attendant bowed her head."It is a matter of interconnectivity," Aya walked up and touched the woman's cheek with the back of her small hand. "We could liberate then abandon Cabinda with the hope a small band could help them keep their independence. Except we need the refinery at Soyo so the people of Cabinda can truly support that liberty.""So, we must keep Soyo and to keep Soyo, we must keep Zaire province. There is no other lesser border which makes strategic sense ~ a river, highlands, a massive river, an ocean ~ those are sustainable frontiers. You can't simply keep Soyo and not expect the enemy to strike and destroy that refinery, thus we must take Zaire province.""But the Bakongo of Zaire cannot defend themselves and will not be able to do so for at least a year, if not longer. That means we must do so, and for doing so, they will give us Soyo and we will be honest stewards of their oil wealth. We cannot expect any other power to defend this new Union and if we don't have a land stake we will be portrayed as mercenaries and expelled by hostile international forces.""So, for this project to have any chance of success, we must stay, fight and have an acknowledged presence, and if you can think of an alternative, please let me know," she exhaled."What if the Cabindans and Bakongo resist?""It is 'us', or the Angolans and they know how horrible the Angolans can be. Didn't you say the average person their lives on just $2 a day?""Yes.""We can do better than that," Aya insisted."How?" the aide persisted. "I mean, 'how in a way which will be quickly evident and meaningful?'""Oh," Aya's tiny brow furrowed. Her nose twitched as she rummaged through the vast storehouse of her brain."Get me in touch with William A. Miller, Director of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. He should be able to help me navigate the pathways toward getting aid and advisors into those two provinces ASAP.""I'll let Katrina know," the attendant made the notation on her pad."No. Contact him directly," Aya intervened. "We established a, rapport when we met. I think he might responded positively to a chance to mentor me in foreign relations.""Really?" Lorraine's brows arched."Yes," Aya chirped."Are you sure, Nasusara?" the attendant stared. She used 'Nasusara' whenever she thought Aya had a 'horrible' idea instead of a merely a 'bad' one."Yes. He owes me. Last time we met I didn't shoot him.""Didn't?" the woman twitched."Yes. I drew down on him with my captured Chinese QSW-06. I didn't want to kill him, but I felt I was about to have to kill Deputy National Security Advisor Blinken and he was the only other person in the room both armed and capable of stopping me.""Why is he still alive?""Cáel Ishara saw through my distraction and then took my gun from me, asked for it actually," she shyly confessed."Would you have shot him?" the aide inquired."What do you think?" Aya smiled.And Then:So, given t

Ja, det e Torsdag! I dagens sending fortelle Nora om en rar opplevelse hos legen, Torine har kjempa for livet mot en edderkopp, og Skorge har vært på sin første Brann kamp! Vi kårer den kjekkeste Disneyprinsen og det ekleste ordet. Vi får også hyggelig besøk av Sindre fra Realist lista som oppfordre alle til å stemme ved studentvalget!!! Programleder: Julie Skorge I studio: Torine Ramstad Bronken og Nora Nikolaisen

Ukraine has agreed to a U.S. cease-fire deal that resumed American aid and intelligence. How will the Trump administration get Russia on board with this proposal? Moving on to China, which recently held its annual National People's Congress meeting, we discuss how the country is growing its global leadership by taking advantage of the U.S. withdrawal from the liberal international order. Finally, we look at the backlash to MAGA amongst U.S. allies and its effect on their domestic politics.Topics Discussed in this Episode04:30 - Anita's new article in The Hill07:45 - Russia-Ukraine: Is Trump a Betrayer of Ukraine or a Realist?30:45 - China: Defender of the Post-War World Order?1:00:00 - MAGA's Toxic Brand Abroad: Domestic Politics of Canada and EUArticles and Resources Mentioned in EpisodeAnita's article in The Hill:US aid cuts are expanding Chinese influence (The Hill)Russia-Ukraine: Is Trump a Betrayer of Ukraine or a Realist Stud?Why John Mearsheimer Thinks Donald Trump is Right on Ukraine (The New Yorker)Ukraine Supports 30-Day Cease-Fire as U.S. Says It Will Resume Military Aid (NY Times)Ukraine Peace Is Not at Hand (WSJ)China: Defender of the Post-War World Order?Five takeaways from Beijing's largest annual political meetings (The Atlantic Council)The United States' Illiberal Turn Recasts a Potential Deal with China (CSIS)MAGA's Toxic Brand Abroad: Domestic Politics of Canada and EUCanada is so furious at the US right now (Vox)The Global Populist Right Has a MAGA Problem (The Atlantic)Donald Trump has pushed Europe back into “whatever it takes” mode (The Economist)Send us a textFollow Us Show Website: www.kelloggsglobalpolitics.com Show Twitter: @GlobalKellogg Anita's Twitter: @arkellogg Show YouTube

