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In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I'm joined by Sabryna for a powerful and emotional account of her first birth. Her story began with an itch in her third trimester and escalated into a life-threatening emergency for both her and her daughter. What unfolded was a series of missed diagnoses, medical dismissal, and a traumatic delivery that included an emergency C-section, undiagnosed preeclampsia, a NICU stay due to a rare heart condition.With vulnerability and insight, Sabryna walks us through the heartbreak of being ignored by her care team, the fear of not knowing if her baby would survive, and the heavy mental toll that followed. She also shares the healing journey that came later, including a redemptive second birth experience and the importance of finding a provider who truly listens.This conversation is a testament to the strength of self-advocacy and the power of feeling seen, heard, and safe in your care.What You'll Hear in This Episode:⚠️ The early warning signs of cholestasis and why no one acted

Get the latest equipment financing and industry updates from today's returning guest, James Currier of Finloc! James shares what Ontario is facing that affects freight volumes, the impact of frequent tariff announcements and geopolitical tensions, the overall market volatility, and the importance of preparing for cyclical economic changes!    About James Currier James Currier is the Chief Revenue Officer at Finloc USA, where James leads the sales team across the country in a relentless pursuit for increased market share in the equipment finance field. After starting his professional career as a Business Analyst in the healthcare field, James came to realize that his passions were best suited to dealing with people and organizations aiming for growth. After a two year contract was completed with Fraser & Interior Health Authorities in British Columbia, a career change ensued and James has not looked back since. Combining the analytical fundamentals learned in healthcare and a natural gravitation towards people and business development, James has thrived in a sales career since 2012, leading, managing, and training dozens of people over the past several years. Subsequent to the completion of a >$400MM acquisition at his previous company, James made the jump to Finloc where he was first tasked with hiring and redeveloping the Ontario, Canada market. James was then assigned to manage the US division for Finloc as a player/coach, originating new asset-based financing opportunities and finding, attracting, and training new talent. James has worked in an exceptionally diverse range of roles since the age of 15, starting as a minor hockey league referee. His openness to new experience has allowed James to experience positions as a head of high-profile security, high-adventure whitewater rafter guide, Corporal in the Canadian Armed Forces Infantry Reserve, business analyst, VIP/Private security operative, personal support worker, guitar teacher, and sales leader. As a well-versed hobbyist who enjoys learning and new experiences, James enjoys coaching/playing/watching hockey, swimming, guitar, hunting, fly fishing, boating/canoeing, cycling, hiking, woodworking, motorcycling, reading, DIY projects, and evening walks with his wife, 2 boys, and golden retriever.   Connect with James LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-currier-clfp-232b0842/?originalSubdomain=ca  Email: james.currier@finloc.com  

Lama Zopa Rinpoche begins this session with an analysis of how the mind labels phenomena using the example of the letter ‘M'. He shows how M came from our mind because it's imputed by the mind. Rinpoche explains that there is no outside creator; the creator is your mind. Rinpoche says that until your mind labels a problem, there is no appearance of a problem. The problem only comes into existence after your mind labels it. To illustrate, Rinpoche uses the example of patience. If we label someone who harms us as a teacher of patience, there's no problem. We would only see them as beneficial and kind. However, if we lack patience and put a negative label on the person who is harming us, anger arises. We would see that person as totally bad, whereas with patience, we see them as the most precious one in our life.Rinpoche invites a discussion on this topic by posing the question: “Is the M in the mind or outside?” This stimulates a discussion on whether the base and the label are inside or outside the mind. Rinpoche also asks: “When you go shopping, is the department store in your mind or not?”Rinpoche ends by highlighting that just as the M is in the mind, then it's the same thing when you go shopping. The shopkeepers, the department store, the whole building, all the billions of things would be in your mind. Everything comes from the mind.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Receipt of addiction treatment after nonfatal opioid overdose and risk of subsequent overdose: A retrospective cohort study Drug and Alcohol Dependence People who experience a nonfatal opioid overdose are at increased risk of subsequent overdose but is also a potential moment to intervene. In this cohort study, they used statewide data from Connecticut to assess differences in overdose outcomes in the year following a nonfatal overdose by treatment type received. Overall, 56% of patients received no treatment, while 35% received medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) (25% buprenorphine and 11% methadone) and 21% received inpatient treatment (detox and/or extended inpatient). Both methadone (aHR=0.41) and buprenorphine (aHR=072) were associated with decrease in subsequent overdose, whereas neither detox nor prolonged inpatient treatment were associated with decreased overdose. These findings further support the importance of MOUD and the need to increase access to treatment in this high-risk population.   Read this issue of the ASAM Weekly Subscribe to the ASAM Weekly Visit ASAM

Lama Zopa Rinpoche continues the discussion from the previous session about his pen-pal when he was in Buxa, Rachel Levi (a member of the Buddhist Society in London). Rinpoche recalls his dream about receiving a letter when she passed away. Although they didn't meet, when Rinpoche was in London, he met her niece. When the niece's husband passed away, an extensive puja was offered at Manjushri Institute. This made the niece very happy. Rinpoche highlights that it's important for centers to do pujas, as much as possible, when somebody connected to the center has passed away. He describes the types of practices that can be done, such as the Medicine Buddha puja and the King of Prayers.In preparation for death, Rinpoche advises those who have taken Highest Tantra initiation and done the enabling retreat to do self-initiation. He says this is best done daily. He also mentions how he read the Heruka middle version self-initiation to Lama Yeshe while he was passing away.Rinpoche discusses the powerful purification of reciting the names of the Thirty-five Buddhas and combining this with prostrations. He says this purifies many eons of negative karma, so you don't have to experience the four suffering results. In the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition, this is a very important daily practice. Rinpoche gives specific details about how to do the practice. He also describes how to do the Vajrasattva purification meditation by combining it with circumambulation. Rinpoche says that you collect unbelievable merit by circumambulating.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

We are back, at long last, after a lengthy break, with a new Domain Query podcast. Once again, we are answering a question from LRFotS Randale6, who draws an intriguing parallel between the current, parlous, state of the FUSA, and the old Byzantine Empire. Our friend argues that, like the Byzantines, the descendants of the Americans may find themselves one day surrounded by foreigners, speaking the languages of those foreigners, treating the English language (and the inheritance given to them by their English and European ancestors) as barbarous relics: As the west declines and dies I am struck by an eerie parallel between the USA and Byzantium. If I remember correctly it was the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos who said words to the effect of "Latin is the language of barbarians". America I think is heading for the same fate, like the Eastern Romans we are increasingly finding ourselves surrounded by another group (for them it was the native Greeks). This group being primarily Latin American, typical on the mestizo side of the racial scale. Eventually I suspect the outcome will be the same, as the Eastern Romans became the Byzantines (Latin overtaken by Greek) we will become the Neo-Byzantines. We may "live on" as a polity, but we will not be the same. I am personally not sure what to make of this, it certainly seems preferable to collapse but... Will our descendants eventually mutter the words (in Spanish), "English is a foreigner's tongue"? Will this transfigured nation continue descending into decadence or will it give rise to renewal (with a distinctly Latin tinge)? As the USA before this change was the second coming of Northern Europe will this future USA be the New Southern Europe? Will we inherit the same toxic politics and power struggles from the former USA (much as Byzantium inherited the Roman Empire's political intrigues)? Your thoughts on this Didact? I went through this at some length, first by looking at the history behind the (supposed) statement of Michael VIII Palaiologos. (I'm not saying he didn't say it, I just cannot confirm it, as I am not historian enough to do so.) Then, I looked at the way the FUSA is likely to devolve and split apart, and I argued that Amerikhastan will break up into multiple nations – at least one of which will be a majority-White, majority-Christian, English-speaking country, in which aberrations and psychoses like Mohammedanism and the LGBTQWTFISTHISSHIT degeneracy, will be outlawed on pain of death. This is not merely something spawned out of my fevered brain. My own reading into and around the coming breakup of the FUSA, have led me to think that the future of the FUSA will NOT be quite as dire as what our friend predicts. It will likely be much more like what we saw in South Africa under apartheid – which is NOT a justification of that system – or Rhodesia, in which White Christians find a way to build and maintain a beacon of civilisation, in the midst of savagery and darkness around them, by rediscovering their core and roots. Note that I recorded this yesterday, before I saw how badly the riots in Clownipornia had spun out of control, and before I learned about the activation of the National Guard and the US Marines to go stomp on the rioters. Subsequent events lend, in my view, a certain authenticity and validity to the things I have described in this podcast. Reading List Victoria: A Novel of 4th Generation War by William S. Lind The Coming Civil War by Tom Kawczynski Support the War College If you like what I do, and you would like to express your appreciation, please feel free to do so here via my Buy Me a Coffee page. All funds go to upkeep of the site and podcast (well, whatever is left over after buying good Scotch, obviously…) Protect Yourself From Big Tech I make some pretty incendiary statements in this podcast, and in most of my podcasts. I can only do so because I take steps to protect myself from the Big Tech companies, and preserve my identity. You need to do the same – this is no longer optional, because if you don't, the gatekeepers WILL come for your head. If you don't know where to start, then I've got you covered right here with this post. Here are the specific steps that you can take: Make sure that your web traffic is safe and protected from prying eyes using a VPN – click here to get a massive 80% OFF on a 24-month subscription with Surfshark; Be sure also to check out Incogni, the new data and privacy management tool offered by Surfshark, which simply works behind the scenes to ensure that no malign actors can take advantage of your data ever again; Another solid VPN option for you is Atlas VPN, brought to you by the same company that creates NordVPN; The best SSD drive that you can get right now, with blazing fast speeds and near-native storage capabilities, is probably the SanDisk Extreme 1TB Portable SSD with NVMe technology – I bought this myself to keep a moving backup of all of my files, it's the size of a credit card, and it's absolutely superb; Build Your Platform Get yourself a proper domain for your site or business with Namecheap; Put your site onto a shared hosting service using A2Hosting for the fastest, most secure, and stable hosting platform around – along with unlimited email accounts of unlimited size; Create beautiful websites with amazing, feature-rich content using Divi from Elegant Themes; Stand for Western Civilisation Buy yourself a proper Bible; Get your Castalia Library books here; Buy yourself a proper knife for personal defence;

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Lama Zopa Rinpoche says that the reason to have meetings is to help with wisdom. Many people have different ideas, so that helps generate a broader view.Rinpoche talks about the importance of Sangha as role models. He says learning the words is incredible, but without practice, it's like a tape-recorder. When someone has meditated on lamrim, they can teach with experience.Rinpoche introduces the main topic of discussion about caring for aged Sangha by suggesting that there should be several places organized in different countries rather than only one place. He then invites people to express their ideas. Eecie Hursthouse (director of Amitabha Hospice Service) discusses the three different needs of elderly Sangha (spiritual, physical, and social needs). Mary, a district nurse, talks about her experiences and the aged care support services available in Australia. Ven. Roger Kunsang talks about his preference to die alone. Ven. Tardo expresses her agreement with Ven. Roger. Ven. Yeshe Khadro gives some examples of people who have died and their experiences. Ven. Chonyi talks about the enormous variation in what people want when they're dying and the need for financial support. Ven. Lhundrup agrees with Ven. Roger and talks about the building facilities that older Sangha may require. Ven. Pende discusses the building facilities at Nalanda Monastery for the purpose of supporting aged Sangha. Several other speakers contribute to the discussion by sharing their personal experiences and suggestions.Following this, Rinpoche gives a presentation about how to have a peaceful death. He illustrates the importance of Dharma practice for a peaceful death by sharing several personal stories, including stories about Gen Jampa Wangdu and his realizations. Rinpoche says that protecting our karma during our lifetime is what makes death peaceful and fearless. Protecting our karma means not harming other sentient beings. Thus, the best preparation for death is to practice the good heart in everyday life.Rinpoche concludes by reminding students to meditate on how everything comes from the mind. This understanding will then lead to knowledge of what is a false view and what is a correct view. Rinpoche emphasizes that this is an extremely important meditation for both old and new students.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Fred Davidson, President and CEO of Impact Silver (TSX.V:IPT – OTCQB:ISVLF), joins me to outline the key takeaways from the Q1 2025 financial and operations, and provides an update on the current production and exploration upside at the Zacualpan Silver-Gold District, as well as the Plomosas Zinc-Lead-Silver Mine in Chihuahua, Mexico.   The Company reported revenue of $10.7 million for Q1 2025, more than double the $5.3 million reported in Q1 2024. This significant increase was driven by the commencement of new production at the Plomosas mine and higher commodity prices. EBITDA for Q1 2025 was $1.0 million, marking a strong recovery from the negative $3.6 million in Q1 2024. Net loss for the quarter was $0.1 million, a notable improvement compared to the net loss of $4.4 million in the same period last year. This reflects a substantial year-over-year improvement, as inflationary pressures on costs eased and commodity prices remained strong, supported by a higher aggregate production volume. At quarter-end, the Company had $6.6 million in cash and no structured debt.   Fred also unpacked that in 2024, the Company revised its accounting policies for early-stage exploration. This change has been applied retrospectively, resulting in $0.8 million in exploration costs being expensed in Q1 2025 and $1.2 million in Q1 2024. Subsequent to quarter-end, the Company announced an equity financing of up to $5.0 million.   With regards to all the exploration initiatives for this year, we kick things off with opportunities to keep exploring deeper underground for more high-grade zinc, lead, and silver at the Plomosas Mine.  Fred also points out that there is a new area of interest nearby that is more endowed with gold and copper mineralization, and that will be getting some upcoming surface drilling.   Shifting over to the Zacualpan Silver-Gold District the Company has 4 underground mines and 1 open-pit mine all feeding into the Guadalupe processing plant.  Fred and I review exploration targets at the new Kena Discovery at the Guadalupe Mine, the San Ramon Deeps and San Ramon South area at the San Ramon Mine, both a gold-rich and a silver-rich vein respectively at the Alacran Mine, some silver targets like San Antonio at the Mina Grande Mine, and a few target like Carlos Pacheco and Chapanial at the Valley de Oro exploration area.    We wrap up having Fred outline that the purpose of the recent $5million capital raise is to accelerate all this exploration efforts at both district-scale properties, looking for areas to exploit with mining, and eventually growth the production profile.     If you have any follow up questions for Fred about Impact Silver, then please email me at  Shad@kereport.com.   In full disclosure, Shad is a shareholder of Impact Silver at the time of this recording.   Click here to visit the Impact Silver website and read over the recent news out of the Company.

Akiba Leisman, President and CEO of Mako Mining (TSX.V:MKO – OTCQX:MAKOF), joins us to review the Q1 financial and operations results from the San Albino Mine in Nicaragua, along with some ongoing residual leaching during the period from the recently acquired Moss Mine in Arizona.  We also unpack the anticipated mining to begin at the Moss Mine later this month in June, and what to anticipate for the several months of ramp up of increased production.  Additionally, we delve into the next key steps for derisking and development work at the Eagle Mountain Gold Project in Guyana to be in production there about 2 years out.   This is a longer-format interview where we get into many nuances of operations in all 3 jurisdictions.   The Company's financial results for Q1 2025 reflect record gold sales from its San Albino and Moss Mine of $31.8 million (vs. $19.2 million in Q1 2024), which generated $19.9 million in Mine Operating Cash Flow, $16.1 million in Adjusted EBITDA, and $9.4 million in Net Income. The Company sold 10,817 oz of gold at an average price of $2,915/oz with a $1,239 Cash Cost and $1,411 All-In Sustaining Cost ("AISC") ($/oz sold). Subsequent to March 31, 2025 Mako delivered the final installment of 13,500 oz of silver on the Sailfish Silver Loan.     Q2 2025 (through May 31st) - Mako Mining Financial Highlights   $25.1 million in Revenue from 7,409 oz of gold at $3,327/oz and 13,529 oz of silver at $33.03/oz $22.0 million in Cash and Receivables and $3.3 million in Restricted Cash (50% will become unrestricted in June 2025)   There is also a substantial exploration program underway all around the San Albino Project in Nicaragua, around the San Albino Mine, as the Las Conchitas concessions, and of particular interest at the El Golfo concessions. Drill hole EJ25-RC53 at El Golfo intersected a wide, high-grade interval of 39.15 g/t Au and 27.8 g/t Ag over 8.0 m (5.9 m ETW), 19.2 m below surface.    Akiba points out that the Moss mine has been producing gold the last few month through residual leaching at its beneficiation facilities, but their team is going to start mining again starting at the end of June, and then it will take several months for new materials moved onto the leach pads to charge up increased production again. A technical report is slated to be put out later in the year around September, after a few months of ramping up mining and assessing the resources in place. When the Moss Mine has been debottlenecked over time from a mining and permitting perspective and is producing at the grade and rate they believe is possible,  it could almost double their current production profile with approximately another 40,000 ounces of gold production per year out of Arizona.   Mako is also currently derisking their Eagle Mountain project in Guyana, and working on the next key deliverable of an agreement between the government and local stakeholders, and doing all the background environmental and engineering work to being the process for their EIA permit.  Once it is received back and a construction decision is made, there will be roughly a 1 year build, and then production is slated for Q2 of 2027 at an estimated 65,000 ounces per year.  When this added to the production out of Nicaragua and Arizona there is clear line of sight to growing into a mid-tier gold producer.     If you have any further questions for Akiba regarding Mako Mining, then please email them into us at either Fleck@kereport.com or  Shad@kereport.com.     In full disclosure, Shad is a shareholder of Mako Mining at the time of this recording and may choose to buy or sell more shares at any time.   Click here for a summary of the recent news out of Mako Mining.

