Podcasts about Sahara

Hoy nos acompaña un hombre que va del Sahara a la Antártida: Millán Ludeña, con una historia de vida que nos muestra cómo romper los muros mentales.Esta conversación es una invitación a mirar nuestras propias limitaciones, aquello que llamamos “imposible”, y a preguntarnos en qué estamos entregando nuestro tiempo de vida.Millán nos comparte:•⁠ ⁠Sus inicios en las carreras más largas y extremas del mundo•⁠ ⁠Cómo transformó su ideal de éxito•⁠ ⁠Las preguntas y cuestionamientos que lo han guiado hacia sus objetivos•⁠ ⁠Cómo reconoció la importancia de priorizar espacios para dedicar tiempo a lo que realmente es esencial en su vidaUna historia para conocernos, conectarnos, cuestionarnos y transformarnos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bentornati Orsette e Orsetti dai mille coloriTorna a grande richiesta Capriole in viaggio, una rubrica che ci permette di viaggiare stando comodamente… seduti ad ascoltare!

Pocas veces solemos caer en la cuenta de lo importante que es el clima en el curso de los acontecimientos históricos. Quizá a corto plazo no nos lo pueda parecer ya que en el curso de una vida humana rara vez cambian de forma drástica las condiciones climáticas. Pero en el largo plazo el impacto del clima sobre el curso de la historia se ha demostrado fundamental. Desde la prehistoria se han producido varios cambios climáticos de distinta envergadura y todos, sin excepción, han afectado a las comunidades humanas. Unas veces para bien, otras para mal. Los neandertales, por ejemplo, no pudieron aguantar un enfriamiento más o menos repentino del planeta y eso, junto a la irrupción del homo sapiens, les condenó a la extinción hace unos 40.000 años. Ya en tiempos históricos otro enfriamiento provocó la caída del imperio antiguo en Egipto, el mismo que había levantado las grandes pirámides de Guiza. Ese mismo fenómeno provocó que el norte de África, que en aquel entonces era verde, húmedo y se encontraba poblado, se transformase en el desierto del Sahara, el mayor del planeta. Dos mil años más tarde otro evento climático fue el causante del colapso del imperio hitita, de las migraciones indoeuropeas hacia el oeste y de la llegada de los llamados “pueblos del mar” al oriente mediterráneo, tres acontecimientos concatenados que reconfiguraron por completo el mundo antiguo. A los periodos cálidos y húmedos en los que las civilizaciones prosperaban le han seguido siempre otros de carácter frío y seco. Esos inviernos prolongados acompañados de magras cosechas y seguidos por epidemias derribaron imperios, facilitaron invasiones y cambiaron el rumbo de la historia. Ese fue el caso, por ejemplo, de la peste de Justiniano a mediados del siglo VI, provocada por la erupción casi simultánea de tres grandes volcanes en distintas partes del mundo, que tendieron un velo de cenizas en la atmósfera haciendo descender la temperatura en todo el mundo. A las erupciones le siguió la crisis agrícola y, a esta, la irrupción de la peste negra que acabó con la vida de una cuarta parte de los habitantes del imperio bizantino en unos pocos años. La influencia del clima en la historia es un campo de estudio relativamente nuevo. Hasta hace sólo unos años no se solía tener en cuenta ya que nuestros ancestros no tenían el modo de medir con precisión los parámetros climáticos del tiempo que les tocó vivir. Algo de información documental nos ha llegado, pero no es demasiada y, además, está muy fragmentada. A cambio, gracias a los avances en paleoclimatología, se está reconstruyendo de forma muy completa el clima que hubo en la Tierra en tiempos pasados, desde la prehistoria hasta que se empezaron a medir y anotar registros climáticos de forma sistemática y concienzuda ya en el siglo XIX. Hoy en La ContraHistoria tenemos a un historiador, José Soto Chica, bien conocido por los seguidores de este programa, y a un paleoclimatólogo, Francisco Jiménez Espejo, investigador del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Entre ambos han alumbrado un libro excepcional, “El dios incomprendido. El desafío del clima en la historia de la humanidad” que publica la editorial Desperta Ferro y sobre el que hablaremos larga y pausadamente a lo largo de la próxima hora. Bibliografía: “El dios incomprendido” de José Soto Chica y Francisco J. Jiménez Espejo - https://amzn.to/4qW3Paf “El águila y los cuervos. La caída del imperio romano” de José Soto Chica - https://amzn.to/47ZjT2k “Imperios y bárbaros” de José Soto Chica - https://amzn.to/3WWZIwO “El siglo maldito” de Geoffrey Parker - https://amzn.to/49hVYNS “El mundo que forjó la peste” de James Belich - https://amzn.to/48dlFy0 “El cambio climático en la historia de la humanidad” de benjamín Lieberman - https://amzn.to/49AflSz · Canal de Telegram: https://t.me/lacontracronica · “Contra el pesimismo”… https://amzn.to/4m1RX2R · “Hispanos. Breve historia de los pueblos de habla hispana”… https://amzn.to/428js1G · “La ContraHistoria del comunismo”… https://amzn.to/39QP2KE · “La ContraHistoria de España. Auge, caída y vuelta a empezar de un país en 28 episodios”… https://amzn.to/3kXcZ6i · “Contra la Revolución Francesa”… https://amzn.to/4aF0LpZ · “Lutero, Calvino y Trento, la Reforma que no fue”… https://amzn.to/3shKOlK Apoya La Contra en: · Patreon... https://www.patreon.com/diazvillanueva · iVoox... https://www.ivoox.com/podcast-contracronica_sq_f1267769_1.html · Paypal... https://www.paypal.me/diazvillanueva Sígueme en: · Web... https://diazvillanueva.com · Twitter... https://twitter.com/diazvillanueva · Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/fernandodiazvillanueva1/ · Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/diazvillanueva · Linkedin… https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-d%C3%ADaz-villanueva-7303865/ · Flickr... https://www.flickr.com/photos/147276463@N05/?/ · Pinterest... https://www.pinterest.com/fernandodiazvillanueva Encuentra mis libros en: · Amazon... https://www.amazon.es/Fernando-Diaz-Villanueva/e/B00J2ASBXM #FernandoDiazVillanueva #clima #paleoclimatologia Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

durée : 00:28:34 - L'Entretien archéologique - par : Antoine Beauchamp - Au carrefour des routes commerciales entre l'Afrique équatoriale et le Maghreb, la ville de Sijilmassa a été pendant mille ans un lieu de convoitises. Malgré son importance historique, le site reste méconnu des archéologues en raison des conditions de fouilles difficiles aux portes du Sahara. - réalisation : Olivier Bétard - invités : Chloé Capel Archéologue, chargée de recherche au CNRS au laboratoire Orient et Méditerranée au sein de l'équipe Islam médiéval.

Ils parcourent des kilomètres dans le Sahara, avec leurs troupeaux. Et les yeux rivés au sol, à la recherche de météorites. En Mauritanie, ces chasseurs de pierres venues de l'espace sont de plus en plus nombreux, espérant décrocher le gros lot en vendant un fragment tombé de la Lune ou de Mars. Mais faute d'un encadrement officiel et d'un système d'authentification, ces trésors sont difficiles à écouler. De notre envoyée spéciale de retour de Nouakchott, Des jours et des jours à marcher derrière les bêtes dans le Sahara. Et peu à peu, l'œil s'exerce à reconnaître les pierres pas comme les autres. À Nouakchott, Hame Ould sidi Othmen, longue barbe et lunettes vissées sur le nez, montre fièrement sur une natte les météorites qu'il a dénichées dans le désert : « Je pars chercher des météorites dans toute la Mauritanie. » Il y a une dizaine d'années, après la découverte au Maroc de la grande météorite martienne de Tissint, la fièvre des pierres venues du ciel a gagné tout le Sahara. Ces passionnés sont devenus des experts pour les distinguer : « Ça, c'est une chondrite. On la reconnaît grâce à la couche qui l'enveloppe quand elle tombe du ciel, poursuit Hame Ould sidi Othmenn. On la distingue avec les yeux, mais parfois, on utilise des loupes. » « Les prix peuvent aller jusqu'à 1 000 euros » Tous se retrouvent au centre de la capitale pour vendre leurs trouvailles sous un grand arbre. L'activité est calme : « J'ai des météorites, mais je ne veux pas vendre pour le moment, explique notre « chasseur ». J'aimerais les vendre à 100 dollars le gramme. Le prix peut aller jusqu'à 1 000 dollars. Mais ici les gens ne payent pas, il te propose 10 dollars, c'est insignifiant, [alors] je ne vends pas. » Beaucoup de ventes se font désormais en ligne, via WhatsApp ou sur les réseaux sociaux comme TikTok. Certains intermédiaires, dans le nord du pays, autour de Bir Moghrein, inspectent les pierres avant de les revendre à l'étranger. Mais il n'existe pour l'instant aucun centre d'évaluation des pierres en Mauritanie. Les nomades se fient à leur œil, ou envoient leurs échantillons à l'étranger. « Ils ont des comptes de certains chercheurs internationaux à qui ils envoient les photos de leurs trouvailles ou par voie postale un échantillon de la roche », détaille le Dr Ely Cheikh Mouhamed Navee, premier planétologue mauritanien. Un secteur encore très informel, pas encore réglementé, regrette le chercheur : « Les météorites représentent pour chaque pays un patrimoine. Malheureusement, en Mauritanie, il n'y a aucun règlement dans ce secteur. » Une réglementation existe déjà dans des pays voisins, comme le Maroc. Le Dr. Navee voudrait aussi faire installer des caméras pour surveiller les chutes de météorites dans le désert, et créer un musée pour exposer ces pierres venues de l'espace.

durée : 00:02:00 - Le vrai ou faux - La tempête Claudia balaye actuellement la France. Elle apporte avec elle du sable du Sahara. Certains internautes alertent sur les dangers liés à ce sable. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.

Summary: Ants are such diverse organisms that extremes have evolved. Join Kiersten to learn about some ant extremes.   For my hearing impaired followers, a complete transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean   Show Notes:  “Tales from the Ant World” by Edward O. Wilson Music written and performed by Katherine Camp   Transcript (Piano music plays) Kiersten - This is Ten Things I Like About…a ten minute, ten episode podcast about unknown or misunderstood wildlife. (Piano music stops)   Kiersten - Welcome to Ten Things I Like About… I'm Kiersten, your host, and this is a podcast about misunderstood or unknown creatures in nature. Some we'll find right out side our doors and some are continents away but all are fascinating.  This podcast will focus ten, ten minute episodes on different animals and their amazing characteristics. Please join me on this extraordinary journey, you won't regret it. In this penultimate episode I thought we'd talk about the extremes of ants. The fastest, the slowest, the fiercest, and maybe a few more. The ninth thing I like about ants is the extremes. Edward O. Wilson studied ants for his entire life, give or take a few years when he was still in diapers, and that was 92 years. He discovered species we didn't know about and described ant behaviors that boggled our human minds. It is no surprise that he included some of the extremes of ant life in his writings.  Something I had no idea about when I decided to pick ants as my next topic was that each species of ant has it's own tempo. Not unlike music, this is the speed at which worker ants get things done. Some colonies are speedy as a tornado and others are as slow as molasses in winter, but they all get the job done. Each tempo fits the niche that a specific species fills in their habitat. Sometimes fast wins the race while other times slow persistence fairs better.  The fastest ants on Earth may very well be the workers of the genus Ocymyrmex. There are 34 known species in this genus and are found in most of eastern and southern Africa. Their chosen habitats are hot, hot, and hotter. Ocymyrmex, or swift ants, have streamlined bodies with very long legs attached with thick segments at the base. The mandibles are narrow and fit tightly against the head when folded. Their spiracles, air holes through which they breathe, are large. Ocymyrmex are built to be sprinters.  On a trip to Gorongosa National Park in Africa, Edward Wilson came across a colony of Ocymyrmex and wanted to grab a few for the Harvard University Lab. By this time in his career he'd caught a lot of ants, so he was well versed in the best ways to snatch a few specimens. The first obstacle he had to overcome was the extreme heat emanating from the mud flat on which the ants were running. It felt like a stove top, so kneeling down to catch some ants was going to be a challenge, but he was up for it. He positioned himself above the workers, readied his forceps, and caught not one single ant. The workers were just moving too fast. He could barely follow them with his own eyes much less grab them with forceps. A quote from his book Tales from the Ant World, “The ants were moving like a sizzle of water droplets in a frying pan, difficult even for the eye to keep track.” End quote. Those are some fast ants! Ocymyrmex are made for sprinting but another ant, which is a double extremist, is made for marathons. Ants in genus Cataglyphis are long-distance runners and Cataglyphis bicolor is one of the most heat tolerant animals known to western science. These ants live in the Sahara desert and are mainly scavengers. They search for dead insects and other arthropods that have succumbed to the heat of the desert to dismantle and bring back to the nest.  Cataglyphis bicolor can withstand temperatures up to 158F,  or 70C, but they must keep moving. If they stop, they fry. Talk about a good reason to keep moving. Let's look at the opposite side of tempo, the slowest ants in the world. Ants in genus Basiceros are as slow as ants can get without dying. These ants are found in Central and South America. They are not well studied and; therefore, poorly understood. The main problem is they are incredibly difficult to find. If you can't find it, you can't study it.  What we do know is Basiceros ants are medium in size and rely on their camouflage to survive. Their opaque brown color closely matches the fallen leaves and mold in which they live. They do hunt for food and like any other slow moving predator they are ambush predators. They simply wait for prey to come to them, lunge, strike, and seize it. They will stalk prey, as well, just at a very slow pace. If they are discovered by something, or someone, uncovering their hidden pathways under the leaf litter they freeze and will remain still for minutes at a time to protect themselves. Edward O. Wilson says of them, “Their tempo may be as slow as an ant species can employ and still survive.” End quote. The Basiceros ants are also an extremist twofer. They are the slowest ants and also the dirtiest ants, which may be a linked trait. When Edward Wilson stumbled across some Basiceros in Costa Rica and transferred a colony to Harvard to study, they realized that the brown color of the ants wasn't just camouflage to blend in with the dirt, it was dirt. The bodies of these ants are covered in coiled and feather-shaped hairs that essentially collect dust and debris. They use the dust and debris to hide amongst the leaf litter.   The colony of Basiceros studied at Harvard demonstrated this in an unexpected way. At the university, the colony that was brought back and housed in tunnels made of plaster of Paris. Within several weeks of living in the man-made tunnel the ants had turned white! They had replaced their dirt colored garments with the white plaster of Paris so they could blend in with their new habitat! For the last extreme we will discuss lets's look at timidity and fierceness, both serve ants well in different situations. Dolichoderus imitator is probably the most timid, or least offensive, ant in the world. This small ant lives in the Amazon rainforest of South America. Most colonies typically consist of a few hundred workers and a rarely seen queen. They nest in random cavities of decaying leaf litter and do not set up permanent colonies. If they are disturbed, by person or predator, they scatter in all directions. Nothing seems to be directed; although, they do pause long enough to pickup the closest larva or pupa to take with them. The individuals will shelter in any covered place they find nearby waiting for the danger to pass. The colony will reconvene in another random clump of leaves elsewhere. Maybe the transience of their nests breeds timidity for survival reasons.  On the other side of the coin is fierceness. There are several candidates for the fiercest ants in the world. Our first candidate is the bull ants from Australia. They are in the genus Myrmecia and the largest workers are the size of hornets. They nest in craters of soil and are not intimidated by any creature that comes near, including something as big as a human. Edward Wilson has seen them lock their large eyes onto an animal simply walking by the nest. Sentries will turn and watch and if you come close, they walk toward you. If they catch you, you will regret it. When the interloper makes the correct decision to leave, they follow up to 10 meters, or 32 feet, to make sure you don't come back.  Bull ants are pretty scary due to their size, but ants that live in symbiosis with a specific bush or tree are even scarier, especially if you come in contact with them in their home. The guardian ant, Pseduomyrmex triplar, are found in palo alto trees common in Colombia. In 1770 Jose Celestino Mutis happened upon these ants in an unpleasant encounter. He paused under a palo alto on a hot sunny day and quickly found himself covered in red ants that were continuously stinging him. There were so many and they were stinging so fiercely that he had to remove all of his clothes and jump into the nearest body of water.  Edward Wilson gives his vote for most ferocious ant to the tree-dwelling Amazon ant Camponotus femoratus. These ants are also know as the epiphyte garden-ants. They live in the trees and use soil and vegetable detritus gathered from the ground and surrounding branches to build spherical ant-gardens around certain species of epiphytes. Epiphytes are plants that grow on the surface of another plant but does not harm the host plant. The ants' nest is held together in part by the roots of the epiphyte. A quote from Edward Wilson's book Tales from the Ant World tells us all we need to know about why he voted these as the fiercest ants in the world. Quote, “When I turned and walked downwind toward the colony, a swarm of workers erupted almost instantaneously. As I came closer, but still without touching the nest, the defenders went berserk. Piling up on top of one another, they reached out toward me with the abdomens of many pointing in my direction and spraying a cloud of formic acid.” End quote. I see what he voted the garden ants as the fiercest ants in the world! There are many more extremes in the ant world, but I have already gone over time for this episode. I'm glad you joined me for my ninth favorite thing about ants, their extremes.  If you're enjoying this podcast please recommend me to friends and family and take a moment to give me a rating on whatever platform your listening. It will help me reach more listeners and give the animals I talk about an even better chance at change.  Join me next week for another exciting episode about ants.        (Piano Music plays)  This has been an episode of Ten Things I like About with Kiersten and Company. Original music written and performed by Katherine Camp, my very own piano playing hero.

¡Auch! Hasta las más grandes leyendas de Hollywood tienen sus tropiezos monumentales. En este video, repasamos esos proyectos que prometían mucho por su elenco de súper estrellas, pero terminaron siendo un completo desastre y, francamente, ¡muy malas películas!