Clinical Competence Committees are found to be deliberate in focusing on trainee development but notably less likely to be deliberate regarding trainee entrustment and advancement decisions #cbme #patientsafety

Revolutionizing Memorabilia: The Realist's Authentic Collectibles Marketplace Therealest.com About the Guest(s): Base Naaman is the Co-founder and Head of Brand at The Realist, a pioneering firm in the memorabilia market. He is responsible for directing the company's creative strategy and overseeing partnerships with major industry names such as the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Heat, Snoop Dogg, Usher, and Paramount Studios. The Realist is renowned for setting the next-generation standards in sports and entertainment memorabilia authentication, sourcing items directly from athletes and artists, powered by cutting-edge identification technology. Episode Summary: Welcome to the latest episode of The Chris Vos Show, where we're joined by Base Naaman from The Realist. This episode unfolds the intriguing world of authentic sports and entertainment memorabilia, highlighting the technology and strategy behind ensuring authenticity. Base Naaman shares insights into The Realist's mission to bridge the gap in memorabilia collectability between sports and music industries and the untapped potential of these sectors for collectors and fans. Base Naaman elaborates on how The Realist implements groundbreaking authentication methods akin to those used by Major League Baseball, minimizing fraud within the memorabilia industry. By deploying witnesses at live events and maintaining a transparent transfer chain, The Realist sets high standards in provenance verification. Base Naaman also narrates fascinating stories behind significant partnerships with legendary bands like Megadeth and critical events like partnering with the Philadelphia Eagles during their Super Bowl victory journey, offering fans a tangible piece of history. Key Takeaways: The Realist closes the gap between sports and music memorabilia collecting by making genuine items accessible to fans. Authentication involves real-time, witnessed verification to ensure 100% authenticity for memorabilia. High-profile partnerships, such as with Megadeth and the Philadelphia Eagles, demonstrate The Realist's capacity to bring authentic, collectible items to fans. Efforts are made not only to monetize collectibles but to preserve and respect the legacy of artists and athletes by minimizing fraud. The Realist promotes environmental sustainability by repurposing items and preventing memorabilia from ending up as waste. Notable Quotes: "It's all about trust really. It's like building these relationships directly with the artists and teams." "You are some of the most followed and loved and admired people on this planet. Why are people not able to own items that you've used on stage?" "We kind of doubled down on the authentication because we are big sports fans." "They don't realize how much of their stuff is being sold online and their fans are getting ripped off." "Nothing's impossible. I think we'll be able to reach everyone soon enough."

Kaum ein Tier verkörpert so sehr die Ästhetik des Radsports wie der Wellensittich. Fast schon überirdisch schwebt er über die Straßen. Platten? Dagegen lässt er seine Bereifung im Winter austrocknen. Bei Regen, Nässe und Kälte träumt er sich immun. Er ist Kaiserschmarrn und Realist zugleich. Glaubt nicht an Blender, sondern bleibt sich treu.Eure Gebrüder Grimm der Podcastwelt philosophieren sich für Euch einmal mehr warm. Ob Amerika oder Deutschland, Hauptsache die Rahmengröße stimmt.

Preview: Colleague Lee Smith presents the dispute within the "Realist" school looking to win decision-making authority to challenge the Trump administration policy with regard to Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran. More later. 1979 US EMBASSY TEHRAN

Our surly morning show hosts interview a guest whose recycling method draws upon the United States Postal Service!

Schon als Kind hat er sein Talent an seiner Oma und seinem Opa „getestet“ – heute begeistert Edin Hasanovic ein Millionenpublikum. Besonders herausgefordert fühlt er sich, wenn niemand an ihn glaubt und er dann alle vom Gegenteil überzeugen kann. In dieser Folge von „Dreamers. On. Air.“ mit Gastgeber Steven Gätjen erfährst Du: Warum es völlig okay ist, ein größenwahnsinniger Realist zu sein. Welcher Moment für Edin der absolute Ritterschlag war. Und wie Disziplin sowie Motivation den Weg in die Film- und Showbranche ebnen. Diese Episode ist eine Masterclass für alle, die groß träumen – und noch größer durchstarten wollen!

As these episodes are old—some over 20 years old—it is important to remember that the advertisements and special offers included are no longer active. While we have worked diligently to cut out as many commercial ads as possible, these are long episodes, and there is always a chance that some ads remain. Please keep this in mind while listening. 

Militärhilfe für die Ukraine, Aufrüsten in Deutschland, muss ich als Privatanleger auf alles reagieren?   Viel Spaß beim Hören,Dein Matthias Krapp(Transkript dieser Folge weiter unten) NEU!!! Hier kannst Du Dich kostenlos für meinen Minikurs registrieren und reinschauen. Es lohnt sich: https://portal.abatus-beratung.com/geldanlage-kurs/   

In the second hour of Inside Access, the guys discuss Joey Bosa being released by the Chargers and if he could be an option for the Ravens. They also talk about Orioles injuries stacking up.

