Podcasts about Stir

The People of Packaging: How Wims! is Changing the GameIn this episode of The People of Packaging, host Adam Peek sits down with Lauren Miller, co-founder of Wims!, to discuss their innovative approach to beverage packaging and the cannabis industry. Lauren shares the fascinating story of Wims!, from its family roots in North Carolina to its unique portable packaging solution.One note, they discuss an amazing Dry January advent calendar since this was recorded in November…it's not too late to get one! www.wims.worldInside the Episode:* The Origins of Wims!: Wims! is a family-owned business co-founded by Lauren and her father, Ken. The journey began in 2016 with a passion for CBD and industrial hemp farming in rural North Carolina.* The Shift to THC Beverages: During the pandemic, Lauren discovered the appeal of low-dose THC seltzers as an alternative to alcohol, which offered relaxation without the morning-after hangover.* A Portable Solution: Recognizing the inconvenience of traditional canned beverages for on-the-go social situations, Lauren and her father developed a hyper-portable THC liquid concentrate.* Innovative Packaging: Wims! features a unique “Snap, Squeeze, Stir” packet. This single-use, pre-portioned concentrate can be easily snapped and mixed into any drink, providing a seamless and discreet way to enjoy low-dose THC.* The Wims! Experience: The product's design focuses on user experience and social acceptability, offering a consistent and manageable dosage that complements existing drinking habits.* Sustainability and Future Outlook: Lauren discusses the industry's shift toward more sustainable practices, such as reducing the environmental impact of shipping liquid-heavy beverages.Connect with Wims!:Visit their website at wims.world to learn more and explore their current product offerings, including variety packs and their festive advent-style calendar for dry January! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.packagingisawesome.com

Pour up a Tensions Collide and kick off season 6 of 'Drinking With...' with McCash as he relives this controversial Oscars 'Best Picture' winner alongside Brandon and Stoney To make the Tensions Collide, you'll need:1.5 oz Bourbon (representing the complexities and underlying tensions)0.5 oz Sweet Vermouth (for a hint of warmth and connection)2 dashes Angostura Bitters (to symbolize the bitter realities and prejudices)Orange peel (for garnish and a glimmer of hope or change)Stir the bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters with ice in a mixing glass.Strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass.Garnish with an orange peel.Directions:Stir the bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters with ice in a mixing glass.Strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass.Garnish with an orange peel.Meaning: This cocktail, like the movie, suggests a darker, more complex undercurrent beneath a seemingly smooth exterior. The orange peel offers a spark of optimism, reminding us that even amidst the difficulties portrayed, there is potential for understanding and connection

The guys mix Faygo and Crown Royal the way they used to down at Cafe D'Mongo's.Recorded live at Grewal Hall, Lansing, MI1439 RECIPE: 2oz/60ml CAPTAIN MORGANtop up FAYGO ROCK & RYEPour Captain Morgan Spiced Rum into a highball glass filled with ice.Top up with Faygo Rock & Rye. Stir gently.Recipe via Cafe D'Mongos SpeakeasyWANT MORE SLOP? Check out:PatreonSHOP the webstore at:The Sloppy Boys WebsiteLISTEN to The Sloppy Boys hit songs on:Apple MusicSpotifyYoutubeTOUR DATES, SOCIALS and more at:LinktreeT H E S L O P P Y B O Y S L L CExpand Ascend Conquer Retain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the first episode of the New Year so before we jump fully into 2026 we want to take a moment to look back and celebrate 2025.During the year we were once again fortunate enough, both here in the UK and further afield, to have enjoyed an array of incredible cocktail experiences, visited some wonderful bars and best of all, meet some of the fantastic people in the drinks world. So here, in no particular order, are some of our most memorable moments from the last year.What we're mixing:Chin Chincreated by Tony Conigliaro at Isola, Knightsbridge, 2002 (from Difford's Guide)Half a barspoon of honey15ml apple juice30ml blended Scotch whiskyChampagne to topMethod:Chill your flute glasses. Stir the honey and whisky in the base of your shaker to dissolve honey. Add apple juice then shake ingredients over ice. Fine strain into your chilled flute. Top with chilled sparkling wine or Champagne.Links to interviews/reviews mentioned in this episodeDante x Maybourne with Linden Pride – interviewHawksmoor Martini Bar – reviewLorenzo Antinori – interviewNew York Special – interviews/reviewsThe SG Shochu – reviewTown – review The Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RESOLUTIONS! A new year has arrived, which means it's time to make bold promises you'll quietly abandon by mid-January. But fret not: Chris, Amanda and Matt have returned from a long podcasting hiatus with 3 drinks and a plan to ensure 2026 is your best year ever. Unfortunately, things quickly fall apart after Amanda pours a drink laden with half a stick of butter while admitting she has no ability to track her schedule. Matt then attempts to raise the conversational IQ by questioning whether it's harder to start a good habit or to break a bad one, but the group instead fixates on Amanda's Cheez-It addiction. If you're looking to start 2026 in style, look no further than this latest episode of the 3 Questions, 3 Drinks podcast.  DRINKS IN THIS EPISODE:HOT BUTTERED RUM >> 1 oz dark rum, 1 tbsp butter, 1–2 tsp brown sugar, Hot water, Nutmeg (for garnish). Add butter and brown sugar to a mug. Pour in rum and top with hot water (less than you think). Stir until melted. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg. Best enjoyed on a snowy day, preferably while questioning your life choices. WATERSHED BOURBON >> Watershed Distillery Uncut, Unfiltered Straight Bourbon. Pour two fingers worth of bourbon over ice (or enjoy neat if you're feeling brave). Sip slowly while running your fingers through your newfound chest hair. MARTINEZ COCKTAIL >> 1½ oz Dingle Gin, 1 ½ oz sweet vermouth, 1 tsp maraschino liqueur (Luxardo preferred), 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Stir all ingredients with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an orange peel and/or a Cheez-It.If you've been enjoying the 3Q3D podcast, please subscribe and consider giving us a rating, a review, or sharing an episode with a friend.  Follow our social sites here:Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/3drinkspodcast/?hl=enFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/3Drinkspodcast

In this special year‑end edition of Add Passion and Stir, hosts Billy and Debbie Shore look back at the biggest child hunger stories of 2025—from state momentum for universal school meals in the U.S. to climate‑driven hunger crises around the world. Guests Phoebe Boyer (Children's Aid), Bruce Lesley (First Focus on Children), Tim Costello, Navyn Salem (Edesia), and former Senator Debbie Stabenow reflect on what changed for kids this year, what's at risk, and what it will take to build a future where no child is too hungry to learn, grow, or dream.​See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Daugavpils Sv. Pētera Ķēdēs draudze Mana draudze sadarbībā ar Katoļu Baznīcas Vēstnesi

This tropically inspired cocktail was a hit as the Draper family gathered for its annual Christmas white elephant gift exchange in December. Elaine Liserio Draper shared the recipe for Painkiller, enjoyed responsibly by adult family members. Painkiller 1 large bottle (64 oz.) pineapple juice 1 regular-size bottle (46 oz.) of orange juice, no pulp One squeeze bottle (approx. 16 oz.) cream of coconut 1/2 bottle dark rum Grated nutmeg, to taste Cinnamon sticks Fresh cranberries Orange slices Mix ingredients together in large bowl or container. Stir; serve over ice. Note: Don't put ice in the container with the punch, as...Article Link

We're not too proud for clickbait. Our download fishermen discuss the impending signing deadline Tatsuya Imai, the tepid offseason overall, and the Giants bought ... a theater? Also, Bob calls for a lightning round where they discuss Logan Webb in the WBC, whether the Giants future success depends on the performance of Bryce Eldridge, and Ben's new job.On the cocktail side of things Matthew is drinking a Bourbon Foster while Ben is drinking The Hand of Vecna. Recipes below.Bourbon Foster1 1/2 oz Bourbon3/4 oz Banana Liqueur1/2 oz Aged Rum1/4 oz Spiced Demerara Syrup3 Dashes Angostura BittersAdd all ingredients to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a banana slice or dried banana chip.The Hand of Vecna2 oz Scotch2 sugar cubes (or 2 tsp of granulated sugar)3 dashes Angostura bitters1/4 oz Absinthe1 orange wheel and 1 star anise for garnishRinse a rocks glass with the absinthe and pour out any remainder. In a mixing glass muddle the sugar with the bitters, add the Scotch, fill with ice and stir to desired dilution. To the prepared rocks glass add a large chunk of ice and strain in the mixture from the mixing glass. To create the garnish fold the orange wheel around the star anise (like a taco) and pin shut with a cocktail pick and drop into the rocks glass.#doitforginny

This summer we've curated your Help I Have A Teenager playlist with a healthy dose of culture-savvy conversation parents actually want - Parenting Out Loud. This week: Gen Z’s latest reason for giving parenthood the side-eye The guilt trip of not loving every second with your kids Amelia’s campaign to stop parental group texts (bold move) Stacey’s epic analogy for baby number three (you’ll never see tricycles the same way again) Hit play and welcome to the group chat you won't want to mute. Plus, it’s our recommendations:

The pure minds of the saints need to be stirred with remembrance of God's truth

If you’re looking for a Christmas Movie this week that adds a little twist and terror to the holidays, this episode is for you! Amy and T.J. go over their favorite holiday horror movies they love curling up to this time of year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re looking for a Christmas Movie this week that adds a little twist and terror to the holidays, this episode is for you! Amy and T.J. go over their favorite holiday horror movies they love curling up to this time of year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re looking for a Christmas Movie this week that adds a little twist and terror to the holidays, this episode is for you! Amy and T.J. go over their favorite holiday horror movies they love curling up to this time of year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re looking for a Christmas Movie this week that adds a little twist and terror to the holidays, this episode is for you! Amy and T.J. go over their favorite holiday horror movies they love curling up to this time of year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quaranteam - Dave In Dallas: Part 1 Surviving a horrible plague has unusual conditions. Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Forward: This story occurs within the Quaranteam universe created by CorruptingPower. If you have not red the original, or any of the other spinoffs, they are highly recommended. That is not required to understand this story, they're just good, and a lot of fun. This fictional drama coincides with the timing of the 2nd wave outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic. The modified cold virus escaped from a Chinese laboratory and directly killed more than 7 million people, but is suspected of indirectly causing the early deaths of over 20 million, in about 24 months. The DuoHalo virus that this series of novels pertains to, is far more deadly, and can only be combatted with a gene therapy injection, but it wears off in just days, unless followed up by human hormones, and only through a continual booster through both male and female genital fluids. Only the female body is capable of enduring the inoculation gene therapy dose, but she still needs the catalyst of male genital fluids, which then activates both physical and psychological mutations. Her libido goes into hyper drive. The corresponding male partner also absorbs the hormone-based anti-viral, by absorbing the woman's rich antiviral genital fluids. The world order undergoes a fundamental rest, and the fight for survival of the species becomes dependent on heterosexual mating ‘bareback', with women devoting themselves to monogamy, while men retain a capacity to be the catalyst for however many females their stamina allows. The most notable psychological mystery is the absence of female jealousy and possessiveness. Cohabitation is an essential accommodation to make the treatment work. Chapter 1. September 18, 2020. Dave Belsus sat on the floor of his hallway texturing the wall over the patch he'd installed a few days earlier. It had taken a sizable piece of sheetrock (from a layman's perspective) to repair the big gaping hole in his wall. There wasn't really a right or wrong pattern to the texturing and Dave was simultaneously restless and reluctant to move on to a different task. He finally stood, gathered his tools and materials, and hauled them down to the garage. There are still things to do. There are people depending on him. He went out to his greenhouse and stopped, closed his eyes and smelled the green. Let it soak into him. He needed to feel life around him. He just stood there for; he wasn't sure how long. Not long enough. He still felt dead inside. But he had work to do. David started harvesting some veggies to exchange with his neighbor, Lupie. Inspecting the cucumber plants, he could see two large ones were ready. He'd keep one for his own salads and send the other next door. Becca, Lupie's houseguest (once babysitter) had developed a taste for them after Dave offered one a few months ago. Several beefy tomatoes were ready, so he plucked them, keeping a few for himself. Maybe a tomato sandwich tonight or tomorrow. That'd be nice. Three heads of redleaf lettuce (he'd staggered his lettuce so a few heads were harvestable every week) were next, again, one for Dave, two for next door. Finally, a handful of strawberries were perfectly ripe. He'd let Lupie and the girls have all of those. Esme, Lupie's daughter loved strawberries. Well, who didn't? Cute little girl. Always gave Dave fierce, friendly hugs. Dave missed the farmer's markets on the weekends where he could trade or buy/sell for other varieties and veggies he didn't have space or time for. Well, now he had all sorts of time, but he still didn't have the space. Dave brought the harvested veggies into the house and sorted the veggies. Stuff for him went on the counter basket. Items for Lupie, Becca and Esme went back in the basket he'd carried into the greenhouse. Dave grabbed the basket and walked over to what had been a parlor just off his entryway. Now it was a decon area. Dave added a plasticized suit over the clothes he'd been wearing. Mid-September was still toasty in Texas, but fortunately not as bad as late August. That had been brutal. Hot enough Dave had thought about adding a water bottle with a straw to the inside of the suit. He hadn't come up with a way to attach it without breaching the suit's integrity, so he nixed the idea. He doubled down on pre-hydrating when it was absolutely necessary to go out in the damn thing. Dave gathered up the basket in the clumsy gloves. He'd gotten fairly good at manipulating medium size items while wearing the gloves. The gloves were disposable dish gloves, tucked into the suit and duct taped to it for a seal. He opened his door and crossed the lawns over to Lupie's porch. He carefully transferred the veggies over to Lupie's porch pickup box, then gathered the dozen eggs she'd left him. Lupie had several hens in a large coop in her back yard. Dave had helped her install some anti-predator devices to the top of her fence and around the coop in the before times. Being that close to Lupie was a fond memory. Nothing romantic between them, just very comfortable. And it had paid off well too. He got a dozen eggs twice a week, and sometimes a whole chicken, plucked and dressed. Sometimes even separated into parts. If he was really lucky, after bringing her some good meat, he'd get homemade tamales. Lupie was a great cook. Her cooking wasn't the only thing Dave appreciated about Lupie. Absolutely lovely inside and out. She wasn't beauty pageant pretty, she was normal girl pretty. What a lovely face to wake up to. A face that'd make a man want to come home. Nice figure too. She never wore anything too showy, but she wasn't one for baggy stuff either. Sure, she's in her early thirties and has a real job and a kid to keep track of, so she most certainly wouldn't have a washboard tummy under her shirts. Or dresses. God, Lupie looks fantastic in a dress. The way they billow around her calves always caught Dave's eye. And that hair. Long, lovely, raven black hair. Hopping back onto his own porch, Dave put the basket down and flipped on the UV lights he'd installed in the porch awning. Step one in his decontamination process. Arms straight out from his shoulders, he turned slowly. One full circle palms down, another palms up. He flipped off the light, opened the door and grabbed the basket. Inside, he stripped off the outer suit, hanging it on hooks in the entryway, set the basket in the kitchen, then went straight to the upstairs shower, the one near the unused bedrooms. Excessive? Possibly. But Dave wasn't going to be another statistic. Viruses don't negotiate. Dave didn't either. That's what Lysol was for. Not that the average person could get much of that anymore. Still, if you weed out the essential oils nuts, there were some good recipes for home sanitizers online. You just had to pay attention to the recommended duration. Some were stronger than others and didn't need to be left on a surface as long. After toweling off and tossing the towel in the hamper, Dave went to the master bedroom to put on fresh clothes. Then he went back down to wash the lettuce and cucumber and started making a small salad. Dave didn't like eating right before exertion, but he hadn't eaten in a day and a half. He need to workout the anger surging through him too. So he compromised - a small salad, then beat the crap out of imaginary opponents. Lettuce base, quartered tomato, quartered boiled egg, diced cucumber, and balsamic vinaigrette. Tasty enough that he'd finish it. Small enough he wouldn't blow chunks while he's exercising. Kitchen cleanup gave the food a little time to settle. Dave walked across the house to get his staff from the gym, then went back to the sliding glass door separating the living room from the backyard. He walked to the large flat platform in the middle of the yard, stretching his arms as he went. He stretched his legs when he got there. Then he took a several minutes with warm up motions. He ran through each of the basic strikes and defenses in a pattern he practiced at least three times a week. He repeated the sequence five times. Then he launched into a series of combination motions. Half-staff upper hand strike on the right, followed by the left. A horizontal block leading into a full staff strike starting from the lower left into the upper right. On and on. Each pattern repeated. Each repetition faster. Turning. Striking. Blocking. Faster. Dave's face, initially a blank mask, grew pained, then angry. Anger flowed into rage. In his rage, Dave lost track of his position on the platform. He unknowingly stepped off the platform. It was only two or three inches high, but that was enough. He caught his fall with his staff and avoided an unceremonious face plant. Still, the interruption pulled him out of the mental space he'd been in. His breathing was ragged. Sweat soaked his clothes, dripped from every part of his body. The air was no longer flinty, but it was still too hot for heavy, continuous exertion. He felt a small wave of nausea roll through his belly. Time to pack it in. He cleaned off the end of the staff he'd use to stop his fall, then walked inside, stowed the staff back in the gym, and went up to the master suite shower stall. The shower refreshed Dave's body. Time to give his mind something to do. Eastfield College had only partially re-opened, just a few online classes. He had one section of astronomy to teach for the folks that wanted something more exciting than physical science for their science core requirement. No one was taking chemistry or physics this semester. The chemistry instructor was still alive. She'd laid down the law in her house and they had taken lockdown seriously. They just didn't have a good substitute for teaching the lab part of the class yet. The full-time physics guy had inexplicably taken the same attitude as too many in the county. He died before the spring semester ended. The guy had a doctorate in physics, twelve published papers to his name and spent twenty years living in scientific circles. You'd think he'd know better than to fall in with the idiot brigade. Hell, maybe the college would take Dave on full time to cover the physics courses once they opened up for real. Dave logged into to the course website, checking grades in the online homework column and looking for any labs submitted by the faster, more diligent (or just bored) students. No new work since yesterday. Maybe the rest would wait until last minute on Sunday night. On no, a procrastinating college student. What a surprise! A text message notification pulled him out of his reverie. It was from Lupie. "Please say yes." He was about to reply, asking her what he was supposed to say yes to, when he heard the doorbell. Crap. Dave rushed downstairs to the door, hearing a second ring on the way down. He grabbed a mask and slipped it on quickly just before opening the door a crack with his shoulder braced against it if he needed to slam it shut again. A man in a hazmat suit stood on Dave's porch, carrying a small case and wearing what appeared to be a watch on his right wrist. "Good morning sir, my name is Arthur Samuelson, I'm with the CDC. May I come in?" "You ain't a vampire are you?" The grin on Dave's face indicated he was joking. Arthur chuckled. "No sir, just administering tests checking for DuoHalo and making arrangements for vaccination." Dave got the impression a few details were being skipped here, as if the man in front of him was easing him in with the broadest strokes first. "A vaccine? Holy shit. Yeah, come on in dude." Dave backed up and opened the door fully. After making sure the door was fully closed, Dave led Arthur to the dining room table. Arthur immediately pulled out sterile cotton swabs, the kind with wooden stems and cotton only on one end, a small box. Arthur tapped the face of the watch and then typed in a numeric sequence when a digital number pad popped up. "It's a monitor. Some folks have taken a militant approach since the lockdowns started. Every time the watch buzzes at me, I have to enter a code within 30 seconds or they send a squad of troops to my coordinates." Dave reacted briefly, but nonverbally. Well, some people try to drown the lifeguard that's there to save their ass. Whoever said we've evolved past our caveman days isn't paying attention. Arthur handed one of the hospital style cotton swabs to Dave. "Just swab the inside of your cheek very well, no brain tickling this time." Dave swabbed as instructed, then handed the stick back to Arthur. Arthur set about processing the sample and placing it in the testing device. "This will take a few minutes. While we are waiting, is there anyone else to be tested here?" "No, I live alone." "Big place." "Yeah, I . . . had other plans, but they didn't pan out. Been here by myself for a few years now. Nice neighbors, especially next door, Lupie." Dave mentioned Lupie intentionally. Given the short time span between the text and the doorbell, it was possible, but not certain, the two were connected. "Yes, I just came from there. Nice ladies." "So, are you going door-to-door doing this, like somebody selling steak knives?" Arthur guffawed. "Not quite. We used electric usage rates to determine which houses still have people living in them. Then we set routes for each test administrator for a day. Also, you're going to like what I'm offering a lot more than steak knives, but they won't all come at once." Dave chuckled, but held back a bit. "So multiple booster shots?" "Something like that." Arthur's grin was slightly cryptic, like he was hiding a joke he wasn't ready to reveal just yet. "I hate needles man. I put up with them, but I usually have to look away when I get stuck for shots or blood donations." "We'll see what we can do to make it easier on you." The cryptic grin hadn't receded. Then the box trilled a three note sequence. Arthur checked it. "Congratulations, you are virus free. Let's make arrangements to keep you safe from this thing." Arthur pressed a button on the box, which then printed out a strip of paper. He handed the strip over to Dave. "So here's the deal: you know by now DuoHalo is deadly, especially to men. Like an 80% fatality rate for us guys." Dave's eyes hooded over. "I'm aware." "Yes, well it seems directly administering the vaccine is 100% fatal to men." "How the fuck is that supposed to help? Leave a planet of Valkyries that only survives if they solve cloning or learn to create artificial semen in one generation?" Dave shouted, but managed not to rise out of his seat. Arthur leaned back somewhat, as if subconsciously giving Dave a little extra space. "No sir, we have a solution, just please hear me out." Dave calmed himself and prepared to listen to what comes after three of the worst words to hear. Whatever followed those three words was either incredibly good, or monumentally bad. Dave wasn't holding his breath for the former. "No, no, nothing like that. It turns out that women can act as intermediaries for the vaccine, sort of a buffer solution. I'm sorry, that may not - " "I know what a buffer solution is and how it functions." "Oh, excellent. You see, we have found that if a vaccinated woman has intercourse with a man, her body buffers the vaccine serum and her immunity transfers - in part - to the man." "Intercourse? As in sex?" Arthur smirked "Someone at the office started referring to this as the STV - Sexually Transmitted Vaccine." Dave rolled his eyes briefly, then closed them and shook his head. "Okay, there is a website with text and videos to explain more details, but a few more things I should say before I leave. First, it takes more than one woman to keep a man safe. That means you will have multiple women 'sharing' you." Dave's eyebrows shot up, but he kept his mouth shut and listened for now. "The vaccine also creates some kind of bond between men and women, so once they sleep with you, they can't be with another man. Ever. It's extremely dangerous for the woman." Seeing Dave start to object, Arthur rushed along "The website I gave you is a highly detailed and personal survey. Women take the same survey. The results get processed through a system called Oracle that has been rigorously tested to match people. We don't want someone stuck with a person they can't stand." Hearing this, Dave was somewhat mollified. Arthur's haste from a moment ago clearly intended to forestall Dave's objection. Of course, Arthur probably thought the concern was for Dave being stuck with an objectionable woman. Dave was equally concerned with a woman getting stuck with him. "Alright so last few questions, how much space is there in this house?" "Oh, well, I have a king size canopy bed in the master bedroom. There are four more bedrooms upstairs, two of which have twin beds in them. The other two have no furniture." "You're going to want to change that. Your first partner will likely arrive tomorrow, with more coming every week, maybe four days apart, at least until we get you up to four partners. Eventually, you will be assigned at least twelve women. Oh, and one more thing." Arthur handed Dave a plain white letter envelope bearing Dave's name in a flowing script. "Your neighbor Lupie asked me to give this to you. I'll step out to the living room to give you some privacy, but I'll need an answer before I leave." Dave was puzzled and concerned but nodded Arthur towards the couch visible through the archway separating the dining and living rooms. Dave pulled out his pocketknife and slit the envelope open. His eyes widened at the first line. First line, hell - the salutation! Dearest David, Words cannot express just how wonderful it is just to address you in that way. I don't know when I began falling for you. I can tell you that last year, when I said I wanted a man who could make a living for us so that I could stay home, raise our kids, and love him with my whole heart, I was thinking of you. Yes, I know it's a bit silly to some, since I earn quite a nice income without any help, but that does not make me feel whole. I want to love you, and Esme, and the children we have together. Yes David, I want to bear your children and raise them with you. I wanted that before all of this lockdown and death started. And now, with all that's been lost, I want to feel life in my body. I want you to put it there. I never want to be away from Esme again. I want to manage your household and love you and our children and whomever else comes into our lives with the way the world is changing. I understand from the gentleman that came to our door that the vaccine has some unusual effects, including emotional and psychological impacts. This is why I am writing to you now, before I take the vaccine. I want to make sure you know this is really what I want. Before anything affects me. I love you. I want to be with you for a lifetime. You should also know that Becca wants to be with you as well. I suspect you will have objections based on her age. Yet, you know she is incredibly mature and responsible. You know what she went through to protect Esmeralda. You know what she has suffered through. Her world is completely unmoored. You, Esme, and I are all that she has left. Your heart and your mind know these things to be true. One thing you may not be aware of - Becca considers you her hero. For so many things big and small that you have done for us during this lockdown. Besides, she's a sci-fi and gaming nerd too, you two will get along quite well if you give her a chance. I love you desperately David. Please say yes. For both of us. Forever yours, Lupie. Dave reached into his back pocket for a handkerchief to dry his eyes. Lupie wanted him all along? Images flashed through his mind. Lupie laughing in a flowy dress on a pleasant spring day. Lupie's hands touching his as they exchanged eggs or produce. Lupie bringing him a glass of ice water while he repaired her fence because he couldn't bear the thought of her blowing money on a contractor. Lupie's proud grin as he thanked her and expounded on the deliciousness of the fresh tamales she brought over late last fall. Their hands had touched then too, hadn't they? No, she touched his hand. Not an accident. Dear God what an idiot! Hell yes he wanted Lupie in his life! And she had been showing him she wanted him in hers. Then his mind turned to Rebecca. Just barely eighteen, and him already forty-six. If she were five years older, she'd still be half his age! Everything Lupie said in her letter was true though. The four of them had gotten through this lockdown together - Lupie, her nine-year-old daughter Esme, and Becca, the young babysitter that had taken on so much when this first started. Loyalty to someone that had weathered the storm with him. Sympathy for someone who'd lost her entire family, even her extended relations. Admiration of the strength, character and resilience she'd shown. Mix in a little lust, 'cuz she's kinda cute. Nerdy cute. But then, Dave is a nerd, he likes nerd girls. Among others. So the only thing holding him back was a number? He'd seen that girl show more loyalty and honor than women twice her age! David took a cleansing breath and blew it slowly out. Arthur picked up on the change, stood and strode back to the dining room. "Have you made a decision?" "Yes. I will accept them both. I'd be a fool not to. How do we do that though? You said something about a matching program?" "Right, however a man may ask for a particular woman. The computer jockeys have to do some manual work for this to happen, so it's not a common occurrence. The two profiles are run through Oracle and the woman is informed of the request, the man's brief bio, and the match percentage of their profiles. Then she can choose to assent or decline." "Sounds like something waiting to be abused." "Hmm. I don't know of any such abuse occurring. I can see the potential you're talking about, but that would require one or more well placed conspirators in one of the vaccination centers." "And that never happens?" "Not to my knowledge. Not yet anyway. I need to get going. I'll inform your neighbors you've agreed. They'll pack a small suitcase and be ready to get picked up tonight or possibly tomorrow morning. You should expect your first partner to arrive sometime tomorrow. As long as you get that profile filled out. And be ruthlessly honest. It's quite thorough. Some questions might make you a bit uncomfortable. Fudging the answers could lead to poor results. And get it in quick. As soon as - Lupie and Becca? -" Dave nodded "are entered in the system, they will be compared to you. If your profile isn't there when the programmers run the comparison, they will be given a random match." Dave nodded his understanding, then rose to walk his guest out. Guest. After all these months, isn't that a hell of a thing? "Remember man, completely, brutally honest." With that, Arthur left. Dave closed the door behind him. He pulled out his phone and started typing. Yes To both of you. The little dots started dancing while he was still typing the second line. Thank you, David! Thank you so much! I'm sorry I held back so long! I have a lot to say to you too. But I want to say it in person. To look you in the eyes. Lupie, you have made me very happy. Happier than I feel I am worthy of. I can't wait to see you again. Face to face. Dave's phone buzzed with an incoming message, but there was nothing new from Lupie. He popped back to the inbox screen, finding an entry from Becca with an image. He opened it and just stared for a moment. He blinked when he realized his mouth was hanging open. Framed in the image was Becca, clearly taking a selfie, from just above her head to the bottom of her ribcage. She was biting her bottom lip and blushing furiously. Probably because the hand not holding the phone was holding her shirt and bra pulled up above her tits. Dave was embarrassed for a moment, then decided why not savor it? Hell, he'd be sharing a bed with her. He would see more than just her pert young boobies then. He sent a thumbs up, followed by: When you're all in, you're really all in huh? ; Laugh emoji ; Yeah, is that ok? ; Do you like them? Are they too small? They're beautiful. They're a part of you, and that makes them wonderful. Always remember that your body, as lovely as it is, is merely a bonus. You won me over with the strength of your character, your courage, your resilience. ; crying emoji, heart emoji ; You make me want to come over right now. ; peach, eggplant, water spurt ; See you in a few days. ; Lover. Dave had made it back to his office and woke his computer with a quick mouse shake. As he logged in, his phone buzzed again. This time it was Lupie. ; Is everything ok? Becca is acting really skittish, and she's blushing like she's embarrassed. Didn't you say yes to her? I did and do. If she doesn't want to tell you, I won't either. Yet. ; monocled raised eyebrow emoji I promise. I'll see you both - all three of you soon. Tell Esme she's getting a big hug. ; I will. I'll have a really nice hug for you too. Looking forward to it. Oh wow. GuadaLupie Jimena Angelina Gutierrez Ramos is itching to live in his house, share a bed with him, and spend her life with him? Fairy tales .. can come true.. it can happen to you; Dave forced himself to focus. He typed in the u r l Arthur had given him. Things started out bland enough. Girls, boys, both? Ladies only. Age range? Dave's first instinct was to set the bottom age to around 25 or 30. He's forty-six for God's sake. Yeah, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out repopulation was going to be an issue, and younger women had both more years of fertility and were more fertile, so at some point, someone would force the issue and each man would be paired with some women under twenty five. But Becca. If Dave set the minimum above eighteen, she might not even get a chance to match with him. That would likely separate her from Lupie and Esme as well. But that left the door open for other teens. Well, Arthur did say women got to pick who they paired with. Fuck it. I'm not screwing over Becca. That's not even a choice. We'll deal with whatever else results as we go. By the time Dave finished the Oracle survey, his stomach was growling. He wasn't quite done yet though. He only had a bare minimum of sheets and towels, so he went online and ordered three changes of sheets for both of the twin beds (there was already one set on each now), two full-sized beds for the two unfurnished rooms, four changes of sheets for those, and four dressers. He went down to the kitchen and pulled out the half tomato left from his lunch salad and started slicing it. After making his tomato sandwich, he added some chips and pickles to the plate. He sat quietly, alone, at the table, realizing that this may be the last dinner he has by himself. Arthur said multiple women. This whole house would be full of people. Full of life. What a difference a day makes. Dave was cleaning up from breakfast the next morning when he heard a knock at the door. He had just turned the water off at the sink, so it was possible this wasn't the first knock. He rushed to the door, grabbing a mask enroute. When he opened the door, a soldier stood there with a clipboard, a young lady beside and behind him. "You David Belsus?" "I am." "Meet your new partner sir, sign here please." Dave signed by the red x. "Y'all have a good day." He tipped his ball cap bill "Ma'am" and walked off. "Hi, I'm Janice Hoppler." She stuck out her hand and Dave shook it while processing what he was seeing. She was cute, late twenties or early thirties, distinctly Korean features, and jet black hair reaching the middle of her back. Dave had marked long hair as one of his desired traits in a woman, giving it a seven out of ten priority. Short hair can be nice, but nothing is so distinctly feminine as long hair. He'd pass up big boobs if a woman had long hair. Not that he'd mind getting both. Not even a little. "Can I come inside?" Dave realized he'd been shaking her hand for a bit too long and not saying anything. "Oh, sure. Sorry, this is kinda surreal." She grinned. "Ya, I know. First a pandemic kills off a huge part of the population, and now the solution is to fuck like bunnies and every man gets like a dozen women? Sounds like some high school boy's fantasy dream." Her dark eyes danced as she laughed. Dave brought her in to sit in the living room, mindful to sit somewhat close so he didn't appear distant, but not all up in her personal space. "Yeah, well, the hard part will be keeping up with the libidos of ten or twelve women. Especially since the