Podcasts about reinvigorated

Market Proof Marketing · Ep 384: DYC Education Deep Dive – Special Takeover Edition Special Takeover: Mike Lyon & the team discuss all of the DYC educational experiences. With Kevin Oakley away in Italy, Mike Lyon leads a lively and insightful discussion with the DYC team about their robust lineup of educational offerings for home builder sales and marketing professionals. Expect laughs, passionate pitches, and a whole lot of insider knowledge.

2 Corinthians 7:2-16:0

God is at work behind the scenes of everyday life stuff, but his name is rarely mentioned. He's working, through all these things. Kind of behind the scenes. So, then we come to the crux of the matter, in verses 16-18, but Ruth replied don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you in me. When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. That's the courageous action that unlocks and unleashes all kinds of Kingdom goodness. And throughout the Bible people come to a crossroads where one path is the clear winner. It makes the most sense. It's the obvious choice. But the person makes an unexpected move. They choose the unexpected path. They courageously act for God's sake and for the good of the Kingdom, even though in practical terms it doesn't seem to make sense. 

In the wake of two deadline defining trades the Warriors and the Lakers are back! Reinvigorated. Ready to make real waves in the post season. Swish Theory and Draft Kings Charlie Cummings joins the program to talk about his Warriors, and Jimmy has transformed the Dubs. Later on we talk about the Lakers, their ceiling and the fact that we've never really seen a team constructed quite like this. Charlie is the best and thsi was a blast to record. Enjoy the episode! The Article: https://theswishtheory.com/nba/2025/02/warriors-unlock-new-deadly-lineup/ My Links: Twitter: https://x.com/TheDropStepNBA BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jackquantrill.bsky.social Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDropStep_NBA Charlie's Links: Twitter: https://x.com/klaytheist11 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/klaytheist.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jimmy Butlers biggest contribution to the Warriors might be the reinvigoration sensation he has done to Stephs season