We cover the BIG Nagy hire and its implications. After a game of “You're Fired!”, we transition to MBB, Moser, and other OU sports in general talking about the landscape of college athletics. It may be the offseason, but we aren't resting.Two Homers and a Realist is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Two Homers and a Realist at twohomersandarealist.substack.com/subscribe

https://youtu.be/Zh8enTGzSvw "In other words, there is a clandestine network of influential figures (the “Round Table Groups” referred to by Quigley) who cooperate with both the left and the right sides of the traditional political spectrum to carry out their own self-serving agenda. In this way, they rig the system so that voters can never effect fundamental change. And, as Quigley laments, they wish to remain unknown despite their significant role in shaping world events." - James Corbett, REPORTAGE: Essays on the New World Order The Corbett Report is an independent, listener-supported alternative news source. Book: https://reportagebook.com/ Watch on BitChute Watch on Odysee Watch on X Watch on Rumble

The Corbett Report is an independent, listener-supported alternative news source.Book: https://reportagebook.com//// Keith Knight - Don't Tread on Anyone ///Domestic Imperialism: Nine Reasons I Left Progressivism: ⁠https://libertarianinstitute.org/books/domestic-imperialism-nine-reasons-i-left-progressivism/ ⁠The Voluntaryist Handbook: ⁠https://libertarianinstitute.org/books/voluntaryist-handbook/ ⁠Support the show, PayPal: KeithKnight130@gmail.com or Venmo: @Keith-Knight-34 Odysee: ⁠https://odysee.com/@KeithKnightDontTreadOnAnyone:b⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/keithknight13/⁠Rumble: ⁠https://rumble.com/user/VoluntaryistKeith⁠BitChute: KeithKnightDontTreadOnAnyone⁠https://www.bitchute.com/channel/keithknightdonttreadonanyone/ ⁠TikTok: ⁠tiktok.com/@keithknightdtoa

Your mindset can make or break your retirement. Are you a Pollyanna, Delegator, Controller, or Realist? In this episode, we dive into the four common mindsets retirees bring to the table and how each one impacts their financial, tax, and legal decisions. From blind optimism to overconfidence, we explore the strengths and pitfalls of each mindset—and how you can evolve to make better choices. Whether you're just starting to plan or reevaluating your approach, this episode will help you identify your mindset and build a strategy for long-term success. If you're thinking, "I love the Big Picture Retirement podcast!” please consider rating and reviewing this show! This helps us support more people -- just like you -- move toward a confident retirement. Just scroll down to the “ratings and reviews” section, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let us know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast. We add new content every week, and if you're not following, you'll likely miss out. Follow now!  Don't miss the Big Picture Retirement Planning Cheat Sheet. We've distilled the essential brackets, thresholds, and rules of retirement into an easy-to-digest, three-page summary. https://www.carrolladvisory.com/pl/2148282517  Want to ask Devin or John your question? Just visit https://www.bigpictureretirement.com/ and click on the “Ask A Question” menu selection.  Although this show does not provide specific tax, legal, or financial advice, you can engage Devin or John through their individual firms.  Contact Devin's team at https://www.carrolladvisory.com/  Contact John's team at https://www.rossandshoalmire.com/     

David Laut says the market will “find some footing in the next couple days,” but uncertainties remain for the tech sector. “I'm a realist bull this year,” he adds, saying it's “statistically” time for bumpiness in the market. He expects weakness in the market to come from the Mag 7 but thinks investors can buy into the dips. He also discusses his allocation strategies for his clients: "75% equities, 25% bonds". ======== Schwab Network ======== Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6D Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribe Download the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185 Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7 Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watch Watch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-explore Watch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/ Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetwork Follow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetwork Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

This realist review describes the added value stakeholders derive from individuals adopting the dual roles of clinician and teacher, highlighting means of maximizing their benefits.   Read the accompanying article here: https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.15476

As these episodes are old—some over 20 years old—it is important to remember that the advertisements and special offers included are no longer active. While we have worked diligently to cut out as many commercial ads as possible, these are long episodes, and there is always a chance that some ads remain. Please keep this in mind while listening.

The 2024 CFB season is complete. Now is the time to recalibrate for the future—in other words begin to get our hopes up. We discuss the defensive coordinator search and other topics as we enter the offseason. Enjoy.Special thanks to our sponsor: Tobacco Exchange - Best prices, selection, and expert advice in the metro. Visit them at any of their three locations: Moore, Oklahoma City, and Edmond.https://bestcigarsok.com/Two Homers and a Realist is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Two Homers and a Realist at twohomersandarealist.substack.com/subscribe

