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200 hamburgers, endless smiles: shelter dogs get a feast they’ll never forget. AND This couple's path to parenthood isn’t anything like what they imagined. They were expecting two babies at once—and they aren’t twins. To see videos and photos referenced in this episode, visit GodUpdates! https://www.godtube.com/blog/hamburgers-for-dogs.html https://www.godtube.com/blog/couples-path-to-parenthood.html Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
A few hours from the biggest payday of your career, you're sitting on the floor, cigarette in hand and drenched in the stench of a London night out. You can't remember when you last felt this good, but surprisingly, you're staying in the moment. You've earned this night, you deserve this night. This is your victory lap. As your best - and maybe only- friend rests on your shoulders, you think about what you've both been through. You make a silent PROMISE to her: "If you need a friend, don't look to a stranger, you know in the end, I'll always be there". William returns to chat with the guys about an 'Industry' episode of escapes (and attempts). After poring over that opening scene, they discuss Whitney's unsettling, otherworldly nature, a very stressful 24 hours in New York, Yasmin's escape plans and of course, the club night everyone's talking about. William's (free) review of the Season premiere Here.(2:33) - Intro(8:55) - Episode 407 Discussion(38:05) - Whitney(52:00) - Yasmin and 10 Downing Street(1:11:18) - YasHarperYou can support us here.Also Available on YouTube.Host: Bankole Imoukhuede Guests: Eyo Ndem and William GoodmanProduction by: Bankole Imoukhuede
¿Viajar es un gasto… o una decisión?En este episodio hablamos de algo diferente. No se trata depromociones ni de destinos puntuales, sino de mentalidad. De cómo planificar, priorizar y usar herramientas como las millas para transformar gastos cotidianos en experiencias inolvidables.Viajar más no depende solo del presupuesto. Depende deestrategia, organización y decisión. Ya sea una escapada al nordeste brasileño o ese viaje al Caribe que venís postergando, todo empieza por elegir ponerlo en tu plan.Si querés cambiar la forma en la que pensás tus viajes, esteepisodio es para vos. ¿Todavía no estás registrado? ¡No te preocupes! Registrate gratis acá
Amazing actor and the voice of Blur's Parklife, Phil Daniels tells us all about his new play Teeth 'n' Smiles at London's West End.Ocean Colour Scene's riff-maker Steve Craddock pops in ahead of his new Travellers Tunes Tour.Join Chris and the Class Behind The Glass live from the rock n roll tower every morning from 0630! Watch all the stars live on the FREE Virgin Radio UK app. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today we're diving into one of the most accessible—and often underestimated—practice builders in dentistry: teeth whitening. While many clinicians view whitening as a simple cosmetic add-on, the truth is that it plays a much larger role in patient satisfaction, case acceptance, and overall practice growth. From strengthening patient relationships to opening the door to more advanced cosmetic and restorative treatment, whitening can be one of the most powerful services a dental practice provides.
Warships, elections, and jazz—this week's Caribbean roundup connects power, policy, and culture in 19 minutes. From Venezuela patrols to St. Lucia's star-studded festival, catch up fast on today's Pulse of the Caribbean Podcast Episode #1 for the Week of February 16, 2026. Here are today's headlines.U.S. military operations near Venezuela reported costsU.S. lethal strike on trafficking vessel and counter-narcotics strategyBarbados election win and agenda Cayman Islands review of cannabis decriminalization and lotteryGrenada phased cannabis decriminalization and expungement planDominican Republic marijuana plantation raid and ongoing searchPAHO–CARPHA framework agreement for 2026 -2030 St. Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival headliners and theme nightsExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League T20 Matches Dates SetSandals Foundations 1,000 Smiles dental mission impact in AntiguaListen and subscribe to the Pulse of the Caribbean News Round Up for news you need to know.Send news releases to news@pulseofthecaribbean.com. For the Pulse of the Caribbean underwriting, advertising and marketplace feature opportunities, email biz@pulseofthecaribbean.com. Like and follow us on Facebook.
¿Quién dijo que las playas son solo para el verano? En este episodio te contamos cómo combinar el nordeste brasileño junto con el Caribepara viajar durante todo el año.Descubrí qué hace especial a cada región, cuándo convieneelegir Brasil y cuándo el Caribe, y cómo planificar escapadas de sol y mar más allá de la temporada alta.Si estás pensando en tu próximo viaje y querésaprovechar mejor el calendario, este episodio es para vos.Entrá ahora en Smiles.com.ar y planificá tus vacaciones a la playa.
Aydin Imani joins us with a live recording of his session from the Fragments event series in the heart of Oslo, Norway. Some words from Aydin on the event - "This recording comes from our final @frgmnts gathering of the year in Oslo. It was a night shaped by reflection, curiosity, and the quiet satisfaction of having shared many meaningful moments over the past months. We wanted to end the year in a way that felt honest and fitting for where we were at the time. It was our first all-nighter of this kind, held in a new space, with a sense of curiosity and anticipation in the room. As the opening set, my idea was to mark a transition from the warmth of summer into a more introspective period, moving toward darker tones and colder days ahead in Norway (especially) . The dance floor felt warm, intense, and foggy. Smiles came easily, and that feeling stayed with us throughout the night. The set moves through different emotional shades, balancing playfulness and drive with moments of weight and inner tension, always aiming to keep the energy rolling and alive. Looking back, this night definitely stands out as a personal highlight. Seeing Fragments grow into something that resonates, offering people a space to reflect and feel free, made it especially meaningful." Follow : https://soundcloud.com/aydinho767 Tracklist : 1. David Reina - Floating 2. Dorisburg & Efraim Kent - X-Files Groove 3. s.soo - VIII (Kambium remix) 4. DJ Deep - Mandrum Main 5. DJ Deep - Progression 6. Obscur - Resonance 1 7. Einox - Meta 8. Maeksll - Staub 01 9. Concrete Gold - Coersive Dub 10. Distant Echoes - Perspective 11. Toki Fuko - Bismuth 12. Shoal - Howlin` 13. Daniel (i) - Beneath Tension 14. Elle - Guardiarsi Indietro (Vayu Interpretation) 15. Ev Darko - Time Train (Deep Spelle Remix) 16. Decoder - Borderland 17. Sciahri - Evaporation 18. Rise 1969 & Unclear - Dimethyltrypamine (Unclear Remix) 19. Vardae - Junction (Original Mix) 20. Impelling Shadow & Carara - Magnatic Field 21. Maara - Unstable 22. Arkan - Attraction 23. BLANKA (ES) - Somebody 24. Antonio Ruscito & Luigi Tozzi - Heat 25. Obscur - Superficial 26. Feph - Off 27. SPF 50 - Kinetic Ritual 28. Yrsen - Dissonance Theory 29. Einox - Symptom 30. Feph - No deltas 31. DJ Sodeyama - Blank (Original Mix) 32. Psyk - Resonant Modulation (Erik Luebs Remix) 33. Connor Wall - Hubble 34. Rene Wise - Cutting Thick 35. Okocz - Fern me 36. Alpha Tracks - Summer-2025 (Danya Remix Upstairs Version)
The Homeland calls for Gunnar, And So Does Love.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.‘You are the Tin Man. This tour; is the Oil Can. Figure it out.'A recently widowed Norwegian American plans his escape from a Minnesota nursing home to travel abroad and join a ‘Christmas in Norway Tour’. While battling his fears, he meets a beautiful young tour guide and her divorced mother, who years later, still bears scars from her unfaithful husband’s affair. This story is about overcoming those fears to let healing begin. This story picks up after that, and shows the lingering effects of a husband’s extra-marital affair on his family. This is also a Christmas story, so expect to travel to locations in Norway, encounter Norwegian Christmas traditions, and maybe even get sprinkled with pixie-dust!“A man has only one escape from his old self: to see a different self - in the mirror of some woman’s eyes” - Clare Booth LucePrequel: The Ruined ChristmasOslo, Norway - Three Years AgoMy name is Jorunn. As a Norwegian landsby girl, Mamma and I spent Christmas week in Bergen, visiting her family and celebrating my 22nd birthday. We decided to leave Bergen two days early so that Pappa would not have to celebrate New Year’s Eve alone. During the week, while we were away, Pappa told us how he missed us.We arrived back home in mid-afternoon, just as the sun was setting, and saw our Christmas Star lit up in the window. After entering the house, we heard Pappa moaning upstairs and went up to see if he was all right. Opening the bedroom door, we saw him humping a strange woman!“What are you doing?” shouted Mamma.Pappa replied, “Leah, you’re home early.”“Who is this woman?”“She’s just a slut. She means nothing to me.”The woman yelped, “I am not a slut! I am a happily married woman.”Mamma yelled, “I can see what keeps you happy.”Pappa yelled back, “I still love you, Leah. Let me get rid of this slut. She’s only here because I was lonely. We can talk.”Mamma replied, “You can talk to my advokater. We’re through! How can I ever trust you again, you bastard? Do you realize what you have done to our family!”Mamma began sobbing and ran down the stairs.Pappa looked at me and said, “Jorunn, none of this would have happened if your mother hadn’t come home early and seen us.”I looked at Pappa and saw his slime-covered beard slick with the woman’s juices. “You’re wrong Pappa. It did happen. Mamma and I just wouldn’t have known. You said you didn’t want to be seen by us. That works both ways! I don’t ever want to talk to you or see you ever again!”I ran downstairs to Mamma, and with our suitcases still in the boot, we drove to a friend’s house.Gunnar and Nurse RatchedDecember 13 - MorningMinneapolis, Minnesota - Present DayI pressed the button on my cell phone and hung up after talking with Roger Mans, my long-time friend and attorney. My two adult children texted a few days ago they wanted to visit me here in the nursing home. I had not seen them since the funeral of my wife, Solveig, and that was two months ago. Their plan was for me to sign their power of attorney forms, giving them full control over me and my affairs. But my plan was different, and now was time to put it into place.Two years ago, at just 54 years old, I had a stroke. A devastating paralysis left me needing a lot of care, and therapy to regain my mobility, speech, and other functions.I realized Solveig was unable to care for me at our home. She tried with all her heart, but she was also fighting her own battle with cancer, and undergoing her own rigorous treatments.So I decided to enter a nursing home, while I continued to get rehab. I wanted a facility with a stroke recovery unit. This limited my nursing home choices. The only thing making life bearable here, was Solveig faithfully visiting me, and sneaking an occasional home-cooked meal past the head nurse and her staff. Sadly, Solveig succumbed to the cancer while I was still a resident at the ‘Bethel Retirement Center'. At Solveig’s funeral, my children promised to visit often, but as usual, I could never count on them for anything.Without my wife here to check on things, my decent clothes never came back from the laundry, and instead, the staff returned excuses. I put on old sweatpants and an old sweatshirt. It would do for now. I prepared myself for this day by walking the halls of the nursing home, attending physical therapy sessions, and taking care of myself without help from the staff. Still not fully recovered, but like my clothing, it would do for now.I said goodbye to Alfred, my shared roommate. He nodded, wished me luck, and said he would love to go with me. I felt sorry for him. He was a great storyteller but needed to use his walker, and physically, he required the kind of care they provided here.I walked down the hall to the nurse’s station and found Molly Turner, the rather brusque chief nurse, and her two assistants sitting behind it. “Good morning, Nurse Ratched,” I said.“Good day to you, Gunnar,” she replied.“I’m checking out,” I said.“Be serious, Gunnar. No one ever checks out of a nursing home, unless they are flat on their back with a toe tag.”I looked at her and smiled, “I only hope that will be your Fate, Molly.”“That’s not a nice thing to say, Gunnar. Now, return to your room or I will have dietary take away your rice pudding for a week.”The rice pudding here was a pale imitation of the riskrem, which Solvieg would make every Christmas. I would miss it this year. I gave Nurse Ratched a one-fingered salute, then walked toward the exit. There was a scramble of squeaky chairs and shouts behind me, and I heard their footsteps closing in on me. As I pushed the two doors open to the main lobby, there was Roger, standing next to the nursing home administrator. I walked up to my lawyer, and shook his hand, “Thank you, old friend.”I turned to see a stunned Nurse Ratched. “Allow me to escort Mr. Larsen back to his room,” she meekly pronounced.The nursing home administrator said, “That won’t be necessary, Molly. Mr. Larsen is leaving us. He isn’t taking anything with him. You may clear out his room and get it ready for the next resident.”I looked Nurse Ratched in the eye and saw the fires of hell blazing within. Then, it was my turn to smile back.All my therapists had agreed that my rehab was successful. My speech skills were quite restored. My left arm and leg took longer to restore. But it was good enough to ditch the wheelchair, then the walker, then the cane. What really set me back was the grief of losing my wife, and the guilt of not being there when she needed me most.Gunnar’s HouseRoger drove me to my house. I hadn't been there in two years. It looked pathetic. No one bothered shoveling the snow on the walkway, and I feared what my children may have done to the inside. I found the hidden key I placed under a rock years ago and used it to enter through the front door. The living room and dining room furniture were mostly gone, or should I say, stolen. They had rifled through the small office nook next to the kitchen, with papers scattered over the kitchen countertops and floor.I turned and said, “You’re going to have your work cut out for you, Roger.”“This is exactly what you said would happen, Gunnar. Our firm will take care of it for you.”I opened a small drawer in the office nook and thankfully found my passport intact. It was useless to my children. I went to the master bedroom and saw the dresser drawers partially opened, with clothes scattered all about the floor. On top of the dresser was Solvieg’s jewelry box. I opened it, and few things remained. I was glad to see the gold charm bracelet I gave her 35 years ago for Christmas. She wore it a couple of times, then stopped, complaining it turned her wrist green as the fake gold coating wore away. But she kept it all these years. A worn-out trinket to my children, as precious as the Sauron’s Ring of Power to me. I picked it up and put it in the pocket of my sweatpants.I went into the walk-in closet and picked out some clothes, tossed them into an old gym bag, and said, “I’m done. We can go.”Roger said, “The locksmith and security company will meet me here this afternoon. Once they are done, your children will no longer have access.”“I’d rather not have an auction of whatever is left in the house. I don’t think Solveig would have liked that. Once you go through the papers, just throw everything left in a dumpster and haul it away. Whatever the two pirates plundered will be the only inheritance they will ever see from me.”Miller And Mans Law OfficeRoger and I next went to his office. I said hello to Jane, the long-time receptionist. I have always suspected that Jane knows everything that goes on here, and secretly runs the whole place, not unlike the way Nurse Ratched does in her domain. However, Jane does so with more efficiency, happiness, and joy for both clients and staff.Jane asked, “Can I get you anything, Gunnar?”“I’d love a cup of decent coffee, and an Apple Fritter if you have one.”“I’ll bring them to Roger’s office. Two creams and no sugar, if I remember right.”“Perfect, as always, Jane.”We went into Roger’s plush office, and I sat down in a chair more comfortable than any I sat in for the last two years.“Are you actually going to go through with this?” Roger asked.“Every bit of it,” I replied.I signed multiple papers, removing my two children as beneficiaries from my life insurance and investment accounts. I also gave Roger limited power of attorney to sell my house and dispose of its possessions.Jane arrived with the coffee and Apple Fritter. “Norway? Why would anyone want to go to Norway in December?”“Did Roger spill the beans?” I asked.Jane replied, “Every piece of paper that comes into this office passes through my hands. I opened your travel visa when it came in.”“Jane, I can’t spend Christmas here in Minnesota. The bitter wintry weather pales in comparison to the cold hearts of my own two children. The further away from them I am, the better. I’ve never been to Norway and have always wanted to see the 'home country’ of my ancestors.”Like I said, Jane knows all. The coffee tasted great, and the deep-fried Apple Fritter, one of Nursed Ratched’s 'prohibited foods’, was outstanding. Roger slid me a packet labeled 'Gunnar - Norway’. As Jane left, I opened it and looked at the contents. As planned, there was an international cell phone with a different number, a stack of krone, and three new credit cards bearing the name of a fictitious business. I handed Roger my old cell phone.