Podcasts about regrettably

In this week's episode, I take a look back at the movies and streaming shows I watched in Summer 2025. This coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Ghost in the Serpent, Book #1 in the Ghost Armor series, (as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy) at my Payhip store: FALLSERPENT50 The coupon code is valid through September 15, 2025 (please note the shorter expiration date). So if you need a new audiobook this fall, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 267 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is September 5, 2025 and today I'm doing a review roundup of the movies and streaming shows I saw in Summer 2025. Before we do that, we will have Coupon of the Week and a progress update on my current writing and audiobook projects. First up, this week's coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Ghost in the Serpent, Book One in the Ghost Armor series (as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy) at my Payhip store. That is FALLSERPENT50. This coupon code will be valid through September 15th, 2025 (exactly one week). So if you need a new audiobook to listen to as we head into fall, we have got you covered. Now for an update on my current writing and audiobook projects. I am pleased to report that the rough draft of Blade of Flames, which will be the first book in my new Blades of Ruin epic fantasy series is finished. The rough draft came at about 90,000 words long, which was what I was aiming for. Next up, I will be writing a short story set as sort of a bonus in that plot line called Thunder Hammer and that will be the backstory of one of the characters in Blade of Flames. And when Blade of Flames comes out (which will hopefully be later this September), newsletter subscribers will get a free ebook copy of Thunder Hammer. So this is an excellent time to subscribe to my newsletter. I am also 8,000 words into Cloak of Worlds. At long last, I am coming back to the Cloak Mage series after nearly a year's absence. Longtime listeners will know the reason was that I had five unfinished series and I wanted to spend the summer of 2025 finishing the unfinished ones and focusing up so I will only have three ongoing series at any given time. I'm hoping Blade of Flames will come out before the end of September and Cloak of Worlds before the end of October, and after that I will be able to return to the Rivah series at long last. In audiobook news, recording is finished on Shield of Power. That will be excellently narrated by Brad Wills and hopefully once it gets through processing and quality assurance and everything, it should be showing up on the various audiobook stores before too much longer. Hollis McCarthy is about halfway through the recording of Ghost in the Siege, which was, as you know, the last book in the Ghost Armor series that just came out. And if all goes well, the audiobook should be coming out probably in October once everything is done with recording and quality assurance and all that. So that is where I'm at with my current writing and audiobook projects. 00:02:34 Main Topic: Summer 2025 Movie/TV Roundup So without further ado, let's head into our main topic. The end of summer is nigh, which means this time for my summer movie review roundup. As is usual for the summer, I saw a lot of movies, so this will be one of the longer episodes. For some reason I ended up watching a bunch of westerns. As always, the movies are ranked from least favorite to most favorite. The grades of course are totally subjective and based on nothing more than my own opinions, impressions, and interpretations. Now on to the movies. First up is the Austin Powers trilogy, the three movies of which came out in 1997, 1999, and 2002. The Austin Powers movies came out just as the Internet really got going in terms of mass adoption, which is likewise why so many Austin Powers and Dr. Evil memes are embedded in online culture. Despite that, I had never really seen any of them all the way through. They've been on in the background on TBS or whatever quite a bit when I visited people, but I've never seen them all. But I happened upon a DVD of the trilogy for $0.25 (USD), so I decided for 25 cents I would give it a go. I would say the movies were funny, albeit not particularly good. Obviously the Austin Powers movies are a parody of the James Bond movies. The movies kind of watch like an extended series of Saturday Night Live skits, only loosely connected, like the skit is what if Dr. Evil had a son named Scott who wasn't impressed with him or another skit was what if a British agent from the ‘60s arrives in the ‘90s and experiences culture clash? What if Dr. Evil didn't understand the concept of inflation and demanded only a million dollars from the United Nations? What if Dr. Evil was actually Austin's brother and they went to school together at Spy Academy? Michael Caine was pretty great as Austin's father. Overall, funny but fairly incoherent. Overall grade: C- Next up is Horrible Bosses, a very dark and very raunchy comedy from about 14 years ago. It came out in 2011. Interestingly, this movie reflects what I think is one of the major crises of the contemporary era, frequent failures of leadership at all levels of society. In the movie Nick, Dale, and Kurt are lifelong friends living in LA and all three of them have truly horrible bosses in their place of employment, ranging from a sociopathic finance director, the company founder's cokehead son, and a boorish dentist with a tendency to sexual harassment. At the bar, they fantasize about killing their horrible bosses and then mutually decide to do something about it. Obviously, they'd all be prime suspects in the murder of their own bosses, but if they killed each other's bosses, that would allow them to establish airtight alibis. However, since Nick, Dale and Kurt are not as bright as they think they are, it all goes hilariously wrong very quickly. Bob Hope has a hilarious cameo. If the best “crude comedies” I've seen are Anchorman, Zoolander, Tropic Thunder, and Dodgeball, and the worst one was MacGruber, I'd say Horrible Bosses lands about in the middle. Overall grade: C Next up is Cowboys and Aliens, which came out in 2011. Now I almost saw this in 2011 when it came out, but I was too busy to go to the theater in July of 2011, so I finally saw it here in 2025 and I would say this was almost a great movie, like the performances were great, the concept was great, the scenery was great, the special effects were great, and the story was packed full of really interesting ideas, but somehow they just didn't coalesce. I'm not entirely sure why. I think upon reflection, it was that the movie is just too overcrowded with too many characters and too many subplots. Anyway, Daniel Craig portrays a man who wakes up with no memory in the Old West, with a mysterious bracelet locked around his wrist. He makes his way to the town of Atonement, and promptly gets arrested because he is apparently a notorious outlaw (which he doesn't remember). While he is locked in jail, space aliens attack the town. The aliens, for unknown reasons, abduct many of the townspeople, and Daniel Craig's character, who is named Jake even if he doesn't remember it, must lead the town's effort to recover their abducted citizens. Harrison's Ford has an excellent performance as this awful cattle baron who nonetheless has virtues of courage and fortitude that you can't help but admire. An excellent performance. That said, the movie was just too packed, and I thought it would work better as a novel. After I watched the movie, it turned out that it was indeed based off a graphic novel. Novels and graphic novels allow for a far more complex story than a movie, and I don't think this movie quite managed to handle the transition from a graphic novel to a film. Overall grade: C Next up is Heads of State, which came out in 2025. This was kind of a stupid movie. However, the fundamental question of any movie, shouted to the audience by Russell Crow in Gladiator is, “are you not entertained?!?” I was thoroughly entertained watching this, so entertained I actually watched it twice. Not everything has to be Shakespeare or a profound meditation on the unresolvable conflicts inherent within human nature. Anyway, John Cena plays Will Derringer, newly elected President of the United States. Idris Elba plays Sam Clark, who has now been the UK Prime Minister for the last six years. Derringer was an action star who parleyed his celebrity into elected office (in the same way Arnold Schwarzenegger did), while Clarke is an army veteran who worked his way up through the UK's political system. Needless to say, the cheerful Derringer and the grim Clarke take an immediate dislike to each other. However, they'll have to team up when Air Force One is shot down, stranding them in eastern Europe. They'll have to make their way home while evading their enemies to unravel the conspiracy that threatens world peace. So half action thriller, half buddy road trip comedy. The premise really doesn't work if you think about it too much for more than thirty seconds, but the movie was funny and I enjoyed it. Jack Quaid really stole his scenes as a crazy but hyper-competent CIA officer. Overall grade: C+ Next up, Captain America: Brave New World, which came out in 2025 and I think this movie ended up on the good side of middling. You can definitely tell it went through a lot of reshoots and retooling, and I suspect the various film industry strikes hit it like a freight train. But we ended up with a reasonably solid superhero thriller. Sam Wilson is now Captain America. He's not superhuman the way Steve Rogers was and doesn't have magic powers or anything, so he kind of fights like the Mandalorian – a very capable fighter who relies on excellent armor. Meanwhile, in the grand American political tradition of failing upward, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who spent years persecuting The Hulk and whose meddling caused the Avengers to disband right before Thanos attacked, has now been elected President. To Wilson's surprise, Ross reaches out and wants him to restart the Avengers. But Ross (as we know) did a lot of shady black ops stuff for years, and one of his projects is coming back to haunt him. Wilson finds himself in the middle of a shadowy conspiracy, and it's up to him to figure out what's going on before it's too late. I was amused that lifelong government apparatchik Ross wanted to restart the Avengers, because when the Avengers had their biggest victory in Avengers: Endgame, they were essentially unsanctioned vigilantes bankrolled by a rogue tech billionaire. Overall grade: B- Next up is Ironheart, which came out in 2025. I'd say Ironheart was about 40% very weird and 60% quite good. It's sort of like the modern version of Dr. Faustus. The show got some flak on the Internet from the crossfire between the usual culture war people, but the key to understanding it is to realize that Riri Williams AKA Ironheart is in fact an antihero who's tottering on the edge of becoming a full-blown supervillain. Like Tony Stark, she's a once-in-a-generation scientific talent, but while she doesn't have Stark's alcohol problems, she's emotionally unstable, immature, ruthless, indifferent to collateral damage and consequences, and suffering from severe PTSD after her best friend and stepfather were killed in a drive-by shooting. This volatile mix gets her thrown out of MIT after her experiments cause too much destruction, and she has to go home to Chicago. To get the funds to keep working on her Iron Man armor, she turns to crime, and falls in with a gang of high-end thieves led by a mysterious figure named Hood. It turns out that Hood has actual magic powers, which both disturbs and fascinates Riri. However, Hood got his magic in a pact with a mysterious dark force. When a job goes bad, Riri gains the enmity of Hood and has to go on the run. It also turns out Hood's dark master has become very interested in Riri, which might be a lot more dangerous for everyone in the long run. Overall, I'd say this is about in the same vein as Agatha All Along, an interesting show constructed around a very morally questionable protagonist. Overall grade: B Next up is A Minecraft movie, which came out in 2024. I have to admit, I've never actually played Minecraft, so I know very little about the game and its ecosystem, only what I've generally absorbed by glancing at the news. That said, I think the movie held together quite well, and wasn't deserving of the general disdain it got in the press. (No doubt the $950 million box office compensated for any hurt feelings.) One of the many downsides of rapid technological change in the last fifty years is that the Boomers and Gen X and the Millennials and Gen Z and Gen Alpha have had such radically different formative experiences in childhood that it's harder to relate to each other. Growing up in the 1980s was a wildly different experience than growing up in the 2010s, and growing up in the 2010s was an even more wildly different experience than growing up in the 1960s. Smartphones and social media were dominant in 2020, barely starting in 2010, and implausible science fiction in 2000 and earlier, and so it was like the different generations grew up on different planets, because in some sense they actually did. (A five-year-old relative of mine just started school, and the descriptions of his school compared to what I remember of school really do sound like different planets entirely.) The Minecraft game and A Minecraft Movie might be one of those generation-locked experiences. Anyway, this has gotten very deep digression for what was essentially a portal-based LitRPG movie. A group of people experiencing various life difficulties in a rural Idaho town get sucked into the Minecraft world through a magic portal. There they must combine forces and learn to work together to master the Minecraft world to save it from an evil sorceress. As always, the fundamental question of any movie is the one that Russell Crowe's character shouted to the audience in Gladiator back in 2000. “Are you not entertained?” I admit I was entertained when watching A Minecraft Movie since it was funny and I recognized a lot of the video game mechanics, even though I've never actually played Minecraft. Like, Castlevania II had a night/day cycle the way Minecraft does, and Castlevania II was forty years ago. But that was another digression! I did enjoy A Minecraft Movie. It was kind of crazy, but it committed to the craziness and maintained a consistent creative vision, and I was entertained. Though I did think it was impressive how Jack Black's agent managed to insist that he sing several different times. Overall grade: B Next up is Back to School, which came out in 1986 and this is one of the better ‘80s comedies I've seen. Rodney Dangerfield plays Thornton Melon, who never went to college and is the wealthy owner of a chain of plus-sized clothing stores. His son Jason is attending Great Lakes University, and after Thornton's unfaithful gold-digging wife leaves him (Thornton is mostly relieved by this development), he decides to go visit his son. He quickly discovers that Jason is flailing at college, and decides to enroll to help out his son. Wacky adventures ensue! I quite enjoyed this. The fictional “Great Lakes University” was largely shot at UW-Madison in Wisconsin, which I found amusing because I spent a lot of time at UW-Madison several decades ago as a temporary IT employee. I liked seeing the characters walk past a place where I'd eat lunch outside when the day was nice, that kind of thing. Also, I'm very familiar with how the sausage gets made in higher ed. There's a scene where the dean is asking why Thornton is qualified to enter college, and then it cuts to the dean cheerfully overseeing the groundbreaking of the new Thornton Melon Hall which Thornton just donated, and I laughed so hard I almost hurt myself, because that is exactly how higher ed works. The movie had some pointless nudity, but it was only a few seconds and no doubt gets cut in network broadcasts. Overall grade: B Next up is Whiskey Galore, which came out in 1949 and this is a comedy set in Scotland during World War II. The villagers living on an isolated island have no whiskey due to wartime rationing. However, when a government ship carrying 50,000 cases of whiskey runs aground near the island, wacky hijinks ensue. I have to admit the first half of the movie was very slow and deliberate, gradually setting up all the pieces for later. Then, once the shipwreck happens, things pick up and the movie gets much funnier. Definitely worth watching both as a good comedy movie and an artifact of its time. A modicum of historical knowledge is required – if you don't know what the Home Guard is, you might have to do some Googling to understand the context of some of the scenes. Regrettably, the version I watched did not have captioning, so I had to pay really close attention to understand what the characters were saying, because some of the accents were very strong. Overall grade: B Next up is Happy Gilmore 2, which came out in 2025. This was dumb and overstuffed with celebrity cameos but thoroughly hilarious and I say this even though it uses one of my least favorite story tropes, namely “hero of previous movie is now a middle age loser.” However, the movie leads into it for comedy. When Happy Gilmore accidentally kills his wife with a line drive, he spirals into alcoholism and despair. But his five children still love him, and when his talented daughter needs tuition for school, Happy attempts to shake off his despair and go back to golf to win the money. But Happy soon stumbles onto a sinister conspiracy led by an evil CEO to transform the game of golf into his own personal profit center. Happy must team up with his old nemesis Shooter McGavin to save golf itself from the evil CEO. Amusingly, as I've said before, the best Adam Sandler movies are almost medieval. In medieval fables, it was common for a clever peasant to outwit pompous