DJ Skee joins us this week to talk about the evolution of marketing through product placement and the power of nostalgia in collecting.DJ Skee is a multifaceted entrepreneur known for breaking artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Lorde and pioneering marketing strategies in music and tech. As the founder of The Realist, he's revolutionizing the sports memorabilia industry through blockchain authentication and innovative collecting experiences. In this episode, Skee shares his journey from teenage hustler to cultural innovator, offering insights on everything from early influencer marketing to the future of digital collecting.Links mentioned from the podcast: DJ Skee's TwitterThe Realist WebsiteWatch this episode on video:YouTubeCoinDeskFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsor: In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

DJ Skee joins us this week to talk about the evolution of marketing through product placement and the power of nostalgia in collecting.DJ Skee is a multifaceted entrepreneur known for breaking artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Lorde and pioneering marketing strategies in music and tech. As the founder of The Realist, he's revolutionizing the sports memorabilia industry through blockchain authentication and innovative collecting experiences. In this episode, Skee shares his journey from teenage hustler to cultural innovator, offering insights on everything from early influencer marketing to the future of digital collecting.Links mentioned from the podcast: DJ Skee's TwitterThe Realist WebsiteWatch this episode on video:YouTubeCoinDeskFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsor: In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3464: Julie Morgenstern shares how embracing realistic time estimates transforms productivity and focus. By tracking how long tasks truly take, you can ditch wishful thinking, better prioritize, and achieve more while feeling less overwhelmed. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.juliemorgenstern.com/tips-tools-blog/2020/7/7/become-a-time-realist Quotes to ponder: "Things take as long as they take. If we ignore the truth, we may very well run out of time before we've even started on the most important work." "Once you know how long it takes you to do something, you can more easily find the room in your schedule to get it done." "You won't have to be this detailed forever. After two weeks to a month of concerted effort, you'll develop a keen sense of how much time tasks require." Episode references: Never Check E-mail in the Morning: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Check-E-Mail-Morning-Productivity/dp/0743250885 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3464: Julie Morgenstern shares how embracing realistic time estimates transforms productivity and focus. By tracking how long tasks truly take, you can ditch wishful thinking, better prioritize, and achieve more while feeling less overwhelmed. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.juliemorgenstern.com/tips-tools-blog/2020/7/7/become-a-time-realist Quotes to ponder: "Things take as long as they take. If we ignore the truth, we may very well run out of time before we've even started on the most important work." "Once you know how long it takes you to do something, you can more easily find the room in your schedule to get it done." "You won't have to be this detailed forever. After two weeks to a month of concerted effort, you'll develop a keen sense of how much time tasks require." Episode references: Never Check E-mail in the Morning: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Check-E-Mail-Morning-Productivity/dp/0743250885 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3464: Julie Morgenstern shares how embracing realistic time estimates transforms productivity and focus. By tracking how long tasks truly take, you can ditch wishful thinking, better prioritize, and achieve more while feeling less overwhelmed. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.juliemorgenstern.com/tips-tools-blog/2020/7/7/become-a-time-realist Quotes to ponder: "Things take as long as they take. If we ignore the truth, we may very well run out of time before we've even started on the most important work." "Once you know how long it takes you to do something, you can more easily find the room in your schedule to get it done." "You won't have to be this detailed forever. After two weeks to a month of concerted effort, you'll develop a keen sense of how much time tasks require." Episode references: Never Check E-mail in the Morning: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Check-E-Mail-Morning-Productivity/dp/0743250885 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textIn this conversation, Sauce McKenzie explores the contentious relationship between Charles Barkley and contemporary NBA players, particularly LeBron James. He questions whether Barkley's critical remarks stem from a place of bitterness or genuine critique. The discussion also delves into the broader theme of how aging athletes cope with their legacies and the potential bitterness they may harbor towards younger generations. McKenzie invites listeners to reflect on the dynamics of respect and rivalry in sports, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and understanding in these discussions.Chapters00:00 The Barkley Debate: Hater or Realist?05:07 Bitterness in Aging Athletes08:22 LeBron vs. Barkley: A Clash of GenerationsSupport the show

As these episodes are old—some over 20 years old—it is important to remember that the advertisements and special offers included are no longer active. While we have worked diligently to cut out as many commercial ads as possible, these are long episodes, and there is always a chance that some ads remain. Please keep this in mind while listening. 

As these episodes are old—some over 20 years old—it is important to remember that the advertisements and special offers included are no longer active. While we have worked diligently to cut out as many commercial ads as possible, these are long episodes, and there is always a chance that some ads remain. Please keep this in mind while listening.