videos mentioned you're each going to have an accelerated sex drive." "They also said you would get some invigoration as well. But don't worry, I'll make sure your part is plenty hard so it can do its work." Janice giggled when Dave blushed and closed his eyes. "Sorry, that's not the kind of thing I'd normally say out loud, but they did say all of us ladies will wind up much more forward than we had been before." "That could be helpful, I'm not great at picking up on subtle signals. When it happens, I just think a woman is being nice, but not interested. Or I think she's interested and she's just being nice." "Well, I'm interested enough to choose to be bonded with you for the rest of my life so consider this carte blanche to get frisky anytime you feel like it." She stood, strode to his chair and planted a smoky kiss on his lips, but no tongue. Dave took a breath to recover and register that this was really happening. "So, would you like to see the place first?" "Sure." Janice took his hand as he stood. "You've seen the entryway and parlor," Dave said guiding Janice past the couch into the dining room and beyond into the kitchen. "So here's the kitchen. The small door in the corner is the pantry. Upper two cabinets next to the fridge are dry foods. The other two are dishes and glasses. Lower cabinets are pots, pans, etc." Janice sniffed the air. "You cook much? Smells like you just had breakfast." "Yeah, I had just finished dishes. Did y'all have to knock more than once?" "Twice. But that's worth it for a man that can cook." "You cook much?" "I have to follow box directions carefully to get mac n' cheese to come out decent. I can only do cakes with help from Betty or Duncan and even that is an iffy proposition. Is that a problem, that I don't cook?" "Oh no, not at all." Dave led her out of the kitchen, winding back through the dining room and living room. "Up the stairs are the bedrooms, a full bath, my office, and the master suite." Her eyes glimmered. "Shortly." He paused. "Wow, that's new, me being the one to hold off." "I can see you want it. It's kinda sexy you wanting me, but not just jumping me." "Hmm. I 'll keep that in mind." He hoped his eyes were conveying his interest. Guess they were. "So, we were talking about cooking. I love to cook and so does Lupie. Becca enjoys it I think, but she's still learning. Not bad. She made me birthday cupcakes over the summer. Of course, we had to do the careful packaging and cleaning bit. She wanted to so bad after I made her a birthday dinner and cupcakes." "Who are Lupie and Becca?" "Oh, right, my neighbors." "Oh, the Latina woman and her daughter?" "The daughter is Esme. She's nine. Becca is the eighteen year old blonde. When did you see them?" "They were loading -" Dave and Janice had just arrived at the first door off the hallway past the living room. A former guest bedroom, Dave had done some renovations, adding the closet space of the room onto the half bath and converting that into a full bath. The rest of the room he had filled with bookshelves and comfortable chairs. A few small tables sat near the chairs to rest a drink or a book on. One table bore a good-sized and fairly recent globe. A map of the U S A and a world map adorned one wall in the sitting area. And of course, all the shelves were loaded with books. Janice took a few steps into the room past Dave, who had stopped the moment she cut herself off, wondering what was wrong. When she spun to face him, he saw the look of a kid walking into a candy store with a hand full of monthly allowance. Janice swiftly crossed the small distance between them, launched her short frame into his arms and kissed him fiercely. "Fuck me. Fuck me right here, right now." Dave's brain was not keeping up with the changes. Janice wasn't waiting anyway. She quickly unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned and unzipped his pants and shoved them to his ankles, along with his boxers. She dropped to her knees and started kissing and licking his cock. As it began to fill out, she took it in her mouth and bobbed her head along its length. Dave had always been self-conscious about his cock. It wasn't anything impressive as far as he knew. It didn't help that it shrank in both length and girth in the flaccid state. A cheating ex-wife didn't help things either. And yet, here was this beautiful woman, on her knees, hungry for his cock. Janice's eyes rolled back in her head and a deep, guttural moan issued from her chest. She stilled for a moment, falling back with her ass on her heels. She looked like she might fall over, so Dave took hold of her shoulders. After a minute or so, She looked up at him, happy and hungry. "That. was. Awesome!" Then her eyes zeroed in on his cock again, taking the same look as a hawk spying a squirrel. He was fully erect now. Janice rose up enough to shove his hips. "On the ground baby. Time to finish this. Make me your horny little bitch for life." Dave lay down, Janice not even waiting until he was all the way down to crawl up his body and straddle him. The sensations he picked up from the tip of his cock as she settled herself told him she wore no panties under her loose skirt. She quickly lined him up with her entrance and sat back forcefully. "Fuck yeah. This thing feels so damn good baby. God, how the hell are you still single? I'd fucking sell my soul to you if you promised to fuck me." She started rising a bit, then shoving herself back down, then grinding her clit against him. "Fucking perfect fucking thickness and length. I feel so stuffed, and not painful." She placed her palms over his nipples and began focusing her efforts on riding up and down, her breathing getting ragged. Janice emitted several moans and grunts as she worked herself and Dave up to a pinnacle. For his part, Dave was just hoping to last long enough for her to enjoy this. It had been a while since he'd been with a woman and Rosy Palm just isn't the same. He felt his pleasure rising rapidly and focused on holding it back. Just then she threw her head back and howled in pleasure as her inner muscles ran riot gripping him. He crested too, shooting up into her. Her howl nearly became a scream, her whole body shaking, seizing. Dave grasped her torso at the bottom of her ribcage to give her some stability. She collapsed like a ragdoll, her arms, limbs and neck going limp, dangling from her still vertical body in Dave's hands. Dave lowered her body to his and gently rolled them over, one hand behind her head to keep it from flopping around. He pulled up his boxers and pants so his legs could move enough to stand. Doing so, he tucked himself back in and fastened his pants. Dave crouched beside his sleeping beauty, gave her a soft kiss on her forehead, then scooped her into his arms and carried her up to the master bedroom. He laid her out gently on top of the covers and draped a light blanket over her. Then he went back to his computer to watch some of the videos he had skipped. Clearly, he had missed a few important facts. Janice has Dave all to herself for one day. Chapter 2 - Janice's Day. September 19, 2020. Dave fought the urge to go straight to his computer and watch more videos on this vaccine. He'd anticipated the chanting of 'imprinting' but he'd skipped over the parts of the videos on sexual effects, thinking it would wait, or not even matter. That reaction was not natural. Okay, he's somewhat decent in bed, but that shit was next level, pornstar stuff. No way a woman got that excited over his crank. Before he could go video surfing, he needed to get over and feed Lupie's chickens. No telling when they'd be back, probably tomorrow, and the chickens had to get fed. At least he wouldn't need to truss up. He wasn't running into anyone else. Dave slipped through the fence gate separating Lupie's front yard from her backyard. She left it unlocked all the time. Dave only mentioned it once, and then remained low-level worried for her when she never locked it. Dave was pulled out of his musing by a low growl. In the backyard, glaring at him, was a large dog, a mutt with a lineage that ran thick and muscular. The eyes looked somewhat red, but the muzzle showed clear evidence of dried blood. Most likely a neighbor had died, thus cutting of the dog's food supply. It broke out of its own backyard and had been killing other dogs, cats or squirrels thus far. Now it was thinking squab for breakfast and Dave had just interrupted. Well, first good news, no foaming at the mouth so it's probably not rabid. Still a good idea to not get bit though. Holding stock still, Dave scanned the area, moving his eyes only, searching for anything that could be helpful. Ironically, Dave had a number of weapons at home that would have solved this little problem for the neighborhood. Not that they were doing him any good right now. A shop broom. Lupie kept a shop broom on the back porch, and it was just a few feet away. Well that's something. Dave took a small step sideways and the growling turned to a couple of loud barks. The dog leaned to one side, as if anticipating the need to intercept Dave running sideways. Dave's hand reached out slowly, causing the dog to bark harshly and take two steps closer. Dave's hand connected with the broom. When he began pulling the broom to him, the dog charged, open mouth, teeth bared. Feeling a little ridiculous, Dave snapped into ready position, the brush part of the broom held low. He thrust the broom under the dog's muzzle, the bristles splaying out absurdly. The dog reared back, possibly about to leap over the broom, so Dave adjusted his motion upward, catching the dog's chin and flipping it up and back. The dog kept his back feet planted and swiveled its head to take the broom head in its mouth. It swung its head back and forth, attempting to pull the broom from Dave's hands. Dave took a firm grip and unscrewed the handle from the broom, with a few added jabs to keep the dog off balance as he did so. The dog noticed the moment the head come loose from the handle. It threw down the head and came charging again. Dave of course was ready for this, swinging the metal threads on the head end of the handle in an arc that delivered an upper cut to the dog's jaw. With an angry yip, the dog pulled back, barked, and circled. Dave turned with the dog, waiting for the next charge. When it came, Dave snapped the end of the handle on the dog's head in a downward strike that connected, but did not stop the dog. Dave slipped sideways as he brought the other end of the handle around, catching the dog in the shoulder. At this point, Dave realized scaring the dog off might not work at all, and if it did, the dog would be back in an hour or so. He was going to have to kill the dog to keep the chickens safe. Dave had already maneuvered to the concrete porch in Lupie's backyard. He slammed the end of the broom handle in a downward strike on the porch, snapping the end off and leaving a splintered point on the end. He now had a spear. The dog charged again. This time, Dave waited until the dog reared up to leap before plunging the sharpened end of the handle into the dog's torso. A sickening yelp issued from the dog as the makeshift spear drove into its chest cavity. The dog fell, pulling Dave's weapon from his hands, and lay growling, panting and whimpering on the porch. Mortally wounded, the dog was still dangerous. It was also in pain. Dave needed to dispatch it quickly. Every moment it wasted away would wear on his soul. He spotted Lupie's garden trowel. Moving swiftly, he grabbed it, slipped behind the dog, and drove the trowel into the base of the skull, ending the animal's pain. Once he was sure the animal was neither a danger nor in pain, Dave sat back on his haunches and wept bitter tears. Hell, he'd kill deer and turkey before, but that was hunting. What meat he didn't eat or give to Lupie was donated to a local charity to feed the poor or homeless. The butcher he used sold the deerskin and turkey feathers to local crafters for their works. This animal was dead because it was hungry and targeted the wrong prey. Feeling like an utter wimp, Dave wiped his eyes and face dry. He went back to his own garage, pulled out a tarp, and headed back to Lupie's yard. Dave wrapped the dog in the tarp, then carried it through the back gate, and tossed the carcass in the rolling garbage bin. More waste. More death. By the time Dave got back, the chickens had largely settled down. He scattered some seed into their enclosure and filled the water tank from the backyard hose. Dave left the backyard, pulling Lupie's gate closed tightly behind him and returned to his own home. He went upstairs to the master suite bathroom and scrubbed his arms thoroughly. Partly to remove any fluids that might have gotten on him. Mostly as a psychological exercise, trying to wash away what happened. Emerging from the bathroom, Dave was captured by Janice's sleeping face. He climbed into bed and lay beside her, watching her gently breathe. Drinking in the feeling of another life nearby. But he had work to do. And some research on what happened this morning. Maybe watching the videos first would help get his head settled again so he could focus on his project. Rewatching the video he'd skipped parts of, he hit the part explaining the bonding effect of the serum on women with a male partner. Did that work in reverse? Is that why he found Janice's muttering of 'imprinting' slightly sexy, but not the lady in the video? His thoughts were interrupted by his text warning bing. Lupie sent; Can you look a few things up for me? There's a lot of terms here I don't know and I can't ask Lupie face to face. And I can't look it up without leaving the survey. Sure, what do you need defined? If I don't know, I'll search it up for you. Lupie sent; Okay, the first one is fictophilia. That one I'll need to look up. Oh, okay, that's having an attraction to a fictional character. Not sure if that's the same as cosplay or not. Lupie sent; So if I had that, would you dress up as Malcom Reynolds for me? Sure. But I might want reciprocation. Lupie sent; Zoey, Kaylee, or Inara Sera? Yes. Lupie sent; huge crying laughing emoji ok, how about lactophilia? I mean, it's tasty, but I'm not fixated on it. She posted a question mark. Oh, sorry, it means you like for your partner to suckle mother's milk from you during foreplay or sex. Or, you know, you want to suckle *from* them. Another lady I mean Lupie sent; Oh Shit, I didn't know that was a thing! Okay, I kinda like the idea of you sucking on me during, you know. Not sure I'm into other girls though. Eventually we are going to get better at finishing those sentences kitten. We'll be 'you knowing a lot. Lupie sent; laugh emoji And you don't have to do anything with another woman Never, if you aren't interested. It took a few minutes, and Dave was about to hit play again on the video when another text from Becca came in. Lupie sent; somnophilia? It means you get aroused seeing a sleeping person. Or you want to be taken in your sleep. Lupie sent; Oh god, I just had this thrill run through me at the idea of waking up with you already in me, on top of me. So we're doing that? Lupie sent; Oh yeah. oh, and I hit yes on watersports too. I'd love to do it in the shower, or a pool. God, wish we had a pool, that would be awesome. No no no no! That is not; what watersports means! Watersports means pee! You want to be pee'd on or you want to pee on your partner! Lupie sent; Oh Gross. barf emoji People do that? Surely you've seen porn pics of girls squatting and peeing in a field or on a road? Lupie sent; Yeah. Well, that's what it's for. Lupie sent; No offense Dave, but that's a hard no. We are in absolute agreement kitten. Lupie sent; Okay, finally finished. I hit submit, now the great microchip brain gets to spin our data and tell us how close we are. Lupie sent; I'm a little scared David. What if it doesn't match us? Becca, worrying isn't going to help you at all. Just get a snack, talk with Esme or Lupie. Or talk with another lady if there's someone nearby. Lupie sent; I miss you already. The text went quiet. Dave waited a few more minutes and then turned his attention to his computer. Time to focus on his side project. The secret one. For his public side job, Dave did data analysis, but no one was sending him new numbers to crunch or putting out bids at the moment. Government types probably had more data than they knew how to process, but Dave had never done government jobs and never had any clearance level. His 'quiet' side job was less boring but could be problematic if some prudish Karen found out. Well, some folks knew, because they paid him money. But no one had connected his online persona with him. Dave had written two adult visual novels, with good reviews. Now he worked on a game with adult themes. And pictures, of course. Fitting his personal fiction interests, the background was an apocalyptic scenario, and the main character built a harem of capable and beautiful ladies to; survive. Even with software support, Dave wasn't much of an artist, so he had an arrangement with someone else to render the images and short video scenes. Version 0.3 had been out for three months, so he was working intently to complete 0.4 before Thanksgiving. The artist was reliable and good. Dave just needed to give him (her? They used anonymous internet handles) clear and detailed descriptions of what he wanted. That meant figuring out what was happening in this next update. Lockdown had somewhat helped. Dave had more free time available. He'd gotten 0.3 out early, but that just meant his paying supporters wanted more. And they are paying, even in months he didn't produce anything. Half an hour of banging his head against code (and thinking strongly of banging his head against the wall) Dave finally got 'in the flow' and cranked out the last bit of story structure over the next two hours. That ended when his grumbling stomach informed him of his neglect. First though, he'd look in on Janice. It was both strange and comforting, seeing this lovely woman in his bed, sleeping peacefully. His heart warmed at the sight, but a nagging fear rose in him as well. He knew this was only due to this strange vaccine. How long until the bio geeks find a solution so women were not stuck with a guy forever? That would be a very telling day. One which Dave would welcome, but also feared. Feeling the need for some comfort food, Dave made himself a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches, then piled two handfuls of chips on the plate. He didn't keep soda in the house unless company was coming, so he grabbed a lime flavored seltzer. He liked soda, but that's why he didn't keep it around. After cleaning up from lunch, Dave headed back to his office space to check in on his Astronomy class. They had a project due this past weekend, so it was time to grade the results. Thirty minutes later, he felt like his eyes were bleeding reading the same errors repeatedly. Most of them were doing the math correctly, but they were measuring completely wrong. Which didn't make sense, given that Dave had made a video explicitly showing how to take the measurements. It was a simple parallax trick astronomers used for gauging distance to stars. It told also be used by surveyors to measure distance across a river or gorge. If you do it right. What he wanted to do was bang his head against a wall for ten minutes, then arrange a live zoom session with his students to find out what they didn't understand, and then have them do the project again. But there may not be enough time to complete all the semester topics. Fuck it, put out another tutorial video on the topic so they can get the parallax questions right on the midterm, and just be a little lenient grading this set of work. Work email popped a new message. From the dean. What the fuck? Seriously? Online physics? For majors? The whole point of slipping physics into the degree plans of doctors and other professionals has more to do with analytical techniques and detailed, careful experimental training than the topics covered. Yeah, several of the topics apply closely to those future careers also, but mostly it's used to make sure these kids understand the precision needed in scientific professions, how to analyze data, read graphs and use equations. And since it's tough, it weeds out those without the dedication or talent to go the distance. Dave shot back a reply email, asking for clarification. Will there be a budget to buy kits so kids can do experiments at home? How long to I have to assemble my own kits, or source some third party? What's the budget limit? Dave groaned. Just two years ago they'd gotten a grant to buy some great new lab equipment. But he only had one classroom set, and it was expensive. No way could he send out this gear to the students. Not enough for each one to have a set. And even if no one tried anything fishy, basic forgetfulness would result in a third of the equipment missing by the end of the semester. This shit was way too expensive for that. A second email from the dean, not a reply to his reply, a new topic. At least she was dependably methodical on that. Different topic required a different email chain. She might be a squishy (the dean was a microbiologist, Dave referred to all life science degreed folks as 'squishies') with little imagination on administrative matters, but she was very consistent and precise. Okay, so she's giving him a heads up on; a vaccine? Cute. Dave sent back a reply, thank her for the information, but his first partner arrived this morning and is currently passed out. She shot back a reply, relieved that he was safe, followed by an observation that departmental parties with spouses were going to be much larger from now on. Then she replied to the other email, pointing out that several big universities do online, without hands on labs. They sent the students pre-collected data and had them only do the analysis. Dave could go that route if he wanted. Of course, if Dave chose to put a few labs requiring data collection by the students, along with other labs that only used canned data, that would make their online physics more rigorous than those other schools. Just saying'. Lovely. Dave went back to grading and finished the column out. At least for those that had already submitted. A half hour surfing science kit supply companies left him unimpressed, so he pulled out a sheet of paper and outlined a video on parallax. His head wasn't right to shoot it today, but he could plan it. The day was wearing on and Dave had already gotten a lot done. Time for a brain break. Dave locked out the computer and headed downstairs to the library. Standing in the fiction area, He browsed for a bit before pulling out an old favorite, Executive Orders by Tom Clancy. He settled into a lounge chair in the library and let his mind and body relax. As usual, Dave lost all track of time while immersed in a book. He was midway through a particularly engrossing passage when Janice came through the library door with a huge grin. She'd changed out of her clothes from this morning, now dressed in his 'not procrastinating, just doing side quests' shirt and a pair of her panties. Well, maybe panties. The shirt hem was low enough to reach an inch or so below her groin. She was not wearing a bra however. The pinpoints sticking out of the shirt proclaimed that fact loudly. Dave smiled, setting the book aside and began to rise. Janice placed a soft hand on his chest and then settled herself in the lounger alongside him. She kissed him firmly on the cheek and temple, then rubbed the side of her face against his. They ended the nuzzling nose to nose, looking into each other's eyes. "Have a nice nap?" "Best sleep ever." Janice took another look around the room, taking in a deep breath. "God I love the smell of books." She snuggled in tighter. "Your profile mentioned reading as one of your pastimes, but nothing about having a full-on library in your house. I saw the smaller bookshelves in the entryway, but this really blew me away. And you have another bookshelf in the bedroom!" She stopped to deliver another steamy kiss. "It's hard sometimes finding other bookworms, except at work. I love it, but sometimes I just want to enjoy books, ya know?" "What is it you do? It feels like I should already know that, before we, um; " "Before I jumped you?" Dave nodded, then chuckled. "I just texted Becca this morning about being free talking with each other about sex, and here I am all tongue tied." Janice laughed with him. "Well, lover, I'm a librarian over at Cedar Valley." "Wow. Obviously a love of books could drive you into that career, but does it ever get to you? Make you want to get away from books?" Janice just stares at him. "I withdraw the question and humbly beg the court's forgiveness." She chuckled and kissed him on the nose. "How about you feed me something, I'm starving." "Starving, or starving?" Dave said, pushing lightly towards her with his pelvis along with the second iteration. After a hearty laugh, Janice said "Both, in that order. Give me the meat buster." Dave chortled while lifting her off him and setting her, standing on the floor. He stood beside her, giving her side eye as they walked side by side, holding hands, to the kitchen. "You give this appearance of coquettish innocence and then talk saucy enough to get me half hard before you remove so much as a single button. Is that due to the vaccine?" Janice rubbed first her shoulder, then her tit against his arm while looking up into his eyes. "Mostly just me, a few friends have said I give a reserved air until I'm with people I trust. The vaccine's effects might lower that veil a bit faster." A brief wash of pain passed over Janice's face. Dave didn't inquire, knowing it must be concern or mourning for friends no longer living. Dave took a quick look through the fridge. "We can do steak, mashed potatoes, and broccoli in about an hour, mostly because of the potatoes. Or we can do broccoli beef, probably about 45 minutes. Or we can do sloppy joes and chips in about twenty or twenty-five minutes." "Sloppy joes it is." Dave grabbed the thawed pound of ground beef, an onion, and a green bell pepper from the fridge. "Can you go into the pantry and grab a can of tomato sauce?" Dave said, while pointing to the pantry door. He remembered pointing it out this morning, but reinforcement usually helps assimilate new information. When Janice came back out, Dave had two skillets on the stove, and spices on the counter alongside a cutting board, knife and the two veggies. "Can I help?" "Sure, how's your knife skills?" "Well, I can cut a bitch if I have to; " Dave burst out laughing, lowering the knife to the counter just to be safe. He turned to Janice, giving her a fierce kiss. "Oh, I think I needed that." He wiped a few tears from his eyes and got back to dicing the pepper and onion. "Aright, how about you sauté these while I get the meat started?" With a light grimace, she asked "How?" "Toss 'em in the skillet on medium-low heat, about a tablespoon of butter" Dave looked at the veggies again, "maybe two, a couple shakes of salt. Keep the veggies in the butter, stirring a bit once in a while, until the onions start to look clear." Janice set to work sautéing, while Dave got the ground beef browning. He stepped aside from the stove to the adjacent counter to leave her more space. Dave poured 'eyeball' measured amounts of powdered garlic, paprika, cumin (very little), salt, and chili powder in to a small bowl and swirled the bowl to mix everything. When he leaned towards the stove to tend the beef, Janice leaned her head against his shoulder. "Comfy?" Janice nodded her head. Dave kissed her on the crown and she hummed. "Think you could watch both of these? Just make sure to turn the beef and keep chopping it into small bits so we get crumbles instead of big chunks. I'm going to toast some bread. Sorry, we don't have any buns." "That's okay, I know what buns I want to bite." Janice punctuated her statement with an impish wink. Dave just shook his head, grabbed the loaf out of the cabinet and got to work with the toaster. A few minutes later, Janice called out, "The beef is sizzling and sticking. I'm getting some brown in the bottom of the pan." "Perfect, pour in the veggies, then the tomato sauce." Seeing her do that he added, "Great, now sprinkle the spices over the top, as evenly as you can. Good, Now just stir that up a bit. Let it cook down some, boil off some of the liquid. Stir it every few minutes." Dave had finished the toast well before Janice had called out, but she seemed to be doing well so far and he wanted to let her get more comfortable in the kitchen. Sounded like something she wanted, based on what she'd said this morning. He did walk up behind her and give her a gentle, loose hug as she worked the skillet. Janice rested her head back on his chest. "This is so thoroughly domestic. Thank you." "You don't have to cook you know. There'll be three cooks in the family by tomorrow evening." "Yeah, and one is an eighteen year old girl who's fifteen years younger than me." "That teen girl has been through the wringer. She's shown some serious maturity. That's why I accepted her. She's the only reason I set my age range that low." "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound dismissive." Dave was quiet for a moment. "I'm sorry for coming off snappy. We lived in separate houses, but the four of us rode this mess out together." Janice nodded. "How about you tell me more over dinner. Starting tomorrow they're going to be family." With the meat reaching its final stage, Dave put a hot pad on the table for the skillet, and grabbed two open bags of chips from the cabinet. He'd already placed the toast on the table as soon a

