Podcasts about Tears

We hope y'all had a merry Christmas with your loved ones! We have a fun voicemail episode for y'all today with a little onion debacle sprinkled in for Togethermess effect! Tune in Wednesday for our special New Years Goals episode! We would love your feedback... If you enjoyed this episode, tell us why! Leave us a review and make sure you subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Executive Producers are Riley Peleuses + Ian McNeny for YEA Media Group If you are interested in advertising on this podcast or having Jeff and Jordan as guests on your Podcast, Radio Show, or TV Show, reach out to podcast@yeamediagroup.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025 has been a busy year in economics, with tariffs, taxes – and even some tears. It's also been a busy year for the Spectator's economics editor Michael Simmons, who launched his new show Reality Check. The aim of the show is to cut through the spin and explain the numbers behind the noise. In each episode, Michael will make a data-driven case on a story hogging the headlines.In this special episode for Coffee House Shots listeners, Michael reflects on some of the economic highs and lows of 2025. For more episodes – with guests including Arthur Laffer and Rory Sutherland – search for Reality Check, wherever you subscribe to your podcasts.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Quaranteam - Dave In Dallas: Part 8 Intruders! Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. October 26, 2020. Monday afternoon, Reena took lunch duties. Lunch was often individual or in small groups, but she really wanted a crack at cooking for everyone. She said it could be 'come and go' to still facilitate varied schedules around the house. Her idea was ramen. But, it wasn't just basic out of the package. Well, it was, but with a variety of add-ons. You could pick your flavor of ramen, then she'd prepared chopped carrots, nori, sesame oil, diced onion, spam, eggs (fried up for each bowl individually) and Korean red pepper powder that Jan had gotten added to the spice rack. Oh, Reena still cooked it up, but each bowl was individual, and made on request. When Jan came in for lunch, she laughed warmly. Beaming, Reena asked hopefully, "Just like mom would make?" Jan placed a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder. "Not exactly dear. This is ore like what my Caucasian aunt would make when she tried to be authentic." Reena's face and shoulders seemed to suddenly melt. Jan stepped in beside the teen, wrapping her arms around her. "And the one time I made fun of my aunt for it in my mother's hearing was the last. She pulled me aside and scolded me for being insensitive, and ungrateful. Mom said that ramen was always about making something tasty, with love and what ever ingredients were available." Jan made a point of looking over the prepped ingredients arrayed on the counter. "And this is exactly what you have done." She kissed Reena on her cheek. "Thank you. Thank you for the meal, and thank you for reminding me of two lovely, caring women in my life." Reena hugged her. Then she got the specifics of what Jan wanted and got busy making it. Dave stepped out of his office and got two steps down the hallway when Lupie found him. "Dave, could I use your office and computer for a bit? It's kind of urgent. I was in the middle of some trades and my laptop died." "Again?" Dave chuckled. Lupie looked chagrined and rolled her eyes. "Good thing you have your software installed in there already. Just log me off and do what you gotta do. How long do you need me to stay out?" "Rest of the afternoon?" "Okay." Dave started to walk away but Lupie snagged him by the shirtfront and tugged him towards her. They kissed softly. They didn't hear the small footsteps approaching. "Oh gag me with a tamale." Both adults laughed too hard to maintain the kiss. "I do need to get in there," Lupie said. A quick peck and she scampered into the office. Dave knelt down and wrapped Esme in a hug. "And you, rascal, need to give it a rest. We keep a lot out of your sight because; well because it should be out of your viewing. So give us a break on the kissing once in a while, huh?" "Yessir" her tone sounded reluctant, but the grin was hard to suppress. She took four quick steps away from him before turning. "Dave?" "Yes, sweetie?" "Thanks for making mom happy." "Never have I ever; used a pay phone," Reena said with a wicked grin. Shawna and all the ladies over thirty took a drink. Dave first reached into his pocket, pulled his hand back out, and tossed a quarter at Reena. Then he took a drink. Liv busted out laughing. "One of Dad's favorite songs!" she cried as she cackled loudly and leaned a bit too far over into Mel. They'd been going for over half an hour. And she and Mel had pre-gamed. "Song?" Reena asked. "Pay phones used to cost a quarter to make a call. Early nineties, there was a country breakup song called 'Here's a Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares'," Dave filled in. Reena pouted, then stuck out her tongue. "Okay, Lupie, your turn," Jan prompted. 'Never have I ever; done the splits." Reena threw one back. Liv joined her, while Dave laughed. "That laugh suggests a story," Nessa observed. "Yeah, yeah," Liv replied. "I was; oh, about ten or so?" "Eleven," Dave corrected. "Right. Anyway, the girlie girl types were saying I was not really a girl if I couldn't do the splits. So I did." Dave cleared his throat. Liv blushed. "On top of the monkey bars." All the older ladies burst out laughing. "Well, that showed them!" Shawna rejoined. "And I believe it's Dave's turn now." "Alright, never have I ever; taken a nude or semi-nude selfie." Reena's eyes bugged out. She reached for her drink, threw back a slug, then covered her face with her hand. Mel, Liv, and Nessa followed suit. That was no shock to anyone. Jan doing so caught a few looks. "Nope, not gonna talk about it." Jan's face was as red as Melanie's hair. "Okay, moving on; " "Not yet. Someone hasn't drunk." Dave said. He looked at Becca, clearing his throat. "What?! I've never sent nude selfies. You're the first guy I ever got naked for!" "I believe you." Then Dave held up his phone and waggled it. Becca's eyes got wide. "Oh, crap, I forgot about that!" The young blonde blushed about six shades of red before reaching for her drink. "Oh, this I gotta hear." Melanie breathed. Becca hid her face in her hands, peeking between two fingers. Lupie laughed loudly. "Okay, you busted me out, so spill." Becca looked pleadingly at Dave, then shrugged her shoulders, giving him a nod. "Loops, you remember that very first day, when the vax guy came around?" Lupie nodded in reply. "And you wondered why Becca was acting all embarrassed after I told you I'd accepted you both?" "Yes?; oh!" "I told you she'd be the one to say it was okay to tell you what happened? She just did." Lupie just nodded in reply. "Uh, care to fill the rest of us in?" Mel asked. "So the CDC guy came around mid-September. He got to Lupie's house first. She sent him over here with a letter asking that I request her and Becca, giving her reasons why I should say yes. After setting things up with Arthur, I texted both of them that I would make the request. Becca replied with a selfie. With her shirt and bra pulled up. Still have it by the way." Dave winked at Becca. "Shit, we shoulda thought of that! Right after the video call!" Liv groused, nudging Mel. "Another missed first." "Becca was weeks before that call, so still first. Well, first amongst this group, not first ever." "Oh, yeah?" Dave dodged. "Old girlfriend, long time ago. So, who's turn is it next?" Thankfully, they let it slide. October 27, 2020. Dave descended the stairs to see Olivia, Becca and Reena watching a 90's movie. The two teens were making a concerted effort to take in as much of the movies and songs that Dave had grown up with, particularly the ones he had physical copies of. Reena had taken some adjusting to the idea of watching without streaming. Not that they didn't stream at all. Last night, Dave had discovered several of his partners, including Reena, hadn't yet seen Hamilton. That required immediate correction. "Wow, really? It's a great story, well executed, and it's historical. I mean, yeah, they take some liberties, but Miranda was pretty true to the essence of the characters." "But history?" Reena whined. "It's just a bunch of old white guys." Dave looked askance at her. "You're sleeping with an old white guy." Reena's face fell, and Dave's heart with it. In a soft voice, she said, "You're not just an old white guy to me." Her head wasn't exactly hanging, but she didn't meet his eyes. Fuck, emotional landmine triggered. Splash damage accumulating. Dave got up swiftly, without rushing, to stand in front of her and take her in his arms. He kissed the crown of her head as her face nestled in his chest. "I'm sorry honey, I didn't mean to sound so disparaging." Reena slipped her arms around Dave and