This episode we kick off a series of episodes following the famous monk Xuanzang, aka the Tripitaka Master of the Law, Sanzang Fashi.  Known in Japanese as Genjo, and founder of the Faxiang school of Yogacara Buddhism, also known as the Hosso school, it was brought back to the archipelago by students who studied with the master at his temple north of the Tang capital of Chang'an.  He was particularly famous for his travels across the Silk Road to India and back--a trip that would last 16 years and result in him bringing back numerous copies of sutras from the land of the Buddha, kicking off a massive translation work.  It also would see his recollections recorded as the Record of the Western Regions, which, along with his biography based on the stories he told those working with him, give us some of the best contemporary information of the various places along the Silk Road in the 7th century. Part 1 focuses on Xuanzang's journey out of the Tang empire, braving the desert, and somehow, against the odds, making it to the country of Gaochang. For more, check out the blogpost page:  https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-120 Rough Transcript: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua, and this is Episode 120:  Journey to the West, Part 1 The monks from far off Yamato were enthralled.  They had journeyed across the waves on a foreign vessel, traversed a greater distance than they probably thought possible growing up in the archipelago, and had finally arrived at the capital of the Great Tang Empire, Chang'an.  They had then been sent north, to a temple where they met others from Yamato. They had come to study the Law, the Dharma, with some of the most famous teachers of the Tang dynasty, and there were few more famous than the Tripitaka Master Genjou himself.   Everyone in the monastery knew his story—he had traveled all the way to India, the birthplace of the Buddha, and returned with copies of the sutras in Sanskrit, which he and the other monks were translating. In between sessions of meditation, sutra readings, and various lectures, the students would gather round the feet of the master as he recounted his journeys.  The stories themselves were fantastic stories, telling of far off cities and people.  There were stories of bandits, and meetings with kings.  The students must have thought about how it mirrored what they, themselves, had gone through—their own Journey to the West. Last episode we talked about Tukara and what that mysterious placename might mean—and where it could be referring to.  For that we traveled all the way to the end of the Silk Road.  In this episode and continuing into the next, we are going to travel that same road with a different perspective, as we take a look at one of the most famous travelers of the Silk Road:  the monk Xuanzang, or Genjou in Japanese.  And as I hinted at in the introduction, if you're at all familiar with the famous Journey to the West, well, this and the following episodes will explore the actual history behind that story, and how intertwined it is with the history of the archipelago. For those who don't know, Xuanzang was a monk, born Chen Hui near present-day Luoyang in Henan.  He is known by many names, but one of his most famous comes from the title “Sanzang Fashi”, aka “Tripitaka Master of the Law”, from which we get the simplified name in some English sources of just “Tripitaka”.  Sanzang, or “Tripitaka”, literally translates to “Three baskets” or “Three storehouses”, referring to the Buddhist canon.  It is quite fitting, given Xuanzang's incredibly famous Journey to the Western Regions and, eventually, to India, where he journeyed to obtain the most accurate version of the Buddhist scriptures to ensure that they had the most accurate versions.  On his journey, Xuanzang apparently took detailed records of the trip, and his   “Records of the Western Regions”  provides a lot of what we know of the towns and cultures that existed there back in the 7th century – even if not all of it was experienced firsthand and  may have come through translators and second or third-hand sources. In addition, Xuanzang's biography and travelogue add a lot more information to his journey, even if they weren't necessarily written by him, but instead by his fellow monks based on his recitations to them  combined with various records that they had access to at the time.  As such, it isn't always the most reliable, but it is still highly detailed and informative.  Xuanzang would return to China and teach for many years, translating the works that he had brought back, and founding a new school of Yogachara Buddhism, known as Faxiang in Chinese, but “Hossou” in Japan.  The Hossou school was particularly popular in the 8th and 9th centuries, having been transmitted by Yamato students who had actually studied at the feet of the venerable teacher.  These included the monk Doushou, who travelled over to the continent in 653.  In 658, there are two others who came over, named Chitatsu and Chiitsu. They had travelled to the Tang court in the 7th month of that year, where they are said to have received instruction from none other than Xuanzang himself.  If this indeed was in 658, it would have been only 6 years before Xuanzang's death. Their journey had almost not happened.  The year previous, in 657, envoys were sent to Silla to ask that state to escort Chitatsu to the Tang court, along with Hashibito no Muraji no Mimumaya and Yozami no Muraji no Wakugo, but Silla refused.  They must have relented, however, as they apparently were escorting at least the monks a year or so later. Chitatsu and Chiitsu would eventually return to Yamato, as would Doushou.  Doushou is also said to have been introduced to a student of the second patriarch of the Chan, or Zen school as well.  He would return to teach at Gango-ji, the later incarnation of Asukadera, spreading the Hossou teachings from master Xuanzang. In fact, Xuanzang's impact would be felt across Asia, and much of the Buddhist world.  He would continue to be known in Japan and in the area of China, Korea, and beyond.  Japanese translations of his journeys were made between the 8th and 10th centuries from texts that had come from Xuanzang's own monastery. Nine centuries after his death, during the Ming Dynasty, Xuanzang would be further immortalized in a wildly popular novel:  Journey to the West.  The “Journey to the West” is an incredibly fantastical retelling of Xuanzang's story.  In it, Xuanzang is sent on his task by none other than the Buddha himself, who also provides three flawed traveling companions.  There is  Zhu Bajie, aka “Piggy”—a half human half pig who is known for his gluttony and lust.  Then there is Sha Wujing, aka “Sandy”—a man with a red beard and blue skin who lived in a river of quicksand.  Despite a rather frightful backstory, he was often the straight man in the story.  And then there is the famous Sun Wukong, aka “Monkey”, the most famous of the three and often more famous than Xuanzang himself.  In fact, one of the most famous English versions of the story is just called “Monkey”, an abridged telling of the story in English by Arthur Waley in 1942. “Journey to the West” is perhaps the most popular novel in all of Asia.  It has spawned countless retellings, including numerous movies and tv series.  The character of “Monkey” has further spun off into all sorts of media.  Of course, his addition was all part of the novel, but nonetheless, that novel had an historical basis, which is where we really want to explore.  Because for all of the magic and fantasy of the Ming novel, the real story is almost as fascinating without it. We are told that Xuanzang was born as Chen Hui—or possibly Chen Yi—on the 6th of April in 602 CE in Chenliu, near present-day Luoyang.  Growing up, he was fascinated by religious books.  He joined the Jingtu monastery and at the age of thirteen he was ordained as a novice monk.  However, he lived in rather “interesting times”, and as the Sui dynasty fell, he fled the chaos to Chengdu, in Sichuan, where he was fully ordained by the age of 20. Xuanzang was inspired reading about the 4th century monk Faxian, whom we mentioned back in Episode 84.  Faxian had visited India and brought back many of the earliest scriptures to be widely translated into Chinese.    However, Xuanzang was concerned, as Faxian had been, that the knowledge of the Chinese Buddhist establishment was still incomplete.  There were still works that they knew about but didn't have, and there were competing Buddhist theories in different translations of the texts.  He thought that if he could go find untranslated versions of the texts then he could resolve some of the issues and further build out the corpus of Buddhist knowledge. Around the age 25 or 27, he began his journey.  The exact date is either 627 or 629, based on the version that one reads.  That has some importance for the events that his story tells, as some of the individuals whom he is said to have met are said to have died by 627 CE, meaning that either the dates of the journey are wrong or the dates we have in other sources are wrong.  As you can imagine, that's rather important for an accurate history, but not so much for our purposes, as I think that we can still trust the broad brush strokes which paint an image of what the Silk Road was like at the time. For context, back in Yamato, this was around the time that Kashikiya Hime—aka Suiko Tenno—passed away, and Prince Tamura was placed on the throne, passing over Prince Yamashiro no Oe, the son of the late Crown Prince, Umayado, aka Shotoku Taishi.  Whoever was on the throne, Soga no Emishi was actually running things, and the Soga family were heavily involved in the establishment of Buddhism in the archipelago.  This is relatively around the time of Episode 103. When Xuanzang took off to the West, his intentions may have been pure, but truth be told, he was breaking the law.  Tang Taizong had come to power in 626, and the routes along the Tarim Basin were under the control of the Gokturks, whom the Tang were fighting with.  As such, travel to the Western Regions was strictly controlled.  Xuanzang and several companions had all petitioned Emperor Taizong for permission to leave, but the Emperor never replied. So Xuanzang did not have permission to leave—but he decided to head out, anyway.  His companions, however, lost their nerve, and so he set out alone. Of course, he didn't simply set off for the West.  At first he went city to city, staying at local Buddhist monasteries and sharing his teachings.  To all intents and purposes, this probably seemed like normal behavior for a monk, traveling from monastery to monastery, but it was actually taking him towards the western border. And it was going well until he reached Liangzhou—known today as Wuwei.  Li Daliang, governor of Liangzhou, enforced the prohibition that "common" people were not permitted to go to the regions of the western tribes.  Word had spread about Xuanzang, and when the governor caught wind of what was going on, he called Xuanzang into an audience to find out what he was planning to do.  Xuanzang was honest and told him he was going to the West to search for the Dharma, but the governor ordered him to return to Chang'an instead. Fortunately, there was a Buddhist teacher, Huiwei, who heard about all of this this and decided to help Xuanzang.  He had two of his own disciples escort Xuanzang to the west.  Since the governor had told him not to go, this was illegal, and so they traveled by night and hid during the day until they reached Guazhou. In Guazhou, the governor, Dugu Da, was quite pleased to meet with Xuanzang, and either hadn't heard about the order for him to return to Chang'an or didn't care.  