Christmas is often portrayed as a season filled with joy, family, and celebration—but for many, it can also be one of the loneliest times of the year. Loss, distance from loved ones, illness, or isolation can magnify feelings of loneliness during the holidays. Scripture reminds us that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and tenderly cares for those who feel crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). In this season, God not only comforts the lonely through His presence, but He also invites His people to reflect His love by seeking out those who feel forgotten and offering them genuine community. Main Takeaways You’ll learn why the holiday season can intensify feelings of loneliness for many people. Discover how God’s presence brings comfort to the brokenhearted and those who feel unseen. Understand why loneliness is something believers are called to address with compassion and action. Reflect on practical ways to include and care for those who may spend Christmas alone. Be encouraged to live out Christ’s love by becoming His hands and feet during the holidays. Bible Verse References Psalm 34:18 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/34-18.html Genesis 2:18 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/2-18.html Matthew 25:35–36 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/passage/?q=matthew+25:35-36 Your Daily Prayer Lord, You see every heart that feels lonely, grieving, or forgotten this Christmas season. Draw near to those who are brokenhearted and remind them that they are never alone in Your presence. Stir our hearts to notice those around us who may be hurting, and give us the courage to reach out with compassion, generosity, and love. Help us reflect Jesus by welcoming others in and creating space for community where it is needed most.In Jesus’ name, Amen. Want More? Subscribe to Your Daily Prayer for daily encouragement rooted in Scripture. Leave a rating or review to help others discover the podcast. Visit LifeAudio.com for more Christ-centered podcasts and devotionals. Explore more articles on faith, grief, and Christian living at Crosswalk.com and Christianity.com. Relevant Links & Resources Articles on loneliness, grief, and hope during the holidays:Crosswalk.com – https://www.crosswalk.comChristianity.com – https://www.christianity.com Study today’s Scripture passages at:BibleStudyTools.com – https://www.biblestudytools.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this message, Maria shares about the origins of true joy! When we received the Holy Spirit at the new birth, we received a full download of the Holy Spirit within us. Within each of us are all the resources we need to grow in the fruits of the Spirit. Our job is now to unpack what has already been given!In Christian circles, we often hear that someone has a gift of joy. The truth is that this person has agreed with the work of God on the inside, but mostly it's about coming into agreement with the Holy Spirit through connection and relationship.There are four ways we can grow in joy in the natural: 1. Whatever you overcome releases joy inside of you, so give away that breakthrough and bless others and watch joy grow! 2. Joy sparks more joy, so get into it! Stir joy up with humour and fun! 3. Giving thanks is always a highway to greater joy!4. Dance and praise will always release joy!! Lastly, there is a spiritual way we can grow in His joy: to gaze on God's beauty! When we worship and gaze into His presence with captivated awe, we are being transformed by the Spirit of God and simultaneously transformed from one glory to another! Watch out for the "Joy Stealer" this Summer, who will try to rob your joy by first stealing your hope. When we are hopeless, we are joyless! So stay full of hope in His ability to lead you in all things, then Joy will be the overflow of that mindset!