In this solo episode, I'm taking you deep into the energetics of having the biggest glow-up of your life…not just physically, but from the inside out. This conversation is everything I wish I had known years ago about the sacred feminine path, beauty magic, and how the way we show up in the world literally shifts our entire reality. I'm breaking down my personal journey of transformation over the past several years and sharing the exact practices that helped me step into the most magnetic, confident, radiant version of myself. Together, we explore: ✨ Why beauty is part of the sacred feminine spiritual path  

Dans le désert marocain, le dromadaire est un animal miracle. Il nourrit évidemment, mais constitue aussi un capital, une source de revenus, d'emplois et joue un rôle socioculturel de premier plan. Pourtant, la filière est aujourd'hui menacée par le changement climatique. La ville de Guelmim est considérée comme la porte du Sahara au Maroc. Cet ancien centre caravanier, sur la route de Tombouctou, abrite le plus grand marché aux dromadaires du Maroc, le souk Amhayrich. Un terrain caillouteux de 10 000 m³, à la sortie de la ville. Ici, il n'y a rien pour faire de l'ombre, sinon un immense pylône, auquel sont accrochés de gros projecteurs. « Allo, Monsieur Omar, vous allez bien ? Ne vous inquiétez pas, votre animal je vais vous l'envoyer ». Assis au pied de la structure, Mohammed, 33 ans, est éleveur de dromadaires. Un métier qui se transmet de père en fils dans sa famille. « C'est dur, témoigne-t-il. Si tu veux réussir dans ce domaine, il faut avoir la foi et le sérieux suffisant. Par exemple, nous, il nous arrive de faire des transactions sans demander d'acompte, avec la parole pour seule monnaie d'échange ». Diminution du cheptel Le lieu perd soudain sa quiétude, quand percent les cris d'un jeune dromadaire qu'on retire à son troupeau. « Ce marché est connu en Afrique pour la vente de dromadaires, assure-t-il. Les gens viennent de partout au Maroc. Ici, tu trouves les dromadaires toute l'année et toute la semaine. » L'animal est présent à chacune des grandes étapes de la vie des habitants du désert. « Tes dromadaires, c'est comme tes enfants. C'est un héritage culturel et, dans notre région du Sahara, si tu veux offrir un cadeau à quelqu'un, il n'y a rien de mieux qu'un dromadaire », ajoute Mohammed. Filière exclue du soutien à l'élevage Mouloud, 39 ans, est commerçant au souk Amhayrich. Il s'inquiète de la diminution du cheptel. Dans la région, la sécheresse sévit depuis dix ans déjà. « Il y a eu une grande augmentation des prix des dromadaires, notamment de l'étalon, observe-t-il. La sécheresse a fait exploser les coûts, car il faut bien continuer à nourrir les animaux. Le salaire du berger constitue aussi une charge importante. On le paie entre 300 et 400 euros par mois. On n'arrive même plus à trouver de candidats. On fait appel à des Mauritaniens désormais. Ces bergers-là peuvent rester un an, deux ans, quand les Marocains ne dépassent pas un mois, deux mois, avant de partir. » Il n'y a pas que la sécheresse qui détruit les pâturages. « Les constructions, les fermes ont morcelé les grands espaces », observe Mouloud. Aujourd'hui menacé, le dromadaire pourrait pourtant être un atout face au changement climatique, grâce à sa grande capacité d'adaptation. Au sein de la filière, certains dénoncent leur exclusion des dispositifs actuels de soutien à l'élevage.

Det har længe stået klart, at krigen i Sudan er usædvanlig brutal. Alligevel er det svært ikke at måbe over de overgreb på sagesløse civile, som RSF har begået i El Fasher efter, de vandt kontrol over den strategisk vigtige by i slutningen af oktober. Red Barnets Afrika-chef, Jakob Eilsøe Mikkelsen, udlægger den humanitære situation i og omkring El Fasher.

Gaza: vaccination campaign begins as immunisation rate drops below critical threshold, warns UNICEFSudan: Harrowing testimony from El Fasher survivors highlight scale of needs – UN gender equality agencyAll credit to a new FAO-backed lending initiative for small-scale farmers in the Sahara and beyond

Ce mardi 11 novembre, Djilali Benchabane, consultant en stratégie et géopolitique, était l'invité d'Annalisa Cappellini dans Le monde qui bouge - L'Interview, de l'émission Good Morning Business, présentée par Laure Closier. Ils sont revenus sur le Maroc et la question du Sahara occidental. Retrouvez l'émission du lundi au vendredi et réécoutez la en podcast.

In this episode you will hear a deep analysis of the history and political situation of Western Sahara, included an interview with the political scientist Pedro Joaquín Requena Magaña. Once a time Spanish colony, and nowdays occupied by Morocco, last 6th of November was the 50th anniversary of the departure of Spanish forces and entry of Morocco´s ones, and last 31st of October the Security Council of UN approved a historial resolution with a crucial change of it´s official position, mentioning the possibility of becoming the Sahara a Moroccan region under a specific autonomy regime.

If you're curious to see how these planetary rhythms are shaping your path right now, I'm offering personal 1-to-1 Vedic Astrology Readings.✨Together, we'll explore the energetic architecture of your chart — the cycles, timing windows, and karmic invitations guiding your next chapter — so you can move with the cosmic current, not against it.

Alors que Paris s'apprête à commémorer, ce jeudi 13 novembre 2025, les attentats les plus meurtriers de son histoire, dix ans plus tard, le terrorisme islamiste reste un danger… en France, mais pas seulement. Dans un rapport datant du mois d'août dernier, les Nations unies assurent que la menace que représentent le groupe État islamique et ses affiliés «reste intacte», sa «stratégie» s'orientant «de plus en plus» vers l'Afrique. Au Moyen-Orient aussi, dans les régions irako-syriennes qu'elle dominait, il y a dix ans, l'organisation pourrait potentiellement regagner de l'influence. Sans oublier une autre branche particulièrement active en Asie centrale. Alors comment le terrorisme islamiste parvient-il à perdurer ? Comment expliquer son influence dans certaines régions du monde ? Et peut-on faire face à cette menace ?   Invités - Anne-Clémentine Larroque, historienne, spécialiste des idéologies islamistes. Auteure de Géopolitique des islamismes et Le trou identitaire (PUF) - Myriam Benraad, politologue, spécialiste de l'Irak et du Moyen-Orient. Auteure de cet ouvrage : L'État islamique est-il défait ? (CNRS Éditions) - Nicolas Normand, ancien ambassadeur de France au Mali, au Congo-Brazzaville et au Sénégal. Auteur du Grand livre de l'Afrique : chaos ou émergence au sud du Sahara ? (Eyrolles).

Just when we thought we knew the whole human story, the Sahara threw us a plot twist! Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a mysterious human lineage that no one saw coming. These ancient remains are challenging everything we believed about who lived in Africa—and when. Could this be a missing branch on our family tree, hidden under the desert for thousands of years? It's a discovery that raises more questions than answers... and it's just the beginning. Hit play to unravel this ancient mystery with us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Notre invité Afrique du jour nous emmène dans le sud du Maroc, aux portes du Sahara. Acteur culturel important, Halim Sbaï est le fondateur et le directeur du festival Zamane. Cet évènement, qui se tiendra du 14 au 16 novembre à M'Hamid El Ghizlane, met en valeur les traditions ancestrales, les cultures du désert et tisse des ponts avec les pays voisins, notamment le Mali en invitant des musiciens importants. Pour cette édition, c'est Vieux Farka Touré, le fils de feu Ali Farka Touré. Halim Sbaï est l'invité Afrique de Guillaume Thibault. À lire aussiMaroc: le festival Zamane a l'ambition de faire revivre les traditions

Discover the beauty of Algeria as we sit down with Ambassador Sabri Boukadoum to reflect on a journey across the country, from the Mediterranean coast to the golden dunes of the Sahara. Learn how culture, history, and hospitality come together to make Algeria a destination unlike any other. Sponsor: Embassy of Algeria 

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​​​Au cours du debat Arbre à palabres, Eric Topona et ses invités reviennent sur la célébration par les Marocains, le 6 novembre 2025, du 50ème anniversaire de la Marche verte. Il sera aussi question de la portée de l'approbation par le Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies, le 31 octobre, d'une résolution reconnaissant le plan d'autonomie de Rabat pour résoudre le conflit du Sahara occidental.

Discover the beauty of Algeria as we sit down with Ambassador Sabri Boukadoum to reflect on a journey across the country, from the Mediterranean coast to the golden dunes of the Sahara. Learn how culture, history, and hospitality come together to make Algeria a destination unlike any other.

Fjallað var um Tansaníu í Heimsglugga vikunnar og einnig kosningarnar í Bandaríkjunum sem voru í fyrradag. Jón Geir Pétursson, prófessor í umhverfis- og auðlindafræði við HÍ, þekkir afar vel til í Afríku, hefur búið og starfað í nokkrum löndum álfunnar og er einn höfunda bókarinnar Afríka sunnan Sahara í brennidepli II, sem kom út í fyrra. Tansanía er stórt land og þar búa um 47 milljónir manna en fréttir frá landinu eru ekki daglegt brauð í vestrænum miðlum. Ólga og blóðug mótmæli í tengslum við forsetakosningar þar í síðustu viku hafa verið í fréttum. Samia Suluhu Hassan var endurkjörin forseti með 98 prósentum atkvæða og augljóst að brögð voru í tafli. Jón Geir sagði okkur frá Tansaníu og við byrjuðum fyrir meira en hundrað árum.

durée : 00:03:34 - Le monde à l'endroit - C'est un conflit parmi les plus anciens au monde qui oppose deux frères ennemis, le Maroc et l'Algérie. Un conflit en train de tourner au bénéfice du premier, avec la bénédiction des Etats-Unis. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.

Il y a 50 ans, le 6 novembre 1975, des milliers de Marocains entrent sur le territoire du Sahara occidental. Des civils traversent alors la frontière à l'appel du roi Hassan II : c'est la Marche verte. Le chef d'État revendique ce territoire encore sous domination espagnole, estimant qu'il fait historiquement partie du Maroc et qu'il lui a été injustement spolié lors de la colonisation. Cette démonstration de force patriotique et populaire aboutit à la signature des accords de Madrid en 1975 et au retrait des Espagnols. Matthias Raynal a rencontré d'anciens marcheurs. De notre correspondant à Casablanca C'est un reportage radio, mais Ali, 72 ans, tient à répondre à l'interview, entouré de ses reliques. « Ça, c'est le Coran d'époque, c'est avec lui qu'on a récupéré le Sahara. C'était ça notre seule arme, avec ça, le drapeau du Maroc », expose le marcheur de l'époque. Les participants étaient des civils, la marche pacifique. Ali exhibe fièrement son wissam, la médaille qu'il a reçue pour cette marche. Il l'a accrochée au col de sa tunique sahraouie. Le 16 octobre 1975, le roi Hassan II s'adresse à la nation. Il appelle les Marocains à marcher vers le Sahara occidental. Il souhaite que 350 000 personnes s'y rendent pour montrer au monde que son pays n'abandonnera pas ses revendications sur ce territoire. « Au moment du discours, j'étais à la maison, avec ma famille. Il y avait un tel enthousiasme que quand je l'ai entendu, je me suis levé et je leur ai dit : ''je vais partir, notre roi nous demande de récupérer notre terre''. On est parti pour combattre la colonisation, pour poursuivre l'indépendance de notre pays », raconte Ali. Le 6 novembre 1975, l'ordre est donné de traverser la frontière. « On a mis des matelas sur les barbelés pour les mettre à terre. Le drapeau espagnol a été enlevé, on a hissé le drapeau marocain », continue-t-il.  Saadia avait seulement 16 ans. Elle se souvient de l'atmosphère qui régnait entre les participants. « On s'est retrouvées entre femmes de tout le Maroc. On était toutes contentes. On n'avait peur de rien. C'était comme si on faisait le pèlerinage ! », explique-t-elle. Elle traversait son pays et rencontrait des Sahraouis pour la première fois. « À Tarfaya, les femmes Sahraouies venaient nous voir, elles venaient passer la journée avec nous dans les tentes, elles étaient contentes qu'on soit là. On s'est liées d'amitié, on passait notre temps ensemble à rigoler, à discuter », poursuit-Saadia.  À son retour à Casablanca, elle prit conscience de ce qui venait de se passer. Saadia, Ali et les autres furent accueillis en héros. Tout le monde les attendait. Et partout, se répétaient les mêmes scènes de liesse. À lire aussiSahara occidental : 50 ans après la Marche verte, l'ONU fait évoluer sa position au profit du Maroc

(00:00:44) Les Démocrates américains ont retrouvé des raisons d'espérer (00:07:08) Lafarge en Syrie: le pari trop risqué d'une entreprise en zone de conflit (00:12:59) Que change la grande victoire diplomatique du Maroc au Sahara occidental?

On l'a appris mardi soir, le Maroc décrète que le 31 octobre sera une nouvelle fête nationale. En effet, vendredi 31 octobre dernier, à New York, le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU a voté une résolution qui prend position pour le plan d'autonomie du Sahara occidental présenté par le Maroc. Pourquoi l'Algérie n'a-t-elle pas pris part au vote ? Quelles sont les options politiques et militaires qui restent pour le Front Polisario ? La politologue Khadija Mohsen-Finan, spécialiste du Maghreb et membre du comité de rédaction de la revue Orient XXI, répond aux questions de Christophe Boisbouvier. RFI : Khadija Mohsen-Finan, qu'est-ce qui change avec le vote de vendredi dernier au Conseil de sécurité ? En réalité, ça change beaucoup de choses, parce que c'est ce qu'attendaient les Marocains, c'est-à-dire la reconnaissance par la communauté internationale de ce que Hassan II appelait leur titre de propriété sur le Sahara. Et au moment où plusieurs États, comme les États-Unis, comme la France, comme la Grande-Bretagne, s'apprêtent à investir dans ce territoire, il fallait absolument dépasser, si vous voulez, le fait qu'on était dans un schéma colonial, puisque ce territoire était à décoloniser. Donc, il fallait sortir de ce schéma de colonisateurs et colonisés. Et c'est ce qui a été fait par le vote de vendredi dernier au Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies. Alors, on savait à l'avance que les Américains, les Anglais et les Français allaient voter pour ce plan d'autonomie proposé par le Maroc, mais on ne savait pas ce qu'allaient faire les Russes et les Chinois. Et c'est peut-être ça la nouveauté, non ? Alors les Russes et les Chinois, disons que le ministre marocain des Affaires étrangères Nasser Bourita s'est rendu à Moscou et les Marocains ont eu l'assurance que les Russes pouvaient tout à fait ne pas leur tenir rigueur de la situation. Et très probablement, la dernière mouture du texte de la résolution a été faite pour que les Russes et les Chinois puissent justement s'abstenir et ne pas voter contre, en y ajoutant le terme de « autodétermination ». Ça, c'est très précieux pour les Russes, c'est très précieux pour les Chinois. Mais j'ajouterai que, depuis quelques années, les Russes entretiennent de très bonnes relations avec le Maroc. On n'est plus du tout dans le schéma de la guerre froide. Et c'est donc la première fois que Moscou et Pékin ne disent pas non à un texte qui « estime qu'une véritable autonomie sous souveraineté marocaine pourrait représenter la solution la plus réalisable » au Sahara occidental ? Absolument. Alors maintenant, on peut s'attendre justement à ce que Russes et Chinois soient attentifs au type d'autonomie qui va être mise en place par le Maroc dans cette région. À lire aussiSahara occidental: le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU apporte son soutien au plan marocain Pourquoi l'Algérie, qui est membre cette année du Conseil de sécurité, a refusé de prendre part au vote de vendredi ? Alors ça reste quand même très surprenant. Très probablement parce que l'Algérie veut revenir sur la scène régionale et internationale, qu'elle compte beaucoup sur un partenariat économique et stratégique avec Washington, avec les États-Unis et que finalement, elle a peut-être accepté d'être dans ce que certains pourraient appeler la realpolitik. Mais c'est malgré tout une manière de tourner le dos au Front Polisario, à l'autodétermination qu'elle a portée quand même depuis 50 ans. Peut-on parler d'un début de lâchage du Polisario par l'Algérie ? Très probablement parce que, si vous voulez, s'il y a une sortie honorable par ce texte de résolution, personne ne sait ce que vont devenir aujourd'hui les Sahraouis de Tindouf, ce que va devenir la cause sahraouie. Personne n'en parle et je ne pense pas du tout qu'ils vont continuer à être parrainés à être protégés par Alger. Et c'est bien leur inquiétude d'ailleurs. Et dans les dernières déclarations du Front Polisario, on peut entrevoir malgré tout un désespoir. Le ministre des Affaires étrangères du Front Polisario affirme que son mouvement n'acceptera le plan marocain que si la population sahraouie le valide par référendum. Oui, c'est ce qu'il avait dit. Mais si vous voulez, on ne peut pas donner de traduction réelle à ses propos, puisque le Front Polisario seul ne peut pas affronter le Maroc. Et de toutes les manières, il devait attendre l'autorisation d'Alger pour agir sur le plan militaire. Aujourd'hui, vous dites que la balle est dans le camp du Maroc qui doit préciser, qui doit détailler son plan d'autonomie, c'est ça qu'il doit faire ? Peut-être des concessions politiques aussi ? C'est ce que lui impose l'application d'une autonomie réelle. Aujourd'hui, l'autonomie réelle, si on voulait l'appliquer au Maroc, le schéma politique marocain ne le permettrait pas. Il faut qu'il y ait un schéma de décentralisation et de démocratisation de ce pays pour que l'autonomie puisse s'instaurer. Mais ce sont beaucoup de questions. On ne sait pas ce qui va se passer au niveau national marocain et au niveau régional, pour qu'il y ait véritablement une autonomie et que les Sahraouis puissent trouver leur place. À lire aussiLes Marocains fêtent dans les rues la résolution de l'ONU sur le Sahara occidental

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Unveiling the Sahara: A Journey of Instinct and Discovery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-11-05-08-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: Il sole splendeva alto nel cielo del Sahara, proiettando ombre lunghe e misteriose sulle dune.En: The sun shone high in the sky of the Sahara, casting long and mysterious shadows over the dunes.It: Luca, con i suoi capelli scuri e gli occhi curiosi, osservava il deserto infinito davanti a lui.En: Luca, with his dark hair and curious eyes, observed the endless desert before him.It: Accanto, Giovanni camminava con passi misurati, mentre Sofia controllava il loro zaino.En: Next to him, Giovanni walked with measured steps, while Sofia checked their backpack.It: Cercavano un'antica città, sepolta sotto le sabbie, di cui avevano sentito parlare nei racconti dei beduini.En: They were searching for an ancient city, buried under the sands, which they had heard about in the tales of the Bedouins.It: Luca era affascinato dal deserto, ma nel suo cuore c'era un sottile timore: perdersi, senza mai trovare la via del ritorno.En: Luca was fascinated by the desert, but in his heart there was a subtle fear: getting lost, never finding the way back.It: Per questo aveva sempre con sé una bussola speciale, che indicava costantemente verso est.En: For this reason, he always carried with him a special compass, which constantly pointed east.It: Quel giorno, mentre l'autunno mitigava leggermente il caldo oppressivo, la sua bussola si fermò all'improvviso.En: That day, while autumn slightly mitigated the oppressive heat, his compass suddenly stopped.It: Luca la scosse, la osservò attentamente, ma l'ago della bussola era immobile.En: Luca shook it, observed it carefully, but the compass needle was still.It: La mente di Luca si riempì di dubbi.En: Luca's mind filled with doubts.It: "Come troveremo l'antica città ora?"En: "How will we find the ancient city now?"It: pensò.En: he thought.It: Sofia e Giovanni lo guardarono, aspettando una decisione.En: Sofia and Giovanni looked at him, waiting for a decision.It: Luca decise di affidarsi al suo intuito.En: Luca decided to rely on his intuition.It: Conosceva il percorso: le dune, le rare palme, le rocce solitarie.En: He knew the path: the dunes, the rare palms, the solitary rocks.It: Iniziò a camminare, usando il paesaggio come guida.En: He began to walk, using the landscape as a guide.It: Il cielo si scurì.En: The sky darkened.It: I venti iniziarono a soffiare con furia crescente.En: The winds began to blow with increasing fury.It: Una tempesta di sabbia si avvicinava.En: A sandstorm was approaching.It: Luca, sentendo il battito del suo cuore accelerare, cercò un riparo.En: Luca, feeling his heartbeat accelerating, looked for shelter.It: Con Giovanni e Sofia, trovò un riparo naturale tra le rocce.En: With Giovanni and Sofia, he found a natural refuge among the rocks.It: Le ore passarono, il vento ululava, il tempo sembrava eterno.En: The hours passed, the wind howled, time seemed eternal.It: Ma Luca capì che la tempesta, come ogni cosa, avrebbe avuto una fine.En: But Luca understood that the storm, like everything, would have an end.It: Quando finalmente il vento si placò e la polvere si sedò, Luca alzò lo sguardo.En: When finally the wind calmed and the dust settled, Luca looked up.It: Sul riparo roccioso, vide antiche incisioni nella pietra.En: On the rocky shelter, he saw ancient carvings in the stone.It: Linee e simboli che non lasciavano dubbi sulla direzione da prendere.En: Lines and symbols that left no doubt about the direction to take.It: Quella scoperta accese una fiamma di fiducia in Luca.En: That discovery ignited a flame of confidence in Luca.It: Aveva superato la tempesta e trovato un indizio importante.En: He had overcome the storm and found an important clue.It: Aveva imparato a fidarsi del suo istinto, superando la paura di perdersi.En: He had learned to trust his instinct, overcoming the fear of getting lost.It: Mentre il sole tramontava e la sabbia brillava di un colore aranciato, Luca si sentì parte del deserto.En: As the sun set and the sand glowed a shade of orange, Luca felt part of the desert.It: Con un sorriso, si preparò a proseguire il viaggio, più sicuro che mai della sua capacità di affrontare l'incertezza.En: With a smile, he prepared to continue the journey, more certain than ever of his ability to face uncertainty.It: Giovanni e Sofia, vicini, lo seguirono, sentendo anche loro il cambiamento.En: Giovanni and Sofia, close by, followed him, also feeling the change.It: Le dune continuavano a estendersi davanti a loro, ma ora sembravano meno minacciose.En: The dunes continued to stretch out before them, but now they seemed less threatening. Vocabulary Words:the shadow: l'ombramysterious: misteriosothe dune: la dunameasured: misuratothe city: la cittàburied: sepoltothe tale: il raccontothe compass: la bussolaoppressive: oppressivothe needle: l'agothe doubt: il dubbiointuition: l'intuitothe landscape: il paesaggiodarkened: scuritothe wind: il ventofury: furiathe storm: la tempestashelter: il riparoeternal: eternothe carving: l'incisionethe stone: la pietrathe clue: l'indiziothe fear: il timoreconfidence: la fiduciathe storm: la tempestatrust: fidarsito overcome: superarethe dusk: il tramontoready: prontouncertainty: l'incertezza