took him in a hug. Several others joined in, circling the pair in their arms. "Reena, honey?" Shawna prompted. "The guy who wrote it had a vision to make the story more interesting than 'just a bunch of old white guys. Give it a try. I think you'll like it." As often happened, Shawna was spot-on. This morning though, the trio were watching Dave's blu-ray of Twister. "You know, we'll have to watch this in April. Before or during the first severe thunderstorm warning." Dave said as he rounded the back corner to pass them without blocking their view. All three girls chuckled lightly and accepted the kisses Dave planted on them as he passed behind them on his way to the library. Entering, he found Vanessa lounging with a book. He took a seat in easy speaking distance without crowding her. "So, how are you settling in?" "Pretty well. It's; so peaceful here. I really expected a house with this many people in it to be more chaotic. I mean, there's a fun energy here, and a lot of life, but it's; so soothing here. Thank you, David. For accepting me, for just; being here to match with." "I'm enjoying having you here. Beyond the obvious, I mean." Nessa snickered at that. "You've slipped rather smoothly into the family and already I couldn't imagine this place, or us, without you." "That's so sweet, thank you." "Maybe once the whole state's vaccinated, we'll get some normalcy and get out to do the usual family things together." "When we get some normalcy again, you ought to marry Lupie." "I should marry all of you." "No. No, I don't feel that way. Lupie does. Olivia does. And maybe Janice. Shawna too, she has it bad for you. Becca is still young and sorting it all out. Same goes for Reena and Mel. I don't share that depth of bond. I wouldn't want to cheapen what they have with you by sharing a marriage ceremony when I don't have that connection. I damn well better be one of the bridesmaids though" A wry smile crossed Vanessa's face. "I care for you. I love you. I love this family. I am not in love with you." "If it weren't for this damn serum, you would be free to find someone to have that bond with." Vanessa's eyes watered. "Don't ever say that again." There was steel in every syllable. "I may not be in love with you, but this is one of the best relationships I've ever had. I have more joy; not mere happiness; joy in my life now than I have had in a very long time. If the serum caused this, then Thank God and bring it on. I wouldn't change what I have right now for anything. I know you care for me. I can feel it. I feel it from each of the others. What we have is special and I don't ever want to let it go." Dave stood and walked towards Vanessa. From one eye, a tear rolled down her cheek. "I haven't felt this safe and accepted since I was a little girl that didn't know what emotional pain was." She closed her eyes, surrendering, hopeful, to what he might do next. Dave bent down, bringing his face to hers. He kissed each eye gently. He kissed each tear streak. He kissed her gently on the nose, eliciting a small giggle. He kissed her lips, softly at first, growing firmer as she responded. She broke the kiss and opened her eyes in time to see his eyes opening. She could see the tears watering them. "You're going to make me fall in love with you aren't you?" "No. I'm going to give you every reason to, and let you decide." Dave reached underneath Vanessa and lifted her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him as he carried her. Olivia noticed them coming out of the library. With a small grin she began singing in a soft voice "Who; knows what to-morrow brings; in a world; few hearts survive ;” Dave tried scowling at her, but he couldn't get the grin off his face. As they neared the base of the stairs, Vanessa ceased her slow circuit of kissing Dave's cheek, neck and lips. "I think you better let me walk from here stud." Dave chuckled and lowered her feet to the floor. They rose up the stairs, side-by-side joined at the hips, shoulders, and lips. From below, they heard Olivia mutter "God that's hot." Reena Umm-hmmed her agreement. "My nipples are freaking diamonds right now." Entering the bedroom, Dave and Vanessa began removing each other's clothes, quickly, but without frenzy. They stood naked, at the end of the bed, kissing, holding and softly groping each other. Dave pressed in close and gripped Vanessa under the curve of her ass. He lifted her and tossed her into the middle of the bed. She squealed happily as she flew. Dave slowly crawled up the bed, kissing Vanessa as he went. He started by kissing the big toe of her left foot and proceeded down the top of her foot to her ankle. Then he switched to her right foot. When he reached her ankle, he continued laying soft, gentle kisses up her shin. Then again up her left shin. He avoided the backs of her calves, her kneecap and the inside of her knee. These spots were very ticklish for Vanessa. Becca loved the loss of control when Dave tickled her. Becca and Janice loved the counter play of tickling and sexual stimulation. Vanessa would mule-kick him through a wall if he tickled her. And be out of the mood. And be pissed for a few days. So no tickle-y He kissed his way up the tops and outsides of each leg. He kissed a wandering path around her abdomen, taking time at her belly button like a caravan merchant at an oasis. Vanessa moaned. Her belly button was one of her favorite places for Dave to play with. Dave began working his way upward again, kissing in a straight line that ran up from her navel between her tits. He looked up as he rose, seeing her eyes locked on him, hungry and happy. Pure joy radiated from her face. He reached the hollow of her neck and alternated kissing with light nibbling. Vanessa moaned again and shifted beneath him. This was another of her favorite spots. He kissed up to her jaw, across her jawline, to her lips. "Umm" Vanessa hummed as Dave settled in, his body pressing firmly against hers. He rested his weight on his elbows and knees (outside of hers) and took her hands in his, out to the sides of her head, their fingers interlaced. It was more sensual than sexual. After several minutes, Dave slipped his hands loose and moved lower for the next step. He broke the kiss. Vanessa whimpered and opened her eyes. She bit back a complaint about the end of the kiss, because she knew what was coming would be better. Dave kissed her chin, then her shoulder. He stroked the outside of each tit with his fingertips. He kissed from her shoulder down to the top of her tit. He kissed around her tit, never touching the areola. Then he placed tiny, soft kisses just at the border of her areola without brushing her nipple. Vanessa whimpered. His hand played with her other tit, likewise avoiding the areola. Vanessa squeaked as he took her nipple and areola in his mouth and suckled, flicking his tongue against her nipple. "Yes; ;” she clutched the sheets and writhed beneath him. It was delicious torture. He had her worked up and ready, but kept the foreplay going rather than enter her. One finger of his hand lightly brushed across her other nipple. Back and forth. Back and forth. Light pinch. "Oh, David, please baby." Dave chuckled. He met her eyes as he descended down her body again, taking less time than when he rose. He kissed her hip, then across her pelvis and down. He kissed her mound of Venus and descended with his mouth hovering over her labia, but not touching. He let his breath brush over her entrance. Then he pulled back further and kissed her inner thigh. He heard a strangled whine from above. He nibbled. He switched thighs. More shifting and squirming. Dave latched his mouth onto Vanessa's labia and suckled like a newborn. "Yes!" Her body lifted off the bed for several seconds. He flicked his tongue against her entrance before easing it inside of her. She let out a contented moan. He slid his hands along her sides and thighs. Dave lifted his eyes to look at Vanessa. Her eyes were closed in bliss. He moved marginally forward and took her clitoris into his mouth, massaging it with his lips and tongue. "Oh God!" her eyes flew open. Hands gripped sheets and pulled hard. Her feet lifted. Dave backed off, giving her a moment. He started crawling up the bed, over top of her. Vanessa pouted and locked eyes with him. Desire and need echoed back and forth between their eyes. Dave inserted himself into her wet, relaxed passage and slid forward purposefully. Vanessa issued a sound that was both a sigh and a moan signaling her satisfaction. Once again, Dave interlaced his fingers with hers. With his hands on top of hers, and all four hands beside Nessa's ears, Dave began to rock his body overtop of her. He held himself just low enough that his chest and ribs softly grazed over her erect nipples. With slow, gentle strokes, he raised the two of them towards ecstasy. Kissing softly, they communicated without words, just sighs, moans, and hums. Time stopped and the world fell away. Just two lovers wrapped in gauzy layers of