On this week's podcast episode, Nathan and Vivianne Foster discuss how to welcome Christ—looking to Jesus' parents as a picture of consent, receptivity, and hospitality.Show NotesVivianne's Christmas Pie RecipeThis recipe was invented as my mother and I struggled to figure out the perfect way to enjoy Christmas Day together without fussing over ten different casseroles that needed to go in and out of the oven, and magically all be ready at the same moment. Having a French Canadian heritage, meat pies — called tourtieres are a big thing for us. This one takes things a step further: essentially everything you'd find on your Christmas plate goes IN the pie. If it feels too risky to swap out your complicated chaotic menu for this sumptuous simple main dish, take a risk by using your leftovers to make this pie. If you can't handle recipes that simply paint a picture, and omit detailed measurements, I highly recommend not embarking on this adventure. For the rest of you, here we go:Pie crust: Use whatever savory pastry recipe you usually make, adding some fresh or dried herbs, cut up (eg: thyme, rosemary, sage)Filling:You'll need enough to fill each pie you're going to make, which I usually eyeball as I mix and add ingredients into a very large mixing bowl, so that the total amount in the bowl is sufficient to fill the shells. Make the ratio as seems fit to you:In a big bowl, combine:Cooked turkey, shredded into chunky pieces, or cutCubed bread, preferably sourdough, preferably dry so that it doesn't turn to mush, cubed. (You can toast cubes of fresh bread in the oven if you don't have any stale bread)Fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped, but raw (so that each berry is at least halved, but could be in quarters)Diced applesIn a cast iron frying pan, set to low medium, cook a pound of bacon, slowly; I usually have to do this in two batches, and set on cutting board to cool before chopping into small pieces.Keep the rendered fat from the bacon in the pan, turning the heat up to medium and adding:A few diced onions, or a larger amount of leeksA few diced potatoes (small diced)Once potatoes seem tender but not soft, remove from heat, pouring onion and potato mixture into main bowl, along with bacon bits.Stir the mixture to combine, adding a very generous amount of dried sage (I use at least 1/4 to 1/2 a cup for 2-3 pies. Add as you wish: pepper and salt.  Add one egg per pie into the main bowl, mixing thoroughly to moisten the mixture.You will need a minimum of 6 cups of filing per pie you want to fill. Spoon mixture into pie shell, mounding it up in the middle. Cover with pastry top, and cut a few designs in the top to allow hot air to escape. Cover with foil and bake as per your usual preference for baking pies, or wrap in plastic wrap and freeze if you don't plan on cooking within a day.We usually set aside a family afternoon for assembling the pies and freeze them, then bake from frozen the day of Christmas. A fun part of our tradition is using Christmas cookie cutters to make designs appliquéd on top of the pie. Have fun!

Alec Naman from @Naman's Catering called us this morning and said, "Here's a nice treat for a side dish for your Christmas dinner. My Famous Balsamic Glazed Brussel Sprouts with Bacon Recipe. You're gonna love this one! "      

Happy Winter Solstice! This is a time for rebirth, renewal, and new beginnings. It's also a time to receive, which is something that many of us struggle to do. Do you freely accept the generosity of others or does it make you feel vulnerable? Do you keep a tally of these “transactions” in your mind so that you can quickly repay the giver? Maybe you fear that when it really counts, others will let you down. What if this Yule, you learned to graciously and lovingly accept the kindness and love of others? As we sit by the fire, contemplate how you might be blocking blessings in your life. It's a perfect time to clear the path for something new.  What am I reading?The Winter Witch by Paula Brackstonhttps://bookshop.org/a/111301/9781250042705uWinter in the Highlands: Eating, Drinking, and Celebrating in Scotland by Flora Shedden https://bookshop.org/a/111301/9781837833689https://bookshop.org/shop/witchywomanwalkingWhat's playing on repeat?The Solstice Carole by Saffie What's for dinner? Savory Solstice PieIngredients:1 lb ground beef or plant-based meat1 onionGarlic2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp dried thyme 1 tsp ground black pepper 1⁄2 tsp salt 1 cup stock 2 tbsp all-purpose flour 1 cup peas, fresh or frozen 1 cup diced carrots 1 cup diced potatoes 2 sheets of store-bought or homemade shortcrust pastry 1 egg, beatenInstructions:Preheat oven to 40O degrees f. Heat oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, cooking until onion is translucent.Increase the heat to medium-high and add the ground meat to the skillet. Cook until browned.Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, thyme, pepper, and salt. Cook for another 2 minutes.Sprinkle flour over the meat and stir to combine. Pour in stock, stirring continuously until mixture thickens.Reduce heat to low and add peas, carrots, and potatoes. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.Roll out one sheet of the pastry and line a 9-inch pie dish with it. Trim any excess pastry.Pour the meat and vegetable mixture into the pie dish.Roll out the second sheet of pastry and place it over the filling. Trim and crimp the edges to seal the pie.Cut a few slits in the top pastry to allow steam to escape.Brush the top with beaten egg.Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and crispy.Allow the pie to cool for a few minutes before slicing. Enjoy!Sparkling Cranberry Rosemary MocktailIngredients:2 cups unsweetened cranberry juice2 cups sparkling waterJuice two limes 2 rosemary sprigsFresh cranberries1–2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup Ice cubesInstructions:Fill glasses with ice cubes.In a pitcher, combine cranberry juice, sparkling water, and lime juice. Stir gently to mix.Stir in sweetener until dissolved.Lightly bruise rosemary by tapping sprigs with the back of a spoon to release their aroma. Add to pitcher or place in the glasses.Add a few fresh cranberries into each glass.Pour the cranberry mocktail into glasses. Enjoy!Support the show

We're bringing back one of our favorite Faith IRL Christmas specials. In this REWIND episode, Orah and David go “on location” for a gingerbread challenge (we tried to decorate gingerbread people to look like each other… pray for us

As the season unfolds and the calendar fills, it's time to turn up the cheer! Whether you're hosting at home, attending festive soirées, or settling in fireside with a favorite cocktail, this is the heart of the season for gathering and celebration.Today's guest is the perfect guide to mixing a little extra merry and bright. We're joined by Kara Newman—award-winning writer, author, and recipe developer. Kara is the Spirits Editor for Wine Enthusiast and a writer-at-large whose expertise has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and more.In this episode, Kara also shares her journey—from writing about financial performance to becoming one of the most trusted voices in the food and drink world today. We discuss her philosophy for creating a home bar that feels effortless and inviting. Drawing from her books Shake. Stir. Sip. and Cocktails for a Crowd, she offers smart, crowd-pleasing ideas that take the stress out of entertaining. We also talk about her newest series, The Cocktail Cabinet, and how these beautifully curated cards have become an essential for home bars and hosts alike.Join us as we toast the season—adding a little sparkle, a little ease, and just the right cocktail or mocktail to make your celebration merry and bright!  Connect with Kara at @newman_karaConnect with Anne at @styledbyark, @classicandcuriouspodcast You can find a link to Kara's books mentioned on this podcast at styledbyark.com 