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Chasing Shadows: An Artist's Journey Through the Sahara Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-11-05-23-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Il sole si alzava maestoso nel cielo del Sahara, illuminando le dune di sabbia che si stendevano infinite.En: The sun rose majestically in the Sahara sky, illuminating the endless stretches of sand dunes.It: Giulia, una giovane fotografa italiana, camminava con la macchina fotografica a tracolla.En: Giulia, a young Italian photographer, walked with her camera slung over her shoulder.It: Era in missione: catturare l'essenza del deserto in un'immagine perfetta per la sua prossima mostra.En: She was on a mission: to capture the essence of the desert in a perfect image for her upcoming exhibition.It: La sua sfida personale?En: Her personal challenge?It: Superare la paura di non essere all'altezza delle sue aspettative.En: To overcome the fear of not living up to her own expectations.It: Giulia si avventurava lontano dal suo campeggio, attirata dalla promessa di un tramonto mozzafiato.En: Giulia ventured far from her campsite, drawn by the promise of a breathtaking sunset.It: Le ombre delle dune si allungavano nel pomeriggio, creando un gioco di luci e ombre che affascinava il suo occhio artistico.En: The shadows of the dunes lengthened in the afternoon, creating a play of light and shadow that fascinated her artistic eye.It: Ma il calore del sole era implacabile.En: But the sun's heat was relentless.It: Sottovalutò la forza della natura, facendo affidamento su una mappa approssimativa e poca acqua.En: She underestimated the power of nature, relying on a rough map and little water.It: Mentre cercava l'angolo perfetto per scattare la foto, Giulia sentì la gola seccarsi.En: As she searched for the perfect angle to take her photo, Giulia felt her throat drying out.It: Realizzò allora di essere in difficoltà.En: She realized then that she was in trouble.It: "Devo tornare indietro," pensò, ma la tentazione di continuare era forte.En: "I must turn back," she thought, but the temptation to continue was strong.It: Aveva sentito parlare di un'oasi oltre la prossima duna.En: She had heard of an oasis beyond the next dune.It: Ma il deserto, con i suoi miraggi ingannatori, la confuse.En: But the desert, with its deceptive mirages, confused her.It: Con passi sempre più pesanti, Giulia si spinse avanti, il suo corpo gridava per l'acqua.En: With increasingly heavy steps, Giulia pushed on, her body crying out for water.It: L'oasi appariva davanti a lei, ma la scena sfocava e svaniva come un sogno.En: The oasis appeared before her, but the scene blurred and vanished like a dream.It: Era solo un miraggio.En: It was just a mirage.It: Disorientata e stanca, cadde ginocchio nella sabbia calda.En: Disoriented and tired, she fell to her knees in the hot sand.It: Stava per perdere i sensi, ma riuscì a lanciare un ultimo grido d'aiuto prima che il mondo intorno a lei diventasse un mare silenzioso.En: She was about to lose consciousness but managed to let out one last cry for help before the world around her became a silent sea.It: Il sole calava all'orizzonte quando Luca, un altro viaggiatore che aveva notato la sua assenza prolungata, la trovò.En: The sun was setting on the horizon when Luca, another traveler who had noticed her prolonged absence, found her.It: "Giulia!"En: "Giulia!"It: chiamò, scuotendola delicatamente.En: he called, shaking her gently.It: Spinse un sorso d'acqua alle sue labbra secche.En: He pressed a sip of water to her dry lips.It: La freschezza del liquido fu una benedizione.En: The freshness of the liquid was a blessing.It: "Calma, sei al sicuro ora," rassicurò.En: "Calm down, you're safe now," he reassured her.It: Giulia lentamente tornò in sé, il cielo si colorava di un arancione vibrante.En: Giulia slowly came to, the sky turning a vibrant orange.It: Con l'aiuto di Luca, raggiunse il campo.En: With Luca's help, she reached the camp.It: Anche se non aveva immortalato il tramonto, aveva imparato una lezione preziosa: il rispetto per la natura e una maggiore consapevolezza dei suoi limiti.En: Although she had not captured the sunset, she had learned a valuable lesson: respect for nature and a heightened awareness of her limits.It: Di fronte al fuoco del campo, Giulia rifletteva sull'esperienza, promettendo a se stessa di essere sempre preparata, e di non dimenticare mai la bellezza e la pericolosità del deserto.En: In front of the campfire, Giulia reflected on the experience, promising herself to always be prepared and to never forget the beauty and danger of the desert.It: Il Sahara l'aveva sfidata, e lei aveva scoperto forza e saggezza che non sapeva di possedere.En: The Sahara had challenged her, and she had discovered strength and wisdom she hadn't known she possessed. Vocabulary Words:the sahara: il saharastretches: le estensionithe campsite: il campeggiothe exhibition: la mostrathe expectation: le aspettativethe sunset: il tramontothe shadow: le ombrethe heat: il calorethe throat: la golathe temptation: la tentazionethe oasis: l'oasithe mirage: il miraggiothe knee: il ginocchiothe sip: il sorsothe freshness: la freschezzathe blessing: la benedizionethe challenge: la sfidathe wisdom: la saggezzathe photographer: la fotografathe image: l'immaginethe angle: l'angolothe cry: il gridothe silence: il silenziothe absence: l'assenzathe lips: le labbrathe awareness: la consapevolezzathe respect: il rispettothe danger: la pericolositàthe horizon: l'orizzontethe traveler: il viaggiatore

Fluent Fiction - French: Souvenirs of the Sahara: Éloise's Journey to Connection Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2025-11-05-23-34-02-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Le soleil se levait dans le désert du Sahara, peignant le ciel de nuances rouges et dorées.En: The sun rose over the désert du Sahara, painting the sky with shades of red and gold.Fr: Éloise, Luc et Hugo se tenaient au bord d'un marché animé.En: Éloise, Luc and Hugo stood at the edge of a bustling market.Fr: Les bruits de la foule remplissaient l'air, mélangés aux appels des marchands et aux sons des animaux de la région.En: The sounds of the crowd filled the air, mixed with the calls of merchants and the sounds of regional animals.Fr: Éloise regardait autour, émerveillée par les couleurs vives des tissus suspendus dans les étals.En: Éloise looked around, amazed by the bright colors of the fabrics hanging from the stalls.Fr: Des tapis marocains, des bijoux en argent et des poteries artisanales s'étalaient devant elle.En: Moroccan carpets, silver jewelry, and handcrafted pottery spread out before her.Fr: Elle cherchait quelque chose de spécial, un souvenir qui représenterait son voyage.En: She was looking for something special, a souvenir that would represent her journey.Fr: Luc, son ami aventureux, s'approche d'une échoppe remplie de statuettes en bois.En: Luc, her adventurous friend, approached a stall filled with wooden figurines.Fr: "Regarde Éloise!"En: "Look Éloise!"Fr: cria-t-il, "Ces petits animaux sont adorables!"En: he shouted, "These little animals are adorable!"Fr: "Hugo," appela-t-elle à un marchand à la barbe grisonnante et au sourire accueillant.En: "Hugo," she called to a merchant with a graying beard and a welcoming smile.Fr: "Pouvez-vous me parler de ces objets?"En: "Can you tell me about these items?"Fr: Hugo hocha la tête avec enthousiasme.En: Hugo nodded enthusiastically.Fr: "Bien sûr," répondit-il, en tenant une sculpture en main.En: "Of course," he replied, holding a sculpture in hand.Fr: "Chaque pièce est unique, faite avec amour par des artisans du village voisin.En: "Each piece is unique, lovingly made by artisans from the nearby village.Fr: Cette statuette, par exemple, raconte l'histoire d'une légende ancienne.En: This figurine, for example, tells the story of an ancient legend.Fr: Elle porte chance à celui qui l'emporte."En: It brings luck to whoever takes it."Fr: Éloise écoutait attentivement, fascinée par les récits de Hugo.En: Éloise listened attentively, fascinated by Hugo's tales.Fr: Elle sentait que ces histoires donnaient vie aux objets.En: She felt that these stories brought the objects to life.Fr: Pour une raison qu'elle ne pouvait expliquer, Éloise se sentait attirée par un petit pendentif en argent, finement ciselé avec une pierre bleue en son centre.En: For a reason she couldn't explain, Éloise felt drawn to a small silver pendant, finely engraved with a blue stone at its center.Fr: "Quelle est son histoire?"En: "What is its story?"Fr: demanda-t-elle, en caressant doucement le bijou.En: she asked, gently caressing the jewelry.Fr: Hugo sourit et ses yeux brillèrent.En: Hugo smiled and his eyes sparkled.Fr: "C'est un talisman porte-bonheur.En: "It's a lucky charm.Fr: La pierre bleue symbolise le désert, éternel et magnifique.En: The blue stone symbolizes the desert, eternal and magnificent.Fr: On dit qu'il apporte paix et clarté à celui qui le porte."En: It's said to bring peace and clarity to its wearer."Fr: Éloise sentit une connexion immédiate.En: Éloise felt an immediate connection.Fr: Toutes ses hésitations s'évanouirent.En: All her hesitations vanished.Fr: Elle savait que c'était le souvenir qu'elle voulait.En: She knew this was the souvenir she wanted.Fr: "Je vais le prendre," dit-elle avec assurance.En: "I'll take it," she said with assurance.Fr: Elle paya Hugo et attacha délicatement le pendentif autour de son cou.En: She paid Hugo and delicately fastened the pendant around her neck.Fr: En quittant le marché, elle se sentait plus connectée à cette terre étrange mais magnifique.En: As she left the market, she felt more connected to this strange yet beautiful land.Fr: Elle se retourna vers Hugo et lui fit un signe de la main, un sourire large sur son visage.En: She turned back to Hugo and waved, a broad smile on her face.Fr: Sur le chemin du retour avec Luc, Éloise se sentit pleine de gratitude.En: On the way back with Luc, Éloise felt full of gratitude.Fr: Elle avait appris à écouter son cœur, découvrant que les histoires et les liens humains étaient bien plus précieux que n'importe quel objet.En: She had learned to listen to her heart, discovering that stories and human connections were far more precious than any object.Fr: C'était sa vraie découverte dans ce voyage au Sahara.En: This was her true discovery on this journey to the Sahara. Vocabulary Words:the desert: le désertthe shade: la nuancethe market: le marchéthe crowd: la foulethe merchant: le marchandthe fabric: le tissuthe stall: l'étalthe carpet: le tapisthe jewelry: le bijouthe pottery: la poteriethe souvenir: le souvenirsilver: l'argentthe figurine: la statuettethe sculpture: la sculpturethe legend: la légendethe pendative: le pendentifthe charm: le talismanthe connection: la connexionthe adventure: l'aventureancient: ancienmagnificent: magnifiqueeternal: éternelwelcoming: accueillantto vanish: s'évanouirthe gratitude: la gratitudeto carve: ciselerto symbolize: symboliserto fasten: attacherthe artisan: l'artisanto discover: découvrir

A group linked to the Al Qaeda Islamist network is closing in on the capital of Mali, in north-west Africa. This group, known as JNIM, now controls swathes of territory in the Sahel, a region that stretches across several countries in the Sahara. If JNIM takes the capital, Bamako, it would be the first time an Al Qaeda affiliate has seized power in a country. What would that mean for Africa and the Islamic world? Dr TESSA DEVEREAUX has been analysing the situation.On the fiftieth anniversary of the dismissal of the Whitlam government, you'll hear many theories about Gough Whitlam's downfall. But ROY WILLIAMS has explored one reason that by no means caused but may have contributed to the events of November 11, 1975. Williams is the author of In God They Trust: The Religious Beliefs of Australia's Prime Ministers. He also has a very personal connection. His late father, Evan Williams, was a speechwriter and long-time confidante of Whitlam. Roy wonders if a throwaway insult about the faith of then Queensland premier Joh Bjelke Petersen hardened the resolve of Whitlam's opponents.One of the geopolitical tactics Russia has used in its war with Ukraine has been to divide opinion among the world's Orthodox Christians. Vladimir Putin is not the first Russian leader to style himself as a champion of Orthodox communities but in Greece and the Middle East, he's tried to marshal sympathy among Christians. Dr MANOS KARAGIANNIS aas in Australia recently with the Affinity Intercultural Foundation.GUESTS:Dr Tessa Deveraux- Assistant Professor in Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies in LondonProfessor Roy Williams - legal academic and authorDr Manos Karagiannis specialises in international security at Kings College, London.This program was made on the lands of the Gadigal People

A group linked to the Al Qaeda Islamist network is closing in on the capital of Mali, in north-west Africa. This group, known as JNIM, now controls swathes of territory in the Sahel, a region that stretches across several countries in the Sahara. If JNIM takes the capital, Bamako, it would be the first time an Al Qaeda affiliate has seized power in a country. What would that mean for Africa and the Islamic world? GUEST:Dr Tessa Deveraux- Assistant Professor in Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London

Today on Galway Talks with John Morley (Wednesday, 5th November 2025) 9am-10am Effects of tracker mortgage scandal 'far from over'  Galway Man to Run 250km Across the Sahara in Memory of Uncle Lost to Rare Cancer Fundraising page of Run For Iggy Coldvember Initative in Support of Galway Rape Crisis Centre  10am-11am Major Water Infrastructure Upgrade for Craughwell Welcomed MOTORING with GERRY MURPHY FeelTect Secures €1.5 Million Investment to Launch Groundbreaking Wound Care Device, “Tight Alright”  11am-12pm Financial Advice with Dave McCarthy Camogie - Inside the Championship  HISTORY TALKS – Lecture on Headford Lace 