lovemaking. Nessa's body trembled with anticipation for what felt like an eternity as Dave caressed and stimulated her, hitting all her pleasure spots just so, raising her gently to one delicious climax. He buried himself to the root within her as the dam burst forth. Her erotic writhing alternatively pushed him away and strove to swallow him within her. The oscillations of her wet passage seized his organ and sent him cascading over the cliff with her. Struck by the serum induced orgasm, Nessa clutched him tightly and howled her pleasure. When Nessa's grasp loosened, Dave slipped to lie beside her, holding her close. Drifting back into the conscious world, Nessa snuggled in close, draping an arm over him. "Hmm, so that's what the girls have been calling 'the full Dave', huh? I like it." Shawna's rotating early shift was today, allowing all of us to sit down as a family and finish discussing housing preferences. Mel came in from the kitchen once Shawna arrived. "We didn't quite get there last time, but with 12 or more people, we need a bigger kitchen." Lupie said emphatically. "Preferably with a double oven and a cooktop with five burners and a grill. Four burners and no grill is still okay. And gas, not electric." "Anything else for the kitchen?" "Well, an island, preferably with power to it, but with a cutting board top, and large enough for rolling out dough." Lupie paused, looking pensive. "Did I go too far?" "Not at all, that sounds great. Especially if I actually get to use it." Dave grinned back. Lupie smirked and rolled her eyes. "Oh, and one other condition; a nice big batch of tamales after we move in." Lupie's eyes danced. "Absolutely." "I was thinking," Reena said, "how about a backyard deck?" Dave interjected "Not really necessary. It would be good to have, but I can build a reliable deck. Especially with Livy involved. You can help too if you want." "If you can do renno, I may have work for you." Vanessa smirked. Dave laughed. "I still have a day job. Our house sure, but I'm not looking to make it a job. Oh, and what ever we get needs plenty of electrical outlets. If it's really necessary, I could run a few new breakers and circuits, but seriously, I'd rather stay away from that." Shawna looked alarmed. "Baby, I believe you when you say you've got skills, but I don't want you around one-ten, or worse, two-twenty." Dave returned with a scowling laugh, "That's why you turn it off at the box, dear." "Just be careful honey." "Yes, Peaches." That earned a laugh all around, as Shawna blew a kiss at him. Nessa looked at her. "Are you from Georgia?" "No, but my parents met there in college. Mom's from Georgia, Dad was just there for school. They raised me and my brother in St. Louis." "And you went there for your degree?" "Oh no. I knew I wanted to be a meteorologist since I was a young teen. I went to O U. With the National Weather Service center right there, I got experiences I could never have gotten elsewhere. Spent a good chunk of my upper-class and grad years chasing storms." "Sounds like a lot of fun." "Oh yeah." Nessa grinned with Shawna, then turned to Dave. "I have been asked to press the idea of the towers one more time. Not so much our immediate supervisor here, but the folks back in DC. Their argument is that it's more efficient." "Unbelievable." Dave managed to avoid grumbling. "You do realize that the same people that want to shove us into a shoebox are the same little hypocrites that scream their heads off when a CEO lays off workers to make his company more efficient. Both of them are promoting the math of what they want, ignoring what they don't, and neither actually gives a shit about the people they are using like pawns." Shawna, seated beside him, stroked his arm, a slight grin on her face. "Yeah, okay, I'll climb down off my soap box. But no, I do not want to live in an apartment tower. A neighborhood, sure. A diverse neighborhood sounds great. I'm not a fan of monochrome anyway." "Clearly," Nessa said. "Just looking around the room proves that." "I'm sorry, but the whole 'I know better than you' crowd pisses me off, whether it's the church variety, the lefty variety, or the old money variety." "Okay, okay," Nessa replied light heartedly. "I had to bring it up again. I've done so, and you've been quite clear. I'll get on the search tomorrow. It may take a bit, but I'm sure we can find something that meets our requirements." The conversation turned to other subjects, and the family splintered into little knots of discussions. Mel slipped back out to check on the meal she was making. Dave didn't know what it was, but it smelled really good. Well, he knew it was something with chicken. He decided to join Mel in the kitchen. "Hey, Mel, how's it goin'?" "Almost done." Mel turned her face to his and received the offered kiss. "Smells really good. Chicken soup?" "Chicken and dumplings. From scratch. I boiled the chicken earlier this afternoon. It's about time for me to mix the dumplings. After that, it'll be ready to eat in twenty minutes." Dave wrapped his arms around her, holding her close from behind as she watched the pot. "Perfect choice for a dreary day like today. And, I haven't had chicken and dumplings in a long time." "Well, I hope you like mine." "Oh, Mel," Dave said as he nuzzled his head against hers, "you know I like your dumplings." He traced the middle finger of each hand up her sides, pulling away before reaching her tits. She cackled, turning to face him. With a light smack on his shoulder she said, "You're an old lech," she stepped in for a kiss. "But you're my old lech." She waggled her eyebrows. Dave chuckled, resting his forehead against hers. Then the doorbell rang. "Go, I need to get on the dumplings anyway." Mel swatted him on the ass as he walked away. Jan was already at the door when Dave arrived. The soldier was just handing over the clipboard. Beside her stood a young black woman with her hair in several tight braids. She stood about 5'6", with eyes that appeared to prefer laughing, but bore the potential to penetrate obfuscation, a cute button nose and a bright red lipstick on her perfectly sized mouth. Large golden hoop earrings in her ears and tight black jeans on her legs were the only attire visible other than her thick coat. Given the near-freezing temperatures and drizzle that had gone on all day long, Dave could hardly blame her. The black handle and ribbing stood out starkly from the vivid, deep pink of her umbrella canopy. It looked thoroughly functional, and infinitely girlie; maybe a bit more Wednesday Addams than cheerleader, but that didn't bother Dave in the slightest. Jan handed the clipboard back to the soldier, who departed immediately. "Hello, my name is Janice, though I prefer Jan." She held out her hand, which was taken without trepidation. "And this is Dave." He likewise reached out and shook the lady's hand. "Come on inside. We were just about to sit down for dinner." "About twenty minutes," Dave supplied. "Mel; Melanie; is making chicken and dumplings." "Oh, that sounds really good. Especially with this weather." She pulled her roller case through the foyer and parked it just inside the living room. The ladies approached her, no more than three at once, and the early few drew her towards the center of the room as they greeted her and introduced themselves. Mel, having not taken a seat yet, exited to the kitchen again, reappearing barely a minute later. "It'll be about ten more minutes," she replied to the expectant faces that turned her way. Becca and Olivia immediately stood, heading to the kitchen. Apparently, it was their turn to set the table. The light conversations and sharing continued through the meal, interrupted only by nearly everyone asking for a second bowl (Dave had four, but made sure everyone else was done eating before the last two.) Of course, each family member took multiple opportunities to praise Mel for the quality of the meal, and the excellent choice for the dreary conditions. Dave listened in on the conversations around him, paying special attention to the ones involving the new arrival, Niki. Between his own conversations with her, he learned her full name was Nicole Lassiter, and she worked as the network administrator and network security administrator for a bank headquartered in Dallas. With all the losses, she was now over all computer issues that were not customer facing. Her little brother was still in college, hunkering down in the UGA dorms. Niki, her mom, and her dad each called him at least once a week both for their own peace of mind and to keep his spirits up. Niki's parents were recently vaccinated. Her mother had styled her hair before 'her baby girl' left for the Vax Center. The tight braids she wore were called a Senegalese twist. Since her mother was a hairdresser (not that she was seeing customers at the moment) she had extensions on hand to do her daughter up right. Niki's dad had just retired from road construction work, looking to open up a barbecue