“We’ll dispose of this for you. Your children will have no idea where you are unless they hire a private detective with exceptionally good connections. Legally, they have no rights to any of your assets, so even if somehow they track you to our law office, they will not get past Jane.”I believed Roger on that.“The tour company you asked us to sign you up with seems pretty sketchy. Their contract looks like something generated off a free online legal site. We reviewed it, it is crude, but legal and binding. If you back out, they still get paid. Why did you pick this tour company? There are many larger and more reputable companies we might have booked you with.”“It’s silly, Roger. I know it’s only a one-person company, run by a young vlogger in Norway. It was terribly boring in the nursing home, so I would spend evenings watching her videos as she traveled around Norway visiting various places, and leading small groups of tourists. It looked like the people were having fun and she made me laugh. Watching her videos was one of the few things that brought me any happiness.”“Why did you reserve for four persons?” asked Roger.“I wanted to make sure her Christmas in Norway tour wouldn’t be canceled. She has a four-person minimum.”“You won’t get those other bookings back, even if more people are going.”“I don’t need the money, Roger, but I do need this tour.”“How about clothing? You don’t have many clothes in that gym bag, Gunnar. Do you want to stop somewhere before we get to the airport?”“No. I’ll travel light. It’ll be easier when going through airport security. I’ll buy more clothes when I get to Norway.”“How about after you come back?”“I’m going to someplace warm and sunny. Maybe visit a mouse in Florida. I’ll be in touch if I need anything while I’m in Norway, and call you when I get back in three weeks.”Jorunn, The Tour GuideDecember 15 – Morning, Two Days LaterI spent yesterday shopping for the new clothes I would need. The tour is a mix of city and outdoor activities, so I bought a basic wardrobe, along with good walking shoes, snow pants, a warm jacket, and gloves. I ate lunch and dinner at two smaller restaurants. The food was good, but I felt lonely eating by myself, in a city I didn’t know, in a strange country. I missed Solveig very much and wished she were here with me.The next morning, I walked to the nearby hotel where the tour group would be meeting and followed the “Christmas in Norway Tour” sign to a small room off the lobby. There she was! Jorunn. My vlogger! She was about as tall as I am, at least when I can stand straight, with long blonde hair parted in the middle, clear blue eyes, and her signature radiant smile. She wore a Norwegian Dale sweater and brown pants.Jorunn spoke to me in Norwegian. “Excuse me, sir, this room is reserved for a tour group.”I hobbled closer. “Yes, and I’m one of the people taking the tour.”“We have a pretty active schedule for the next seven days, from December 15th through the 22nd. Do you think you are well enough to take this tour?”I wasn’t sure if I was, but I didn’t want to tell her that. “I won’t slow you down,” I replied.“What is your name?” she asked.“Gunnar Larsen.”She opened a small notebook and flipped through the pages. “It says here you are in a group of four. I see three other names. When are they coming?”“There won’t be any others from my group. One of the names is my recently deceased wife, the other two are my estranged adult children. I’m all there is.”Jorunn looked puzzled. “Only four people in total signed up, including you, all from your group. If the others aren’t coming, then you will be the only one. I don’t… I can’t… I mean, I have reservations I cannot cancel. You’re going to cost me a fortune whether I go through with the tour or not.”I replied, “The contract states that you have a four-person minimum. I am paying you in full for all four people. You won’t lose any money.”Jorunn smirked and looked like she was thinking. “I don’t know if you’re some kind of dirty old man, but if I agree to continue this tour, you should know that we will have separate rooms every night and there will be no sex of any kind. Judging by the way you look; I hope you can at least wipe your own butt!”“Your terms are acceptable. I had a stroke two years ago, but I have mostly recovered. I can walk, talk, and listen. I have trouble with my balance at times and sometimes slur my words. If you think something is too strenuous for me, I am willing to skip that part of the tour.”“Well, Mr. Larsen of Minnesota, you need to sign some release forms. As stated in the contract, I get to film the tour group for my vlogs, so I expect smiles when I am filming you. For now, go help yourself to breakfast. There is coffee, brunost, bread, and milk. Enough to feed four. Don’t expect me to serve you, and if you don’t know how to use a cheese sliver, learn fast.”She looked puzzled earlier but was now the confident Jorunn with whom I spent virtual evenings. I was delighted we worked this out. Smiles would not be a problem.OsloDecember 15 - MorningJorunn left the room and returned shortly with a small basket of food. “We have a lot of brunost left over, so I am going to make us a food packet for lunch called matpakke. I have a place in mind where we can sit and picnic.”“We will use the Vy app and Oslo Pass and travel by train and Metro. But today, we will mainly walk around Oslo. You will need to check into this hotel under the tour name if you have not done so. We will be in Oslo for two nights. The prepaid room is part of your tour package. I will try to cancel or change some reservations. Meet me back here in one hour.”I went back to my hotel to retrieve my belongings, then checked into the one Jorunn requested. It was not as nice as the one I left, but it was clean, and I did not want to make a fuss on the first day. I purchased a surprising amount of clothing yesterday and needed to make two trips to bring everything over. Then I returned to the meeting room and found Jorunn waiting.Jorunn and I walked from the hotel to Oslo Central Station and took a tram to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Jorunn told me it is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland, with over two hundred sculptures combining the human form with an element of fantasy. Most figures were naked, with a mix of vagueness and rather notably open precision. The most prominent sculpture was a 17-meter-high monolith consisting of 121 intertwined human figures clambering to the top, carved from a single stone block. We spent over an hour walking the grounds, and while it was interesting, I told Jorunn that I didn’t see much in the way of Christmas here.A combination of walking and a short bus ride brought us to the grounds of the Akershus Fortress. Constructed in the 13th century, it protects the waterfront and Oslo harbor. Also on the site was the restored Akershus Castle, which was formerly a residence of prior kings of Norway. Jorunn said it serves today as an entertainment and event center for the Norwegian government, and this close to Christmas was not open to the public.I found it challenging to walk the grounds of the Fortress, as there were steep inclines mixed with stone steps and cobblestone paths. Remnants of a prior snowstorm still lingered in shady areas and under arches, making the footing treacherous. We did stop at places offering magnificent views of the city of Oslo, the bay, and the fjord, and several ramparts still bore cannons. Jorunn was rather businesslike and did not seem to be enjoyin
The Homeland calls for Gunnar, And So Does Love.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.‘You are the Tin Man. This tour; is the Oil Can. Figure it out.'A recently widowed Norwegian American plans his escape from a Minnesota nursing home to travel abroad and join a ‘Christmas in Norway Tour’. While battling his fears, he meets a beautiful young tour guide and her divorced mother, who years later, still bears scars from her unfaithful husband’s affair. This story is about overcoming those fears to let healing begin. This story picks up after that, and shows the lingering effects of a husband’s extra-marital affair on his family. This is also a Christmas story, so expect to travel to locations in Norway, encounter Norwegian Christmas traditions, and maybe even get sprinkled with pixie-dust!“A man has only one escape from his old self: to see a different self - in the mirror of some woman’s eyes” - Clare Booth LucePrequel: The Ruined ChristmasOslo, Norway - Three Years AgoMy name is Jorunn. As a Norwegian landsby girl, Mamma and I spent Christmas week in Bergen, visiting her family and celebrating my 22nd birthday. We decided to leave Bergen two days early so that Pappa would not have to celebrate New Year’s Eve alone. During the week, while we were away, Pappa told us how he missed us.We arrived back home in mid-afternoon, just as the sun was setting, and saw our Christmas Star lit up in the window. After entering the house, we heard Pappa moaning upstairs and went up to see if he was all right. Opening the bedroom door, we saw him humping a strange woman!“What are you doing?” shouted Mamma.Pappa replied, “Leah, you’re home early.”“Who is this woman?”“She’s just a slut. She means nothing to me.”The woman yelped, “I am not a slut! I am a happily married woman.”Mamma yelled, “I can see what keeps you happy.”Pappa yelled back, “I still love you, Leah. Let me get rid of this slut. She’s only here because I was lonely. We can talk.”Mamma replied, “You can talk to my advokater. We’re through! How can I ever trust you again, you bastard? Do you realize what you have done to our family!”Mamma began sobbing and ran down the stairs.Pappa looked at me and said, “Jorunn, none of this would have happened if your mother hadn’t come home early and seen us.”I looked at Pappa and saw his slime-covered beard slick with the woman’s juices. “You’re wrong Pappa. It did happen. Mamma and I just wouldn’t have known. You said you didn’t want to be seen by us. That works both ways! I don’t ever want to talk to you or see you ever again!”I ran downstairs to Mamma, and with our suitcases still in the boot, we drove to a friend’s house.Gunnar and Nurse RatchedDecember 13 - MorningMinneapolis, Minnesota - Present DayI pressed the button on my cell phone and hung up after talking with Roger Mans, my long-time friend and attorney. My two adult children texted a few days ago they wanted to visit me here in the nursing home. I had not seen them since the funeral of my wife, Solveig, and that was two months ago. Their plan was for me to sign their power of attorney forms, giving them full control over me and my affairs. But my plan was different, and now was time to put it into place.Two years ago, at just 54 years old, I had a stroke. A devastating paralysis left me needing a lot of care, and therapy to regain my mobility, speech, and other functions.I realized Solveig was unable to care for me at our home. She tried with all her heart, but she was also fighting her own battle with cancer, and undergoing her own rigorous treatments.So I decided to enter a nursing home, while I continued to get rehab. I wanted a facility with a stroke recovery unit. This limited my nursing home choices. The only thing making life bearable here, was Solveig faithfully visiting me, and sneaking an occasional home-cooked meal past the head nurse and her staff. Sadly, Solveig succumbed to the cancer while I was still a resident at the ‘Bethel Retirement Center'. At Solveig’s funeral, my children promised to visit often, but as usual, I could never count on them for anything.Without my wife here to check on things, my decent clothes never came back from the laundry, and instead, the staff returned excuses. I put on old sweatpants and an old sweatshirt. It would do for now. I prepared myself for this day by walking the halls of the nursing home, attending physical therapy sessions, and taking care of myself without help from the staff. Still not fully recovered, but like my clothing, it would do for now.I said goodbye to Alfred, my shared roommate. He nodded, wished me luck, and said he would love to go with me. I felt sorry for him. He was a great storyteller but needed to use his walker, and physically, he required the kind of care they provided here.I walked down the hall to the nurse’s station and found Molly Turner, the rather brusque chief nurse, and her two assistants sitting behind it. “Good morning, Nurse Ratched,” I said.“Good day to you, Gunnar,” she replied.“I’m checking out,” I said.“Be serious, Gunnar. No one ever checks out of a nursing home, unless they are flat on their back with a toe tag.”I looked at her and smiled, “I only hope that will be your Fate, Molly.”“That’s not a nice thing to say, Gunnar. Now, return to your room or I will have dietary take away your rice pudding for a week.”The rice pudding here was a pale imitation of the riskrem, which Solvieg would make every Christmas. I would miss it this year. I gave Nurse Ratched a one-fingered salute, then walked toward the exit. There was a scramble of squeaky chairs and shouts behind me, and I heard their footsteps closing in on me. As I pushed the two doors open to the main lobby, there was Roger, standing next to the nursing home administrator. I walked up to my lawyer, and shook his hand, “Thank you, old friend.”I turned to see a stunned Nurse Ratched. “Allow me to escort Mr. Larsen back to his room,” she meekly pronounced.The nursing home administrator said, “That won’t be necessary, Molly. Mr. Larsen is leaving us. He isn’t taking anything with him. You may clear out his room and get it ready for the next resident.”I looked Nurse Ratched in the eye and saw the fires of hell blazing within. Then, it was my turn to smile back.All my therapists had agreed that my rehab was successful. My speech skills were quite restored. My left arm and leg took longer to restore. But it was good enough to ditch the wheelchair, then the walker, then the cane. What really set me back was the grief of losing my wife, and the guilt of not being there when she needed me most.Gunnar’s HouseRoger drove me to my house. I hadn't been there in two years. It looked pathetic. No one bothered shoveling the snow on the walkway, and I feared what my children may have done to the inside. I found the hidden key I placed under a rock years ago and used it to enter through the front door. The living room and dining room furniture were mostly gone, or should I say, stolen. They had rifled through the small office nook next to the kitchen, with papers scattered over the kitchen countertops and floor.I turned and said, “You’re going to have your work cut out for you, Roger.”“This is exactly what you said would happen, Gunnar. Our firm will take care of it for you.”I opened a small drawer in the office nook and thankfully found my passport intact. It was useless to my children. I went to the master bedroom and saw the dresser drawers partially opened, with clothes scattered all about the floor. On top of the dresser was Solvieg’s jewelry box. I opened it, and few things remained. I was glad to see the gold charm bracelet I gave her 35 years ago for Christmas. She wore it a couple of times, then stopped, complaining it turned her wrist green as the fake gold coating wore away. But she kept it all these years. A worn-out trinket to my children, as precious as the Sauron’s Ring of Power to me. I picked it up and put it in the pocket of my sweatpants.I went into the walk-in closet and picked out some clothes, tossed them into an old gym bag, and said, “I’m done. We can go.”Roger said, “The locksmith and security company will meet me here this afternoon. Once they are done, your children will no longer have access.”“I’d rather not have an auction of whatever is left in the house. I don’t think Solveig would have liked that. Once you go through the papers, just throw everything left in a dumpster and haul it away. Whatever the two pirates plundered will be the only inheritance they will ever see from me.”Miller And Mans Law OfficeRoger and I next went to his office. I said hello to Jane, the long-time receptionist. I have always suspected that Jane knows everything that goes on here, and secretly runs the whole place, not unlike the way Nurse Ratched does in her domain. However, Jane does so with more efficiency, happiness, and joy for both clients and staff.Jane asked, “Can I get you anything, Gunnar?”“I’d love a cup of decent coffee, and an Apple Fritter if you have one.”“I’ll bring them to Roger’s office. Two creams and no sugar, if I remember right.”“Perfect, as always, Jane.”We went into Roger’s plush office, and I sat down in a chair more comfortable than any I sat in for the last two years.“Are you actually going to go through with this?” Roger asked.“Every bit of it,” I replied.I signed multiple papers, removing my two children as beneficiaries from my life insurance and investment accounts. I also gave Roger limited power of attorney to sell my house and dispose of its possessions.Jane arrived with the coffee and Apple Fritter. “Norway? Why would anyone want to go to Norway in December?”“Did Roger spill the beans?” I asked.Jane replied, “Every piece of paper that comes into this office passes through my hands. I opened your travel visa when it came in.”“Jane, I can’t spend Christmas here in Minnesota. The bitter wintry weather pales in comparison to the cold hearts of my own two children. The further away from them I am, the better. I’ve never been to Norway and have always wanted to see the 'home country’ of my ancestors.”Like I said, Jane knows all. The coffee tasted great, and the deep-fried Apple Fritter, one of Nursed Ratched’s 'prohibited foods’, was outstanding. Roger slid me a packet labeled 'Gunnar - Norway’. As Jane left, I opened it and looked at the contents. As planned, there was an international cell phone with a different number, a stack of krone, and three new credit cards bearing the name of a fictitious business. I handed Roger my old cell phone.