lords, corrupt priests, and greedy merchants. The best Adam Sandler protagonist remains an everyman who outwits the modern equivalent of pompous lords and corrupt priests, in this case an evil CEO. Overall grade: B+ Next up is Superman, which came out in 2025 and I thought this was pretty good and very funny at times. I think it caught the essential nature of Superman. Like, Superman should be a Lawful Good character. If he was a Dungeons and Dragons character, he would be a paladin. People on the Internet tend to take the characterization of superheroes seriously to perhaps an unhealthy degree, but it seems the best characterization of Superman is as an earnest, slightly dorky Boy Scout who goes around doing good deeds. The contrast of that good-hearted earnestness with his godlike abilities that would allow him to easily conquer and rule the world is what makes for an interesting character. I also appreciated how the movie dispensed with the overused trope of the Origin Story and just got down to business. In this movie, Lex Luthor is obsessed with destroying Superman and is willing to use both super-advanced technology and engineered geopolitical conflict to do it. Superman, because he's essentially a decent person, doesn't comprehend just how depraved Luthor is, and how far Luthor is willing to go out of petty spite. (Ironically, a billionaire willing to destroy the world out of petty spite is alas, quite realistic). Guy Gardener (“Jerkish Green Lantern”) and the extremely competent and the extremely exasperated Mr. Terrific definitely stole all their scenes. The director of the movie, James Gunn, was quite famously fired from Disney in 2018 for offensive jokes he had made on Twitter back when he was an edgy young filmmaker with an alcohol problem. I suppose Mr. Gunn can rest content knowing that Superman made more money than any Marvel movie released this year. Overall grade: A-   Next up is Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, which came out in 1988. This was a very strange movie, but nonetheless, one with an ambitious premise, strong performances, and a strong artistic vision. It's set in post WWII Los Angeles, and “toons” (basically cartoon characters) live and work alongside humans. Private eye Eddie Valiant hates toons since one of them killed his brother five years ago. However, he's hired by the head of a studio who's having trouble with one of his toon actors, Roger Rabbit. Roger's worried his wife Jessica is having an affair, and Valiant obtains pictures of Jessica playing patty cake (not a euphemism, they actually were playing patty cake) with another man. Roger has an emotional breakdown, and soon the other man winds up dead, and Roger insists he's innocent. Valiant and Roger find themselves sucked into a dangerous conspiracy overseen by a ruthless mastermind. This movie was such an interesting cultural artifact. It perfectly follows the structure of a ‘40s film noir movie, but with cartoons, and the dissonance between film noir and the cheerfulness of the toons was embraced and used as a frequently source of comedy. In fact, when the grim and dour Valiant uses the toons' comedy techniques as a tactical improvisation in a moment of mortal peril, it's both hilarious and awesome. Christopher Lloyd's performance as the villainous Judge Doom was amazing. (I don't think it's a spoiler to say that he's villainous, because his character is named Judge Doom and he's literally wearing a black hat.) Like, his performance perfectly captures something monstrous that is trying very hard to pretend to be human and not quite getting it right. And the amount of work it must have taken to make this movie staggers the mind. Nowadays, having live actors interact with cartoon characters is expensive, but not unduly so. It's a frequent technique. You see it all the time in commercials when a housewife is smiling at an animated roll of paper towels or something, and Marvel's essentially been doing it for years. But this was 1988! Computer animation was still a ways off. They had to shoot the movie on analog film, and then hand-draw all the animation and successfully match it to the live film. It wouldn't have worked without the performance of Bob Hoskins as Eddie Valiant, who plays everything perfectly straight in the same way Michael Caine did in A Muppet Christmas Carol. So kind of a strange movie, but definitely worth watching. And it has both Disney and Warner Brothers animated characters in the same movie, which is something we will never, ever see again. Overall grade: A Next up is K-Pop Demon Hunters, which came out in 2025. Like Who framed Roger Rabbit?, this is a very strange movie, but nonetheless with a clear and focused artistic vision. It is a cultural artifact that provides a fascinating look into a world of which I have no knowledge or interest, namely K-pop bands and their dueling fandoms. Anyway, the plot is that for millennia, female Korean musicians have used the magic of their voices to keep the demons locked away in a demon world. The current incarnation is a three-woman K-Pop group called Huntrix, and they are on the verge of sealing away the demons forever. Naturally, the Demon King doesn't like this, so one of his cleverer minions comes up with a plan. They'll start a Demon K-Pop Boy Band! Disguised as humans, the demon K-Pop group will win away Huntrix's fans, allowing them to breach the barrier and devour the world. However, one of the Huntrix musicians is half-demon, and she starts falling for the lead demon in the boy band, who is handsome and of course has a dark and troubled past. Essentially a musical K-drama follows. I have to admit I know practically nothing about K-Pop groups and their dueling fandoms, other than the fact that they exist. However, this was an interesting movie to watch. The animation was excellent, it did have a focused vision, and there were some funny bits. Overall grade: A Next up is Clarkson's Farm Season Four, which came out in 2025. A long time ago in the ‘90s, I watched the episode of Frasier where Frasier and Niles attempt to open a restaurant and it all goes horribly (yet hilariously) wrong. At the time, I had no money, but I promised myself that I would never invest in a restaurant. Nothing I have seen or learned in the subsequent thirty years has ever changed that decision. Season 4 of Clarkson's Farm is basically Jeremy Clarkson, like Frasier and Niles, attempting to open a restaurant, specifically a British pub. On paper it's a good idea, since Clarkson can provide the pub with food produced from his own farm and other local farmers. However, it's an enormous logistical nightmare, and Clarkson must deal with miles of red tape, contractors, and a ballooning budget, all while trying to keep his farm from going under. An excellent and entertaining documentary into the difficulties of both the farming life and food service. I still don't want to own a restaurant! Overall grade: A Next up is Tombstone, which came out in 1993. The Western genre of fiction is interesting because it's limited to such a very specific period of time and geographical region. Like the “Wild West” period that characterizes the Western genre really only lasted as a historical period from about 1865 to roughly 1890. The Western genre was at its most popular in movies from the 1940s and the 1960s, and I wonder if it declined because cultural and demographic changes made it unpopular to romanticize the Old West the way someone like Walt Disney did at Disneyland with “Frontierland.” Of course, the genre lives on in different forms in grittier Western movies, neo-Westerns like Yellowstone and Longmire, and a lot of the genre's conventions apply really well to science fiction. Everyone talks about Firefly being the first Space Western, but The Mandalorian was much more successful and was basically a Western in space (albeit with occasional visits from Space Wizards). Anyway! After that long-winded introduction, let's talk about Tombstone. When Val Kilmer died earlier this year, the news articles mentioned Tombstone as among his best work, so I decided to give it a watch. The plot centers around Wyatt Earp, played by Kurt Russell, who has decided to give up his career in law enforcement and move to Tombstone, Arizona, a silver mining boomtown, in hopes of making his fortune. However, Tombstone is mostly controlled by the Cowboys outlaw gang, and Earp is inevitably drawn into conflict with them. With the help of his brothers and Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer's character), Earp sets out to bring some law and order to Tombstone, whether the Cowboys like it or not. Holliday is in the process of dying from tuberculosis, which makes him a formidable fighter since he knows getting shot will be a less painful and protracted death than the one his illness will bring him. Kilmer plays him as a dissolute, scheming warrior-poet who nonetheless is a very loyal friend. Definitely a classic of the Western genre, and so worth watching. Overall grade: A Next up is Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, the eighth Mission Impossible movie. Of the eight movies, I think the sixth one was the best one, but this one comes in at a close second. It continues on from Dead Reckoning. Ethan Hunt now possesses the key that will unlock the source code of the Entity, the malicious AI (think ChatGPT, but even more obviously evil) that is actively maneuvering the world's nuclear powers into destroying each other so the Entity can rule the remnants of humanity. Unfortunately, the Entity's source code is sitting in a wrecked Russian nuclear sub at the bottom of the Bering Sea. Even more unfortunately, the Entity knows that Hunt has the key and is trying to stop him, even as the Entity's former minion and Hunt's bitter enemy Gabriel seeks to seize control of the Entity for himself. A sense of apocalyptic doom hangs over the movie, which works well to build tension. Once again, the world is doomed, unless Ethan Hunt and his allies can save the day. The tension works extremely well during the movie's underwater sequence, and the final airborne duel between Hunt and Gabriel. I don't know if they're going to make any more Mission Impossible movies after this (they are insanely expensive), but if this is the end, it is a satisfying conclusion for the character of Ethan Hunt and the Impossible Mission Force. Overall grade: A Next up is Deep Cover, which came out in 2025. This is described as a comedy thriller, and I didn't know what to expect when I watched it, but I really enjoyed it. Bryce Dallas Howard plays Kat, a struggling comedy improv teacher living in London. Her best students are Marlon (played by Orlando Bloom), a dedicated character actor who wants to portray gritty realism but keeps getting cast in tacky commercials, and Hugh (played by Nick Mohammed), an awkward IT worker with no social skills whatsoever. One day, the three of them are recruited by Detective Sergeant Billings (played by Sean Bean) of the Metropolitan Police. The Met wants to use improv comedians to do undercover work for minor busts with drug dealers. Since it plays 200 pounds a pop, the trio agrees. Of course, things rapidly spiral out of control, because Kat, Marlon, and Hugh are actually a lot better at improv than they think, and soon they find themselves negotiating with the chief criminals of the London underworld. What follows is a movie that is both very tense and very funny. Kat, Marlon, and Hugh are in way over their heads, and will have to do the best improv of their lives to escape a very grisly fate. Whether Sean Bean dies or not (as is tradition), you will just have to watch the movie and find out. Overall grade: A Next up is Puss in Boots: The Final Wish, which came out in 2022. I don't personally know much about the history of Disney as a corporation, and I don't much care, but I do have several relatives who are very interested in the history of the Disney corporation, and therefore I have picked up some by osmosis. Apparently Disney CEO Michael Eisner forcing out Jeffrey Katzenberg in the 1990s was a very serious mistake, because Katzenberg went on to co-found DreamWorks, which has been Disney's consistent rival for animation for the last thirty years. That's like “CIA Regime Change Blowback” levels of creating your own enemy. Anyway, historical ironies aside, Puss in Boots: The Final Wish was a funny and surprisingly thoughtful animated movie. Puss in Boots is a legendary outlaw and folk hero, but he has used up eight of his nine lives. An ominous bounty hunter who looks like a humanoid wolf begins pursuing him, and the Wolf is able to shrug off the best of Puss In Boots' attacks. Panicked, Puss hides in a retirement home for elderly cats, but then hears rumors of the magical Last Wish. Hoping to use it to get his lives back, Puss In Boots sets off on the quest. It was amusing how Little Jack Horner and Goldilocks and the Three Bears were rival criminal gangs seeking the Last Wish. Overall grade: A Next up is Chicken People, which came out in 2016. A good documentary film gives you a glimpse into an alien world that you would otherwise never visit. In this example, I have absolutely no interest in competitive chicken breeding and will only raise chickens in my backyard if society ever collapses to the level that it becomes necessary for survival. That said, this was a very interesting look into the work of competitive chicken breeding. Apparently, there is an official “American Standard of Perfection” for individual chicken breeds, and the winner of the yearly chicken competition gets the title “Super Grand Champion.” Not Grand Champion, Super Grand Champion! That looks impressive on a resume. It is interesting how chicken breeding is in some sense an elaborate Skinner Box – like you can deliberately set out to breed chickens with the desirable traits on the American Standard of Perfection, but until the chickens are hatched and grow up, you don't know how they're going to turn out, so you need to try again and again and again… Overall grade: A Next up is The Mask of Zoro, which came out in 1998. I saw this in the theatre when it came out 27 years ago, but that was 27 years ago, and I don't have much of a memory of it, save that I liked it. So when I had the chance to watch it again, I did! Anthony Hopkins plays Diego de la Vega, who has the secret identity of Zorro in the final days before Mexico breaks away from the Spanish Empire. With Mexico on the verge of getting its independence, Diego decides to hang up his sword and mask and focus on his beloved wife and daughter. Unfortunately, the military governor Don Montero realizes Diego is Zorro, so has him arrested, kills his wife, and steals his baby daughter to raise as his own. Twenty years later, a bandit named Alejandro loses his brother and best friends to a brutal cavalry commander. It turns out that Montero is returning to California from Spain, and plans to seize control of California as an independent republic (which, of course, will be ruled by him). In the chaos, Diego escapes from prison and encounters a drunken Alejandro, and stops him from a futile attack upon the cavalry commander. He then proposes a pact – Diego will train Alejandro as the next Zorro, and together they can take vengeance upon the men who wronged them. This was a good movie. It was good to see that my taste in movies 27 years ago wasn't terrible. It manages to cram an entire epic plot into only 2 hours and 20 minutes. In some ways it was like a throwback to a ‘40s movie but with modern (for the ‘90s) production values, and some very good swordfights. Overall grade: A Next up is Wick is Pain, which came out in 2025. I've seen all four John Wick movies and enjoyed them thoroughly, though I've never gotten around to any of the spinoffs. Wick is Pain is a documentary about how John Wick went from a doomed indie movie with a $6.5 million hole in its budget to one of the most popular action series of the last few decades. Apparently Keanu Reeves made an offhand joke about how “Wick is pain” and that became the mantra of the cast and crew, because making an action movie that intense really was a painful experience. Definitely worth watching if you enjoyed the John Wick movies or moviemaking in general. Overall grade: A The last movie I saw this summer was Game Night, which came out in 2016. It was a hilarious, if occasionally dark comedy action thriller. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams play Max and Annie Davis, a married couple who are very competitive and enjoy playing games of all kinds. Jason has an unresolved conflict with his brother Brooks, and one night Brooks invites them over for game night, which Max resents. Halfway through the evening, Brooks is kidnapped, with Max and Annie assume is part of the game. However, Brooks really is involved in something shady. Hilarity ensues, and it's up to Max and Annie to rescue Brooks and stay alive in the process. This was really funny, though a bit dark in places. That said, Max and Annie have a loving and supportive marriage, so it was nice to see something like that portrayed on the screen. Though this also leads to some hilarity, like when Annie accidentally shoots Max in the arm. No spoilers, but the punchline to that particular sequence was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Overall grade: A So no A+ movie this time around, but I still saw a bunch of solid movies I enjoyed. One final note, I have to admit, I've really come to respect Adam Sandler as an entertainer, even if his movies and comedy are not always to my taste. He makes what he wants, makes a lot of money, ensures that his friends get paid, and then occasionally takes on a serious role in someone else's movie when he wants to flex some acting muscles. I am not surprised that nearly everyone who's in the original Happy Gilmore who was still alive wanted to come back for Happy Gilmore 2. So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show enjoyable and perhaps a guide to some good movies to watch. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.  