From there, Xuanzang's path was largely obstructed by the deep and fast-flowing Hulu river.  They would have to travel to its upper reaches, where they could go through Yumenguan--Yumen Pass--which was the only safe way to cross, making it a key to the Western regions. Beyond Yumenguan there were five watchtowers, roughly 30 miles apart.  These watchtowers likely had means to signal back and forth, thus keeping an eye on the people coming and going from Yumen Pass.  Beyond that was the desert of Yiwu, also known as Hami. Xuanzang was not only worried about what this meant, his horse died, leaving him on foot.  He contemplated this in silence for a month.  Before he continued, though, a warrant arrived for his arrest.  They inquired with a local prefect, who happened to be a pious Buddhist.  He showed it to Xuanzang, and then ended up tearing up the document, and urged Xuanzang to leave as quickly as possible. Yumenguan lies roughly 80-90 kilometers—roughly 50 miles or so—from the town of Dunhuang, the last major outpost before leaving for the Western Regions.  Dunhuang had a thriving Buddhist community, and the paintings in the Mogao caves are absolutely stunning, even today—one of the most well-preserved of such collections, spanning the 4th to the 14th century.  However, at this point, Xuanzang was a wanted man, and stopping in at Dunhuang might very well have curtailed his journey before it had even begun.  Instead, he would likely need to find a way to sneak across the border without alerting anyone and then, somehow, sneak past five watchtowers, each 30 miles or so apart, with no water except what he could carry or steal at each point. At this point, one of Xuanzang's escorts had traveled on to Dunhuang, and only one remained, but Xuanzang wasn't sure his remaining companion was up to the strain of the journey, and he dismissed him, deciding to travel on alone.  He bought a horse, and he fortunately found a guide--a "Hu" person named "Shi Pantuo".  "Hu" is a generic term often translated simply as "foreigner" or "barbarian" from the western lands, and the name "Shi" referred to Sogdians from Tashkent.  The Sogdians were a people of Persian descent living in central Eurasia, between the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers.  That latter was also known as the Oxus river, hence another name for the region: Transoxiana.  Sogdiana appears as early as the 6th century BCE as a member of the Achaemenid Empire, and the region was annexed by Alexander the Great in 328 BCE.  It continued to change hands under a succession of empires. The Sogdian city-states themselves were centered around the city of Samarkand, and while they did not build an empire themselves, the Sogdians nonetheless had a huge impact on cultures in both the east and the west.  Sogdians became famous as traders along the silk roads, and they built tight knit communities in multiple cities along the route.  Families kept in touch over long distances, setting up vast trading networks.  In fact, there were even Sogdian communities living in Chang'an and elsewhere in the Tang Empire.  The Sogdian An Lushan would eventually rise through the ranks of the Tang dynasty court—but that was almost a century after Xuanzang's travels. There are many material items that the Sogdians helped move across the silk road, but perhaps one of the most striking things were a style of patterned textiles.  Sassanid Persia was known for its silk textiles, often woven in images surrounded by a border of pearl-shapes:  Small circles in a circular pattern around a central figure, often duplicated due to the way the fabrics were woven.  This pearl-roundel pattern was especially taken up by the Sogdians, and their fashion sense made it popular across Eurasia.  Large pearl roundel designs were used on caftans, popular throughout the Gokturk qaghanate, and the Tang court would eventually pick up the fashion of these foreigners—generally classified as “hu” by those in Chang'an.  With a round neck, closing at the side, this western-style caftan-like garment eventually found its way into Japan as the people of the Japanese archipelago adopted Tang dynasty clothing and fashion.  In fact, Japan boasts one of the most impressive collections of silk road artifacts at the Shosoin repository of Todaiji temple in Nara, and it includes clothing and fabric that show the influence of Sogdian and Turkic merchants.  The Shosoin collection contains multiple examples of those pearl roundel patterns, for example, and you can even buy reproductions of the design today in Nara and elsewhere.  The garments themselves would continue to influence the fashion of the court, indeed giving rise to some of the most popular court garments of the Nara period, and the design continued to evolve through the Heian period until it was almost unrecognizable from its origins. Sogdians were so influential that their language—an Eastern Iranian language known simply as “Sogdian”—was the lingua franca, or the common tongue, through most of the Silk Road.  If you knew Sogdian, you could probably find a way to communicate with most of the people along way.  Today, Sogdian is extinct, with the possible exception of a single language that evolved from a Sogdian dialect. Sogdians are often known in Sinitic sources by their names—by the time of the Tang dynasty, it was common practice to give foreigners, whose names didn't always translate well into Chinese dialects, a family name based on their origin.  For the Sogdians, who were quite well known and numerous, they weren't just classified with a single name, but rather they were divided up by seven names based on where they were from.  So the name “Shi”, for instance, indicated that someone was from the area of Tashkent, while the name “An” referred to a Sogdian who was descended from people from the Bukhara, and so on.  This was a practice that went at least as far back as the Han dynasty. So, returning to the story, Xuanzang's new Sogdian guide's name is given as “Shi Pantuo”.  The name "Pantuo", which would have likely been pronounced more like "b'uan d'a" at the time, is likely a version of the name "Vandak", which was indeed a very common Sogdian name meaning something like “servant” and was often used to indicate things like religious devotion, which could be related to his status as a devout Buddhist, though it also might just be coincidental.  Xuanzang was so happy with his guide's offer to help, that he bought him clothes and a horse for his troubles. And so they headed out towards Yumenguan, the Jade Pass or Jade Gate, so called because of the caravans of jade that would head out from the Middle Country ever since the Han dynasty.  In fact, the Jade Gate was originally established as part of the western end of the Han dynasty “Great Wall”.  This was not necessarily the famous Ming Dynasty wall that most people are familiar with, but the Han Dynasty wall would have been impressively high enough, with regular patrols and beacon towers.  So if you tried going over the wall, someone was likely to see you and give chase.  There is also the issue that if you had any amount of supplies you have to bring those as well—this isn't just hopping a fence.  The wall was augmented by natural features—mountains and deep and fast-flowing rivers, for example, which made walls unnecessary.  And then there was also the fact that in many places, it was just open wilderness, which was its own kind of barrier.  Trying to go off the beaten path meant wandering through uncharted territory, which someone like Xuanzang was probably not prepared to do.  It isn't like he had GPS and Google Maps to help him find his way, and if you got lost in the desert, then who knows what might happen to you. By the way, this was true even in relatively settled places, like the Japanese archipelago, up until modern times.  While there were some areas where it was relatively flat, and you could navigate by certain landmarks, if you left the roads and trails you might easily find yourself lost without access to food or shelter.  Maps were not exactly accurate.  The safest way to travel was to stick to the more well-traveled routes. Unfortunately, that meant going through the Yumen Gate itself.  There was a garrison where the road left the territory of the Tang Empire , and that garrison would be responsible for checking the papers of anyone coming into or leaving the empire.  Xuanzang, of course, didn't have the proper papers, since he didn't have permission to be there.  Fortunately, he had a guide, who seemed to know the area, and that would allow him to bypass the official checkpoint, which Xuanzang recalls seeing off in the distance.  Together, Xuanzang and Vandak snuck past the Yumen gate, and traveled several miles up the river.  There, they found a spot where the river was only about 10 feet across, near a grove of trees, and so they chopped down a few of them and made an impromptu bridge for them and their horses to cross. From that point on, until they reached Yiwu, they would have to get past the watchtowers.  Not only were these watchtowers garrisoned with men of the Tang army, but they were also the only place to get fresh water.  The travelers would need to sneak in at night to steal water from the watchtowers without getting caught. The farther they traveled, the more Vandak seemed to be getting cold feet.  Normally, this wouldn't have been an issue had they been normal travelers, but in trying to avoid the watchtowers they were making themselves into fugitives.  If they were caught they could both be killed.  He protested several times that they should just go back, and at one point Xuanzang seemed worried that Vandak was contemplating how much easier this would be for him if he just killed the old monk.  Finally, Xuanzang told Vandak that he should leave, and solemnly swore that if he was caught he wouldn't rat out Vandak for his help.  Vandak, who had been worried about just such a scenario, nonetheless took Xuanzang's word and the two parted ways. From that point on, Xuanzang recounted that the trail through the desert was marked by nothing but skeletons and horse droppings.  He thought at one point he saw an army in the desert, but it turned out to be a mirage.  Finally, he saw one of the watchtowers he had been warned about.  Not wanting to get caught, he lay down in a ditch and hid there until the sun went down. Under cover of darkness, he approached the tower, where he saw water.  He went to have a drink, and maybe wash his hands, but as he was getting out his water bag to refill it and arrow whizzed through the air and he almost took an arrow to the knee.  Knowing the jig was up, he shouted out: "I'm a monk from the capital!  Don't shoot!" He led his horse to the tower, where they opened the door and saw he really was a monk.  They woke up the captain, who had a lamp lit so he could see whom it was they had apprehended.  Right away it was clear that this traveler wasn't from around those parts—not that anyone really was, it seems. The Captain had heard of Xuanzang, but the report that had been sent said Xuanzang had gone back to Chang'an.  Xuanzang, for his part, showed a copy of the petition he had sent to the Emperor--one that he hadn't actually heard back from.  He then told the captain what he planned to do.  The captain was moved, and decided to look the other way.  He gave him a place to stay for the night and then showed him the way to the fourth watchtower, where the captain's brother was in charge, and would give him shelter. Sure enough, Xuanzang made it to the fourth watchtower, but he wasn't sure if he could entirely trust the captain, so again he tried to just secretly steal the water, but again he was caught.  