  Last time we spoke about China's preparations for War. In December 1936, the tension in China reached a boiling point as Nationalist General Chiang Kai-shek was captured by his own commanders, Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng. Disillusioned by Chiang's focus on fighting communists instead of the encroaching Japanese forces, the generals sought a unified response to Japanese aggression. After being held in Xi'an, Chiang reluctantly agreed to collaborate with the Chinese Communist Party, marking a significant shift in strategy against Japan. Amidst the rising chaos, Chiang's government reviewed historical military strategies and prepared for a prolonged conflict. However, they faced challenges, including inadequate supplies and a lack of modern equipment compared to the Japanese. By 1937, China was ill-prepared for war, with Chiang later expressing regret about their military readiness. Despite these setbacks, the alliance formed with the communists laid a foundation for a united Chinese front against the brutalities of the Sino-Japanese War that would follow.   #153 Japan Prepares for War Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. So in the last episode we talked about how China was preparing itself for war, now its time for Japan. Since Japan's invasion of North China, Japanese field armies had promoted a series of autonomous zones in northern China. Officers from the Kwantung Army, skeptical of China's capacity to modernize, believed that the vast region would inevitably fragment into regional factions. This policy effectively maintained a weak and divided China, which served Japan's to defend Manchukuo. However many Japanese military leaders frequently pointed to the threat posed by the KMT's five-year plan, initiated in 1933 with assistance from German military advisors, aimed at modernizing and expanding the national army. To counter what they perceived as a Chinese threat, the field armies advocated for a preemptive war to dismantle Chiang Kai-shek's regime. Any attempt by Tokyo to alter the military's China policy faced vigorous opposition from the Kwantung Army, which, in February 1937, pushed for intensified covert actions to expel the KMT from northern China and supported a preemptive war to secure strategic areas for future operations against the Soviet Union. At a March meeting in Tokyo, staff officers from the China Garrison and Kwantung armies insisted that any concessions to China would be a grave mistake and would likely yield only temporary outcomes. In early spring 1937, Prince Konoe Fumimaro inherited a China policy fraught with competing views, however, there was consensus that China must not distract the empire from its preparations against the USSR. The end goal was clear, but the means to achieve it remained uncertain. The cabinet's approval of the "Fundamentals of National Policy" in August 1936 indicated a need for stability as the army and navy reconfigured Japan's war machine. The challenge lay in aligning long-term strategic goals with practical short-term interests in northern China without upsetting the existing balance of power. Expanding demands propelled the army's contingency planning, which had traditionally focused on safeguarding Japanese interests and the approximately 13,000 Japanese citizens residing in the region. Tokyo typically responded to serious incidents by deploying troops from homeland garrisons to address localized emergencies and then withdrawing them. However, by the mid-1930s, the growing Soviet threat to Manchukuo rendered this doctrine obsolete. Incidents in northern China gained strategic importance as they diverted resources from the Kwantung Army's preparations against the Soviet Union. Disruptions in northern China hindered access to essential raw materials necessary for army modernization and rearmament, while hostile Chinese forces threatened the Kwantung Army's strategic left flank in the event of war with the Soviets. With these considerations in mind, the army revised its operational war plans, assuming that northern China would serve as Japan's strategic rear area for operations against the USSR. In 1911 Japan's plan for general war mandated thirteen divisions to occupy southern Manchuria, capture Beijing, and subsequently occupy Zhejiang and Fujian. Limited contingency operations in northern China required two divisions to secure rail communications from Beijing to the coast. In the weeks following the 1931 Manchurian Incident, the General Staff in Tokyo drafted plans to counter a Sino-Soviet alliance, anticipating a 2 month campaign involving 15-16 divisions, with the majority engaged against the Soviet Red Army. 2 divisions were designated to secure northern China, while smaller units would monitor the Inner Mongolian front to protect Japan's western flank in Manchuria. After further refinement, the General Staff identified three contingencies for China in early 1932: maintaining the traditional mission of safeguarding Japanese interests and citizens with a standard two-division force; ensuring a secure line of communication between the Chinese capital and the sea with the China Garrison Army, which consisted of approximately 1,700 officers and men, reinforced by one division; and, in a worst-case scenario of all-out war, deploying three divisions to reinforce the Kwantung Army, along with 7 additional divisions and 3 cavalry brigades to suppress resistance in northern China and the Shandong Peninsula, while two additional divisions secured key areas in central China. Between 1932-1936, China received less attention as the General Staff focused on the Soviet military buildup in the Far East. Anxiety, stemming from the Soviet buildup in the Far East, was a pervasive concern reflected in the draft rearmament plan submitted to the throne on May 21, 1936, as part of the national budget formulation process. The army proposed countering the Soviet threat by enhancing Japanese strategic mobility in Manchukuo through the renovation and expansion of airfields, ports, roads, and rail infrastructure, and by constructing army air force arsenals, storage depots, and medical facilities. The positioning of Japanese divisions in eastern Manchuria suggested their wartime objectives, with the Kwantung Army relying on a mobile independent mixed brigade composed of armored car and mounted cavalry units stationed in Gongzhuling, central Manchuria, as its immediate response force for contingencies in northern China. Major units were not concentrated in western Manchuria, where they would be expected to deploy before any planned invasion of northern China. Nevertheless, General Staff planners remained vigilant regarding developments in China, where the resurgence of nationalism, Communist movements advancing north of the Yellow River in February 1936, and the spread of anti-Japanese sentiments across northern China raised the specter of limited military operations escalating into full-scale warfare. China's improving military capabilities would likely hinder Japanese forces from accomplishing their objectives. For example, around Shanghai, Chinese defenses were bolstered by extensive, in-depth, and permanent fortifications. In mid-September 1936, the General Staff in Tokyo issued orders to preempt significant outbreaks in northern China by repositioning a division in Manchukuo closer to the boundary. If hostilities broke out, the China Garrison Army, supported by Kwantung Army units, would launch punitive operations against Chinese forces as necessary. Higher headquarters expected local commanders to act swiftly and decisively, employing rapid maneuvers and shock tactics to address outbreaks with minimal force. Given that no alternative responses were considered, Japanese operational planning for northern China relied on an all-or-nothing approach to force deployment, even for minor incidents. Yet, the senior leadership of the army remained deeply divided over its China policy. Influenced by Ishiwara, the General Staff wanted to avoid military actions that could lead to a full-scale war with China, focusing instead on advancing the army's extensive rearmament and modernization program. In contrast, a majority of high-ranking officers in the Army Ministry and General Staff, particularly within the 2nd Operations Section and the Kwantung Army, favored forceful action against China, believing it necessary to quell rising anti-Japanese sentiments. Drawing from past experiences, these officers anticipated that the Chinese would quickly capitulate once hostilities commenced. This lack of a unified military strategy reflected broader disagreements among the army's leadership regarding operations in China. While operational planning called for the permanent occupation of large regions in northern and central China, the General Staff aimed to contain outbreaks to maintain focus on Soviet threats. There was a clear absence of long-term operational planning; instead, the army concentrated on initial battles while relegating planning for prolonged combat operations to contingent circumstances. In summary, the Japanese army preferred to avoid military force to address Chinese issues whenever feasible but was equally unwilling to concede to Chinese demands. Since 1914, Tosui Koryo or “Principles of Command” had served as the foundational doctrine for senior Japanese army commanders and staff officers engaged in combined arms warfare at the corps and army levels. The advent of new weapons, tactics, and organizational changes during World War I compelled all major military forces to reassess their existing military doctrines across strategic, operational, and tactical dimensions. In response, Japan modified the Principles of Command to blend its traditional post-Russo-Japanese War focus on the intangible factors in battle with the newest concepts of modern total war. A revision in 1918 recognized the significance of “recent great advances in materiel” for total warfare, yet it maintained that ultimate victory in battle relied on dedication, patriotism, and selfless service. In the 1920s, the General Staff's Operations Section, led by Major General Araki Sadao, who would become the leader of the Kodoha faction, had produced the most significant and impactful revision of the Principles. A staunch anti-communist and ideologue who valued the intangible elements of combat, Araki appointed Lieutenant Colonel Obata Toshishiro and Captain Suzuki Yorimichi as the principal authors of the manual's rewrite. Obata, a Soviet expert, was strongly influenced by German General Count Alfred von Schlieffen's classic theories of a “war of annihilation,” while Suzuki, the top graduate of the thirtieth Staff College class, shared Araki's focus on “spiritual” or intangible advantages in warfare. Both men were brilliant yet arrogant, working in secrecy to create a doctrine based on what Leonard Humphreys describes as “intense spiritual training” and bayonet-led assaults to counter the opponent's material superiority.  The latest version of the Principles of Command preserved the operational concept of rapid Japanese mobile offensive operations, aiming to induce a decisive battle or “kaisen” early in the campaign. It reaffirmed the sokusen sokketsu or “rapid victory' principle of rapid warfare. Attaining these goals relied exclusively on offensive action, with the army expecting commanders at all levels to press forward, defeat enemy units, and capture key territories. The troops were indoctrinated with a spirit of aggression and trained to anticipate certain victory. The emphasis on offensive action was so pronounced that Araki eliminated terms like surrender, retreat, and defense from the manual, believing they negatively affected troop morale. This aggressive mindset also infused the Sento Koryo or “Principles of Operations”, first published in 1929 as a handbook for combined arms warfare tailored for division and regimental commanders. The manual emphasized hand-to-hand combat as the culminating stage of battle, a principle regarded as unchanging in Japanese military doctrine since 1910. Senior commanders were expected to demonstrate initiative in skillfully maneuvering their units to encircle the enemy, setting the stage for climactic assaults with cold steel. Infantry was deemed the primary maneuver force, supported by artillery. To complement rapid infantry advances, the army developed light and mobile artillery. Operationally, encirclement and night attacks were vital components of victory, and even outnumbered units were expected to aggressively envelop enemy flanks. In assaults against fortified positions, units would advance under the cover of darkness, avoiding enemy artillery fire and positioning themselves for dawn attacks that combined firepower with shock action to overwhelm enemy defenses. In encounters with opposing forces, commanders would maneuver to flank the enemy, surround their units, and destroy them. If forced onto the defensive, commanders were expected to seize opportunities for decisive counterattacks to regain the initiative. These high-level operational doctrines were distilled into tactical guidelines in the January 1928 edition of the Infantry Manual or “Hohei Soten”, which saw a provisional revision in May 1937 . Both editions opened with identical introductions emphasizing the necessity for a rapid victory through the overpowering and destruction of enemy forces. Infantry was identified as the primary arm in combined arms warfare, and soldiers were taught to rely on cold steel as fundamental to their attacking spirit. The 1928 Infantry Manual underscored the commander's role in instilling a faith in certain victory or “hissho shinnen”, drawing from the glorious traditions of Japanese military history. The 1928 infantry tactics employed an extended skirmish line with four paces between soldiers. Individual initiative in combat was generally discouraged, except under exceptional circumstances, as success relied on concentrating firepower and manpower on narrow frontages to overwhelm defenders. An infantry company would create a skirmish line featuring two light machine gun squads and four rifle squads, preparing for a bayonet-driven breakthrough of enemy defenses. For the final assault, the infantry company would line up along a 150-yard front, likely facing casualties of up to 50% while breaching the enemy's main defensive line. Historical analysis reveals the shortcomings of these tactics. During World War I, armies constructed extensive, multi-layered defenses, trenches, pillboxes, and strong points, each independent yet all covered by artillery. If assaulting infantry suffered heavy losses breaching the first line, how could they successfully prosecute their assault against multiple defense lines? The 1937 revision elaborated on new tactics to overcome entrenched Soviet defenses, drafted in anticipation of arms and equipment that were either in development or production but not yet available for deployment. This became official doctrine in 1940, but as early as summer 1937, units from the China Garrison Army were field-testing these new tactics. The provisional manual adopted combat team tactics, forming an umbrella-like skirmish formation. This involved a light machine gun team at the forefront with two ammunition bearers flanking it to the rear. Behind the machine gun team were riflemen arranged in a column formation, maintaining six paces between each. The light machine gun provided cover fire as the formation closed in on the enemy for hand-to-hand combat. Increased firepower expanded the assault front to 200 yards. The combination of wider dispersion and night movement aimed to reduce losses from enemy artillery fire while the infantry advanced through successive lines of resistance. Commanders at the platoon level were responsible for leading the final assault into enemy lines, with increased tactical responsibility shifting from platoon to squad leaders, allowing for greater initiative from junior officers and non-commissioned officers. This emphasis on broader dispersal and fluidity on the battlefield required frontline infantry to exhibit aggressiveness and initiative. Contrary to popular belief, the Japanese military did not solely rely on the bayonet or an offensive spirit during engagements with Chinese forces. They effectively employed superior firepower and modern equipment within their combined arms framework, using heavy weapons and artillery to soften enemy positions before launching infantry attacks. Without such firepower, unsupported infantry attacks would have struggled to achieve their objectives. In January 1937, the Imperial Japanese Army consisted of approximately 247,000 officers and men, organized in a structure comprising seventeen standing infantry divisions, four tank regiments, and fifty-four air squadrons equipped with a total of 549 aircraft. The China Garrison Army and the Taiwan Garrison Army each included two infantry regiments, while a separate independent mixed brigade was stationed in Manchuria. Two divisions were permanently based in Korea, with four more assigned on a rotating basis to the Kwantung Army in Manchukuo. The remainder of the forces were stationed in the Japanese home islands. A substantial pool of reservists and partially trained replacements was available to mobilize, enabling the expansion of peacetime units to their wartime strength as needed. Conscription provided the primary source of enlisted manpower for the army, though a handful of young men volunteered for active duty. For conscription purposes, Japan was divided into divisional areas, which were further subdivided into regimental districts responsible for conscription, mobilization, individual activations, and veteran affairs within their jurisdictions. Typically, conscripts served with the regiment associated with their region or prefecture. However, the Imperial Guards regiments in Tokyo selected conscripts from across the nation, as did the Seventh Infantry Division, which recruited from the sparsely populated Hokkaido area and from regular army units stationed in Korea, China, and Taiwan. Draftees from Okinawa Prefecture usually served with Kyushu-based regiments. All males reaching the age of 20 underwent an army-administered pre-induction physical examination conducted between December 1 and January 30 of the following year. This evaluation classified potential conscripts into three categories: A “suitable for active duty”, B1, and B2, while others were deemed unfit for the demands of military life. In 1935, 29.7% of those examined received A classifications, while 41.2% were graded as B1 or B2. Among the 742,422 individuals eligible for conscription in 1937, approximately 170,000 were drafted, amounting to 22.9% of the cohort; this figure had remained relatively consistent since the post-Russo-Japanese War years. Within the conscripted group, 153,000 men were classified as A and an additional 17,000 as B. Conscripts served for two years of active duty, with variations based on their military specialty and any prior civilian military training. After their discharge, they were subject to a lengthy reserve obligation. In total, 470,635 individuals fell into the B category, being otherwise fit for service but excess to the army's active personnel needs. These men were assigned to the First Replacement Pool, where they underwent around 120 days of basic military training, primarily focused on small arms usage and fundamental tactics. Regular officers and NCOs led the training in their respective regimental districts. Following their initial training, the army called these replacements and reservists to active duty annually for several days of refresher training. Army leaders regarded discipline as the cornerstone of military effectiveness. Basic training emphasized the necessity of unquestioning obedience to orders at all levels. Subsequent training focused on fieldcraft, such as utilizing terrain strategically to surprise or encircle the enemy. However, training exercises often lacked diversity due to the limited maneuver areas available in Japan, leading to predictable solutions to field problems. The training regimen was rigorous, merging strict formal discipline and regulated corporal punishment with harsh informal sanctions and unregulated violence from leaders to instill unwavering compliance to orders. As an undergrad taking a course specifically on the Pacific War, it was this variable my professor argued contributed the most to the atrocities performed by the Japanese during WW2. He often described it as a giant pecking order of abuse. The most senior commanders abused, often physically their subordinates, who abused theirs, going through the ranks to the common grunts who had no one else but civilians and the enemy to peck at so to speak. Of course there were a large number of other variables at play, but to understand that you outta join my Patreon Account over at the www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel , where I made a fan favorite episode on “why the Japanese army performed so many atrocities”. In there I basically hit a big 10 reason list, well in depth, I highly recommend it! As the concept of the “Imperial Army” and the cult of the emperor gained prominence, appeals to imperial symbols and authority bolstered this unquestioning obedience to superiors, who were seen as the conduits of the emperor's will. It was during this period that the term kogun or “imperial army” gained favor over kokugun or “national army”, reflecting a deliberate effort by military authorities to forge a direct connection between the military and the imperial throne. The 1937 Japanese infantry division was structured as a square formation, with a peacetime strength established at approximately 12,000 officers and men organized into two brigades, each comprising about 4,000 personnel, formed from two infantry regiments, about 2,000 men each. The division included a field artillery regiment, an engineer regiment, and a transport battalion as organic units. Each infantry regiment was composed of three battalions, approximately 600 men each, which contained three rifle companies, 160 men each and a weapons platoon. A rifle company consisted of three rifle platoons and one light machine gun platoon. Regiments also included infantry assault gun platoons, and battalions contained a heavy machine gun company. Upon mobilization, a fourth infantry company augmented each battalion, along with reserve fillers, nearly 5,000 personnel assigned as transport and service troops, raising the authorized wartime strength of an infantry division to over 25,000 officers and men.  Reforms implemented in 1922 reduced personnel numbers in favor of new and improved weapons and equipment. Among these advancements, the 75 mm Type 90 field artillery piece, which boasted increased range and accuracy, was integrated into the forces in 1930, along with the 105 mm Type 10 howitzer and 75 mm pack mountain artillery which could be disassembled for transport using pack animals. These became standard artillery components for divisions. The emphasis on light, mobile, and smaller-caliber field artillery enabled swift deployment during fast-moving engagements. By minimizing the size of the baggage train, infantry and artillery units could quickly set up off the march formation and maneuver around enemy flanks. Army leaders further streamlined road march formations by eliminating the fourth artillery battery from each regiment, thus sacrificing some firepower for enhanced speed and mobility. Heavier artillery pieces were still used in set-piece battles where mobility was less critical. In a typical 1936 division, the field artillery regiment, equipped with Type 90 field artillery or lighter Type 94 mountain artillery, had thirty-six guns. Training focused on quality rather than quantity, reflecting the conservative doctrine of “one-round-one-hit”. Live-fire training was infrequent due to the scarcity of artillery firing ranges in Japan. Ammunition stockpiles were inadequate for anticipated operational needs; government arsenals produced over 111,000 artillery shells in 1936, which was fewer than one-tenth of the quantities specified in wartime consumption tables. Similar industrial shortcomings also hampered advancements in motorization and armor. Motorization proved costly and relied on foreign supply, presenting challenges given the inferior road networks in Manchuria, northern China, and the Soviet Far East. Military estimates suggested a need for 250,000 trucks to fully motorize the army, a goal beyond the capabilities of the nascent Japanese automotive industry, which produced fewer than 1,000 cars annually until 1933. Japanese tanks, described as “handcrafted, beautifully polished, and hoarded” by Alvin Coox, suffered from shortages similar to heavy artillery and ammunition. The army prioritized light weighing ten tons or less and medium tanks sixteen tons or less due to the necessity of deploying armor overseas, size and weight were crucial for loading and unloading from transport ships. Smaller tanks were also more suitable for the terrains of northern China and Manchuria, as they could traverse unbridged rivers using pontoons or ferries. The Japanese industrial base, however, struggled to mass-produce tanks; by 1939, factories were producing an average of only twenty-eight tanks of all models per month. Consequently, in 1937, foot soldiers remained as reliant on animal transport for mobility as their ancestors had been during the Russo-Japanese War. Despite enjoying technological and material superiority over disorganized Chinese forces, these deficiencies in heavy artillery, armor, and vehicles would prove catastrophic against more formidable opponents. Another significant factor constraining Japanese industry's capacity to produce tanks, trucks, and artillery was the 1936 decision to expand the army's air wing and homeland air defense network. This policy diverted resources, capital, and technology away from the army's ground forces. The nascent Japanese Army Air Force or “JAAF” aimed to support ground operations through reconnaissance, bombing enemy bases, and achieving air superiority. However, direct support for ground operations was limited, and Japanese military planners did not anticipate that aerial bombardment could supplement or replace artillery bombardments. The expanded air arm's strategic mission centered on executing preemptive air strikes against Soviet air bases in the Far East to thwart potential air attacks on Japan. By the mid-1930s, the army had approximately 650 aircraft, roughly 450 of which were operational. The JAAF emphasized rigorous training that prioritized quality over quantity, producing only about 750 pilots annually up until December 1941. Basic flight skills were developed through this training, while specialized tactical instruction was deferred to newly established pilot units. According to logistics doctrine, Japanese maneuver units typically operated within a 120 to 180-mile radius of a railhead to facilitate resupply and reinforcement. A field train transport unit was responsible for moving supplies daily from the railhead to a division control point for distribution. The division established a field depot to manage the transfer of supplies from field transport to company and lower-echelon units. At the depot, transport troops would hand over supplies to a combat train that ferried ammunition, rations, and equipment directly to frontline units. Horse-drawn wagons and pack animals were the primary means of transportation. Each wartime division included a transport battalion, which varied in size from approximately 2,200 to 3,700 personnel, depending on the type of division supported. The division typically carried enough supplies for one day. Upon mobilization, the logistical framework was reinforced with the addition of an ordnance unit, a field hospital, a sanitation unit, and additional field and combat trains. The size of the transport regiment grew from around 1,500 officers and men with over 300 horses to nearly 3,500 troops and more than 2,600 animals. In the battalion, one company generally transported small-arms ammunition while two companies handled artillery shells and two others carried rations; this arrangement was flexible based on operational needs. Pack horses and dray horses were assigned to each company to carry or tow infantry assault artillery, mortars, artillery ammunition, and rations. Infantry soldiers carried minimal rations, approximately two and a half pounds, primarily rice, along with tinned condiments and salt. Consequently, the field train included a field kitchen stocked with fresh vegetables, rice or bread, soy sauce, and pickles. Each evening, a forward echelon train distributed supplies received from the field transport unit to the combat unit's bivouac area. When combat seemed imminent, a section of the transport battalion would move forward to deliver essential combat supplies, ordnance, equipment, medical supplies, directly to frontline units. These units would also handle resupply, medical evacuation, and repair of ordnance and equipment once fighting commenced.  On the evening of September 18, 1936, the fifth anniversary of the Manchurian Incident, Chinese troops from the Twenty-Ninth Army clashed with Japanese soldiers from the Seventh Company's rear-guard medical unit at Fengtai. When a Japanese officer arrived on horseback, a Chinese soldier struck his horse, prompting the Chinese troops to retreat to their barracks. Major Ichiki Kiyonao, the battalion commander, ordered an emergency assembly, surrounded the Chinese encampment, and demanded that Chinese authorities surrender the aggressors immediately. To defuse the situation, Major General Kawabe Masakazu, the brigade commander and Ichiki's superior, instructed Regimental Commander Mutaguchi to resolve the incident swiftly. Mutaguchi negotiated an agreement that required the Chinese to apologize, punish those responsible, withdraw from the vicinity of the Japanese barracks, and maintain a distance of two miles. Although Mutaguchi and Ichiki wanted to disarm the Chinese forces, they ultimately complied with Kawabe's wishes and allowed the Chinese to retain their weapons “in the spirit of Bushido.” Later, the Chinese claimed the Japanese had refrained from disarming them due to their fear of the strength and influence of the 29th Army. This insult infuriated Mutaguchi, who vowed not to make any further concessions and promised to eliminate the anti-Japanese provocateurs decisively if another incident occurred. He warned his officers against allowing an “overly tolerant attitude toward the Chinese” to undermine the prestige of the imperial army and emphasized the need for swift, decisive action to prevent such incidents in the future. Tensions were further exacerbated by large-scale Japanese field exercises conducted from late October to early November. These maneuvers, the largest ever executed by Japanese forces in China, mobilized about 6,700 active-duty and reserve troops for a series of complex battle drills, night maneuvers, and tactical field problems. During these exercises, Japanese troops were quartered in Chinese homes. Although local residents were compensated for any damage caused, the exercises nonetheless heightened tensions between the two sides. The fallout from the Suiyuan Fiasco in December 1936, coupled with a tumultuous summer and fall, led to rising anti-Japanese sentiment and prompted Tokyo to caution the Kawabe brigade against actions that might escalate the already precarious situation. In March 1937, during the annual personnel assignments, Ishiwara was promoted to major general and appointed chief of the 1st Department Operations of the General Staff. However, Army Vice Minister Umezu, a hardliner regarding China and a rival of Ishiwara, successfully maneuvered the Hayashi cabinet into approving the command choices for army and navy ministers, overriding Ishiwara's proposals. General Sugiyama Hajime, another hawk on China, replaced the terminally ill General Nakamura Kotaro as army minister shortly after Nakamura's appointment and remained in that position until June 1938. Lieutenant General Imai Kiyoshi, army vice chief of staff and an Ishiwara supporter, was also battling a terminal illness that rendered him largely ineffective during his short five-month tenure from March to August 1937. Imai was expected to play a crucial role in high command because the army chief of staff, Prince Kan'in, had been appointed in 1931 as a figurehead due to internal factions preventing agreement on a candidate. Ishiwara further complicated his conciliatory approach by selecting Colonel Muto Akira, a known hardliner who believed force was the only means to resolve the Japan-China conflict, for the vital position of chief of Operations Section within the General Staff. From Kwantung Army headquarters, Commanding General Ueda Kenkichi and his chief of staff, Lieutenant General Tojo Hideki, advocated for a preemptive war against China to serve the Kwantung Army's interests. In contrast, the China Garrison Army, under Lieutenant General Tashiro and his chief of staff, adopted a more moderate stance, aligning with central headquarters' policy of restraint. The China Garrison Army estimated the 29th Army to consist of 15,000–16,000 troops, with its main strength centered around Peking and an additional 10,000 troops in the surrounding area. Starting in spring 1937, Japanese units began observing tactical indicators suggesting that the Chinese were preparing for war. These indicators included increased guard presence at Peking's gates in June, bolstering units near the Marco Polo Bridge to over two battalions, preparing new fighting positions, digging trenches and constructing concrete pillboxes near the Marco Polo Bridge, infiltrating agents into Japanese maneuver areas for intelligence on night tactical exercises, and heightened strictness among Chinese railroad guards evident since late June. Nevertheless, the Japanese commanders did not view China as a formidable opponent. They believed that Chinese armies would quickly disintegrate due to what they perceived as a lack of fighting spirit and ineffective leadership. By 1937, Japan's national policy was shifting away from the persistent and aggressive efforts of field armies to undermine Chinese political authority in northern China toward a more conciliatory stance. This shift resulted in increased tensions between field armies and the General Staff in Tokyo, leading to substantial fractures among senior officers regarding the “solution” to their so-called China problem. Those tensions broke the camels back that year.  I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The Japanese grossly underestimated their enemy and their own logistical capabilities. There was to say “too many cooks in the kitchen” of the Japanese military and competing visions ultimately were leading Japan and China into an official full blown war. Japan assumed they could bully China until it was so fragmented it would be a simple matter of grabbing the pieces it liked, that was not to be the case at all.   