A discussion of the loss to end a terrible season transitions to a heated discussion of how good OU will be, can be, and should be. Realist Deal Locks of the WeekSteve: Boise State +11, Notre Dame +2, Alabama -12.5 Conner: Texas -13.5, Notre Dame +2, Oregon +2.5 Lucas: Boise State +11, Notre Dame +2, South Carolina -10 Jay: Mississippi -17, Ohio State -2.5, South Carolina -10 Listener: Boise State +11, LSU +3.5, Alabama -12.5Prop Bet of the Week2.5 SEC wins in CFP from quarterfinals through championship Steve: UnderConner: UnderLucas: UnderJay: UnderSpecial thanks to our sponsors: Title sponsors: Little Debbie Snack Cakes - The world's tastiest treats; the top-selling Little Debbie varieties are Oatmeal Creme Pies, Swiss Cake Rolls and Nutty Buddy Wafer Bars.https://www.littledebbie.com/AndDr. Michael Kiehn, MD - Dr. Kiehn is a board-certified surgeon specializing in orthopedic sports medicine. For over 20 years, Dr. Kiehn has been serving the greater Oklahoma City area, along with western Oklahoma. Not only does this include surgical skills in primarily the knees and shoulders, he is a constant figure on football sidelines throughout Oklahoma high schools and colleges. Dr. Kiehn's deep commitment to sports and devotion to his patients proves that he is the man to see—even though he is an Oklahoma State fan. Thank you, Dr. Kiehn.https://www.mercy.net/doctor/michael-edwin-kiehn-md/ Realist Deal Locks of the Week: Five Star Concrete - David and Josh are a local business servicing the metro area. Patios, sidewalks, driveways, shops, and more. Call them or text them at 405-306-3014, or look them up on Facebook at Five Star Concrete.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021680492 Also:Tobacco Exchange - Best prices, selection, and expert advice in the metro. Visit them at any of their three locations: Moore, Oklahoma City, and Edmond.https://bestcigarsok.com/Thanks for reading Two Homers and a Realist! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Two Homers and a Realist at twohomersandarealist.substack.com/subscribe

After the portal losses, OU has substantial gains. We debate the long view. Plus we look at the game against Navy.Realist Deal Locks of the WeekSteve: Oklahoma -3, Texas A&M -3.5, Iowa +3 Conner: Nebraska -2.5, Colorado -5, Kansas State -6.5 Lucas: Oklahoma -3, Georgia Tech -3, Miami (Fla) -3 Jay: Oklahoma -3, Colorado -5, Miami (Fla) -3 Listener: Oklahoma -3, Arkansas -1, Kansas State -6.5Prop Bet of the Week360.5 total offensive yards for OU versus Navy Steve: OverConner: UnderLucas: UnderJay: UnderOU Score PredictionsSteve: 35-17Conner: 31-17Lucas: 24-14Jay: 27-20Special thanks to our sponsors: Title sponsor: Dr. Michael Kiehn, MD - Dr. Kiehn is a board-certified surgeon specializing in orthopedic sports medicine. For over 20 years, Dr. Kiehn has been serving the greater Oklahoma City area, along with western Oklahoma. Not only does this include surgical skills in primarily the knees and shoulders, he is a constant figure on football sidelines throughout Oklahoma high schools and colleges. Dr. Kiehn's deep commitment to sports and devotion to his patients proves that he is the man to see—even though he is an Oklahoma State fan. Thank you, Dr. Kiehn.https://www.mercy.net/doctor/michael-edwin-kiehn-md/ Realist Deal Locks of the Week: Five Star Concrete - David and Josh are a local business servicing the metro area. From patios, sidewalks, driveways, shops, and more. Call them or text them at 405-306-3014, or look them up on Facebook at Five Star Concrete.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021680492 Get full access to Two Homers and a Realist at twohomersandarealist.substack.com/subscribe

Former atheist Spencer grew up in an abusive home, and while his mother took him to church, it felt more like a manipulative act than genuine faith. Witnessing the hypocrisy of the self-proclaimed Christians around him, Spencer began reading philosophical books. He determined that Christianity, like other religions, was irrational and needed to be challenged. He often engaged in debates with Christians, attempting to liberate them by dismantling their beliefs. He eventually found Christians that not only listened to his criticisms, but helped him look for real answers to his questions. After much study, Spencer began to see Christianity and the God of the Bible in a whole new light. Guest bio: Spencer Durrenberger is a chemist in Texas, with a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Physics from the University of Texas at Arlington. He currently works in the medical field, specializing in oncology with Humana Pathology, where he contributes to groundbreaking medical research focused on cancer. Resources Mentioned: The Gospels For History, read Luke For History from the perspective of the Law, read Matthew For Why God became Man, read Mark For The Divinity of Christ and Beauty, read John Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org