Fortunately, the captain there was also sympathetic.  He let Xuanzang stay and then actually told him how to get around the fifth watchtower, since the captain there might not be as lenient.  He also told Xuanzang about an inconspicuous oasis where he could get water for himself and his horse. Reinvigorated, Xuanzang had another challenge to face.  Beyond the watchtowers was a long stretch of desert.  It was a journey of several hundred miles, and it started poorly.  First off, he missed the oasis that the captain of the fourth watchtower had indicated he could use without anyone firing arrows at him.  Then, he dropped his water bag, such that he was left with nothing.  He thought of turning back, but he continued, chanting mantras to himself.   He was dehydrated and exhausted, but he continued onward.  Some days into his journey, his horse suddenly changed course of its own accord.  Despite his efforts, it kept going, eventually coming to a pasture of grass around a pond of clean, sweet water.  That ended up saving him, and he rested there for a day, before traveling on.  Two days later, he arrived at Yiwu, aka Hami.  He had made it.  He was free. Or at least, he was until he returned to the Tang empire.  After all, Xuanzang did plan to come back, and when he did, he would have to face the music.  That was a problem for future Xuanzang.  Of course, he was also a lone traveler.  He might be free, but he was far from safe.  He was now entering the Western regions, and he would need to be on the lookout. The people of Hami, also known as Yiwu, were known to the Han dynasty as members of the Xiao Yuezhi—the kingdom or coalition that once controlled much of the northern edge of the Tarim basin.  They had been displaced by the Xiongnu, and the area would go back and forth between different hegemons, so that by the time of the Sui and early Tang dynasties they were under the sway of the Gokturks.  Still, as close as it was to the Tang borders, they no doubt had contact, and indeed, Xuanzang was given lodging at a monastery with three other monks who were “Chinese”, for whatever that meant at the time. If you've heard of Hami today you may know it for something that it was famous for even back in the 7th century:  their famous melons.  You can sometimes find Hami melons in stores to this day. Regarding the melons and other such fruits and vegetables—the area of Hami is a fairly arid land.  Hami does get some water from the Tianshan mountains, but in order to have enough for agriculture they instituted a system that is still found today in Hami, Turpan, and other parts of the world, including arid parts of northwest India and Pakistan through the middle east to north Africa.  It is called a Karez, or in Persian it is called a Qanat, and it is thought to have originated in ancient Persia around the first millennium BCE and spread out through the various trade routes. The idea is to basically create underground aqueducts to take water from one place to another.  This would keep them out of the heat and dry air above ground to allow them to continue to flow without losing too much to evaporation.  To do that, however, required manually digging tunnels for the water.  This would be done by sinking wells at regular intervals and connecting the wells to each other with tunnels.  But it wasn't enough for the tunnels to be connected, they had to also slope slightly downwards, but not too much.  You want enough flow to keep the water clear, but if it flows too quickly or creates waves, the water might erode the underground channels in ways that could cause problems, such as a collapse.  All in all, they are pretty amazing feats of engineering and they can carry water a great distance.  Many are under 5 km, but some are around 70 km long. These karez would have been the lifelines of many towns, creating a reliable oasis in the desert.  Rivers were great, but the flow could vary from floods to a mere trickle, and the karez system provided relatively constant flow.  This allowed for agriculture even in the dry areas of the Western Regions, which helped facilitate the various kingdoms that grew up in this otherwise inhospitable region. While eating his melons in Hami and chatting it up with his fellow eastern priests, Yiwu was visited by an envoy from the neighboring kingdom of Gaochang.  Now Hami, or Yiwu, sits at the eastern edge of the Turpan-Hami basin, aka the Turfan depression, a large desert, much of which is actually so low that it is below sea level.  In fact, the basin includes the lowest exposed point in the area of modern China at Ayding Lake, which is 158 meters below sea level.  From Yiwu to Gaochang, you would follow the edge of the mountains west, to an area near a small break in the mountain range.  Follow that break northwest, and you would find yourself at the city of Urumqi, the current capital of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in modern China. Xinjiang covers much of the area known in ancient times as the “Western Regions” that remains within the modern political boundaries of the PRC. The envoy from Gaochang heard about Xuanzang, and reported back to his lord, King Qu Wentai, who immediately sent a retinue out to escort the Buddhist monk across the desert to his city.  They included multiple horses for Xuanzang, so he could change at regular intervals.  His own horse was left behind, to be brought along later.   After six days on the road, they came to the city of Paili, and since the sun had already set, Xuanzang asked to stop for the night, but the escorts urged him on to the Royal City, which was not much farther on. And so he arrived around midnight, which means he likely couldn't immediately take in the size of the city.  Gaochang was an immense walled city, and even today, ruined as it is, the site of it is quite formidable, and it is so well preserved it is considered a UNESCO world heritage site.  Perhaps since wood was relatively scarce, this is why so much of the construction was made of brick and earthworks.  Fortunately, this means that many of the walls remain, even today—eroded and crumbling, but still towering over those who come to see them.  In places they have also been rebuilt or reinforced.  And in a few, very rare instances, you can still see some of the traces of paint that would have once been so prevalent throughout a city like this.  At this time in history, Gaochang, also known as Karakhoja, was under the command of the Qu family.  The population was largely Han Chinese, and it had often been overseen or at least influenced by kingdoms in the Yellow River basin.  But it was also the home of Turks, Sogdian merchants, local Turfanians, and more.  It was even called “Chinatown” by the Sogdians, and yet attempts to further sinicize the region had provoked a coup only a couple of decades earlier.  Even though he showed up in the middle of the night, Xuanzang is said to have been welcomed by the ruler of Gaochang, Qu Wentai, as he entered the city.  Perhaps this is why the escorts had been pushing so hard—the King himself was awake and waiting for Xuanzang to make an appearance.  The King and his attendants came out with candles in their hands, and they were ushered behind curtains in a multi-storey pavilion.  The king apparently grilled him through the night, asking about his journey until it was almost daybreak, at which point Xuanzang requested rest.  He was finally shown to a bedroom that had been prepared for him and allowed to sleep. The next day king assembled the leading monks of his kingdom before his guest.  These included the monks Tuan Fashi and Wang Fashi.  Tuan Fashi had studied in Chang'an for many years, and he knew his Buddhist scholarship. And Wang Fashi was a superintendent, and it was his duty to look after Xuanzang and butter him up with the hope that he might stay and provide the king with the prestige of having such an esteemed monk.  They put him up at a monastery next to the royal palace—the “daochang”, aka “dojo” in Japanese, which would be a whole different diversion. Ding Wang suggested that this might be the same as the Chongfu Monastery mentioned in a colophon on a 7th century copy of the Sutra of Perfection of Wisdom for Benevolent Kings. It was found by a German expedition at a site in the Turfan basin in the early 20th century, and now sits in the possession of Shitenno-ji, in Osaka—rather appropriate given that Shitenno-ji was around at the same time all of this was happening.  The colophon is attributed to a “Xuanjue”, and a “Xuanjue” from Gaochang, in the Turpan basin, was associated with helping Xuanzang in his later years.  Perhaps this Xuanjue first met Xuanzang during this first trip to Gaochang. Qu Wentai tried his best to dissuade Xuanzang from continuing on.  This may be simple platitudes from his biographers, but it also may have been genuine.  Having a learned foreign monk from the Tang dynasty staying at the palace monastery would likely have added to Qu Wentai's prestige by association, and it would have potentially brought more individuals to the city of Gaochang. Speaking of which, all of this first part of the journey—up to Gaochang—comes primarily from Xuanzang's biography by the monk Huili.  Xuanzang's own “Records of the Western Regions” didn't include much on it, probably because by the time that he returned to the Tang empire, Tang Taizong had annexed Yiwu and Gaochang, so all those were now considered part of the empire, rather than foreign regions to the West. After staying a month at Gaochang, Xuanzang decided it was time to continue his journey.  Disappointed though Qu Wentai may have been that his guest would be leaving, he nonetheless outfitted him handsomely.  He provided goods, including coins, as well as 24 letters to the 24 countries that he would pass along the road, adding a roll of silk to each as a sign that they came from the King of Gaochang.  He also gave him food, a small retinue, and horses to help carry everything.  Letters of introduction would have been important across the Silk Road.  There was, after all, no way to contact someone ahead of time, unless you sent runners. Merchant communities, in particular, would often be connected across long distances through regular caravans, which carried letters to their relatives, facilitating communication across vast distances.  Merchants who were bringing in a caravan of goods would know that there was a friendly community waiting to help them when they arrived, and would likely even have an idea of what was happening and what to bring. For someone traveling alone, however, having a letter of introduction would have been important, as they didn't necessarily have access to those communities by themselves.  The letters would provide introduction and let people know who you were and may even ask for assistance on your behalf.  It may seem a small thing, but it was the kind of gesture that was likely a great help to a traveler like Xuanzang.  Remember, he was not on an official mission from the Tang court—almost expressly the opposite, as he had not been given permission to leave.  So he wouldn't have had anything identifying him, and after Gaochang he likely couldn't count on being able to communicate with his native tongue. And so he was sent on his way.  As he left the city of Gaochang, the king and others accompanied Xuanzang about 10 li, or about 3 or 4 miles, outside of the city.  As they watched him head off, who could have known if he would complete his quest?  Or would he just end up another ghost in the desert? Next episode, we'll pick up Xuanzang's story as he strikes out for Agni and beyond.  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.