Rob and Dickie are joined by Rochdale fan and host of the Absolute football podcast, Charlotte Cromerty. ''SavageBall'' is flying down at Forest Green, Woking recover from a poor start to the season to fly up the table, plus the Aldershot rollercoaster is still giving it's money worth. Regrettably due to technical issues their is no National League North round up and only half a National League South round up Like, subscribe and leave a review Produced by Leo Audio Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

However, it's only now that we're beginning to feel the added pinch of this new import tax. Because it takes time for imports to reach American ports, be transported to local stores and shops, it has taken this long for us to see those new, tariff-laden goods. Labor Day Weekend was the beginning of what we anticipate will be a sustained elevation in prices due to tariffs. Regrettably, we're only at the first chapter of what will likely be a very long story, one that may have a profound financial influence on us all.

However, it's only now that we're beginning to feel the added pinch of this new import tax. Because it takes time for imports to reach American ports, be transported to local stores and shops, it has taken this long for us to see those new, tariff-laden goods. Labor Day Weekend was the beginning of what we anticipate will be a sustained elevation in prices due to tariffs. Regrettably, we're only at the first chapter of what will likely be a very long story, one that may have a profound financial influence on us all.

However, it's only now that we're beginning to feel the added pinch of this new import tax. Because it takes time for imports to reach American ports, be transported to local stores and shops, it has taken this long for us to see those new, tariff-laden goods. Labor Day Weekend was the beginning of what we anticipate will be a sustained elevation in prices due to tariffs. Regrettably, we're only at the first chapter of what will likely be a very long story, one that may have a profound financial influence on us all.

However, it's only now that we're beginning to feel the added pinch of this new import tax. Because it takes time for imports to reach American ports, be transported to local stores and shops, it has taken this long for us to see those new, tariff-laden goods. Labor Day Weekend was the beginning of what we anticipate will be a sustained elevation in prices due to tariffs. Regrettably, we're only at the first chapter of what will likely be a very long story, one that may have a profound financial influence on us all.

In this episode of the Victor Davis Hanson Show, Victor and Jack discuss the left's mockery of ‘thoughts and prayers', the hypocrisy in narratives surrounding human trafficking, the reemergence of Barack Obama and Eric Holder, redistricting, the state of the trucking, and more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Amie McNee—creativity coach and writer  behind the popular account @InspiredToWrite—on how to stay grounded through success and setbacks, forge a creative life on your own terms, and why art is both essential and revolutionary.We discuss:How to deal with rejectionAdvice for artists starting out on social mediaTips and reflections on self-publishing and book dealsWhy the world needs your artHow to start trusting yourself as an artist (and deal with jealousy)Having big dreams and low standardsAnd more exclusive insights for writers and creativesAbout Amie McNee:Amie is a trained historian turned creativity coach, writer, and speaker best known for her popular Instagram account, @InspiredtoWrite and The Unpublished Podcast. She's self-published two historical fiction novels: The Rules Upheld by No One, Regrettably, I Am About to Cause Trouble. Her latest book is We Need Your Art: Stop F*cking Around and Make Something, a manifesto on the vital, human importance of creating. Resources and Links:Amie's Ted Talk (The case for making art when the world is on fire)The Rules Upheld by No One by Amie McNeeAmie's Instagram Amie's SubstackWe Need Your Art by Amie McNeeThe Icarus Deception by Seth Godin Episode Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Scrivener. It's a tool many of us use at the Salon. It's a great system to accompany you through the whole writing process from research, editing, organization, formatting, and exporting. To find out more about Scrivener, head to Scrivener.app. To get 20% off, use code WRITERSSALON. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers' Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS' SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you're enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

With all the talk about a slowing economy and President Trump's push for lower interest rates, you may believe that banks and other lenders are making loans more affordable. Regrettably, that's not the case.

With all the talk about a slowing economy and President Trump's push for lower interest rates, you may believe that banks and other lenders are making loans more affordable. Regrettably, that's not the case.

With all the talk about a slowing economy and President Trump's push for lower interest rates, you may believe that banks and other lenders are making loans more affordable. Regrettably, that's not the case.

With all the talk about a slowing economy and President Trump's push for lower interest rates, you may believe that banks and other lenders are making loans more affordable. Regrettably, that's not the case.

Ozzy Osbourne, the self-proclaimed "Prince of Darkness"—a title he certainly lived up to—co-founded Black Sabbath in 1968, a band whose groundbreaking sound shattered expectations entirely. As their frontman, Ozzy's distinctive vocals and mesmerizing stage antics propelled them to superstardom throughout the 1970s. Imagine the landscape of music without anthems like "Paranoid" or "Iron Man"; their creation rests squarely on the shoulders of these sonic pioneers!Ozzy's contributions to Black Sabbath are the stuff of legend. He became the iconic face and unmistakable voice behind their initial eight albums, a discography that defined an entire genre. Beginning with their eponymous debut in 1970 and culminating in "Never Say Die!" in 1978, each record unleashed the band's brooding, monumental sound and Ozzy's, shall we say, characteristically eccentric vocal delivery. "Paranoid" and "Master of Reality" stand as undisputed masterpieces, essential listening for any self-respecting metal aficionado.Regrettably, the perils of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle exacted their price. In 1979, Ozzy's struggles with substance use culminated in his departure from Black Sabbath. However, this setback proved a launchpad, catapulting him toward an immensely successful solo career and reaffirming that the "Prince of Darkness" was far from dethroned!Ozzy Osbourne's 1980s solo endeavor proved extraordinary. With the collaborative genius of Randy Rhoads and Bob Daisley, he unleashed Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and Diary of a Madman (1981) upon the masses. These albums did not simply resonate; they instigated a seismic shift within the hard rock sphere, plotting a trajectory for a decade brimming with unparalleled musical audacity.Naturally, the Ozzy experience was never without its share of uproar. His on and off-stage actions fueled constant public conversation, even sparking disapproval from the Christian right, who claimed promotion of Satanic ideals. Yet, every bit of attention helped, it seemed. Amidst the controversy, Ozzy released thirteen solo studio albums, with the initial seven reaching multi-platinum certification in the United States; an achievement that reflects remarkable sales.The "Back to the Beginning" farewell concert in Birmingham on July 5, 2025, was an emotional tidal wave for Ozzy Osbourne and his fans. He announced his retirement, citing health concerns, and the performance felt like a joyous celebration of his legendary career, rather than a somber farewell. That "Back to the Beginning" aptly encapsulated his swan song resonated deeply, echoing his formative years in Birmingham.The news of his death a mere 17 days later, on July 22, reverberated like a thunderclap. While plans for future recordings existed, fate intervened. It's devastating that such a prodigious talent was cut short so abruptly, yet what a legacy he forged!Ozzy's seismic impact on music is undeniable, and his innovative spirit will perpetually galvanize future musicians. Though his earthly performance has concluded, his music endures. I'm just so grateful I got to witness such genius.Flamekeeper Podcast Network: http://www.youtube.com@flamekeeperpnAll Rights Reserved. Any unauthorized reproduction/duplication is expressly forbidden without prior written consent and is punishable by law. Metal Forge Intro I copyright 2020 The Metal Forge® Published by UNTIL I GET IT RIGHT MUSIC/ASCAP. Metal Forge Intro II copyright 2023 The Metal Forge® Published by UNTIL I GET IT RIGHT MUSIC/ASCAP. The Metal Forge®, please contact metalforgeradio@gmail.com for any and all other info. All other music is owned by writers/publishers respectively and is used with permission for means of promotion.©2019-2025 The Metal Forge®

First, there were the Untouchables.  Then the Incredibles.  Later came the Expendables: 1, 2, 3 and 4.  (Apparently Stallone can't be involved in something without multiple sequels.) Dare we say the GOCA-bles?  Probably not.   Let's move on to the Regrettables and quit while we're behind.  This week Robbie is lost somewhere in Indiana, leaving Art and Jay to their own devices.  Having none, they go back to the well they like to call, “Jay's Regrettable Segment on Steroids.”  Or in another brilliant alliteration, “Regrettable Round-Up.” The League of Regrettable Superheroes book will shortly come to a close, and this episode will help The Guys skate/truck/thunder/or…legislate (?) towards a bittersweet end.  With two voted redeemable and two most definitely regrettable, prepare to be introduced for perhaps the first and last time to Prez, Skateman, U.S. 1, and Thunder Bunny.  You can't make this stuff up.  Yet somebody did.   In Geeks of the Week, Jay wonders when his podcast salary will reach Superman status, and Art reports that an upcoming series about Green may be a bit Blue.  Don't miss this colorful episode; pink ears, white booty shorts, and well, that's enough.   

Regrettably, there have been ignorant pastors and others who have maligned John MacArthur and condemned him.

We are back in office! Regrettably so, because the Paris & Ibiza feels are still on our minds. On this week's episode, we get you all caught up on our cross-continental shenanigans, but you've probably already seen half of it on Jola's instagram. We also talk about how absurdly expensive Lagos is, (yes, again!), the financial pressures of being young and committing to expensive outings because of our friends, and the emotional disconnect between parents and their children. All in all, a very chill gal™️ episode. Enjoy! Remember, our London Live Show tickets are still available for purchase and we cannot wait to see you so visit https://link.dice.fm/. x20e3e932cOb to secure your seats and seats for your friends and family!Don't forget to use #ISWIS or #SWISPodcast to share your thoughts while listening to the podcast on X! Rate the show 5 stars on whatever app you listen to and leave a review, share with everyone you know and if you also watch on YouTube, subscribe, like and leave a comment!Choose Bolden products for all your skincare needs like we do! They're available at Medplus Pharmacy locations, Nectar Beauty, Beauty Hut S Teeka4! For US, UK & Canada, shop at www.boldenusa.comMake sure to follow us onTwitter: @ISWISPodcastInstagram: @isaidwhatisaidpodYoutube: @isaidwhatisaidpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stand-Up to RacismIn 1972 Catholic families – who had endured three years of sustained sectarian attacks on their homes – fled Annalee St in North Belfast. Last month - fifty-three years later - Catholic homes in Annalee St. were again the target of sectarian attack and families were forced to flee. In the last fortnight we have also witnessed the firebombing of homes in Ballymena, the Larne Leisure Centre and racist attacks in other parts of the North.The images of homes in flames in Ballymena reminded me of similar scenes I first witnessed in Belfast in August 1969. The film footage of that period is of streets ablaze, frightened families hurriedly stacking furniture on lorries or carrying their most precious possessions on their backs. Then it was the racism and sectarianism of the apartheid unionist state attacking nationalist and republican families, killing residents, destroying hundreds of homes and forcing thousands to become refugees in our own city.Regrettably, the same sectarian and racist fundamentalism that motivated those attacks still exists today among some in our society who campaign against housing for Catholics, hang effigies of political leaders on bonfires and use violent rhetoric to promote hate crime against immigrants and those they define as ‘others'. That is those who are of a different religion or colour, or sexual orientation. Defending NeutralityThe Israeli rogue state has set the world on a dangerous course. Its deadly assault on Iran, allied to its violent actions in Lebanon and Syria and its genocidal war on the Palestinian people, has cast a huge shadow over the Middle East. As its military forces continue to kill scores of Palestinians daily in Gaza and its war planes attack Iran the Israeli military imposed a complete siege on the west Bank. Over a thousand military checkpoints which provide Israel with absolute control over the occupied west Bank, were completely closed imposing a siege on the Palestinian towns, villages and isolated farms of that region.As the world focusses on the exchanges between Israel and Iran the Zionists' genocidal and ethnic cleansing strategy against the Palestinian people is escalating. Those western states that have refused to challenge Israel's murder of tens of thousands of Palestinians or stand-by international law, are now defending Israel's attack on Iran using the same unacceptable excuse that Israel has the right to defend itself.Pat Finucane - End the DelayIt has been ten months since the British Secretary of State Hilary Benn first announced that he was setting up an independent inquiry into the killing of Pat Finucane under the 2005 Inquiries Act. Last week he appointed Sir Gary Hickinbottom as the Chair of the Inquiry. Hickinbottom has been given responsibility for investigating one of the most high profile examples of state collusion between loyalist death squads and British state agents and agencies during the decades of conflict.As well as Hickinbottom, former Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan and international human rights lawyer Francesca Del Mese have been appointed as assessors to the inquiry. Their role is to advise the Chair but they will not be involved in any final report.It has been a long difficult road for Geraldine Finucane and her family to secure this Inquiry. Twenty-four years ago the British and Irish governments agreed at Weston Park to establish public inquiries into a number of troubles-related cases. Canadian Judge Peter Cory recommended inquiries into the deaths of: Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill, Billy Wright, and Patrick Finucane and also into the deaths of RUC officers Bob Buchanan and Harry Breen.