restaurant; right before the lockdowns hit. Dave also noticed a slight unsteadiness on occasion when Niki walked. It made him concerned for her well-being, but he wasn't sure how to bring it up without being rude. As the evening wore on, he noticed Niki making furtive glances his way. The next time she did, he made eye contact, lifting one eyebrow. She bit her lip and nodded. Dave rose from his seat and strode to her side. A few eyes followed them as he took her hand and led her upstairs. Dave guided her to the master bedroom. Niki quickly took a seat on the bed. "You know, I didn't ask you earlier: do you want to do this here, or in a separate room? Here, you're going to wind up with several other women in the bed as well. We still have a room you could wake up in with some privacy. Shawna and I use it sometimes to spend time together when she gets home from work, and she stores clothes in there so she can dress and not disturb anyone when she has an early morning shift, but nobody uses the bed in there." "No, here's fine, thank you." Looked pensive for a moment. And a little pained. "Are you okay? If you don't want to do this; " "No, no I'm fine, really. Well, I'm not fine, but you aren't the problem, not by a long shot. I pushed myself too hard this evening. I should have spent less time standing." Dave waited while she ordered her thoughts. "I haven't been completely honest with you, Dave. I only recently got to a point where I can walk without a cane. Over a year ago, I was t-boned by a drunk driver. Shattered my legs. It'd be a good bet that half the metal in this room, is in my bones right now." She let out an annoyed snort. "I used to run track. Even got a partial scholarship that helped me get my degree. I spent months in a wheelchair, and then a walker. After that, I moved up to those forearm crutches. During lockdown, I couldn't go to the doctor, so when I felt annoyed enough with the crutches I shifted to a simple cane. And now I've been walking without any aid for over a month, but it hurts like hell; and it's tiring." "You are one tough cookie." Dave said from the spot he'd taken beside her as she spoke. "I don't feel so tough. I feel beat up and worn out." Dave hugged her. "You want me to tuck you in and let you rest? We could do the imprinting tomorrow." "No, no I want to do this with you Dave. I just may need you to go easy. And probably help me undress." "Just to be clear, you're asking me to strip your clothes off, handle your body gently, and blow a load inside you?" Dave said with a hint of sarcasm. Niki giggled. "You seem man enough to handle the job." Dave answered her with a kiss, full on the lips, pressing firmly but with moderation. His hands drifted behind her shoulder blades. Niki responded, humming into the kiss and parting her lips. When Dave's tongue probed undemandingly, hers welcomed the visitor. Dave's hands roamed slowly, taking the first steps in learning the body of his newest lover. He enjoyed the feel of her in his hands. There was a looseness, as would be expected for an athlete that had been benched. Beneath that slight layer, there was a firm core. She was; exciting. And excited. Whatever she wanted in a man, she seemed to think Dave had it. Well, that and the serum had her amped up. Dave was finally getting past feeling guilty about that. Mostly. Dave started consciously directing his hands, seeking the buttons or clasps or zipper to loosen the neck of the tight black top she was wearing. Solid black panels with a black lace overlay stitched in at regular intervals. Finding the short zipper took no time at all. He next dropped his hands, seeking the hem of her shirt under her jeans waist. There was no hem. As his hands quested, he found bare hip, with cloth from the top still diving down her front and back. Just like a swimsuit. Then it struck him. He came up for air and play scowled at her. "You could have just said it was a bodysuit." She snickered. "Aw, where's the fun in that?" Dave kissed her. Then he gently shoved her backwards onto the bed. Her torso lay flat on the bed, her legs dangling off. Dave stood and faced her. Reaching down, he unbuttoned her jeans and lowered her zipper. Niki's eyes twinkled as Dave took hold of the cuff of her jeans and pulled them off. He missed the worried look in her eyes as the scars on her legs were exposed. That's because his eyes were locked on her trim brown legs. They stayed fixated on those lovely legs as he kneeled between them and began kissing her legs, first one then the other. All over her thighs, then, gently lifting, careful not to lift too high, he kissed her calves and shins. He lavished every inch of her legs with his lips and tongue. Niki moaned. Then she sniffled. Alerted, Dave brought his head up, locking his eyes on hers. Tears watered the bottom of her almond shaped sockets. "You make me feel beautiful again." "You always were." He kept his eyes on her as he kissed the inside of her knee. The kiss extended into suckling. He gave the spot a little nip, then moved his position by a few inches and giving the same attention, adding in a few strokes of his tongue tip. Niki's chest heaved. Dave could hear sobs amongst the moans as he switched to her other knee. He would have been alarmed except for the clearly cathartic tone. "Umm, David, please, I need you up here." With a grin, Dave worked his way, unhurried but not dawdling, up her leg, kissing and huffing hot breath on her exposed skin as he went. Reaching her fragrant core, Dave brought his fingers softly to the three little snaps holding the gusset of her bodysuit together. A gentle flick separated the two soaked flaps of cloth and revealed that Niki wore nothing underneath. The engorged, richly black outer labia of her nethers drenched in her arousal. Her inner labia petaled outward, yielding a peek at the pink interior. Dave blew one long, slow hot breath over her bare, quivering sex before latching his mouth on her. He suckled her lower lips as her back arched. Niki keened her pleasure while her arms beat a tattoo on the bed. "David, now, please, now." Dave shucked his shoes and quickly slipped his cargo shorts and boxers to the floor. In a flash, Dave was over top of her, dragging her up the bed like a leopard securing his prey in a tree. Niki's breath caught as he took charge of her body. The fire in her eyes was unmistakable. He kissed her deeply, then pulled away. With his eyes locked on hers, he moved himself to her entrance and pressed his cockhead just barely inside. The fluids leaked all over his throbbing cock touched her most sensitive places and set off a riot only attributable to the serum. Dave anchored her motions with his knees, pressed against her rear, but not enough to force her legs too far apart. "Fuck that was good." She paused for a deep breath. "Hmm, I'm all yours now Dave. Send me off to neverland, lover." Dave worked within her, slowly and gently at first, picking up pace slightly and a little more force when she signaled it was needed and acceptable. Her hums and moans continuously reminding him his actions were still mutually desired. His peak arrived and he shot hot ropes of cum with his cock buried deep in her, his cockhead brushing her cervix. Immediately, she shuddered, racked with the serum induced pleasure that forever locked her life with his. Dave held her in her throes until she went limp muttering "Imprinting; imprinting; imprinting ;” He rose, going to the bathroom to clean himself before returning with a wet washcloth and a hand towel to clean Niki. Once she was cleaned and dry, he snapped her body suit closed again and arranged her comfortably on the bed, beneath the covers. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead before heading downstairs to spend social time with the rest of his family. As he descended the staircase into the mild buzz of the other eight women happily sharing his life, his home, and his bed, Dave marveled at how amazing his life was. Chapter 10; Storm Winds. October 28, 2020 4:18am David's hand was halfway to the palmprint secured gun safe on the back side of his headboard before he realized he was even awake. With the vertical placement, and the; activity frequently occurring in the bed, he'd installed two Velcro loops to hold the pistol and magazine inside. He released the pistol and placed it on his chest before reaching back for the clip. Fortunately, only two hands and a part of one leg were draped over him at the moment. The four younger girls were in their rooms, leaving Lupie, Jan, Shawna, Vanessa, and his newest partner Nicole to share his bed. Nicole was one of the hands, and the partial leg. By consensus, the ladies decided she should get to curl up next to Dave for her imprinting sleep. Gingerly, Dave slipped free of his partners' limbs and slid down the bed onto the floor. Only then did he insert the magazine and work the slide. Flipping the safety on, he padded softly but quickly to the closet to grab a pair of shorts. He decided not to wear slippers this time. He might need the extra footing. Keeping close to the wall, he approached the bedroom door. With the door still shut, he took the safety off, but kept his finger out of the trigger well for the moment. Slowly, Dave eased the door open. Slipping through, he noticed a shape in the hallway, against the wall, at the top of the stairs. Too dark to identify an individual, the figure made the 'Join Me' signal his friend Carter had taught him long ago. He did not raise his weapon. Sliding along the wall silently, just the way he'd practiced at least once every year, Dave approached. Proximity gave the reassurance the lighting denied at a distance. Liv crouched in the hallway, pistol in hand, wearing only a light nightgown that reached most of the way to her knees. With a quick series of hand signals, Dave told Liv to follow at a distance as he prepared to descend the stairs as quietly as possible. Liv signaled back that she should lead, but apparently had no signal for why. Dave negated the suggestion, and started down the stairs. He reached the lower landing with no incident. His nerves had been raw as he got halfway down and the solid wall gave way to railing. Now he crouched on one knee, Liv a few steps up from the landing, but with good vision on the living room area, both of them listening. The nighttime chirping of mockingbirds was absent. No flutter of wings or rustle of raccoons, possums, or skunks. Out here on the wild edge of the metroplex, there was always something moving at night. Dave signaled for Liv to post up on the landing and then moved along the wall of the stairs, in front of the media center to the corner of the living room where the downstairs hallway started. He was now directly below the spot Liv had occupied when he first emerged from the bedroom. And just two steps from his secured gun closet recessed under the stairs and hidden behind a normal looking panel. Dave had only one twelve round magazine. Liv had purchased a larger safe and had a spare ten round magazine in addition to the one in her weapon. It was a bit awkward carrying it since she had no pockets, but Carter had taught a variety of firing stances, one of which allowed carrying something in the non-dominant hand. By the absence of natural sounds, somebody was outside. He did not know how many, or how they were armed, but he was sure they weren't here in the oh-my-god-it's-early hours for a friendly visit. He slid the cover for the pin pad open so he could punch in the unlock code. Dave heard a crashing thump at the door followed by cursing. The security door worked just fine. He didn't get a chance to smile though. The glass door at the back of the living room shattered from several rounds. Dave squared his body with the opening just as two men stepped through. The first man fell as Dave brought his weapon up. The second went down just as his head turned to his right to see Liv's position flanking their breach. Dave heard a tinkling sound from the entry. Someone was breaking the window in the front parlor. Now he was worried. The thick pillar at the free corner of the landing would give Liv scant protection against a firearm. Dave stayed low, stepping away from his corner. It gave him protection against someone firing from the sliding door breach, but he had no angle to fire into the entryway. With the furniture screening him from the glass door breach, he approached the arch between the entry and living room. Loud whispers drifted in from his right. The remaining attackers on the deck seemed to be hesitant about testing themselves against the defenses. He was straining to pick out words when a head began to resolve itself in the entry. Dave fired two rounds. The body fell. He held his position, weapon ready. Out back he heard an angry growl, "Hey, one of those women is my sister!" The reply was too low to understand the words, but the snideness came through clearly. As did the answering gunshot. What the hell is going on? They're shooting each other now? Hey, they don't need to be on my property for that! The fallen body in front of Dave slid backwards. Hands appeared from the foyer and the broken glass door, but they were empty. The hands gripped a pair of ankles of one downed man each and yanked them back to where the hands came from. This repeated for the second body near the glass door. Wet sickening sounds ensued, backed up by an occasional retching noise. Murmurs were heard. Someone said something about a marker and a bag. "David?!" Shawna's voice called from up the stairs. That wasn't the only sound from upstairs. Roscoe was barking his head off. Furtive whispers indicated some of his family were at the top of the stairs with Shawna. "Keep everyone up there. Open up the armory in the main closet and distribute weapons to the adults. Everything Lt. Malcolm Reed gave us is in there. Arm up and take defensive positions upstairs." That was a bluff. Hopefully enough of one to drive the attackers away. Dave was sure Shawna would recognize the name of the armory officer from Enterprise and catch on. The sounds from the foyer and back deck took on a hurried pace before Dave heard footsteps rushing away. Dave and Olivia exchanged glances, and then immediately darted their eyes back to the penetration points. This happened a few more times over the next several minutes. "Looks like we're clear." "Yeah, just stay on your toes." "I know. I grew up under the same guy that trained you, remember?" "Vividly." Cautious footsteps descended the stairs. "David, Olivia, it's Shawna. I'm coming down." Slowly, Shawna came into view, feet first on the exposed portion of the staircase. Her pink satin nightgown falling just past her knees gave her some coverage, but made Dave aware of the cold, damp air pouring in from both breaches. "Are you two okay? Is it safe?" "For now. We've got two big holes in the house, so maybe keep everybody up there where it's warm unless they're needed down here." Dave paused for a second. "Ask Nessa and Mel to look out the upstairs windows. See if they can spot these guys leaving, or lying in wait." Shawna disappeared upstairs, then came back down after a brief verbal exchange. Shawna came down to the lower landing and spoke briefly with Livy, giving her a hug. Then she came to Dave. She hugged him fiercely. Her voice shook as she said thickly, "For a little bit there, I thought I was going to lose you." "We held." Dave managed to keep most of the nervous tension and post-adrenaline shake out of his voice. By the look in her eye, Shawna wasn't fooled a bit. Dave led her to the beginning of the hallway, the cubby under the stairs. He whispered the passcode in her ear so she could unlock it. That had been the galling thing during the attack. His full stash of weapons had been right beside his shoulder, but he couldn't spare the attention to unlock it. Clearly, he needed to rethink his arrangements. Shawna handed out a thigh holster for him, which he only saw peripherally as he kept watch. The weight told him immediately she'd placed two pre-filled magazines in there for him. He pulled one out for a quick check. No use him having Livy's mags. "I go to the pistol range about every other month. Nothing fancy, but I'm a decent shot and I know the difference between ten mil and nine mil. What? It's a very satisfying skill to have, and a great way to blow off some stress." Dave chuckled and turned his head, with a quick lean to her and gave her a peck on the cheek. Then he stepped back out to his post. He felt Shawna walking out, so he moved to the other side of the hallway so she could make her way to Livy with the other thigh holster without crossing Dave's line of sight. She paused at his shoulder. "Dave, do you want the other weapons in there?" Dave thought for a minute. He knew which ones Shawna had to mean. He sighed, "Yeah. A tac vest and one of the MP5's. Tac vests should already have six loaded magazines in the pockets. Get two and give the other vest and weapon to Liv. Then find out if anyone upstairs has any weapons training. You said you shoot, how good are you?" Shawna handed out a vest first, which Dave quickly donned. "With silhouette targets, I can put four out of five rounds through the heart. Now, I haven't gotten to shoot since the lockdowns, but I was pretty regular before." She handed him one of the MP5's which Dave quickly slung over his head and shoulder, inserted a magazine he'd pulled from the vest and chambered a round, then safed the weapon. "Are those; ?" "Semiauto. Carter went to a lot of work to make sure we had everything we could legally have, but never anything illegal. They do have the integral noise suppressor. It was expensive as hell and took forever plus a mountain of paperwork, but it's all legal. At least in Texas." "God Bless Texas," she said with a gleam in her eye. Shawna gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before sauntering over to Livy, a thigh holster clutched in one hand, a tac vest in the