Lama Zopa Rinpoche discusses the seven attributes of a perfect human body and clarifies the points relating to caste and gender. He also discusses the eight ripening aspects that Lama Tsongkhapa emphasized in the Hymns of the Experience of the Path to Enlightenment.Rinpoche highlights the preciousness of this perfect human body. He says that it is more precious than the whole sky filled with wish-granting jewels. So, if we don't get to practice Dharma for even a second, this would be a great loss. Thus, we must bear hardships to practice Dharma. If you don't bear the hardships, you cannot practice Dharma, and then you will become lazy and waste your precious human body.Rinpoche reminds us that we experience hardships because we are in samsara. Our body and mind came from karma and delusion, so they are in the nature of suffering. If we don't practice Dharma because of the hardships, then we'll be in samsara forever. We'll never get free from the oceans of samsaric suffering.The duration of this perfect human rebirth is very short, and it can stop at any moment. Therefore, we need to develop our mind in the stages of the path to enlightenment.Rinpoche gives a clear description of how to meditate on the lamrim through daily meditations of the lower capable being. He stresses that it's important to meditate on several points (guru devotion, perfect human rebirth, impermanence-death, renunciation), as if you only meditate on one aspect throughout your life, you may not achieve even that realization. He also stresses that bodhicitta can only be attained after realizing renunciation.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains how to do the meditation with the requesting prayer. The way to meditate is to realize Guru Vajradhara, the Dharmakaya Buddha, as the root virtuous friend that embodies and pervades all the manifested billions of mandalas or deities.Rinpoche highlights that the purpose of our life is to free all sentient beings from suffering and cause them happiness. He says that working for others accomplishes two purposes: others' happiness and our own happiness. Thus, working for others' happiness has limitless skies of benefit. To illustrate this, Rinpoche gives an example from the Avatamsaka Sutra, which describes how one person with bodhicitta offering a tiny flower to the Buddha collects far greater merit than if all sentient beings living in the great three thousand universes built stupas made of jewels that covered the entire universe. From this example, you can understand how bodhicitta is the treasure of merit.Rinpoche says that all the infinite qualities of Buddha's holy body, speech, and mind came from bodhicitta. The Buddha came from a bodhisattva, and bodhisattvas come from bodhicitta. Thus, all one's past, present, and future happiness come from bodhicitta.Rinpoche also explains how the development of bodhicitta depends on suffering sentient beings. He says that bodhicitta came from great compassion and great compassion is generated by depending on the existence of suffering beings. Therefore, these sentient beings are unbelievably precious.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche says that if you are only seeking the happiness of this life, then you haven't reached any of the three capacities of the lamrim. The attitude of just seeking the power, reputation, and wealth of this life is an ordinary capable being, not a special capable being. This is not different from the animals and insects. Rinpoche emphasizes that the meditations for the graduate path of the lower capable being (the eight freedoms and ten richnesses, the great meaning and difficulty to find again, impermanence and death, the lower realm sufferings, karma) are very important for the success of actualizing the whole path. Without these foundations, you can't have the next realizations, renunciation and bodhicitta. Without bodhicitta, you have no door to enter the Mahayana path to enlightenment, so you can't complete the tantric path. Therefore, these meditations are the foundation for all those other paths.Rinpoche describes the eight freedoms and ten richnesses. He urges us to reflect on these points. By doing so, we will realize that we must practice Dharma immediately. Rinpoche says that these meditations will give us hope and courage to defeat the eight worldly dharmas.Rinpoche bestows the lung of the mahamudra root text and ends the session with an extensive dedication prayer and multiplying mantras.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