“We’ll dispose of this for you. Your children will have no idea where you are unless they hire a private detective with exceptionally good connections. Legally, they have no rights to any of your assets, so even if somehow they track you to our law office, they will not get past Jane.”I believed Roger on that.“The tour company you asked us to sign you up with seems pretty sketchy. Their contract looks like something generated off a free online legal site. We reviewed it, it is crude, but legal and binding. If you back out, they still get paid. Why did you pick this tour company? There are many larger and more reputable companies we might have booked you with.”“It’s silly, Roger. I know it’s only a one-person company, run by a young vlogger in Norway. It was terribly boring in the nursing home, so I would spend evenings watching her videos as she traveled around Norway visiting various places, and leading small groups of tourists. It looked like the people were having fun and she made me laugh. Watching her videos was one of the few things that brought me any happiness.”“Why did you reserve for four persons?” asked Roger.“I wanted to make sure her Christmas in Norway tour wouldn’t be canceled. She has a four-person minimum.”“You won’t get those other bookings back, even if more people are going.”“I don’t need the money, Roger, but I do need this tour.”“How about clothing? You don’t have many clothes in that gym bag, Gunnar. Do you want to stop somewhere before we get to the airport?”“No. I’ll travel light. It’ll be easier when going through airport security. I’ll buy more clothes when I get to Norway.”“How about after you come back?”“I’m going to someplace warm and sunny. Maybe visit a mouse in Florida. I’ll be in touch if I need anything while I’m in Norway, and call you when I get back in three weeks.”Jorunn, The Tour GuideDecember 15 – Morning, Two Days LaterI spent yesterday shopping for the new clothes I would need. The tour is a mix of city and outdoor activities, so I bought a basic wardrobe, along with good walking shoes, snow pants, a warm jacket, and gloves. I ate lunch and dinner at two smaller restaurants. The food was good, but I felt lonely eating by myself, in a city I didn’t know, in a strange country. I missed Solveig very much and wished she were here with me.The next morning, I walked to the nearby hotel where the tour group would be meeting and followed the “Christmas in Norway Tour” sign to a small room off the lobby. There she was! Jorunn. My vlogger! She was about as tall as I am, at least when I can stand straight, with long blonde hair parted in the middle, clear blue eyes, and her signature radiant smile. She wore a Norwegian Dale sweater and brown pants.Jorunn spoke to me in Norwegian. “Excuse me, sir, this room is reserved for a tour group.”I hobbled closer. “Yes, and I’m one of the people taking the tour.”“We have a pretty active schedule for the next seven days, from December 15th through the 22nd. Do you think you are well enough to take this tour?”I wasn’t sure if I was, but I didn’t want to tell her that. “I won’t slow you down,” I replied.“What is your name?” she asked.“Gunnar Larsen.”She opened a small notebook and flipped through the pages. “It says here you are in a group of four. I see three other names. When are they coming?”“There won’t be any others from my group. One of the names is my recently deceased wife, the other two are my estranged adult children. I’m all there is.”Jorunn looked puzzled. “Only four people in total signed up, including you, all from your group. If the others aren’t coming, then you will be the only one. I don’t… I can’t… I mean, I have reservations I cannot cancel. You’re going to cost me a fortune whether I go through with the tour or not.”I replied, “The contract states that you have a four-person minimum. I am paying you in full for all four people. You won’t lose any money.”Jorunn smirked and looked like she was thinking. “I don’t know if you’re some kind of dirty old man, but if I agree to continue this tour, you should know that we will have separate rooms every night and there will be no sex of any kind. Judging by the way you look; I hope you can at least wipe your own butt!”“Your terms are acceptable. I had a stroke two years ago, but I have mostly recovered. I can walk, talk, and listen. I have trouble with my balance at times and sometimes slur my words. If you think something is too strenuous for me, I am willing to skip that part of the tour.”“Well, Mr. Larsen of Minnesota, you need to sign some release forms. As stated in the contract, I get to film the tour group for my vlogs, so I expect smiles when I am filming you. For now, go help yourself to breakfast. There is coffee, brunost, bread, and milk. Enough to feed four. Don’t expect me to serve you, and if you don’t know how to use a cheese sliver, learn fast.”She looked puzzled earlier but was now the confident Jorunn with whom I spent virtual evenings. I was delighted we worked this out. Smiles would not be a problem.OsloDecember 15 - MorningJorunn left the room and returned shortly with a small basket of food. “We have a lot of brunost left over, so I am going to make us a food packet for lunch called matpakke. I have a place in mind where we can sit and picnic.”“We will use the Vy app and Oslo Pass and travel by train and Metro. But today, we will mainly walk around Oslo. You will need to check into this hotel under the tour name if you have not done so. We will be in Oslo for two nights. The prepaid room is part of your tour package. I will try to cancel or change some reservations. Meet me back here in one hour.”I went back to my hotel to retrieve my belongings, then checked into the one Jorunn requested. It was not as nice as the one I left, but it was clean, and I did not want to make a fuss on the first day. I purchased a surprising amount of clothing yesterday and needed to make two trips to bring everything over. Then I returned to the meeting room and found Jorunn waiting.Jorunn and I walked from the hotel to Oslo Central Station and took a tram to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Jorunn told me it is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland, with over two hundred sculptures combining the human form with an element of fantasy. Most figures were naked, with a mix of vagueness and rather notably open precision. The most prominent sculpture was a 17-meter-high monolith consisting of 121 intertwined human figures clambering to the top, carved from a single stone block. We spent over an hour walking the grounds, and while it was interesting, I told Jorunn that I didn’t see much in the way of Christmas here.A combination of walking and a short bus ride brought us to the grounds of the Akershus Fortress. Constructed in the 13th century, it protects the waterfront and Oslo harbor. Also on the site was the restored Akershus Castle, which was formerly a residence of prior kings of Norway. Jorunn said it serves today as an entertainment and event center for the Norwegian government, and this close to Christmas was not open to the public.I found it challenging to walk the grounds of the Fortress, as there were steep inclines mixed with stone steps and cobblestone paths. Remnants of a prior snowstorm still lingered in shady areas and under arches, making the footing treacherous. We did stop at places offering magnificent views of the city of Oslo, the bay, and the fjord, and several ramparts still bore cannons. Jorunn was rather businesslike and did not seem to be enjoyin
The Homeland calls for Gunnar, And So Does Love.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.‘You are the Tin Man. This tour; is the Oil Can. Figure it out.'A recently widowed Norwegian American plans his escape from a Minnesota nursing home to travel abroad and join a ‘Christmas in Norway Tour’. While battling his fears, he meets a beautiful young tour guide and her divorced mother, who years later, still bears scars from her unfaithful husband’s affair. This story is about overcoming those fears to let healing begin. This story picks up after that, and shows the lingering effects of a husband’s extra-marital affair on his family. This is also a Christmas story, so expect to travel to locations in Norway, encounter Norwegian Christmas traditions, and maybe even get sprinkled with pixie-dust!“A man has only one escape from his old self: to see a different self - in the mirror of some woman’s eyes” - Clare Booth LucePrequel: The Ruined ChristmasOslo, Norway - Three Years AgoMy name is Jorunn. As a Norwegian landsby girl, Mamma and I spent Christmas week in Bergen, visiting her family and celebrating my 22nd birthday. We decided to leave Bergen two days early so that Pappa would not have to celebrate New Year’s Eve alone. During the week, while we were away, Pappa told us how he missed us.We arrived back home in mid-afternoon, just as the sun was setting, and saw our Christmas Star lit up in the window. After entering the house, we heard Pappa moaning upstairs and went up to see if he was all right. Opening the bedroom door, we saw him humping a strange woman!“What are you doing?” shouted Mamma.Pappa replied, “Leah, you’re home early.”“Who is this woman?”“She’s just a slut. She means nothing to me.”The woman yelped, “I am not a slut! I am a happily married woman.”Mamma yelled, “I can see what keeps you happy.”Pappa yelled back, “I still love you, Leah. Let me get rid of this slut. She’s only here because I was lonely. We can talk.”Mamma replied, “You can talk to my advokater. We’re through! How can I ever trust you again, you bastard? Do you realize what you have done to our family!”Mamma began sobbing and ran down the stairs.Pappa looked at me and said, “Jorunn, none of this would have happened if your mother hadn’t come home early and seen us.”I looked at Pappa and saw his slime-covered beard slick with the woman’s juices. “You’re wrong Pappa. It did happen. Mamma and I just wouldn’t have known. You said you didn’t want to be seen by us. That works both ways! I don’t ever want to talk to you or see you ever again!”I ran downstairs to Mamma, and with our suitcases still in the boot, we drove to a friend’s house.Gunnar and Nurse RatchedDecember 13 - MorningMinneapolis, Minnesota - Present DayI pressed the button on my cell phone and hung up after talking with Roger Mans, my long-time friend and attorney. My two adult children texted a few days ago they wanted to visit me here in the nursing home. I had not seen them since the funeral of my wife, Solveig, and that was two months ago. Their plan was for me to sign their power of attorney forms, giving them full control over me and my affairs. But my plan was different, and now was time to put it into place.Two years ago, at just 54 years old, I had a stroke. A devastating paralysis left me needing a lot of care, and therapy to regain my mobility, speech, and other functions.I realized Solveig was unable to care for me at our home. She tried with all her heart, but she was also fighting her own battle with cancer, and undergoing her own rigorous treatments.So I decided to enter a nursing home, while I continued to get rehab. I wanted a facility with a stroke recovery unit. This limited my nursing home choices. The only thing making life bearable here, was Solveig faithfully visiting me, and sneaking an occasional home-cooked meal past the head nurse and her staff. Sadly, Solveig succumbed to the cancer while I was still a resident at the ‘Bethel Retirement Center'. At Solveig’s funeral, my children promised to visit often, but as usual, I could never count on them for anything.Without my wife here to check on things, my decent clothes never came back from the laundry, and instead, the staff returned excuses. I put on old sweatpants and an old sweatshirt. It would do for now. I prepared myself for this day by walking the halls of the nursing home, attending physical therapy sessions, and taking care of myself without help from the staff. Still not fully recovered, but like my clothing, it would do for now.I said goodbye to Alfred, my shared roommate. He nodded, wished me luck, and said he would love to go with me. I felt sorry for him. He was a great storyteller but needed to use his walker, and physically, he required the kind of care they provided here.I walked down the hall to the nurse’s station and found Molly Turner, the rather brusque chief nurse, and her two assistants sitting behind it. “Good morning, Nurse Ratched,” I said.“Good day to you, Gunnar,” she replied.“I’m checking out,” I said.“Be serious, Gunnar. No one ever checks out of a nursing home, unless they are flat on their back with a toe tag.”I looked at her and smiled, “I only hope that will be your Fate, Molly.”“That’s not a nice thing to say, Gunnar. Now, return to your room or I will have dietary take away your rice pudding for a week.”The rice pudding here was a pale imitation of the riskrem, which Solvieg would make every Christmas. I would miss it this year. I gave Nurse Ratched a one-fingered salute, then walked toward the exit. There was a scramble of squeaky chairs and shouts behind me, and I heard their footsteps closing in on me. As I pushed the two doors open to the main lobby, there was Roger, standing next to the nursing home administrator. I walked up to my lawyer, and shook his hand, “Thank you, old friend.”I turned to see a stunned Nurse Ratched. “Allow me to escort Mr. Larsen back to his room,” she meekly pronounced.The nursing home administrator said, “That won’t be necessary, Molly. Mr. Larsen is leaving us. He isn’t taking anything with him. You may clear out his room and get it ready for the next resident.”I looked Nurse Ratched in the eye and saw the fires of hell blazing within. Then, it was my turn to smile back.All my therapists had agreed that my rehab was successful. My speech skills were quite restored. My left arm and leg took longer to restore. But it was good enough to ditch the wheelchair, then the walker, then the cane. What really set me back was the grief of losing my wife, and the guilt of not being there when she needed me most.Gunnar’s HouseRoger drove me to my house. I hadn't been there in two years. It looked pathetic. No one bothered shoveling the snow on the walkway, and I feared what my children may have done to the inside. I found the hidden key I placed under a rock years ago and used it to enter through the front door. The living room and dining room furniture were mostly gone, or should I say, stolen. They had rifled through the small office nook next to the kitchen, with papers scattered over the kitchen countertops and floor.I turned and said, “You’re going to have your work cut out for you, Roger.”“This is exactly what you said would happen, Gunnar. Our firm will take care of it for you.”I opened a small drawer in the office nook and thankfully found my passport intact. It was useless to my children. I went to the master bedroom and saw the dresser drawers partially opened, with clothes scattered all about the floor. On top of the dresser was Solvieg’s jewelry box. I opened it, and few things remained. I was glad to see the gold charm bracelet I gave her 35 years ago for Christmas. She wore it a couple of times, then stopped, complaining it turned her wrist green as the fake gold coating wore away. But she kept it all these years. A worn-out trinket to my children, as precious as the Sauron’s Ring of Power to me. I picked it up and put it in the pocket of my sweatpants.I went into the walk-in closet and picked out some clothes, tossed them into an old gym bag, and said, “I’m done. We can go.”Roger said, “The locksmith and security company will meet me here this afternoon. Once they are done, your children will no longer have access.”“I’d rather not have an auction of whatever is left in the house. I don’t think Solveig would have liked that. Once you go through the papers, just throw everything left in a dumpster and haul it away. Whatever the two pirates plundered will be the only inheritance they will ever see from me.”Miller And Mans Law OfficeRoger and I next went to his office. I said hello to Jane, the long-time receptionist. I have always suspected that Jane knows everything that goes on here, and secretly runs the whole place, not unlike the way Nurse Ratched does in her domain. However, Jane does so with more efficiency, happiness, and joy for both clients and staff.Jane asked, “Can I get you anything, Gunnar?”“I’d love a cup of decent coffee, and an Apple Fritter if you have one.”“I’ll bring them to Roger’s office. Two creams and no sugar, if I remember right.”“Perfect, as always, Jane.”We went into Roger’s plush office, and I sat down in a chair more comfortable than any I sat in for the last two years.“Are you actually going to go through with this?” Roger asked.“Every bit of it,” I replied.I signed multiple papers, removing my two children as beneficiaries from my life insurance and investment accounts. I also gave Roger limited power of attorney to sell my house and dispose of its possessions.Jane arrived with the coffee and Apple Fritter. “Norway? Why would anyone want to go to Norway in December?”“Did Roger spill the beans?” I asked.Jane replied, “Every piece of paper that comes into this office passes through my hands. I opened your travel visa when it came in.”