It's a fact that humans are increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But does it follow, as we're constantly told, that this increasing of CO2 is poisoning the planet? What if the opposite is actually the case? This week's guest, CO2 Coalition Executive Director Gregory Wrightstone, is going to explain why it's not true that more CO2=Bad.On Episode #139 of The Climate Realism Show, The Heartland Institute's H. Sterling Burnett, Jim Lakely, and Wrightstone will also cover some of the “Crazy Climate News of the Week.” An op-ed in The New York Times says climate change should make you rethink home ownership. Remember when an iceberg off Antarctica in 2017 was supposed to freak you out? Well, never mind. And the World Economic Forum says you should wash your clothes less to save the planet. They suggest washing jeans once a month and pajamas just once a week. Is there any aspect of our lives that the climate scolds will ignore? Apparently not.LINKSThe European Conservative: Are Net Zero's Days Numbered?https://europeanconservative.com/articles/commentary/are-net-zeros-days-numbered/CO2 Coalitionhttps://co2coalition.org/VISIT THESE GREAT CLIMATE REALISM SITESSUBSCRIBE to Heartland's Climate Change Weeklyhttps://heartland.org/subscribe/ClimateRealismhttps://climaterealism.com/Climate at a Glancehttps://climateataglance.com/Energy at a Glancehttps://energyataglance.com/The Heartland Institute's Climate Pagehttps://heartland.org/topics/environment-energy/Heartland's Climate Conferenceshttps://climateconferences.heartland.org/OUR STREAMING PARTNERSWatts Up With Thathttps://wattsupwiththat.com/CFACThttps://www.cfact.org/ClimateDepothttps://www.climatedepot.com/JunkSciencehttps://junkscience.com/

On this episode of Radio Rothbard, Ryan McMaken and Tho Bishop are joined by Zachary Yost to discuss a new book, The Source of Russian Aggression by Sumantra Maitra. The three talk about the theory of international realism, its application to the military actions of the Russian state in Ukraine and Georgia, and what it means for better understanding foreign policy broadly.The Sources of Russian Aggression by Sumantra Maitra (PDF): Mises.org/MaitraBook"Review: The Sources of Russian Aggression" by Ryan McMaken: Mises.org/mises-wire/review-sources-russian-aggressionDonate $25 or more today and receive our December Bundle Special: https://Mises.org/RadioRothbard24The World at War by Ralph Raico: Mises.org/RaicoWarGet your "Murray Christmas" Ugly Christmas Sweater: Mises.org/UglyBe sure to follow Radio Rothbard at https://Mises.org/RadioRothbardRadio Rothbard mugs are available at the Mises Store. Get yours at https://Mises.org/RothMug PROMO CODE: RothPod for 20% off

On this episode of Radio Rothbard, Ryan McMaken and Tho Bishop are joined by Zachary Yost to discuss a new book, The Source of Russian Aggression by Sumantra Maitra. The three talk about the theory of international realism, its application to the military actions of the Russian state in Ukraine and Georgia, and what it means for better understanding foreign policy broadly.The Sources of Russian Aggression by Sumantra Maitra (PDF): Mises.org/MaitraBook"Review: The Sources of Russian Aggression" by Ryan McMaken: Mises.org/mises-wire/review-sources-russian-aggressionDonate $25 or more today and receive our December Bundle Special: https://Mises.org/RadioRothbard24The World at War by Ralph Raico: Mises.org/RaicoWarGet your "Murray Christmas" Ugly Christmas Sweater: Mises.org/UglyBe sure to follow Radio Rothbard at https://Mises.org/RadioRothbardRadio Rothbard mugs are available at the Mises Store. Get yours at https://Mises.org/RothMug PROMO CODE: RothPod for 20% off

Elon Musk's latest fortune was built on his Tesla electric vehicles, helped in no small measure by federal tax credits so more people could afford to buy the luxury items. For years, he's marketed them as a way to help wean the world of oil and stop the imminent “climate change meltdown.” But The Washington Post reports that Musk's abandonment of left-wing, trendy, virtue-signaling political views not only eventually led him to Donald Trump, but maybe out of the Climate Cult, altogether. And if Musk makes it OK to leave, will more prominent business leaders and cultural trend setters soon follow?On Episode #138 of The Climate Realism Show, The Heartland Institute's H. Sterling Burnett, Anthony Watts, Linnea Lueken, and Jim Lakely will cover that story, as well as some of the “Crazy Climate News of the Week.” Did you know the Chinese Communist Party is sending lots of money to “green energy” groups and  support energy groups and universities in the United States? The UK's obsession with reaching “Net Zero” is putting its military in danger on the battlefield. And you're not going to want to miss what is perhaps the dumbest question ever asked by an anchor on CNN.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET so you can leave your questions and comments for the show in the chat.

Elon Musk's latest fortune was built on his Tesla electric vehicles, helped in no small measure by federal tax credits so more people could afford to buy the luxury items. For years, he's marketed them as a way to help wean the world of oil and stop the imminent “climate change meltdown.” But The Washington Post reports that Musk's abandonment of left-wing, trendy, virtue-signaling political views not only eventually led him to Donald Trump, but maybe out of the Climate Cult, altogether. And if Musk makes it OK to leave, will more prominent business leaders and cultural trend setters soon follow?On Episode #138 of The Climate Realism Show, The Heartland Institute's H. Sterling Burnett, Anthony Watts, Linnea Lueken, and Jim Lakely will cover that story, as well as some of the “Crazy Climate News of the Week.” Did you know the Chinese Communist Party is sending lots of money to “green energy” groups and  support energy groups and universities in the United States? The UK's obsession with reaching “Net Zero” is putting its military in danger on the battlefield. And you're not going to want to miss what is perhaps the dumbest question ever asked by an anchor on CNN.Join us LIVE at 1 p.m. ET so you can leave your questions and comments for the show in the chat.