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Lama Zopa Rinpoche emphasizes the importance of first becoming clear about the extremely subtle dependent arising view that things exist merely in name (the Middle Way view). If this view is clear in your mind, then the rest becomes easy. If not, then you may get confused or fall into nihilism.Rinpoche gives instructions on how to meditate on this view. He explains the meaning of “form is empty” and “emptiness is form.” He shows how these lines present the Middle Way view: “form is empty” eliminates the extreme of eternalism; “emptiness is form” eliminates the extreme of nihilism.Rinpoche also describes how to remove obstacles by meditating on emptiness. Whatever problems you have—sickness, relationship problems, business difficulties—look at them as empty. He mentions Kunkyen Jamyang Shepa, who wrote a text about removing obstacles to travel by understanding how these obstacles are dependently arisen. Meditating on the emptiness of the obstacles dispels them, as it purifies the cause of the problem. Thus, meditating on emptiness is very powerful; it is the best protection.For those who missed the morning session, Rinpoche gives the lung of Lama Chöpa. He also gives the oral transmissions of the Eight Verses of Thought Transformation, the Maitreya Buddha mantra, the auspicious prayer, and his name mantra.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Catherine and Nathan, both seasoned CPAs and ABVs, discuss the complexities of subsequent events in business valuation. They explain the definition, implications, and relevance of these events in contexts like estate and gift tax transactions. Their conversation covers how these events can affect or indicate value, the standards and court rulings involved, and the challenges of determining what is known or knowable at the valuation date. Key Takeaways: Definition of subsequent events are particularly relevant in litigation, estate, and gift tax transactions Known or knowable at the valuation date, but courts may sometimes consider subsequent events differently Importance of providing additional information to courts without muddying the valuation process Guests: Catherine Stoddard, CPA/ABV, Stoddard Consulting PA Nathan Duke, CPA/ABV, Senior Manager, Forvis Mazars US Host: David Consigli, Jr. CPA/ABV, CDFA, Partner, FAZ Forensics Please share your thoughts about the episode - click here to leave us a review   Want to get involved with future FVS conferences, committees, task forces, or the standing ovation program? Send a message to infoFVS@aicpa-cima.com RESOURCES FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION If you're using a podcast app that does not hyperlink to the resources, please visit our podcast platform to access the show notes with direct links.  Disaster relief resource center Exclusive content available with AICPA FVS Section membership: Click here to join this active community of your FVS peers. You will get 16 credits of complimentary CPE and access to rich technical content AICPA VS Section 100 subsequent event toolkit VS Section 100 (SSVS) Development Compliance Checklists VS Section 100 (SSVS) Reporting Compliance Checklists Considerations when valuing distressed or impaired businesses FAQs The FVS Valuation Podcast archives  Turning Risk into Value - Gathering and Applying Information for Better Data Visuals Reconciling Discount Rates for Intangible Asset Valuation in PPAs Supporting Company Specific Risk and Reconciliation under ASC 805 LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FOLLOWING AICPA CREDENTIALS: Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV®) – Visit the home page and check out the ABV infographic Certified in the Valuation of Financial Instruments (CVFI®) – Visit the home page and check out the CVFI infographic Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF®) - Visit the home page and check out the CFF infographic This is a podcast from AICPA & CIMA, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. To enjoy more conversations from our global community of accounting and finance professionals, explore our network of free shows here. Your feedback and comments are welcomed at podcast@aicpa-cima.com  

Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz explains how his songwriting process has changed over the years, and offers insights into some of his songs, from early classics to recent compositions. PART ONE:Paul and Scott discuss judging a book by its cover and their possible status as idiots. PART TWO:Our in-depth conversation with Adam DuritzABOUT ADAM DURITZ:Songwriter Adam Duritz is best known as the lead singer of Counting Crows, which formed in 1991 in the San Francisco Bay area. Their 1993 debut album, August and Everything After, which was produced by T. Bone Burnett, attracted attention for songs such as “Mr. Jones,” “Round Here,” and “Rain King.” The album earned the group two Grammy nominations and was certified seven-times platinum. The double platinum follow-up album, Recovering the Satellites, reached number one and produced the top 10 pop single “A Long December.” Subsequent #1 singles on Billboard's AAA chart include “American Girls” with Sheryl Crow, “She Don't Want Nobody Near,” “Accidentally in Love” from Shrek 2 (which earned them an Academy Award nomination), and “You Can't Count on Me” and “Come Around” from the band's fifth album, Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings. In 2021 Counting Crows reached #2 on the AAA chart with “Elevator Boots” from their EP Butter Miracle, Suite One. Their eighth studio album, Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!, will be released this Friday, May 9. You'll hear clips of some of the new songs during our conversation, but to hear others Adam discusses, such as “With Love, From A-Z” and “Boxcars,” you'll have to wait a few days for the new album. In all, the band has sold over 20 million albums and established themselves as vibrant live performers who often put a fresh spin on the recorded versions of their classic songs.  

Lama Zopa Rinpoche gives the oral transmission (lung) of the Guru Puja. He explains that taking the oral transmission is important because it has the continuity of blessings from Panchen Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen, who completed the path to enlightenment.Rinpoche says that he received the transmission from a few lamas—His Holiness, of course, and also Trijang Rinpoche and Ling Rinpoche.Rinpoche explains the many benefits of having received the transmission. It makes our recitations and explanations to others more powerful and beneficial to the mind. Rinpoche gives an example of the Arya Sanghata Sutra. Reciting this sutra just once after having received the lung has the same benefits as reciting it a hundred times without the lung. Also, when we reach a certain level on the path to enlightenment, there's a point at which you remember all the teachings for which you received the oral transmissions. All these teachings come to your heart instantly. Thus, there are huge differences between having received the lung and not having received the lung. For any prayer we recite, receiving the lung has a great effect.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Lama Zopa Rinpoche begins with a recap of the previous session's topic: to always live life with a bodhicitta motivation. He cites the Kadampa geshes, who say that if we don't do this, life will be a never-ending confession. This is because without bodhicitta, our mind will be self-centered and this causes other negative emotional thoughts (anger, attachment, jealousy, etc.) to arise. Then, we will engage in negative karmas, and our vows will degenerate.Rinpoche says that keeping the mind in the motivation of bodhicitta is like the sun shining in our life. It makes our life beneficial, satisfying, and fulfilling.He urges us to practice Dharma as much as possible with our body, speech, and mind. He gives examples of how to do this by reciting mantras while travelling and playing the Arya Sanghata Sutra CD.Rinpoche says that the first freedom (not being born in the hells) is so precious; similarly, all the rest and each of the richnesses are so precious, so we should not waste our life.He then talks about the second freedom: the freedom to practice Dharma by not being born as a preta. He describes the sufferings of the preta realm and how impossible it is to practice Dharma in this realm. With this freedom, we can achieve the happiness of future lives. Therefore, this second freedom (like the first one) is more precious than mountains of gold.Following this, Rinpoche describes the third freedom: the freedom to practice Dharma by not being born as an animal. He describes how animals cannot understand Dharma even if we tried to explain it to them. In comparison, for us as humans, it is so easy to communicate and understand Dharma. This makes our human life incredibly precious, and we must not waste even a second of it. We must learn and practice Dharma.This session ends with a discussion of the five lay vows and the bestowing of the refuge ceremony.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Drive-By Truckers co-founder Patterson Hood chats about his band, the evolution of his songwriting process, and his most recent solo album.PART ONEWater. Bed. Rock!!!PART TWOOur in-depth conversation with Patterson HoodABOUT PATTERSON HOODMuscle Shoals, Alabama, native Patterson Hood is best known, along with Mike Cooley, as the co-founder of the band Drive-By Truckers. Drawing from a range of rock and country influences, the group emerged from the Athens, Georgia, music scene in the mid-1990s, releasing their debut album, Gangstabilly, in 1988. Following the success of their third album, Southern Rock Opera, Drive-By Truckers were named Band of the Year by No Depression magazine in 2002. Jason Isbell joined the group for the acclaimed albums Decoration Day, The Dirty South, and A Blessing and a Curse. Following Isbell's departure, the album Brighter Than Creation's Dark became Drive-By Truckers' first album to reach the Top 40 on the Billboard 200 chart. Subsequent albums The Big To-Do, Go-Go Boots, English Oceans, and American Band all reached the Top 40, as well as the top ten on Billboard's US Rock chart. In all, the band has released fourteen studio albums. In addition to his work with Drive-By Truckers, Hood has released four solo albums. The latest, released in February, is called Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams. 

Prayer services are taking place around the world in memory of Pope Francis. The head of the Catholic Church died overnight at the age of 88, following a stroke, coma, and subsequent heart failure after a battle with double pneumonia. Vatican correspondent Edward Pentin says two weeks of rituals and ceremonies are now underway. He told Mike Hosking that will begin with nine days of mourning. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daring Fireball's John Gruber joins us on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show to discuss Apple Intelligence and the future of the company. We talk through the reaction to John's influential “Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino" piece on Daring Fireball, which pointed out that Apple's credibility has been "damaged" by the delay in releasing key ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features such as personalized Siri. Subsequent reportsrevealed that Vision Pro chief Mike Rockwell has taken over the Siri team at Apple, which until recently was led by artificial intelligence chief John Giannandrea. Software chief Craig Federighi is also believed to have taken on more responsibility to turn ‌Apple Intelligence‌ around. The company has altered its marketing strategy away from the "Hello, ‌Apple Intelligence‌" tagline and the features are finally expected to launch sometime within the next year. With this recent context, we get John's thoughts on how the situation has evolved since he wrote his article, including on the proposed class-action lawsuits against Apple over false advertising. We also look at how Apple may present its suite of AI features at WWDC later this year. Moreover, we reflect on the Vision Pro almost two years after its announcement, and John explains why he believes that the headset avoided the mismanagement that has mired apple Intelligence. We also talk through rumors about the second-generation Vision Pro headset that is expected to launch between fall 2025 and spring 2026 as a minor spec bump, simply upgrading from the M2 to the M5 chip. We also explore the highly anticipated lower-cost Vision headset, dubbed “Vision Air," and how this could be positioned when it launches. We look at the state of Apple's smart home proposition and the HomePod amid rumors that the company's first smart home hub product has been delayed to 2026. The device is believed to be finished and was originally scheduled to launch in March 2025, but due to its reliance on ‌Apple Intelligence‌ its release has reportedly been shelved until next year. Finally, we discuss the long-rumored foldable iPhone, pondering on what Apple is likely to do differently when it launches the device next year. See more of John's work over on Daring Fireball and on his podcast, “The Talk Show." (00:00) - Breaking Down John's Article on Apple Intelligence/Siri Fiasco (20:56) - Apple Vision Pro 2 Expectations (37:18) - The Purpose of Apple's Smart Home Hub  (50:44) - Apple Foldable Rumors

Lama Zopa Rinpoche begins with a reminder about the previous session's discussion of how beneficial it is to recite the Buddha's past bodhisattva life stories. He also talks about Lupa Rinpoche, a Nepalese lama who inspired many people to do nyung-näs and made a Dharma law that people could not kill animals in his past life.Regarding the Buddha's past bodhisattva life stories, Lama Zopa Rinpoche suggests that they need good chanting. In that way, it would appear in the public's view like singing a song and become even more inspiring. Rinpoche also suggests reading The King of Prayers and The Eight Verses of Thought Transformation for those occasions (birthdays, weddings, etc.). It's also good to set up extensive offerings, with many light offerings.Rinpoche briefly discusses the six preparatory practices and then gives a detailed description of the preciousness of this human life, with eight freedoms and ten richnesses. He states that this perfect human rebirth is more precious than mountains of gold.The first of these eight freedoms—the very beginning of the path to enlightenment—is freedom to practice Dharma by not being born in the hells. He explains the sufferings in each of the hell realms and highlights that freedom from these realms relies on two solutions: purifying past negative karma and vowing not to commit negative karma again. If you only practice purification without taking vows, then the purification practice becomes endless. With these two solutions, you can avoid the suffering of the lower realms and solve the difficulties of this life.Rinpoche advises that right now, with this freedom to practice Dharma by not being born in a hell realm, you can achieve any happiness you want. If you wish to achieve liberation from samsara and full enlightenment for sentient beings, you can obtain that. Rinpoche says this freedom is more precious than mountains of gold because it allows you to achieve the happiness of future lives. However, it doesn't last long; it can stop at any time; so, there's no time for meaningless activities —there's only time to practice Dharma.Rinpoche explains that there are many ways to practice Dharma. However, what makes life most meaningful is bodhicitta, which depends on guru devotion. Continuously practicing bodhicitta transforms your life, like transforming iron into gold.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Their debut, A Balloon Called Moaning, released in 2009, introduced the band's signature sound with soaring hooks grounded by a robust backbone of driving bass and drums. They quickly followed this with The Big Roar in 2011, which garnered critical acclaim for its raw intensity and infectious energy, spearheaded by the single “Whirring.” Subsequent albums, including Wolf's Law and Hitch, further explored sonic experimentation, reflecting the band's ability to balance intricate guitar work with introspective lyricism. Their ever-evolving approach and boundary-pushing style keep listeners guessing, ensuring each new release feels like an exciting chapter in a compelling musical journey. The Joy Formidable consistently pushes creative boundaries, proving that alternative rock still has much to offer. With an unwavering commitment to reinvention, they continue captivating fans and making their mark. Rydian and Ritzy recently stopped by Thunderlove Studio to chat about all of this… and more. This is our conversation with Rydian and Ritzy of The Joy Formidable. LINKS The Joy Formidable Web The Joy Formidable on Bandcamp The Joy Formidable on Wiki The Joy Formidable on Facebook

This Day in Legal History: Fair Housing ActOn this day in legal history, April 11, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968 into law, a pivotal expansion of civil rights protections in the United States. Commonly referred to as the Fair Housing Act, the legislation was enacted just days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose legacy of nonviolent activism heavily influenced its passage. The law made it illegal to discriminate in the sale, rental, financing, or advertising of housing based on race, color, religion, or national origin.It aimed to dismantle the systemic barriers that had long segregated American cities and suburbs, including redlining, racially restrictive covenants, and other discriminatory practices. Title VIII of the Act directly addressed these inequities and empowered the federal government to enforce fair housing standards for the first time. Though political resistance to housing integration had stalled similar legislation for years, the national mourning following Dr. King's death shifted public and congressional sentiment.Johnson, in a nationally televised address, described the signing as a tribute to Dr. King's life and a necessary step toward realizing the full promise of civil rights in America. Subsequent amendments expanded protections to include sex, disability, and familial status, making the Fair Housing Act one of the most comprehensive civil rights laws on the books. Enforcement mechanisms, however, remained a challenge, and litigation over housing discrimination has continued into the present day.The law has been central to major legal battles over zoning laws, gentrification, and access to affordable housing. It also laid the groundwork for subsequent legislation aimed at combating economic and racial segregation. While the Act did not instantly eliminate housing discrimination, it marked a legal turning point that recognized the home as a critical site of equality and opportunity.A small team from the Department of Government Efficiency (DGE), created under Elon Musk's initiative to reduce government spending and staffing, has arrived at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), according to an internal email from the agency. While the team is working with FDIC leadership to identify internal efficiencies, it does not have access to sensitive or confidential bank data, including resolution plans, deposit insurance records, or examination materials. The FDIC emphasized that the DGE operatives are full-time federal employees working under formal interagency agreements and have not sought access to confidential information.DGE has previously drawn concern from industry participants during its visit to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau due to fears over data exposure. The FDIC oversees highly sensitive information about major U.S. banks and their failure plans, which regulators rely on during crises. The number and identity of DGE team members at the FDIC have not been disclosed, and the agency declined to comment further.The agency is also preparing for staff reductions, following the Trump administration's deferred resignation program that has already led to the loss of 500 FDIC employees. Additional buyouts and formal layoffs are expected soon. The timing of DGE's involvement comes as global markets react to new tariffs announced by President Trump, prompting concerns from former officials about weakening regulators' ability to respond to potential financial instability.DOGE Arrives at FDIC but Doesn't Have Access to Bank Data (2)At least three major law firms—Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett—are in talks with the Trump administration to reach a joint agreement that would commit over $300 million in pro bono services to causes favored by the White House. The potential deal is also intended to resolve federal investigations into the firms' diversity programs, which the administration has scrutinized for alleged discriminatory practices. If finalized, the arrangement would bring the total pledged in pro bono services from various firms to at least $640 million.President Trump, speaking at a Cabinet meeting, hinted that a handful of firms remain in negotiations, emphasizing that many firms have already paid significant sums or made concessions. He stated that he expects lawyers from participating firms to assist with policy efforts such as implementing tariffs and expanding coal mining.The administration has previously targeted several firms with executive orders for representing causes or clients viewed as oppositional to Trump's agenda. These orders have included punitive measures such as revoking security clearances and restricting federal access. Some firms—like Perkins Coie and Jenner & Block—have successfully blocked these actions in court, while others like Paul Weiss settled by agreeing to pro bono contributions. Firms such as Skadden and Milbank preemptively negotiated similar deals.Trump Talks Deal With Three Massive Law Firms as Others FightA U.S. immigration judge is set to rule today on whether Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student activist at Columbia University, can be deported. Khalil, who holds Algerian citizenship and became a lawful U.S. permanent resident last year, was arrested last month at his New York City apartment and transferred to an immigration jail in rural Louisiana. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for Khalil's removal under the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, arguing that his presence in the U.S. poses foreign policy risks due to his role in pro-Palestinian campus protests.Rubio's letter to the court claims Khalil was involved in “antisemitic protests and disruptive activities” but does not accuse him of any crimes. Instead, Rubio argues the government can revoke legal status based solely on speech or associations if deemed harmful to U.S. interests. Khalil's attorneys say the case is an attempt to punish constitutionally protected speech and have called the letter politically motivated and authoritarian in tone.They are requesting to subpoena and depose Rubio as part of their defense. The immigration court hearing the case operates under the Department of Justice and is separate from the federal judiciary. Khalil is also suing in a New Jersey federal court, alleging that his arrest, detention, and transfer far from his legal team and family were unconstitutional.US immigration judge to decide whether Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil can be deported | ReutersPresident Trump signed a bill nullifying a revised IRS rule that would have broadened the definition of a “broker” to include decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges, or DeFi platforms. The rule, finalized in the final weeks of the Biden administration, was part of a broader IRS effort to tighten crypto tax enforcement and was rooted in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It would have required DeFi platforms to report user transactions to both the IRS and the users themselves.The crypto industry strongly opposed the rule, arguing that DeFi platforms do not function like traditional brokers and lack access to user identities, making compliance impossible. Centralized exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken, by contrast, already meet these reporting requirements as intermediaries. Both the House and Senate voted in March to repeal the IRS rule through the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to overturn recent federal regulations with a majority vote.Trump, who has positioned himself as a pro-crypto candidate, had campaigned on promises to support digital asset innovation. Since taking office, he has formed a federal cryptocurrency working group and signed an executive order to establish a national bitcoin reserve.Trump signs bill to nullify expanded IRS crypto broker rule | ReutersThis week's closing theme takes us back to April 13, 1850, when Richard Wagner's opera Lohengrin premiered in Weimar under the baton of his friend and supporter, Franz Liszt. Wagner, one of the most influential and controversial figures in classical music, was then in political exile, and unable to attend the debut of what would become one of his most iconic works. Known for his revolutionary approach to opera—melding music, drama, and mythology—Wagner crafted Lohengrin as a sweeping, mystical tale of a knight of the Holy Grail who arrives in a swan-drawn boat to defend the innocent Elsa of Brabant. The opera's shimmering textures, leitmotif-driven score, and spiritual overtones would set the stage for his later monumental works like Tristan und Isolde and the Ring Cycle.Lohengrin remains best known for its third-act bridal chorus—“Here Comes the Bride”—but the opera's deeper themes of identity, trust, and the cost of forbidden questions give it lasting emotional and philosophical weight. Set in a quasi-medieval world laced with mystery, the opera tells of a hero who must depart the moment his name is asked, leaving love suspended in silence. Wagner's orchestration in Lohengrin is luminous and patient, often evoking shimmering water and distant prophecy, with long-breathed phrases that seem to float above time.As a closing theme for this week, Lohengrin invites reflection—on belief, on leadership, and on how history so often pivots on names, silence, and the tension between loyalty and doubt. Its premiere on April 13th marks not only a moment in Wagner's evolution as a composer but also a cultural point of departure, where German Romanticism began leaning toward something darker and more transcendental. We end the week, then, with the slow unfurling of Lohengrin's prelude: a gentle, ascending shimmer that begins almost imperceptibly, and rises—like the swan on the river—toward the unknown.This week, we close with the prelude to Lohengrin by Richard Wagner—music of undeniable beauty from a composer whose legacy includes both brilliance and deeply troubling beliefs. We share it for its artistry, not its ideology. Without further ado, Richard Wagner's Lohengrin, the prelude. Enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