Spiritual teacher Sahara Rose is not here today to help you ‘find' your purpose. She is here to help you remember your purpose, your Dharma, for it has been alive within you all along. Sahara Rose is a 4x best selling author, an inspirational speaker, and the host of Highest Self Podcast. She has been called ‘a leading voice in the millennial generation' by Deepak Chopra. Today, Sahara will shine light on: Her path to spirituality and ayurveda How to discern if a path that is meant for you when you reach a crossroads in life Understanding dharma through Sahara's personal journey of feeling called to write a book The 5 stages of dharma discovery How to accept changes in your life that are meant to align with your growth Find Sahara's books and programs at www.iamsahararose.comFollow Sahara on IG @iamsahararoseConnect with Erin:⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Website Support Our Sponsors: COWBOY COLOSTRUM - Use code RAWBEAUTYTALKS at CowboyColostrum.com for 25%offJONES ROAD BEAUTY - Get a free Cool Gloss on your first purchase when you use the code ERIN at checkout https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com/HELLOFRESH - Go to hellofresh.ca and use the code RAWBEAUTYTALKS for 50% off your next order. KNIX - Go to knix.com and use code RAWBEAUTYTALKS for 20% off your next order.MITOPURE GUMMIES - Go to ⁠Timeline.com/ERIN⁠ and use the code ERIN for 20% off. LOLA BLANKETS - Go to LolaBlankets.com and use the code RAWBEAUTYTALKS for 35% off. SUPERBELLY POWDERS - Go to ⁠www.itsblume.com⁠ and use code RAWBEAUTYTALKS for 15% off.AQUTRU WATER FILTERS - Go to www.aquatru.com and use code RAWBEAUTYTALKS for 20% off. Please use link on left side of checkout page, not the coupon code box on the right. ⁠Leave Well Within a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts⁠! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christian College Sex Comedy: Part 25 Being Subversive Isn t As Much Fun As It Looks In 30 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the podcast at Explicit Novels.             Friends stand by you through the struggles your enemies create   "You are depraved and despicable," Mhain seethed. "I get that a lot; now get out," I growled back, "because I have a thousand other bitches who are, scratch that, 999 other bitches, Doctor Kennedy is growing on me; the rest I'm not so sure about, who are making my life miserable." "Don't get your hopes up, Mr. Braxton," Doctor Kennedy warned me. "I'm happily married." "Cool," I responded. "I hope to be like that one day." "Happily married?" Virginia inquired. "No; a female law professor at an all-girls school," I grinned. "It sounds like a real cool job." "Feel free to hit him," Dana interrupted. "I swear that is the only way to get him to learn anything; or the only way we will discuss at this moment." Ah, sex. I thought my life had gone on a bit too long without the mention of sex. "It is also a fun form of stress relief." A painful blow rocked my shoulder and nearly sent me sprawling. "You are right," Gabrielle noted clinically. "I feel better." Fuck, she hits hard. I look at her and try not to get pissed off and say something stupid. She makes my life difficult but my existence at FFU makes her life far too interesting as well. Whack! Someone hit me with a briefcase. "I have to agree," Doctor Kennedy confirmed. "It has a therapeutic quality to it." "Bloody hell," I blurt out. "Everyone, please stop physically abusing Zane," Ms. Goodswell snapped. "He's a student, for Pete's sake. He's not subject to corporal punishment." "Virginia, have you ever punched or slapped Zane?" Dana teased. "Give it a try before dismissing it out of hand." "He likes spanking," Barbie Lynn beamed happiness as she skipped by on her way to my/our bedroom. Technically, it is mine, Vivian's, Barbie Lynn's, Rio's, and Mercy's, plus whoever is feeling lonely on a given night. As for the spanking, I'm more of a giver than a receiver, but I doubt explaining that right now would be appropriate. "Uhmm, okay, I think that is my cue to leave," Virginia piped up. "I have rounds to make," Gabrielle added. "I'm going home to my family," Doctor Kennedy headed out. "I'm going to stay here, kick back, and watch some Pay-per-view," Dana grinned. "What are you going to watch?" Hudson inquired. "BBC America has this show called Copper that I've been meaning to catch," Dana informed her. "Mind if I watch an episode with you?" Hudson asked. "Sure, knock yourself out. You can pick the second show," Dana yawned. "It's only Zane's money after all." The rest of my guests filed out and I retired to the showers and then to my room. The day's stress revealed itself as the women curled into bed calmly and soon were cuddled together, including the odd ones out. On the far side we had the rather unusual appearance of Valarie. Next to her was Rio, who had her arms wrapped around Mercy. Mercy was snuggled against Barbie Lynn who held the middle spot. I was on my side, face-to-face with Barbie Lynn. After a few minutes, Vivian came to bed, wedged up against my back, and put an arm over me. I was in close proximity to several beautiful women but as long as no one doused the room with an aphrodisiac, we'd do just fine. "Zane," Barbie Lynn whispered, "my vibrator burned out this morning, and I'm terribly horny." Oh, fuck!   Barbie Lynn gazing down at me, I'm not sure another guy should ever see this because it could break one's heart to see it once and never again. She's built a faint sheen of sweat on her body already and she's looking at me with a definite Zen to fuck. My cock is cocooned deep inside her rectum, rubbing inside as she rotates forward on her hips. The distant, dreamy look in her eyes flashes to alertness as she catches me looking at her; 'hi' she whispers. I nod and smile so she inclines into me so that we can start kissing. She leads in with her tongue along my lips. I touch the tip of her tongue with my own, snaking inside her mouth before we are done. She starts murmuring, deepens our kiss, and begins rubbing my nipples. "Vivian?" Valarie says softly. She snuck around the bed to settle behind my guardian. "Yes?" Vivian replies. She is on her side watching Barbie Lynn and I. "I, umm, Valarie moans. Out of the corner of my eye I catch it as Val's hand brushes Vivian's hair off her neck and her lips start suckling on the exposed flesh. Vivian closes her eyes briefly but doesn't move Valarie away. "Oh, Baby," Barbie pants with barely an inch separating our lips, "I know I say this often but I so love this. You tear me up inside and I want it so bad all the time, it scares me." "Vaginal sex with you scares me," I tease back. "Will it be even better?" she draws in an even deeper, breast flaunting breath. "You never know, but you are so damn good at everything else, I can't imagine you doing anything but haunting my dreams forever," I say, as I coax her movements with my hands on her hips, flanks, and thighs. Barbie shows her appreciation by running her hand through my bangs and pushing my hair back so that she can cover my forehead, eyes and nose with kisses. "You like that romantic shit, don't you, Mercy-slut?" Rio grumbles playfully from the other side. "Yes," Mercy whispers. I know Rio well enough to know that when a spiteful reply isn't immediately forthcoming, she's dusting off (and unchaining) her Better Angel. Mercy is looking at Barbie Lynn and me, her head facing sideways as she lies on her back. Rio crawls on top of Mercy, prompting Mercy to open her legs, and locks her hands over her head to gaze down on her. "Your skin is so pure, your hair so black, and your eyes so full of passion, it breaks my heart to look at you, My Little Whore," Rio begins. She leans in and bites Mercy's earlobe, causing her victim to moan and buck up slightly. "Mercy, you give and give, making me so hot inside that I want to grab you and never let go." "Really?" Mercy gasps. "I, " "Don't get used to this," Rio growls with famished sexual enticement. "But, well, I want you to know that I hope all our children look just like you." Poor Rio was running out of material. It was terribly uncomfortable for me to show her where to go. I ran my hands over Barbie's body, which is an absolute torture I am forced to struggle through repeatedly. I start by massaging Barbie Lynn's tits, rotating three fingers over the nipples before rolling up the whole meaty breast in my palms. Barbie Lynn starts pushing back on my cock harder and grunting to the rhythm. "Damn, Mercy," Rio teases, "I love these titties." She accentuates by sucking the top third of one breast into her mouth and twirling her tongue around it. Vivian gives a visible shiver from her side of the bed; Valarie has done something to her beneath the sheets to turn her on. In the interim while I have been watching Rio and Mercy, Valarie has been working over Vivian, temple to shoulder, with her lips. Now I see Vivian pulling up her left (upper) leg until it is resting snugly against my upper ribs, giving someone easier access to her snatch. She's also put her left arm behind her back between herself and Valarie. I'm starting to wonder if there is something in the air filters of my place, some undiscovered aphrodisiac mold, fungi, or spores that turns nice, virtuous girls into promiscuous bi-sexual vixens. To the best of my knowledge and belief, neither Valarie nor Vivian had the slightest lesbian tendencies before they started coming to my room. I give Barbie Lynn's luscious orbs one final squeeze before migrating my hold down to her ass, giving each cheek a double-slap. Barbie Lynn exhales a huff of ecstatic relief as the impact travels through her. Rio smirks and follows suit, her hand reaching between their thighs, prying Mercy's leg up, up and up until Mercy's knee is nearly at her breast. "Your body is the first female form that I've ever lusted after," Rio murmurs as she rubs and pats Mercy's buttocks. "I think I've always wanted you, to taste you on my tongue, your scent strong in my mind and your sweet, sweet ass under my hand." Mercy brings one hand up to stroke Rio's cheek as she gives a strangled sob. No matter how much Mercy fears loving a woman, Rio can chisel that away and get her to love openly and freely. Barbie Lynn bounces up and slams down on me repeatedly as she is coming to the end of her fuse. "Zane, Zane, oh yeah," she pants. Vivian chooses this moment to sneak her climax in on the rest of us. I am vaguely aware of her biting her lip, rocking her hips under the sheets, and perspiration beginning to bead on her lower lip. "Holy God, Christ, and, my, hot damn, Val, ugh, Oh, God!" Vivian squeals as Valarie vigorously whips her hand in a tight pattern, cloaked from sight but obvious to the knowledgeable. Vivian's clit, lips, and the gateway to her cunt are all supers-stimulated. Valarie cools her down and holds her with enough strength to stop Vivian from rolling face-first into the sheets. "Jesus Loves Me!" Barbie Lynn screams one last time. Her body bows, her breasts thrust forward and up, bouncing so deliciously while her thighs tremble in climax. Her anal muscles rippling from sphincter toward my cockhead are grinding me toward orgasm. Finally, she collapses against me, still twitching and fighting for breath. With my arms wrapped around her, I roll us over toward Mercy and Rio, placing Barbie Lynn on her back. Barbie Lynn has her legs pulling back before I can even move to push them back. While I had never fully pulled out, I was nearly there. I shove my hips forward, forcing my cock back in hard, causing Barbie Lynn to grunt, her mouth to gape open, nostril flaring, as her eyes squeeze shut. "Oh, hell, yeah," Barbie Lynn gasps, "hammer me!" "Oh, fuck," Valarie moans, "I am so lonely." Vivian is still roaming her hands over Valarie's special place, picking up the pace as she's inspired by Barbie Lynn's passion. Rio expresses her perverse nature by going at Mercy slow while the rest of us are going gangbusters. "Here is my baby-smooth, tasty friend," Rio says as she kisses Mercy's bald twat. Rio pushes her thighs apart, her leg muscles taught while laying on the bed. Rio's restraint could only last so long. Every lick became more insistent, every nibble elicited a greater yelp, and every hip-thrust by Mercy into Rio's hungry mouth was more desperate. Valarie gives off one long, cavernous growl, then screams in between Vivian's shoulder blades. "Damn," Vivian whispers, as a sympathetic orgasmic shiver coasts through her body. I'm pushing up on my knuckles, Barbie Lynn's legs between them as I rise up until my bulbous head is fixed in her sphincter; then I slam down once more. She's rocking her hips up to maximize the depths I reach as she cries out, again and again and again. When I finally let go, I feel a volcano of lust, frustration, and fulfillment exploding out all at once. Barbie Lynn's head sways rapidly side to side as she comes unglued. "Zane, Jesus loves me, Jesus Loves Me!" she howls loud enough to shake the glass panels overhead. Those words ringing in my ears are going to haunt me in whatever church I go to. "Ugh, ugh, ugh, Love, right there, feels so good," Mercy drags out with shallow breathes. "Umm, Rio gurgles. Mercy has gotten quite wet and visibly aroused. I'm sure Rio has worked a finger or two into the action and in Mercy's ass. Mercy starts bouncing off the sheets as she hisses out the last of her restraint. "Mother-fucker-god-damn!" Mercy cries out. Rio growls, slurps, and sucks up Mercy's cunt juice while lapping up and down her slit. "That's my baby," Rio's fluid-marked face looks up from between Mercy's legs and smiles. "Was that good for you?" Rio asks? Mercy nods dreamily. "Are you a happy little whore?" Rio teases. Again, Mercy nods with pleasure. "Did you use the 'L' word, Ass-fuck slut?" Rio hardens. This time Mercy realizes her mistake and shudders. She raises her head and looks into Rio's eyes. "Yes. I'm sorry, Rio," Mercy mumbles. "Sorry isn't going to cut it this time, Bitch," Rio sneers. "Tomorrow morning you are going to get it coming and going, all day long." I am actually aware of what that threat means. "Okay," Vivian sighed, with more contentment than annoyance, "we've all cum so let's try and get some sleep." "I haven't gotten off yet," Rio chuckled. I knew what I had to do before someone else volunteered my services. "Come here, Rio." I smile to her and extend a hand. "Let me get another taste of my best bro." "I'll clean you up," Barbie Lynn grins up at me, as she wiggles her body around my own so she's on top again. She slithers down my torso, waggles my still mostly hard cock against her lips, then begins to take it into her mouth. Barbie Lynn's tongue licks along my shaft as she gobbles up more of my rod. I expect Rio to come over but Mercy, following along and lying on her belly, her head propped up on her hands and elbows as she watches my blonde angel's skilled fellatio, is a bonus. Rio ends up near my pillow, one hand on my chest and the other resting between Mercy's ass cheeks. Her fingers are definitely sliding in and out of Mercy's cunt. If Mercy is a bit sore, she's smart enough not to complain to her Mistress about it. "What do you have in mind, Zane?" Rio catches my gaze. "I want your teeth tearing up the mattress with your ass up in the air as I plow you through the headboard," I inform her. I make a focus group assessment of the situation by slipping a finger into her cunt, she's creaming already. For Rio, the greater physicality of the sex, the better it is for her. She'll let me have my foreplay and some good loving, but she goes wild over the raw, brutal act of sex itself. "I think you are ready to put that smile on her face," Barbie Lynn taunts Rio as she informs me she's finished. "Come with me," Barbie Lynn turns to Mercy. "My nipples need some attention. Can you do that for me?" After checking with Rio, Mercy gives a hungry look and lick of the lips at Barbie Lynn. Barbie crawls over Mercy to land on her back on the far side. Mercy twirls around and latches on to Barbie Lynn's left breast with such rapidity, it momentarily causes my visage to blur. "I want some of that," Valarie suddenly blurts out. She makes her own quick trek around Rio and me as we are still positioning ourselves to come swooping down on Barbie Lynn's right side. The right nipple disappears into our school biker girl's mouth with a decidedly audible smacking of the lips. Val's hand starts to stroke the inside of Barbie Lynn's thigh but Mercy's free hand reaches over and starts tweaking Valarie's closest nipple. Yes, I definitely must check the air filters. Rio resumes her sensually crawl my way and I give her a beguiling look to lure her in. I'm on her in a flash once she's close enough for me to make my move. She screeches like an alley cat but I've got a hand on the back of her head and the other on her hip as I slam her face first into the pillow. "Bastard," she screams through the fabric, but she's not following through with the anger. "Give it up, Bitch," I snarl back. My cock slides full-throttle all the way into her cunt on the first pass. Her cunt feels like slick, melted butter as I bottom out in her hole. At the same time, I let up on her head a bit. "Oh, fucking-A," Rio gasps. "Did someone sneak a gerbil up behind me or is it Needle-cock pretending he's a man?" I give her another powerful slam. "Oh, fuck, stop that." "What? Too much for the bitch whose had it all?" I tease Rio. "I swear, if I spit up, my ovaries," she chokes, "we are, going to have, words." "Words like I'm the best fuck you've ever had'?" I taunt Rio between packing her cunt as full and deep as I can. She's squealing and moaning yet thrusting back strongly against me all the way. I move my hand off Rio's hip and take hold of a breast, squeezing and torturing the nipple. She's snarling like a wounded tigress now. She possesses no acceptance of defeat, no surrender to exhaustion, and no fear of pain; in fact, what we are doing is a turn-on. I'm actually becoming beaten up by all the impact of my hips against Rio's ass. Within ten minutes, her fluids are all over her crotch and mine and she's actually starting to dribble down her thighs and onto the mattress. "Zane, don't forget she's your friend," Vivian sounds worried. "Shut, up," gasps Rio, violently and with passion. This is what Rio craves right now, a brutal fucking, and she's not going to be denied by Vivian's compassionate sensibilities. "Ah, fuck me, fuck me, break me, you bastard," Rio pants. "Hammer me, Bitch!" she screams, and that's all she can take. She has some sort of seizure, thrashing and pulsating all over the place. For the second time tonight I'm shooting my seed into a woman; this time Rio's cunt. I plunder Rio's barely responsive form for several more savage thrusts until I'm spent, collapsing with my full mass on top of her, which is not my normal form but I want Rio to feel warm and encompassed by me at this moment. I make sure that some of my weight is taken onto my knees and elbows so I don't suffocate my crazy best friend. "Zane," Rio pants a half-minute later, "that vice-like bump you were feeling with that horse-cock of yours, " "Yes?" I respond softly. I pull her hair out of her face as she turns it to the side so she can speak clearly. "That was my cervix, dumbass," she giggles. "Next time I want my uterus scrubbed, I'll call a fucking gynecologist." "Hardy-har-har," I chuckle. "Doing it with a Princess Barbie Pony Action Figure doesn't qualify as bestiality, you bimbo, and it certainly doesn't give you horse-cock experience." "Rio, you are kind of gross," Vivian chastises my buddy. "Thank you," Rio pants, "I knew you cared." "Behave, Rio, and next time it's going up your ass," I murmur into Rio's ear. "Oh, that's just cold, Bro," Rio pouts as she wiggles her tight ass against my semi-flaccid cock. "A person uses the threat of denying anal sex to a girl as a means of enforcing polite behavior," Vivian ponders as she flops on her back and stares up at the stars through the glass ceiling. "Worse, it makes sense to me. What has happened to my life?" "Rio, are you okay?" Mercy whispered. Rio turns her head the other way to address her lover: "My cunt is numb, my hips feel dislocated, I'll be pulling pillow fiber out of my teeth for a week, and I think he bruised a nipple, I feel fucking awesome." "I'd ask Zane to do it to me again but I know Vivian would choke me out," Rio snickers. "I know what I am going to do, though: In the morning I'm going to have Zane pounding your ass as hard as he fucked me right now so I can hear you cry and scream." "Um, okay," Mercy answered, trying not to sound too anxious. "Damn," Valarie mutters. "I hate being a virgin, and I'll pimp slap the first one who suggests anal sex. All I want to do is get laid without the repercussions." No one said anything for a minute. "I'll help with that," Barbie Lynn and I volunteered almost at the same time. "Bed," Vivian laid down the law. Thankfully, the rest of us were too tired to argue. POWER PLAYFULNESS At our five a.m. wake up, I swept up Valarie into a six-nine, her on top. Barbie quickly got behind Val and began licking my nose, the back of Val's cunt, and teasing her butthole with tiny probes. At first our biker babe resisted and grumbled with her mouth around my cock, but Barbie Lynn was as relentless as she was sensually enticing. Val returned the surprise by slamming her thighs together as the dam of her sexual frustration burst; she clamped her thighs tightly on my head and bucked so hard she bounced us off the bed as she screamed. There were no words to it; the scream was primal, violent and somewhat frightening. The other remarkable thing was that Barbie Lynn retained her hold on Valarie's ass cheeks and kept tongue-fucking Val's anus. Valarie's mouth had released my cock seconds before orgasm. She gave it an occasional swipe of the tongue until her last orgasmic quivers stopped. I motioned for Barbie to let up and when she did, Valarie collapsed beside me. "Oh," Valarie panted, "that was good. That should tide me over until lunch time." "Showers, everyone," Vivian reminded us. There were a few groans but cleanliness was an inevitable bonus for all of us, and Rio, if we bundled her up and took her squirming, griping form with us. Rio gained a measure of revenge by announcing to my shower buddies that I had an unresolved morning blowjob begging for attention. Brandi elbowed two girls aside to bend over at the waist and take me in. Opal was kind enough to stroke Brandi's kitty from behind, getting us off almost at the same time. Opal gave me several finger scoops of Brandi's nectar to slake my sexual thirst. I was busy getting a taste of Opal with a bonus clitoris massage when Iona dragged me away. Outside the showers, I bent down, wrapped my arms beneath Iona's towel-clad posterior, and lifted her up so that she was looking down at me. "Thank you," I smiled at her. "You've always got my back." "You are welcome," she beamed happiness back down at me, "and it is my pleasure, Zane. Do you think we can go motorcycle shopping Thursday?" "Sure, that won't be, oh fuck, it's Wednesday," I gasped. I realized I had confused Iona. "I told Erin I would call her Monday and totally lost track, of a woman," I blinked. "I don't think that's ever happened before." "You have a ton of things going on," Iona comforted me while hovering above me still. "I think she'll understand." "Thanks again, Iona," I sighed as I let her slide down my body. "Can I sleep with you tonight?" she asked. "Of course," I grinned. "Are you going to give me your scrumptious behind?" Iona's smile grew even brighter. "You will have to wait and see," she teased me before racing off to her room. I made my way up to my room for a short workout and a few minutes meditating. I was peripherally aware of Paige coming into my room and rummaging around (i.e., she wanted me to know she was there without noticeably ruining my concentration). The main distraction was Rio and Mercy getting dressed. They had both long since moved all their belongings into my place; that wasn't a problem because of the massive space I had. The problem was, it is insane to put two pseudo-lesbian young lovers who are new to their relationship into a space where they are constantly tantalized by each other's naked or scantily clad bodies. Mercy couldn't resist reaching out shyly and touching Rio's lesser erogenous zones. Rio couldn't resist bending Mercy over the bed, licking her from behind, and/or spanking her, just a few taps but that hardly helped them get their clothes on. Today, Rio added the extra complication of inserting a vibrating ass plug into Mercy's ass and taping a vibrating egg against her clit. She was finishing up the work when I felt a glimmer of evil intellect enter my mind. "Hey, Rio, why don't you do the same thing?" I suggested. "Are you going to ring my bell?" she teased me. "No. I actually thought you would share with Mercy," I clarified. "Share what?" Valarie questioned as she entered the room. "They are each going to have a vaginal and anal stimulation device, theoretically with the other having the controlling mechanism," Paige stated. She held up two pairs of bra & panties for me to examine, gossamer peach bow-knot or strawberry crotchless/cupless. "I don't know, Babe," I mused. "I'd have to see you naked to make a determination." "You've seen me naked, my Boy-toy," Paige gave a wicked turn of the lip. "I, I have no recollection of it," I confessed. "Maybe it was that blow Rio gave me upside my head. I guess I need to see your nude, nubile form once more." "Oh, my poor baby," Paige pouted. "Someone as helpless as you cannot afford to lose any of your already inadequate brain power. I really should help you out." She was knee crawling up the bed, unbuttoning her shirt. When she was only a few feet in front of me, she sat down and worked her skirt off as well. She wasn't naked; she still had her knee-high socks on. "You really ought to cover those little boobies up," Rio taunted Paige. "Someone is going to think Zane has a middle-schooler up here." Paige's head turned and I could feel her anger, but before she could spew forth her vitriol, I latched on hungrily to her closest teat and sucked it in on one gulp. Paige gasped and thrust her body against me. Soon her hands were running through