In this episode of the Omaha Places podcast, hosts Cahner and Delaney discuss their favorite local eateries and solo dining experiences. They share insights on creative outings like pottery painting and ice skating, and provide recommendations for celebrating 21st birthdays in Omaha. The conversation also covers festive events, including Santa sightings and holiday performances, highlighting the vibrant local culture during the holiday season.   Events: Mannheim Steamroller Christmas: https://omahaplaces.com/event/mannheim-steamroller-christmas/ A Christmas Carol: https://omahaplaces.com/event/a-christmas-story/ Disney's Frozen in Concert at the Holland https://omahaplaces.com/event/disneys-frozen-in-concert/ Grinch Drag Brunch + Ugly Sweater Contest at Funny Bone https://omahaplaces.com/event/grinch-drag-brunch-ugly-sweater-contest/   |Instagram | |TikTok| | Youtube | | Subscribe to our newsletter| |Visit our website|   This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to Hurrdat ONE Website or visit Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Osteomyelitis in children is common enough to miss and serious enough to matter. In this episode of PEM Currents, we review a practical, evidence-based approach to pediatric acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, focusing on diagnostic strategy, imaging decisions including FAST MRI, and modern antibiotic management. Topics include age-based microbiology, empiric and pathogen-directed antibiotic selection with dosing, criteria for early transition to oral therapy, and indications for orthopedic and infectious diseases consultation. Special considerations such as MRSA, Kingella kingae, daycare clustering, and shortened treatment durations are discussed with an emphasis on safe, high-value care. Learning Objectives After listening to this episode, learners will be able to: Identify the key clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings that support the diagnosis of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis in children, including indications for FAST MRI and contrast-enhanced MRI. Select and dose appropriate empiric and pathogen-directed antibiotic regimens for pediatric osteomyelitis based on patient age, illness severity, and local MRSA prevalence, and determine when early transition to oral therapy is appropriate. Determine when consultation with orthopedics and infectious diseases is indicated, and recognize clinical features that warrant prolonged therapy or more conservative management. References Woods CR, Bradley JS, Chatterjee A, et al. Clinical practice guideline by the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America: 2021 guideline on diagnosis and management of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis in pediatrics. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2021;10(8):801-844. doi:10.1093/jpids/piab027 Woods CR, Bradley JS, Chatterjee A, et al. Clinical practice guideline by the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America: 2023 guideline on diagnosis and management of acute bacterial arthritis in pediatrics. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2024;13(1):1-59. doi:10.1093/jpids/piad089 Stephan AM, Platt S, Levine DA, et al. A novel risk score to guide the evaluation of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis in children. Pediatrics. 2024;153(1):e2023063153. doi:10.1542/peds.2023-063153 Alhinai Z, Elahi M, Park S, et al. Prediction of adverse outcomes in pediatric acute hematogenous osteomyelitis. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;71(9):e454-e464. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa211 Burns JD, Upasani VV, Bastrom TP, et al. Age and C-reactive protein associated with improved tissue pathogen identification in children with blood culture-negative osteomyelitis: results from the CORTICES multicenter database. J Pediatr Orthop. 2023;43(8):e603-e607. doi:10.1097/BPO.0000000000002448 Peltola H, Pääkkönen M. Acute osteomyelitis in children. N Engl J Med. 2014;370(4):352-360. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1213956 Transcript This transcript was provided via use of the Descript AI application Welcome to PEM Currents, the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast. As always, I'm your host, Brad Sobolewski, and today we're covering osteomyelitis in children. We're going to talk about diagnosis and imaging, and then spend most of our time where practice variation still exists: antibiotic selection, dosing, duration, and the evidence supporting early transition to oral therapy. We'll also talk about when to involve orthopedics, infectious diseases, and whether daycare outbreaks of osteomyelitis are actually a thing. So what do I mean by pediatric osteomyelitis? In children, osteomyelitis is most commonly acute hematogenous osteomyelitis. That means bacteria seed the bone via the bloodstream. The metaphysis of long bones is particularly vulnerable due to vascular anatomy that favors bacterial deposition. Age matters. In neonates, transphyseal vessels allow infection to cross into joints, increasing the risk of concomitant septic arthritis. In older children, those vessels involute, and infection tends to remain metaphyseal and confined to bone rather than spreading into the joint. For children three months of age and older, empiric therapy must primarily cover Staphylococcus aureus, which remains the dominant pathogen. Other common organisms include group A streptococcus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. In children six to 36 months of age, especially those in daycare, Kingella kingae is an important and often underrecognized pathogen. Kingella infections are typically milder, may present with lower inflammatory markers, and frequently yield negative routine cultures. Kingella is usually susceptible to beta-lactams like cefazolin, but is consistently resistant to vancomycin and often resistant to clindamycin and antistaphylococcal penicillins. This has direct implications for empiric antibiotic selection. Common clinical features of osteomyelitis include fever, localized bone pain, refusal to bear weight, and pain with movement of an adjacent joint. Fever may be absent early, particularly with less virulent organisms like Kingella. A normal white blood cell count does not exclude osteomyelitis. Only about one-third of children present with leukocytosis. CRP and ESR are generally more useful, particularly CRP for monitoring response to therapy. No single CRP cutoff reliably diagnoses or excludes osteomyelitis in children. While CRP is elevated in most cases of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America note that high-quality data defining diagnostic thresholds are limited. A CRP above 20 milligrams per liter is commonly used to support clinical suspicion, with pooled sensitivity estimates around 80 to 85 percent, but no definitive value mandates the diagnosis. Lower values do not exclude disease, particularly in young children, as CRP is normal in up to 40 percent of Kingella kingae infections. CRP values tend to be higher in Staphylococcus aureus infections, especially MRSA, and higher levels are associated with complications such as abscess, bacteremia, and thrombosis, though specific cutoffs are not absolute. In summary, CRP is most useful for monitoring treatment response. It typically peaks two to four days after therapy initiation and declines rapidly with effective treatment, with a 50 percent reduction within four days seen in the majority of uncomplicated cases. Blood cultures should be obtained in all children with suspected osteomyelitis, ideally before starting antibiotics when feasible. In children, blood cultures alone can sometimes identify the pathogen. Plain radiographs are still recommended early, not because they're sensitive for acute osteomyelitis, but because they help exclude fracture, malignancy, or foreign body and establish a baseline. MRI with and without contrast is the preferred advanced imaging modality. MRI confirms the diagnosis, defines the extent of disease, and identifies complications such as subperiosteal abscess, physeal involvement, and concomitant septic arthritis. MRI findings can also guide the need for surgical consultation. Many pediatric centers now use FAST MRI protocols for suspected osteomyelitis, particularly from the emergency department. FAST MRI uses a limited sequence set, typically fluid-sensitive sequences like STIR or T2 with fat suppression, without contrast. These studies significantly reduce scan time, often avoid the need for sedation, and retain high sensitivity for bone marrow edema and soft tissue inflammation. FAST MRI is particularly useful when the clinical question is binary: is there osteomyelitis or not? It's most appropriate in stable children without high concern for abscess, multifocal disease, or surgical complications. If FAST MRI is positive, a full contrast-enhanced MRI may still be needed to delineate abscesses, growth plate involvement, or adjacent septic arthritis. If FAST MRI is negative but clinical suspicion remains high, further imaging may still be necessary. The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend empiric antibiotic selection based on regional MRSA prevalence, patient age, and illness severity, with definitive therapy guided by culture results and susceptibilities. Empiric therapy should never be delayed in an ill-appearing or septic child. In well-appearing, stable children, antibiotics may be briefly delayed to obtain imaging or tissue sampling, but this requires close inpatient observation. For children three months and older with non–life-threatening disease, empiric therapy hinges on local MRSA rates. In regions with low community-acquired MRSA prevalence, generally under 10 percent, reasonable empiric options include cefazolin, oxacillin, or nafcillin. When MRSA prevalence exceeds 10 to 20 percent, empiric therapy should include an MRSA-active agent. Clindamycin is appropriate when local resistance rates are low, while vancomycin is preferred when clindamycin resistance is common or the child has had significant healthcare exposure. For children with severe disease or sepsis, vancomycin is generally preferred regardless of local MRSA prevalence. Some experts recommend combining vancomycin with oxacillin or nafcillin to ensure optimal coverage for MSSA, group A streptococcus, and MRSA. In toxin-mediated or high-inoculum infections, the addition of clindamycin may be beneficial due to protein synthesis inhibition. Typical IV dosing includes cefazolin 100 to 150 milligrams per kilogram per day divided every eight hours; oxacillin or nafcillin 150 to 200 milligrams per kilogram per day divided every six hours; clindamycin 30 to 40 milligrams per kilogram per day divided every six to eight hours; and vancomycin 15 milligrams per kilogram every six hours for serious infections, with appropriate monitoring. Ceftaroline or daptomycin may be considered in select MRSA cases when first-line agents are unsuitable. For methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, first-generation cephalosporins or antistaphylococcal penicillins remain the preferred parenteral agents. For oral therapy, high-dose cephalexin, 75 to 100 milligrams per kilogram per day divided every six hours, is preferred. Clindamycin is an alternative when beta-lactams cannot be used. For clindamycin-susceptible MRSA, clindamycin is the preferred IV and oral agent due to excellent bioavailability and bone penetration, and it avoids the renal toxicity associated with vancomycin. For clindamycin-resistant MRSA, vancomycin or ceftaroline are preferred IV agents. Oral options are limited, and linezolid is generally the preferred oral agent when transition is possible. Daptomycin may be used parenterally in children older than one year without pulmonary involvement, typically with infectious diseases and pharmacy input. Beta-lactams remain the drugs of choice for Kingella kingae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Vancomycin has no activity against Kingella, and clindamycin is often ineffective. For Salmonella osteomyelitis, typically seen in children with sickle cell disease, third-generation cephalosporins or fluoroquinolones are used. In underimmunized children under four years, consider Haemophilus influenzae type b, with therapy guided by beta-lactamase production. Doxycycline has not been prospectively studied in pediatric acute hematogenous osteomyelitis. There are theoretical concerns about reduced activity in infected bone and risks related to prolonged therapy. While short courses are safe for certain infections, the longer durations required for osteomyelitis increase the risk of adverse effects. Doxycycline should be considered only when no other active oral option is available, typically in older children, and with infectious diseases consultation. It is not appropriate for routine treatment. Many hospitals automatically consult orthopedics when children are admitted with osteomyelitis, and this is appropriate. Early orthopedic consultation should be viewed as team-based care, not failure of medical management. Consult orthopedics when MRI shows abscess or extensive disease, there is concern for septic arthritis, the child fails to improve within 48 to 72 hours, imaging suggests devitalized bone or growth plate involvement, there is a pathologic fracture, the patient is a neonate, or diagnostic bone sampling or operative drainage is being considered. Routine surgical debridement is not required for uncomplicated cases. Infectious diseases consultation is also often automatic and supported by guidelines. ID is particularly valuable for antibiotic selection, dosing, IV-to-oral transition, duration decisions, bacteremia management, adverse reactions, and salvage regimens. Even in straightforward cases, ID involvement often facilitates shorter IV courses and earlier oral transition. Osteomyelitis is generally not contagious, and clustering is uncommon for Staphylococcus aureus. Kingella kingae is the key exception. It colonizes the oropharynx of young children and spreads via close contact. Clusters of invasive Kingelladisease have been documented in daycare settings. Suspicion should be higher in children six to 36 months from the same daycare, with recent viral illness, mild systemic symptoms, refusal to bear weight, modest CRP elevation, and negative routine cultures unless PCR testing is used. Public health intervention is not typically required, but awareness is critical. There is no minimum required duration of IV therapy for uncomplicated acute hematogenous osteomyelitis. Transition to oral therapy should be based on clinical improvement plus CRP decline. Many children meet criteria within two to six days. Oral antibiotics must be dosed higher than standard outpatient regimens to ensure adequate bone penetration. Common regimens include high-dose cephalexin, clindamycin, or linezolid in select cases. The oral agent should mirror the IV agent that produced clinical improvement. Total duration is typically three to four weeks, and in many cases 15 to 20 days is sufficient. MRSA infections or complicated cases usually require four to six weeks. Early oral transition yields outcomes comparable to prolonged IV therapy with fewer complications. Most treatment-related complications occur during parenteral therapy, largely due to catheter-related issues. Take-home points: osteomyelitis in children is a clinical diagnosis supported by labs and MRI. Empiric antibiotics should be guided by age, illness severity, and local MRSA prevalence. Early transition to high-dose oral therapy is safe and effective when clinical response and CRP support it. Orthopedics and infectious diseases consultation improve care and reduce variation. FAST MRI is changing how we diagnose osteomyelitis. Daycare clustering is uncommon except with Kingella kingae. That's all for this episode. If there are other topics you'd like us to cover, let me know. If you have the time, leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people find the show and learn from it. For PEM Currents, this has been Brad Sobolewski. See you next time.    

Wait, Jeff Kent is a Hall of Famer? Our snowbirds discuss the rather lackluster winter meetings including the draft lottery, Rule 5 draft, and the size of Buster's suite. Later they break down the Giants approach to improving the roster and why Ben won't be able to dress up as the Black Power Ranger. Also, Jeff Kent makes the Hall of Fame and Marco Luciano is a Pirate.On the cocktail side of things, today Ben is drinking a Calamansi Margarita while Matthew is drinking a Holiday Old Fashioned. Recipes below.Calamansi Margarita2 oz Blanco Tequila1 oz Cointreau1 oz Calamansi Lime JuicePrepare a rocks glass with a salted rim, if desired. Combine the tequila, Cointreau and Calamansi lim juice in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.Holiday Old Fashioned2 oz Bourbon or Rye1/4 oz - 1/2 oz Spiced Demerara Syrup2 Dashes Angostura Bitters2 Dashes Orange Bitters1 Dash Chocolate BittersAdd all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass with a large cube. Garnish with a cocktail cherry and an orange peel.