This session begins with the Guru Puja offering practice, prayers, and mantras. During the recitation of the tong-len prayer, Lama Zopa Rinpoche advises us to pause and go over the outline of the bodhicitta techniques (either the seven-point cause and effect method or equalizing and exchanging the self with others). Rinpoche says that since bodhicitta is the most precious wish-fulfilling thought for oneself and others, it's important to briefly meditate on bodhicitta in this way.Rinpoche also recommends reciting the Buddha's past bodhisattva life stories after doing the Guru Shakyamuni Buddha mantra and meditation. Rinpoche then elaborates on how these life stories can be recited at birthdays, weddings, and New Year celebrations. He says that it can be very inspiring for others, including non-Buddhists. There's no contradiction for Christians or those of other faiths, as the stories are basically about compassion, benefiting others, and sacrificing your life for others. This is in harmony with Christianity; it's not an opposing philosophy. So, everyone can recite it together, in the family or in a public place where there are all kinds of different faiths. In this way, people can hear the heart of Mahayana Buddhism.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

​During Karen Read's first trial in 2024, the jury deliberated for approximately 23 hours over several days but reported being "deeply divided" and unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Subsequent statements from jurors indicated they had unanimously agreed on not guilty verdicts for the charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a fatal accident but were deadlocked on the charge of manslaughter. Due to this impasse, the judge declared a mistrial on July 1, 2024.​In July 2024, the trial of Karen Read, accused of the second-degree murder of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, concluded with a mistrial after the jury reported being "hopelessly deadlocked" following several days of deliberations. The jury informed Judge Beverly Cannone that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, leading to the declaration of a mistrial. Subsequently, Read's defense team sought to dismiss the charges, citing double jeopardy concerns and claiming that jurors had agreed on not guilty verdicts for certain charges during deliberations. However, these motions were denied, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Read could be retried on all charges.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Lama Zopa Rinpoche defines each of the three capacities of lamrim practitioners: lower, middling, and upper capacity beings. He advises that if we are only seeking happiness for this life, then we haven't even reached the first capacity. Rinpoche stresses that such a person is not different from animals. Even animals are expert at seeking the happiness of this life by killing or cheating to get food. So, now, in this very lifetime, we must attempt to be in this group of capable lamrim practitioners.Rinpoche reminds us that this doesn't happen without causes and conditions. It depends on actualizing the path, which removes the gross and subtle defilements. He further illustrates that this path must be a complete path, from beginning to end. We cannot achieve enlightenment by only meditating on some part of the path. We have to learn and practice the whole path to enlightenment, which needs to be actualized step by step. Therefore, we need to follow the steps on the path to enlightenment as Lama Atisha presented. This lamrim teaching contains all the essence of the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha without anything missing. It is set up for graduated practice for one person to achieve enlightenment.Rinpoche goes through the lamrim outlines and explains how correctly relying on the virtuous friend and the actual training are of equal value. He cites Kyabje Choden Rinpoche who said it is like the two saddle bags you put on a horse; the weight needs to be equal. Lama Zopa Rinpoche says that people normally mistakenly think that the second outline (training the mind) is more important than the first outline (devoting to the virtuous friend), but they are equally important.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

​During Karen Read's first trial in 2024, the jury deliberated for approximately 23 hours over several days but reported being "deeply divided" and unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Subsequent statements from jurors indicated they had unanimously agreed on not guilty verdicts for the charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a fatal accident but were deadlocked on the charge of manslaughter. Due to this impasse, the judge declared a mistrial on July 1, 2024.​In July 2024, the trial of Karen Read, accused of the second-degree murder of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, concluded with a mistrial after the jury reported being "hopelessly deadlocked" following several days of deliberations. The jury informed Judge Beverly Cannone that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, leading to the declaration of a mistrial. Subsequently, Read's defense team sought to dismiss the charges, citing double jeopardy concerns and claiming that jurors had agreed on not guilty verdicts for certain charges during deliberations. However, these motions were denied, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Read could be retried on all charges.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

We're celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. Today, we're revisiting our 2020 conversation with Linda Perry.   ABOUT LINDA PERRYSinger, songwriter, musician, producer, and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Linda Perry first made her mark as an artist, serving as lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the group 4 Non Blondes, which is best known for the Top 15 pop hit “What's Up?” Following a couple of solo albums, Linda emerged as a powerhouse songwriter and producer thanks to her work on P!nk's multiplatinum Misundaztood album. The debut single, “Get The Party Started,” which Linda wrote solo, was a global smash. She followed it up with another solo-written composition, “Beautiful,” which became a chart-topping ballad for Christina Aguilera that earned a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year. Subsequent chart success came with Gwen Stefani's debut solo single “What You Waiting For,” Alicia Keys's “Superwoman,” Ariana Grande's debut single “Put Your Hearts Up,” Miley Cyrus's “Hands of Love,” and additional singles for Aguilera, including the Top 10 hits “Hurt” and “Keeps Gettin' Better.” Recently, Linda collaborated with Dolly Parton on the soundtrack of the film Dumplin', including the song “Girl in the Movies,” which was nominated for both a Golden Globe and a Grammy award. Linda is a four-time Grammy nominee, including a 2019 nomination for Producer of the Year, making her the only solo female producer to ever earn a nomination for their work producing other artists. The long list of artists Linda has produced, collaborated with, or had her songs covered by include Adele, Courtney Love, Cheap Trick, Faith Hill, Britney Spears, KT Tunstall, Weezer, Pat Benetar, Solange, L.P., Joan Jett, The Chicks, Vanessa Carlton, Celine Dion, Elvis Costello, and Lady Gaga. In addition to her prolific songwriting and production activities, Perry is a multi-faceted music industry entrepreneur, having worked as a music publisher, manager, or mentor with artists such as James Blunt, Dorothy, and Natasha Bedingfield.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains the Guru Puja prayers and offerings. He begins by reminding us to cultivate the special bodhicitta motivation and visualize offering all the extensive offerings in front of us as well as those in all the FPMT center gompas worldwide. By offering these on behalf of every sentient being to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, it becomes a very powerful puja for all sentient beings.Rinpoche also explains that if a family member has passed away (or is in the process of dying), it's very good to make offerings on their behalf. He describes how Tibetans commonly do so many things when a family member dies, including making extensive light offerings in holy places. However, more education is needed in the West about the many things that can be done when somebody dies. It's also very important for the centers to do whatever they can when a family member or student passes away by doing pujas, making extensive offerings, chanting the Chenrezig mantra together, and doing the Thirty-Five Buddha practice. He emphasizes that there are so many good things that can be done.Rinpoche discusses why the chanting should be done in Tibetan rather than English. One benefit is that it keeps the secrecy of the Guru Puja practice when it's done in public. If others don't understand the meaning, there's no danger of bad thoughts arising. Another benefit is that when chanted slowly, it gives you time to meditate. Also, the chanting came from enlightened beings, so it carries a blessing. Moreover, if the chanting is done well, it moves the mind; it helps to transform the mind more easily. However, Rinpoche adds that for sections of the prayer where there are no verses, where it's not chantable, it is not necessary to read in Tibetan.The session concludes with the bodhisattva and tantric vows, Samayavajra visualization, and food offerings. Rinpoche explains the benefits of taking vows, which he describes as the most powerful, most important, fundamental practice.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

From Boca Raton, Florida, this is Behind the Bima. This week, Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, Rabbi Josh Broide, and Rabbi Philip Moskowitz are joined by the renowned Israeli singer, Akiva Turgeman. Together, they explore Akiva's rise to fame, his deep personal connection to the music that unites the Jewish people, and his inspiring message of hope and resilience. Tune in for an intimate conversation that goes beyond the music. All this and more - Behind the Bima.Show Notes:Akiva Turgeman, known professionally as Akiva, is an Israeli singer-songwriter renowned for his fusion of traditional Jewish themes with contemporary music styles. Born in 1991 in Dimona, Israel, he is the son of Rabbi David Turgeman, head of the Gevoha Yeshiva, and hails from a family instrumental in founding Dimona. Akiva's musical journey began at the Mizmor Music Academy, where he honed his singing and songwriting skills. Following his studies, he served as a combat soldier in the IDF's Golani Brigade. His diverse musical influences range from Led Zeppelin to traditional Moroccan piyutim, reflecting his mixed Moroccan and Canadian heritage.   His breakthrough came in 2018 with the single “Al Ta'azvi Yadayim” (“Don't Let Go”), which topped Israeli music charts and garnered millions of views on YouTube. Subsequent hits like “Pshutim” and “Atah Holech Iti” have solidified his place in the Israeli music scene. Akiva's discography includes albums such as “Olamot” (2017), “Al Ta'azvi Yadayim” (2021), and “Elef Mena'ulim” (2024).

Did you enjoy this episode? Text us your thoughts and be sure to include the episode name.We kick off our latest accounting series focused on financial statement presentation and we go back to the basics. This first episode sets the stage by covering foundational reporting principles, key disclosure considerations, notable differences between public and private company financial statements, and accounting changes and error corrections.In this episode, we discuss:1:04 – Foundational GAAP and SEC requirements for financial statement presentation2:46 – Determining appropriate reporting periods5:01 – Balance sheet presentation: classification, required disclosures, and best practices11:23 – Income statement presentation: structure and key considerations21:10 – Accounting changes, estimates, and error corrections31:50 – Subsequent events: recognition and disclosureFor more on this topic read the following chapters in our Financial statement presentation guide:Chapter 1: General presentation and disclosure requirementsChapter 2: Balance sheetChapter 3: Income statementChapter 28: Subsequent eventsChapter 30: Accounting changesAdditionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay in the loop for the latest thought leadership. About our guestPat Durbin is a PwC National Office Deputy Chief Accountant. He has over 30 years of experience consulting with our clients and engagement teams on complex accounting matters, including issues related to revenue, compensation, income taxes, and inventory under both US GAAP and IFRS.About our hostGuest host Diana Stoltzfus is a partner in the National Office who helps to shape PwC's perspectives on regulatory matters, responses to rulemakings, and policy development, and implementation related to significant new rules and regulations. Prior to rejoining PwC, Diana was the Deputy Chief Accountant in the Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA) at the SEC where she led the activities of the Professional Practices Group within the OCA.Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com. 

Episode 139 Doe: ID 'Wayne County Jane Doe' Connie Christensen  In December, 1982, deer hunters in Wayne County, Indiana, found skeletal remains in the woods along Martindale Creek. When the remains were first found, authorities were unable to tell much about the skeletonized remains other than that they belonged to an adult female. There was no ID found with the remains, but police theorized that they had a homicide on their hands. Later they would be proven right when it was discovered that the victim had died from a gunshot. Police were stumped as they had no missing females in their area that matched the clues that they had for this victim, and the investigation slowed. The unknown homicide victim became known as 'Wayne County Jane Doe'. Years later, DNA & genealogy would be used to finally identify this victim. Her name was Connie L. Christensen, and she had last been seen by her family in March, 1982, when she dropped her young daughter off with family saying that she was leaving the area. Connie was believed to have been pregnant when she was last seen by her family. Subsequent investigation revealed that Connie spent time in Nashville, TN, in April, 1982. After that, she vanished. An older man that had a relationship with Connie is a suspect in her murder. Unfortunately, this suspect has passed away, and perhaps took anything he knew about Connie's death to his grave. Although Wayne County Jane Doe's killer has never been brought to justice, she at least has her name back; it's Connie Christensen, and this is her story.   

John Collett Ryland played an important role in English nonconformist education for forty years. Dissenting academies, as they were called, were necessitated by the reestablishment of the monarchy and state church in 1660. Subsequent legislation made it impossible for conscientious dissenters to gain entrance to English universities. Pre-university education was also difficult because any school had to be licensed by the local bishop. But after the 1720s, non-conformist education began to be recognized and even monetarily subsidized by the government. And so by the time Ryland began to teach, he was generally able to freely run his schools.   For more information about CBTS, visit CBTSeminary.org

John Collett Ryland played an important role in English nonconformist education for forty years. Dissenting academies, as they were called, were necessitated by the reestablishment of the monarchy and state church in 1660. Subsequent legislation made it impossible for conscientious dissenters to gain entrance to English universities. Pre-university education was also difficult because any school had to be licensed by the local bishop. But after the 1720s, non-conformist education began to be recognized and even monetarily subsidized by the government. And so by the time Ryland began to teach, he was generally able to freely run his schools.For more information about CBTS, visit CBTSeminary.org

Medial meniscal repair performed at the time of primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has been shown to be significantly associated with subsequent surgery, and subsequent surgery has been associated with increased Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain score and decreased patient satisfaction.   In conclusion, successful medial meniscal repair performed at the time of primary ACLR decreased clinically significant knee pain 10 years postoperatively. However, the mediating effect of subsequent surgery was significant and diminished the overall contribution of medial meniscal repair in decreasing the likelihood of KOOS pain. Continued efforts should be made to decrease the likelihood of subsequent surgery after medial meniscal repair performed at the time of primary ACLR.     Click here to read the article.

John Collett Ryland played an important role in English nonconformist education for forty years. Dissenting academies, as they were called, were necessitated by the reestablishment of the monarchy and state church in 1660. Subsequent legislation made it impossible for conscientious dissenters to gain entrance to English universities. Pre-university education was also difficult because any school had to be licensed by the local bishop. But after the 1720s, non-conformist education began to be recognized and even monetarily subsidized by the government. And so by the time Ryland began to teach, he was generally able to freely run his schools.   For more information about CBTS, visit CBTSeminary.org

Send us a textThis is the second in a series of discussions with the famed developmental psychologist Debra Pepler in which she reflects on her research, experiences, and her approach to fostering positive outcomes for kids. In this episode, Deb explains her developmental-relational approach and the concepts that are important to it. Subsequent episodes will explore how to apply this approach in the home, in the classroom, and in public spaces and policies. More information about Deb is at talkingaboutkids.com.