Want to remove home sale contingencies in 48 hours or less? It's easy with Calque's newest ‘buy before you sell' product – the Contingency Buster. The Contingency Buster is your fastest and most affordable path to non-contingent financing. Calque provides a binding backup offer on your borrower's departing residence to clear the existing mortgage balance and closing costs in 48 business hours or less. You become a loan hero that saves deals and helps clients win bidding wars. Best yet? It costs less than other ‘buy before you sell' solutions. Visit www.calqueinc.com to learn more.

Monte Poole and Dalton Johnson break down on "Dubs Talk" how Draymond Green's defense and the Warriors' depth lifted Golden State to consecutive wins over the New Orleans Pelicans.(01:30) - Dalton Johnson believes Warriors have established their identity early. (07:15) - Breaking down Jonathan Kuminga coming off the bench against the Pelicans.(14:10) - Buddy Hield and Lindy Waters III bringing more than just shooting.(21:30) - Monte Poole believe if Draymond can play at this level all season, the Warriors can be a top 5 defense.

Reinvigorated about past (and future) projects.

Welcome back to another episode of the Spirituality Now podcast! This week's episode, titled "The Target of Soul Development", brings back one of our original guests, someone who has blessed our podcast from the very beginning—an incredible friend, ally, and spiritual brother of mine, Francisco Jara.Francisco's career began in the Mortgage & Finance industry, where he quickly became a respected leader. Armed with a bachelor's in Science & Economics, he founded his first company in his late twenties. However, after facing stage-3 cancer, a financial crisis, and a divorce, he pursued a transformative path, earning a Master's in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica in 2009.Reinvigorated, Francisco founded Mortgage Phoenix Group, a lending company that balances profit with purpose by funding homes for women and children in Ensenada, MX. His journey of service deepened with the creation of Giving Business Soul, an organization dedicated to integrating spiritual and personal development into the professional world.A philanthropist at heart, Francisco is committed to leveraging business for societal good. As a mentor and coach, he continues to inspire leaders to align their careers with their soul's purpose through his ventures.On this podcast, we dive deep into everything and anything soul. We talk about:⁠The missing archetypeSoul developmentLogos and mythosThe magnetic-electric nature of the universe⁠The importance of reconciling opposites as entrepreneursThe spiritual duty of a business owner⁠The importance of rituals⁠Biohacking tipsTaking care of the temple of the soul⁠What true philanthropy looks likeThe seduction of the external worldThe contraction that leads to the expansion of dark nights of the soulBeing mission-orientedAnd so much more.If you're an entrepreneur, a business owner, a philanthropist, or someone genuinely caring for humanity, you cannot miss this episode.You can listen now on Spotify, Spreaker, iHeartRadio, Amazon, Google Podcasts, Sonos, Alexas, or anywhere where podcasts are available.Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gjdZ7VrpcDAVisit his website: https://www.franciscojara.com/Listen and subscribe to his podcast: https://bit.ly/GivingBusinessSoulFollow him on social media: https://www.instagram.com/francisco.jara.33/Podcast produced by Brilliant Futures Productions.Sponsored by Delaflor Teachings Int.

Damian Barrett and Nat Edwards bring you the latest footy news on AFL Daily. Joe Daniher bows out a premiership hero for the Lions, the club will be strong in finding a readymade replacement this trade period. Ken Hinkley is standing defiant with his energy levels as high as ever to coach Port Adelaide in 2025. Tom Harley is standing by John Longmire after the Grand Final embarrassment last Saturday. Dave Barham has fired his own shot across the bows at the Bombers playing group at the Best and Fairest last night.  Subscribe to AFL Daily and never miss an episode. Rate and review wherever you listen to podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The LunchBox Chats Podcast with Este and Laura. Join us every week for our scoop on everything fun, fab, & real. Follow us on Instagram: @lunchboxchats Disclaimer: this podcast is for entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the guest speakers are solely their own. Listener discretion is advised. Episode 223. Join Este and Laura this week as they chat about their lives and hot topics!

From business owners to college students, Democrats have a new sense of hope around Vice President Kamala Harris' nomination. Ahead of the Democratic National Convention, Laura Barrón-López speaks to voters in Chicago to see if the Harris campaign can maintain that energy from now until November. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

From business owners to college students, Democrats have a new sense of hope around Vice President Kamala Harris' nomination. Ahead of the Democratic National Convention, Laura Barrón-López speaks to voters in Chicago to see if the Harris campaign can maintain that energy from now until November. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Send us a Text Message.Traveling both takes moxie and builds moxie. Just ask the Housatonic Valley Regional High School International Travel Club. Reinvigorated by Club faculty advisor Social Studies teacher John Lizzi, the club has taken students, faculty, staff, and parents to destinations such as the Galapagos, Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, and the Mediterranean coast. In this Moxie episode, John and students Ellie Wolgemuth and Madison Melino describe their adventures, growth and moxie that have resulted from their journeys. In fact, Madison joined the podcast from the Rekyvik Airport after a glacier flood impacted her travels.For those in need of financial assistance, the Club's new model allows families to participate in fundraising to subsidize the cost of the trip, making travel affordable for anyone who wants to go. The club's fundraising arm, NWC: Students Without Borders, facilitates student fundraising activities and donations.John, Ellie, and Madison have all seen the impact of these trips crossover into their academic pursuits at HVRHS and in their personal lives. They are more confident, resilient, curious, and open to new experiences–the hallmarks of moxie!This episode of Main Street Moxie is proudly sponsored by Main Street Magazine.To support the HVRHS International Travel Club, consider donating an auction item, sponsoring the event, and/or attending their annual fundraiser at The White Hart Inn in Salisbury, CT, on September 13, 2024. The event is planned and staffed by students. For any questions, please email the club at nwcstudentswithoutborders@gmail.com or view their website NWC: Students Without Borders.ResourcesHousatonic Valley Regional High School EF Educational ToursSocial Media HVRHS International Travel Club InstagramSupport the Show.

Blake & Marcos catch up on the summer antics (or lack thereof) for the Arizona Cardinals and how Kyler Murray seems set to have a huge season. Plus, what will be the impact of Greg Dortch and is he moving into a larger role in the offense? Listen in to be Rebooted, Cardinals fans!

Blake & Marcos catch up on the summer antics (or lack thereof) for the Arizona Cardinals and how Kyler Murray seems set to have a huge season. Plus, what will be the impact of Greg Dortch and is he moving into a larger role in the offense? Listen in to be Rebooted, Cardinals fans!

July 18, 2024 - New York State Liquor Authority Chair Lily Fan discusses reorganization efforts, bumping up against the state's archaic alcohol laws, and operational improvements made over the last year.