You're Listening to Parallax Views https://parallaxviews.podbean.com/ Support the Show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Recorded: 12-11-24 On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. reached out to a very interesting political analyst in his continued coverage of the situation in Syria with the fall of Bashar al-Assad and the ascendancy of the Islamist HTS led by Abu Muhammed al-Jolani. Graham E. Fuller specializes in long-range forecasting of geopolitics. In fact, Fuller is a former vice chair of the National Intelligence Council at CIA responsible for long-term forecasting. He also served as a CIA operations officer overseas for two decades, with much of his time being spent in the Middle East. He served as the CIA Station Chief in Kabul and is the author of such books as A World Without Islam (2010) and The Future of Political Islam (2003). He is a noted analyst on Islamist movements and continues to write extensively on issues pertaining to U.S. foreign policy, the Middle East, and geopolitics. Graham joined me for a conversation about Assad's overthrow and what it means for various geopolitical players including the U.S. Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the Gulf states. We ended up having a more broad discussion that led into many different areas including: - Explaining the phenomena that has come to be known as "Political Islam" sans the tabloid clickbait that has unfortunately something attended the non-academic literature on the topic - Graham's critique of John Mearsheimer's Realist school of thought in regards to international relations. Graham believes there is great value in Mearsheimer's analysis, but makes the case that Realism as a school of thought is too often mechanistic and deterministic in how it perceives the course of geopolitical trends - The U.S.'s endless "Search for Enemies" and the consequences that approach to foreign policy creates, in relation to, for example, the U.S.-China relationship - The question of HTS and its leader Abu Muhammed al-Jolani; how will the govern?; HTS's administration of Idlib; how al-Jolani is, in the immediate, approaching the West and Israel - Israel and Turkey's strikes in Syria; Turkey's geopolitical concerns over the Kurds in Syria; the far-right elements that have been unleashed in Israel, especially since the October 7th, 2023 attack and how that effects both Israel and the Middle East more broadly - And much, much more!

We cover the opening salvo of the portal and what we expect and desire out of it; plus we cover the beginning of bowl season.Realist Deal Locks of the WeekSteve: Army -6.5, SMU +8.5, Tennessee +7.5 Conner: Army -6.5, Penn State -8.5, Notre Dame -7.5 Lucas: Memphis -4, Ohio -2.5, Notre Dame -7.5 Jay: Memphis -4, Florida -14, Notre Dame -7.5 Listener: UNLV +2, Clemson +11, Tennessee +7.5Prob Bet of the Week1.5 Wins straight up for prior OU opponents in bowl games through December 21 Steve: OverConner: UnderLucas: UnderJay: UnderSpecial thanks to our sponsors: Title sponsor: Dr. Michael Kiehn, MD - Dr. Kiehn is a board-certified surgeon specializing in orthopedic sports medicine. For over 20 years, Dr. Kiehn has been serving the greater Oklahoma City area, along with western Oklahoma. Not only does this include surgical skills in primarily the knees and shoulders, he is a constant figure on football sidelines throughout Oklahoma high schools and colleges. Dr. Kiehn's deep commitment to sports and devotion to his patients proves that he is the man to see—even though he is an Oklahoma State fan. Thank you, Dr. Kiehn.https://www.mercy.net/doctor/michael-edwin-kiehn-md/ Realist Deal Locks of the Week: Five Star Concrete - David and Josh are a local business servicing the metro area. From patios, sidewalks, driveways, shops, and more. Call them or text them at 405-306-3014, or look them up on Facebook at Five Star Concrete.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021680492 Get full access to Two Homers and a Realist at twohomersandarealist.substack.com/subscribe

Host Hap Holden further undermines failed Mayoral candidate Haff Koct's sense of personal worth.

We dive into our views on the new OC, Ben Arbuckle, as well as a run down on signing day. Plus we discuss championship week along with our predictions.Realist Deal Locks of the WeekSteve: Louisiana +5.5, Ohio +2.5, Penn State +3.5 Conner: Boise State -4, Tulane -5, Georgia +2.5 Lucas: Arizona State -2, Oregon -3.5, SMU -2 Jay: Arizona State -2, Oregon -3.5, Clemson +2.5 Listener: Boise State -2, Oregon -2.5, SMU -2Prop Bet of the Week4.5 Favorites to cover in the conference championship games Steve: OverConner: OverLucas: OverJay: UnderSpecial thanks to our sponsors: Title sponsor: Dr. Michael Kiehn, MD - Dr. Kiehn is a board-certified surgeon specializing in orthopedic sports medicine. For over 20 years, Dr. Kiehn has been serving the greater Oklahoma City area, along with western Oklahoma. Not only does this include surgical skills in primarily the knees and shoulders, he is a constant figure on football sidelines throughout Oklahoma high schools and colleges. Dr. Kiehn's deep commitment to sports and devotion to his patients proves that he is the man to see—even though he is an Oklahoma State fan. Thank you, Dr. Kiehn.https://www.mercy.net/doctor/michael-edwin-kiehn-md/ Realist Deal Locks of the Week: Five Star Concrete - David and Josh are a local business servicing the metro area. From patios, sidewalks, driveways, shops, and more. Call them or text them at 405-306-3014, or look them up on Facebook at Five Star Concrete.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021680492 Get full access to Two Homers and a Realist at twohomersandarealist.substack.com/subscribe