In explaining the general confession, Lama Zopa Rinpoche says that there are two types of regret. One type is useless because it only brings suffering; the other is positive as it leads to happiness. For example, if you feel regret after having done a virtuous action, it decreases the merit. Conversely, if you feel regret about a non-virtuous action, it weakens the negative karma. So, one way to purify negative karma is by regretting negative actions. Another method of purification is to look at the emptiness of each negative karma. These negative karmas do exist, but not in the way they appear to our hallucinated mind. They are merely labelled by the mind. Rinpoche expresses that this is like throwing an atomic bomb at the negative karma.Rinpoche instructs that the way to generate regret is by reflecting on the resultant four types of suffering (the result of the complete negative karma, the possessed result to do with the place, the result similar to the cause, and creating the result similar to the cause). By understanding karma, you will feel that any negative karma—even a small one—is unbearable. Rinpoche goes on to explain each of the negative actions. He cites those related to our parents as very heavy negative karma due to the power of the object. Because it's so heavy, you start to experience the result in this life. He also mentions that disrespect towards your abbot or vajra master is the heaviest one, because the object is more powerful than the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Similarly, disrespect towards spiritual friends and vajra kin is very heavy. Rinpoche leads the confession and purification of these and other misdeeds by focusing on regret and emptiness. He advises that whenever we do a purification practice, we should end by meditating on emptiness.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

France has restarted negotiations toward defining its future relationship with New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in the southwest Pacific that is home to about 293,000 people. The move ends nine months of political limbo following violent protests, including roadblocks and riots, that erupted across the territory in May 2024. The protests came in reaction to French President Emmanuel Macron's plan to add more than 25,000 people to the territory's electoral roll to reflect inhabitants who have arrived, mainly from mainland France, over the past two decades. The rolls had been restricted as part of an agreement ending an armed independence movement in New Caledonia in 1988. The largely pro-independence indigenous islanders, who comprise about 41 percent of the population, feared the change would have diluted their influence in future elections. During his visit to New Caledonia to announce the reopening of negotiations in late February, French Overseas Minister Manuel Valls referred to the protests, saying, "There is a before and an after." He characterized negotiations as an "opportunity" and said it was his "responsibility … to find a way" toward an agreement that satisfies everyone. But that won't be easy. The islands of New Caledonia were first colonized by France in the mid-19th century. After World War II, they were designated an "overseas territory" with greater citizenship rights. But entrenched poverty and disenfranchisement in Kanak communities ignited an armed rebellion against French rule in the 1980s. Subsequent talks between the French government and island leaders resulted in the 1988 Matignon Accord and the 1998 Noumea Accord, which together outlined provisions for greater autonomy for New Caledonia, recognition of indigenous rights and investment in rural development, while guaranteeing that three referendums on independence would be held. An additional measure meant to prevent Kanaks from being politically marginalized restricted the electoral roll for the referendums as well as local elections to indigenous voters and inhabitants residing in the territory prior to 1998. The accords led to some progress in bridging the development gap, but significant disparities between the Kanak and non-Kanak populations remain. New Caledonia has one of the highest GDP per capita in the region, at $33,516 in 2022, compared to $5,405 in Fiji, for instance. Yet at 38 percent, the unemployment rate among Kanaks is more than three times the rate of 11 percent for the general New Caledonian population. And according to a recent study in North Province and Loyalty Islands, where communities are mainly indigenous, 62 percent and 77 percent of people respectively have lower than average living standards. Political frustrations also increased in 2021, after the third and final referendum under the Noumea Accords resulted in another defeat for the pro-independence movement. The first two votes, in 2018 and 2020, had shown a narrowing margin of victory for the pro-France majority, at 57 percent and 53 percent respectively. But Kanaks sought to postpone the final referendum, as it was scheduled to take place during the pandemic at a time when their cultural mourning rites would prevent many who had lost family members from going to the polls. When the vote went ahead as planned, they boycotted, resulting in a 98 percent victory for the pro-France position. As a result, the pro-independence movement has refused to accept the referendum's outcome, and many maintain calls for full self-determination. A major test will be when negotiations again broach the subject of electoral reforms, which French authorities have announced are back on the table. Two years later, Macron's proposed electoral reforms, on top of his refusal to countenance a rerun of the referendum, inflamed existing grievances, and when those reforms were passed by a parliamentary vote in 2024, large numbers of Kanak youth took to the streets. Yet while protesters ...

About James Currier James Currier is the Chief Revenue Officer at Finloc USA, where James leads the sales team across the country in a relentless pursuit for increased market share in the equipment finance field. After starting his professional career as a Business Analyst in the healthcare field, James came to realize that his passions were best suited to dealing with people and organizations aiming for growth. After a two year contract was completed with Fraser & Interior Health Authorities in British Columbia, a career change ensued and James has not looked back since. Combining the analytical fundamentals learned in healthcare and a natural gravitation towards people and business development, James has thrived in a sales career since 2012, leading, managing, and training dozens of people over the past several years. Subsequent to the completion of a >$400MM acquisition at his previous company, James made the jump to Finloc where he was first tasked with hiring and redeveloping the Ontario, Canada market. James was then assigned to manage the US division for Finloc as a player/coach, originating new asset-based financing opportunities and finding, attracting, and training new talent. James has worked in an exceptionally diverse range of roles since the age of 15, starting as a minor hockey league referee. His openness to new experience has allowed James to experience positions as a head of high-profile security, high-adventure whitewater rafter guide, Corporal in the Canadian Armed Forces Infantry Reserve, business analyst, VIP/Private security operative, personal support worker, guitar teacher, and sales leader. As a well-versed hobbyist who enjoys learning and new experiences, James enjoys coaching/playing/watching hockey, swimming, guitar, hunting, fly fishing, boating/canoeing, cycling, hiking, woodworking, motorcycling, reading, DIY projects, and evening walks with his wife, 2 boys, and golden retriever.   Connect with James LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-currier-clfp-232b0842/?originalSubdomain=ca  Email: james.currier@finloc.com    

Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains that any happiness—temporary or up to enlightenment—depends on merit. Therefore, merit is incredibly precious. Rinpoche urges us to rejoice and feel happiness in our heart by recollecting all our past, present, and future merits. Each time we rejoice, the merit doubles. We should also rejoice in others' merit. If we rejoice in the merits of a being whose mind is lower than ours, we collect double the merit that they collected. However, if the being's mind is higher than ours, we collect half of their merit. Rinpoche gives the example of rejoicing in a bodhisattva's one day of merit, in collecting half of that merit, we collect the equivalent of 13,000 years of merit in just one second.Then, by dedicating our merit to achieving enlightenment for all sentient beings, it becomes the cause to achieve this. Otherwise, it would only become the cause of happiness in our future lives and liberation from samsara.Rinpoche emphasizes that this merit must be collected yourself; it doesn't come from outside. It depends on your own positive mental attitude. Rinpoche explains that ordinary people believe happiness and suffering come from outside, but this is totally mistaken. Even though there are external conditions, these are not the main cause. The main cause of happiness and suffering is our own mind.In explaining the concept of merit making, Rinpoche delves into a side story about the Maitreya Buddha project in Kushinagar. He describes how His Holiness the Dalai Lama did a divination to determine the place and type of statue. He also details his trip to the holy mountain of Sipri in Tibet, where he accepted the task of reviving the hermitages and building another Maitreya statue.Rinpoche contrasts the happiness of people in remote villages in Tibet to the sorrow of millionaires in the West. He explains that the villagers have a rich inner life and experience so much peace and happiness in their minds, whereas many millionaires have no satisfaction. To get satisfaction, one must let go of the chronic disease of the mind: the painful mind of grasping to this life. Rinpoche reminds us that this life is very short and has very small pleasures compared to the happiness of all future lives. So, by practicing Dharma and letting go of clinging to this life, you have peace in your heart. Like the sun shining happiness in your life, you have freedom from the prison of attachment.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Last time we spoke about the Fall of Manila. General LeMay's B-29 bombers wreaked havoc on Japan, targeting key factories at a high cost. On February 19, US Marines landed on Iwo Jima, facing fierce Japanese resistance and heavy casualties. By February 23, after relentless fighting and harsh conditions, they raised the American flag atop Mount Suribachi, marking a hard-won victory. This moment inspired a legacy for the Marine Corps, as battles raged on in the Pacific. Meanwhile troops attacked General Kobayashi's defenses at Mounts Pacawagan and Mataba, struggling to gain ground. Reinforcements arrived, leading to coordinated assaults, but progress was slow. Meanwhile, General Yamashita reorganized his forces in response to increased guerrilla activity. As American divisions advanced, they faced fierce resistance but gradually secured key positions. Guerrilla leader Volckmann disrupted Japanese supply lines, significantly impacting their operations. Amidst the chaos, a daring rescue mission freed over 2,000 internees, though it provoked brutal reprisals against civilians. This episode is the Great Tokyo Air Raid Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  Today we are continuing with the ongoing battle over Iwo Jima. By the end of February, Colonel Liversedge's 28th Marines had successfully secured Mount Suribachi, while the other regiments from the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions advanced toward the O-2 Line, situated beyond Airfield No. 2. This location was where General Kuribayashi maintained his primary defensive positions, which were heavily fortified with caves, tunnels, and traps. On March 1, General Rockey continued his offensive on the left flank as the fresh 28th Marines moved through the weary 27th Marines, led by Colonel Wornham, and launched an assault on Hill 362A and its adjacent positions. The corps' 155mm howitzers and 5th Division artillery commenced firing a preparation at K-minus 45 minutes. One battleship and two cruisers from the gunfire and covering force added their heavy fires from 08:00 to 08:30. Aircraft from the support carrier group delivered strikes throughout the day, but did not participate in preparation for the attack. This proved one of the busiest days for Task Force 54 since D-Day as fire support ships dueled with enemy shore batteries until late afternoon. Shortly after dawn enemy guns in the northern part of the island opened up, and at 07:25 the destroyer Terry took a direct hit by a 6-inch shell, suffering heavy casualties. The battleship Nevada immediately engaged these hostile installations, and after completing their mission in support of the landing force, the cruisers Indianapolis and Pensacola shifted to counter battery fire. At 10:25 the destroyer Colhoun was hit by a major-caliber projectile, and soon after this enemy shells straddled the destroyer Stembel. Counter Battery fire continued throughout the day with the Nevada destroying one casemated gun and starting a fire in another emplacement, while the Pensacola's batteries accounted for a third Japanese gun. Following the robust aerial, naval, and artillery bombardment, Liversedge's forces achieved some initial success, including capturing the hilltop, but were ultimately halted by intense machine-gun fire from Nishi Ridge to the north. However, the 3rd Battalion along the coast managed to advance approximately 350 yards against lighter resistance. In the center, General Erskine also pressed forward beyond Airfield No. 2, with Colonel Withers' 21st Marines advancing north and northeast about 500 yards into the incomplete Airfield No. 3. At the same time, General Cates continued to send his troops into the fray. Colonel Jordan's 24th Marines replaced Colonel Wensinger's exhausted 23rd Marines on the left and fought to dislodge the enemy from Hill 382. They succeeded in advancing about 100 yards along the division's left boundary and 50 yards on the right, establishing a foothold on elevated terrain overlooking Minami village. Further south, Colonel Lanigan committed only his 1st Battalion to eliminate the salient around the Amphitheater and Turkey Knob, but this assault was again met with fierce Japanese gunfire. This relief enabled Erskine to initiate a late two-regiment offensive, with the 21st Marines on the left and Colonel Kenyon's 9th Marines on the right, although this effort did not achieve any significant progress. The following day, the assault persisted, but the 9th Marines made minimal headway against a strong enemy position on the right, while the 21st Marines advanced toward the base of Hill 362B and the southern edge of Airfield No. 3. Concurrently, Liversedge's 28th Marines successfully cleared Hill 362A and moved toward Nishi Ridge, where they repelled a fierce counterattack by 150 Japanese soldiers. Colonel Graham's 26th Marines were once again deployed to fill the gap between the 3rd and 5th Marine Divisions, managing to gain approximately 500 yards to the north. Jordan's 24th Marines finally captured Hill 382 and advanced about 300 yards on the left flank. Meanwhile, Lanigan's 1st Battalion made another unsuccessful attempt to infiltrate and take the high ground north of Turkey Knob. As described by an intelligence officer with the 4th Marine Division “As a result of a close study of the enemy's recent defensive action, aided by observation from OP's and air reconnaissance, the following explanation is suggested of the enemy's defense in this Div's Z of A. The enemy remains below ground in his maze of communicating tunnels throughout our preliminary arty fires. When the fire ceases he pushed OP's out of entrances not demolished by our fires. Then choosing a suitable exit he moves as many men and weapons to the surface as he can, depending on the cover and concealment of that area, often as close as 75 yards from our front. As our troops advance toward this point he delivers all the fire at his disposal, rifle, machine-gun, and mortar. When he has inflicted sufficient casualties to pin down our advance he then withdraws through his underground tunnels most of his forces, possibly leaving a few machine gunners and mortars. Meanwhile our Bn CO has coordinated his direct support weapons and delivers a concentration of rockets, mortars and artillery. Our tanks then push in, supported by infantry. When the hot spot is overrun we find a handful of dead Japs and few if any enemy weapons. While this is happening, the enemy has repeated the process and another sector of our advance is engaged in a vicious fire fight, and the cycle continues.”  Meanwhile the remainder of the 25th Marines managed to advance 300 yards along the coast without facing any opposition. On March 3, the capture of Hill 362A enabled flame-thrower tanks to assist in the advance northward. The 5th Marine Division prepared to press on with its assaults through Nishi Ridge and Hill 362B. The majority of the 28th Marines faced strong resistance as they moved forward over 200 yards. Liversedge's 1st Battalion and Graham's 1st Battalion executed a coordinated attack to take the main enemy positions ahead of them. Meanwhile, the remainder of the 26th Marines surged forward, achieving a gain of over 500 yards, which allowed them to relieve Kenyon's 3rd Battalion and secure the summit of Hill 362B. In the center, the 9th Marines remained in a stalemate, while the 21st Marines launched a vigorous attack to the northeast, successfully capturing the summit of Hill 357 at the eastern edge of the Motoyama Plateau. They then attempted another assault southeast toward Hill 362C, which resulted in a modest gain of about 250 yards. Meanwhile, in the 4th Marine Division's sector, Wensinger's 23rd Marines were deployed in the center, where determined Japanese defenders continued to thwart intense American assaults, despite the partial reduction of the Turkey Knob blockhouse. To the left, the 24th Marines resumed their offensive southeast, advancing up to 350 yards in the center. During the eight days of deadlock and fierce conflict in the Hill 382 and Turkey Knob areas, the weather had been generally favorable. Mild temperatures and fair skies predominated, although early in the morning ground haze combined with smoke to limit observation, and on a few days light showers fell in the afternoon. Night temperatures sometimes went below 60°F, and it was then that tired Marines were grateful for the characteristic subterranean heat of the island that warmed their foxholes. The next day, March 4, dawned gray and sullen, and intermittent showers fell from the overcast skies. Visibility was so limited that all air strikes were canceled and aerial observation seriously curtailed. On the right, Cates' Marines pressed the attack southeast but could only gain 150 yards against the defenders' fierce resistance. To the left, after a failed Japanese infiltration attempt overnight to gather food and water, both the 9th and 21st Marines made no progress with their costly eastward assaults. Finally, supported closely by flame-throwing tanks and combat engineers, Rockey's Marines fought fiercely but achieved only minor advances, prompting Wornham's 27th Marines to be thrown back into the battle to reinforce the two battered assault regiments. March 5 was then dedicated to reorganizing and resupplying the three Marine Divisions in preparation for a renewed effort the next day. Additionally, the reserve 3rd Marines, led by Colonel James Stuart, were sent back to Guam without having landed on Iwo Jima. The three divisions accordingly resumed the offensive on March 6 after a terrific artillery and naval gunfire bombardment. First, on the left, Erskine attacked with his three regiments abreast yet failed to make any significant advance. Then, in the center, the 9th and 21st Marines likewise unsuccessfully attacked towards Hill 362C, though the latter managed to clear the entire Hill 357 area. Lastly, Wensinger's 23rd Marines passed through the 24th on the division left and pressed on forward against heavy opposition, successfully gaining between 150 and 350 yards while Jordan's battalions gained up to 150 yards in their front. Additionally, the 25th Marines mopped up in its area and Cates' Provisional Battalion kept hammering against the Amphitheater-Turkey Knob area. In the knowledge that the battle was swinging irrevocably in favor of the Americans, General Kuribayashi radioed Tokyo: "Our strongpoints might be able to fight delaying actions for several more days. I comfort myself a little seeing my officers and men die without regret after struggling in this inch-by-inch battle against an overwhelming enemy...". The General's predictions were, if anything, on the pessimistic side as his garrison would prolong the battle for another three weeks. Although the fighting was dragging terribly, on this day Brigadier-General Ernest Moore successfully landed on Airfield No. 1 alongside 28 P-51s and 12 P-61s of the 15th Fighter Group to take over control of island air activities. The following day, the Island Commander, Major-General James Chaney, assumed responsibility for base development, air defense, and operation of the airfields. Meanwhile, Schmidt was continuing his coordinated offensive, with the 28th Marines meeting only scattered resistance as it pushed 500 yards north; the 26th Marines overrunning the enemy defenses and gaining about 150 yards before resistance stiffened once again; the 27th Marines attacking on a narrow front but likewise gaining only 150 yards; the 21st Marines achieving tactical surprise to reach Hill 331 and then pushing 250 yards more to Hill 362C, which was ultimately seized as well; the 9th Marines ferociously attacking east but gaining only 200 yards before a rain of fire stopped them; the 23rd Marines recovering from a savage Japanese night counterattack and then pushing around 150 yards against strong resistance; the 24th Marines only progressing over 50 yards as it neutralized a number of enemy defenses; and the 25th Marines and the Provisional Battalion continuing secondary operations against the Amphitheater-Turkey Knob area. On March 8, Rockey pressed on toward the northeast coast, with the 28th Marines advancing against minimal resistance, gaining between 300 and 500 yards along the shoreline. Meanwhile, the 26th Marines faced a complete stalemate against the intricate network of pillboxes and interconnected caves that had once comprised the village of Kita. The 27th Marines managed to advance approximately 150 yards with tank support. In the center, the 21st Marines shifted northeast again, successfully gaining 300 yards through the last organized resistance in the area, while the 9th Marines captured Hill 362C and continued their eastward assault, reaching the edge of the plateau overlooking the beach and initiating a flanking maneuver south of Hill 331. On the right flank, the 23rd and 24th Marines continued their attacks but made little headway against the enemy's formidable defenses. That night, General Senda launched a strong counterattack that caught the Americans off guard. Two of Senda's orderlies would survive and report what occurred during the daring counterattack. Many of his troops believed that Inoue was a superior leader who inspired his men to perform outstanding feats of bravery; others thought he was a maniac. The sight of the Stars and Stripes flying on top of Mount Suribachi had filled him with increasing rage. He is quoted as saying: "We shall destroy their banner, we shall replace it with ours in the name of the great Emperor and the great people of Japan." Inoue was in charge of the Naval Guard Force who manned the shore guns that sank and damaged many of the US warships and landing craft, and was described as a bombastic and temperamental character, a fine swordsman, heavy drinker, and womanizer. His bizarre plan almost beggars belief. The Captain was certain that the airfields would be lightly defended by service troops. He and his men would move southward, destroying B29 bombers as they passed; climb Mount Suribachi and tear down the Stars and Stripes; and replace it with the Rising Sun as an inspiration to all Japanese troops on the island.  However this never came to be. The determined defenders, bolstered by heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, repelled the assault, resulting in approximately 800 Japanese casualties. Under relentless pressure in a shrinking area where most critical terrain features had been seized, the disorganized Japanese forces saw a fleeting opportunity to escape destruction, raid American-controlled airfields, and reclaim Mount Suribachi with this counterattack. However, its failure effectively depleted Senda's remaining strength and chances for continued resistance. The following day, Cates resumed the offensive, with the 23rd Marines making minor gains along their front, while Jordan's 3rd Battalion achieved a notable breakthrough of 300 yards. Furthermore, the Provisional Battalion was disbanded, and Lanigan's 2nd Battalion assumed control of the Amphitheater-Turkey Knob region. In the center, Erskine persisted in his advance toward the sea, with patrols from the 9th and 21st Marines successfully reaching the beach as American forces continued to secure the area. Meanwhile, to the left, Rockey faced significant resistance, with his troops soon coming under intense and precise fire from elevated positions extending southeast from Kitano Point. Consequently, the 26th and 27th Marines remained in a stalemate while the 28th Marines moved forward. On March 10, Liversedge's men advanced approximately 40 yards across extremely challenging terrain and against fierce opposition, while Graham's 2nd Battalion gained an additional 75 yards, with the rest of the 26th and 27th Marines still held in place. Over the past 14 days, Rockey's 5th Marine Division advanced 3,000 yards along the west coast, ultimately pushing Kuribayashi's forces into a final pocket at the northern tip of the island.  In a dispatch to Tokyo on March 10, General Kuribayashi summed up the Japanese situation in this manner: “Although the attacks of the enemy against our Northern districts are continuing day and night, our troops are still fighting bravely and holding their positions thoroughly… 200 or 300 American infantrymen with several tanks attacked "Tenzan" all day. The enemy's bombardments from one battleship (or cruiser), 11 destroyers, and aircraft are very severe, especially the bombing and machine-gun fire against Divisional Headquarters from 30 fighters and bombers are so fierce that I cannot express nor write here.” Not until 15 bloody days later did Marines eliminate the last pocket of organized enemy resistance in the northern end of the island. By D+19 all that remained for the enemy force was to fight and die for the Emperor. This advance came at a significant cost, with Rockey suffering 1,098 men killed and 2,974 wounded during this time. In the center, the 21st Marines reported that all organized resistance in their area had been eliminated, while the 9th Marines moved toward the beach, facing harassment from enemy fire from a resisting pocket on their right. Nevertheless, Erskine's 3rd Marine Division successfully secured the airfield areas and only needed to eliminate this last remaining pocket in their zone. However, personnel losses during this 14-day campaign were substantial, with Erskine losing 831 men killed and 2,241 wounded. Finally, Cates took over from the 24th Marines as he initiated his final offensive eastward. Consequently, the 23rd Marines advanced southeast with minimal resistance, covering approximately 700 yards before stopping at a strategic high ground about 500 yards from the beach, while patrols moved toward the coast near Tachiiwa Point. Simultaneously, Lanigan's 1st and 3rd Battalions pushed 600 yards southeast against stronger opposition and successfully occupied the key terrain southwest of Higashi. Meanwhile, the 2nd Battalion advanced northeast to join them, effectively driving the remaining enemy forces into a small pocket in that area. Over the last 14 days, Cates' 4th Marine Division engaged in relentless assaults, fighting fiercely from Charlie-Dog Ridge past Hill 382, the Amphitheater, Turkey Knob, through Minami, and the formidable defenses northeast of Hill 382, nearly reaching the coast.  The Japanese conducted an astute defense in this sector. General Kuribayashi had planned well, but much credit for execution of the plan in the 4th Marine Division zone must go to General Senda, who commanded the 2nd Mixed Brigade and exercised tactical control during the battle. Enemy weapons and minefields were well placed to take maximum advantage of terrain features, fire control was excellent when judged by Japanese standards, and camouflage discipline outstanding. Machine-gun positions controlled draws, while mortars were disposed to deliver fire on routes of approach, including the crests, forward, and reverse slopes of ridges. The one obvious mistake made by the Japanese in this long, grueling defense to the death was the night counterattack of March 8. This action cost them many lives and gained no advantage. Even this rather hopeless plunge can be somewhat justified, however, when the situation that existed then is seen from the Japanese point of view. By March 8, the enemy was under heavy, constant pressure in an ever-shrinking area where most of the critical terrain features had been captured. He was quickly becoming dispossessed and disorganized, with few courses of action remaining. Because communications were undoubtedly badly disrupted, it is possible that the Japanese facing the 4th Division did not realize just how hopeless his cause appeared and therefore harbored some hope that the counterattack might not be in vain. The cost was significant, with Cates suffering 848 men killed and 2,836 wounded.  While the battle raged on Iwo Jima, General LeMay was also preparing for a major raid on Tokyo, known as Operation Meetinghouse. After a precision strike by 192 B-29 bombers against Musashi on March 4, which resulted in minimal damage due to heavy cloud cover, a decision was made to move away from the 21st Bomber Command's traditional focus on precision bombing. This eighth fiasco at Musashi marked the end of a well-defined phase of 21st Bomber Command's operations. The effort to knock out the Japanese aircraft industry by high-altitude, daylight precision bombing of carefully selected targets had failed. Production of aircraft engines, not grossly off scheduled programs when 21st Bomber Command came to the Marianas, fell off sharply during the last two months of 1944 and production of aircraft declined slightly during the same period. In neither case, however, could the shortages be accounted for by destruction wrought by the B-29's; indeed, the output of Franks at Ota had decreased from 300 a month to 100 before the first air strike. Not one of the nine high-priority targets had been destroyed, although Akashi had been effectively crippled and production had been slowed down at Mitsubishi's engine and assembly plants at Nagoya and at Nakajima-Ota. Musashi had suffered only 4% damage after 835 B-29 sorties had been sent against it; Navy planes had done more harm in a single strike. Probably the indirect effects of the B-29 raids were most important: with the fall of Saipan, Japanese industrialists had begun to lose confidence in their supposed immunity from air attack. Although under governmental pressure for increased production, they began, with the first attacks on Nakajima and Mitsubishi, to hunt for underground or forest cover, and the official directive for dispersal issued in mid-January merely served to quicken a process already well under way. This radical change in manufacturing techniques, never as efficiently conducted as the similar movement in Germany had been, explains in part the slowdown in production in late 1944 and early 1945.  In 22 missions comprising 2,148 sorties, the command dropped 5,398 tons of bombs on Japan targeting the Imperial aircraft industry, but only about half of the bombers hit primary targets. Losses were substantial, largely due to fierce enemy interceptors and the lengthy overwater journey from the Marianas to Japan, which lacked any friendly bases for refueling or repairs. As a result of the high costs associated with unescorted daylight missions, the susceptibility of Japanese cities to incendiary attacks, and the minimal impact of precision bombing with high explosives, General Arnold ultimately opted for a comprehensive incendiary campaign. In preparation for the forthcoming assault on Okinawa, LeMay was tasked with initiating a series of intensive incendiary strikes from low altitudes. This lower bombing altitude would enhance accuracy, increase bomb load, and prolong the lifespan of B-29 engines. Although this approach carried risks, LeMay believed that the intense Japanese anti-aircraft fire was not overly threatening, as only two B-29s had been lost due to flak alone. He also decided to conduct these missions at night, which would decrease the likelihood of heavy cloud cover and strong winds, simplify navigation, and enable the bombers to reach the two new emergency airstrips at Iwo Jima by dawn. The first mission was set to commence immediately, with 334 B-29s from the 73rd, 313th, and 314th Bombardment Wings taking off in the late afternoon of March 9, carrying approximately 2,000 tons of bombs. The target was a rectangular area in northeastern Tokyo known as Zone I, measuring about 4 by 3 miles and encompassing most of Asakusa, Honjo, and Fukagawa Wards. After a turbulent journey, the initial pathfinders successfully identified their targets under favorable weather conditions and marked them shortly after midnight with fires However LeMay's decision came late. With the first mission set for the night of March 9, the field orders were not cut until the 8th. Although operational details would vary significantly from normal practice, there was no time to consult Washington as was so frequently done. Arnold was not even informed of the revolutionary plans until the day before the mission. The decision to attack at night ruled out the command's standard technique of lead-crew bombing. Formation flying at night was not feasible, and with flak rather than enemy fighters the chief danger, a tight formation would be a handicap rather than a source of defensive strength. With planes bombing individually from low altitudes, bomb loads could be sharply increased, to an average of about six tons per plane. Lead squadron B-29s carried 180 x 70-pound M47s, napalm-filled bombs calculated to start "appliance fires," that is, fires requiring attention of motorized fire-fighting equipment. Other planes, bombing on these pathfinders, were loaded with 24 x 500-pound clusters of M69s. Intervalometers were set at 100 feet for the pathfinders, 50 feet for the other planes. The latter setting was supposed to give a minimum density of 25 tons (8333 M69s) per square mile. Late reports indicated widespread fires that forced formations to search extensively for targets, with visibility severely hampered by smoke and bomb runs complicated by turbulence from intense heat waves. During the three-hour assault, a total of 279 B-29 bombers targeted Tokyo, successfully dropping 1,665 short tons of bombs on the primary objective. Additionally, 19 Superfortresses, unable to reach Tokyo, attacked alternative or last-resort targets. The Japanese were taken completely by surprise by this tactical shift, resulting in only moderate resistance; intense anti-aircraft fire destroyed 14 B-29s and damaged another 42, while enemy interceptors had no significant effect. The fires were so intense that they nearly extinguished themselves by mid-morning, only halted by wide gaps like rivers. Subsequent photographs revealed that 15.8 square miles had been devastated, including 18% of the industrial sector, 63% of the commercial area, and the core of the densely populated residential district. Tokyo's highly effective firefighting system was also caught off guard, leading to the destruction of 95 fire engines and the deaths of 125 firefighters, while lightweight buildings were completely consumed along with their contents. Little rubble remained; only a few fire-resistant structures, marked by heat damage, stood in the devastated areas. In total, 267,171 buildings were destroyed, 83,793 people lost their lives, 40,918 were injured, and 1,008,005 were left homeless. Moreover, it took 25 days to recover all the bodies from the debris. Radio Tokyo referred to the raid as “slaughter bombing,” with one broadcast stating that “the sea of flames engulfing the residential and commercial districts of Tokyo was reminiscent of the holocaust of Rome, caused by Emperor Nero.” The attack significantly undermined the morale of Japanese civilians, and along with other firebombing raids in March, it led many to believe that the war situation was worse than their government had acknowledged. In response, the Japanese government implemented a mix of repression, including severe penalties for those accused of disloyalty or spreading rumors, and launched an ineffective propaganda campaign aimed at restoring confidence in the nation's air and civil defense efforts. Meanwhile, LeMay and Arnold viewed the operation as a considerable success. As Tokyo mourned its losses, another 313 B-29s were sent on the afternoon of March 11 to execute a similar strike on Nagoya; however, due to minimal wind to spread the fires from the widely dispersed bombs, the results were less impressive. Nonetheless, only one B-29 was lost during the raid, with another 20 sustaining damage. It became evident, as LeMay had predicted, that the Japanese lacked effective tactics for nighttime interception. Now, attention shifts to Burma to report on the ongoing Chinese-British-Indian offensives. On General Slim's primary front, General Stopford's 33rd Corps continued its vigorous advance toward Mandalay, while General Cowan's 17th Indian Division successfully made its way to the Meiktila area in the Japanese rear. In response, Generals Kimura and Katamura sent several reinforcements to this crucial area, but only the 1st Battalion, 168th Regiment, led by Colonel Yoshida, managed to arrive in time to establish some defenses in the town, quickly transforming buildings in Meiktila into bunkers and strongpoints. On February 28, Cowan dispatched the 63rd Brigade to launch an attack from the west and the 48th Brigade to advance from the north along the Mahlaing-Meiktila road, while the 255th Tank Brigade executed a wide flanking maneuver to approach from the east. As a result, the 63rd Brigade secured Kyaukpyugon and set up a roadblock southwest of Meiktila; the 48th Brigade advanced to a bridge over a chaung approximately a mile from the town; and the 255th Brigade fought its way to Kyigon and Khanda, successfully destroying several bunkers near Point 860. On March 1, following a heavy air and artillery bombardment, Cowan's three brigades began to push into Meiktila despite fierce resistance. The 48th Brigade, bolstered by a tank squadron, advanced down the Mandalay-Meiktila road, quickly clearing Kyigon before entering the town, where they reached within 100 yards of the railroad line before the attack was halted in the late afternoon. To the east, the majority of the 255th Tank Brigade captured Point 860 and began clearing the camouflaged bunkers along the ridgeline, while a combined force of tanks and grenadiers advanced to within 200 yards of the railroad station before being recalled. Meanwhile, the 63rd Brigade, supported by a tank squadron, cleared the village of Kanna and continued past it to secure the railroad line and the main Kyaukpadaung-Meiktila road. The following day, the 17th Indian Division tightened the encirclement around Meiktila, inflicting significant casualties on the outnumbered defenders and destroying numerous enemy bunkers. On March 3, the three brigades commenced the task of eliminating the last remaining Japanese forces in and around Meiktila. They faced intense sniper and machine-gun fire from every building. However, due to the tanks' superior firepower, the Japanese strongholds were systematically taken down one by one. By the end of the day, the town was cleared, with an estimated 2,000 Japanese troops killed, including Colonel Yoshida. Additionally, 47 field pieces and anti-tank guns were captured, and the supply dumps surrounding Meiktila were secured. Cowan now needed to organize the town's defenses, anticipating a swift and fierce Japanese counterattack. Immediately after the town's capture, Kimura ordered the 18th Division to work with the weakened 49th Division to reclaim Meiktila, while Katamura reinforced General Naka with the majority of the 119th and 214th Regiments, a strong artillery unit, and the battered 14th Tank Regiment. Following the capture of Meiktila, Cowan's forces spent the next few days clearing the area of any remaining snipers and stragglers. For the town's defense, Cowan assigned each brigade and the divisional infantry to four sectors, each featuring a heavily fortified redoubt. He also tasked the 99th Brigade with defending Kyigon and Meiktila's airfield. To maintain the initiative for the 17th Division, Cowan aggressively deployed strong mobile columns of tanks, mechanized artillery, and infantry to disrupt the Japanese formations as they approached Meiktila. Consequently, while the 18th and 49th Divisions advanced, Ywadan and Nyaungaing were secured on March 5. In the following days, the main roads leading to Mahlaing, Kyaukpadaung, Pyawbwe, Thazi, and Mandalay were cleared, and the enemy units of the 214th Regiment at Thangongyi and Yego were successfully repelled on March 8. General Naka was now prepared to initiate his primary assault on Meiktila, instructing his units to concentrate their efforts north of the town, while the 214th Regiment made an unsuccessful attempt to move southwest to connect with the 49th Division. In response to these movements, on March 10, Cowan sent a robust tank-infantry force along the Mahlaing road to escort a previously dispatched column back to Meiktila, successfully inflicting significant casualties on the 56th Regiment as the British-Indians secured the Leindaw-Kyanngyagon area. However, the troops faced harassment from artillery fire originating from south of Myindawgan Lake, prompting Cowan to launch another armored sweep on March 14 to eliminate this threat. Although the 55th Regiment managed to capture the hill north of Meiktila after Cowan's tanks and infantry withdrew, the Japanese forces were unable to prevent their return, which resulted in further heavy losses. Concurrently, other tank-infantry units disrupted the advance of the 49th Division, effectively delaying the assembly of Japanese forces to the south and east of Meiktila until March 18. Additionally, a strong raid by the Komatsubara Unit was successfully repelled on March 14. In Stopford's sector, the 19th Division was preparing to launch its final offensive southward toward Mandalay, while the 2nd and 20th Divisions, after fierce fighting to expand their bridgeheads, were advancing east to assault the southern approaches to Mandalay. With close support from artillery and aircraft, General Rees' forces successfully breached the primary defenses of Lieutenant-General Yamamoto Kiyoe's 15th Division, reaching the northern outskirts of Mandalay by March 7. As the assault continued, British-Indian forces were set to enter the city on March 9. However, the determined defenders clung to Mandalay Hill and Fort Dufferin, aiming to extend the conflict and fight to the death. While Mandalay was under siege, the 62nd Brigade stealthily advanced east to Maymyo on March 11, catching the garrison off guard. The next day, Mandalay Hill ultimately fell while Fort Dufferin was being heavily bombarded within the city. By mid-March, the 2nd Division was nearing the capture of Ava, and the 20th Division was steadily advancing east to sever the supply routes from Mandalay to the south. In northern Burma, General Sultan was also pursuing his offensive. After establishing a bridgehead at Myitson, General Festing's 36th British Division faced minimal resistance and successfully took Mongmit on March 9 before continuing southward to Mogok. To the east, the 38th Chinese Division encountered only weak delaying positions as it moved towards Lashio, which was successfully occupied by March 7. At this point, the 56th Division, now independently commanding this area, was gradually retreating towards Hsipaw and Kyaukme. Although General Sun paused his advance until the Generalissimo granted permission to resume the offensive later in the month. Mountbatten feared that if more Chinese troops were withdrawn from Burma it might not be possible to take Rangoon before the monsoon rains began. This was an unpleasant prospect, so Mountbatten went to Chungking on March 8 for two days of conference with the Generalissimo. When the conference of March 9 concluded, the Generalissimo, according to the American minutes, said that he would recapitulate his decision of halting the Chinese advance at Lashio. In so doing, he remarked that the details of withdrawal would be settled later and that no final decisions would be made before General Wedemeyer was able to take part in them. Then he stated that unless there was a simultaneous amphibious attack on Rangoon, operations would stop at Lashio and Mandalay and the Allies would assume the defensive. The Chinese would stop at Lashio, but details of their operations between Lashio and Mandalay would be settled later between the staffs. The misunderstanding became quite apparent in mid-March when General Sultan, under whose command the Chinese were, received conflicting orders. Mountbatten ordered Sultan to move his forces southwestward toward Mandalay, yet the Generalissimo directed that the Chinese divisions stay in the Lashio area. As a compromise and to avoid having the Chinese wait idly around Lashio, Sultan suggested that a smaller task force be directed to proceed south. But the Generalissimo and his American advisers stood firm, lest the shift of troops to China be delayed. This in turn caused the British to believe that if the Chinese were not going to advance they should be withdrawn forthwith and end the burden on the line of communications. The 50th Chinese Division began to push south after securing the Namtu region and by mid-March reached Hsipaw. Meanwhile, in South Burma, the 82nd West African Division had taken Dalet, while the 25th Indian Division engaged in a struggle for control of the Ruywa-Tamandu area. Additionally, the 2nd West African Brigade was advancing inland toward An, posing a significant threat to the Japanese rear areas. Due to the rapid advancement of Slim's offensive, Admiral Mountbatten had to prioritize air supply for the 14th Army. This situation soon compelled General Christison to send the 25th Indian Division back to India, as his logistical support was becoming increasingly strained. Capturing Tamandu and establishing a Forward Maintenance Area there became essential. After successfully clearing Dokekan, the 74th Indian Brigade crossed the Me Chaung on March 4 to circumvent the main enemy defenses. The British-Indians pressed on, launching attacks on Tamandu in the following days, but the determined defenders put up strong resistance. Eventually, General Miyazaki withdrew most of the 111th Regiment and ordered it to attack the 2nd West African Brigade from the rear, which was finally contained by March 17. With the 25th Division scheduled to withdraw to Akyab by the end of the month, the 74th was reassigned to the 82nd West African Division and launched a final assault on Tamandu on March 11, successfully capturing the abandoned objective. The British-Indians then began to advance towards Kolan, reaching the vicinity of the town by mid-March. Simultaneously, the 154th Regiment counterattacked the West Africans at Dalet, successfully halting the enemy's advance beyond the river. Meanwhile, the 4th Indian Brigade landed at Mae near Letpan on March 13 from Ramree Island and established a roadblock to prevent enemy escape. In response, the 121st Regiment sent several companies to conduct a delaying action aimed at slowing the enemy's southward advance. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The battle for Iwo Jima intensified as the Marines advanced against fortified Japanese positions, facing heavy resistance and suffering significant casualties while capturing key terrain over several weeks of fierce combat. Meanwhile General LeMay shifted from precision bombing to incendiary raids on Tokyo, resulting in significant destruction and civilian casualties, while Japanese morale plummeted amid military setbacks.  