my hair as I soaked up her tender flesh and swelling nipple. I also stroked my hands down her body. My left hand drifted from right below her suckled breast, along her smooth, flat stomach, before dropping south until I cupped her sex. My right hand went down the ribs and around to her ass. I weighed and fondled her small yet firm buttocks, then reached between her cheeks and rubbed over her sphincter without pressuring it. "Paige," I said quietly as I released her nipple, "today go with the peach." "Umm, maybe I will," Paige teased me with a nibble to my neck, "after all, there are a very few things you are good at, and female sexiness is one of them." "Paige?" I continued. She was a little more suspicious now. Our relationship had always been rocky. "I appreciate you giving me some space the last few days," I thanked her. "It has really helped me get my head on straight." Paige's eyes lit up once more. She had sacrificed (in her mind), and I had noticed and was grateful. "I'm surprised you noticed," she started to say, then abruptly softened. "You mean a lot to me, you really do." I put my hands on each side of her jaw and pulled her into close face-to-face contact. "Paige, bouncy, bouncy," I whispered into her ear. Paige gasped slightly and twisted her head to make eye contact, looking somewhat expectant. "Meet me for lunch and I'm going break that ass open," I taunted her quietly. Rocky the squirrel must have snuck up on me and then clubbed me with Bullwinkle the Moose because her response was, "Okay," while she looked at me with a mixture of fear and lust. "Are you sure?" I was curious. "If that is what you really want," Paige responded. "Oh, I don't want to do it until you feel ready, Paige. We'll wait," I confessed. "I will have to think of something else to do with you at lunch today." All Paige did was grin in a very mysterious way. She held that look until Valarie put a hand on each ass cheek and pulled them apart. This time, someone had snuck up on Paige. "Hey!" Paige gasped. "What are you doing?" "Encouraging you to get dressed," Valarie chuckled. "Otherwise, Zane and I are going to slip one finger into your pretty little cunt and rub them in and out like a buzz-saw. Then we will smear your juices over your face and force you to go to breakfast smelling like sex." My girls really need to work on their 'discouraging' speeches. "I should get dressed," Paige hiccupped with reluctance. "Peaches, got it." Paige scurried away and began dressing while eyeing Valarie and me. "Oh, yeah," I joked with Valarie, "that terrified her." "Ask her about the party; then it will make sense," Valarie snickered. In the annals of female migration through my bedroom, Vivian wasn't really sneaking up on anyone, but her presence didn't send up shockwaves of alarm either. "Zane, we need to be heading out soon," she greeted me. She greeted Valarie by putting a hand on her shoulder and rubbing it. Quickly enough, Paige got dressed, Rio and Mercy got their acts together, and we gathered up Iona, Barbie Lynn, Brandi and Opal before heading down to join the rest of feminine humanity that constituted my dorm. My old (way back in Chapter 3) buddy Easter Valentine had me rate the top ten Christian Rock bands which was made much more difficult by my utter disbelief that there was actually something called Christian Rock, color me biased. Breakfast passed uneventfully, as did Assembly, before things began happening. First off, I touched base with Erin now that she was most likely awake. "Hey Erin, this is Zane," I started off, "and I am so sorry that I blanked on my promise to call you. Can I make it up to you and Gerry?" "Oh,um,okay, I guess," she drew me out. "What do you have in mind?" That was a good question; what was I going to do to make it up to them? "Have you ever heard of the SYFY network?" I asked. "Sure, Eureka, Warehouse 13, Being Human, and Lost Girl," she answered. "Saturday night they are showing Ice Spiders versus Snow Beast, I know, great title; right? And I'd like it if you two would come over to my house, get some pizza, and watch it with me," I offered. "Let me think about it, yeah, we'd be glad to come by and eat something," I could feel her grin coming through the airwaves. "Okay, one more question; how do you feel about three-ways?" "I've never been part of one but I'm willing to give it a try," Erin sighed happily, "if I must." "It's a date, then," I agreed, and after trading 'goodbye's', I hung up and caught my crew gathering outside. As I made my approach I saw Heaven give me a look and a smile then turn on Rio. "Handmaiden's Duty, Rio," Heaven beamed maliciously. "What do you want, you old cow?" Rio sneered right back. "Give me your controllers." Heaven grinned as she held out her hand to Rio. Mercy gulped (the two boxes controlled her vibrators) and Rio looked stunned. "Hand them over." Technical Mercy would have been immune, except it was Rio with her controllers. "How?" Rio mumbled. She looked around for support but found some sympathetic eyes, not comrades in arms. She angrily slapped Heaven's palm as she handed them over. Heaven handed those two small white devices to Hope, then reached out toward Rio once more. "Give me the ones Mercy is holding for you, too," Heaven snickered. Rio snarled before motioning for Mercy to hand them over to her. In short order, she handed those over to Heaven as well. "I'll be expecting those back at ten o'clock (one hour from now)," Rio growled. "Of course," Heaven chuckled. "I'll see you then, Sweet-cheeks." "God damn it," Rio leaned into me and whispered, "who, ah, hmm, betrayed me?" Apparently, someone was playing with her controllers. By the way Mercy developed a little tremble and a blissful smile, someone was having a go at her too. "I swear to God, it wasn't me," I shrugged. "Well, it wasn't Iona, she'd never do that to Mercy," Rio mused, then, "Paige! That little cunt did this to me." "I don't know if she did it or not," I pleaded, "but please don't kill her." Rio was several seconds in responding as she wobbled slightly and skipped a step. "Two fucking vibrators," Rio glared at me. "What were you thinking?" "Liking it?" I teased. "Love it," Rio gasped. "Mercy?" "Mumph," Mercy gasped. Added to the smile on her lips, I had to see that as an affirmative. Ms.  Goodswell's class was good but what came afterwards was far more amusing. "What do you mean, you traded them to some random upperclassmen?" Rio snarled. "Oh, I had to explain what they did. When I told them they were inside you, they jumped at the chance," Hope nodded serenely to the furious Rio. "How am I, oh, oh, oh, yeah, supposed to get them back?" Rio fumed. "Maybe they will run out of power soon," Mercy put a positive spin on things. "I put long-life batteries in those bitches this morning," Rio grumbled. "They can go for 24 hours of continuous use." "I insisted that they be returned to Zane at nine this evening," Christina said in a detached manner. "I swear, I'm going to tie down all you bitches one weekend and then we will see who's so superior," Rio seethed; "Dildos and lube all around. Arrgh," Rio growled. She staggered over to the closest wall and put her hand against it to stop from falling over. "Some whore just discovered the '10' setting," she gasped. "I was going to say something cruel," Hope stated, "but now it would be redundant." "Rio and Mercy, stay hydrated," Chastity suggested. "I'll pick you up between classes to, decrease your difficulties." "Thanks, Chastity," I patted her arm. "Heaven and I will watch after Mercy," Christina chimed in; being surprisingly helpful to someone she had shown no interest in before now. Christina was all about responsibility and since this was Heaven's stunt (or so it seemed), she was doing 'the right thing'. "Classes everyone," Vivian insisted. Thankfully I had one capable adult in my life. I hoped that me turning her into a vibrant bi-sexual didn't change that. Today I received an hour's warning of my lunch appointment with Doctor Victoria Scarlett, our beloved Vice-Chancellor. I let Paige know that I had to postpone our get-together. "It is good to see you, she was going to say 'Mr. Braxton' but she was sensitive to my preferences, ", Zane. How are things going on this first full day of our experiment?" "Well, Doctor Scarlett, let me say that you are even more deftly beautiful than you are deceptively manipulative," I countered. "As to your question, my efforts to corrupt your intentions precede a pace." She smiled, shook her head, and walked around the table, stopping when she was in front of my chair-bound form. "Come now; the tribal elections have begun. Seven leaders have been named and the rest of the tribes should do the same tonight," she informed me. "What were you able to accomplish yesterday?" Oh, so that was today's tune. I stood up and cupped her facial cheeks. "What do you think you are doing?" Victoria Scarlett mumbled. I pressed in and kissed her, leading by example as opposed to words. Her hands pressed against me. She wasn't shoving so I didn't stop. Victoria didn't even make a token effort to keep her mouth shut, though her tongue refused to play an overly active part in my French kiss. My hands didn't wander and my body didn't thrust against her. "I think I'm working out our relationship, your Kahina to my Pelagius," I responded, our faces only inches apart. Victoria rested her hands on my hips so I placed mine on her shoulders. "Kahina, have you been reading my works?" she smiled far too seductively. You would figure that a dedicated, righteous Christian theoretician would have body proximity issues. Not Victoria, damn it. "The only things hotter than smart, sexy chicks are smart, sexy, and sensually lethal chicks," I allowed. "This could be construed as sexual harassment or inappropriate sexual behavior," Doctor Scarlett grinned, all bold and gracious. "A 'no' on your part would suffice," I assured her. "Not you, Zane; me," she corrected me. "You are my student, after all, and my hands are on your hips." I arched an eyebrow; she kept smiling so I went back in for a kiss. Three minutes later I had worked over her lips, eyelids, cheeks, jawline, and the left side of her neck, and it was getting me nowhere except closer to a sexual-deprivation induced coma. "Damn, you are good," I panted. "I think this is something we need to work through first before we can constructively move on," she related patiently. She was trying to break me with her highly developed self-control. I had to figure out what the hell I was doing wrong. Overt sexual contact, breasts, buttocks, pubic area, was off-limits, or was it? Lingerie; why did Scarlett wear racy lingerie? I slipped my arms around Victoria's waist and pulled her off the desk and into me. I caught a slight, over-confident smirk on her lips. We started kissing again, Scarlett somewhat passively, as always, and me out to disguise my intentions. She didn't protest when my fingers wandered below the beltline or when I traced out the very risqu lines of her panties. Fighting the urge to yank them up and make her squirm, I languidly let my fingers dig into her skirt and hook the bottom elastic of her panties, then slowly wiggled the fabric gently. She gave me a few uninterrupted seconds before I sensed her inner struggle begin; did she stop me and give me this round in the struggle, a psychological edge over her, or did she see if she could tough it out. She went with the spiritual resistance. Once I had my fingers inside, I could move freely forward and back. I avoided the cunt and the bottom of her ass. I was able to make the bottom of her panties a very tight fit, allowing the thrumming of my tugs to vibrate along her most sensitive spots. Victoria's nostrils flared, her breath caught, and after a daring but futile attempt to distract me with her tongue, she broke our lip embrace and put her head on my shoulder. I immediately stopped what I was doing and waited for her to speak. "Oh, this is not good," she muttered to herself. Then after a pause, "Thank you for stopping. How did you know what to do?" "Where to begin," I answered. "You are beautiful, passionate, and a woman who appreciates fine fabrics on your skin. I stopped because I'll fight you with every tool I can, but I won't violate you," I added. Victoria looked up into my eyes. "You see me as Kahina?" she changed the subject. "You have this tragic, fervent yet noble character that charges with a burning blade into the face of adversity," I waxed romantic. "The last Christian Queen of the Berbers who, when faced with the inevitability of her defeat, sent her sons to the enemy for their protection while she sought death in battle against the Islamic invaders." "I'm not very martial," she countered. "Ah, but in the Greco-Roman culture our faith grew up in, you would be considered a Patrician's daughter, versed in Socrates and Virgil as well as St. Augustine," I made my argument. "Besides, martial valor is in the job of the tribesmen; it is the job of the Queen to provide leadership, hopefully in the right direction. You are a smart damn cookie so the comparison is apt." "Thank you." She then pursued her agenda. "What have you been up to?" "I'm creating a democratic system with your tribal leaders as the parliament, a selected group of girls to become judges, and another group to become enforcers of the rule of law," I responded. "Technically, I remain the guy at the top of the pyramid, so that's a victory for you." Her look told me I hadn't made an end-run around her Grand Plan, which was pretty unsettling. I was missing something. "Why do you let me put my hands on you?" I questioned. "I can't take pleasure in the mannerisms of a proficient young man?" she countered. "Care to prove that?" I challenged. I had her in a minor trap of her own connivance. "Very well," she bowed with a smile on her lips. "Turn around and lean over your desk, if you dare?" I directed. She accepted my orders and did as requested. I knelt down behind her and placed my hands on her ankles before rubbing upward in slow but strong finger-furrows. I teased my way up to her stocking line, grinding the silk hose into her skin, making her flesh shiver from the stimulation. I had her trembling by the time I migrated upwards to the elastic at the top of the stocking, past the garter, and onto her pliant warm thigh. As I brushed against the tuck of her butt-cheek and thigh, Victoria moaned. "Stop," she whispered. "Do you really want me to stop," I inquired, "or do you want me to stop before you reveal something?" I ceased my activities, waiting on her reply. "You know the answer," she panted briefly. I moved off and up, placing my hands on her shoulders and pulling her back up to my chest. "Can you promise me to consider the possibility that a woman wants something outside the realm of motherhood and spiritual purity?" I suggested. Doctor Scarlett turned around while remaining in my grasp. "The body may feel a certain way but you must resist those impulses from the Devil," she told me. "Fortunately, you are the only one on campus that can elicit such response." "Huh? Seriously, I can only imagine the kind of sexual trouble the women on campus can get into, unless you don't believe in Sapphic impulses either," I grinned. "Homosexuality is a myth," Victoria stated firmly. "There are misdirected desires and abnormal passions, but men don't lie with men and women don't lie with women, except as a perversion of the normal, natural order of things." Oh, here we go again, I groaned. "I hate that you would think that way. It stands in opposition to God's Love in my eyes and portrays you as a weak creature given over to the Devil's lure of fearing, hating, and even denying what is mostly a good thing, namely, compassion for one another," I sighed. "How can you have compassion for instincts you can hardly understand?" she posed. "I've been with men before," I informed her; "on more than one occasion." "What?" Victoria was stunned. She struggled to get away from my arms and I let her. "You have such a strong ardor for so many female students. How can you be tricked into perverse practices?" On the bright side, I'd finally gotten under her cool exterior; on the downside, I had shaken her faith in me. "Can I incite a rational moment, please?" I said calmly. She was halfway around the desk when she stopped and nodded. "Okay," the Vice-Chancellor responded with a careful edge. "How am I any different than the man you thought me to be two minutes ago?" I led off. "I certainly liked your body and you appeared to appreciate the touches I gave you. How does anything I did with anyone else before touching you matter? You are very attractive to me. Am I now repulsive to you?" "Those are multiple questions," Victoria seemed suddenly weary. "You are the same person you were a minute ago, but I had forgotten that you are a boy, not a man, and boys have infatuations with unusual, rebellious ideas. With your Father dead, it seems you were rudderless. You are definitely not repulsive to me. I admire you, but you also reveal yourself to be immature. Would you please leave? I need to reconsider some things." "No," I replied. "No? No, you won't leave, or no, I've committed some grievous error?" she inquired. "You believe I'm a boy, you don't believe in homosexuality," I answered, though I fondly day-dreamed of Victoria and Barbie Lynn, or Hudson Lane, the school lawyer, in a lesbian tryst, "but I don't want your newfound doubts in me making you change, specifically how you treat yourself." "You want me to keep wearing lingerie," she sliced to the heart of the matter. "It is a simple pleasure you allow yourself, the only one I can detect. I will certainly be a source of displeasure for you in the future; don't let me do you harm over my careless confession," I pleaded. "My indulgence is a form of weakness," she argued. "Wrong," I fought back. "It is a 'fuck you' to temptation. It makes you stronger. Doctor Scarlett, I have never had a woman hold out as long as you did this afternoon. If you change the way you dress, then I win and you lose because I've proven you don't have faith in your own convictions." Victoria was contemplative for a moment, frowning, then slowly letting a smile win out. "Come here," she beckoned. I came up and she kissed me, not a fevered rush but a smooth, subtle thing, driven by curiosity more than passion. "You are going to require more work than I imagined," she eventually commented. "Have you forgiven me?" I asked. "Have I returned to being a good boy?" "Yes and yes." "Does this mean I can cop a feel? Ya know, a freebie?" I hoped. She kept looking up at me as she studied my features. "You are going to be a whole lot of work, Zane," she answered, "and no, no free fondling of my private parts." I growled up at the ceiling. "Damn it, woman," I snarled. "Stop trying to break me to your will." "Mr. Braxton," she patted me on the cheek, "I have no idea what you are talking about." Yeah, right. We ve Come So Far The Festivities Committee broke up once more. I was helping Mrs. Jaspers to her car since she'd taken a tumble in her home and her ankle was a bit sore. I had to return to the conference room to find my usual crowd of women overstaying the meeting, Mrs. Sahara Penny, Kendra Bainbridge, and Rochelle Wellington. "Hello, Kendra. Those frills around your collar are very enticing to the eye," I jibed. "Did you come tonight with some ulterior motive?" "No!" she snapped. "I am not that kind of woman." "Technically, if you've had children, you are that kind of woman," Sahara chimed in. "I am not a fornicator," Kendra defended herself. "No one said you were," Rochelle smiled at her rival's discomfort. "All Zane did was give you a compliment and a gentle teasing." "After his 'date' with the Reverend's wife, I am not sure any of us can be considered safe from Mr. Braxton's intentions," Kendra spat. Sahara's laugh was musical. "Yes, Kendra, I was positively scandalized that Zane would approach me with such blasphemous intentions as the Gospel of Judas, Pistis Sophia, and the origins of God's true word," Sahara grinned too sweetly. "I am sure that is what was on his mind," Kendra insinuated. She was probably coming to regret being tricked into talking to the Preacher's wife. "What would that be?" Rochelle prodded. Kendra's mouth gaped. "Well, we all know what Mr. Braxton is up to at school," she rebounded snootily. "Oh, so you have seen his website," Sahara pointed out. Kendra turned a deep shade of red. "Well, I, with everything going on," she sputtered, "we need to know how to keep our daughters safe." "Oh, Kendra, I agree," Rochelle smiled my way. "I think we can all agree that young Ms. Masters (Barbie Lynn) was lucky to escape Zane's clutches." "Yes," Sahara added sternly, "apparently she's been lucky on a nightly basis." Hey, now! Why is everybody picking on me? Half the time she's on top. "You make it sound like she enjoys, that, what he does to her," Kendra fought back. "Yes," sighed Sahara, "I can understand how horrible it must be to be crying out God's name while having sex." "Several times a night," Rochelle added. "I have such sympathy for the poor girl." "You do know that it is plausible Ms. Masters seeks me out for our mutual enjoyment," I groused. "After all, it's my bedroom and my shower we are seen in." "The Devil is known to be a great seducer," Kendra countered. "You've lured her into debauched behavior." "Oh, well, Kendra, you are on to me. I guess my deep-seated lust for you will remain unquenched," I groaned. "That's not fair," Rochelle chided me. "You are neither a tool of the Devil nor prone to give up on anything you desire, so apologize to Kendra for the sarcasm." "I apologize for making light of your concerns, Mrs. Bainbridge," I nodded toward Kendra. "Very well," Kendra snorted. "Perhaps counseling with Pastor William would do you some good." Oh, like that was going to happen; I was right in ol' Bill's preferred age range and gender. Added to that, I had sort of threatened to have him murdered for threatening Sahara Monday night. "I would prefer to be guided by someone I didn't have a desire to toss out of a fast moving aircraft," I allowed myself to say. Kendra gasped, Sahara became very still, and Rochelle choked. "Wha-, what makes you say that?" Sahara asked cautiously. "He insulted my Uncle Tim within the hearing of Aunt Jill," I answered. "I really couldn't stand Uncle Tim but would rather put my hand in a garbage disposal than let someone cause her pain. He apologized at that time but I have not forgotten." "Have you ever worried about being a bit too bloody?" Rochelle cautioned me. "I ask a lot out of life; I risk more than most and I accept that the price I pay may be higher," I replied. "I believe in the Rule of Law and I believe in punishing the wicked who attempt to abuse the rules for their own agenda. If the price is blood, then blood it shall be; if I can get a heartfelt repentance instead, so much the better." "Aren't you simply forcing your world view on everyone else?" Rochelle questioned me. "Absolutely," I admitted. "My world view is relatively easy to understand; keep to your word, accept that others will be different, and live and let live. I would prefer that my friends and I be left alone. If I have to use physical force to protect my views, I can live with that." "What of the Christian virtues of forgiveness and 'do no harm'?" Sahara countered. "I make a lousy Christian at times," I looked embarrassed. "You seem to have very little time for Christ in your life," Kendra responded snidely. "Really?" I muse. "I go to church six days a week, I get quizzed on some sort of Bible lore at least twice a day, and I come to this meeting once a week. I know sin is not a balancing act but I think I do some good." "Maybe if you gave less energy to carnal pursuits and more to Christian righteousness, you wouldn't have so many sins to balance," Kendra pronounced. "And here we are, three women of relatively good looks, discussing righteousness and virtue, Kendra," Sahara smiled. Kendra gawked at her. "Yes, I imagine I looked something like you look now when I saw Zane's devious trap Monday night." "What do you mean? We are talking about Zane's sexual lifestyle," Kendra rebutted. "No. You are talking about Zane's sex life; the rest of us are talking about sin, forgiveness, and virtue," Rochelle smiled in a superior manner. "But, but you, both, Kendra stammered. "I asked Zane about his world view," Rochelle corrected. "And I asked him about Christian forgiveness and 'do no harm', as I recall," Sahara smiled sedately. Kendra gaped like a fish out of water. "Yes, but now that I know about Mrs. Bainbridge's obsession with my bedroom antics, I'll make sure to show her more attention," I nodded. "I mean, there is an attraction that mature women possess that girls cannot equal. There was a long silence that followed that statement. "Zane, you wouldn't dare do, all, all of those lewd acts to one of us, would you?" Kendra stuttered. "I can't imagine what would make me refuse consensual sex with anyone in this room," I grinned at her. "But we are married women," Rochelle teased me. "Thus consensual, I don't want to break up a happily married couple but I don't like seeing a woman trapped in a relationship solely because she thinks there are no other options," I explained. "Women deserve to be free, and quite frankly, unhappily married women have built up an exciting reservoir of carnal energy." "Zane, I find it difficult to believe that a young man as kind to this committee as you have been would make us disrobe one article of clothing, run your rough hands over every inch of our bodies, and then force us to perform all kinds of vile sexual acts on and for you," Rochelle kept taunting me. My guess was that she was really pissed on learning her husband was having an affair with one of his employees in the Mayor's office. "You wouldn't do that to Kendra, would you, Zane?" Sahara quizzed me. "What do you mean?" I seemed confused. "She's one of the hottest MILF's in the parish; all the guys in Bible Study say so." "Wha, what?" Kendra gulped. "Milf, Mothers I'd Like to Fornicate with," I told her. "I know that!" Kendra snapped, clearly disoriented and unsure of herself. "Certainly you've noticed the men's eyes follow you around the church every Sunday after service?&