“Jane, I can’t spend Christmas here in Minnesota. The bitter wintry weather pales in comparison to the cold hearts of my own two children. The further away from them I am, the better. I’ve never been to Norway and have always wanted to see the 'home country’ of my ancestors.”Like I said, Jane knows all. The coffee tasted great, and the deep-fried Apple Fritter, one of Nursed Ratched’s 'prohibited foods’, was outstanding. Roger slid me a packet labeled 'Gunnar - Norway’. As Jane left, I opened it and looked at the contents. As planned, there was an international cell phone with a different number, a stack of krone, and three new credit cards bearing the name of a fictitious business. I handed Roger my old cell phone.“We’ll dispose of this for you. Your children will have no idea where you are unless they hire a private detective with exceptionally good connections. Legally, they have no rights to any of your assets, so even if somehow they track you to our law office, they will not get past Jane.”I believed Roger on that.“The tour company you asked us to sign you up with seems pretty sketchy. Their contract looks like something generated off a free online legal site. We reviewed it, it is crude, but legal and binding. If you back out, they still get paid. Why did you pick this tour company? There are many larger and more reputable companies we might have booked you with.”“It’s silly, Roger. I know it’s only a one-person company, run by a young vlogger in Norway. It was terribly boring in the nursing home, so I would spend evenings watching her videos as she traveled around Norway visiting various places, and leading small groups of tourists. It looked like the people were having fun and she made me laugh. Watching her videos was one of the few things that brought me any happiness.”“Why did you reserve for four persons?” asked Roger.“I wanted to make sure her Christmas in Norway tour wouldn’t be canceled. She has a four-person minimum.”“You won’t get those other bookings back, even if more people are going.”“I don’t need the money, Roger, but I do need this tour.”“How about clothing? You don’t have many clothes in that gym bag, Gunnar. Do you want to stop somewhere before we get to the airport?”“No. I’ll travel light. It’ll be easier when going through airport security. I’ll buy more clothes when I get to Norway.”“How about after you come back?”“I’m going to someplace warm and sunny. Maybe visit a mouse in Florida. I’ll be in touch if I need anything while I’m in Norway, and call you when I get back in three weeks.”Jorunn, The Tour GuideDecember 15 – Morning, Two Days LaterI spent yesterday shopping for the new clothes I would need. The tour is a mix of city and outdoor activities, so I bought a basic wardrobe, along with good walking shoes, snow pants, a warm jacket, and gloves. I ate lunch and dinner at two smaller restaurants. The food was good, but I felt lonely eating by myself, in a city I didn’t know, in a strange country. I missed Solveig very much and wished she were here with me.The next morning, I walked to the nearby hotel where the tour group would be meeting and followed the “Christmas in Norway Tour” sign to a small room off the lobby. There she was! Jorunn. My vlogger! She was about as tall as I am, at least when I can stand straight, with long blonde hair parted in the middle, clear blue eyes, and her signature radiant smile. She wore a Norwegian Dale sweater and brown pants.Jorunn spoke to me in Norwegian. “Excuse me, sir, this room is reserved for a tour group.”I hobbled closer. “Yes, and I’m one of the people taking the tour.”“We have a pretty active schedule for the next seven days, from December 15th through the 22nd. Do you think you are well enough to take this tour?”I wasn’t sure if I was, but I didn’t want to tell her that. “I won’t slow you down,” I replied.“What is your name?” she asked.“Gunnar Larsen.”She opened a small notebook and flipped through the pages. “It says here you are in a group of four. I see three other names. When are they coming?”“There won’t be any others from my group. One of the names is my recently deceased wife, the other two are my estranged adult children. I’m all there is.”Jorunn looked puzzled. “Only four people in total signed up, including you, all from your group. If the others aren’t coming, then you will be the only one. I don’t… I can’t… I mean, I have reservations I cannot cancel. You’re going to cost me a fortune whether I go through with the tour or not.”I replied, “The contract states that you have a four-person minimum. I am paying you in full for all four people. You won’t lose any money.”Jorunn smirked and looked like she was thinking. “I don’t know if you’re some kind of dirty old man, but if I agree to continue this tour, you should know that we will have separate rooms every night and there will be no sex of any kind. Judging by the way you look; I hope you can at least wipe your own butt!”“Your terms are acceptable. I had a stroke two years ago, but I have mostly recovered. I can walk, talk, and listen. I have trouble with my balance at times and sometimes slur my words. If you think something is too strenuous for me, I am willing to skip that part of the tour.”“Well, Mr. Larsen of Minnesota, you need to sign some release forms. As stated in the contract, I get to film the tour group for my vlogs, so I expect smiles when I am filming you. For now, go help yourself to breakfast. There is coffee, brunost, bread, and milk. Enough to feed four. Don’t expect me to serve you, and if you don’t know how to use a cheese sliver, learn fast.”She looked puzzled earlier but was now the confident Jorunn with whom I spent virtual evenings. I was delighted we worked this out. Smiles would not be a problem.OsloDecember 15 - MorningJorunn left the room and returned shortly with a small basket of food. “We have a lot of brunost left over, so I am going to make us a food packet for lunch called matpakke. I have a place in mind where we can sit and picnic.”“We will use the Vy app and Oslo Pass and travel by train and Metro. But today, we will mainly walk around Oslo. You will need to check into this hotel under the tour name if you have not done so. We will be in Oslo for two nights. The prepaid room is part of your tour package. I will try to cancel or change some reservations. Meet me back here in one hour.”I went back to my hotel to retrieve my belongings, then checked into the one Jorunn requested. It was not as nice as the one I left, but it was clean, and I did not want to make a fuss on the first day. I purchased a surprising amount of clothing yesterday and needed to make two trips to bring everything over. Then I returned to the meeting room and found Jorunn waiting.Jorunn and I walked from the hotel to Oslo Central Station and took a tram to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Jorunn told me it is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland, with over two hundred sculptures combining the human form with an element of fantasy. Most figures were naked, with a mix of vagueness and rather notably open precision. The most prominent sculpture was a 17-meter-high monolith consisting of 121 intertwined human figures clambering to the top, carved from a single stone block. We spent over an hour walking the grounds, and while it was interesting, I told Jorunn that I didn’t see much in the way of Christmas here.A combination of walking and a short bus ride brought us to the grounds of the Akershus Fortress. Constructed in the 13th century, it protects the waterfront and Oslo harbor. Also on the site was the restored Akershus Castle, which was formerly a residence of prior kings of Norway. Jorunn said it serves today as an entertainment and event center for the Norwegian government, and this close to Christmas was not open to the public.I found it challenging to walk the grounds of the Fortress, as there were steep inclines mixed with stone steps and cobblestone paths. Remnants of a prior snowstorm still lingered in shady areas and under arches, making the footing treacherous. We did stop at places offering magnificent views of the city of Oslo, the bay, and the fjord, and several ramparts still bore cannons. Jorunn was rather businesslike and did not seem to be enjoyin
The Homeland calls for Gunnar, And So Does Love.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.‘You are the Tin Man. This tour; is the Oil Can. Figure it out.'A recently widowed Norwegian American plans his escape from a Minnesota nursing home to travel abroad and join a ‘Christmas in Norway Tour’. While battling his fears, he meets a beautiful young tour guide and her divorced mother, who years later, still bears scars from her unfaithful husband’s affair. This story is about overcoming those fears to let healing begin. This story picks up after that, and shows the lingering effects of a husband’s extra-marital affair on his family. This is also a Christmas story, so expect to travel to locations in Norway, encounter Norwegian Christmas traditions, and maybe even get sprinkled with pixie-dust!“A man has only one escape from his old self: to see a different self - in the mirror of some woman’s eyes” - Clare Booth LucePrequel: The Ruined ChristmasOslo, Norway - Three Years AgoMy name is Jorunn. As a Norwegian landsby girl, Mamma and I spent Christmas week in Bergen, visiting her family and celebrating my 22nd birthday. We decided to leave Bergen two days early so that Pappa would not have to celebrate New Year’s Eve alone. During the week, while we were away, Pappa told us how he missed us.We arrived back home in mid-afternoon, just as the sun was setting, and saw our Christmas Star lit up in the window. After entering the house, we heard Pappa moaning upstairs and went up to see if he was all right. Opening the bedroom door, we saw him humping a strange woman!“What are you doing?” shouted Mamma.Pappa replied, “Leah, you’re home early.”“Who is this woman?”“She’s just a slut. She means nothing to me.”The woman yelped, “I am not a slut! I am a happily married woman.”Mamma yelled, “I can see what keeps you happy.”Pappa yelled back, “I still love you, Leah. Let me get rid of this slut. She’s only here because I was lonely. We can talk.”Mamma replied, “You can talk to my advokater. We’re through! How can I ever trust you again, you bastard? Do you realize what you have done to our family!”Mamma began sobbing and ran down the stairs.Pappa looked at me and said, “Jorunn, none of this would have happened if your mother hadn’t come home early and seen us.”I looked at Pappa and saw his slime-covered beard slick with the woman’s juices. “You’re wrong Pappa. It did happen. Mamma and I just wouldn’t have known. You said you didn’t want to be seen by us. That works both ways! I don’t ever want to talk to you or see you ever again!”I ran downstairs to Mamma, and with our suitcases still in the boot, we drove to a friend’s house.Gunnar and Nurse RatchedDecember 13 - MorningMinneapolis, Minnesota - Present DayI pressed the button on my cell phone and hung up after talking with Roger Mans, my long-time friend and attorney. My two adult children texted a few days ago they wanted to visit me here in the nursing home. I had not seen them since the funeral of my wife, Solveig, and that was two months ago. Their plan was for me to sign their power of attorney forms, giving them full control over me and my affairs. But my plan was different, and now was time to put it into place.Two years ago, at just 54 years old, I had a stroke. A devastating paralysis left me needing a lot of care, and therapy to regain my mobility, speech, and other functions.I realized Solveig was unable to care for me at our home. She tried with all her heart, but she was also fighting her own battle with cancer, and undergoing her own rigorous treatments.So I decided to enter a nursing home, while I continued to get rehab. I wanted a facility with a stroke recovery unit. This limited my nursing home choices. The only thing making life bearable here, was Solveig faithfully visiting me, and sneaking an occasional home-cooked meal past the head nurse and her staff. Sadly, Solveig succumbed to the cancer while I was still a resident at the ‘Bethel Retirement Center'. At Solveig’s funeral, my children promised to visit often, but as usual, I could never count on them for anything.Without my wife here to check on things, my decent clothes never came back from the laundry, and instead, the staff returned excuses. I put on old sweatpants and an old sweatshirt. It would do for now. I prepared myself for this day by walking the halls of the nursing home, attending physical therapy sessions, and taking care of myself without help from the staff. Still not fully recovered, but like my clothing, it would do for now.I said goodbye to Alfred, my shared roommate. He nodded, wished me luck, and said he would love to go with me. I felt sorry for him. He was a great storyteller but needed to use his walker, and physically, he required the kind of care they provided here.I walked down the hall to the nurse’s station and found Molly Turner, the rather brusque chief nurse, and her two assistants sitting behind it. “Good morning, Nurse Ratched,” I said.“Good day to you, Gunnar,” she replied.“I’m checking out,” I said.“Be serious, Gunnar. No one ever checks out of a nursing home, unless they are flat on their back with a toe tag.”I looked at her and smiled, “I only hope that will be your Fate, Molly.”“That’s not a nice thing to say, Gunnar. Now, return to your room or I will have dietary take away your rice pudding for a week.”The rice pudding here was a pale imitation of the riskrem, which Solvieg would make every Christmas. I would miss it this year. I gave Nurse Ratched a one-fingered salute, then walked toward the exit. There was a scramble of squeaky chairs and shouts behind me, and I heard their footsteps closing in on me. As I pushed the two doors open to the main lobby, there was Roger, standing next to the nursing home administrator. I walked up to my lawyer, and shook his hand, “Thank you, old friend.”I turned to see a stunned Nurse Ratched. “Allow me to escort Mr. Larsen back to his room,” she meekly pronounced.The nursing home administrator said, “That won’t be necessary, Molly. Mr. Larsen is leaving us. He isn’t taking anything with him. You may clear out his room and get it ready for the next resident.”I looked Nurse Ratched in the eye and saw the fires of hell blazing within. Then, it was my turn to smile back.All my therapists had agreed that my rehab was successful. My speech skills were quite restored. My left arm and leg took longer to restore. But it was good enough to ditch the wheelchair, then the walker, then the cane. What really set me back was the grief of losing my wife, and the guilt of not being there when she needed me most.Gunnar’s HouseRoger drove me to my house. I hadn't been there in two years. It looked pathetic. No one bothered shoveling the snow on the walkway, and I feared what my children may have done to the inside. I found the hidden key I placed under a rock years ago and used it to enter through the front door. The living room and dining room furniture were mostly gone, or should I say, stolen. They had rifled through the small office nook next to the kitchen, with papers scattered over the kitchen countertops and floor.I turned and said, “You’re going to have your work cut out for you, Roger.”“This is exactly what you said would happen, Gunnar. Our firm will take care of it for you.”I opened a small drawer in the office nook and thankfully found my passport intact. It was useless to my children. I went to the master bedroom and saw the dresser drawers partially opened, with clothes scattered all about the floor. On top of the dresser was Solvieg’s jewelry box. I opened it, and few things remained. I was glad to see the gold charm bracelet I gave her 35 years ago for Christmas. She wore it a couple of times, then stopped, complaining it turned her wrist green as the fake gold coating wore away. But she kept it all these years. A worn-out trinket to my children, as precious as the Sauron’s Ring of Power to me. I picked it up and put it in the pocket of my sweatpants.I went into the walk-in closet and picked out some clothes, tossed them into an old gym bag, and said, “I’m done. We can go.”Roger said, “The locksmith and security company will meet me here this afternoon. Once they are done, your children will no longer have access.”“I’d rather not have an auction of whatever is left in the house. I don’t think Solveig would have liked that. Once you go through the papers, just throw everything left in a dumpster and haul it away. Whatever the two pirates plundered will be the only inheritance they will ever see from me.”Miller And Mans Law OfficeRoger and I next went to his office. I said hello to Jane, the long-time receptionist. I have always suspected that Jane knows everything that goes on here, and secretly runs the whole place, not unlike the way Nurse Ratched does in her domain. However, Jane does so with more efficiency, happiness, and joy for both clients and staff.Jane asked, “Can I get you anything, Gunnar?”“I’d love a cup of decent coffee, and an Apple Fritter if you have one.”“I’ll bring them to Roger’s office. Two creams and no sugar, if I remember right.”“Perfect, as always, Jane.”We went into Roger’s plush office, and I sat down in a chair more comfortable than any I sat in for the last two years.“Are you actually going to go through with this?” Roger asked.“Every bit of it,” I replied.I signed multiple papers, removing my two children as beneficiaries from my life insurance and investment accounts. I also gave Roger limited power of attorney to sell my house and dispose of its possessions.Jane arrived with the coffee and Apple Fritter. “Norway? Why would anyone want to go to Norway in December?”“Did Roger spill the beans?” I asked.Jane replied, “Every piece of paper that comes into this office passes through my hands. I opened your travel visa when it came in.”