Reinvigorated by a VIP's visit, Buffy elects to take the battle to the First. She concocts a plan to use the scythe and Willow's magic to level the playing field for good. Scoobies, Potentials, and allies assemble one last time in this series finale.   Hear us discuss… Angel's versus Spike's role in the finale The First, like so many Big Bads, just can't shut up Buffy is a badass in so many ways So long, Sunnydale! The heartbreaking perfection of so many final moments   Trigger warnings Blood, body horror  

Who are you and what are you meant to do? On In The Market with Janet Parshall this week we addressed the challenge of these fundamental questions and how to discover the work you were wired to do showing you how to use a new assessment tool to help you discover how to best use your talents and skills to move your life forward and create greater satisfaction by being the person God created you to be. Lives can be shipwrecked so easily and the guilt and shame of that failure can often lead to fears that God will never be able to understand and forgive our choices. But our guest explained how throughout the Bible we see God represented as the One who provides second chances to His people. Our guest explained the important roles that humility and forgiveness play in our ability to move forward from our failures to true forgiveness and freedom. Has your prayer life become stale and rote? It is a challenge that believers throughout history have struggled with. We spoke to a respected Bible teacher who explained what a dead prayer life is and is not and how to revitalize your time and intimacy with God through prayer. Godly masculinity has been under attack like never before but we shared a new program that it addressing these challenges and encouraging men to stand in the unique calling God has given to them. We also helped you lengthen your prayer list with more stories of faith and perseverance from the persecuted church around the globe. Now it is time to think critically and Biblically as we bring God's word to bear against the news headlines of the week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's show: Mickey welcomes Peter Kuznick, Professor of History at American University and best-selling author with Oliver Stone of The Untold History of the United States. They discuss the ongoing Russian attacks in Ukraine along with U.S./NATO reactions, as well as U.S. support for Israel's ongoing assaults on Gaza and how close we may be coming to WWIII, if we don't reinvigorate diplomacy and actively promote peace. Then, Mickey welcomes back Director of Advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, Seth Stern, to discuss some good news around bipartisan support for the PRESS Act, a much needed shield law for journalists in a time when press freedoms are on the decline in the U.S. and across the globe.   The post Dangerous State of the World: Can Diplomacy Be Reinvigorated? / PRESS Act: Federal Reporter Shield Bill appeared first on KPFA.

It's not been the easiest May for Phoenix Rising, but as June gets underway, it's a chance to turn over a new page. First up? It's a trip away to Cashman Field, to take on Las Vegas Lights. Reinvigorated after the club's purchase by baseball star José Bautista, Lights also features former Rising captain and two-time MVP Solomon Asante. Can Danny Stone's boys get the job done on the road? Join Owain Evans and Jake Anderson for the full breakdown. An ALLCITY Network Production SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtube ALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsports PHNX Events: Get your tickets to PHNX events and takeovers here: https://gophnx.com/events/ Valley Taproom: Visit either Valley Taproom location for a great bar food menu, wines, 30 rotating beer handles, meads, sours, ciders and more! Gametime: Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Circle K: Join Inner Circle for free by downloading the Circle K app today! Head to https://www.circlek.com/store-locator to find Circle Ks near you! OGeez!: OGeez! is not your average cannabis-infused gummy. Head over to https://www.ogeezbrands.com to find where you can purchase. Must be 21+. Enjoy responsibly. Four Peaks: Follow on social @fourpeaksbrew & @fourpeakspub! Must be 21+. Enjoy responsibly. Chicken N Pickle: Head to https://chickennpickle.com to see all the fun you can have at their Glendale location! BetMGM: Download the BetMGM app and sign-up using bonus code PHNX! (http://betmgm.com/phnx). Sign up for BetMGM, use bonus code PHNX! Place your first BetMGM Sportsbook wager through BetMGM Sportsbook mobile app for at least $10. You will receive $1500 in bonus bets if the bet loses! "Bonus bets expire in 7 days. 1 new customer offer only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US). Call 877-8-HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 1-800-327-5050 (Massachusetts,). 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ). 1-800-BETS-OFF (Iowa), 1-800-981-0023 (Puerto Rico). First bet offer for new customers only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See betmgm.com for terms. US promotional offers not available in New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. When you shop through links in the description, we may earn affiliate commissions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some people like us a lot, but others like us not-so-much. Even within families, parents sometimes have favorites. Is God like that? Are some people his favorites, while he doesn't like others? Pastor Luke teaches from Genesis 25:19-34 in "Reinvigorated," the first message in a new series, "Stairway to Heaven."

Producer Todd Lieberman joins Hollywood Gold to discuss 2009's romantic comedy classic THE PROPOSAL. Having been a huge fan of romcoms and an admirer of Sandra Bullock's versatility as an actor, the prospect of Bullock returning to the genre was incredibly exciting to Todd. A match made in comedy heaven was made when a young Ryan Reynolds joined the project, and the cast became the stuff of legend once Betty White, who insisted on auditioning, signed on. Although not initially a hit with critics, the film found huge success at the box office and quickly cemented its place in romcom history.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hollywood-gold--5670584/support.

Damian Barrett and Nathan Schmook bring you the latest footy news on AFL Daily. Nick Daicos is starting to make his move on the 2024 Brownlow Medal, his last month has been exceptional with career high numbers next to his name. Luke Parker is heading to the VFL tribunal to plead his case tonight.  Harley Reid, is he becoming the reason the Eagles will consider extending Adam Simpson to a further contract extension beyond the expiration date of 2025? Subscribe to AFL Daily and never miss an episode. Rate and review wherever you listen to podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've been talking about how Christ's Resurrection changes people from the inside out. But that means other people can't tell it's happening, and sometimes they say that Resurrection is "pie in the sky" or wish-fulfillment. But pie in the sky might be better than you think. Pastor Luke teaches from 1 Corinthians 15:19-58 in "Stay the Course," the concluding message in his series, "Reinvigorated."

The San Francisco Giants have done the unthinkable and won back to back games on this grueling road trip after defeating the Colorado Rockies 8-6 today at Coors Field. Jordan Hicks had another quality outing as the San Francisco Giants starter, and the offense showed up for a second consecutive day. With the win, the San Francisco Giants remain the only team undefeated in the MLB when they score five or more runs.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Stitch FixStyle that makes you feel as good as you look—get started today at StitchFix.com/MLB and get $20 off your first fix LinkedInRight now, you can try LinkedIn Sales Navigator and get a sixty-day free trial at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDON. PolicygeniusCheck life insurance off your to do list in no time with Policygenius. Head to policygenius.com/lockedonmlb to get your free life insurance quotes and see how much you could save.DoorDashGet all your Mother's Day gifts, all in one place and get 50% off your next order, up to $15 when you spend $15+ on your next flower, convenience, grocery, or retail order now with code LOCKEDONMLB. That's LOCKEDONMLB. Order using DoorDash today. Terms apply.Monopoly GO!Get in the game and join your friends. Click HERE to Download MONOPOLY GO! now free on The App Store or Google Play.PrizePicksGo to PrizePicks.com/lockedonmlb and use code lockedonmlb for a first deposit match up to $100!eBay MotorsFrom brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it's easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.FanDuelFanDuel, America's Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning GUARANTEED That's A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Dante Marchitelli talks about the Magic's blowout wins in Games 3 and 4, the biggest factors for each team to this point in the series, the coaching matchup and what the Magic are prepared for going into Game 5 and beyond. 

The Christian faith states that through his Resurrection, Jesus gives us protection from our enemies. But even in New Testament times, people like Paul and James were harmed and sometimes killed by their enemies. What kind of protection are we talking about? Pastor Luke looks at Acts 18:1-11 in "None Will Harm," part 4 of his 5-part series, "Reinvigorated."

Christians believe that because of what Jesus did, their sins are forgiven. But what does that mean for us today? Is it like getting out of prison? What happens if you sin again? Pastor Luke preaches from 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 in "God's Workmanship," part 3 of his 5-part series, "Reinvigorated."