To be continued in part 23, By FinalStand for Literotica. Christian College Sex Comedy: Part 23 Zane Spars with the minds of the Faculty In 30 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the podcast at Explicit Novels. "You are quite the James T. Kirk in this Undiscovered Country of Freedom Fellowship University," Doctor Scarlett eventually spoke up. I didn't know who that was but I had a feeling it wasn't a modern Christian author. "Who?" I asked. Doctor Scarlett blinked. "James T. Kirk, Captain of the Starship Enterprise, from Star Trek," she seemed confused that I didn't know who this guy was. "Wait, you mean that bald guy? I thought he was named something else," I wondered. "That's Jean Luc Picard, who was the captain in the second series called Star Trek: The Next Generation," she corrected me. It was somewhat amazing to me that the Vice Chancellor was a science fiction buff. Who knew? "Oh, wait, you mean that guy that Chris Pine plays?" I thought I figured it out. "Thank you; he is kind of hot." "No," she corrected, "that is the new series of movies, but it is the same character." I nodded as the pieces slowly came together. "Ah, the Green Orion Slave Girl," I finally clued in, "and that black babe who later showed up on Heroes." Sensing Doctor Scarlett's exasperation I added, "I remember ladies better than I do men." "Obviously," she noted. "I did not call you to my office to discuss trivia, Mr. Braxton, " "Please, call me Zane," I interrupted then, "and I apologize for interrupting. May I call you Victoria?" "Doctor Scarlett will do," she shook her head. "As I was saying, I asked you here to discuss your integration into this school so that we can avoid some of the problems experienced in the past." I looked at her; she looked back, expecting me to say something, but I didn't. "As the sole eligible male on campus, what do you see as your role here?" she pressed on. "Uhmm, Doctor Scarlett, I am a student here, that is my role. Are you implying that I'm looking for something special because I am a guy?" I questioned. "Mr. Braxton, Zane, you are a guy, you have remodeled your personal quarters into a bordello, and there is evidence of you having sexual relations with multiple female students," she responded. "How is that not 'something special'?" "The administration stuck me in the attic, then told me I could set up my room any way I saw fit," I clarified. "The vast majority of my room is set aside for my fellow freshmen to have a place to unwind and relax." "I've never violated any girl's Purity Pledge, though a few have reconsidered it after meeting me," I admitted. "I've been in a few fights, I'm not proud of that. I did as much as I could do to resist Chancellor Bazz, I am proud of that. What she was doing was ten shades of wrong and I don't run away from a righteous fight." "Zane, I am not condemning you for defending the women in your life, nor for having a healthy libido," Doctor Scarlett stunned me with a lack of blame being tossed my way. I worked that over in my mind until I figured out what was going on. "So, do you have any recommendations on what I could do differently to fit in?" I inquired. The problem was, this wasn't about me fitting in. She wasn't lauding my sexuality and she was trying to throw me off-center by the little annoying phone call game, followed by this sympathetic interpretation of my school life to date. I knew she wanted to manipulate me but I didn't know why. I had to get her to tip me her hand so I could figure out what the game was. "Are you familiar with the concept of Christian Female Tribalism?" Scarlett opened. "I get the feeling it has something to do with the six framed articles from non-Christian magazines hanging on your wall," I noted. "Also, you are clearly the darling of the Christian media," I added, as I tallied up the dozen other articles attesting to her fame. "I haven't dedicated my life's work for the sake of popularity," Doctor Scarlett smiled (sure, right). "I am looking into the relationship between Jesus Christ's teachings, men and women. My research has led me to believe that women exist in a more spiritually pure form when solely in the company of other women." "Where do men fit into this picture?" I questioned. "Men provide the ultimate guidance, of course, as well as their roles in procreation and raising male children past the age of eleven," Doctor Scarlett related. "Women are happiest and most effective when they form their own networks and hierarchies." "You don't date much, do you?" I had to ask. "Mr. Braxton, I have lived a chaste life in pursuit of my studies," she answered. "Outside of your father, Victoria, have you ever lived under a man's guidance?" I wondered. It was a calculated move to use her Christian name. "It is Ms. Scarlett, Zane, and I have relied on a variety of pastors for spiritual guidance over the years," she stated. "Okay," I stood up, "we have nothing to discuss then." She didn't yell at me as I headed for the door. "You've never been in love and I can tell you have a poor estimation of romance." "You would be incorrect, Zane; I have been in love but I chose purity over sinfulness," she countered. "My faith is based on God being love, without reservation, restriction, or guilt. I know exactly where you are coming from," I said with my hand on the doorknob as I looked over my shoulder. "You are seeking validation for the mistakes you've made over your lifespan and you are willing to sacrifice the young ladies at the school." I was getting angry. "I was hoping for something better but it seems like a different conductor but the same old music, Doc." "That is not so," Doctor Scarlett stayed calm. "I am not attempting to drive you or any other student off campus. I am not your enemy." "That is simple enough to resolve," I nodded. "What is your perfect women's society view and response to promiscuity?" "Lust is a sin; women should resist sin as vigorously as men," she countered. "The seven deadly sins are Catholic, not the words of Jesus," I grinned. "In fact, the first list wasn't even created until the 4th century after Christ." "That does not make them any less valid," Doctor Scarlett offered. "What is the cut-off date for Bible legitimacy?" I turned and faced her. "1000 Ace? Today, here, and now? Who is to say I can't create new scripture, then?" "I apologize, Zane," she mused, "but you hardly seem to be someone touched by the hand of God with a gift of prophecy." "Do I have to lay on hands to prove it?" I beamed. I had finally been able to interject sexual innuendo into the conversation. She didn't respond like a damn normal person, no. Doctor Scarlett stood up, walked around her desk and came to a stop barely a foot from me. I am not so easily deterred. I leaned into the doctor until my nose was at the crux of her neck and shoulder. I used my cheek to push her hair aside and sniff my way up to her ear. She was really ironclad in her control of her passions. I trailed my nose up to her eyebrow ridge, circled over the forehead, down past the other eye, and over to her lips. We didn't kiss but I did get what I wanted. "How about I call you Victoria when we are alone?" I tested her. "No; call me Ms./Dr./Vice-Chancellor Scarlett," she corrected. "You are my student." "Cool," I shrugged. "Is there anything more for us to discuss?" "I would like to discuss my plans for this school and the role I think you can take on," Scarlett persisted. "We've had that discussion, I chose a messy democracy over any sweet-smelling dictatorial existence," I declared. "Your belief system stands for the denial of self-determination." "It does not, Zane. If anything, it gives women more power over their lives," she explained. "But the basis for your system retains men in charge, with the added 'benefit' of women being more removed from the critical decision-making processes," I replied patiently. "Don't you enjoy being in charge of so many women here at FFU, Zane? You have certainly convinced dozens of women to do what you want, even to their own detriment," Doctor Scarlett drove her point home. I laughed; I couldn't help myself. "I might enjoy being in charge if any of the women would give me the opportunity, Victoria. Honestly, I allow the women here to safely experiment with their sexually," I explained. "Thing is, I really don't mind because I help these ladies become more comfortable in their skins, with their desires, and allow them to share things they have discovered about themselves. If I was with only one woman, what peer could she talk to? You've put your blinders on to the fact that women want to examine those urges they all have," I proposed. "They don't surrender to lust; they acknowledge it, explore those frontiers, and then decide how to use that knowledge," I continued. "Most of the women in my life here don't lose their virginity. I think by challenging their Purity Pledge, they become stronger in their convictions. I'm not taking any choice from them; they are exercising their own will concerning their bodies." "If you deny the male role in the Christian relationship, doesn't that emasculate you?" Victoria asked, and I noticed she didn't chastise me for using her first name this time. "I'm not going to fall into the trap of mistaking sexual activity for true masculine activity," I headed her off. "I would like to think I mediate disputes, help with our studies, and protect them physically if needed. I don't like to fight, but I will fight to defend my ladies. So no, I don't feel less of a man because I listen to, occasionally obey, and always try to respect women." "I see your point, Zane, and I will give it some consideration," Doctor Scarlett lied to me. "Oh, wow, that condescension was unwarranted, Doc," I shook my head. "You would never accept that I could be the man who would alter your lifelong path. You have an unrealistic expectation of what that man would be like but it allows you to pursue your goal without male guidance and still be a good Christian woman." "So now you think I am a hypocrite?" She gave a patient smile. "Nope. I think you believe the theory you are selling, Vic. You are clever, attractive, but somewhat annoyed that your looks give your ideas less credence though you still use your looks when needed. You are manipulative because you are sincere and you want to keep the argument based on rational discourse, not passion." "That would make you my opposite," she observed. "You embrace your gut instincts and allow your emotions to override what you think is the safe course of action. It is a pity you perceive me to be your enemy; I thought we could do great things together." "You are the enemy, but you are not the bad guy; I respect those who have faith, even if it is faith in something I don't agree with," I pointed out. "You believe women are better off without male interference in their lives. I believe there is nothing better in Creation than a man and woman in harmony with one another," I stated. "Don't you believe in safeguarding these young ladies' souls?" Victoria pressed on. "If the ladies were children I could understand your interference," I countered, "but they are adults, capable of making adult decisions, and you do them a disservice by stealing their destinies from them." "You see yourself as a better alternative?" she remained serenely calm, that's so hot. "Lady, my life is a mess," I grinned. "I have a hard time figuring out what I'm going to do much less what I should tell someone else to do." "But you are making the decision that my solution is the wrong one. How do you justify that?" she countered my grin with a smile of her own. "Just because I don't have the right answer doesn't mean I don't recognize the wrong one when I see it," I reposted. "As I said earlier, we have nothing to discuss." "Very well," she allowed, "but please tell me what the whole sniffing thing was about." "It was more than sniffing, Doctor Scarlett. I was looking for your pulse reaction, sweat, what kind of perfume and body soap you use, as well as facial tics and eye dilation." "That is certainly odd," she pointed out. "Well, it tells me you are a mid-thirties virgin who likes feminine things. Your skirt is finely woven wool, your shirt is silk, and your cross is 24 K, as is the necklace, with a real ruby inset. Your bra is a black half-cup, which is very nice if you are wearing a white shirt. Lastly, you are wearing stockings, not pantyhose." "Since neither you nor Ms. Reveal is a lesbian, you are wearing these clothes for your own enjoyment because you are not interested in any man right now," I told her. "You are still holding out for your Mystery Man which is oddly romantic for someone who denies romance." "Ms. Buchanan was right," Scarlett laughed softly. "You would be interesting to deal with." Right as I made ready to ask her what exactly Christina said, my stomach began rumbling. "I'm off to lunch unless you need me for anything right now," I sighed. Victoria turned me around and directed me out the door. Rio, Mercy and Vivian were waiting for me. It rapidly became clear that Rio was Doctor Scarlett's next appointment. "Ms. Reveal," I inquired of Doctor Scarlett's assistant who glared in response. "I'm heading off to the dining hall, and since I doubt you've been able to grab a bite to eat, do you want me to pick up something for you and the doctor?" I doubted that was what she expected. She typed away at her keyboard for a few second, checking out today's menu. "Mr. Braxton, could you get me the Caesar Salad and Doctor Scarlett the trout?" she said. "Zane," Rio snickered softly, "how far did you get? I'd hate to have to sex her up all over again when I can go straight for the main dish." "Smooth, Bro," I groaned while Marisol looked like she was going to staple Rio's ear to the desk. "The Doctor and I talked and that is all," I cautioned Rio. "I suggest you do the same and keep it simple." Rio snorted and followed Doctor Scarlett into her office. Before she dropped out of sight, Rio half-turned, pointed at Victoria's ass, and mouthed 'Wow' and made out the hourglass curves. She was really subtle; only Mercy, Vivian, Marisol and I saw it, which meant all of us. "Mercy, are you going to be okay?" I inquired once the door shut and Mercy had sat down on the bench outside the office. "I need to stay for Rio," Mercy sighed. "Vivian, can you wait for Rio while Mercy and I take a walk?" I asked my guardian. "Absolutely, Zane," Vivian nodded. She took a seat while Mercy followed me wordlessly out the door. "You don't have to do this, Zane," Mercy spoke up after a while. "Own up to all you do, Mercy," I replied, "and by that, I mean I brought you and Rio into a collision course so I am as responsible for your happiness as I am for Rio's." "I, umm, thank you," Mercy worked out the words. "Rio can be too much to handle at times." "Yes," I wrapped a very inappropriate arm around her shoulder, "she can be, but I feel she's worth putting up with the bull crap. Don't be discouraged by her fooling around with other women, or men; Rio is far more loyal than people give her credit for. She may do things to piss you off, that's a given, but she wants to be with you. In fact, who do you believe she was thinking of when she bought that ass plug?" "You?" she meekly mocked me. "Ha, ha, ha," I chuckled. "That is the reason I don't sleep on my stomach these days, Mercy. She plays rough. She loves rough too, so I feel it is an adequate trade-off. If you want to snuggle with someone else from time to time, you are welcome on my pillow any night." "Zane, do you think I'm a lesbian? What I am trying to say is, I think I may be a lesbian but I'm not sure," Mercy confided in me. "It doesn't matter what I think but in my experience, you are bi-sexual, not a dedicated lesbian. That could mean that you like relationships with girls but the occasional fling with a guy," I said. "You have had sex with me and I know you enjoyed it. You are not in an environment that allows many men so now that you are coming into your sexuality, you are confronted by women. Sexual orientation is one thing; sexual preference is another," I went on to say, "At Spring Break we should put your ideas to the test. Until then, don't worry too much about it." "Not being a virgin would be horrible enough," Mercy related. "If my parents thought I was homosexual, they would die, or kill me." "Mercy, do you think what you are doing is sinful?" I questioned. Mercy had to think about that for a while. We gathered up three trays and made our way back to the Vice Chancellor's office. "Yes, yes, I do, Zane," Mercy muttered. "I am afraid I'm going to Hell." "Mercy, you are not going to hell, at least not for what you've been doing the past few weeks," I comforted her. "Think about the good you've done for Rio." "I am still steeped in perversions," she moped. "Trust me on this; the battle between Heaven and Hell will not be decided by the playful use of a dildo, ass plug, or vibrator," I whispered into her ear. Mercy rewarded me with a wicked little smile. "What matters is the happiness you bring, the trust you earn, and the powerless you protect. Don't knock yourself out because you too are feeling pleasure." Mercy stopped walking which brought me up short. She worried her lower lip as she worked some things out in her head. "Do you think I'm really Rio's best hope at salvation?" she asked softly. "You more than anyone else," I responded. I could see a weight lifting off her shoulders. "Thank you, Zane," she smiled at me. We entered the Administration building and headed for the Vice-Chancellor's office. "I'm going to have to tell Rio about his conversation," I told her. Mercy looked uncertain. "Someone deserves a spanking, don't you think?" That wonderful little lusty smile crept onto her lips once more. More Monday Mornings   Doing the correct thing is good; doing right and confounding your enemies at the same time is golden. Blow & Arrow "You are getting better, Zane," Molly Travers told me after my rotation to the shooting line. "If you say so," I shrugged. "I've yet to hit the rings twice in a row." "But you are hitting the target every time," she pointed out. "Great," I chuckled, "if I ever get attacked by a rhino or a barn door, I'll do fine." "If it is a big barn door, a really big barn door," she snickered in sympathy. "So, uhmm, what do you think your chances against Hope are?" "Huh," I looked to her, "are you betting on me and Hope's sparring match?" "It's not really a bet, more like a wager," Molly grinned. "Betting and wagering is the same thing, Molly," I pointed out. "Okay, fine, we are betting on the outcome," Molly admitted. "So what do you think the odds of you winning are?" "Barring the intervention of large fighting robots, I'd bet on the cute Asian chick to win," I joked. "Arrows," Chastity called out. It was my job to retrieve all the expended arrows from the field, being the junior member of the team. After that we did one more round, then we cleaned up and made our way to either study period or our next club. Chastity held me back so that we could go to Karate class together. "Don't be too hard on Hope," Chastity abruptly told me. "I'm not all that sure I can beat her, Chastity," I confided. "Oh, there is no chance of that," Chastity assured me. "She's going to destroy you. I only want to make sure you are a good sport about it because she really likes you and she's worried you might take this beating the wrong way." I stopped and stared at her somewhat incredulously. "Oh, come on," I grumbled. "I have some sort of chance. She's not that good." "If thinking that makes you feel better," she patted me on the back. "Well, if you believe I can't win, you will be willing to make a wager on the outcome then," I challenged Chastity. "What would it be?" Chastity mused. "You in a little, itty-bitty French Maid's outfit for twelve hours of my choosing," I said. "What do I get if Hope wins?" Chastity countered. "What would you want?" I grinned. "Any one favor to be decided on later," was what she came back with. "Oh, please, my favor is relatively precise while you want the world," I pointed out. "Okay, I want one 'forgiveness' in advance," Chastity offered. I groaned. "You just have to keep busting my chops, don't you?" I sighed. "Fine, I'll make the bet." For a private sparring match, Hope and I drew a great deal of attention. Christina, Heaven, Chastity, and Faith were expected, as was Coach Gorman. I had kind of hoped Cappadocia would hang around so we could hook up when the fight was over. Everyone else was rather distracting. Both Hope and I went shirtless, me bare-chested and she with a black sports bra, as well as barefoot. We set up four meters apart with Hope doing something that mimicked warm-up exercises. It took a second of eye contact for the fight to begin. I kicked out viciously; she collapsed beneath the blow and swept my legs. My back slapped the mats and before I could move or mount much of a defense, Hope was all over me. It was arm bar and she had my head in a scissor lock and that was that. I tapped out before she could render me unconscious. No one said anything as I regained my feet. I was careful not to make eye contact until I'd backed up a bit. I had no clue to what kind of Monkey Kung-fu she had just worked on me but I knew that what little Thai Kickboxing I had wasn't cutting it, but I knew even less Karate and even less of what Gorman and Black had shown me. It boiled down to making use of what I did know to the best effect. This time I danced to the left using a little trick Gabrielle Black had taught me (with some pain added). At first Hope mirrored my movements so when I lashed out with my first kick it caught her off-guard since I'd also been slowly closing the distance between us. She tried to snake within my reach but I kept shifting and kicking to hold her at bay. When she finally did get inside, I hit her with every fist/arm/elbow strike I knew. I knocked her back, pursued her, and for a moment it looked like I had a chance. Hope kept maneuvering with the grace of a gymnast so I couldn't pin her to the mat. Once she got to her feet I sensed I was rapidly running out of options. I certainly didn't expect a chop to my temple and that was pretty much all she wrote. She jumped up, put her knee into my diaphragm and rode me to the ground. I managed to block twice against her strikes as she straddled my stomach. I almost knocked her aside, we wrestled, and that was the totally wrong thing to do. I knew crap about wrestling. My tapping out was a foregone conclusion once she got me on my stomach. For a second I lay there marveling how quickly I'd gone down, twice. I noticed that Hope was still standing astride my body so I rolled over in place and looked up. For a second she had this look that reminded me of staring into the pitiless depths of the ocean. "My head hurts," I emphasized with a deep breath. That set off a flash of light in her eyes. "The important one or the one on top of your neck?" she smiled from above. Hope crossed her arms and helped me stand. "Are we okay?" she suddenly seemed worried. "Oh, hell, no," I gasped. "I've got to learn me some of those moves. You were freaking awesome." That outburst gained me a snort of amusement on her part. "I am not a master so I would have to consult my master before taking on a student," Hope informed me. "Your Father?" I was curious. "No; my Father had to get permission to teach my sisters and me. My Master is back in Korea," she answered. Hope and I parted ways and various friends now felt free to join the party. "Damn, Bro, she kicked your ass. I'm ashamed to call you family," Rio mocked me. "Rio, now you know how he feels about you every day," Valarie shot back. "I think he did pretty good, all things considered," Coach Dana Gorman stated. "I don't believe Zane's ever fought against a 'soft' or passive style." "Fifteen or twenty more years and I would have had her," I chuckled. "You are right, Coach; I've never seen her precise style. I've tried some of the exercises monks use but those were primitive compared to what Hope showed me today. Now I think I'm going to take a shower." "Everyone will clear out now," Coach ordered as I made my way to the showers. ZETAS "Honestly, Zane," Sahara lectured me deliciously, "did you have to flush my phone down the toilet?" "Technically, I only dropped it in," I corrected. "I didn't hit the handle. Besides, you know your husband would only annoy us with his incessant phone calls." "I still feel a little guilty," Sahara sighed. "He knew when I would be over and where we would be going if he wasn't going to be kind enough to be there," I pointed out. "The only reason to call you would be to ruin the moment he could have pre-empted by showing a little consideration for your feelings." "That is not fair," Sahara countered. "My husband is a community leader with many responsibilities." "So would you be if people would wake up and see you as I do," I answered. "Zane, I don't want any misconceptions about me," Sahara stared at me intently. "I am loyal to my marital vows." "I don't doubt that for a second," I agreed. "Betrayal leaves its own scars and I don't see any