Sooners end the regular season on a loss to finish 6-6. After recounting the loss, we turn to rebuilding for the future.Special thanks to our sponsors: Title sponsor: Little Debbie Snack Cakes - The world's tastiest treats; the top-selling Little Debbie varieties are Oatmeal Creme Pies, Swiss Cake Rolls and Nutty Buddy Wafer Bars.https://www.littledebbie.com/ Tobacco Exchange - Best prices, selection, and expert advice in the metro. Visit them at any of their three locations: Moore, Oklahoma City, and Edmond.https://bestcigarsok.com/ Get full access to Two Homers and a Realist at twohomersandarealist.substack.com/subscribe

Live from Vegas, we're gearing up for the final game of the regular season. Sooners have a chance for a little more redemption in this season of trial. Realist Deal Locks of the WeekSteve: Oklahoma +6, Texas -6, Notre Dame -7.5 Conner: SMU -13.5, Illinois -7.5, Army -7 Lucas: Texas Tech -3, Missouri -3, North Carolina -3 Jay: Oklahoma +6, South Carolina +3, Ohio State -21 Listener: Colorado -16, Tennessee -10.5, Kansas -1.5Prob Bet of the Week120.5 yards rushing for Xavier Robinson Steve: OverConner: OverLucas: UnderJay: OverScore PredictionsSteve: 31-20Conner: 27-17Lucas: 26-23Jay: 24-20Title sponsor: Dr. Michael Kiehn, MD - Dr. Kiehn is a board-certified surgeon specializing in orthopedic sports medicine. For over 20 years, Dr. Kiehn has been serving the greater Oklahoma City area, along with western Oklahoma. Not only does this include surgical skills in primarily the knees and shoulders, he is a constant figure on football sidelines throughout Oklahoma high schools and colleges. Dr. Kiehn's deep commitment to sports and devotion to his patients proves that he is the man to see—even though he is an Oklahoma State fan. Thank you, Dr. Kiehn.https://www.mercy.net/doctor/michael-edwin-kiehn-md/ Realist Deal Locks of the Week: Five Star Concrete - David and Josh are a local business servicing the metro area. From patios, sidewalks, driveways, shops, and more. Call them or text them at 405-306-3014, or look them up on Facebook at Five Star Concrete.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021680492 Get full access to Two Homers and a Realist at twohomersandarealist.substack.com/subscribe

Host Hap Holden hounds a self-styled recycling expert!

Reversing their self-imposed curse, the Sooners put it all together to get the win. We delight in the performance and discuss how it might be the marker of a new beginning. Enjoy!Special thanks to our sponsors: Title sponsor: Little Debbie Snack Cakes - The world's tastiest treats; the top-selling Little Debbie varieties are Oatmeal Creme Pies, Swiss Cake Rolls and Nutty Buddy Wafer Bars.https://www.littledebbie.com/ Tobacco Exchange - Best prices, selection, and expert advice in the metro. Visit them at any of their three locations: Moore, Oklahoma City, and Edmond.https://bestcigarsok.com/ Get full access to Two Homers and a Realist at twohomersandarealist.substack.com/subscribe

A lecture given at L'Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ by Joshua Chestnut Being a man or woman, relating to oneself, and relating to the opposite sex are not uncomplicated matters in 2024. In this lecture, I will look at the writings of a few contemporary feminists who loosely affiliate under the banner of "Sex-Realist Feminism" to see how they might be able to offer us some help. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2024

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:13 - 12:51)Hamas Attacks Israel and Now Kills More Hostages, While Israel Faces World Pressure: The Moral Reality in Gaza is Being Turned Upside Down Before Our EyesHamas Murders Six Hostages, Israel Is Blamed by The Wall Street Journal (The Editorial Board)Part II (12:51 - 24:15)A Realist and Honest Approach to Donald Trump on Abortion: We Need to Compare the Political and Moral Terms of the Policies of Donald Trump vs. Those of Kamala HarrisPart III (24:15 - 26:07)The Stakes for the Unborn in 2024 Election: Trump Needs to Make His Defense of Unborn Life Clear, Consistent, and UrgentSign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.