Christians believe that because of what Jesus did, their sins are forgiven. But what does that mean for us today? Is it like getting out of prison? What happens if you sin again? Pastor Luke preaches from 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 in "Not Counted Against," part 3 of his 5-part series, "Reinvigorated."

We've begun a conversation about why Christ's Resurrection matters to us today. A lot of people guess it's “So you can get into heaven when you die.” That matters when you die, but what if you don't die today? How does the Resurrection matter to us *today*? Pastor Luke preaches from Ephesians 2:1-10 in "God's Workmanship," part 2 of his 5-part series, "Reinvigorated."

Easter is the high point in the Christian year. Why? Why does the Resurrection matter anymore? Pastor Luke teaches from Mark 16:1-11 in "Reinvigorated," the first message in a new series, "Reinvigorated."

Got a question for the trio? https://forms.zohopublic.com/propertyplanningaustralia/form/GotaquestionforthePropertyTrio/formperma/zYCQAxzE_24CVlDafP1ozyzwtmB-8m1iCNtCTgDvHXMThe January 2024 data is out, and the capital city league ladder has been changing. But are houses and unit imbalances across capitals skewing the data? Dave explains.."Data does let us down like that", says Cate and she shares some another example of stock segmentation and purchaser incentives skewing data.What's happening with the regions? The quarterly data shows that regions have outpaced the capitals. Are we seeing a recovery in some of the regions that suffered during 2023 with the reverse-COVID exodus?Mike dares to broach the inflation data and asks his co-hosts when they think interest rates will fall. Dave suggests August/September this year, whereas Cate won't be surprised if it's even in 2025. Time will tell! The national rental index recorded it's strongest monthly rise since April. Could things get worse before they get better? Cate shares her concern about the rate of investor sales and anecdotal evidence from agents' reporting. Cate predicts that rental hikes will eclipse 10% nationally. She also talks about the challenges being tougher for families, as opposed to singles and couples.We have sales volumes to thank for our 2023 year holding up as it did, but now that sales numbers have increased, will the supply and demand ratio threaten capital growth? It seems not. Buyer appetite is strong and sentiment has ticked up somewhat.The stock availability, (or lack thereof) has a direct correlation with capital growth, as shown in our charts in the shownotes.Yet the distressed listings have The Trio intrigued. Is Victoria's data point a green shoot or an anomaly? It's one to watch....The Westpac Consumer Sentiment data provided some good discussion; what a difference the surprise inflation figures made! But which measure still has Cate worried?Cate draws attention to the unsecured lending figures and holds concerns about some of the items that people are financing on high-interest credit.Dave explains how the consumer sentiment index is determined with 50+ sub-groups of people assessed. It's an interesting peek behind the curtain!Investor activity is up and it has been steadily increasing. Despite the investor-led sales, talk of increased rents and the potential for strong capital growth surges are exciting a cohort of investors. The three year bonds show that we could see rates drop in the near-term, yet the ten year bonds suggest that rates could sit at similar levels to where they currently are now.And... time for our gold nuggets... Cate Bakos's gold nugget: Stop spending on discretionary stuff! And better yet, stop using unsecured debt to do it. We need to bring down inflation.Dave Johnston's gold nugget: An interesting fact... House values have continued rising at a faster rate relative to units. House and unit median values are at their greatest differential ever. Mike Mortlock's gold nugget: Don't make it a holiday, make it a toy, and make it second hand.... AND use cash! Shownotes: https://www.propertytrio.com.au/2024/02/19/ep-245-january-market-update/

War Mode in World of Warcraft: a detriment to the spirit of world PvP or the very feature that liberates it? Join me at the Pick and Whistle Inn as we fiercely debate the merits and flaws of this polarizing tool, in response to a forum post that blames War Mode for the decline of spontaneous player combat, with a particular focus on the Emerald Dream server. We unpack the benefits of War Mode, scrutinizing its potential to allow players the freedom to engage in PvP at their leisure, and explore the paradoxical longing for both vulnerable and secure cities among players. The heat is on as we dissect the core of what makes or breaks the PvP experience and how War Mode fits into this intricate puzzle.As the conversation shifts, we reminisce over the golden era of server communities and lament the dwindling flames of server-wide conflict in the current WoW landscape. I propose a series of enhancements to rekindle the allure of world PvP, suggesting exclusive rewards and incentives to draw players back into the fray. Reflecting on how cross-server play dilutes the once-strong sense of community and engagement, we acknowledge the unique journey of each player in Azeroth, whether they're climbing the ranks in PvP, delving into dungeons, or crafting their own stories. This episode is a clarion call for veterans and newcomers alike to consider the evolving nature of world PvP and its significance to the World of Warcraft legacy. Hope you all enjoy and hope you relate to any of these stories. And I will speak to you all in the next episode!Support the show here:https://www.buzzsprout.com/1196870/supportpatreon.com/Pigandwhistlehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/PigandWhistleSocials :Twitch : https://www.twitch.tv/pigandwhistletalesYoutube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAOi6rHO3x90lOmmb82Jv1wWebsite : https://www.pigandwhistletales.com/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/pigandwhistletales/Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/PigAndWhistleTalesTry out Buzzsprout yourself! https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1154066Listen to the podcast on other platforms:https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/pig-whistle-tales-from-azeroth-gabriel-nsa902LrQVw/https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/pig-whistle-tales-from-azeroth-1315927https://open.spotify.com/show/5ZTkLtQvRSm4PStUfZquWkhttps://podcastaddict.com/podcast/3032607The Music at the start is from Tony Catch they do many amazing cover songs for games you can find the link here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHiF0dAkbpPMtQSwvAxcapQSupport the showSupport the show here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1196870/support patreon.com/Pigandwhistle https://www.buymeacoffee.com/PigandWhistle

Want to grow your real estate investing business and portfolio?  You're in the right place. Welcome to the Property Profits Real Estate Podcast

Join our Podcast Community on Patreon!! - www.patreon.com/greensuiterspodcast   For your chance to win awesome prizes every month, be sure to become a Patron. Our giveaways are specifically for our Patrons, and they are automatically enrolled every month. This is our way of saying thank you to all those that support us!   Find more of Jason's content here: www.instagram.com/bentswoodworking www.youtube.com/c/bentswoodworking www.bentswoodworking.com   Find Sedge's content here: www.instagram.com/sedgetool www.youtube.com/c/sedgetool www.sedgetool.com   Find Ronnie's content here: https://www.instagram.com/fultonfinewoodworks/ https://www.youtube.com/@fultonfinewoodworks https://fultonfinewoodworks.com   --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/greensuiterspodcast/support --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/greensuiterspodcast/support

Reinvigorated by a mysterious recording, Dani and Clay visit a community of younger people living on the outskirts of Carol. They realize that “cult” might be a better term for this eccentric group, and indulging in their strange customs helps to unearth some hidden truths.