other, and an MP5 slung over her neck. A second thigh holster, with a nine millimeter and magazines was strapped to her sleek, powerful thigh. Shawna handed off the gear to Olivia, then swiftly moved back to the concealed weapons closet. She was in there for quite a while before emerging. "There was only one more pre-loaded nine mil mag, so I had to load a few or just walk around with one. The second choice didn't sound viable." "Agreed." Dave grasped Shawna's bicep and pulled her in for a quick kiss on the cheek. She beamed at him after returning the kiss, then headed upstairs. Dave heard Liv saying something to Shawna as she passed by. An eternity and a short time later, two sets of footsteps descended the staircase. Melanie followed behind Shawna. "Carter and Liv both took me to the range several times. I even went to a tactical course once my aim was; acceptable. But only with pistol. I've never shot anything else." "Good enough. There's another thigh holster and pistol inside. What did Carter train you on? "Nine millimeter. He said it was so common it made a good starting point. Once with Liv, we rented shotguns at an outdoor range and I was decent with it." "Pistol will do fine. Shawna, help her get some magazines loaded. Has anyone called for police?" Mel swallowed nervously. "I didn't see anyone waiting in the back yard, but the deck;” "Yes?" "It's; disturbing. Dave, be careful." Dave nodded, as did Liv. Shawna spoke up as she followed Mel in. It was tight with two adults in there, but doable. At three it would have been cramped. "Lupie called. They didn't know how long before someone responds. They're stretched thin and the night shift is the least staffed." Wordlessly, she handed over a t-shirt she'd grabbed while she was upstairs. Dave slipped the tac vest off, donned the shirt, then the tac vest again. While he dressed, he spoke with his partners. "Fuck. Okay, here's what's gonna happen. You two take defensive positions on the stairs. One of you take the lower landing, one further up, just below the ceiling line. Then Liv and I will go out through the deck, and check the exterior all the way around." "I'll take the landing," Mel said. "I've had training with Carter, I should be the one exposed." "You sure?" Shawna prodded. "Yeah." "Okay, take your positions then." Dave kissed each one on the cheek before they walked away. When both had taken their places, Liv came over to him. Dave had one more instruction for Shawna. "Oh, and tell Lupie to call the police again, let them know we are clearing the grounds so they don't just shoot us on sight." Shawna nodded and crept upwards. Jan came down the stairs, bearing a pair of shoes for Dave and Liv, a pair of socks stuck into one shoe for each of them. After handing over the shoes, Jan headed back upstairs. They shod themselves quietly. "So, me on point?" Liv asked as she finished. "No, I'll take point, you cover me." "Dave, if anything happens to you, we're all in big trouble." "That's why you're watching my back. Otherwise, I'd go out there solo and leave you in charge here." "Like hell you would. I ain't some; " "I know you are capable, but I'm still going to shield you from as much risk as I can." Liv rolled her eyes. "Gee, I feel safe and offended all at once." Dave stared at her stony. "Are we done here? Ready to go?" "Shit, Dad really rubbed off on you. Yeah, let's do this." Olivia fell in behind Dave as he headed straight for the glass door breach. Both held their weapons ready, jutting forward with the strap taut around their necks and backs. Dave paused at the breach. "Off safe." "Roger." Dave examined the scene visible through the broken glass and the flapping curtain. Blood trails led out the breach from the various points where the bodies of the invaders had landed. He could see the legs of a few of them still on the deck. He turned his head to catch first Shawna's then Mel's eyes, nodded, and proceeded cautiously but swiftly out the breach. He swiveled right going out, knowing Liv would go left, just as her father had taught them for years. Each stopped at the furthest extension of the deck in their direction, scanning the deck and yard in a full semicircle, their backs to the house. There was no damage to the fence, and no apparent damage to the greenhouse or anything else in the backyard. The deck however; well, it wasn't damaged. The bodies on it were. Each had the pants and underwear pulled down and a huge bloody mess where the genitals once were. Blood continued to ooze out of the wounds, though clearly it had poured out initially. Dave signaled his intent to clear the greenhouse. Liv followed him. It didn't take long to clear. They emerged quickly, rescanning the backyard as they did. With Liv trailing, Dave exited the backyard through the side gate. The side yard showed no disturbance. In the front yard, they found the same gruesome sight as the back deck. Here though, they found an empty plastic baggie with blood spatter. And a few bloody fingerprints. The bag snagged under the heel of the corpse, ensuring the light wind was insufficient to blow it away. Dave and Liv finished the sweep, checking the other side yard, which showed no signs of disturbance. "I think we're safe, for now. These guys bugged out." "Yeah, but why did they cut their buddies' junk off?" Dave shivered, and not from the crummy weather. Well, maybe a little from the weather. He was barely dressed after all. "Let's get inside." Since the front door was still locked, they traipsed back through the side yard to the gate and came in through the broken glass door. "Coming in." Dave called before entering. "No sign of anyone out there." The relief on Mel and Shawna's faces was evident. Their shoulders relaxed slightly. "Can you two keep watch here? I'm gonna talk to the others, then we'll both get dressed, and then I'll call the police again." At the top of the stairs, four of Dave's partners wrapped him in hugs muttering their relief that he was still in one piece. He could see Lupie gazing at him, beseechingly as she held Esme close, soothing her. A loud bang against a door at the end of the hall reminded Dave of other necessities. "You better go let Roscoe out so he can see that we're all intact," Dave chuckled. As Olivia opened the door, Roscoe bolted from the room, turning only when she bellowed "Roscoe, Heel." That cut through his canine brain fog of 'defense mode'. He turned to her, sniffing as if checking on her condition. Liv knelt in front of him. She placed her hands on either side of his face and began stroking his neck and back while speaking softly, in calm tones. After a few whimpers, he started aggressively licking her face and putting his paws on her shoulders. Addressing his family, Dave said, "Liv and I need to get dressed. We need to call the police again, and we need to get those holes sealed." "Holes?" Jan asked. "Yeah, they busted in the sliding door and a window in the parlor. It's not quite as cold and miserable downstairs as it is outside, but it's close enough. For now, stay upstairs unless you have something you need to do down there. You can still run down to grab a book, or make meals or snacks. For tv, use the spare room that Shawna uses when she has morning shifts." "We could just use our laptops for streaming, Dave. We'll be fine." Reena added. She looked a bit bleary. To be fair, everyone seemed caught in some whipsaw state of alert and drowsy. Not surprising, given what they'd just been through. Dave patted her on the shoulder and kissed the crown of her head in appreciation. Releasing Reena, Dave knelt in front of Esme, who was showing clear signs of worry and strain. He enveloped her in his arms and held her close. "It's okay now, baby girl. We're all okay now." He held her, stroking her hair and back soothingly. After several minutes had passed, he loosened his grip and began to stand. Esme's arms immediately came up, wrapping Dave in a vise-grip hug. She didn't say anything, she didn't cry or whimper. She just clutched him tightly. Dave eyed Lupie, but she just looked back at him imploringly. He reached a hand out to her and she grabbed on immediately. He looked around at the others and saw the need for reassurance was still there. Olivia had already slipped into her room with Roscoe to get dressed. Becca, Reena, Jan, Nessa and Lupie all rushed to surround him the moment he waved his hand to 'bring it in'. Esme was wedged between Dave and Lupie. She finally relaxed her grip on Dave, and switched over to her mother. With a silent chuckle, Dave kissed Lupie on the cheek and slipped off to the master bedroom. Jan followed after him. "I thought I'd call the police and put it on speaker so you could talk to them while getting dressed." Dave nodded, then wrapped her in a hug and gave her a closed mouth kiss that was no less affectionate for its chasteness. Reluctantly, he released her and headed into the closet to collect some clothes. Jan dialed 911 as soon as Dave emerged. Police staffing was so low, all