Do you ever find yourself fighting against the moment? Sometimes the season we're in is not the one we would choose for ourselves. This can be especially difficult during the holidays, a time when we just want things to feel easy and merry. It's tempting to create an illusion, rather than looking at the moment for what it truly is. But what if laying bare the truth will actually set us free? Instead of wasting energy on conjuring a false reality this holiday, perhaps we can simply let it be… however that might look. As we walk through the rainy woods, consider the illusions in your life this season. What can you release to make space for a truer, more meaningful holiday this year? What am I reading?Sleigh Spells by Bella Fallshttps://bookshop.org/a/111301/9798561945052Don't Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is The Beginning & End Of Suffering by Joseph Nguyenhttps://bookshop.org/a/111301/9798893310153https://bookshop.org/shop/witchywomanwalkingWhat's playing on repeat?Let it Be by the Beatles What's for dinner?Sheet Pan GnocchiIngredients:1 pound potato gnocchi1 bunch broccolini1 pint cherry tomatoes½ small red onion, thinly sliced2 garlic cloves, sliced2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil½ teaspoon sea salt½ teaspoon fresh thyme ½ teaspoon za'atar¼ teaspoon red pepper flakesFreshly ground black pepper6 ounces feta cheeseFresh parsleyInstructionsPreheat the oven to 450°F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.In a large bowl, toss together the gnocchi, broccolini, cherry tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, thyme, za'atar, red pepper flakes, and several grinds of pepper. Spread evenly on the baking sheet.Roast for 10 minutes. Stir, then scatter the feta on top. Roast for 15 to 20 more minutes, or until the gnocchi is tender and the vegetables and feta are browned. Garnish with parsley, if desired. Season to taste and serve.https://www.loveandlemons.com/wprm_print/sheet-pan-gnocchiHealthy Peppermint Hot CocoaIngredients:2 cups cashew milk2 tablespoons cocoa powder2 Medjool dates2 drops of peppermint extract One tablespoon dark chocolate Coconut cream1 cup coconut milk1/2 teaspoon coconut sugar1/4 teaspoon vanillaOne pinch of saltInstructions:In a small pan, heat cashew milk and cocoa powder on low heat. Add Medjool dates cut in 2, then stir regularly. Turn off the stove, then add dark chocolate and peppermint extract and stir until smooth consistency.Pour in a blender, then mix for 1 minute until totally smooth.Beat coconut milk with vanilla and a pinch of salt. When it starts to foam, add coconut sugar and keep beating until it takes a firmer texture.Pour peppermint hot chocolate into 2 cups and serve with one dollop of coconut cream. Enjoy!Support the show

This slow-cooked lamb dish is a festive treat and it's super simple to make spectacular with a final flourish of pomegranate jewels and fresh herbs that make the whole thing feel properly celebratory. Ingredients 1 butterflied leg of lamb (1.6–2kg) 3–4 garlic cloves, slivered Zest and juice of 1 orange 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp runny honey 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp each ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika 1 tsp flaky sea salt Freshly ground black pepper 2 sprigs rosemary, finely chopped 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock ½ cup white wine (optional) To finish: Pomegranate seeds, mint leaves, flat-leaf parsley, extra orange zest Method Start by laying the lamb out flat and making small slits across the flesh so you can slip in those slivers of garlic. It's a tiny bit of extra effort but the flavour reward is enormous. In a small bowl whisk together the orange zest and juice, olive oil, honey, mustard, spices, salt, pepper and rosemary. Pour this over the lamb and give it a good massage so every little nook gets coated. If you've time to marinate it for a few hours or even overnight, do — the flavours deepen beautifully. When you're ready to cook, heat your oven to 170°C. Nestle the lamb into a roasting dish and pour any leftover marinade over the top. Add the stock and wine around the meat, then seal the whole dish tightly with foil. This is the trick to keeping the lamb meltingly tender. Slide it into the oven and leave it to slowly braise for about 2½ hours, checking halfway to make sure there's still a little liquid in the base. Once the lamb is lovely and soft, remove the foil and drain off some of the juices for a gravy. Increase the oven temperature to 200°C. Return the dish to the oven for 15 minutes so the edges caramelise and the top gets all sticky and gorgeous. Let the lamb rest for a good 15-20 minutes on a board or plate before slicing or pulling it into big, rustic chunks — it will be fall-apart tender. Pour the reserved pan juices back into the roasting dish. Mix 1 heaped tbsp of flour with some 2 tsps. soft butter to form a paste and add this to the roasting dish. Stir and simmer until it thickens a little for a gravy. To serve, pile it onto a platter and scatter over pomegranate seeds, mint, parsley and a final grating of orange zest. Serve gravy on the side. The colours are pure Christmas and the flavour is sunshine on a plate. Pair it with simple greens or a herby summer salad. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Someone did a driveby on several inflatable Christmas yard decorations in New Hamphshire, Cheez-It-Crusted turkey legs will be available for sale at the upcoming Cheez-It Citrus Bowl game in Orlando, "Grandma got run over by a Brightline" float creates stir at Stuart Christmas parade

Can you be a Christian and not go to church? In this short Ask Dr. E episode, Dr. Michael Easley walks through Hebrews 10:19–25 to explain why the Christian life is designed to be lived together. Salvation is rooted in faith alone—yet the “one another” commands throughout the New Testament show why spiritual growth, encouragement, accountability, and service flourish inside the local church. Whether you're struggling with church hurt, drifted after the pandemic, or wondering if community is optional, this episode offers clarity and grace rooted in Scripture. Key Topics -Why church attendance isn't what saves you -How Hebrews 10 shapes the Christian's call to gather -The three exhortations: Draw near, Hold fast, Stir up -Why the “one another” life requires a local body -How your gifts matter to your church—and why you matter to them Chapters 00:00 – Why This Question Matters 00:25 – Can You Be a Christian and Not Go to Church? 01:00 – Post-Pandemic Drift & Distrust of Churches 01:45 – Hebrews 10:19–25 Explained 02:35 – Draw Near: Access Through Christ 03:10 – Hold Fast: Hope Anchored in Our High Priest 03:55 – Stir Up One Another: Love & Good Deeds 04:40 – What “Stimulate One Another” Really Means 05:20 – Why You Can't Live the Christian Life Alone 06:10 – “Not Forsaking Gathering Together” in Context 07:05 – The Power of the One-Another Commands 08:00 – Church vs. Mere “Community” 08:45 – Why the Local Church Needs You 09:20 – A Loving Push: Get Back to Church

Happy feast of Pope St. Damasus I! On today’s show, Matt Swaim welcomes Mike Aquilina to discuss the life and witness of one of the most influential popes of the early Church. Other guests include Rita Heikenfeld to discuss Rosemary on Bible Foods, and pastoral counselor Kevin Prendergast with tips on keeping a journal for prayer or personal growth. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… ***** Prayer of St. John Chrysostom O Lord Jesus Christ, open the eyes of my heart that I may hear your Word,and understand and do your will, for I am a sojourner upon the Earth.Hide not your commandments from me, but open my eyes, that I may perceive the wonders of your Law.Speak unto me the hidden and secret things of your wisdom.On you do I set my hope, O my God, that you shall enlighten my mind and understanding with the light of your knowledge; not only to cherish those things which are written, but to do them;For you are the enlightenment of those who lie in darkness, and from you comes every good deed and every gift. Amen. ***** John Knutsen and the Retirement Fund for Religious are online at retiredreligious.org. ***** RECIPES FROM RITA: GOAT CHEESE LOG WITH CRANBERRIES, PINE NUTS AND ROSEMARY The cranberries lend a sweetness to the pungent goat cheese. The nuts, herbs and pepper add more elements of flavor. Ingredients1 log, 8 oz., plain goat cheese/Chevre2 oz. cream cheese1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder or 1/2 teaspoon black pepper1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped fine2-3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted (toasting optional)Palmful fresh parsley, minced2-3 teaspoons fresh or dried rosemary, choppedCrackers, flat bread or French baguettesInstructionsMix goat, cream cheese and pepper together.Place on a square of plastic wrap and roll up, enclosing in plastic wrap as you go. Shape into a 7-8” log. This can be done a day ahead.Mix cranberries, nuts, parsley and rosemary together.Roll log in cranberry mixture, coating all sides and pressing gently to make mixture stick.Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or up to 12 hours. Serve with crackers or bread. Tip:Toast pine nuts in a dry, nonstick skillet over low heat for just a few minutes. Stir the nuts often, until you see little blotches of brown on them. Can’t seem to make a smooth log? After rolling in plastic wrap, place in a piece of paper towel cardboard insert cut to fit the roll. With a back and forth motion, continue to roll the log until smooth. BONUS RECIPE: GOAT CHEESE WITH SUNDRIED TOMATO TAPENADE Mix together, make a trough along the top of the goat cheese log (to hold the topping) and pour the mixture into the trough and over a log (6-8 oz) goat cheese: 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes1 tablespoon fresh rosemary1 Roma tomato, seeded and diced1/2 teaspoon minced garlic or more to taste1 tablespoon pine nuts (opt)1 tablespoon parsley, minced (opt)Olive oil – enough to make a nice topping – start with 2-3 tablespoonsServe with Baguette or crackers. ***** Full list of guestsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time to get sustainable with five fun and fascinating fast facts about plastic, an interview with Dr Charlotte Beloe, a scientist who knows a lot about microplastics in the ocean, and a cornflour bioplastic activity for you to try yourself at home.   Presented by Jenny Lynch and Matilda Sercombe. Written and produced by Jenny Lynch. Music by Purple Planet Music. Sound effects by Pixabay.   Creative Science: https://www.creativescience.com.au Facebook: @creativescienceaustralia Instagram: @creative_science_australia   Episode content: 00:00 Introduction and fast facts 03:26 Recycling plastic 05:14 Interview with Dr Charlotte Beloe 10:29 Bioplastic activity   Bioplastic activity instructions Ingredients: 1 tablespoon of cornflour, 4 tablespoons of water, 1 teaspoon of vinegar, ½ teaspoon of glycerine, and a few drops of food colouring. Kitchen equipment: a small saucepan, stove or hotplate, metal spoon for stirring, and a baking tray on a heat-proof surface.   Add all of the ingredients to the small saucepan and stir with the metal spoon until everything is well mixed. NOTE: An adult must assist with the next steps that involve heating the mixture on a stove or hotplate.   Stir the mixture over a medium heat and keep stirring with the metal spoon until the mixture starts to boil. Reduce the heat and keep heating and stirring for 2 or 3 minutes. Pour the hot mixture onto the baking tray and spread it out to make a thin sheet. Leave the sheet of bioplastic film to cool and dry for 1-2 days. The finished bioplastic film should be see-through and flexible.   This recipe can also be used to make moulded bioplastic shapes by pouring the hot mixture into silicone moulds (e.g. silicone ice-cube trays). The bioplastic in this activity is ‘compostable', which means it will break down in a compost heap or if it is buried in the ground.   Corn flour contains starch which is made up of ‘amylose' and ‘amylopectin' molecules which are both made up of glucose molecules. Heating corn flour with water causes some of the starch to form long chains. Vinegar affects the formation of the long chains. The glycerine acts as a ‘plasticiser' which is a chemical that can change the softness and pliability of a plastic. Changing the amount of glycerine in the recipe will change the properties of the bioplastic film.

This week on Marketing O'Clock: Google's latest test blends AI Overviews with AI Mode. Also, PMax reporting now reveals how Search Partner traffic performs.Nils Rooijmans - LinksFree Google Ads Scripts Library - The Ultimate List – Nils RooijmansMy Daily Newsletter with tips & tricks:https://nilsrooijmans.com/daily/Custom GPT: Google Ads Script Senseihttps://tinyurl.com/ScriptSenseiVisit us at - https://marketingoclock.com/

Season's Greetings dear listeners! We hope you find yourself enjoying these final weeks of 2025 and we are delighted to be a small part of that with a new episode for your ears. On this episode we revisited dead-end sequels, which is exactly like what it sounds like. A sequel that was the quick end of a potential franchise. This series frequently delivers some rough watches but occasionally the diamond in the rough as well. Wonder which happens this episode? Listen in as we examine at “Teen Wolf Too” (1987 – Vinny), “Stir of Echoes:The Homecoming” (2007 – Professor) and “Don't Breath 2” (2021 – Grizz). Available now on apple podcasts, Spotify and our blog. Thanks as always for sticking with us and Happy Holidays!

December is here! A time for holidays and merriment and… exhaustion? Even when we commit to a simple holiday season, it's easy to get run down and sluggish from the additional activities, heavy foods, and seasonal colds. But there are definitely things we can do to prioritize our well-being so that we can enter the holiday with vigor. Getting proper sleep, nourishment, fresh air, rest, and an extra dose of fermented foods, will help us fortify our systems this season. Join me in a new location as we reflect on ways to bring restorative rituals into our lives this holiday. What am I reading?Witches of Dubious Origin by Jenn McKinlayhttps://bookshop.org/a/111301/9780593819753The Little Book of Winter: A Cozy Guide to a Season of Comfort and Happiness by Brittany Viklundhttps://bookshop.org/a/111301/9781507224397https://bookshop.org/shop/witchywomanwalkingWhat's playing on repeat?Im Doing Fine by MarinoWhat's for dinner?Immune Boosting SoupIngredients:2 tbsp extra virgin oil1 large onion, diced3 large carrots, chopped2 parsnip or sweet potatoes 3 stalks celery, finely chopped6 cloves garlic minced2 tbsp fresh ginger, minced1 tsp dried turmeric¾ cup red lentils2 tbsp fresh parsley½ tsp sea salt, more to taste4 cups vegetable broth + 2 cup water2 cups kale or spinach, finely chopped1 small lemon, juicedInstructions:Warm olive oil in a large pot on medium heat. Once hot, add onion and sauté for 3 minutes.Add carrots, parsnips, and celery and sauté for another 5 minutes. Add garlic, turmeric, and ginger and sauté for 1 minute.Add broth, water, lentils, salt and several grinds of black pepper. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.Remove from heat. Stir in kale, parsley, and lemon juice. Cover and let greens steam for a few minutes. Season to taste (I did another ¼ tsp salt) and enjoy!Turmeric Orange Tea LatteIngredients:2 herbal tea bags (such as ginger tea, orange hibiscus, or herbal tea of choice)6 oz water10–12 ounces plant based milk1 teaspoon ground ginger1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided1 teaspoon whole cloves or 1/4 teaspoonground clovesPinch of nutmeg, optionalOptional pinch of black pepper for turmeric absorbency1/4 cup maple syrup or honeyJuice from 1 medium orangeInstructions:Steep the tea bags in 6 ounces water to ensure a highly concentrated tea.In a small pot, combine 10-12 ounces of coconut or almond milk with ginger, cloves, optional nutmeg, turmeric, pepper, cinnamon, maple syrup, orange juice, and optional coconut oil. Whisk the ingredients together.Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes to allow the spices to infuse and the maple syrup to dissolve. If desired, add vanilla extract and mix well.Strain the mixture to remove the cloves if you used whole cloves.Pour 2-3 ounces of the brewed concentrated tea into a cup.Whisk the golden milk (the mixture in the pot) again to create a frothy texture. Alternatively, you can use a frother.Pour ⅓ to ½ cup of the frothy golden milk over the tea to create a tea latte.Support the show