Support #STS ❤️ Become a patron

Is burnout keeping you from success, joy, and fulfillment? In the latest episode of the Thrive by Design Podcast, I chat with Rickson Sharkey - a seasoned and talented jewelry designer who shares about how she went from stuck in burnout to flourishing and thriving more than ever - financially, mentally, and personally.  Her tips about getting back into a space of bliss and alignment are absolute gold.  We talk about: How to find joy in your business again, because then the real magic happens.  What you need to release in order to move forward with momentum. How she sparked the magic that led to her first 5-figure sale. More tips about how to not build your business the hard way! You'll learn something we all need to hear - how to propel yourself past a really difficult time and step out of your own way so you can create a business and life you're in love with.  I know this episode will provide you with more clarity about what you really need to do to reignite your spark and run towards your dreams at full force!    Join me on Thrive by Design for podcast episode 433!   Here are the resources mentioned in the show: Follow Rickson on Instagram  Checkout Rickson's Website How to Stand Out in a Saturated Market with a Timeless Jewelry Brand Laying The Foundation Are you enjoying the podcast? We'd be so grateful if you gave us a rating and review! Your 5 star ratings help us reach more businesses like yours and allows us to continue to deliver valuable content every single week.    Click here to review the show on Apple podcast or your favorite platform Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” Share your favorite insights and inspirations   If you haven't done so yet, make sure that you subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts and on Apple Podcast for special bonus content you won't get elsewhere.   xo, Tracy Matthews   Follow on Instagram: Follow @Flourish_Thrive on Instagram Follow @TracyMatthewsNY  Instagram Follow Flourish & Thrive Facebook   Follow us on Tik Tok: Follow @Flourish_Thrive Tik Tok Follow @TracyMatthewsNY on Tik Tok  

Mike Krukow explains to Murph and Mac why Kapler's ejection last night reinvigorated a stagnant Giants offense.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Krukow explains to Murph and Mac why Kapler's ejection last night reinvigorated a stagnant Giants offense.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode, Jim Spence, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss Dundee United owner Mark Ogren's latest visit, the Tangerines' draw with Dunfermline, Dundee's wastefulness at St Mirren and St Johnstone boss Steven MacLean's fury over his side's dismal Ross County display.

Reinvigorated by some hot rounds in a sanctioned tournament, Sean and Ryan lead the discussion about the player experience.  Sean gets into re-igniting the competition fire after being in the thick of things and taking down the old man division.  Ryan touches on taking tournament play for granted and the player observations (good and bad) he noticed while competing.  Reimagining the TD/player balance and what will be done in the future to elevate the player experience are also discussed. Sean confesses to a short-lived minecraft obsession, while Alex probably will never go to a concert again.  Ryan builds a shed, and Jason gets a taste of his own trivia medicine.  

Rebecca Hellmann started her career following all the rules: going to college, getting her MBA, progressing up the ladder in her career. She became a marketing executive at a Fortune 50 Company, and then left to became a Chief Marketing Officer at a healthcare startup. Rebecca was winning in her career, but with four young kids at home, she was feeling burned out. When COVID hit, she knew that something had to give, and that was her corporate job. She took a year off to focus on herself through a mindfulness and meditation program. Reinvigorated and inspired, Rebecca knew that she had found her calling. She now owns her own Mindfulness and Meditation practice called Present Life, Beautiful Life, where she introduces mindfulness concepts to individuals and corporate groups to help them find their inner balance just like she did. Learn more about Rebecca Hellmann and her story on the Second Act Success Podcast. SHOW NOTES FOR THIS EPISODEhttps://secondactsuccess.co/55CONNECT with Rebecca Hellmann:Website – Rebeccahellmann.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/present.life.beautiful.life/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PresentLifeBeautifulLifeEmail:  rebecca@rebeccahellmann.com_______REVIEW & SUBSCRIBE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/second-act-success/id1617274364 JOIN THE NEWSLETTER:https://secondactsuccess.coGrab the FREE My Success Vision Board to help you plan your move from where you are now, to where you want to be! https://secondactsuccess.co LET'S CONNECT!Instagram - https://instagram.com/secondactsuccessFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/secondactsuccess.coTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@secondactsuccessAll the latest - https://linktr.ee/secondactsuccess Career Coaching with Shannon Russell - https://secondactsuccess.co/coachingSecond Act Accelerator Course - https://secondactsuccess.co/course

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin offers his thoughts on the recent run of ATP/WTA exhibition events, this week's World Tennis League action, and the rest of this week's tennis-centric storylines. Don't forget to give a 5-star review on your favorite podcast app! In addition, add your Twitter/Instagram handle to the review for a chance to win some FREE CR gear!! Episode Bookmarks: 7:30 - Thoughts on Exhibitions 21:10 - World Tennis League  34:15 - Opelka's Doubles Thoughts  This episode brought to you by: Tennis Point Discounted Tennis Apparel, Tennis Racquets, Tennis Shoes & Equipment from Nike, adidas, Babolat, Wilson & More! Visit their store today and use the code "CR15" at checkout to save 15% off Sale items. Some Exclusions (MAP Exceptions) apply and code will not work on those items. This code will add 1 FREE CAN of WILSON Balls to the cart at checkout.  Swing Vision SwingVision is the official ball tracking app of Tennis Australia, the UK's Lawn Tennis Association and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The startup's mission is to democratize the Grand Slam experience for tennis players of all levels. Using just a single smartphone, the app automatically tracks your shot trajectory, generates match highlights and provides line challenges, all in real-time on any court in the world. Take advantage of Cracked Racquets' exclusive partnership by using our promo code "cracked20" for a 14-day Pro Trial and a $20 discount. Don't miss out on this exclusive deal, available by clicking here! Tourna MEGA TAC: It's the TACKIES GRIP EVER CREATED by far. You know Tourna Tennis for their world famous Tourna Grip, but did you know they also make the TACKIEST grip in the world? MEGA TAC is THE tackiest grip on the market. It starts tacky and stays tacky, longer than any other grip on the market as well. If you like Tacky Grips, you have to try Mega Tac.   You can have anyone reach out to sales@uniquesports.com and mention Cracked Racquets to get a FREE sample Tennis Channel Podcast Network Visit https://www.tennis.com/pro-game/podcasts/ to stay current on the latest tennis news and trends and enjoy in-depth analysis and dynamic debates. Find Cracked Racquets Website: https://www.crackedracquets.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/crackedracquets Twitter: https://twitter.com/crackedracquets Facebook: https://Facebook.com/crackedracquets YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC12ZE3jU0n52JkeWV1TB21A Email Newsletter: https://www.crackedracquets.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brock got to talk with Michael Penix for the first time this weekend. He shares what impressed him and why this has been a dream season for UW. Penix and Geno Smith have both re-energized and reinvigorated this market in a special way. Plus, a Ranked inspired by the John Denver sing along in Munich.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brock got to talk with Michael Penix for the first time this weekend. He shares what impressed him and why this has been a dream season for UW. Penix and Geno Smith have both re-energized and reinvigorated this market in a special way. Plus, a Ranked inspired by the John Denver sing along in Munich.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UVA Men's Basketball coach Tony Bennett joins the podcast to discuss his former players, Malcolm Brogdon and Sam Hauser. Plus, Malcolm Brogdon sits down for an exclusive 1-on-1 with Chris Forsberg to discuss embracing the sixth man role, playing with the Jays and finally getting a chance to play with Al Horford.2:15 - Will Malcolm Brogdon embrace the sixth man role?8:00 - What haven't we seen from Sam Hauser yet?13:00 - Bennett recalls playing against Kevin McHale in his final NBA game17:00 - 1-on-1 with Malcolm BrogdonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brent Freeman is the Founder & President of Stealth Venture Labs and a serial entrepreneur who's passionate about using business to generate both profits & social impact. As he says “My journey in business began earlier than most. While pursuing my undergraduate degree at the University of Southern California, I launched a commodities trading firm focused on generating as much money as quickly as possible. With offices in Dubai and Los Angeles, I chased the money with fervor. Once I reached a place of success, I realized that success can be meaningless without a purpose. I felt no happier than before, and this realization changed my worldview for good.” Reinvigorated by my personal discovery, I made a conscious choice to build and advise for-profit businesses to create true social impact in the world.