calls went through the emergency center. Long held habits are hard to break, though. Especially when those habits are codified in a manual. That's what they call 'procedure'. "911, what's your emergency?" "We called earlier about a break in. The people trying to break in have left, except the ones we shot," Dave called out in clear, even tones for the speaker. "Is anyone injured?" The operator droned, as if she been on duty too long, too many days in a row. "No, ma'am," Dave said. "No one in my family was hit, and the ones we shot are dead." "Are you sure they're dead?" "Yes ma'am. The guy that taught me how to shoot didn't teach me to miss. Besides, before they left, the invaders; mutilated the bodies. If they hadn't died from the gunshots, they'd have died from the blood loss." Dave was watching Jan's face when he mentioned the mutilation. Not the best choice, since he nearly fell over pulling on his cargo pants. It did allow him to see the flinch that briefly flitted across her face before she reasserted control. "Did you say mutilated, sir?" The tones were even, obviously someone that had worked 911 for years. Still, there were notes of 'oh shit' blended with 'what fucking else?' "I did." "Would you please specify the nature of the mutilation?" "The genitals of the deceased were removed." A short silence reigned on the line. "Could you repeat that sir?" The operator's voice sounded slightly more alert. Dave pulled his pre-tied sneakers on as he said, "the scrotum was removed from each of the corpses." This conversation was now added to the thick stack of reasons to be very glad of the distance between the master bedroom and Esme's bedroom. Lupie and the others had taken her there when Dave walked away. Between the walk-in closet and Dave's office, there was little chance sounds from the bedroom penetrated that far. "Are you certain the perpetrators have left?" "Yes ma'am, one of my partners and I swept the area; our yard anyway; and found no one remaining. All we found were the bodies that the survivors had drug back out of the house and carved up." "So the shooting happened inside the house?" "Correct." "I'm noting all this in the file sir. I'm appending this report to the prior calls your partner made requesting assistance. Since you are no longer in immediate danger, I am diverting the patrol response. They will get to you to you after attending to higher level calls." Even as she spoke, the woman's voice grew more exhausted, like a Walmart employee on Black Friday at about 3pm. "It's been almost an hour since the initial break in. Why has it taken so long?" "Sir, I'm not at liberty to discuss that, but I do apologize. I have no control over response times. I will dispatch a detective to investigate as well. Until then, please leave the scene undisturbed." "How long will that take? Can you give me an estimate?" "Probably a few hours, sir. There are very few detectives working night shift, so they'll likely hand this over to the dayshift investigators." "Hours? These guys busted in my sliding door and broke a large window in the parlor. It's making for quite a chilly cross breeze. And that's not even counting the blood stains and blood trails in my living room and entryway." Dave's voice had begun to rise. "Sorry, I'm trying to maintain a level tone here, but that's a bit difficult given what's happened and what you're telling me." The voice on the other end reached its most hollow state. "I'm sorry sir, I can't change those realities. Please understand that it will be three hours minimum before a detective would reach you. More likely it will be three hours before a detective is assigned to your case. Patrol won't take that long, but it won't be immediate." Dave took a deep, cleansing breath. It was only marginally useful, but it helped him keep his tone level. "And what is the longest likely time before a detective gets out here?" "Possibly six to eight hours sir." "That's; " Dave caught himself. And formed a plan immediately. "Fine. We'll be ready when the detective arrives." He hung up. Dave took a deep breath, staring intently at the far wall, fully aware of Jan quietly and patiently waiting off to his right. He rubbed his face, then snatched up his t-shirt and pulled it on. "Okay, let's meet with everyone else. I have a plan, and we can deal with this." Dave said as he stood. With a concerned look to Niki's slumbering form, he strapped the thigh holster in place and fastened the tac vest as he walked. The MP5 he slung over his neck and shoulder, then pulled around to his back. To be continued in part 9, Based on a post by RonanJWilkerson, in 12 parts, for Literotica.

Reality Check host and the Spectator's economics editor Michael Simmons reflects on some of the economic highs and lows of 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The forces of the Empire march ever onward. As the Imperial Knights continue to root out fugitive Jedi across the galaxy, their leaders have begun the task of expanding their roster and assimilating worthy Force users into their ranks.Beginning with the armored warriors of the Jensaarai, the Knights have recruited the mysterious and powerful Saarai-Karr, and secured her loyalty by helping her bring to justice the Jedi who killed her husband.With Jensaarai warriors moving into the former Jedi Temple, the Knights' fortress is well on its way to becoming the ultimate symbol of power in the new Empire....Support the show

Pope Leo's bizarre public Pachamama display a couple of months ago is quietly turning into an embarrassing debacle that won't go away.Sponsored by Fidei Email:https://www.fidei.emailSources:https://www.returntotradition.orgorhttps://substack.com/@returntotradition1Contact Me:Email: return2catholictradition@gmail.comSupport My Work:Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/AnthonyStineSubscribeStarhttps://www.subscribestar.net/return-to-traditionBuy Me A Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnthonyStinePhysical Mail:Anthony StinePO Box 3048Shawnee, OK74802Follow me on the following social media:https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToCatholicTradition/https://twitter.com/pontificatormax+JMJ+#popeleoXIV #catholicism #catholicchurch #catholicprophecy#infiltration

Episode 2549. Worry what they think. Featuring a cover of Tears of Gold by Violet King. Blunt Talk Podcast is guaranteed TO LIFT. X Fitness is committed to lifting in body, mind, and soul. There is enough depressing news. We won't add to it. Good Inspirational News Only. Free, permanently archived downloads compliments of X Fitness. Blessings & all good things. #peace  

The Funky Vibes Christmas Mixtape: December 2025, recorded for my monthly show on Vocal Booth Radio.This is a special show that I did for Christmas Day and includes tracks and remixes from the likes of Tears for Fears, Goldie, Daft Punk, Jack Johnson, and The Shapeshifters.Please make sure you check out Vocal Booth Radio and try and tune into my show on the 4th Thursday of every month from 2 pm - 4 pm (UK time); https://vocalboothradio.comShow your support on Mixcloud by giving me a follow, and remember to hit the 'favourite' and 'repost' buttons - it really does make a difference!Follow my socials and check out my live gigs here: linktr.ee/dj_andyjohnsonFull tracklist and credits:John Williams - Carol of the BellsThe Cars vs. Chris Rea ft Olivia Rodrigo - Drive Home Alone For Christmas (Hallmighty edit)Kinobe - Slip into Something More Comfortable (Stephen Hague 2016 mix)Tears for Fears - Mad World (Afterlife remix)The Beloved - The Sun Rising (Gentle mix)Leftfield - MeltJ Magik & Wickaman - Crazy World (Afterlife's Dancing At Sunset Mix)Goldie - Inner City Life (Baby Boy's edit)Gwen Stefani - Rich Girl (Greg Wilson edit)En Vogue - My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)Sade vs Jungle - Busy Earnin' In Paradise (Hallmighty edit)Primal Scream - Movin' On Up (Andy Buchan 2019 Greg Wilson Edit)Jamiroquai - Too Young To Die (LNTG Capricorn High Remix)Daft Punk - Lose Yourself To Dance (featuring Pharrell Williams)The Future Sound of London - Papua New Guinea (Blue States Full Length mix)Static Revenger - Happy People (Christian J'Rhodes Island Remix)Anders Ponsaing, Claus Højensgård - The Man with the Red FaceJack Johnson - Better Together (Nightmares on Wax mix)Lifelike & Kris Menace - Discopolis (Framewerk Poolside rewerk)Ferreck Dawn, Robosonic, Nikki Ambers - In My Arms (Afterlife Mix)K-Klass - Let Me Show You (Framewerk Poolside rewerk)Silk - I Can't Stop Turning You On (Adra Soulful Warm-up Remix)Chris Rea - Josephine (La Version Francaise)The Shapeshifters - Lola's Theme (Lola's Loungin' Mix)Shakedown - At Night (Framewerk Poolside rewerk)