It's Hot Nolan Summer! Mal and Jo are back to revisit Christopher Nolan's first Batman movie, ‘Batman Begins.' They discuss how the movie holds up 20 years after its release and give out some superlatives. They break down everything  from the most baffling accent to the sickest set piece and more! (00:00) Intro (06:41) ‘Batman Begins' turns 20 (01:00:59) Funniest line/moment (01:04:08) Sickest set piece (01:09:18) Who is the real villain of the movie? (01:17:04) Most exquisitely gorgeous shot (01:20:16) The scene you think about the most (01:29:13) Where would you put the one f-bomb? (01:32:52) Most baffling accent (01:35:25) Best use of a Nolanverse regular (01:40:41) Best stunt (01:44:28) Stealth MVP (01:50:28) Best dead wife moment (01:53:30) Clearest “great man” moment (01:56:38) Regrettably miscast and how to replace them (01:58:03) Most satisfying twist (01:59:50) Horniest moment (02:02:05) The line that hits the hardest (02:03:49) Most devastating moment (02:05:50) Most unforgettable Zimmerism (02:08:45) Never returned to the Nolanverse but should have (02:09:15) The most Nolan thing about this movie (02:10:59) What about ‘The Odyssey' are you most hyped for? Hosts: Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson Producers: Carlos Chiriboga and John Richter Social: Jomi Adeniran Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Audio data from various sources, detailing events which occurred at SITE2 on day 1317.MAJOR INSIGHT INTO:Status & thought process of ENTITY2Relationship status between ENTITY1 & ENTITY2ENTITY1 observable mood swingsMINOR INSIGHT INTO:Chess strategies of ENTITY1 & ENTITY3Local behaviors of “salmon”Communication from ANOMALY0IMPORTANT NOTES:As previously established, ENTITY3 appears to possess capabilities which exceed the understanding of known magical restriction. Her conduct, while enigmatic, suggests a depth of knowledge we may not be privy to. Given her… unique condition, such implausible proficiency may, regrettably, be within reason.Regrettably, ENTITY3 succeeded in dismantling the auditory interception array installed during the prior cycle. Although the network has since been reestablished, the resulting audio fidelity is markedly diminished and may impair precise transcription efforts.On a more promising note, we have successfully achieved a stable channel for direct optic observation while maintaining cloaked presence. Unfortunately, trans-spatial anomalies still preclude any form of visual recording, necessitating detailed manual documentation of both appearance and activity.It is anticipated—indeed, all but guaranteed—that AGENT23 will once again forgo objective reporting in favor of whimsical editorialization. Please remind her, in advance, that “mystique-to-mischief ratio,” “intensity of raw allure (her phrasing, not mine),” and references to “spook-chic silhouettes on parade” do not constitute valid observational metrics. Please.Performances by Blue Wolfe, Voicebox Vance, and Susan Dohan.With original music composed by Will Wood and produced by Jonathon Maisto.Additional music composed by Kyle Gabler and Another You.WEBSITEPATREONDISCORD

Weekly Kingdom Outlook Episode 200: Is Repentance Necessary for Salvation? It has been asserted that repentance is a superfluous act, a dead work, and, consequently, not indispensable for salvation. Such erroneous theology poses a significant threat to the unity and integrity of the Christian community. Regrettably, such misconceptions are prevalent in various religious circles.

Ben enlisted in the British Army in 2005, joining the Royal Corps of Signals. During the course of 16 years of service, Ben attained the rank of Sergeant (Sgt).In this episode, Ben recounts his journey into the British Army, detailing the training phases he underwent before joining his first unit. He deployed to Afghanistan soon after, which marked the beginning of his interest in joining the UK Special Forces and attempting the renowned Selection course. Despite a medical withdrawal on Selection, Ben deployed again to Afghanistan and sought more challenges, which led him to 299 Signal Squadron (Special Communications), where he performed diverse roles and responsibilities globally.Ben sought to re-attempt UK Special Forces Selection, driven by his aspiration to join the Special Forces as an SF Communicator, supporting the Special Air Service (SAS). He recounts his journey, detailing how he successfully completed the initial phase 1 of Selection (Hills phase) prior to the Communicator phase. Subsequently, he navigated later phases, including the SF Parachute course (which encompasses HALO), ultimately achieving success in the Selection process. Regrettably, Ben's career was abruptly terminated by an unfortunate incident that resulted in severe blast and fragment injuries to his upper torso and both arms. He shares his recovery journey, encompassing both physical and mental well-being.Watch Episode on YouTubePart 1: youtu.be/AQWv2bKn-GAPart 2: youtu.be/pjFUw4SlYusTikTok:tiktok.com/@militaryveteranspodcastInstagram:instagram.com/militaryveteranspodcastLinkedIn:linkedin.com/company/military-veterans-podcastMerchandise:milvetpodcast.com/merchSend us a textIf you've enjoyed any episode from the show, please head over to Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and give the show a 5 star rating. It really will help the show be found by others. Many thanks! Message at the end of the recording is from your host Gav, giving you information on how you can support the show through Patreon.Supporting monthly would help the show record future episodes and help with the upkeep of previous recordings. £5 a month will give you access to bonus recordings, where Gav and the guest chat about things that don't make it into the main recording. Thank you.Support the show

It's all Rover.

There has been a lot of talk around Sinners. Good, bad, or ugly, everyone seems to have an opinion about it. Is it really the best movie of the young year? Is it grossly overrated? Something else entirely? Whatever the case, audiences are going out to see it in drovers. What is being overlooked by many is the biggest irony surrounding it.We spend a lot of time talking lovingly of the theater experience. It was a big part of growing up and still remains fun even as adults. So it sucks to hear when the CEO of Netflix says theaters are outdated. It is not so much his opinion that matters, but the fact that he actually has the power to make movie theaters obsolete.Which makes it all the better when someone like Rian Johnson talks about how he wants Knives Out 3 in as many movie theaters as possible for as long as it can. Since he has a deal with Netflix, we all know where the movie will eventually end up. The fact that he wants a run that is longer than a week or two is nice to hear. The detective noir is a genre that does not get the love it used to. A part of this may be due to burnout. The 1930s - 1950s saw a huge number of them released. Many of them are considered classics. There has not been a good one in quite a while so when one bills itself as a triumphant return, we were all in.Exaggeration is a part of marketing. We get that. But Dark My Light has no film noir elements, at all. There are exactly zero moments. Instead, it is a science fiction movie that wants to be about a character. The question is not why did they market as something it is not. It is not even whether what they ended up doing worked. The real question is did this movie even have a script?Karate tournament movies were all the rage back in the day. Jean-Claude Van Damme was able to build a career off of them while the legacy of The Karate Kid still lives on. We could not wait to see Absolute Dominion. Sure, the idea may be the flimsiest excuse ever to have a globe spanning battle for supremacy, but nostalgia is a powerful draw.Regrettably, Absolute Dominion lacks any of the charm of the movies from our childhood. It is way more confusing than it has to be, ignores its most interesting subplot, and lacks any of the tension these types of films need. We also try to figure out who Alex Winter owes money to. Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com

 Protecting our environmentThe blue skies and warm weather of recent days is a reminder that spring will soon give way to summer. Everywhere the trees and flowers are coming into bloom and the dark evenings are retreating as our daylight hours increase. Regrettably, this change in weather also brings with it acts of vandalism, in particular the setting of wildfires that present a real danger to hill walkers, animals, local wildlife and the natural fauna.  Build Casement NowThe delay in building the new Casement Park is totally unacceptable. Like many Gaels of my age I grew up with Casement. I played there for our school teams and enjoyed sports days as well. I have watched umpteen games over the decades. Until 2013. That was the last time Casement Park hosted a game. On 10 June 2013. International Palestinian Child DayFirst, let me congratulate Francesca Albanese who despite a despicable campaign by Israel and its allies to have her sacked, will continue in her role as UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories until 2028. She has been a champion for the people of Palestine as Israel's genocide continues to kill and wound hundreds every day.  Trade War Demands United responseThe U.S. President Donald Trump has initiated the most dangerous trade war of modern times. His widespread imposition of tariffs threatens untold damage to the world's economies. In the USA the stock market has declined sharply and senior economists are warning of a deep recession. These too will adversely impact world economies. There is no indication that President Trump intends to change direction. On the contrary he appears to be digging in. Campaign for Moore Street Continues.

Val Kilmer was an excellent actor who could do it all. Whether he was the lead, a supporting character, or Batman himself, Kilmer always left his mark. Most people know him from Tombstone - and rightfully so! We talk about our fondest memories of one of the best actors of this generation.People already know there is no way a whole year will go by without a Stephen King adaptation. 2025 is testing how many King works movie going audiences will go out and see. We already talked about The Monkey, so what is next? We also do something different this week. Anyone up for a speed run?Demonoid from 1981 has an awesome poster. Why there are scantily clad babes clinging to a demon a la Conan the Barbarian is something the film never answers. The vampire in the background also remains a mystery. Still, it is an awesome poster that horror movie fans should check out.Regrettably, the film is nowhere near as good. It is a confusing mess that does not bother to explain much. No one has any definable motivation and the twist ending seems to go against what seems to be the hand's ultimate plan. It seems like the filmmakers did not know whether Demonoid was heading to theaters or network television and the score is straight out of the 1970s. There is a weird charm to it, but is it enough?The Hell House LLC franchise is a cult favorite that often gets overlooked. When it was announced the writer/director Stephen Cognetti would be releasing a straight forward haunted house story, we were excited. His work in found footage was excellent and we wanted to see how it would translate to a more narrative form of storytelling.Unsurprisingly, the scares were the best part of 825 Forest Road. It is in the actual storytelling where the film loses a little of its luster. While there is nothing that is outright bad, there are some very noticeable flaws. The attempts at family drama fall flat and there is very little character development. The ending would have been fine for found footage, but for an actuall movie…? Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com

Shockwaves were sent through the Kansas City and American Soccer Universe on Monday morning as Sam McDowell broke the news no one expected we would ever hear:  Sporting Kansas City and Peter Vermes had parted ways.  It was an unceremonious end to an almost two decade run on the technical staff of the club that included 4 trophies, as well as his playing career in KC that included the MLS Cup/Supporters Shield double in 2000.  He will widely be remembered as a key component to the immense growth of soccer we've seen in Kansas City and the United States the last 30+ years, and his name will continue to hang proudly on the wall in Children's Mercy Park.It was an unfortunate end to Peter's time leading the club, but a necessary one for the team to start on a new journey towards meeting the high standards Peter created during his time here.  Regrettably the team had fallen from that caliber in recent years, and ownership agreed that it was time to make a change to attempt to start a process to recapture that level of success.Mike Illig met with a large cadre of local and national media at Compass Minerals National Performance Center to discuss the decision and the plans to move forward.  He spoke with a significant amount of candor regarding the amount of work ahead of him and the organization as they look to replace a head coach for literally the first time.  Peter's fingerprints are on every inch of the facilities in which he worked, and it will take quite a bit of time to unravel the vast responsibilities he took on his shoulders and place them on both current and incoming personnel.In the meantime, Kerry Zagavnin, Peter's longtime assistant, and someone who has been at the club for even longer than Peter when you combine his playing and coaching career, will take the reins on the sidelines coaching the team.  Illig was very clear that Kerry had been promised this opportunity for some time, and that there was no other choice for who would step in as the interim manager while they both evaluate his performance as well as the potential candidate pool.  It will now be Kerry's charge to build and implement a tactical plan to address the significant needs of this team on the field, both offensively and defensively, and we will try to dig into some ideas of what adjustments we think could be made to help improve the on-field success of the team and build meaningful progress.And if you hadn't forgotten, our rivals from across the state come into Kansas City this weekend to try to keep that winless streak going.  They are a staunchly defensive team that Zavagnin and the staff will have their work cut out for trying to break down and get a result against on Saturday.

It's a bad time for official Washington to be consumed with a Signal group chat involving top national security officials and a highly partisan journalist. After all, Russia and China appear poised for military aggression that, if not deterred, could prove catastrophic. Reportedly, there are multiple divisions worth of Russian troops massing in Belarus near its borders with NATO members Poland and the Baltic States.  And the Chinese Communists are now exercising – without prior notice – the use of air and sea forces against Taiwan, the latest incremental step towards surprise attacks there, and perhaps far beyond.  Regrettably, our ability to dissuade these “no limits” partners from engaging, presumably jointly, in aggression is largely locked in for the short-term – and probably seriously discounted. Therefore, we must ensure our adversaries are not further encouraged to strike by our perceived internal divisions and distractions.    This is Frank Gaffney.

In this week's episode of Born to Watch, Whitey and Damo tackle one of the most polarising blockbusters in cinematic history—Star Wars: The Last Jedi. You've heard it before: The Last Jedi either reignited the saga with bold creativity or sent it careening off a cliff into a galaxy far, far away from anything recognisable. For Whitey and Damo, it's the latter, and they aren't afraid to say it. If you're tuning in for a spirited debate, prepare for a critical breakdown of what went wrong in the eighth chapter of this iconic franchise in they're The Last Jedi Review.A Bold Direction, But At What Cost?There's no denying that director Rian Johnson set out to craft something new. From the opening moments, it's clear that The Last Jedi wants to subvert expectations. But sometimes, as Whitey and Damo point out, subversion isn't enough. It's one thing to challenge the audience and twist the familiar beats of a beloved saga, but The Last Jedi feels like it's actively rebelling against its own DNA.Despite its criticisms, The Force Awakens almost worked because it carefully balanced nostalgia with new storylines. It honoured the past while paving the way for new heroes; if honouring is completely copying the original movie, then it did an exceptional job. Johnson, however, appears to toss all of that aside in The Last Jedi. Characters you thought would be key players are sidelined. Moments that seem set up for major payoffs are ignored or reinterpreted in ways that feel detached from the series' core.Whitey and Damo's frustration comes down to one fundamental gripe: legacy. The Last Jedi isn't just telling a new story—it feels like it's actively undoing everything that came before it. The legacy characters—Luke, Leia, and even Han, by extension—are treated in ways that left fans scratching their heads. “Why bother bringing them back at all if you're just going to dismantle their arcs?” asks Whitey, echoing a sentiment that has been brewing since the film's release.The Luke Skywalker DilemmaOne of the biggest sore spots for fans (and for Whitey and Damo) is the treatment of Luke Skywalker. Mark Hamill famously voiced his concerns over Johnson's interpretation of Luke, and many fans, including our podcast duo, couldn't agree more. Gone is the hopeful, idealistic Jedi we last saw in Return of the Jedi, replaced by a brooding hermit who has cut himself off from the Force.Character evolution is important, and no one expects Luke to remain static. But The Last Jedi doesn't show us how Luke got to this point—it simply drops us into a version of him that feels unfamiliar and alien. Whitey and Damo argue that there's a difference between developing a character and fundamentally altering them. The Luke in The Last Jedi is so far removed from the original trilogy's hero that it's hard to connect with him on an emotional level.Wasted PotentialAnother major issue that Whitey and Damo have with The Last Jedi is its handling of certain story arcs set up in The Force Awakens. Love or hate J.J. Abrams' mystery box approach established several intriguing threads: Who are Rey's parents? What's the deal with Supreme Leader Snoke? Will Finn's stormtrooper past play a bigger role? Instead of building on these mysteries, Johnson seems to sweep them aside entirely.Without diving too deeply into spoiler territory, let's say that the answers (or lack thereof) are underwhelming at best. Rey's parentage? A twist that feels less like a revelation and more like a dismissal of everything The Force Awakens set up. Snoke? Well, let's just say his story ends abruptly, leaving many wondering why he was even introduced in the first place. Finn? Regrettably reduced to a side plot that feels more like filler than a meaningful continuation of his arc.Whitey and Damo can't help but feel that The Last Jedi wastes its potential. It introduces interesting ideas—new Force powers, morally grey dilemmas—but fails to develop them satisfactorily. Instead, we're left with a film that feels disjointed, unsure of whether it wants to be a part of the larger Star Wars saga or stand apart as something entirely different.The Bright Spots - The VisualsIt's not all doom and gloom, though. Even Whitey and Damo admit that The Last Jedi excels in some areas. Visually, the film is stunning. Johnson and his cinematographer, Steve Yedlin, deliver breathtaking set pieces from the salt plains of Crait to the lush greenery of Ahch-To. The film's colour palette is rich and vibrant, and the space battles are as thrilling as ever.A Divided FanbasePerhaps the most lasting impact of The Last Jedi is the rift it created within the Star Wars community. Fans are still arguing about it to this day, and while some appreciate Johnson's bold approach, others—like Whitey and Damo—see it as a betrayal of what made Star Wars special in the first place.The guys make an interesting point: The Last Jedi isn't a bad movie in a vacuum. It's well-directed, well-acted, and technically impressive. But as a chapter in the Star Wars saga, it falls short. It disconnects from the past in ways that feel disrespectful rather than innovative. And that's where the disappointment lies.Final ThoughtsIn the end, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a film that tries to do something different. For some, that boldness was refreshing. For Whitey and Damo, it was a misstep—a film that lost sight of what makes Star Wars timeless. As always, they bring their trademark humour and honesty to the discussion, making for an entertaining listen whether you agree with them or not.So, if you're a fan of heated debates and unapologetic opinions, don't miss this week's episode of Born to Watch. Whether you loved or loathed The Last Jedi, one thing's for sure: Whitey and Damo aren't afraid to tell it like it is.Please follow the Podcast and join our community at https://linktr.ee/borntowatchpodcasthttps://www.borntowatch.com.au/#BornToWatch #TheLastJedi #StarWarsDebate #WhiteyAndDamoUnfiltered #LegacyMatters #SubversionGoneWrong #LetThePastDie #BornToCritique #PodcastLife #SciFiFrustration

Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? … We'll drink a cup of kindness yet for the sake of auld lang syne. Happy New Year's Eve 2024 — and happy new year from Jay of the Dead's New Horror Movies, The Gold Standard of Horror Movie Podcasts! Episode 133 is a historic release for us! First of all, it is the three-year anniversary of our first release of Episode 001, on New Year's Eve of 2021. Second, this episode marks the highest number of hosts that we have live on the call at the same time — count 'em, nine: Behold, this episode features Jay of the Dead, Dave “Dr. Shock” Becker, The Gillman Joel Robertson, Mister Watson, the Southern Gentleman GregaMortis, Count Mackula (intermittently), the Persuasive One Dave Zee, Spawn of the Dead, and our Official Contributor and resident Horror maestro Kagan “The Fruit Brute” Breitenbach! Regrettably, Dr. Walking Dead Kyle Bishop and Ron Martin could not attend this recording; however, rest assured they were otherwise occupied in well-meaning and worthy pursuits! During this show, we host an auditory New Year's Eve party for you! In fact, the end of the episode even has a countdown for the ball-drop to 2025, so if you start playing this episode at exactly 9:56 p.m. (and 36 seconds) — in your time zone, then the runtime of this show coordinates with the 10-count down to 12 a.m. on January 1, 2025! Wooohoooo! So, if you don't have other New Year's plans, we hope you'll party with us. But most importantly, we are here to bring you our in-depth Feature Review of Robert Eggers' Nosferatu (2024) remake. We begin with SPOILER-FREE general thoughts. Then we give you our Ratings and Recommendations. And finally, we have a full-blown SPOILER discussion. All of these segments are indicated by the helpful time stamps below. Oh, and of course, we have our usual jackass antics throughout the show, but especially at the beginning and the end (so be sure to listen all the way to the end for a special surprise)! And Jay of the Dead even sneaks in a little Micro Horror Movie Review of the David Lee Fisher “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror” remake from 2023, starring Doug Jones! “Succumb to the DORKness,” and ring in the new year with us! Be sure to subscribe to Jay of the Dead's new Horror movie podcast on: Apple PodcastsSpotifyDeezer   You are welcome to email our show at HauntingYourHeadphones@gmail.com, or call and leave us a voicemail at our new number: (801) 980-1375. You can also follow Jay of the Dead's New Horror Movies on Twitter: @HorrorAvengers Jay of the Dead's New Horror Movies is an audio podcast. Our nine experienced Horror hosts (and a 10th, new guy in training) review new Horror movies and deliver specialty Horror segments. Your hosts are Jay of the Dead, Dr. Shock, Gillman Joel, Mister Watson, Dr. Walking Dead, GregaMortis, Mackula, Ron Martin, Dave Zee and Spawn of the Dead! Due to the large number and busy schedule of its 10 Horror hosts, Jay of the Dead's New Horror Movies will typically be recorded in segments, piecemeal, at various times and recording sessions. However, the majority of this episode was recorded in one sitting. Therefore, as you listen to our episodes, you will typically notice a variety of revolving door hosts and segments, all sewn together and reanimated like the powerful Monster of Dr. Frankenstein!

  The devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina is rightfully provoking calls for more action than has been forthcoming from state and federal lawmakers, and one area in which one hopes such demands will bear fruit is in planning and prevention. Regrettably, state Republican legislative leaders have repeatedly blocked legislation and rules, […]