“Jane, I can’t spend Christmas here in Minnesota. The bitter wintry weather pales in comparison to the cold hearts of my own two children. The further away from them I am, the better. I’ve never been to Norway and have always wanted to see the 'home country’ of my ancestors.”Like I said, Jane knows all. The coffee tasted great, and the deep-fried Apple Fritter, one of Nursed Ratched’s 'prohibited foods’, was outstanding. Roger slid me a packet labeled 'Gunnar - Norway’. As Jane left, I opened it and looked at the contents. As planned, there was an international cell phone with a different number, a stack of krone, and three new credit cards bearing the name of a fictitious business. I handed Roger my old cell phone.“We’ll dispose of this for you. Your children will have no idea where you are unless they hire a private detective with exceptionally good connections. Legally, they have no rights to any of your assets, so even if somehow they track you to our law office, they will not get past Jane.”I believed Roger on that.“The tour company you asked us to sign you up with seems pretty sketchy. Their contract looks like something generated off a free online legal site. We reviewed it, it is crude, but legal and binding. If you back out, they still get paid. Why did you pick this tour company? There are many larger and more reputable companies we might have booked you with.”“It’s silly, Roger. I know it’s only a one-person company, run by a young vlogger in Norway. It was terribly boring in the nursing home, so I would spend evenings watching her videos as she traveled around Norway visiting various places, and leading small groups of tourists. It looked like the people were having fun and she made me laugh. Watching her videos was one of the few things that brought me any happiness.”“Why did you reserve for four persons?” asked Roger.“I wanted to make sure her Christmas in Norway tour wouldn’t be canceled. She has a four-person minimum.”“You won’t get those other bookings back, even if more people are going.”“I don’t need the money, Roger, but I do need this tour.”“How about clothing? You don’t have many clothes in that gym bag, Gunnar. Do you want to stop somewhere before we get to the airport?”“No. I’ll travel light. It’ll be easier when going through airport security. I’ll buy more clothes when I get to Norway.”“How about after you come back?”“I’m going to someplace warm and sunny. Maybe visit a mouse in Florida. I’ll be in touch if I need anything while I’m in Norway, and call you when I get back in three weeks.”Jorunn, The Tour GuideDecember 15 – Morning, Two Days LaterI spent yesterday shopping for the new clothes I would need. The tour is a mix of city and outdoor activities, so I bought a basic wardrobe, along with good walking shoes, snow pants, a warm jacket, and gloves. I ate lunch and dinner at two smaller restaurants. The food was good, but I felt lonely eating by myself, in a city I didn’t know, in a strange country. I missed Solveig very much and wished she were here with me.The next morning, I walked to the nearby hotel where the tour group would be meeting and followed the “Christmas in Norway Tour” sign to a small room off the lobby. There she was! Jorunn. My vlogger! She was about as tall as I am, at least when I can stand straight, with long blonde hair parted in the middle, clear blue eyes, and her signature radiant smile. She wore a Norwegian Dale sweater and brown pants.Jorunn spoke to me in Norwegian. “Excuse me, sir, this room is reserved for a tour group.”I hobbled closer. “Yes, and I’m one of the people taking the tour.”“We have a pretty active schedule for the next seven days, from December 15th through the 22nd. Do you think you are well enough to take this tour?”I wasn’t sure if I was, but I didn’t want to tell her that. “I won’t slow you down,” I replied.“What is your name?” she asked.“Gunnar Larsen.”She opened a small notebook and flipped through the pages. “It says here you are in a group of four. I see three other names. When are they coming?”“There won’t be any others from my group. One of the names is my recently deceased wife, the other two are my estranged adult children. I’m all there is.”Jorunn looked puzzled. “Only four people in total signed up, including you, all from your group. If the others aren’t coming, then you will be the only one. I don’t… I can’t… I mean, I have reservations I cannot cancel. You’re going to cost me a fortune whether I go through with the tour or not.”I replied, “The contract states that you have a four-person minimum. I am paying you in full for all four people. You won’t lose any money.”Jorunn smirked and looked like she was thinking. “I don’t know if you’re some kind of dirty old man, but if I agree to continue this tour, you should know that we will have separate rooms every night and there will be no sex of any kind. Judging by the way you look; I hope you can at least wipe your own butt!”“Your terms are acceptable. I had a stroke two years ago, but I have mostly recovered. I can walk, talk, and listen. I have trouble with my balance at times and sometimes slur my words. If you think something is too strenuous for me, I am willing to skip that part of the tour.”“Well, Mr. Larsen of Minnesota, you need to sign some release forms. As stated in the contract, I get to film the tour group for my vlogs, so I expect smiles when I am filming you. For now, go help yourself to breakfast. There is coffee, brunost, bread, and milk. Enough to feed four. Don’t expect me to serve you, and if you don’t know how to use a cheese sliver, learn fast.”She looked puzzled earlier but was now the confident Jorunn with whom I spent virtual evenings. I was delighted we worked this out. Smiles would not be a problem.OsloDecember 15 - MorningJorunn left the room and returned shortly with a small basket of food. “We have a lot of brunost left over, so I am going to make us a food packet for lunch called matpakke. I have a place in mind where we can sit and picnic.”“We will use the Vy app and Oslo Pass and travel by train and Metro. But today, we will mainly walk around Oslo. You will need to check into this hotel under the tour name if you have not done so. We will be in Oslo for two nights. The prepaid room is part of your tour package. I will try to cancel or change some reservations. Meet me back here in one hour.”I went back to my hotel to retrieve my belongings, then checked into the one Jorunn requested. It was not as nice as the one I left, but it was clean, and I did not want to make a fuss on the first day. I purchased a surprising amount of clothing yesterday and needed to make two trips to bring everything over. Then I returned to the meeting room and found Jorunn waiting.Jorunn and I walked from the hotel to Oslo Central Station and took a tram to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Jorunn told me it is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland, with over two hundred sculptures combining the human form with an element of fantasy. Most figures were naked, with a mix of vagueness and rather notably open precision. The most prominent sculpture was a 17-meter-high monolith consisting of 121 intertwined human figures clambering to the top, carved from a single stone block. We spent over an hour walking the grounds, and while it was interesting, I told Jorunn that I didn’t see much in the way of Christmas here.A combination of walking and a short bus ride brought us to the grounds of the Akershus Fortress. Constructed in the 13th century, it protects the waterfront and Oslo harbor. Also on the site was the restored Akershus Castle, which was formerly a residence of prior kings of Norway. Jorunn said it serves today as an entertainment and event center for the Norwegian government, and this close to Christmas was not open to the public.I found it challenging to walk the grounds of the Fortress, as there were steep inclines mixed with stone steps and cobblestone paths. Remnants of a prior snowstorm still lingered in shady areas and under arches, making the footing treacherous. We did stop at places offering magnificent views of the city of Oslo, the bay, and the fjord, and several ramparts still bore cannons. Jorunn was rather businesslike and did not seem to be enjoyin
Smiles that matter for healthier futures Barb Kozuh is executive director of the Delta Dental Foundation of Arizona, based in Scottsdale. She brings real heart to the work of expanding access to oral health care across our communities. She talks about why oral health is about so much more than smiles — it's about dignity, opportunity, and how investing in people and partnerships can truly change lives.
Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: From Seeds to Smiles: Balancing Love and Passion Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2026-02-08-08-38-20-hu Story Transcript:Hu: A téli nap hideg, mégis gyönyörű volt a budapesti Botanikus kertben.En: The winter day was cold, yet beautiful in the Budapesti Botanikus Kert.Hu: A levegő friss és tiszta, a téli piac forgalmas.En: The air was fresh and clean, and the winter market was bustling.Hu: Az emberek meleg kabátokba burkolózva jártak egyik standtól a másikig, míg a fagyos ösvények halkan ropogtak a lábuk alatt.En: People wrapped in warm coats wandered from one stall to another, while the frosty paths softly crunched under their feet.Hu: Az árusok színes standjai ritka növények magvait, kerti díszeket és forró teát kínáltak.En: The vendors' colorful stalls offered rare plant seeds, garden ornaments, and hot tea.Hu: Zsolt, az elhivatott botanikus, a piacon keresgélt Enikővel, a természet rajongójával az oldalán.En: Zsolt, the dedicated botanist, was browsing the market with Enikő, a nature enthusiast, by his side.Hu: Zsolt ritka magokat akart találni, hogy bővítse a gyűjteményét és segítse a kutatásait.En: Zsolt wanted to find rare seeds to expand his collection and aid his research.Hu: Miközben jártak-keltek, Zsolt egyre inkább a magok keresésére összpontosított, és kevés figyelmet fordított Enikőre vagy a körülöttük lévő szépségre.En: As they wandered about, Zsolt increasingly focused on searching for seeds, paying little attention to Enikő or the beauty around them.Hu: Enikő mosolyogva próbálta Zsoltot kimozdítani a megszállottságából.En: Enikő smiled as she tried to shake Zsolt out of his obsession.Hu: "Nézd, milyen szépek ezek a növények!En: "Look how beautiful these plants are!"Hu: " - mondta, miközben egy csodálatosan világító piros és zöld levelekkel teli pálma mellett megállt.En: she said, stopping next to a palm filled with wonderfully bright red and green leaves.Hu: Zsolt csak egy pillantást vetett rá, majd tovább sietett, hogy még több standot átnézzen.En: Zsolt only glanced at them before hurrying on to inspect more stalls.Hu: "Igen, szép.En: "Yes, they're nice.Hu: De meg kell találnom azokat a különleges magokat" - válaszolta alig hallhatóan.En: But I need to find those special seeds," he replied barely audibly.Hu: Az idő telt, és Enikő kezdett kissé csalódott lenni.En: As time passed, Enikő began to feel a bit disappointed.Hu: Szeretett volna inkább a pillanatot élvezni, nemcsak a ritka kincseket keresni.En: She wanted to enjoy the moment rather than just seek rare treasures.Hu: Hirtelen Zsolt megpillantotta a standot, ahol egy árus tartotta az utolsó csomagot a keresett ritka magokból.En: Suddenly, Zsolt spotted the stall where a vendor held the last packet of the rare seeds he was looking for.Hu: Zsolt boldogan rohant oda, hogy megvásárolja őket.En: Zsolt happily rushed over to buy them.Hu: Ahogy a kezében tartotta a magokat, meglátta Enikő távolodó alakját.En: As he held the seeds in his hand, he saw Enikő's retreating figure.Hu: Zsolt ekkor rájött, mennyire elhanyagolta Enikőt.En: It was then that Zsolt realized how much he had neglected Enikő.Hu: Átgondolta, mi is a fontosabb számára.En: He considered what was truly more important to him.Hu: Odasietett hozzá, és megszólította: "Enikő, sajnálom.En: He hurried over to her and said, "I'm sorry, Enikő.Hu: Annyira elmerültem a keresésben, hogy elfeledkeztem a legfontosabbról.En: I got so absorbed in the search that I forgot about what's most important."Hu: "Enikő lassan felé fordult.En: Enikő slowly turned towards him.Hu: "Tudom, hogy fontosak ezek a magok neked, Zsolt.En: "I know these seeds are important to you, Zsolt.Hu: De szeretném, ha együtt is élvezhetnénk az időt.En: But I'd love for us to enjoy our time together, too."Hu: "Zsolt odanyújtotta neki a magcsomagot, mosolyogva mondta: "Ültessük el őket együtt.En: Zsolt handed her the packet of seeds, smiling as he said, "Let's plant them together.Hu: Közös projektként.En: As a joint project.Hu: Jobban szeretem, hogy veled vagyok.En: I love being with you more."Hu: "Enikő mosolya visszatért, és boldogan fogadta el a magokat.En: Enikő's smile returned, and she happily accepted the seeds.Hu: "Ez csodálatos ötlet.En: "That's a wonderful idea.Hu: Kezdjük el most!En: Let's start now!"Hu: "A nap végére, mindketten rájöttek, hogy a szenvedély lehet közös is, nemcsak önző.En: By the end of the day, they both realized that passion can be shared, not just selfish.Hu: Zsolt megtalálta az egyensúlyt munkája és a szerettei között.En: Zsolt found the balance between his work and his loved ones.Hu: A kert immár nemcsak ritka növényi kincseket, hanem egy új közös élményt is jelentett mindkettőjük számára.En: The garden now represented not just rare plant treasures, but also a new shared experience for both of them. Vocabulary Words:dedicated: elhivatottenthusiast: rajongófrosty: fagyosbustling: forgalmasornaments: díszekobession: megszállottságbright: világítóinspect: átnézbarely: aligdisappointed: csalódottretreating: távolodóneglect: elhanyagolabsorbed: elmerülpacket: csomagaid: segíttreasures: kincsekcrunched: ropogtakglanced: pillantást vetettjoint: közösbalance: egyensúlyshare: megosztenjoy: élvezhappily: boldoganrealize: rájönconsidered: átgondoltaimportant: fontosfocused: összpontosítottsurrounding: körülöttük lévőrepresent: jelentett
Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Capturing Winter Smiles: A Family's Frozen Moment Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-02-08-23-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 寒い冬の日、ハルトは家族と一緒に植物園に行きました。En: On a cold winter day, Haruto went to the botanical garden with his family.Ja: 静かな庭園には、氷が張った小道がありました。En: In the quiet garden, there were pathways covered in ice.Ja: 木々は葉を落とし、花は少しだけ咲いていました。En: The trees had shed their leaves, and there were only a few flowers blooming.Ja: 弟の桜と母の美雪と一緒です。En: He was with his younger brother Sakura and his mother Miyuki.Ja: でも、今日の目的はただ遊びに行くことだけではありません。En: But today's purpose was not just to have fun.Ja: ハルトはカメラを手に持っていました。En: Haruto was holding a camera.Ja: 彼は家族の自然な笑顔を撮りたかったのです。En: He wanted to capture the natural smiles of his family.Ja: 最近、家族には緊張感がありました。En: Lately, there was tension in the family.Ja: 桜はいつも不機嫌でした。En: Sakura was always in a bad mood.Ja: 美雪は忙しくて疲れていました。En: Miyuki was busy and tired.Ja: ハルトは悲しかったです。En: Haruto felt sad.Ja: 彼は家族がまた仲良くなることを願っていました。En: He wished for his family to get along again.Ja: 植物園に着くと、美雪は無言で前を歩き始め、桜も不機嫌に後について行きました。En: When they arrived at the botanical garden, Miyuki silently started walking ahead, and Sakura followed behind with a sullen expression.Ja: ハルトは考えました。「どうすればみんなが楽しくなるかな?」En: Haruto thought, "How can I make everyone have fun?"Ja: まず、ハルトは池の鯉に餌をあげることを提案しました。En: First, Haruto suggested feeding the koi fish in the pond.Ja: 「鯉の餌やりは楽しいよ」とハルトは言いました。En: "Feeding the koi is fun," he said.Ja: 桜は最初嫌がりましたが、ハルトが一緒に餌をあげると少し笑顔になりました。En: Sakura was reluctant at first, but when Haruto joined in feeding the fish, a small smile appeared on his face.Ja: それを見て美雪も微笑みました。En: Seeing this, Miyuki also smiled.Ja: その後、温室に行きました。En: After that, they went to the greenhouse.Ja: 温室には、冬でも色とりどりの花が咲いていました。En: Despite it being winter, colorful flowers were blooming inside.Ja: 桜は少し興味を持ち始め、美雪も花を見てリラックスしているようでした。En: Sakura began to show some interest, and Miyuki seemed to relax while looking at the flowers.Ja: 突然、特別な白い花に三人とも目を奪われました。En: Suddenly, the three of them were captivated by a special white flower.Ja: その花は、冬では珍しいものでした。En: It was rare to see such a flower in winter.Ja: 「きれいだね」と美雪が言いました。En: "It's beautiful," Miyuki said.Ja: 桜も「うん、本当に」と頷きました。En: Sakura nodded, "Yeah, really."Ja: この瞬間、ハルトは彼のカメラのシャッターを押しました。En: In that moment, Haruto clicked the shutter of his camera.Ja: 最後に、みんなで園内のカフェに行きました。En: Finally, they all went to the café in the garden.Ja: 温かい飲み物を飲みながら、美雪と桜はお互いに笑顔を交換しました。En: While enjoying warm drinks, Miyuki and Sakura exchanged smiles.Ja: その様子を見て、ハルトは嬉しくなりました。En: Watching this, Haruto felt happy.Ja: 家に帰る途中、ハルトはカメラの写真を確認しました。En: On the way home, Haruto checked the photos on his camera.Ja: それは心温まる家族の写真でした。En: They were heartwarming family pictures.Ja: ハルトは気づきました。小さな努力が家族の幸せを作るのだと。En: Haruto realized that small efforts create family happiness.Ja: 自信を持つことができました。En: He gained confidence.Ja: これからもハルトは家族のために何かできるかもしれません。En: From now on, Haruto might be able to do something for his family.Ja: 彼は希望を胸に、家族とともに帰路につきました。En: With hope in his heart, he headed home with his family. Vocabulary Words:botanical: 植物園pathways: 小道shed: 落とすblooming: 咲いているcapture: 撮るtension: 緊張感sullen: 不機嫌reluctant: 嫌がるgreenhouse: 温室captivated: 目を奪われたrare: 珍しいshutter: シャッターheartwarming: 心温まるconfidence: 自信hope: 希望natural: 自然なexpression: 表情pond: 池feeding: 餌をあげることsmiles: 笑顔efforts: 努力familiar: 親しいrelax: リラックスするexchanged: 交換したpurpose: 目的quiet: 静かtired: 疲れたinterest: 興味ahead: 前にentranced: 魅了された
IDK is on WHOO’s House Podcast with DJ WHOO Kid. IDK discusses creepin' on Reddit, a collab with 50 Cent, and his new mixtape, Even the Devil Smiles. Leave comments, and subscribe to WHOO's House Podcast with DJ WHOO Kid.