on you." Sahara didn't immediately react to that, instead taking a long sip of her tea. "Certainly you have heard the rumors by now?" she said softly. "Yes, and I believe them," I responded gravely. I let that hang there for thirty seconds. "Aliens did land in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947, and they interred the bodies at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base before finally moving them to Area 51." Sahara didn't know what to make of that for a second but slowly began to smirk. "What? Was there another rumor that I should be giving a damn about?" I concluded. "Some people compromise for the easy way out, some people remain mostly steadfast and take the hard road, but you are the only man I know who gladly skips through a minefield because even the hard road is too much of a compromise for you," she commented. "I can only be me," I replied. "I couldn't be you; I doubt the clothes would fit." "Oh, you are such a strange individual," she tilted her head. Before she could explain our food arrived and she felt it prudent to wait until there were fewer prying ears. "Do you think it is appropriate for me to, ask about Ms. Vickers?" "No," I responded patiently. "If you ever feel like it is your business, she's in church every Sunday and she's nice, if a bit nervous considering the current circumstances." "It is only that I hear things about you when my husband talks to other people and, much of it doesn't make sense," she added. "For instance, I believe I'm the only one who sees it but I'm sure you are having an affair with Rochelle Wellington." "I'm neither confirming nor denying anything but how does that make you feel?" I countered. "Infidelity is a crime," she answered after a few seconds, "but Mayor Wellington is a horrible, horrible man." And this was coming from the woman married to that bastard, Pastor Bill. "I confess that I find the whole thing very amusing, to the point where I pray to Christ for forgiveness virtually every night. That includes using me as a distraction for Kendra's nosey little self." "That was not my intent if that's any consolation," I sighed. "I simply thought we had a lot in common." "Such as?" she smiled. "Well, before we moved here, we had no idea where Lancaster, Virginia was," I started. "We both know that waving a Bible around doesn't make someone holy; a custom may be fine for you but it isn't for everyone and we know what it is to be judged by people who have never gotten to know us," I completed. "I also wanted you to know that I know about Bill and we are not alone." "Know? What do 'we' know?" she asked confidently enough. "We know why he let them think you were the one who was unfaithful," I clarified somewhat. Sahara stared at me, her face torn by a plethora of warring emotions; loyalty, anger over being betrayed, and relief that she didn't bear this terrible burden alone anymore were all there. "Men handle such things differently than women," Sahara told me in a distant voice. "My father wanted boys." "I imagine your Father-in-Law wishes he had raised his boy to be a man too," I joked. "That's unfair," I corrected myself. "I have nothing against men of a different persuasion. It is bastards I have a problem with." "Please, Zane, he is still my husband," Sahara admonished me. "Well, he had better start treating you better or I may re-familiarize him with Deuteronomy 23:1 (ty-jw)," I responded. "Your loyalty to him should be met with respect. That is the deal we make when we get married." "What makes you think you know so much about marriage?" Sahara inquired after a bite, some savory chewing and a gulp. "I'm smarter than I look. Okay, that's not too difficult, but I'm usually smarter than people give me credit for." "Smart things like inviting Ms. Kennan to services yesterday?" she taunted me. "I actually didn't invite her but don't tell anyone; I revel in people's opinion that I'm irreverent," I grinned. Sahara tried and failed to fight down her own smile in response. "I've actually invited Belle, Ms. Kennan, to live with me and Jill as well as giving her a job." "I, I don't know what to make of that," Sahara worried. "She's very pretty, I imagine." "Sahara, you need to become a better judge of people," I said. "I wouldn't trust Belle with my car keys or my favorite cuff links, but I'd trust her with Jill's life or my own." "Sometimes it helps to remember we are still listening to the words of a poor carpenter's son who suffered through exile," I pointed out, "who wouldn't do what the authorities told him to do, died because he was betrayed by a close friend, and went to the grave abandoned by all those who said they understood him; not most people's first choice for founder of the world's largest religion." "When you put it that way, it sounds depressing," Sahara agreed. "It also sounds exactly as it played out. It often does not occur to most believers that the flame of Christianity almost fluttered out before it ever really came to life." She looked for me to say something but all I did was grin. A few seconds later I saw that flicker of understanding come alive in her eyes. "Here you are, the star of multiple on-line sexual misadventures, sitting with the preacher's disreputable wife in the most romantic restaurant in town and we are discussing morality and religion," she chuckled. "No one will believe us despite this being the truth. I find your perverse and bizarre sense of humor very enchanting, Zane." "The important thing is that you are having a good time, Sahara," I explained. She laughed out loud, drawing attention to our little candlelit alcove of the eatery. I doubted she cared and I certainly didn't. We finished our meal, I paid, and we headed straight back to her place. The game was, we left zero time for any possible hanky-panky to take place. We wanted the people who were going to accuse us of impropriety to make real asses of themselves when we revealed our timeline established by my filling up of gas right before picking her up, our valet ticket at the restaurant, and finally, our credit card receipt for the restaurant itself. I had outlined my plan to Sahara and she heartily approved. Unlike the time her husband had screwed her over, she could fight this scandal. I pulled into the Penny's driveway and I rushed around to get her door for her (thank you, Heaven, for that bit of etiquette). We walked through the front door only to see Pastor Bill a few steps away from the door. "Where have you been?" he growled. Sahara dutifully lowered her head. "We were at Zetas," I stated calmly, "right where I told you we would be." Bill ground his teeth and glared at Sahara. "What have you been doing?" he snapped. "Nothing," I now grinned. "I accidentally left the lube and the box of condoms on your kitchen counter." Pastor Bill was rendered speechless. "I was the one who dropped her phone into the toilet; don't blame Sahara," I told him. "Sahara, this was fun. I don't often get to have an adult conversation about the basis of Christianity. I do appreciate your insights. I gotta go now. You two have a good evening and I guess I'll see you on Wednesday night, Sahara. Bill, I'll see you on Sunday." "I doubt you will be seeing my wife again," Bill finally ground out. "Sahara, please give me and your husband a moment alone?" I asked her. "Of course, Zane, and thank you again for an intellectually stimulating night," was her own way at rebelling. I could tell ol' Bill didn't appreciate her pleasant tone to me one bit. When she had moved out of sight I leaned into my so-called religious leader. "Bill," I whispered to him, "between you, me and God, if something happens to Sahara, I'm giving you one year and a day, then they'll never find your body. You know the kind of low-lifes I hang out with. I'm not bluffing. The only other injustice will be that you won't suffer nearly enough. Am I absolutely fucking clear?" "I'm not afraid of you, you sleazy scumbag punk," he hissed. "Whatever, Bill, but you might want to know that the circuit board for your home security system is manufactured by a company I own," I lied. I had no idea if there was a circuit board for his system or who the hell manufactured it, but I was pretty sure he didn't know either. Bill and I were at an impasse. He was a bully and a liar who was used to manipulating people using both other people's faith and sins to get what he wanted. My advantage was that I was well known to be willing to inflict pain to get what I wanted (I just wanted to protect my ladies) and he was averse to actual physical confrontation. Belle brought a whole new definition to the conflict at First Anointed Free-willed Fellowship of Christ Church. There were a growing number of people willing to resist the order Bill had crafted for his own power. Now people defied him and the normal techniques of censor had little effect. His best hope was that Zane Braxton would get hung in another bizarre encounter and remove himself from the equation without Bill's interference. That was his hope, anyway. ON The CRUX OF CHANGE "Hey, Briana," I told my buddy from Colorado State. I was standing outside the door that led to my floor once more. "Hey, Future Slave to my Desires," she giggled back. She was a whole lot more playful than the last time we'd talked. "Gak!" I played with her. "I'm pleased to find you in higher spirits tonight. I hope that means you are doing better?" "Actually, I had a freaky weekend," she sighed. "I met my boyfriend's other girlfriend, it was a totally psycho-girlfriend moment too. She came at me when I was training with some sisters for a 5K run. She appeared in the parking lot and started screaming at me. It was scary. I had three sisters and she brought two wacked-out friends. A pair of off-duty firemen broke it up; sadly, one is married and the other is gay." "Briana, I have a confession: I'm a gay man in denial and I'm tired of hiding the real me," I stated sincerely. Briana's laughter rocketed through the connection, followed by some off-screen conversation, then the phone being handed around. "If you want that lie to be believable, tell us you are secretly a lesbian," Jarunee snickered at me in her native Thai tongue. "Give me a second and I'll come up with something more believable," I chuckled back in the same lingo. "How have you been?" "Pretty good; better than you since that little Korean girl wiped your ass all over the mats," she responded in English. "Okay, she's not so little, and I have it on good authority she was a champion on the Tijuana Midget Fighting Circuit while still in preschool," I covered my ass, then a fear began clawing its way inside me. "Is there any suggestion that she and I may have gone to bed together?" "Of course; this morning's upload," Jarunee informed me. "Oh, in that case, please tell the rest of the Kappa Sigmas that I won't be doing Spring Break after all," I groaned. "What, why?" Jarunee gulped, wondering what she'd done wrong. "Her dad is going to kill me," I related jokingly. "I won't make it to the end of this semester, much less to March. It was a nice dream, though." "Are you serious?" Jarunee worried. "Apparently Hope's, that's Hope Song who kicked my ass, father is some sort of a South Korean superman who eats two-bit punks like me for breakfast," I shrugged. "It can't be, and the phone was taken away. "Oh, my God! Was that one of Yeong Song's daughters you banged that can now be seen all over the internet?" a different girl babbled. "You really are a dead man." "Ooo-kayyy, who are you, by the way? I'm Zane," I started off. "Sorry. I'm Chrissy and my father is in the Navy and he does, stuff. I don't know how bad that man is but I've seen SEALs scramble to get out of that man's way faster than they would for any admiral." "What? That's absurd," I joked. "No one is that much of a bad-ass." Except for Gabrielle Black, I am so going to die at this man's hands, aren't I? "All I know is that the Navy decided it was safer to put him up at our house as opposed to a motel. Mom got upset because apparently the North Korean government put a huge bounty on his head since he killed so many of their Special Forces guys, no lie." I said nothing for the longest time. "Maybe he'll think I'm good son-in-law material," I tried to sound upbeat. "Yes," Chrissy tried to sound positive as well. I, of course, was desperately trying to remember how many times I had made Hope suck my cock, and our discussion of anal sex wasn't worth mentioning. Curling up into a fetal ball wouldn't do anyone any good either. "Very well, Chrissy. Can I talk to Briana one more time?" I asked. "Of course, Zane, and don't worry; the whole Kappa Sigma Sorority will start working on this problem. We will figure out something," she assured me. "Hey, guy," Briana sounded apprehensive, "are you going to be okay?" "Babe, it is just another day ending in 'y'. I've got this," I said confidently. "Good night, now." Briana said her good-byes and I took a moment to get my thoughts together before heading upstairs. It turned out I had over seventy ladies in my place, none more surprising than Coach Dana Gorman. She was paired with Valarie against Millicent and Raven in what looked like a close match up on the pool table. Another totally bizarre image was Vivian and Rio laying stomach first on the floor near one of the TV's, calves kicking in the air with Vivian helping Rio with something oddly akin to schoolwork. Mercy, Opal, Brandi, and Brigit were gathered around the closest table having formed some sort of study group as well. Magically enough, in the twilight of my life (no, I am not over-reacting!) it is good to see one of my plans actually work in almost the way I had intended. No one had noticed me arrive so I turned to go to the drink bar, and walked right into Paige. "Hi!" she squealed in excited delight. Her tight little albino body vibrated with orgasmic energy. "Hey, Babe," I kissed her on the lips lightly. She kept her hands tightly clasped behind her back. "You don't smell like sex," she grinned. "I went out to eat with the preacher's wife, Paige," I groaned. "Not every date is an inevitable sexual hook-up. We had a nice meal and talked about our church, morality, and religion, honest to God." "I believe you," Paige wouldn't stop grinning. "Cordelia is in your room, waiting for you, and thank you, thank you, thank you." Paige was undoubtedly ecstatic over the red marker on Cordelia's face that read 'Paige is smarter'. To see that was one of Paige's deepest desires. Cordelia was working away on her tablet as I slipped into my room. She was fully on my sleeping stage, lying on her back and tablet held up over her head as she worked on it. "Hello, Zane," Cordelia said. "I like your place; it is very you." "Cordelia," I managed to say back in a civil tongue. "Did you know who Yeong Song is?" "Of course I do," Cordelia answered without looking away from her work. I didn't say too much because I had little polite to say to the girl at the moment. After a minute she finished up working on her computer, put it down, propped herself up on her elbows, and smiled my way. Her pigtails swayed as she looked me over. "You are upset," she noted. "Why are you here?" I inquired curtly. "Oh, now we are in the 'you are angry with me but doing an admirable job controlling your violent impulses and going to reduce your interactions with me yet not going to let me alter your lifestyle in any way' phase," Cordelia sighed. "I am not fighting the fact that you are the smartest person on campus, maybe the smartest person I've ever met, but I think we are done playing around. When I drive out of these gates for the last time four years from now, I'm going to forget you and go on with my life," I told her. Cordelia smirked, then laughed. "Zane, I made you, you are my creation," she giggled. I was about to get pissed, then I got another boot to the head. "I was drawn to your family's tragic death years ago, saw your return to the United States as an excellent opportunity for us both, created several identities, talked to your aunt on-line about FFU, altered the admissions software so your application would be accepted, and made sure your medical records weren't examined until you were on campus." "You put me and Rio together," I pieced together; Cordelia nodded. "Iona?" "Ah, she's loyal to you, but it was easy enough to put her in your class. She is the type of girl who runs across traffic to save a turtle crossing the road," Cordelia smiled. "I knew she'd rally to your side, just like I knew that would be enough to keep you here until other events unfolded," she seemed terribly pleased. "Now the sorority and Christina are all you as well as the run-ins with the law, but you are my weapon to use on this campus, Zane. I could never beat Chancellor Bazz without creating a scandal that would break the school apart," she informed me. "Your rebellion was a possibility I explored but your ability to enlist Christina and the freshmen wasn't something I could facilitate; again, that was all your doing." "I have respected you and Heaven," Cordelia pointed out. "Because Christina and I would kill you," I countered. "No; I kept her secret because I am not needlessly cruel," she said. I almost believed it. "Wrong, Cordelia; you didn't betray Heaven because Christina and I would leave FFU," I stated. "Your game would fall apart; not because either one of us is special but because you don't like playing with dumb people, there is no challenge to it." Cordelia's smile only got wider. "You don't disappoint," she remarked, without a hint of shame or guilt. "Am I forgiven?" It occurred to me that no matter how absurd on the surface, Cordelia wanted someone to know and, in a way, understand her genius. "I think we may be past that," I murmured. "How about this; the Time Lord Mafia needs, I need your help," she confessed, but I was wary. "When Ms. Black came here I was suspicious that her record was too clean," Cordelia related, "so when you gave me that warning, I began digging very carefully. Well, this morning something happened." "Oh, crap," I muttered. "How bad and how likely is it that you will be tracked back to here?" "I set up a blind station in Lima, Peru," she said matter-of-factly, "all paid for in cash by people who don't know the real me. I had surveillance on the place as standard practice. Late last night, Lima time, three armed men broke into the small room and tore the place up." "Who were they?" I was now more intrigued. "They spoke perfect Spanish so I had no clue until one of them screwed up and a cheap shelf fell on him. He cursed in Hebrew." Cordelia exhibited real shock. "They were Mossad. I check up on some other stuff and I really think they are Israeli intelligence." What in the hell was Mossad doing hunting Gabrielle? What the hell was the only guy in an all-girls university doing getting involved with all this? Fuck it all, I'm a horny eighteen-year-old boy with more girlfriends than any two sane men would want. Wasn't talking to yourself one of the signs of mental instability? I was saved by the phone, sort of. "Zane, this is Doctor Scarlett," the Vice Chancellor said, "I am at your door and I need to come up and talk to you for a bit." "Of course, Doctor Scarlett," I responded as I caught Cordelia's eye. I hung up and the two of us headed into the main area. As soon as we exited the screens, Cordelia went toward the closest group of students to warn them and I travelled down the stairs. "Hey, Doctor," I greeted my latest guest. I screened the keypad from her view, asked the system for a new password, and read it off to her as it popped up. Doctor Scarlett reentered the code and had it scan her thumbprint without comment. "Thank you, Zane," Victoria greeted me politely. "I would like to see your domicile as well, if that is convenient." "Sure thing," I told her. "We have about forty-five minutes before curfew so it's pretty occupied." "It is your room," she nodded. "I have every reason to believe you are responsible with its use." I wouldn't say that, but then in the past five minutes my life had gone to hell anyway, and I had to put up a good face until bedtime. "Ah, the pictures I've seen do not do the view justice, Mr. Braxton," Doctor Scarlett exhaled. "Relax, take a walk around, and/or help yourself to some food, Doc," I offered. "After nine o'clock you may call me Victoria, Zane," she allowed in return. I was a little stunned. No one seemed overjoyed that Victoria was here but they weren't stampeding toward the door either. "You provide a great deal of stability," she told me softly. "Your presence provides your guests with a sense of peace and safety." "Perhaps you missed Coach Gorman giving two of your students pool lessons right over there?" I suggested. "Dana is your guest too, though I doubt her mood is swayed one way or another by your sense of calm," she grinned, then was brought up short. "Zane, there are two women in, bikinis in your, " "It is a hot tub," I provided the identification, "and I also provide the swim suits for those who need them." Victoria stared at me for a few seconds and I could sense her ready to finally explode on me with some righteous rage toward my overtly sexual ways. "Why would you have women's swimsuits?" she asked patiently. "I have one-pieces as well," I responded. "What would be the point of installing a hot tub, showers, and a sauna if I don't also supply the girls with swimsuits and towels?" Those words put her back on an even keel. Still -- "Doc, I have women coming in my second-story bedroom window back home in the middle of the night for the purposes of sexual intercourse," I sighed. "I hardly need to give students here revealing clothing to feed any vicarious thrill. Do you want a suit to take a dip?" "Let me think about that," she replied quickly. "How long does it take you to obtain a girl a suit?" "I have a suit for you already; you are virtually Vivian's size. And I even have one in red if that is your preference," I said. "Do you really want me to be in a red bikini?" she wondered. It was a trick question. "It is a one-piece, and all I want is for you to be as happy as you can be without trampling on the aspirations of others," I answered. "So you feel responsible for all the girls at this school," she stated. It took me a moment to realize this was a statement, not a question. "Good night, Zane," Victoria smiled. "Good night, ladies," she called out to the room. A chorus of 'good night's' were returned. She disappeared down the stairs and I felt a deep desire to be alone. Peace and quiet sounded good, yeah, I know. "Bro?" Rio snuck up on me. She gave me a quick once-over, then tenderly wove her arms around my waist and hugged me tightly. "I'm okay, Rio," I muttered. "Don't lie to me," she squeezed me tighter. "Trust me; I know that desperate, hopeless look well and I can see it creeping up behind your eyes. Zane, I don't know what's wrong and I'm not going to ask, but I want you to know that I'm here for you." I tilted my upper body back and met her gaze. "Who are you and what have you done to my Rio?" I grinned weakly. "Hey," she remained scarily compassionate, "you've soaked up my pain often enough. It is about time you let me carry some of yours." "What can I do?" Iona wiggled up to my side. A further miracle was delivered when Paige appeared within my field of vision at over five feet away. "Guys, do you think I can have the night to myself? I need to work out things in my head," I begged. "Consider it done," Rio and Iona stated together. Iona departed to spread the word. Rio departed as well, but doubled back to give me another hug. "Zane, don't leave me," she whispered into my chest. "Three seconds ago I was going to knock you out, roll you up in a blanket, and take you with me when I scaled the walls and ran home," I sighed. "To the bitter end," I gave Rio's and my own little motto. "To the bitter end," she mumbled back. After that, going to bed was surprisingly easy. "Zane," Gabrielle greeted me with a ghostly voice. I had called her and said we needed to talk. "Someone did some poking around on you," I told her, "and as a result, three Mossad agents broke into a false station they had in Peru. Is there anything we need to know about why Israeli Intelligence sent three armed men looking for you?" "Three," she mused. "The back-up squad was outside. Since you made no mention of a grenade, I assume they wanted me alive. What are the odds of them tracing the search back to Freedom Fellowship?" As she talked, she sat down on the bed next to me, next to my hip. "Since I have no clue as to what resources they can bring to bear, I would feel safe enough remaining here if they were after me," I answered. "What's your next move?" For a reason that went way beyond insane, I suddenly didn't want her to leave. "I wait. I do not have infinite exit plans or resources," she told me. "You are taking this awful well," I noted. "As opposed to wasting energy becoming pointlessly annoyed? You will keep me apprised of further developments," she commanded then rose to leave. "Gabrielle, do you know a guy named Yeong Song?" I blurted out. "I know of him but I've never met him," she stop