This is the second of two episodes talking about the people in the north of the Japanese archipelago:  The Emishi and the Mishihase.  Last episode we covered things from an archaeological overview, looking at the traces of the Epi-Jomon, Satsumon, and Okhotsk Sea cultures.  This episode focuses more on what was actually written in the Nihon Shoki, including a journey to introduce Emishi to the Tang Emperor himself! For more information, check out our podcast blog at: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-117   Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is episode 117: The People of the North, Part 2 Abe no Hirafu gazed out at the sea, waiting for his opponents to appear.  He had traveled with a fleet to the far north, into a land that was unlike anything that most of his men had ever seen.  They were far away from the rice fields of their home villages.  Up here, the people made their way by hunting and fishing, and the land was much more wild.  Besides the people, the land was also home to giant bears, much larger than anything back in the Home Provinces.  Giant beasts with paws the size of a man's head.  They were truly incredible, but they were not his target this time. As he watched the waves, he saw his prey emerge.  They rowed their ships around the cape, coming out from the defensive position they had previously established.  Where Hirafu's men flew banners made of silk, his opponents had created flags made of feathers, which they hoisted high in their boats.  They were small in number, but they knew this land and these waters.  They were comfortable traveling in the cold and unforgiving seas, and they no doubt had reinforcements.  Hirafu may have had the upper hand, but he knew he couldn't get too cocky. It was probably too much to hope for that the size of his fleet alone would cause them to submit.  If they could be bought off, then perhaps that was best, but Hirafu knew that was probably unlikely.  This was going to be a fight, and Hirafu and his men were ready for it. Before we jump into the episode proper, a quick thank you to Hakucho for donating to support Sengoku Daimyo.  We always appreciate any support, and there is information at the end of each episode on how to help out if you would like to join them. Last episode we introduced the Emishi and the Mishihase and talked about them and their connections to the Yamato and Japanese state, as well as to the modern Ainu people.  We went over a lot of the archaeological findings, and talked about how the Jomon period, uninterrupted in northern Honshu and Hokkaido, eventually gave way to the Epi-Jomon and Satsumon cultures, while the Ohokotsk Sea Culture is observed from around the 5th to 9th centuries, and we talked about how these existed in the lands we know as being connected to the Emishi and the Mishihase people mentioned in the Chronicles. This episode we are going to rely a lot more on the narrative found in the Nihon Shoki, but I wanted to make sure that we had that discussion about the archaeology, first, so that people would have a background.  If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend going back and giving Part 1 a listen. So let's back up a bit, and let's set the scene on the peninsula and the archipelago, and see what led up to this moment. In 654, the sovereign of Yamato, Karu, aka Kotoku Tennou, had passed away in his palace in Naniwa.  His sister, Takara Hime, and other members of the royal family had gathered once more in Naniwa when they caught word of his illness, but their visit was brief.  Karu passed away on the 1st day of the 10th month, and a little over two months later he was buried.  After that, rather than taking up residence again in Naniwa, the court moved back to the old capital of Asuka, where Takara Hime re-ascended the throne.  It was now the year 655, almost a decade since Crown Prince Naka no Oe had orchestrated the murderous coup that had seen the powerful scions of the Soga family cut down in front of Takara Hime and others, causing her to abdicate.  And now, well, perhaps Naka no Oe was comfortable controlling things from behind the scenes, because Takara Hime was once again the one in power—or at least the one sitting on the throne.  And there's a LOT that would go on during this reign according to the chronicles. On the peninsula at this point, the Tang-Goguryeo war was in full swing, with the Tang dynasty regularly harassing Goguryeo.  Goguryeo was at least nominally allied with Baekje, whose ruling family also claimed descent from a shared Buyeo ancestor, and Baekje was, of course, a long time ally of Yamato.  Meanwhile, Silla had thrown their lot in with the Tang dynasty, though as alliances went it was not exactly an alliance of equals – and most alliances came and went as the political winds changed throughout the peninsula. Over time, we'll see some resolution coming to the situation on the peninsula.  But overall, one of the biggest trends is that during Takara Hime's second reign, Yamato was reaching out to a much wider world than it had in the past.  This included connections to the south—to those on the Ryukyu islands, and possibly beyond.  And there were continued efforts to reach out to the Tang empire, with varying degrees of success.  Those that did go would sit and learn at the feet of some of the most famous scholars in the world, including the Buddhist priest, scholar, and traveler, Xuanzang, someone I cannot wait to get into in a future episode, as he really demonstrates just how connected the world had become at this time in a way that is often hard for us to comprehend, today. But there is also plenty happening in the archipelago, and even just in Asuka.  In fact, regardless of what the Chronicles say, there are a lot of ancient monuments and archaeological finds in the Asuka region that aren't directly mentioned in any historical record, but can be generally traced to this era - reminders of this period that are literally carved in stone.  We still have plenty of questions as to just what was going on, but we're starting to see more and more lasting physical traces. Our first relevant entry in the Nihon Shoki for the topic of this episode comes from the 7th month of 655, the year that Takara Hime had taken the throne.  We are told that 99 Northern Emishi and 99 Eastern Emishi were entertained at the court of Naniwa—presumably using the government facilities built during Karu's time.  At the same time, there were 150 envoys from Baekje who were likewise feted.  Caps of honor, of two grades in each case, were bestowed on nine Emishi of Kikafu and six Emishi of Tsugaru.  This is an interesting record, and let's explore what it means for Yamato's view of itself and its own authority.  First, the Baekje and the Emishi are being streated similarly—they both appear to be groups that are from *outside* Yamato conducting some kind of diplomacy with the court.  That said, it is quite clear from the way that the Chronicles deal with them that Yamato viewed each group as distinctly different.  Baekje was Yamato's continental ally, and their primary means through which they could access the continent and all that it had to offer.  They had helped bring Buddhism to the archipelago, and were clearly seen as a civilized country.  The Emishi, on the other hand, were Yamato's own “barbarians”.  They were outside and Yamato clearly saw them as less civilized.  In many ways Yamato viewed the Emishi similar to how the Tang court likely viewed Yamato.  After all, just as Tang literature talked about the differences between the quote-unquote “civilized” center of the empire and the so-called “barbaric” lands beyond their borders, Yamato could place itself in a similar position, simply by placing the Nara Basin at the “Center” and with the Emishi helping define that which was outside.  So in an odd way, this may have been uplifting for Yamato's own self-image. And just as the Tang court enticed border states into their sphere of influence with the promise of imperial titles, the Yamato court similarly was bestowing rank upon the Emishi, making themselves the granter of prestige and recognition.  By being a part of the system, you were rewarded with recognition of your status, something that likely appealed to many. As to the places referenced – Kikafu and Tsugaru – Aston isn't certain about Kikafu, but Tsugaru seems quite obvious as the northernmost tip of Honshu, in modern Aomori prefecture, where the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido are separated by none other than the Tsugaru strait. The fact that the Chroniclers differentiated between the Eastern and Northern Emishi likewise suggests that this was not a monolithic state.  Yamato saw a difference between the Emishi in one part of the archipelago versus the other. Three years later, in the 4th month of 658, Yamato sent one of the largest expeditions against the northeast.  Abe no Omi—other entries name him as Abe no Omi no Hirafu—took 180 ships up north on an expedition to the Emishi.  We are told that he met with the Emishi in the districts of Aita and Nushiro, believed to be in modern Akita prefecture.  Akita prefecture is on the western side of Tohoku, towards the very northern tip.  It is opposite Iwate prefecture on the east, and just below Aomori prefecture, which, at the time, was known as Tsugaru.  This was on the extreme end of Honshu. Both Aita and Nushiro quickly submitted to the Yamato mission.  Still, Abe drew up his ships in order of battle in the bay of Aita, where an envoy from the Emishi named Omuka came forward and made an oath.  He swore that they had no ill-intentions.  The fact that the Emishi were armed with bows and arrows was not because they were at war, but because up in that area of Tohoku, they were all hunters, and so it was their regular tool.  They swore to the gods of Aita bay that they had not raised arms against Yamato, but they were willing to submit to Yamato rule. For his part, Omuka was granted court rank, and local governors were established at Nushiro and Tsugaru—likely meaning they recognized local chieftains and made them responsible for representing the others.  Finally, they summoned the Emishi of Watari no Shima to the shores of Arima, and a great feast was provided.  After that, they all returned home. The  term “Watari no Shima” seems to almost undoubtedly refer to the island of Hokkaido.  “Watari” means to cross, so referring to the “Emishi of Watari no Shima” likely referred to the Emishi on Hokkaido vice those in the Tohoku region. The entire entry seems a bit suspect.  Abe no Hirafu takes an armed party up north and then they all… just sit down and have tea together?  There seems to be a lot of missing context.  Of course, from Yamato's perspective, they were the civilized center.  Does that mean that any violence they committed was simply swept under the rug of history?  Or did they truly meet with such quick submission that only a show of force was necessary? There is one other entry for 658, relative to all of this. It isn't given a specific date, so it is unclear when, exactly it occurred, but it may shed some light.  That entry states that Abe no Hikida no Omi no Hirafu, warden of the land of Koshi, went on an expedition not against the Emishi, but against the Mishihase, or Su-shen.  He is said to have brought back from this trip two live “white bears”, or “shiguma”. So was his expedition really against the Emishi, or was his actual goal to fight the Mishihase, which means he didn't just stop at the end of Honshu, but he continued on to Hokkaido—Watari no Shima—and up at least to Central Hokkaido, where he would have met with the people of the Okhotsk Sea culture—likely the Mishihase of the Chronicle?  Or was he sailing against both? This also leads to numerous other theories as to just what was going on.  While Yamato was pushing on the Emishi from the south, were these Mishihase likewise encroaching on the Emishi in the north?  Were they pushing them south or absorbing those in the farthest north?  There seems to have clearly been a difference and some conflict between them, as evidenced by later entries, which we'll cover in a bit. Quickly, though, I do want to touch on the idea that they brought back two “white bears”.  “Shiguma” appears to refer to a “white bear”, and at its most simplistic understanding, this would seem to refer to a polar bear, but that seems quite a stretch.  Today, polar bears largely live in the arctic regions, out on the permanent sea ice, where they are able to hunt.  They are considered an aquatic animal, living mainly in the ocean, though they will come ashore to hunt, on occasion.  Still, they are mostly adapted to life on the sea ice. While the climate of the 700s was different, I don't know that the sea ice extended that far south.  It is possible that polar bears had been captured much further north, and then sold to people further south, through the extensive trade networks that ran up through Kamchatka, Siberia, and even across the Aleutian chain, but as far as I can tell, polar bears would not have been living in Hokkaido or even in the Kuril or Sakhalin islands at that time. It is much more likely that the “Shiguma” was one of the Hokkaido brown bears.   They may have been albino, but more likely it was simply an easy designation to distinguish them from the bears of the rest of the archipelago—the Asian black bear.  These are clearly black bears, though their fur can appear lighter in some instances.  Meanwhile, although brown bears can be a very dark brown, their fur can vary to almost a blond, and if you look at many photos you can see how they might be considered “white”, especially compared to the black bear that was the norm in Yamato.  I suspect that this is actually the species that Hirafu brought back, and which would be referenced in later entries, where “shiguma” furs appear to be have been quite plentiful, suggesting it wasn't just a rare mutation. In addition, I can't help but note that the presence of bears, here, seems to also further connect with modern traditions of the Ainu of Hokkaido.  Most notably in their reverence for bears, including the traditional Iyomante ceremony.  There is also evidence of the importance of bears in what we see of the Okhotsk Sea Culture.  It is hard to tell if there is more from this interaction, but it still raises some questions. But I digress.  While there are still a lot of gaps, we can see that the Emishi were being brought into the fold, as it were, while the Mishihase were apparently the threat that Yamato would be fighting.  In fact, I can't help but wonder if the threat posed by the Mishihase didn't help encourage the Emishi to ally themselves with Yamato in an attempt to protect themselves. Whatever happened, the relationship with the Emishi, from that point, seems to place them as subjects of Yamato.  We are told that three months later, over 200 Emishi visited the Yamato court, bringing presents for the sovereign.  These were not just the Emishi of the far reaches of Tohoku, but seems to have included Emishi from several different regions.  We are also told that the entertainment and largess provided by the court was even greater than any time before, no doubt presenting the carrot in contrast to Abe no Hirafu's stick. One of the carrots handed out was court rank,  We are told that two Emishi of the enigmatic Kikafu region each received one grade of rank while Saniguma, the Senior governor of Nushiro, was granted two steps in rank, making him Lower Shou-otsu in the rank system of the time, and he was given the superintendence of the population register—likely meaning he had a charge similar to the other governors dispatched to take a census and let the court know just how many people there were in the region.  His junior governor, Ubasa, received the rank of Kembu, the lowest rank in the system. Meanwhile, Mamu, the Senior governor of Tsugaru was granted the rank of Upper Dai-otsu and Awohiru, the Junior governor of Tsugaru, was granted the rank of Lower Shou-out. At the same time, two ranks were granted on the Miyatsuko of the Tsukisara Barrier and one rank was granted to Inadzumi Ohotomo no Kimi, Miyatsuko of the Nutari Barrier.  These last two appear to have been members of Yamato rather than Emishi, but clearly all related to the issue of the borders and beyond. And so we are given three different locations.  We are not told the names of the Emishi from Kikafu, but we are given the names of the senior and junior governors—likely local chieftains co-opted into the Yamato polity—of Nushiro and Tsugaru.  Together with the name “Omuka” we have some of our earliest attestations to possible Emishi names—though whether these were names, titles, or something else I could not say.  We have Saniguma, Ubasa, Mamu, and Awohiru.  None of these are given with family names, which seems to track with the fact that formal “family” names appear to have been an innovation of the Kofun culture, rather than an indigenous phenomenon. I would also note that I am not sure if these ranks came with any kind of stipend: after all, much of that region wasn't exactly suited to rice-land, so where would the stipend come from?  That said, there were certainly more practical gifts that were laid out for them as well.  The governors of Nushiro and the governors of Tsugaru were each given 20 cuttle-fish flags—likely a banner similar to the koi nobori, or carp banners, in use today—as well as two drums, two sets of bows and arrows, and two suits of armor.  This seems to be one for the Senior and one for the Junior governor.  In addition, Saniguma was commanded to “investigate” the Emishi population as well as what Aston translates as the “captive” population—by which I suspect they mean those living in bondage within the Emishi communities.   It is interesting to me that even though the senior governor of Tsugaru was given a higher rank, this last duty was only given to the governor of Nushiro. And there you have it.  With all of that the Emishi were at least nominally subject to the Yamato court.  They were still, however, cultural outsiders.  It is quite likely that they spoke a different language, and given the number of placenames in Tohoku that seem to correspond with the modern Ainu language, it is quite likely that a language at least related to modern Ainu was spoken in the Emishi controlled areas. A similar pattern to the year 658 took place in the entries for the following year.  Once again, Abe no Hirafu went north with 180 ships on what we are told, at least in Aston's translation, was an expedition against the Emishi.  He assembled a selection of the Emishi of Akita and Nushiro, totaling 241 people, with 31 of their captives, as well as 112 Emishi of Tsugaru with 4 of their captives, and 20 Emishi of Ifurisahe.  Once he had them all at his mercy he then… feasted them and gave them presents.  Is this really what an expedition *against* the Emishi looked like?  It almost sounds more like a diplomatic mission. We are told that after feasting and giving the assembled Emishi presents, Abe no Hirafu made an offering to the local gods of a boat and silk of various colors. He then proceeded to a place called “Shishiriko”, where two Emishi from a place called Tohiu, named Ikashima and Uhona, came forward and told him that Yamato should create an outpost at Shiribeshi, on the west coast of Hokkaido, which would be the seat of local Yamato government.  This sounds not entirely dissimilar from the idea of the Dazai in Kyushu.  Abe no Hirafu agreed and established a district governor there. Relevant to this, between the 7th and 8th centuries, we see clusters of pit dwellings in Hokkaido largely in the areas corresponding to the modern sub-prefectures of Sorachi, Ishikari, and Iburi, with many of them clustered near modern Sapporo, and a very small number near Rumoi, further north along the western coast. Once more it is another account, not the main narrative of the Nihon Shoki, where we might see what was really going on.  That entry claims that Abe no Hirafu went north to fight with the Mishihase and, on his return, he brought back some 49 captives.  So was this what all of this was really about?  Was he going up there to fight the Emishi, or was he perhaps fighting with the Emishi against the Mishihase? When Abe no Hirafu finally returned, it seems that the provincial governors of Michinoku—pretty much the whole of Touhoku—and Koshi, which was also a land known for being home to Emishi, were granted two grades of rank.  Their subordinates, the district governors and administrators, each received one grade of rank. We are also told that on the 17th day of the 3rd month of 659, that a copy of Mt. Meru was constructed on the riverbank east of Amakashi no Oka and that Emishi of Michonoku and Koshi were both entertained there.  Little more is given, and, again, it isn't clear if this is before or after Hirafu's expedition of that year. Mt. Meru—read as Shumisen, today—is the mountain at the center of the world, according to some Buddhist traditions.  Building a copy would have been a statement, creating a copy of the mountain and bringing the center of the universe to you.  This was probably a feature in a garden—at least that is how it was conceived of during the reign of Kashikiya Hime.  This second one may have been made with a pile of stones, and there have even been found some features in Asuka that some think could be remnants of this ancient model of the universe, but they aren't without controversy. In any case, that same year that the Emishi were brought to Asuka to view this Buddhist monument, in 659, a mission was sent to the Tang court.  We'll talk about the mission at some other time, but for now I want to focus on the fact that they brought with them an Emishi man and a woman to show the Tang emperor.  Regrettably, we don't know their names, and we don't know their status in Emishi society.  Were these captives, possibly enslaved?  Or were these volunteers, who had gone willingly with the envoys to see the lands beyond their home.  They likely had heard of the Tang empire from Yamato, and so it wouldn't be so surprising if they decided to go see it for themselves. Where it is of particular interest to us right now is that we have an apparent eyewitness account of the description given to the Tang Emperor about the Emishi by the Yamato envoys.  Be aware that the envoys were not necessarily experts in Emishi culture, and may not have met any other than their travel companions, but the description, given by none other than Yuki no Hakatoko, who was apparently there, at the Tang court, when it happened, gives us invaluable insight into how Yamato viewed the Emishi. The entire thing is a bit of a question and answer session as the Tang Emperor, Tang Gaozong, inquired about the Emishi and who they were.  In response to his questions, the envoys assured him that Yamato and the Emishi were at peace with each other.  They further noted that there were three different groups of Emishi.  Those farthest from Yamato were the Tsugaru Emishi.  Next, slightly closer to Yamato, were the Ara-Emishi.  “Ara” in this case means “soft”, and was probably a reference to the fact that those Emishi closer to Yamato were seen as more compliant.  Finally ,there are the “Nigi-Emishi”, living right on the borders.  “Nigi” in this case seems to refer to them being the “Gentle” or even “Civilized” Emishi.  I suspect that those living closest to Yamato were also the ones doing things like farming, and possibly building burial mounds.  They may have even mixed with some of the border communities, and may have included Wa communities that were outside of Yamato's influence.  After all, it isn't entirely obvious that “Emishi” referred to a single ethnic identity. In providing further answers to the emperor's questioning, we are told that the Emishi, at least according to the Yamato envoys, didn't farm, but instead they sustained themselves through hunting and fishing.  Furthermore, we are told that they didn't live in houses, but instead they dwelt under trees and in the recesses of the mountains.  This one is a little more questionable, after all, we have evidence of pit houses and villages all the way up to Aomori and back to Jomon times.  However, it is quite possible that Yamato was often encountering hunting parties, which very likely may have been using makeshift shelters or utilizing natural features like caves when they were out traveling.  Some of this, though, may have been built around ideas and concepts of how quote-unquote “barbaric” people lived, focusing on the exceptional, exotic, and sensationalist instances rather than on the more mundane day-to-day details.  Finally, the emperor himself commented on the “unusual appearance” of the Emishi.  We know that the Japanese terms for the Emishi refer to them as hairy barbarians, and if they were anything like modern Ainu, they were likely a good deal more hirsute than their Yamato neighbors.  This was no doubt a stereotype, as, again, Emishi may have also included some members of the Wa in their numbers, but they also appear to have included groups of people that were quite physically distinct.  Some DNA evidence also bears this out, and even today many people with deep ancestral ties to the Tohoku region demonstrate closer ties to ancient Jomon populations than to the succeeding Yayoi population that came over from the continent with their rice farming techniques. And so that gives us mostly what we know about the Emishi, except that they seem to have left out the Emishi of Watari no Shima—the Emishi of Hokkaido.  They would have been beyond the Tsugaru Emishi, unless they were considered similar, and painted with the same brush. And speaking of Watari no Shima, we have one more entry before we bring things to a close, and that is from the third month of the year 660.  Once more, Abe no Omi, who must have been getting his frequent sailor miles in by this point—or at least one hopes he had been invited to the Captain's circle at least.  Anyway, Abe no Omi was sent on yet another expedition, this time with 200 ships, and this time quite specifically against the Mishihase.  He made a stop in Michinoku on the way up where he brought some of the Emishi on his own boat—possibly as translators and guides.  They then continued northern until they reached a large river—Aston suggests that it was possibly the Ishikari river, north of modern Sapporo.  There they found a thousand Emishi of Watari no Shima encamped. Upon seeing the Yamato forces, two men came out from the camp to let Hirafu and his men know that the Mishihase had arrived in their own fleet, threatening to kill all of them.  And so they asked permission to cross the river over to Hirafu and join him.  Specifically we are told they asked to “serve the government” suggesting that they were willing to suborn themselves if Hirafu would assist with driving off the Mishihase. Hirafu had the two spokespersons come aboard his ship and then show him where the enemy was concealed.  They showed him where, telling him that the Mishihase had some 20 ships. Hirafu sent for the Mishihase to come and face him, but they refused.  And so instead he tried a different tactic.  He piled up colored silk cloth, weapons, iron, etc., in sight of the Mishihase, hoping that their curiosity and greed would get the better of them.  Sure enough, they drew up in their boats, which were decorated with feathers tied on poles like a flag.  Their vessels were powered with oars, and they brought them to the shallows.  From there, they sent two older men out to inspect the pile.  The men came out, and when they saw what was there, they exchanged their clothes for some from the pile and took some of the silk cloth and then returned to their ship.  After some time, they came back out, took off the exchanged garments and laid them down with the silk.  With that, they then boarded their ship and departed. Aston suggests that this behavior mimics an aspect of something called an “unseen trade” which he claims had been common in the region of Hokkaido until recently.  I hadn't found anything specifically about that, but it does make a kind of sense, especially if groups are possibly hostile and perhaps don't speak the same language. So does that mean that, for all of his military might, Hirafu was basically just buying off the Mishihase? In any case, it seems they did not take it.  They left the garments and the silk, which seems to have indicated that they had no deal, and they departed.  Hirafu pursued the Mishihase, and tried to get them to come out again—presumably looking for a stand up fight between his 200 ships and the MIshihase's 20, but instead the Mishihase headed to the island of Herobe, in another part of Watari no Shima.  After a while of being holed up, the Mishihase did sue for peace, but by that point, Abe no Hirafu was having none of it.  So they took themselves to their palisades and there they tried to hold out against Abe no Hirafu's forces.  Noto no Omi no Mamukatsu was slain in the fighting, as we can only suspect that others were as well, but over time the Yamato forces began to wear them down. Finally, when it seemed there was no way they could win or escape, the MIshihase took the drastic step of killing their own women and children, perhaps fearing what the Yamato soldiers would do to them if they were caught. And with that, it was over.  There are only a few mentions of the Mishihase, or even the Emishi, in the rest of the Nihon Shoki.  Granted, as we will eventually see, the people of Yamato were no doubt pre-occupied with what was going on to the west, where the Baekje-Tang war would be soon coming to a close.  Abe no Hirafu would be called on, once more, in that famous conflict, but we are going to save that for another day. For now, I think we can end things here.  Or just about.  I would be remiss if I didn't mention that there is a theory that many of these expeditions were actually the same thing, but recorded slightly differently in different ways, with some confusion about the actual dates.  Even if that was the case, it doesn't necessarily discount the overall information provided, and that information seems to at least somewhat conform to what we know about the archaeological record, as far as I can tell.  Granted, this is still the story as told by outsiders.  Since the people labeled “Emishi” didn't leave us with any records of this time, themselves, we don't exactly have their side of things, which is something we should keep in mind. This isn't the last time the Emishi will pop up in Japanese history.  Even if they were being granted rank, the Emishi remained a group apart.  Succeeding generations of Japanese would settle in the Tohoku region, eventually absorbing or pushing out the Emishi, or Ezo, while on Hokkaido, the people we know as the Ainu, who were likely an amalgamation of both Okhotsk Sea people and Epi-Jomon and Satsumon cultures, would eventually become dominant across the island of Hokkaido—at least until the 19th century. But that is for much later episodes.  For now, we'll continue to stick with our small, but active corner of the 7th century.  There is still a lot more to explore in this reign.  Next episode will be our annual New Year's recap, and then we will continue on with more from this episode in the following year. Until then thank you for listening and for all of your support. If you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.