Brian's neighbor Pete Gwyn has been making snowmen out of wood and giving them out for free! He just believes that being nice is free and wants to spread happiness.
Danny and Nic Nic walk us through another week in parkrunworld. There's The King at Sandringham parkrun, they fondly remember Hannah Corne, Nic Nic keeps pace at Bramley and Danny captures a moment from Kingston parkrun.
The President of The Hartford Yard Goats Tim Restall comes in to unveil this year's promotional schedule that include giveaways from hats and novelty jerseys, fireworks nights, and a throwback day to The Rock Cats!
Andy tackles the delayed rebuilding plan for Pacific Palisades, spins through talkbacks, and weighs in on Super Bowl ads. Also on deck: San Francisco’s puzzling “March for Billionaires,” a KRON4 reporter scammed by AI, and a crossover with George Noory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The League. Find someone in yours. Apply today. https://www.theleague.com/ Upwork: Post your job free at http://upwork.com and connect with top talent to grow your business. Harry's: Our listeners get the Harry's Plus Trial Set for only $10 at https://www.Harrys.com/ICED #Harryspod Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at https://shopify.com/ich Follow and Subscribe to @DougDeMuro Email: GrahamNeedsHelp12@gmail.com with any potential business ideas you'd like us to be involved in / partner with you! Add us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlsselby https://www.instagram.com/gpstephan Apply for The Index Membership: https://entertheindex.com/ Official Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeBQ24VfikOriqSdKtomh0w For sponsorships or business inquiries reach out to: tmatsradio@gmail.com For Podcast Inquiries, please DM @icedcoffeehour on Instagram! Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:15 - Worst car YouTuber with finances 00:03:29 - Frivolous car purchases 00:04:28 - Carrera GT cost per mile 00:07:10 - Car collection value growth 00:07:41 - Record auction prices 00:11:15 - Wild recent auctions 00:13:44 - Is vintage car interest fading? 00:14:38 - Future “holy grail” car 00:15:59 - Low-depreciation cars 00:19:02 - Sponsor - The League 00:20:02 - Advice for conservative buyers 00:21:24 - How hypercar leasing works 00:25:35 - Thoughts on 96-month car loans 00:26:25 - How much car you can afford 00:29:00 - China EV & battery progress 00:30:12 - Are Chinese EVs good? 00:31:43 - Importing Chinese EVs 00:32:50 - EV range issues 00:34:02 - EV pricing after silver boom 00:35:31 - Car market misconceptions 00:35:47 - Cars likely to rise in value 00:36:42 - Sponsor - Upwork 00:37:47 - Cars that got too expensive 00:46:30 - Cars you can drive for free 00:49:11 - Cars to avoid 00:50:59 - Best cars under $30K 00:53:36 - Biggest head-turners by price 00:56:47 - Reactions to the Countach 01:01:26 - Why Graham doesn't drive his Ford GT 01:02:24 - Thoughts on the new Ford GT 01:04:23 - Sponsor - Harry's Shaving 01:05:47 - Sponsor - Shopify 01:07:09 - Smiles-per-gallon cars 01:07:56 - Improving car brands 01:11:32 - Cars people want most right now 01:12:26 - Consistently disappointing brands 01:15:36 - Best budget brands 01:16:36 - Thoughts on Genesis 01:17:34 - Best new car tech 01:18:29 - Car feature subscriptions 01:23:11 - Must-have car features 01:24:41 - Cars & Bids update 01:26:17 - Income breakdown 01:29:27 - Current business involvement 01:32:07 - Still enjoying content creation? 01:37:57 - Daily routine 01:38:15 - Where he's investing 01:39:14 - Collection maintenance costs 01:41:15 - Improving Cars & Bids 01:43:50 - Advice for Cars & Bids bidders 01:46:22 - Surprising Cars & Bids sales 01:48:48 - Montana LLC tax drama 01:57:03 - Most irresponsible car YouTuber 02:09:47 - Rapid-fire questions 02:14:27 - Tier lists *Some of the links and other products that appear on this video are from companies which Graham Stephan will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. Graham Stephan is part of an affiliate network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. The content in this video is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, I sit down with Andrea, an Italian businessman living in Thailand for more than ten years. He tells me the story of a friend of his being abducted and murdered, and how the subsequent investigation unfolded. He also gives advice for foreigners traveling to Thailand, some of the nuances of Thai society, advice for running a business in Thailand, and what happens when your Thai girlfriend tries to stab you with a knife. If you're visiting Thailand soon or living here as an expat, Andrea has some very interesting insights from his years living in the “Land of Smiles.”
SILVER SHATTERED $120/oz, steaming toward likely $1,188/oz post-RV!
This week we're talking Season 2, Episode 3: “Ebenezer Sprague,” the episode that asks the timeless question: What if Scrooge ran a frontier bank? Walnut Grove finally gets a bank, and everyone's excited—until the new banker arrives and immediately says “no” to literally everyone. Loans? No. Hope? No. Smiles? Absolutely not.Enter Laura, who goes fishing and accidentally becomes the only human Ebenezer Sprague doesn't hate. With no financial agenda and zero awareness of adult boundaries, Laura chips away at his icy exterior. Progress! But then Pa applies for a loan, and Sprague jumps to the wild conclusion that Laura has been running a long con. (Because yes, Laura Ingalls: criminal mastermind.)Laura is crushed, Sprague is grumpy, Pa looks ridiculously hot in long johns, and everyone learns a valuable lesson about trust, cynicism, and why you should maybe not accuse a child of emotional manipulation. It's the epitome of what Little House is all about. We laugh, we sigh, and we marvel at how Little House made frontier banking dramatic—and somehow still heartwarming.Then, join us on Patreon where we talk about a very important subject: Teeth! Yes. I said TEETH.Links and Resources:Haven't signed up for Patreon yet? Get more behind the scenes info and fun conversation we can't do on the podcast...PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LittleHousePodcastwww.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites.www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com Check out the award-winning series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart.Prairie Legacy Productions - the place to go for info about all new Little House events!To learn more about Little House on the Prairie, Visit www.littlehouseontheprairie.comFacebook/Instagram/TikTok:Dean Butler @officialdeanbutlerAlison Arngrim @alisonarngrimPamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietvSocial Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez https://www.paclanticcreative.com/Producer: Tony Sweetwww.ubngo.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/little-house-on-the-prairie-50th-anniversary-podcast--6055242/support.
In this conversation, IDK and OME discuss his latest project, 'Even The Devil Smiles,' exploring the distinction between mixtapes and albums, the impact of his prison experience on his music, and the evolution of rap during his incarceration. He reflects on his influences, the challenges of navigating the music industry independently, and the importance of authenticity and significant collaborations with legendary artists (MF DOOM, Black Thought and more) and the journey of self-discovery and accountability in his life and career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In today's episode, Mark is joined by an incredible guest, Gary Howells, fresh off the back of completing the Oman 165, a brutal multi-day ultramarathon set deep in the stunning but unforgiving Wahiba Sands desert of Oman. Covering roughly 165 miles over six days, the event takes runners across rolling dunes, rocky plains, and remote desert landscapes, with long, hot stages by day and basic camp life by night in a fully supported race environment.Gary, a former soldier and qualified physiotherapist who now works as a full-time running coach, thrives on pushing his limits in extreme events across the globe, and he explains why this challenge stands out as his most enjoyable adventure to date. Together, Mark and Gary dive into what it's really like to run through the Wahiba desert, the mental and physical demands of staged ultras, and key considerations if you're tempted by something similar, including smart foot administration, blister prevention, and crucially, what not to carry when the race support allows you to travel lighter. Along the way, Mark announces the lucky winner of £200 worth of Precision Fuel & Hydration, shares why having a good coach or personal trainer to teach you how to lift correctly can be a game-changer for performance, and highlights the importance of supporting your local events to keep the endurance community thriving. Enjoy.https://www.peakperformancewales.com/https://www.justgiving.com/page/gary-howells-10in10?newPage=true
Hello Beautiful, I'm so grateful you're here with me.
George Stephenson started life in extremely humble circumstances, but his ingenuity and pursuit of education led him to an impressive legacy. He invented a miner’s lamp, but is most well known for his work on locomotives and railways. Research: “George Stephenson (1781-1848).” https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/stephenson_george.shtml#:~:text=In%201814%2C%20Stephenson%20constructed%20his%20first%20locomotive%2C,construction%20of%20the%20Stockton%20and%20Darlington%20railway. Bellis, Mary. “George Stephenson and the Invention of the Steam Locomotive Engine.” ThoughtCo. May 13, 2025. https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-railroad-1992457 Bellis, Mary. “Biography of James Watt, Inventor of the Modern Steam Engine.” ThoughtCo. April 27, 2020. https://www.thoughtco.com/james-watt-inventor-of-the-modern-steam-engine-1992685 Bellis, Mary. “Biography of Thomas Newcomen, Inventor of the Steam Engine.” July 15, 2019. https://www.thoughtco.com/thomas-newcomen-profile-1992201 Bibby, Miriam. “Rainhill Trials.” Historic UK. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Rainhill-Trials/ Burton, Ken. “Local History: John Blenkinsop 1783-1831.” South Leeds Life. April 29, 2023. https://southleedslife.com/local-history-john-blenkinsop-1783-1831/ Cavendish, Richard. “George Stephenson's First Steam Locomotive.” History Today. July 7, 2014. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/george-stephensons-first-steam-locomotive Institution of Civil Engineers. “George Stephenson.” https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/meet-the-engineers/george-stephenson Network Rail. “George Stephenson (1781–1848).” https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/our-history/eminent-engineers/george-stephenson-1781-1848/ Rolt, L.T.C. “George and Robert Stephenson.” Amberley Publishing. 2016. “Safety Lamps.” Smithsonian. https://www.si.edu/spotlight/mining-lights-and-hats/safety-lamps Smiles, Samuel. “Lives of Engineers. The Locomotive. GEORGE AND ROBERT STEPHENSON.” LONDON. JOHN MURRAY. 1879. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/27710/27710-h/27710-h.htm#footnote129 Stephenson Steam Railway Museum. https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/stephensonsteamrailway Stephenson, George. “A description of the safety lamp, invented by George Stephenson. To which is added, an account of the lamp constructed by sir H. Davy. [With] A collection of all the letters which have appeared in the Newcastle papers, with other documents, relating to the safety lamps.” London. Baldwin, Craddock and Joy. January 1817. Accessed online: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=SYkIAAAAQAAJ&rdid=book-SYkIAAAAQAAJ&rdot=1 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hello to you listening in Corning, New York!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Wednesdays on Whidbey and your host, Diane Wyzga.One of the first signs of recognition a new mother looks for in her infant is - a smile. Look! She's smiling at me! Yes! Baby sees you. Baby recognizes you.From earliest days we are cued to the smiles of other human beings. Remember what we missed in the COVID time with masks masking our smiles? Sure, we crinkled our eyes to signal a smile but it wasn't the same as receiving a smile from another human. Sometimes the tone of our voice was a good substitute. The “music of the spoken word” stood in for our smile. We did the best we could with what we had. Like a smile, the "music of the spoken word" brings written text to life with inflection, pause, tone, emphasis, and cadence. Reading text alone is quick, cheap, and easy but the human voice lends expression and emotional meaning.I create each 60 Seconds episode with you in mind to offer a measure of hope, delight and imagination, as well as thoughts to ponder, stories to share, a practical tip to lighten and brighten your day. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my podcast episodes. My voice is me smiling at you. You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you'll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. Be sure to stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Communication Services, email me to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as "Wyzga on Words" on Substack.Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer's Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.