Whether we're talking bottles, books or bars, why is it that some may enjoy just a brief moment in the spotlight, while others continue to shine for years, decades or even centuries? In this episode we're celebrating creations that have done exactly that.Starting with spirits that continue to hit all the right notes with us. Of which we're highlighting three: an expression from Chivas Regal – the whisky founded over 100 years ago; followed by Tanqueray No. TEN gin, which has been around close on 25 years and Fords Gin, which may feel like a relative newcomer but has been making its mark since 2012.Our book is Harry's ABC of Mixing Cocktails, from the legendary bartender, Harry MacElhone, first published back in 1919. And for our bar, we visited The Martini Bar at Hawksmoor, St. Pancras. Yes, it's only been open a few weeks, but it is the latest offering from the Hawksmoor group which started life in Spitalfields back in 2006, and has been growing brilliantly ever since.This week's guests know a thing or two about longevity when it comes to bars. Roisin Stimpson and Edmund Weil founded the multi award-winning Nightjar, currently celebrating its 15th year, and, Swift about to mark 10 years in Soho. We chat with the husband-and-wife team about how they met, how they created their dream bar and how you need as much luck as intuition when starting a business.For more from The Cocktail Lovers, visit thecocktaillovers.comFor the products featured in this episode, see websites below:What we're drinking:Martini60ml Tanqueray No. TEN or Fords Gin20ml Dolin vermouth1 dash Australian Bitters Orange BittersLemon twist to garnishMethod:Chill Martini glasses in freezer. Stir all ingredients over ice. Pour into the chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.Chivas Regal 18Fords GinHarry's ABC of mixing cocktails by Harry McElhoneHawksmoor Martini BarNightjarTanqueray No. TEN GinThe Cocktail Lovers theme music is by Travis 'T-Bone' WatsonEdited by Christian Fox Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feeling stuck or overcomplicating your business? In this episode, Steve Kyles and Frank Garay break down what's actually working right now… and why building a consistent, simple system is all you need to succeed. Here's what you'll learn: • The 4 things every loan officer must have (hint: you already do) • How to build momentum with email, calls, and social… even if you're new • Real-life examples of what to say, send, and post • How to "stir the pot" daily to unlock new deals and referrals • Why the call is still the glue (and how to leave voicemails that convert) You don't need a new idea. You need to take daily action. Start with what you have. Stick to the basics. Stir the pot. Need help building your exact plan? Book a free strategy session at FreedomPlanningCall.com

Feeling stuck or overcomplicating your business? In this episode, Steve Kyles and Frank Garay break down what's actually working right now… and why building a consistent, simple system is all you need to succeed. Here's what you'll learn: • The 4 things every loan officer must have (hint: you already do) • How to build momentum with email, calls, and social… even if you're new • Real-life examples of what to say, send, and post • How to "stir the pot" daily to unlock new deals and referrals • Why the call is still the glue (and how to leave voicemails that convert) You don't need a new idea. You need to take daily action. Start with what you have. Stick to the basics. Stir the pot. Need help building your exact plan? Book a free strategy session at FreedomPlanningCall.com

A Cracked Christmas Carol, a radio play, was one of the first virtual productions produced by The Theater Project during the pandemic.  We invite you to enjoy listening to the show as a podcast or watching it on our website. To view it, go to:  www.TheTheaterProject.org/PodcastCredits:Audio Engineer Gary GlorOne Heartbeat Away is provided to The Theater Project by Gail Lou References:Lionel Barrymorehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_BarrymoreThe Vienna Boys Choirhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Boys%27_ChoirDavid Alberts (Playwright)https://www.playscripts.com/playwrights/bios/1405Gruel Recipe:  2 tablespoons ground oats (Scottish or steel-cut work well), 1 cup water or milk, pinch of salt. Optional: sugar, cream, cinnamon, or a splash of brandy for flavor. Instructions:Rub the oats with a little cold water to make a paste.Bring the remaining water or milk to a boil in a small pot.Stir in the oat paste and a pinch of salt.Simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes, or until it reaches the desired consistency.Season to taste with any optional ingredients.Gary Glor (Actor)https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-glor/Terri Sturtevant (Actor) https://www.facebook.com/terri.sturtevant/Ilana Beth Schimmel (Actor)https://www.ilanaschimmel.comLili Summer (Stage Manager)https://www.facebook.com/lili.summer.14/Andrew Falcon (Video Editor)https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-falcon-b26b54132/

Newly unsealed court documents claim Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman were unexpected bystanders to an alleged showdown between Ryan Reynolds and Justin Baldoni over rumored remarks about Blake Lively. At the same time, Hoda Kotb shocked viewers with a joyful Thanksgiving return to NBC’s parade broadcast, while Millie Bobby Brown clarified her relationship with David Harbour after reports she’d filed a bullying complaint before “Stranger Things” Season 5. Don't forget to vote in today's poll on Twitter at @naughtynicerob or in our Facebook group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 5 AM hour, Andrew Langer and Patrice Onwuka discussed: GUEST: State Sen. Chris Rose on Secession Push for Maryland and Virginia Counties STATE SPLIT: West Virginia Eyes MD/VA County Additions FEAST FREEBIE: Thanksgiving Meal Averages $55.18 ANIMAL ACTIVISM: PETA's Turkey-Free Holiday Push Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Audible and Spotify Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @JGunlock, @PatricePinkfile, and @HeatherHunterDC Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Website: WMAL.com/OConnor-Company Episode: Wednesday, November 26, 2025 / 5 AM HourSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fix Your Fantasy League's Biggest Problems with These Simple Strategies! Conflict Resolution, Collusion Prevention & Protecting League Integrity. Welcome to Episode 3 of the Footballguys Home League Show—your weekly guide to building fun, competitive, and connected fantasy football home leagues. Hosted by Kevin Murray (author of The Commissioner's Playbook) and Joey Wright (Footballguys Community Ambassador), this episode dives into one of the most important—and often overlooked—parts of running a successful league: conflict resolution, transparency, and league integrity. Fantasy football is full of highs, lows, big trades, heated chats, and unavoidable disagreements. Great leagues aren't the ones that avoid conflict—they're the ones that manage conflict well. Today, Kevin and Joey break down how commissioners and league members can protect fairness, reduce drama, avoid collusion, and strengthen trust all season long. League of the Week: The BPFL This week we spotlight the BPFL, commissioned by Billy Michalski. What started as a softball team's offseason hobby has evolved into a creative, high-engagement fantasy empire filled with traditions, identity, and league-wide pride. Highlights from BPFL: • 14-team, two-division format • Empire pot keeping long-term stakes high • Legendary draft days with full production value • Draft-order determination contests • Custom website using League Legacy • An emphasis on culture, transparency, collaboration, and connection The BPFL is a shining example of what great commissioners build: leagues with personality, pride, and long-lasting tradition. Learn more about League Legacy Websites: LeagueLegacyWebsites.com To submit your league for consideration: FBGCommish@Footballguys.com Commish Corner: Engagement in the Season of Apathy Right now is the stretch of the season where excitement peaks for some managers… and fades for others. Kevin and Joey share quick ways to re-ignite your league: • Drop memes, GIFs, and hype videos • Stir up storylines and rivalries • Create a "state of the league" update • Spotlight manager achievements • Spark discussion in the group chat Small touches often make the biggest cultural impact. Home League Huddle (Main Topic): Conflict Resolution & League Integrity Conflict is inevitable in fantasy football—trades, collusion suspicions, tanking concerns, commissioner decisions, and playoff implications all create friction. But great leagues use that friction to build stronger culture. In this episode, Kevin and Joey break down: • Why conflict management matters • How trust affects every league decision • Common sources of conflict • Preventing disputes before they start • Fair and transparent trade-review systems • Collusion-proofing your league • When (and when not) to intervene as commissioner • The "best interest of the league" clause • Healthy communication habits that sustain culture Kevin also shares an unforgettable real-life story—The Great Publix Trade Approval of 2013—and explains how a single misstep led him to create a formal league constitution. This episode shows why conflict doesn't have to break a league. When handled correctly, it builds connection, trust, and long-term stability. Last Place Lounge This week we review and rate four last-place punishments: • Street-corner costume sign • Paying next year's champion's dues • Recording a video apology • Losing a future draft pick Send in your league's punishments for a chance to be featured! Commish Hotline & Mailbag Have a question, conflict, story, dilemma, or hilarious league moment? Email us at FBGCommish@Footballguys.com and your submission may appear in a future episode. The Culture of Fantasy Kevin and Joey close with a reflection on how leagues grow through communication, trust, connection, and shared traditions. Next Week: How to keep your league engaged through the playoffs + creative playoff formats! Commissioner's Call to Action: Catch up on our earlier episodes, share a story with us, and take one action this week to spark engagement in your league. This is The Home League Show—your guide to building better leagues, stronger communities, and the most memorable fantasy football experience possible. Links & Resources: Footballguys Website https://www.footballguys.com The Commissioner's Playbook (by Kevin Murray) https://amzn.to/4nT7AvC The Audible https://www.footballguys.com/podcasts/show/theaudible The FBG Fantasy Football Show https://www.footballguys.com/podcasts/show/fbgffshow The FBG Dynasty Show https://www.footballguys.com/podcasts/show/dynastyshow

When hosting this holiday season, you need to know what's chic. You need to know what's classic. Annie and Hallie Meyers-Shyer know a thing or two about all of that, so Jordan and Max sit down with the sisters of Hollywood royalty to talk everything Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even some Hanukkah. What follows is an appetizer debate, a baked brie beatdown, a worse sweet potato casserole assault, Nancy Meyers' gravy recipe text (which we share below), and the French mashed potatoes to pour it all over. Plus, canned vs. homemade cranberry sauce, acceptable leftovers, the day after Meyers-Shyer sandwich, latke love, nog hate, the best sourdough loaf in LA, and was Jordan right or wrong about Max's Christmas tree? And as a holiday gift, enjoy Nancy Meyers' turkey gravy recipe as heard on the episode:  Make the Broth     1.    Cook the liver for the dog, or discard it.     2.    Place the giblets, neck, carrots, celery, onion, and water in a pot.     3.    Cook on a low flame for about 2 hours, covered. This becomes the beef broth for the gravy.     4.    Turn off the heat and let it sit. It should not look too watery. Prepare the Pan Juices     1.    When the turkey is done, remove it from the pan and place it on a cutting board.     2.    Pour all the juices from the pan into a fat separator.     3.    Remove the fat, then pour the juices back into the pan. Make the Gravy (over a medium/low heat)     1.    Add 1 cup of the broth you cooked earlier into the pan with the juices.     2.    Shake in a little Wondra flour to thicken the mixture.     3.    Sprinkle in dry sage.     4.    Add a pinch or two from one beef cube.     5.    Season with dry sage, salt, and pepper.     6.    Stir until the gravy reaches the consistency you like.

What happens when one hypnotic suggestion unlocks a nightmare you can't shake? This week, Jackie and Danielle dive back into the eerie, underrated world of Stir of Echoes, the 1999 supernatural thriller that deserved way more love than it got. From Kevin Bacon's unhinged electrician energy to ghostly clues, chaotic neighbors, and one very dramatic basement, the No More Late Fees duo is ready to break it all down with their signature nostalgic wit.In this episode, the ladies revisit the film's wild plot twists, behind-the-scenes trivia, and the horror-meets-small-town mystery that made Stir of Echoes stand out—despite being overshadowed by The Sixth Sense. They unpack sleepy Y2K memories, compare psychic kids across late-90s cinema, debate the film's surprisingly heavy themes, and revisit that unforgettable final act. Along the way, you'll hear character analysis, fandom hot takes, production facts, and plenty of Jackie-and-Danielle banter, including their love-hate relationship with the movie's whiny wife, spooky sister-in-law, and OJ-obsessed Tom. Whether you're rewatching the film or discovering it for the first time, this episode brings all the creepy, funny, nostalgic vibes straight from your old Blockbuster nights.If you enjoy the show, don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! Your support helps keep the late-fees nostalgia alive and ensures we can keep covering your favorite Y2K-era movies every week.Keywords: Stir of Echoes podcast, 1999 horror review, Kevin Bacon movies, supernatural thriller discussion, Richard Matheson adaptation, 90s movie nostalgia, horror podcast recap, No More Late Fees podcast, Y2K movie review, ghost story analysis, behind-the-scenes movie trivia, psychological horror breakdown·Season 5 Episode 28·—No More Late Fees ⁠https://nomorelatefeespodcast.com⁠909-601-NMLF (6653)—Follow Us on Social:Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/nomorelatefees TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@nomorelatefees Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/nomorelatefeesYoutubehttps://www.youtube.com/@nomorelatefees Twitterhttps://x.com/NoMoreLateFees —CONQUERing⁠⁠myconquering.com⁠⁠10% Off Code: JACKIE10—DescriptCreator Plan 50% off 2 monthshttps://descript.cello.so/zp4OQqeIMdq

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Kyle Tucker vs Cody Bellinger, Grisham takes his offer, Cam Skattebo angers WFAN hosts, and much more