What do we humans spend most of our time on? They say how you choose to spend your time is a reflection of how you choose to live your life. Every decision, every moment invested, contributes to the tapestry of your existence. Regrettably, some realize the things that matter most when it is too late and the opportunities have already slipped away. During his final days, Steve Jobs yearned to develop a genuine connection with his family. Recognizing the value of these precious bonds, he sought to bridge the gaps and delve into the depths of familial relationships, cherishing the opportunity to know and be known by those closest to his heart.  Jim Sheils, a renowned advocate for strong family relationships, has introduced a transformative concept known as the “Family Board Meeting.” This innovative approach emphasizes dedicated quality time with loved ones, allowing families to connect deeply and create lasting memories.  Through the Family Board Meeting, Jim guides families in setting aside intentional moments to foster understanding, communication, and growth. By implementing this powerful practice, families can strengthen their bonds and cultivate a harmonious and fulfilling family life. In this episode, Darius and Jim engage in a captivating discussion about the profound influence Steve Jobs had on Jim's perspective on family and the subsequent impact on his own relationships. They explore the value of applying core principles from business success to family life. They also discuss the crucial role of positive anticipation in generating excitement within the family dynamic, as well as the need for intermittent tech fasting to foster meaningful interactions. Topics include: What Jim learned from Steve Jobs and how it affected his relationship with his family Recognizing the value of applying core principles from business success to family life How Jim started holding family board meetings every 90 days  The benefits of starting with simple and realistic goals The value of regular one-on-one time with children The importance of carving out time from mornings, nights, and weekends to spend with family The crucial role of positive anticipation in creating excitement Why it is important to have intermittent tech fasting to allow meaningful interactions And other topics… Connect with Jim: Website: https://www.18summers.com/  Website: https://jimsheils.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jim_sheils/ Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://therealdarius.com/youtube Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Sponsored by: Constant Contact: Go to ConstantContact.com and start your FREE trial today. Indeed: Get a $75 sponsored job credit at Indeed.com/DARIUS. Legal Zoom: Get everything from setup to success at LEGALZOOM.com with promo code DARIUS. Mint Mobile: Cut your wireless bill to $15 a month at MINT MOBILE.com/great. NPR - Code Switch: Listen now to Code Switch from NPR - wherever you get your podcasts.  Shopify: Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/darius. Timeline: Timeline is offering 10% off your first order of Mitopure. Go to timeline.com/GREATNESS. Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's say, you're setting off on a long-awaited cruise; you're on cloud nine, and nothing could be further from your mind than paying attention to the safety precautions. But however unwilling you might be to waste precious vacation time on listening to safety instructions, you should remember that chances are, it could save your life. Yes, the odds of being trapped on a sinking ship nowadays are quite low. But there are things you can do to survive if the near-impossible does happen. Hopefully, it'll never happen to you, but just in case, it's vitally important to know how to react. SUMMARY: Take part in the first-day safety drill 0:51 What you should do first 1:44 Follow the crew's directions 2:42 How you can help others 3:21 Try to get to a lifeboat as quickly as possible 3:58 What if you have to jump off the ship 5:50

“Regrettably, I don't think we're very good, to be honest, at collaborating with FinTechs, or collaborating with the private sector more broadly on solving for policy issues.” It's a podcast double feature this week, with two conversations offering a pulse check on financial innovation in Canada. First: Koho's Daniel Eberhard (CEO) and Peter Aceto (Chief Banking Officer) detail the process of becoming a licensed bank along with the benefits and risks. Second: leaders from Manzil (Mohamad Sawwaf) and Borrowell (Eva Wong) join the Department of Finance Canada's Julien Brazeau to discuss innovations focused on greater inclusion for Canada's underbanked. Recorded live at Elevate Festival. The BetaKit Podcast is presented by Uber Canada. Uber's driving positive change for riders, drivers, and communities across Toronto. Learn more about how Uber is moving Toronto forward. The BetaKit Podcast is also brought to you by The BetaKit Quiz, a new weekly challenge testing your knowledge of Canadian tech. Head to BetaKit.com/quiz every Friday, take the quiz, and see how well you score!

On Friday, October 25th, 2024, we traveled to The Eastern in Atlanta, Georgia for the Saint Lucifer's Hospital 1920 Tour to see KING DIAMOND & OVERKILL (LIVE!) in concert, and it was everything we wanted and expected it to be: A perfect venue without a bad spot in the house, incredibly killer bands with album perfect production and sound, and absolutely ZERO traces of “party gravy” to be found anywhere on the premises.   Regrettably, we missed show opener NIGHT DEMON because we had to drive “from South Carolina” through Atlanta traffic to get to the venue and the start time of the show was far earlier than we expected, as opposed to back in the day when it was “doors open at 8, show starts at 2:30 am”.    We have an “UPDATE” from a previous episode regarding “every married man's fantasy”. It's time to give some serious thought to the “health trade-off /upgrade dilemma”, because “you know what they say about the 39-year-olds” (“the younger they are, the better they taste”), which is exactly why “you've gotta work out and stay in shape” as you get older and JOIN US for a review of KING DIAMOND's Saint Lucifer's Hospital 1920 promotional tour (in support of the upcoming new studio album, “The Institute”), featuring OVERKILL and NIGHT DEMON, and find out why it will be worth every penny.   Visit www.metalnerdery.com/podcast for more on this episode Help Support Metal Nerdery https://www.patreon.com/metalnerderypodcast   Leave us a Voicemail to be played on a future episode: 980-666-8182   Metal Nerdery Tees and Hoodies – metalnerdery.com/merch and kindly leave us a review and/or rating on the iTunes/Apple Podcasts - Spotify or your favorite Podcast app Listen on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, or wherever you get your Podcasts. Follow us on the Socials: Facebook - Instagram - Twitter   Email: metalnerdery@gmail.com Can't be LOUD Enough Playlist on Spotify Metal Nerdery Munchies on YouTube @metalnerderypodcast Show Notes: (00:01): “…as a lube.” / #lasttangoinparis #butterbutthole / “He buttered her butthole…and then he buttered her butthole…”/ “Why get new fans when you can just run ‘em out?” / ***WARNING: #listenerdiscretionisadvised *** / “A little rambly and a little burpy as well…”/ #franklytiresome / ***WELCOME BACK TO THE METAL NERDERY PODCAST AT BEAUTIFUL BUNKERPOON INTERNATIONAL STUDIOS!!!*** / #nosoundtrack #taketwo #fixitinpost / “Thanks to Billiam…”/ “I'm not a #shittipper …#shittipperalright …”/ #thisepisodesbeeroftheepisode / “I grabbed this #GraveyardShiftIPA …”/ “It's all shaft…that's the best part…”/ #theverdict / #sevenpercentABV #daydrinkingASMR / “Fruity carpet… a little green.”/ ***IF YOU WANNA SKIP THE NONSENSE, GO TO #THEDOCKET OR SKIP TO THE 20 MINUTE MARK…***   (05:16): “Dude, you're like a mirror that goes on forever…”/ “I feel like I need to bring over some #Ascension music for the #PatreonShoutout …” / ***PATREON SHOUT OUT!!!*** / “You can do whatever you want…he beat me to it.”/ #blessing / “That's a lot of M-F'in's…”/ “How about the correspondences…” / “If you feed it, it grows…”/ #healthtradeoff #testosterone / “I don't want to…but I seem to finish sooner than necessary…”/ “I saw him doing the knee lifts last night…”/ “Yeah, it's number 4…”/ #angrymattpodcast / “That's gold…”/ #angrytaintler / #voicemailsegment / ***YOU CAN CHECK US OUT AT #INSTAGRAM & #FACEBOOK & #YOUTUBE AT #METALNERDERYPODCAST & YOU CAN EMAIL US AT METALNERDERY@GMAIL.COM & YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL AND LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL AT 980-666-8182!!!*** / “I hope your dream comes true…”/ #hornsup / ***UPDATE TO THE STORY*** / #breakingnews #TheBunkerpoonReport / “Let's do another one…”/ #whatsitcalled / #whitetails / “That's a good thing…”/ “You think they're into #BDSM?” / “The cuter/younger they are, the better they taste…”/ #markthetime / #okiedokie / #milfdream / “You've gotta work out and stay in shape…”/ #BunkerpoonHealthCorner / WE'LL PLAY YOUR SHIT-TAH!!! / #DemonHunter DEFENSE MECHANISM (feat. Max Cavalera) / “It was like 3 a.m. and EVERYTHING is loud…”   (20:00): #TheDocket / “So last night…”/ METAL NERDERY PODCAST PRESENTS:  KING DIAMOND & OVERKILL CONCERT REVIEW / #TheEastern / “Very nice… #freeparking…”/ Reflecting on past #Overkill shows / “The whole #FuckYou thing was great…”/ #DontBeAPussy / NOTE:  They've got 40 years of shit… / “The sound was perfect…”/ “The bathrooms are clean and nice…” / #partygravy / #insertvomitnoisehere / “What was the place that had a trough?” / “Is this where all the dicks hang out?”/ NOTE:  Actually, it was $18…AND we got shorted a beer / “You know what though…out of fairness…”/ “That's a far cry from the old days…”/ #NightDemon OUTSIDER (Outsider - 2023) / “That's like a heavy #KISS…”/ “You wanna grab one more?” / WELCOME TO THE NIGHT (Darkness Remains – 2017) / #softintro / “It's almost like #victorymetal kinda…but not…”/ “It's like a weird cross between Paul Stanley and 80's power metal…”/ “It's like wearing dirty cowboy boots with a tuxedo…”/ #cowboyboyts   (32:50): #Overkill THE SURGEON (Scorched – 2023) / “His voice still has so much power…he sounded so good…”/ “There was one part…he kept getting higher…”/ ROTTEN TO THE CORE (Feel The Fire – 1985) / #allthecokelines / “I think his voice even sounds better now…”/ #fistfulofsteel #vulgardisplayofmetal / “What was the song that sounded like #GarageDays?” / BRING ME THE NIGHT (Ironbound – 2010) / “It's almost the same riff…same phrasing…”/ “That's 80's metal all day, in your face, in your balls, on your stomach, on your cheeks, on your back…everywhere…”/ “That does sound like Helpless though…”/ FUCK YOU (Fuck You And Then Some – 1996) / “We don't care what you say…”/ “Is your daughter home?” / #fuckyou / “They need to make that a tour shirt…that should be the name of the next album…” (41:55): “Did that light just turn on by magic?” / “It comes on whenever you say fuck you…”/ #KingDiamond / #TheKing / “Pardon me…”/ “They were playing some cool in between set songs…”/ NOTE: It's a thousand kings, not years (re: The Wizard) / “I got every penny's worth of my money out of that show…”/ #SaintLucifersHospital #TheInstitute / “It's like #DisneyOnIce…PLUS”/ #Myrkur / ***Check out our recent #KingDiamond episode!!!*** / “What's the name of the female vocalist?”/ “Yeah…39…you know what they say about the 39 year olds…”/ “What if podcasters get her absolutely drenched down there?”/ “And the dude is 68 years old!!!”/ “They were loud as shit!” / “I knew going to see it live was going to be killer…and it was.”/ “It's a metal #shockopera is what it is…”/ #musicianship / ***GO SEE KING DIAMOND ON THIS TOUR!!!*** / #willcall #ticketbastard / “He's only like 40 years older…”/ “Elvis meets Conway Twitty meets King Diamond hair…”/ #RussellsReflectionsBathroomEdition / “He played everything I wanted to hear…”/ “Oh…behind us…(NOT a part of the show…)” / “She hit the stairs hard…”/ “Nobody wants help…when you're hammered…”/ “What about the drive through the 3rd world country to get there?” / “NOW you're gonna do the accent…”/ “That's Mexico…that's also Mexico…”/ #fullblownracist / “Oh wait, I've got some more…gimme a minute…”/ “We're still alive and there's still metal…”/ “OMG there was more than just one…”/ #hotmetalgirl #noundies / SHRINE (The Dark Sides – 1988) / “And it sounded just like that…”/ ***Go to kingdiamondcoven.com for tour dates!!!*** / “You might get one for free…”/ “It's not funny, it's called passion…”/ “You DO understand there's a difference…”/ ***THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!!!*** / #untilthenext #outroreel

Forgive me as I rant about veterinary care. This week, I experienced or heard of four events between veterinarians and their owners that have me asking: Are the schools teaching integrity along with veterinary medicine? There are 13 new vet schools in America, spawning 55,000 more veterinarians in the next decade. Most will go into small animal practice. Driving this growth is a demand for pet owners to access care everywhere and corporate strategies to use more veterinarians at higher salaries to remain competitive. In essence, the forecast is for ample demand for services and a need for more veterinarians to meet this need. Stepping away from this "supply and demand" model, I now see evidence that integrity is being replaced with a "fix-it" mentality. New veterinary graduates are well-trained in the science of "fixing" an animal's problem; however, are they also advocating for the animal and, importantly, the owner? Regrettably, the era of the "country vet," who took the time to educate, advise, and console the owner, seems to be fading. The high cost of training and the standardization of care have led to a "cookie-cutter" approach to animal care. This approach, while efficient, may seem superficial to older vets who, though impressed with the knowledge young vets bring to the practice, miss the days of explaining how to prevent problems and advocating for the animal above all else. ********** TheHorsesAdvocate.com is a website for learning about horses, horse barns, and farms. Its membership side allows horse owners to attend live meetings to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned on the site. Membership helps support this message and spread it to everyone worldwide working with horses. HorsemanshipDentistry.com is a website that discusses how and why I perform equine dentistry without immobilization or the automatic use of drugs. I only accept new clients in Florida. TheEquinePractice.com/appointment HorsemanshipDentistrySchool.com is a website for those interested in learning how to perform equine dentistry without drugs on 97% of horses. There are eight spots a year for interested students PLUS, there is a separate online course for those wanting to learn how to do this but can never get to South Florida for hands-on training. Show support for The Horse's Advocate by wearing a hat or shirt or drinking from a cup, all with the official logo. For our swag, go to this link: (https://the-horses-advocate.creator-spring.com/). Please give a thumbs up or 5-star review and share these everywhere. I know horse owners worldwide listen, and the horses need every one of you in "Helping Horses Thrive In A Human World."