durée : 00:15:33 - Journal de 12h30 - Au Maroc, des milliers de personnes ont célébré le vote du Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU sur le plan d'autonomie du Maroc pour le Sahara occidental. Le territoire était au centre d'un conflit vieux d'un demi-siècle. - invités : Chantal Birman Sage-femme, militante des droits des femmes

La noticia política del día es la posible financiación irregular del Partido Socialista (PSOE). El juez Leopoldo Puente investiga el origen de los pagos en efectivo, mientras el PSOE afirma cumplir la ley y el PP exige explicaciones. A nivel internacional, el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU apoya el plan de autonomía de Marruecos para el Sahara, cambiando su postura histórica. En deportes, el Getafe gana en La Liga, y se esperan partidos importantes. En baloncesto, el Barcelona y el Baskonia vencen en la Euroliga, y se disputan las semifinales del Masters de París en tenis. COPE rinde homenaje a Oti Cavadas ("Coco Trucker Girl"), una camionera referente fallecida a los 41 años. El Dr. Fernando Mora ofrece consejos para la toma de decisiones conscientes y la gestión del estrés, recomendando mover pies, manos y boca diariamente. Finalmente, la cantante Jessie J habla de su diagnóstico de cáncer de mama, concienciando sobre los chequeos médicos.

durée : 00:58:34 - Cultures Monde - par : Julie Gacon, Mélanie Chalandon - Comme chaque vendredi, une émission d'actualité en deux parties : retour de terrain avec Arthur Rayssiguier qui rentre du Libéria, puis table-ronde sur le Sahara occidental, où la perspective d'un règlement du conflit semble plus proche que jamais. - réalisation : Vivian Lecuivre - invités : Arthur Rayssiguier réalisateur indépendant; Khadija Mohsen-Finan Politologue, spécialiste du Maghreb et des questions méditerranéennes, membre du comité de rédaction d'Orient XXI; Adlene Mohammedi Chercheur et enseignant en géopolitique, expert associé au CERI

durée : 00:36:48 - Cultures Monde - par : Julie Gacon, Mélanie Chalandon - Pus de cinq décennies après le début du conflit, la question du Sahara occidental pourrait se régler. En effet, le Front Polisario semble accepter le plan de souveraineté marocain, tandis que les États-Unis soumettent une nouvelle résolution au conseil de sécurité de l'ONU. - réalisation : Vivian Lecuivre - invités : Khadija Mohsen-Finan Politologue, spécialiste du Maghreb et des questions méditerranéennes, membre du comité de rédaction d'Orient XXI; Adlene Mohammedi Chercheur et enseignant en géopolitique, expert associé au CERI

China se groeiende aptyt vir Namibiese beesvleis kan die vraag tot 20 000 ton per maand laat styg, maar kenners waarsku dat produksie nie tred sal kan hou nie. In 'n onderhoud met Kosmos 94.1 Nuus het landboukenner Wallie Roux gesê Namibië, die droogste Afrika-land suid van die Sahara, staar natuurlike beperkings in die gesig ten opsigte van hoeveel dit kan produseer. Die land se afhanklikheid van reënval beteken dat die uitbreiding van beesvleisproduksie met stygende koste sal gepaardgaan. Roux het meer.

Have you ever wondered what it's really like to experience Morocco - including the medinas, the desert, and the Blue City - all in one trip? From camel rides in the Sahara to wandering the alleyways of Fez, this trip was all about embracing adventure, culture, and connection in one unforgettable journey. In this episode, Alex and Pam share how they explored Morocco on a whirlwind girls' trip using a mix of points, miles, and cash. Listen in to learn how to plan your own Moroccan adventure, from selecting riads and desert camps to understanding local customs and tipping etiquette. They share what surprised them most, which cities left the biggest impression, and how this trip proved that sometimes, the best use of points is creating once-in-a-lifetime memories. You can find links to resources mentioned in this episode plus the transcript here: travelmomsquad.com/152 Ready to get started with NEARLY FREE travel? Click here for the exact offers we would sign up for this month: travelmomsquad.lpages.co/bestoffers/ The Travel Mom Squad is also on YouTube! You can watch this episode here: youtube.com/@travelmomsquad Let us know what you want to hear on the podcast by sending us a DM on Instagram: instagram.com/travelmomsquad

Welcome to a very special edition of The Travel Diaries, where we're heading to a country that has enchanted so many of my guests over the years: Morocco.This Destination Special is a love letter to a place that casts a lifelong spell. In the first half, you'll hear unforgettable memories from past guests - Sir Michael Palin, Anya Hindmarch, Lyn Hughes, Sir Richard Branson, The Hairy Bikers, Amar Latif, and Jacqui Gifford - each sharing the moments that made Morocco magical for them: the colours of Marrakech, the silence of the Sahara, the scent of a tagine in the Atlas Mountains. Together, their voices weave a vivid tapestry of this extraordinary land.And it's no wonder UK visitor numbers are soaring. Morocco is that rare combination - just a short flight away, yet a complete change of pace: immersive, sensory, unforgettable.Then, in the second half, I'm joined by travel writer and Morocco expert Paula Hardy, who splits her time between the UK and Morocco. With over 15 years of experience, she takes us beyond the usual hotspots, from the Mediterranean feel of Tangier and Tetouan, to desert oases near Skoura, coastal towns like Asilah, and hidden Berber mountain villages. We dive into Morocco's traditions - crafts, cuisine and culture - and its exciting evolution, with high-speed trains, striking new architecture, and preparations for the 2030 World Cup.Whether you've visited before or it's been on your bucket list for years, this episode will open your eyes to a Morocco you may not yet know, and remind you why so many travellers return again and again.Destination Recap: Northern Morocco - Sir Michael Palin on why Morocco is his all-time favourite journeyMarrakech – Designer Anya Hindmarch and Wanderlust editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes on the city of artisans, colour and contrastsAtlas Mountains - Sir Richard Branson, The Hairy Bikers, and blind adventurer Amar Latif on Berber villages, snow-topped peaks and mountain escapesOuarzazate (the “door to the desert”) - Travel & Leisure Editor Jacqui Gifford on this cinematic frontier townPaula's Destination Recap:Tangier Villa Mabrouka, TangierAsilahTetouan Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay Dar Ambrosia, Asilah Mimi Calpe, TangierM'HamidErfoud Iriki Taroudant Dar Ahlam, OuarzazateSkouraMarrakechOualidia Riad Mina, Marrakech Berber Lodge, Marrakech Riad L'Atelier, MarrakechRosemary, Marrakech Tribalista, Marrakech The Memory RoadThanks so much for listening today. I'll be back with some fabulous Christmas specials in December. In the meantime, come and follow me on Instagram, I'm @hollyrubenstein, and you'll also find me on TikTok - I'd love to hear from you. Remember there's the first 15 seasons to catch up on, that's over 160 episodes to keep you busy. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A former Hollywood screenwriter with a sharp eye for aesthetics, Sahara Lotti turned her storytelling instincts into design innovation. Frustrated by salon lash extensions that were costly, damaging, and time-consuming, she set out to invent something better—and did. In 2016, she founded Lashify, launching the Fuse Control® Wand and Gossamer® lashes, designed to be applied beneath the lash line with her patented Underlash™ technique. What began as a personal solution has grown into a worldwide movement embraced by makeup artists, celebrities, and everyday consumers alike. Today, Lashify holds over 750+ patents and 1,000 trademarks worldwide—proving that independent innovation can stand up to an industry dominated by conglomerates. Through relentless IP defense, Lotti has become one of the few female founders to set legal precedent for protecting creative work. Independent, inventive, and unfiltered, she's built Lashify not just as a beauty brand but as a statement of ownership, vision, and freedom.In this episode, Sahara also discusses:Harnessing obsession as a driving force for successHow Lashify is transforming lives, from renewed confidence to weight lossExposing IP theft and the dark side of the beauty industryLeading global innovation in lash technologyThe brand's unexpected mission: a fierce love for dogsRevolutionizing lashes and the future of beautyWe hope you enjoy this episode and gain valuable insights into Sahara's journey and the growth of Lashify. Don't forget to subscribe to the Glam & Grow podcast for more in-depth conversations with the most incredible brands, founders, and more.Be sure to check out Lashify at www.lashify.com and on Instagram at @lashifyRated #1 Best Beauty Business Podcast on FeedPostThis episode is brought to you by WavebreakLeading direct-to-consumer brands hire Wavebreak to turn email marketing into a top revenue driver.Most eCommerce brands don't email right... and it costs them. At Wavebreak, our eCommerce email marketing agency helps qualified brands recapture 7+ figures of lost revenue each year.From abandoned cart emails to Black Friday campaigns, our best-in-class team manage the entire process: strategy, design, copywriting, coding, and testing. All aimed at driving growth, profit, brand recognition, and most importantly, ROI.Curious if Wavebreak is right for you? Reach out at Wavebreak.co

Live from the London Podcast Festival, Jamie Morton joins Dan, James and Andy to discuss onsens, letter bombs and Beerbohm. Visit nosuchthingasafish.com for news about live shows, merchandise and more episodes.  Join Club Fish for ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content at apple.co/nosuchthingasafish or nosuchthingasafish.com/patreon

In this episode, I had the most high-vibe, queen-energy conversation in Dubai with one of the city's finest expanders, the queen who pulls the energy of expansion forward in all of us, Regan Hillyer.   Regan is an internationally renowned manifestation teacher whose work bridges energetics, embodiment, and the quantum field. Her teachings remind us that we can literally sculpt our reality, collapse time, and create new visions for our lives that we never thought possible.   When I recorded this, I was in a moment of deep expansion, learning to stretch my capacity to receive and anchor into my royal frequency. Dubai, to me, represented that energy — a city of limitless possibility and creation.   Together, Regan and I explore:

We hear the word “surrender” all the time in spirituality, but what does it actually mean?   For most of my life, surrender didn't make sense. My mom fled war in Iran, my dad too, and everything I learned growing up was about fighting for freedom, not giving in. So when people said “just surrender,” I thought it meant giving up.   It wasn't until my marriage ended that I learned what real surrender was. I didn't have a choice anymore. I had to trust that Spirit was guiding me somewhere greater, even if I couldn't see where. That moment opened the door to a year of complete flow. I left everything behind, traveled the world with one suitcase, and discovered new archetypes within myself that I never knew existed.   But eventually, I realized there's a paradox in all of this. If we only surrender, we can lose direction. If we only control, we block the magic. The truth is, we need both.   ✨ In this episode, I explore: What surrender really means and how it shows up in our lives The balance between trusting the universe and taking aligned action The archetypes of “Surrender Sarita” and “Control Candace” How to know when life is asking you to release versus when it's time to focus Why both structure and flow are needed to create your dharma This conversation is a reminder that surrender isn't about giving up. It's about trusting that Spirit may have a bigger plan than the one you made for yourself.   If you are looking for a diverse + nourishing community of like-minded souls I'd love to invite you to join of Rose Gold Goddesses at https://www.rosegoldgoddesses.com   Get $20 off Use my promo code SAHARA and get $20 off at www.holisticgoddess.com/sahara    Sign up this week and get 25% off with this code: 25SWS at checkout! Speak With Soul Course   Explore the Fits Everybody collection at  https://www.skims.com/sahara   After you place your order, be sure to let them know I sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and be sure to select My show “Highest Self Podcast” in the dropdown menu!   Discover Your Dharma - Order your copy now - https://iamsahararose.com/dharma   Stream the Intro + Outro Music: Trust Flow by Sahara Rose ft. WillyNoir here and watch the music video here.   To receive a free womb mediation, email a screenshot of your review of the Highest Self Podcast to sahara@iamsahararose.com    Follow me your spiritual bestie to active your fullest expression + laugh along the way: https://www.Instagram.com/iamsahararose  https://www.tiktok.com/@iamsahararose  https://www.Facebook.com/iamsahararose    Order My Books: https://www.iamsahararose.com/books    By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Sahara Rose, or used by Sahara Rose with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of the Sahara Rose, which may be requested by contacting pr@iamsahararose.com.   This podcast is for educational purposes only. The host claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the information presented herein.