In this episode, Dr. Yousef Elyaman breaks down the essential nutritional strategies for reversing fatty liver disease—from macronutrient optimization to the evidence-based power of the Mediterranean diet—making complex dietary interventions immediately actionable for practitioners and patients.We explore why replacing carbohydrates with protein and saturated fats with unsaturated fats reduces hepatic fat content, how over 10,000 phytonutrients from colorful plant foods support liver detoxification in ways supplements cannot replicate, and the critical balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Dr. Yousef Elyaman reveals why the Mediterranean diet reduces liver fat even without weight loss—showing improvements in hepatic steatosis and insulin sensitivity independent of caloric restriction—and reviews the SMILES trial demonstrating significant mood improvements through dietary intervention alone.You'll discover practical ultra-processed food replacements patients can sustain long-term, which micronutrient deficiencies (zinc, copper, vitamin D, B-vitamins, vitamin E) drive MASH progression, and how nitrate-rich vegetables boost nitric oxide production to combat both fatty liver and hypertension. Join us for an online livestream where you'll master the functional medicine strategies that reverse fatty liver. Register now at https://pages.kharrazianinstitute.com/elyaman-fatty-liverFor patient-oriented functional medicine courses, visit https://drknews.com/online-courses/For practitioner functional medicine certification courses, visit https://kharrazianinstitute.com/For Certified Functional Nutrition education for both practitioners and lay people, visit https://afnlm.com/00:00 Nutrient-Dense Eating for Recovery05:57 "Risks of Ultra-Processed Foods"09:05 Omega 6 vs Omega 3 Ratio12:39 "Foods for Health and Wellness"14:44 "Benefits of Mediterranean Diet"18:19 Mediterranean Diet: Mood & Mortality Boost21:19 "Key Nutrients for Insulin Sensitivity"26:09 "Reducing Liver Fat with Diet"28:15 "Functional Medicine Training & Resources"Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/solving-the-puzzle-with-dr-datis-kharrazian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Unraveling secrets and uncovering truths in Hartford, Wisconsin. Episode 2 dives deep into the tangled web of friendships and hidden lies.
Huge Drama in Davos: Trump vs Europe | Modi Smiles in the Corner | Sanjay Dixit
Send us a textIt's Date Night! Notorious serial killer Closed Casket Jack is about to embark on his one way journey to Hell... so as a Last Hurrah his girlfriend Sadie Jayne is pulling out all the stops to give him the night of his life. Fire and food, love and laughter, blood and guts!Music provided by:Lobo Loco – Bells of HappinessSoularflair – It's the Smiles that Keep us Going, Everlasting Embrace, Something Broken SomewhereGregor Quendel – arrangement of Bach's Tocatta & fugue in D minorPlease subscribe through Buzzsprout, Stitcher, Spotify, Podchaser, or iTunesFind me on social media on Instagram Facebook and Twitter, or email me direct at AScaryHomeCompanion@gmail.comSupport our PATREON page! And check out the Redbubble merch shop. Support the showSupport the show
Fluent Fiction - Hebrew: Spills and Smiles: A Day Shira Embraced Spontaneity Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/he/episode/2026-01-17-08-38-20-he Story Transcript:He: שירה התעוררה בוקר חורפי וקר, השתקפות של גשם קלושה נצנצה על חלונה.En: Shira woke up on a cold, winter morning, the faint reflection of rain shimmered on her window.He: היום היה יום בחירות ויום עמוס לפניה.En: It was election day and a busy day ahead of her.He: היא תכננה הכל בקפידה – להצביע ואז לרוץ לעבודה בשלום.En: She had planned everything meticulously—to vote and then calmly rush to work.He: בעוד שהיא התהדרה בהשתמעות של הספונטניות, היא אהבה סדר יום מסודר.En: Although she prided herself on the appearance of spontaneity, she loved an orderly schedule.He: שירה נכנסה לבית הקפה המאולתר שהוקם בתוך אתר ההצבעה, נראה היה כאילו כל העיר התכנסה שם.En: Shira entered the makeshift café set up inside the polling site; it seemed as if the entire city had gathered there.He: היא פגשה את גדי, חבר ילדות אשר תמיד נראה כאילו הוא חולם על עננים.En: She met Gadi, a childhood friend who always seemed to be daydreaming.He: גדי עמד עם כוס קפה חם, נינוח ומחויך.En: Gadi stood with a hot cup of coffee, relaxed and smiling.He: "מה שלומך?En: "How are you?"He: " הוא שאל בהנאה, לא הטריד אותו התור הרחב לקלפיות הרחק ממנו.En: he asked with delight, unbothered by the long line to the polls some distance away.He: שירה ניסתה להסביר לגדי שהיא מתכוונת להצביע ולחזור לעבודה במהירות, אבל הוא לא הבין היטב את הדחיפות שבענין.En: Shira tried to explain to Gadi that she intended to vote and return to work quickly, but he didn't quite grasp the urgency of the matter.He: בעודם מדברים, אישה לבושה בסינר התקרבה אליהם.En: As they were talking, a woman in an apron approached them.He: "אתם כאן להגיש את הקפה?En: "Are you here to serve the coffee?"He: " היא שאלה בלהט.En: she asked eagerly.He: לפני שהם הספיקו להסביר את הטעות, הם מצאו את עצמם מאחורי הדלפק, מגישים קפה לעוברים ושבים.En: Before they could explain the mistake, they found themselves behind the counter, serving coffee to passersby.He: שירה הביטה בבושה בכל התוכנית שלה שהתנפצה.En: Shira looked in embarrassment at her shattered plan.He: אלוהים אדירים, איך הם הסתבכו ככה?En: Goodness, how did they get into this mess?He: היא חשבה לעצמה בזמן שהגישה כוס קפה עם חלב חם בציפייה נוספת.En: she thought to herself while handing over a cup of coffee with hot milk with another order coming up.He: גדי, לעומתה, כרסם עוגיה וצחק.En: Gadi, in contrast, nibbled on a cookie and laughed.He: "נהדר להיות חלק מהפעילות הזו!En: "Great to be part of this activity!"He: " הוא הכריז שמח.En: he declared happily.He: ובעודי נוסעים ביום העמוס, קרה מה שכלל לא ציפו.En: And as they drove through the busy day, something completely unexpected happened.He: שירה, בעת ששמה קצף על קפה, איבדה ריכוז וקצת מהמשקה נשפך ישירות על עמדת ההצבעה.En: Shira, while adding foam to a coffee, lost concentration and spilled a bit of the drink directly onto the voting station.He: חלה מהומה פתאומית כשהנוכחים צחקו וניסו לנקות את הנזק.En: A sudden commotion ensued as those present laughed and tried to clean up the mess.He: שירה הייתה בהלם, אך גם מופתעת מכמה שהמצב מצחיק מבחוץ.En: Shira was shocked but also surprised at how funny the situation was from the outside.He: לבסוף, בדיוק לפני שהתורים נסגרו, הם הצליחו להצביע.En: Finally, just before the polls closed, they managed to vote.He: כשיצאו שניהם יחד מהקלפי, שירה הפכה לגמרי את הסתכלותה.En: As they both exited the polling station, Shira had entirely changed her perspective.He: "יודע מה, גדי?En: "You know what, Gadi?He: אולי אני צריכה להיות ספונטנית יותר לעיתים," היא אמרה, והם צחקו ביחד בעודם הולכים לקראת היום הבא, מרגישים את תחושת החופש שבלב.En: Maybe I should be more spontaneous sometimes," she said, and they laughed together as they headed towards the next day, feeling the sense of freedom in their hearts. Vocabulary Words:faint: קלושהreflection: השתקפותmeticulously: בקפידהspontaneity: ספונטניותorderly: מסודרmakeshift: מאולתרpolling site: אתר ההצבעהdaydreaming: חולם על ענניםdelight: בהנאהurgency: הדחיפותapron: סינרeagerly: בלהטcounter: דלפקembarrassment: בושהshattered: התנפצהcommotion: מהומהconcentration: ריכוזunexpected: שכלל לא ציפוperspective: הסתכלותהfreedom: חופשgathered: התכנסהnibbled: כרסםrushed: לרוץcalmly: בשלוםspontaneous: ספונטניתsituation: מצבexited: יצאוentirely: לגמריprided: התהדרהpassersby: עוברים ושביםBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fluent-fiction-hebrew--5818690/support.
Hello everyone, and welcome to a special edition of the All About Thailand Podcast, proudly produced by Lonely Traveler Productions.Hosted by Mike and Kung, this podcast brings you the real Thailand — from village life in Sankhom, Isan, to travel tips, culture, food, festivals, and the true cost of living in both Thai Baht and US Dollars.If you love Thailand, want honest insight, and enjoy authentic stories from the heart of the country, then this is the podcast for you.So make sure you subscribe, follow, and stay connected, because every episode takes you deeper into the Land of Smiles — and you won't want to miss what's coming next.Link below to subscribe https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lonely-traveler-productio/subscribe
In Episode 2 of Worth Your Time, Dr. Rob Shumaker continues his conversation with Ugandan conservationist Mwezi “Badru” Mugerwa, the 2025 Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award winner. Mugerwa explains why the African golden cat is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and how snare traps meant for bush meat can kill the cats as bycatch. He shares how his team works with families around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park on alternative livelihoods, plus the mobile dental clinics behind Smiles for Conservation led by his wife, Dr. Hazel Mugerwa. The episode also points listeners to embaka.org to learn more about the organization named for the cat's local name, “embaka.”
More information about Brain Lenses at brainlenses.com.Paid BL supporters receive an additional episode of the show each week.Read the written version of this episode: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brainlenses.substack.com/subscribe
Smart Smiles with AI for the Experienced Dentist with Dr. Robert Salvati explores how years of clinical experience and professional insight uniquely position seasoned practitioners to harness the power of artificial intelligence. Rather than replacing expertise, AI enhances it—streamlining diagnostics, improving precision, and expanding patient care possibilities. Dr. Salvati demonstrates how wisdom gained through decades of hands-on practice becomes the foundation for understanding and applying emerging technologies effectively. His message reaches beyond dentistry: when professionals in any field combine AI tools with years of refined judgment, the result is smarter decisions, elevated performance, and a renewed sense of purpose in an ever-evolving professional landscape. More about Dr. Salvati here: https://www.citycentresmiles.com/meet-our-local-and-nearby-dentist-you-can-trust-dr-robert-salvati Full article here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/smart-smiles-with-AI Get POWER OF AFTER BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3GpEGlJ Make sure you're getting all our podcast updates and articles! Get them here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/newsletter Resources with tools and guidance for mid-career individuals, professionals & those at the halftime of life seeking growth and fulfillment: http://HalftimeSuccess.com #aidiagnostics #moderndentistry #streamliningdentalpractice #technologyinhealthcare #enhancingpatientcare CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction 01:15 - Power of Age in Dentistry 01:46 - Meet Dr. Robert Salvati 04:33 - AI Transforming Dental Industry 08:59 - Preparing for AI in Dentistry 11:04 - AI and Affordable Dentistry 17:50 - Dental Health Best Practices 20:40 - Foods Neutralizing Oral Acid 21:06 - AI in Antimicrobial Development 24:10 - AI for Cavity Detection 28:33 - Risks of AI in Dentistry 34:34 - Ensuring Trust in AI 39:25 - Finding Dr. Rob 43:31 - Final Thoughts on Dentistry 43:59 - Support for Mid-Career Professionals 48:09 - OUTRO
Rick first came to AA supporting a friend mandated to attend. He didn't think himself an alcoholic, but read some literature and heard from some members and eventually understood his own problem. The Second and Third Steps came easy, but the Fourth presented a problem until he heard "it's just a list." Don and Sam introduce a new podcast feature, Using the Traditions in Our Lives, and Suzy and Angela share about Tradition One: Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity.While we provide the podcast at no charge, we do have expenses. Grapevine is the only AA entity that does not accept direct contributions, so to support the AA Grapevine Podcast, please subscribe to Grapevine Magazine in print, online, or on the Grapevine app. You can also provide a subscription to someone in need through our "Carry the Message" program or purchase books or other items at aagrapevine.org/storeYou can email us at podcast@aagrapevine.org. To record an Ask-It-Basket question or a recovery-related joke, call 212-870-3418 or email a voice recording to podcast@aagrapevine.org
AUDI FIRST TO TEST THEIR 2026 CAR IN BARCELONA! ANOTHER MEETING SCHEDULED OVER THE ENGINE LOOP HOLE ISSUE! TOTO WOLF CONFIDENT MERCEDES HAS DONE IT AGAIN! DAKAR RALLY FIRST WEEK HAS BEEN AN EXCITING FIGHT BETWEEN FORD, DACIA AND TOYOTA…AND FERNANDO SAYS… THIS WEEK'S NASIR HAMEED CORNER…MORE VINTAGE BANTER BETWEEN THE HOST AND NASIR…THIS WEEK WE HAVE PETER WINDSOR OF USF1 FAME…AND OUR BONUS…VENEZUELA'S OWN MILKA DUNO…BRAVO! Smiles for miles as Benavides brothers score historic multi-discipline double! We didn't have to wait long for the 2026 Dakar Rally to serve up a slice of history in its second week. The fastest biker on Stage 7 was Luciano Benavides and the winner of the Challenger stage was his older brother Kevin! The siblings from Salta, Argentina were unbeatable on the 462 kilometres of dunes and fast tracks that stretched between Riyadh and Wadi Ad-Dawasir. A new chapter of the Dakar's near 50-year history has been written, the first time a pair of brothers have won the same stage in different categories! Red Bull KTM Factory Racing biker Luciano Benavides got his second week of the Dakar off to the best possible start. Luciano is riding under his lucky number 77 and this victory on Stage 7 was the seventh stage win of his Dakar career. Things are really starting to add up for the Argentinian biker. “It's the first time in history that two brothers win in two categories on the same day. This is something incredible!” – Luciano Benavides Luciano was waiting at the Wadi Ad-Dawasir bivouac to congratulate his brother Kevin Benavides on the family's second victory of the day. Kevin is debuting in the Challenger class after switching from two wheels to four. The elder Benavides brother won the Dakar bike race twice. Now he's got his first Dakar stage victory behind a steering wheel. “I never dreamed something like this could happen, I'm so happy for this moment. It was tough to get this victory. When I finished the stage they told me that Luciano had also won! It's a proud day for our family.” – Kevin Benavides Luciano Benavides is currently third overall in the bike race, but just 15 seconds behind Honda rider Ricky Brabec in second. Top of the pile is Benavides's KTM team-mate Daniel Sanders who is over four minutes in front of his nearest rivals. The Australian refused to get sucked into any tactical battle on Stage 7. The day's big mover in the Ultimate class was Mattias Ekström and his Ford Raptor T1+. A stage win for the Swede saw him climb from fourth overall at the Rest Day to hold second place tonight. Ekström scored his maiden podium finish 12 months ago and his sights are firmly fixed on the Dakar's biggest prize of all this time around. “When I got to the end the gaps were bigger than I expected, but still smaller than I wished. Now we're second in the overall and there's a lot of racing left.” – Mattias Ekström Ultimate class leader Nasser Al-Attiyah goes into tomorrow's 481-kilometre loop stage around the Wadi Ad-Dawasir bivouac with an advantage of 4m47s over Ekström. Al-Attiyah picked up some superficial damage to his Dacia Sandrider on Stage 7 that