Explore the captivating story of the Romanian revolution of 1989, a pivotal moment shaped by the country's rich history of resisting and embracing external influences. This intricate tapestry of events traces back to the second century AD when the Roman Emperor Trajan conquered the region, leaving an indelible mark in the form of plundered gold. Subsequent waves of invaders, including Goths, Huns, Bulgars, Magyars, and Ottomans, were met with fierce resistance, led by legendary figures like Vlad The Impaler. Each conqueror left behind a lasting legacy, contributing to Romania's unique heterogeneity in a region dominated by homogeneity. While neighboring Slavic countries followed certain paths, Romania charted its own course, embracing Orthodox Christianity while adopting the Latin alphabet. As a result, Romanian stands as the language most closely linked to modern Italian, setting it apart from the predominantly Slavic, Turkic, or Greek languages spoken in the Balkan nations. Join us in this episode as we unravel the complex historical threads that culminated in the Romanian revolution of 1989, shedding light on a nation's enduring spirit of resistance and its quest for a distinct identity. Originally Broadcast in 2022   Sound Effects: Pixabay BBC John Simpson BBC1 News English: Address from the Brandenburg Gate (Berlin Wall). Full text at Wikisource Date12 June 1987SourceUniversity of Virginia Miller Center for Public Affairs President Kennedy's “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech. Transcript available.[1] Date26 June 1963SourceKennedy Presidential Library[2]AuthorJohn F. Kennedy

Technology doesn't force us to do anything — it merely opens doors. But military and economic competition pushes us through.That's how today's guest Allan Dafoe — director of frontier safety and governance at Google DeepMind — explains one of the deepest patterns in technological history: once a powerful new capability becomes available, societies that adopt it tend to outcompete those that don't. Those who resist too much can find themselves taken over or rendered irrelevant.Links to learn more, highlights, video, and full transcript.This dynamic played out dramatically in 1853 when US Commodore Perry sailed into Tokyo Bay with steam-powered warships that seemed magical to the Japanese, who had spent centuries deliberately limiting their technological development. With far greater military power, the US was able to force Japan to open itself to trade. Within 15 years, Japan had undergone the Meiji Restoration and transformed itself in a desperate scramble to catch up.Today we see hints of similar pressure around artificial intelligence. Even companies, countries, and researchers deeply concerned about where AI could take us feel compelled to push ahead — worried that if they don't, less careful actors will develop transformative AI capabilities at around the same time anyway.But Allan argues this technological determinism isn't absolute. While broad patterns may be inevitable, history shows we do have some ability to steer how technologies are developed, by who, and what they're used for first.As part of that approach, Allan has been promoting efforts to make AI more capable of sophisticated cooperation, and improving the tests Google uses to measure how well its models could do things like mislead people, hack and take control of their own servers, or spread autonomously in the wild.As of mid-2024 they didn't seem dangerous at all, but we've learned that our ability to measure these capabilities is good, but imperfect. If we don't find the right way to ‘elicit' an ability we can miss that it's there.Subsequent research from Anthropic and Redwood Research suggests there's even a risk that future models may play dumb to avoid their goals being altered.That has led DeepMind to a “defence in depth” approach: carefully staged deployment starting with internal testing, then trusted external testers, then limited release, then watching how models are used in the real world. By not releasing model weights, DeepMind is able to back up and add additional safeguards if experience shows they're necessary.But with much more powerful and general models on the way, individual company policies won't be sufficient by themselves. Drawing on his academic research into how societies handle transformative technologies, Allan argues we need coordinated international governance that balances safety with our desire to get the massive potential benefits of AI in areas like healthcare and education as quickly as possible.Host Rob and Allan also cover:The most exciting beneficial applications of AIWhether and how we can influence the development of technologyWhat DeepMind is doing to evaluate and mitigate risks from frontier AI systemsWhy cooperative AI may be as important as aligned AIThe role of democratic input in AI governanceWhat kinds of experts are most needed in AI safety and governanceAnd much moreChapters:Cold open (00:00:00)Who's Allan Dafoe? (00:00:48)Allan's role at DeepMind (00:01:27)Why join DeepMind over everyone else? (00:04:27)Do humans control technological change? (00:09:17)Arguments for technological determinism (00:20:24)The synthesis of agency with tech determinism (00:26:29)Competition took away Japan's choice (00:37:13)Can speeding up one tech redirect history? (00:42:09)Structural pushback against alignment efforts (00:47:55)Do AIs need to be 'cooperatively skilled'? (00:52:25)How AI could boost cooperation between people and states (01:01:59)The super-cooperative AGI hypothesis and backdoor risks (01:06:58)Aren't today's models already very cooperative? (01:13:22)How would we make AIs cooperative anyway? (01:16:22)Ways making AI more cooperative could backfire (01:22:24)AGI is an essential idea we should define well (01:30:16)It matters what AGI learns first vs last (01:41:01)How Google tests for dangerous capabilities (01:45:39)Evals 'in the wild' (01:57:46)What to do given no single approach works that well (02:01:44)We don't, but could, forecast AI capabilities (02:05:34)DeepMind's strategy for ensuring its frontier models don't cause harm (02:11:25)How 'structural risks' can force everyone into a worse world (02:15:01)Is AI being built democratically? Should it? (02:19:35)How much do AI companies really want external regulation? (02:24:34)Social science can contribute a lot here (02:33:21)How AI could make life way better: self-driving cars, medicine, education, and sustainability (02:35:55)Video editing: Simon MonsourAudio engineering: Ben Cordell, Milo McGuire, Simon Monsour, and Dominic ArmstrongCamera operator: Jeremy ChevillotteTranscriptions: Katy Moore

In a recent lawsuit filed in February 2025, an unnamed woman accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of sexually assaulting her at a Los Angeles nightclub in November 2016. According to the complaint, Combs allegedly approached the woman, offered her a drink which she initially declined, and upon his insistence, she consumed it. The woman claims that after consuming the beverage, she felt disoriented, and Combs proceeded to sexually assault her by penetrating her with his fingers while making degrading comments. The following morning, she reportedly discovered physical signs of assault. Combs' legal representatives have denied these allegations, asserting that he has never engaged in sexual assault or sex trafficking.This lawsuit adds to a series of legal challenges Combs has faced in recent months, including over two dozen civil lawsuits and federal criminal charges related to sexual misconduct and abuse spanning several decades. Notably, in November 2023, his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura accused him of rape and physical abuse, leading to a swift settlement. Subsequent lawsuits have emerged, with plaintiffs alleging various forms of sexual misconduct, including drugging and assault. Combs has consistently denied all allegations, attributing them to attempts at monetary extortion. He remains in custody, awaiting a trial scheduled for May 2025 on charges including sex trafficking and racketeering.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Woman claims Diddy sexually assaulted and humiliated her in LA club in November 2016 in new lawsuit | Daily Mail Online

On this week's episode, we welcome Nandi as she bravely shares her story of love, loss, and healing. Nandi opens up about her first pregnancy with her son, Kiran Jude, whose life was tragically cut short by a brain bleed just three days after birth in the NICU. She also reflects on the birth of her daughter, a journey that resulted in an emergency C-section and a hysterectomy due to her blood disorder, Factor VII Deficiency. With courage and vulnerability, Nandi speaks about navigating the depths of grief, the deafening silence that accompanies it, and the ways she continues to heal, by lovingly speaking Kiran Jude's name and honoring his memory every day.On this episode, you will hear:- navigating pregnancy with health challenges and birth complications- infant loss in the NICU- Factor VII Deficiency- trauma and resilience- the deafening silence of grief- subsequent birth resulting in a c-section and hysterectomy- coping mechanisms and support- honoring Kiran's memoryFor more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama.Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.

The Hoover Institution is launching a new limited podcast series featuring experts grappling with how to reinvigorate civics education across America. Renewing Civics Education: Preparing for American Citizenship is a five-part podcast series that will feature a range of experts on aspects of civics, such as civics instruction, the role of the media in fostering an understanding of civics, and how civics programs in higher education can resist any forms of indoctrination. The series premieres on Tuesday, February 11, with an episode featuring Distinguished Visiting Fellow Bill Whalen interviewing Senior Fellow Chester E. (Checker) Finn Jr., a national renowned scholar on education policy who leads Hoover's Working Group on Good American Citizenship. Whalen and Finn will discuss the efforts by Finn and his working group colleagues to reinvigorate civics education across the K–12 and college landscapes. Subsequent episodes will be hosted by Finn and released weekly in the lead-up to Civic Learning Week, which begins March 10 and culminates at the Hoover Institution on March 13, when the Center on Revitalizing American Institutions will cohost a one-day conference on civics education. The episodes, which will run as part of the Matters of Policy & Politics podcast, are developed in response to the urgent need to rekindle civics literacy via our schools and colleges. This five-part series takes on the challenges of citizenship education: why it matters, what it needs to do differently, and what shortcomings it must overcome. Programming will include the following: A conversation between Bill Whalen and Checker Finn examines how US educators can improve civics instruction at the K–12 and collegiate levels. Focusing on civics at the K–12 level, Finn speaks with Senior Fellow Paul E. Peterson about his experiences teaching an introductory government course and his thoughts on related topics including education reform, school choice, and standardized testing. Examining the difference between instilling American patriotism and indoctrination, Senior Fellow Peter Berkowitz joins Finn to talk about the reforms he believes are necessary elements of civics education, not just in college but also in high school. What do best practices of civics instruction at the undergraduate level look like? Senior Fellow Josiah Ober, who leads the Stanford Civics Initiative and co-leads the new Alliance for Civics in the Academy, joins Finn to talk about his roadmap for improving civics instruction. Contending with the decline of trust in news media and its impact on civic knowledge and participation, Nick Mastronardi, a Hoover Institution veteran fellow and software innovator in the field of public-sector communications, discusses advances in data collection and artificial intelligence and how they can positively affect government behavior and civic interaction. The programming will also draw on the Good American Citizenship Working Group's existing projects, which assess the state of civics instruction across US schools and how it has evolved over time. Episodes will be available on YouTube and many other podcast distributors. For coverage opportunities, contact Jeffrey Marschner, 202-760-3187, jmarsch@stanford.edu.