Link to the event in Budapest: https://budapestidemografiaicsucs2023.hu/en #evolutionarypsychology #evolution #family #fertility #demography Note: My wife recorded the lecture on her phone. Unfortunately, the phone ran out of memory so the last few minutes are missing. Regrettably, I never received the file of my entire lecture from my hosts. _______________________________________ If you appreciate my work and would like to support it: https://subscribestar.com/the-saad-truth https://patreon.com/GadSaad https://paypal.me/GadSaad To subscribe to my exclusive content on Twitter, please visit my bio at https://twitter.com/GadSaad _______________________________________ This clip was posted on October 24, 2024 on my YouTube channel as THE SAAD TRUTH_1743: https://youtu.be/PJboLlvTYKo _______________________________________ Please visit my website gadsaad.com, and sign up for alerts. If you appreciate my content, click on the "Support My Work" button. I count on my fans to support my efforts. You can donate via Patreon, PayPal, and/or SubscribeStar. _______________________________________ Dr. Gad Saad is a professor, evolutionary behavioral scientist, and author who pioneered the use of evolutionary psychology in marketing and consumer behavior. In addition to his scientific work, Dr. Saad is a leading public intellectual who often writes and speaks about idea pathogens that are destroying logic, science, reason, and common sense.  _______________________________________  

WIN. This year's Sinn Féin Ard Fheis last weekend was full of enthusiasm and passion with great speeches covering every issue imaginable and the delegates voting through policy motions that will help shape Sinn Féin politics in the time ahead. The speeches, particularly from Michelle O'Neill and other national leaders demonstrated the strength and relevance of the party across our island. South Africa Supports Irish Unity.Irish Republicans have had a long and enduring relationship with the African National Congress. In 1995 I travelled to South Africa to meet its senior team of negotiators who successfully achieved an end to apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela as President. In the midst of the negotiations around the Good Friday Agreement some of those senior figures travelled to Ireland to hold public meetings and go into the prisons to talk about their experience of negotiations. That relationship has remained strong over the years thanks in part to the hard work of Declan Kearney, Sinn Fein Party Chairperson.Irish government must take a stand against IsraelLast week most of the governments of the world turned their back on Israel as Benjamin Netanyahu took to the rostrum at the 79th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York. Netanyahu claimed that “no army has done what Israel is doing to minimise civilian casualties” and as he described the United Nations as an “anti-semitic swamp” and an “anti-Israel Flat Earth Society,” scores of UN delegates got up and walked out. Regrettably, the Irish government representatives stayed.

James Earl Jones will forever have a place in film history based on his voice alone. From Darth Vader to CNN commercials, he is known the world over. But there is much more to him. Our memories include Conan, baseball, and Mystery Science Theater.The Goonies is one of the most important movies of the 1980s. It is the perfect movie filled with adventure, humor, and a satisfying ending. There was never a sequel because there was not a need for one. But we are getting one anyway.There is no point in complaining about how there are too many remakes and sequels.The question is, are we excited to see it?Where does gross out end and body horror begin? That is just one of the questions Booger had us pondering. The indie film recently made its world premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival. Unlike other movies in the genre, it covers deep themes such as grief, loss, and friendship. Just when it looked like it was going to be something really special, it falls apart, So, what happened?Quinn Armstrong has not made it easy on us. His trilogy seemed like a lot of fun. Stories of exorcisms, doom metal, and death sound like a great combination for a couple of horror fans. While there was some good looking stuff in the first two films, they ended up leaving a bad taste in our mouths.But there was no way Dead Teenagers could fail. It was about a group of friends hanging out at a cabin in the woods. Before long, their fun is interrupted by a masked killer. Yes, we had seen it before, but that was part of the fun. We could not wait to see what Armstrong did with a more straightforward horror story.Regrettably, we never got that movie. Things start off normal enough. There is even a cool Big Bad that is the stuff of franchises. The archetypes are a little different and there is a slight tweak along the way, but Dead Teenagers is definitely a slasher. Until it gets a little too clever for its own good. Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com

In this episode we gently debate subspecies, and then dive into several snake papers, from their anomalously extensive and rapid diversification, to a recent taxonomic change. Regrettably the audio on this episode was affected by a technical error, so it is far less than our usual quality (Ethan and Hiral are a little quiet, sorry!).… Read more The post SquaMates Ep. 26: Let's talk about snakes, baby first appeared on SquaMates.

Regrettably, not everything can be included in our podcast episodes initially. However we have delved into the treasure trove of interviews to bring you a compilation of additional conversational gems that Mary McAleese and Mary Kennedy had with some of our guests including Dermot Kennedy, Daniel O'Donnell, Kathryn Thomas and Phil Coulter. We hope you enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Consider this episode—one of last year's favorites!—an ode to your embrace of the term “regrettably worth it” aka RWI aka something we get asked to define as least weekly

About Kay Chan I grew up in a pretty tough environment after my family escaped a war. That, in itself, can be a segment of its own. I'll spare you the details for now. I grew up with a pretty remarkable talent of being able to see things a little more creatively than others around me. I was heavily into poetry and illustration throughout my adolescent years. Despite growing up poor, and to my parents' chagrin, I stuck with my passion for the arts. Regrettably (sort of), I never went to college. Straight out of high school, I picked up menial desk jobs doing entry level design that I had absolutely no experience in. I spent years accepting daily office projects and would take them home to learn better ways to do them on my own time. This went on for several years. It was a struggle to land better paying jobs as they were near impossible without a college degree (I have so much to say about this!). Ones I did find did not pay well, but I always considered them to be great opportunities to be a better designer. https://www.linkedin.com/in/khimeric/ https://khimeric.com/ ------------------------------------------------------ When It Worked Podcast https://getoffthedamnphone.com/podcast 00:00:00 Kay Chan Joins For Game Of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire 00:00:40 Kinetic Sculpture Artist Pioneered Kid Friendly Art Form 00:02:13 Test Round Fly, Tokens, Trees, Presentations 00:04:38 Graduated From High School With Diverse Design Career 00:05:18 Corporate Companies Cvs, Hasbro, Consigli, Intro Designer 00:06:27 Problem Solved, Helpful, Efficient 00:11:09 Pricing For Um Presentations Fair, Insane 00:12:18 Creating Templates For Presentations 00:12:57 Avoid Templates That Are Difficult To Use, Userfriendly 00:13:42 Google Slides Inefficient, Shareable, Dumb 00:16:04 Cost Of Online Presentations 85 Bucks, Reviews

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), this year's Independence Day festivities will bear the weight of the swelling inflation, making them pricier than usual for our fellow Americans. The specter of inflation has been a constant ordeal for our citizens during President Joe Biden's first term. It's a sobering reality evident in the consumer price index (CPI), which has skyrocketed by an astonishing 20% since 2021. Regrettably, the grip of inflation has not loosened on the commodities that Americans traditionally enjoy on our beloved Fourth of July. AFBF recently released its analysis, and the findings may indeed paint our national holiday in less vibrant colors. The cherished pastime of grilling succulent meals is now a more expensive endeavor. On average, the simple pleasure of savoring two pounds of ground beef at your family barbeque will set us back about $12.77. We have observed an 11% increase from last year's prices. Moreover, the humble, yet necessary, hamburger buns have climbed by 7% in the last year. Likewise, the refreshing tang of a 2.5 quart bottle of lemonade, a traditional accompaniment to our grand feast, now costs around $4.19, marking a 12% surge. The joy of enjoying a juicy portion of pork chops, a staple of the American barbeque, has escalated by nearly 8% to almost $15.50.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a recent episode of the Wild For Change podcast, I had a conversation with Ellie Laks, the founder of the Gentle Barn, about her new book, "Cow Hug Therapy." The book is a touching account of how the animals at the Gentle Barn have taught her valuable lessons about life and death and everything in between. I have always found solace in the company of animals. Being around them brings me a deep sense of peace and a feeling of unconditional love. I also believe that animals possess great wisdom and insight that they can share with us. Reading Ellie's book "Cow Hug Therapy" is a wonderful way to deepen our connection with animals. It can expand our awareness of the remarkable capabilities of animals, revealing them as sharp observers of life, guiding figures, and fur-clad angels who can impart valuable wisdom on how to live and love, if only we take the time to quietly listen and open our hearts. Ellie's stories about the lessons she's learned from her rescued animals go beyond the surface. These creatures bring profound soul lessons and messages that are meant to help us grow, evolve, and shine. Regrettably, the podcast ends abruptly. We recorded it in person, and unfortunately, the recording stopped about 10 minutes before our interview concluded.You can find Ellie's new book “Cow Hug Therapy” on the Gentle Barn's website, as well as on Amazon and Target.  Website: http://www.wildforchange.com Twitter: @WildForChange Facebook: /wildforchange Instagram: wildforchange

What is driving the concern over online gambling? The lawyer who took on Big Tobacco, Richard Daynard, says it is an addictive product. The Public Health Advocacy Institute, which he heads up, is suing the sports betting platform DraftKings for deceptive advertising. Audie talks with Daynard, who's made a career of bringing lawsuits in pursuit of public health, a strategy he calls “wholesale” rather than “retail.” We also hear from NBA star Rex Chapman, author of the memoir, “It's Hard For Me To Live With Me.” Chapman gives us insight into both the world of sports and the world of gambling. While he's never participated in sports betting himself, he reflects on his experiences gambling millions on horse racing and blackjack. -------  Read DraftKings' statement in response to Daynard's Public Health Advocacy Institute's lawsuit:  "As a customer-first organization, DraftKings takes consumer protection and responsible gaming seriously. DraftKings respectfully disagrees with the claims and allegations made by the Public Health Advocacy Institute. The disclosures and explanations provided to customers before they make an initial deposit are detailed, clear, conspicuous and informative. Multiple examples are provided. Regrettably, the Institute ignored our multiple attempts to engage in an in-person dialogue to carefully examine their concerns in light of these disclosures and, instead, filed suit.”   The company also said in a statement:  “DraftKings is committed to educating consumers about the importance of playing responsibly. We have created tools like “My Stat Sheet” an innovative feature that gives players the ability to assess, track and interact with their personal stats through intuitive charts and information that can help empower players to make data-driven decisions on their own play, as well as offer customers the ability to control how they engage with our app through cool-off periods, deposit and wager limits. Furthermore, we collaborate with organizations such as the National Council for Problem Gaming, Responsible Online Gaming Association, Kindbridge Behavioral Health and the American Gaming Association. A core priority for DraftKings is ensuring that customers are using our products as intended, for safe and responsible entertainment.”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Yesterday I interviewed Melissa Kearney, the author of a book called “The Two Parent Privilege.” Regrettably, my sound engineers were unable to create usable audio for the episode. But I've recreated the conversation, with a summary of the key facts, data, and analysis. I do hope you enjoy it. Let me know if you have follow up questions. I'd love to answer them and relay what Ms. Kearney had to share. I might even sneak in my analysis and opinion! Have a wonderful weekend. See you Monday! — Bryan

In 1942, many Americans feared a Japanese invasion of the West Coast of the US or Canada was imminent. Regrettably, these fears led to the belief--unsupported by facts--that the ethnic Japanese population on the West Coast represented a dangerous fifth column of potential spies and saboteurs.

After Dark with Hosts Rob & Andrew – Democrats have been promising to make the lives of black people better since the Civil Rights movement. Yet nothing has been done. It has all been an empty promise without fulfillment. Regrettably, in return, blacks have delivered their votes to Democrats every election. Bebe Diamond, the host of Our Urban Story, explained, "Democrats have used blacks to gain power...

February 9: Matthew (@MatthewBerryTMR), Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) and Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) kickoff their final show in Las Vegas with Matthew and Jay sitting down with Saquon Barkley, who gets a lesson from the guys in playing fantasy football. Chargers WR Quentin Johnston follows and explains his eagerness to play for Jim Harbaugh. After ruing a lost bet from Jay Thursday night, actor and comedian Rob Riggle stops by to breakdown the roots of his Chiefs fandom. Chris Johnson also jumps on the set to detail where he would like to see Derrick Henry play in 2024 before the guys highlighting their favorite prop from DraftKings Super Bowl LVIII prop sheet.(00:45) – Saquon Barkley Interview: Playing through “Tommy Cutlets” mania, figuring out how to play fantasy football and engaging with fans(12:30) – Quentin Johnston Interview: Excitement playing for Jim Harbaugh, learning from Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and his chemistry with Justin Herbert(23:15) – Regrettably reflecting on Jay's losing bet on Comeback Player of the Year(25:00) – Rob Riggle Interview: Where he ranks among Chiefs “superfans”, thoughts on Taylor Swift joining Chiefs Kingdom and his Hollywood star fantasy leagues(36:30) – Chris Johnson Interview: Highlighting his success playing fantasy, why a track background helps RBs and where he wants to see Derrick Henry play in 2024(46:30) – Last Call: The crew picks their favorite prop from DraftKings Super Bowl LVIII prop sheet