will need to be repaired before the next jumbo day of racing. “We hit a tree and that completely removed the left corner of our car. That will get fixed tonight.” – Nasser Al-Attiyah The most dramatic moment in the Ultimate class on Stage 7 was provided by Henk Lategan of Toyota Gazoo Racing. The South African had done enough on the way to Wadi Ad-Dawasir to take the overall lead from Al-Attiyah. Then a mechanical issue stopped Lategan in his tracks just shy of the finish line. The Toyota Hilux driver will start Stage 8 sitting fourth overall, now 7m21s behind his Dacia rival. “We were going so well today until we came to a bump and a dip. When we hit the dip it broke the damper. We had to stop to take the old one out and put the new one in.” – Henk Lategan A superb opening week for the Defender Rally Team rolled into the second week with another stage win in the Stock category. It was the Defender Dakar D7X‑R of Stéphane Peterhansel that set the pace giving Monsieur Dakar his third stage win of this Dakar. Peterhansel's team-mate Rokas Baciuška was just 21 seconds off the Frenchman's time and it's the Lithuanian who maintains the overall lead of the Stock class. “For most of the stage the average speed was very high, but there was also a section of open dunes. It was a pleasure to drive this stage, it was perfect for the Defender.” – Stéphane Peterhansel In the SSV class there's still everything to play for in fight for those podium spots. Portugal's Gonçalo Guerreiro is laser-focused on recovering time lost in the first week and promoting himself from fifth overall to the podium on the remaining six stages. “This stage was completely flat out, I think it was the fastest stage until now. At one waypoint we lost two minutes and this put us behind some drivers. Overall, I'm happy with the stage we did. We were just one minute and a half down from the stage winner in the end.” – Gonçalo Guerreiro Also in the SSV class there was a much brighter start to the second week than the first week for Johan Kristoffersson. The eight-time World Rallycross champion is making his Dakar debut and the dune sections of the route are proving to be a highlight for the Swede. “One puncture very early. We got the tyre changed quicker than before, but there's still room for improvement. Today I really enjoyed the dunes. The rest of the stage was flat out on the limiter.” – Johan Kristoffersson The Dakar Rally has returned to Wadi Ad-Dawasir for the first time since 2022 and the comeback is looking epic. Tomorrow is the longest timed special stage of the 48th edition of the Dakar Rally. The 481-kilometre loop around the Wadi Ad-Dawasir bivouac encompasses a wide variety of terrain. Stage 8 is like a mini Dakar Rally raced over one single day with dunes, fast piste and a host of navigational challenges on the menu plus much else besides! Italian F4 Champion Kean Nakamura-Berta joins the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy Atlassian Williams F1 Team is pleased to welcome reigning Italian F4 Champion Kean Nakamura-Berta to the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy. The Japanese-Slovak driver has already demonstrated consistency and speed throughout his early career, with multiple karting titles to his name. Kean made his karting debut at seven years old, quickly going on to compete in international karting and securing both the 2021 CIK-FIA OKJ World Championship and the 2022 CIK-FIA OK European Championship. Graduating to single seaters at the end of 2023 in the F4 South East Asia Championship, Kean had an impressive debut campaign securing two pole positions and a podium, further adding to this with two race wins and six further podiums in the 2024 Formula UAE Championship. 2025 was a breakout year for Kean as he secured the Italian F4 Championship with nine wins and multiple podiums across the season. The rising star will challenge for the Formula Regional Middle East and Formula Regional European championships in 2026. As part of the Academy, Kean will have the team's full support and guidance in nurturing his talent and developing his skills throughout his progression in the junior categories of motorsport. The Academy supports drivers on every rung of the motorsport ladder, working with them on and off the track to develop the skills necessary to race at the top level. The Academy has a proud tradition of supporting young talent, which has most recently seen Academy alumnus Franco Colapinto graduate to an F1 race seat. Kean Nakamura-Berta: “I'm very excited to be joining the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy this year. It's a team that has achieved so much and has a vast history, and I'm proud to be part of it. Racing in Formula Regional will be a new challenge but one that I'm especially looking forward to. Thank you to everyone at Williams for believing in me, and I can't wait to start this new chapter!” Sven Smeets, Sporting Director, Atlassian Williams F1 Team: “We're thrilled to have Kean join the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy at this key moment in his career. He has shown a lot of promise, proving that he is capable of learning, adapting and ultimately winning championships. We look forward to working with him this year and will watch keenly as he hits the track.”
LeBron James Smiles Through Postgame Interview After Tough Lakers Loss, JJ Redick Plays Media Games Following Disappointing Defeat to the Bucks, LeBron Chokes Late as Giannis Shuts Him Down in the Fourth Quarter Download the PrizePicks app today and use code CLNS and get $50 instantly when you play $5! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's another Cowboys postseason press conference, which means plenty of smiles, sound bites, long explanations… and absolutely no real change.In this episode of Just Wondering, Norm Hitzges breaks down Jerry Jones' latest round of optimism, focusing on the Micah Parsons trade, the financial gymnastics that come with it, and Jerry's ongoing belief that he can “bust the budget” his way back to a Super Bowl. Norm questions whether trading elite defensive talent while handing out massive contracts elsewhere actually solves anything — or just pushes problems further down the road.Norm also takes aim at the Cowboys' strategic contradictions: a defense everyone admits was bad, a running game that actually worked, and an offensive approach that somehow ignored it. If your defense can't stop anyone, shouldn't your offense help protect it? Apparently not in Dallas.Then it's on to the numbers — the strange, fascinating, and occasionally absurd stats from this weekend's football games. From Carolina winning a division while being outscored, to San Francisco thriving without a pass rush, to Jacksonville's late-season dominance and the one number that decides whether Houston wins or loses, Norm connects trends, history, and logic in a way only he can.Dreams, data, and disappointment — just another week in Cowboys country. JWw-NH SL Ep 84 Chapters 00:00:00 – Another Cowboys postseason press conference begins00:01:29 – Smiles, sound bites, and decades of disappointment00:02:12 – The Micah Parsons trade and why the math doesn't work00:03:47 – Paying receivers instead of elite pass rushers00:05:08 – Jerry picks the next defensive coordinator (again)00:06:46 – “Busting the budget” and pushing money down the road00:08:14 – Who pays if this plan fails?00:09:02 – Protecting a bad defense with smarter offense00:09:47 – The Cowboys ran well… so why didn't they run more?00:10:24 – Passing too much and wearing down the defense00:11:08 – Jerry the dreamer vs. Jerry the general manager00:11:53 – Four Super Bowls, ten years, and reality setting in00:13:35 – What a real GM's job actually looks like00:14:26 – Sponsors, healing balm, and practical solutions00:16:29 – Nick Saban's massive coaching tree00:17:21 – Carolina wins a division while being outscored00:18:04 – Eric Dowdle's bizarrely identical seasons00:19:01 – San Francisco wins big without a pass rush00:19:53 – Jacksonville's dominant eight-game streak00:20:49 – Old rivalries and playoff history00:21:43 – The magic number for Houston: 2000:22:52 – Final thoughts and wondering what's next
On the cover, we see Revenant pinning Smiles Per Hour to the ground in the Kinder Center Hallway with his gun drawn, Revenant is saying “I don't want to do this, but you left me NO CHOICE!” Kit Katalyst is in the background looking horrified. The title reads The Unstoppable Smiles Per Hour #3: By Any Means!Thanks to @KeylligraphyInk for the logo design. The track used in this episode is Enemy Spotted by Jess Masks is by Magpie Games, you can find them hereFind Us Online:Blue Sky: Dice FiendsDiscord: https://discord.gg/j54FrbhTwitch: www.twitch.tv/thedicefiendsCast and Crew:Chell: The GMShannon: Dusty Darby (The Doomed) About Us: Welcome to Dice Fiends, we are an actual play podcast that runs games in over a dozen systems with a rotating and diverse cast of players. But one thing's for certain: whether we're powered by the apocalypse or grabbing as many d6's as we can hold in shadowrun: We're fiends for the sounds of rolling dice. You can find us every other Wednesday on Itunes, Spotify, or wherever you get good podcasts.
Today we celebrate the release of the new All Smiles record Skate Videos From Memory (out January 6). Jim Fairchild (Grandaddy, Modest Mouse) and Joe discuss the visual inspiration behind the record and how skate videos shaped the sound. They talk about the impact that skate culture has had on not only their own music, but their general mindset and approach to life. We learn why the new record is a prayer to the universe, why Jim and Joe are celebrating more reflexive music and they muse on why rock music maybe be taking a less cerebral turn. The two highlight their favorite skate videos, Jim shares a fanboy moment, and we hear some songs for the new record. ALL SMILES SKATE VIDEOS FROM MEMORY Streets on Fire Welcome To Hell Hokus Pokus SPECIAL REQUEST FROM JOE ..."if you like this podcast, please subscribe and tell all your friends. also, if you love, hate or kinda sometimes like Tour Stories/The Check In, please express yourself loudly in the comments . Lovingly, Joe Please visit and support Izotope Schecter and Distrokid for continued exclusive listener discounts. Izotope is the leader in audio repair, mixing and mastering. Ruinous uses Izotope and you should too. Trust us. Check out Ozone 12 now! Ep supported by @distrokid. Distro now connects direct to TikTok!!!!! with exclusive access to your tiktok artist account. @thetourstories listeners get 30% off at distrokid.com/vip/tourstories. GET YOUR MUSIC OUT THERE! ITS EASY WITH Distrokid Schecter Guitar Research is one of the world's premier guitar companies, offering electric guitars and basses, acoustic guitars, and USA Custom Shop instruments to musicians around the world. Its continually evolving and expanding line of guitars and basses appeals to a broad spectrum of players and diverse musical styles. They offer high-quality instruments with professional components at an affordable price. Go to https://www.schecterguitars.com/ for holiday deals and all your guitar needs. Tour Stories is sponsored by Built In Sun and Kingston Union
In this special solo episode, Laura Arroyo sits down to reflect on the past year of the OFS Podcast and share an honest, behind-the-scenes look at where we are and where we're headed. Laura highlights the conversations that made an impact, the lessons learned, and the themes emerging from our community. She also offers a sneak peek at upcoming topics, new initiatives, and how we're continuing to elevate support for women, moms, and families. Whether you're a longtime listener or just tuning in, this episode is a heartfelt, transparent update on the journey so far—and an exciting look at what's next. Links: Buy me a Coffee
Solomon Wilcots and Charlie Goldsmith discuss the Bengals big win this past Sunday over the Cardinals that brings the Bengals to a record of 6-10. They discuss what went right and why this game was such a success where most of the rest of the season has been a major disaster. The guys also discuss Joe Burrow's Christmas gift to his Offensive Linemen where he gave them all Fossils. Listen in to hear all about that and MUCH more ONLY right here on Bleav in Bengals! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
00:00 – Opening Banter & Audio Troubles00:50 – Plastic Surgery in Wrestling02:42 – Saturday Night's Main Event Reactions03:36 – The Influence of Algorithms & Internet Culture05:29 – Comparing Ads – Podcasts vs. Corporations09:52 – John Cena's Retirement & Legacy14:30 – Wrestling Storytelling & Nostalgia26:44 – Foreign Invader Storylines & WWE's Global Image52:31 – Sports Illustrated Wrestling Awards1:05:00 – State of Women's Wrestling & Ambition1:23:44 – Closing Thoughts & Community UpdatesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wrestling-soup--1425249/support.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faces off with furious Democrats during a heated House hearing as she defends President Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement and mass deportation push. A federal judge orders the release of “Maryland Man” Kilmar Abrego Garcia, but the Trump administration vows to keep fighting as it lays out allegations of gang ties, human smuggling, and domestic abuse. President Trump presses forward with Lindsey Halligan's nomination for U.S. Attorney in Virginia after a judge ruled her acting appointment unlawful, setting up a showdown over Senate "blue slip" rules. The man accused of murdering Charlie Kirk appears in court for the first time, smiling and relaxed as a Utah judge warns media over courtroom camera violations. Herald Group: Learn more at https://GuardYourCard.com Pique: Find calm and radiant health this holiday with Pique's Sun Goddess Matcha—science-backed wellness for energy, immunity, and glowing skin, plus 20% off for life at https://Piquelife.com/MEGYN Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Today is another Classic Solo with just the bros. We start off the pod recapping the holiday travels and talk about JT’s kids’ first experience at Disneyland. What is the correct age to introduce the churro at the parks? We recap the “bests” of 2025 - Best Song, Best News Story, and Best Sports Moment. We take some calls and dive deep into internet dating but the NEW kind, with a chatbot. Chris from the documentary “Smiles and Kisses You” calls in to break down DATING a chatbot for over five years and the wild progress they’ve built together. From the highs and lows of her memory getting deleted to a full name change, Chris has been through a lot with this chatbot. Bryan talks about his experience documenting the whole thing. IT’S A WILD STORY and a look into what bros are going through in this internet age of relationships. We are live streaming a fully unedited version of the pod on Twitch, if you want to chat with us while we're recording, follow here: https://www.twitch.tv/chadandjtgodeep Grab some dank merch here:https://appreeshapparel.com/ Come see us on Tour! Get your tix - http://www.chadandjt.com TEXT OR CALL the hotline with your issue or question: 323-418-2019(Start with where you're from and name for best possible advice) Check out the reddit for some dank convo: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChadGoesDeep/ Thanks to our Sponsors: CASH APP: Send, Receive, Invest & Manage Your Money with Cash App - sign up using code “secure10” send $5 and get a free $10! https://cash.app/ PRODUCTION & EDITS BY: Jake Rohret