Tears and cheers for The End of An Era, Taylor Swift's 6-episode docuseries! It's Christmas and the three year anniversary of this podcast, and as is tradition, we find themselves in the exact place where it all started: the back bedroom of their parents' Wisconsin home on December 23rd. We've watched all six episodes of the new docuseries, and we are here to end Season 3 of this podcast with our thoughts on the entire series. We loved it and are totally satisfied. Though some questions remain unanswered, new answers were provided from questions we didn't even know we had! Ultimately, we are continuously in awe by the life of our favorite showgirl, Taylor Swift. ​Share with us your thoughts on today's episode by sending an email to swiftandswigspodcast@gmail.com.​Leave us a written review on the Apple Podcasts app!​Follow and rate our podcast on Spotify! ​Check out our "new shit" playlist on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5LOn9LRJ8lnvnCbpl6fKVG?si=68ca3032d3aa470b⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Did you know there's MAGIC in your Meditation Practice? Say Goodbye to Anxiety and Hello to More Peace & More Prosperity! Here Are the 5 Secrets on How to Unleash Your Meditation Magic https://womensmeditationnetwork.com/5secrets Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player. Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https://WomensMeditationNetwork.com/premium Join our Premium Sleep for Women Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Sleep podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here --> https://bit.ly/sleepforwomen Join our Premium Meditation for Kids Channel on Apple Podcasts and get ALL 5 of our Kids podcasts completely ad-free! Join Premium now on Apple here → https://bit.ly/meditationforkidsapple Hey, I'm so glad you're taking the time to be with us today. My team and I are dedicated to making sure you have all the meditations you need throughout all the seasons of your life. If there's a meditation you desire, but can't find, email us at Katie Krimitsos to make a request. We'd love to create what you want! Namaste, Beautiful,

Episode 2548. Stand up. Featuring a cover of Tears of Gold by Violet King. Blunt Talk Podcast is guaranteed TO LIFT. X Fitness is committed to lifting in body, mind, and soul. There is enough depressing news. We won't add to it. Good Inspirational News Only. Free, permanently archived downloads compliments of X Fitness. Blessings & all good things. #peace  

Send us a textGrief hits like a spotlight, and then the mask slips. We open on the shock of Fallon's “death,” an official story sealed by a charred ring and a tidy report that no one seems able—or willing—to fully believe. Tears come in strange shapes: Alexis collapses in fury and need, Blake stiffens into control, and Jeff can't hold the line. At the graveside, the polite script vaporizes as he detonates, calling out a lifetime of being benched. It's messy, honest, and the most human moment of the hour. From there the power games tighten. Steven meets Sammy Jo at a linoleum table where hunger becomes leverage and a price tag—thirty thousand a month—turns custody into commerce. The negotiation spirals into threats, and the old-school slam of a dial tone lands harder than any speech. Then Adam acts. His midnight “rescue” of baby Danny is as chilling as it is effective, a reminder that on Dynasty, morality often rides shotgun to loyalty. Back at the mansion, Krystal does what Blake refuses: she cuts the staff so people can move on. Suddenly the house feels truly broke—less about missing money, more about missing certainty. And just when the dust should settle, Dominique Devereaux glides in. Fur, poise, and a voice that makes the room listen. Her claim—shared blood with Blake—reshapes the family map and introduces a new axis of power, elegance, and ambition. She's not asking to be let in; she's reminding us she belongs. By the end, we're left with delicious questions: Is Fallon gone for good? Who really controls baby Danny's future? What happens when money, identity, and grief collide in one living room? Hit play to hear the full breakdown, sharp commentary, and the scene-by-scene turns that make “The Rescue” a watershed hour. If you're into messy eulogies, high-stakes custody, and iconic arrivals, this one's for you. If you enjoyed the episode, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves prime-time chaos, and leave a review telling us where you stand—team Carrington or team Devereaux?

NU-IMAGE- Tears In My Eyes (Latin Tech House) Joe Nardi Remix by NAW-T-BOY

Au programme :C'est l'épisode traditionnel GotY ! Cette année on est encore plus nombreux que d'habitude, pour encore plus de jeux et de discussions que d'habitudes. Enjoy!Thomas :1) Backlog: Cyberpunk 20772) GaaS:3) Trooop de jeux: Hell is Us4) Spotlight: Eternal Strands, The Alters5) Grrr: Clair Obscur Expedition 336) Plateforme: PC (Shadow)7) GotY: Blue PrinceNoddus :1) Backlog: Astroneer2) GaaS: The Finals3) Trooop de jeux: Arc Raiders, Monster Train 2, Hades II4) Spotlight: Q-Up5) Grrr: Black Ops 7, Split Fiction6) Plateforme: PC / PC console7) GotY: Blue Prince, Abiotic Factor InterludeDany (il est dans nos coeurs) :1) Backlog: Sea of Stars2) GaaS: Diablo 43) Trooop de jeux: Absolum, Deltarune, Silent Hill f, Marvel Cosmic Invasion4) Spotlight: Dispatch5) Grrr: Death Stranding 26) Plateforme: PC (master race)7) GotY: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Blue prince, Dispatch, Hades 2Eska :1) Backlog: Citizen Sleeper, Dragon Age The Veilguard, Minishoot Adventures2) GaaS: 3) Trooop de jeux: Hades II, Absolum, Mario Kart World, Dispatch, Moonlighter 24) Spotlight: Is This Seat Taken, South of Midnight5) Grrr: Avowed, The Outer worlds 26) Plateforme: Switch 27) GotY: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Ball x Pit, Ghost of YoteiJK :1) Backlog:2) GaaS:3) Trooop de jeux: Ball x Pit, Arc Raiders4) Spotlight: The Supper: New Blood5) Grrr: Hollow Knight: Silk Song6) Plateforme: PC7) GotY: Rue Valley, Split Fiction, Routine, Dispatch, Avowed, Hell is Us, Citizen Sleeper 2, Wanderstop, Absolum, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Cassim :1) Backlog: Dredge2) GaaS: Overwatch 23) Trooop de jeux: Abiotic Factor, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles4) Spotlight: Suikoden I & II HD Remaster5) Grrr: Blue Prince6) Plateforme: PC (Linux)7) GotY: Peak, News Tower, Doom The Dark Ages, Two Point MuseumPatrick :1) Backlog: Persona 5 Royal, Tears of the Kingdom2) GaaS: Street Fighter VI3) Trooop de jeux: Forestrike, Ghost of Yotei, AC Shadows, Dispatch, Arc Raiders, Hyrule Warriors Les Chroniques du Sceau, Trails in the Sky4) Spotlight:5) Grrr: Blue Prince6) Plateforme: Switch 27) GotY: Ball x Pit, Absolum, Shinobi, Expedition 33, Fantasy Life i---Infos :Animé par Patrick Beja (Bluesky, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok)Co-animé par JK Lauret (Twitter).Co-animé par Maïté “Eskarina” (Bluesky).Co-animé par Cassim Montilla (Bluesky).Co-animé par Valentin Cebo (Noddus) (Bluesky).Co-animé par Thomas Méreur « Amaebi » (Bluesky).Co-animé par Daniel Charbit (Twitter).Produit par Patrick Beja (LinkedIn) et Fanny Cohen MoreauMusique par Daniel Beja.Le Rendez-vous Jeux épisode 428 – GotY 2025, nos jeux de l'annéeLiens :

Episode 2547. Takes just one. Featuring a cover of Tears of Gold by Violet King. Blunt Talk Podcast is guaranteed TO LIFT. X Fitness is committed to lifting in body, mind, and soul. There is enough depressing news. We won't add to it. Good Inspirational News Only. Free, permanently archived downloads compliments of X Fitness. Blessings & all good things. #peace

Lyndon and Matt are joined by NintendoFanGirl herself, Sam to discuss the pivotal events of the Tears of the Dragon memories. Support the show

The Fathers do not flatter us here. They speak with a severity that at first wounds, then heals, if we allow it. They do not treat resentment as a minor flaw of temperament or a passing emotional reaction. They name it for what it is: a poison that slowly erodes the soul's capacity to remember God. Abba Makarios goes straight to the heart of the matter. To remember wrongs is not simply to remember events. It is to allow those events to take up residence within us, to become a lens through which everything is filtered. The tragedy is not primarily that we remain hurt. It is that the remembrance of God grows faint. The mind cannot hold both rancor and divine remembrance at the same time. One displaces the other. When resentment is cherished, prayer becomes difficult, then hollow, then distorted. The heart turns inward and begins to feed on its own injuries. The Fathers are unsparing here because they know how subtle rancor is. Other sins shock us into repentance. A lie, a fall, a moment of weakness often leaves the soul groaning almost immediately. But rancor settles in quietly. It eats and sleeps with us. It walks beside us like a companion we no longer question. Abba Isaiah and the Elder of the Cells both know this danger. Resentment does not merely coexist with spiritual life; it corrodes it from within, like rust consuming iron. The soul grows hard while imagining itself justified. And yet, alongside this severity, there is a startling tenderness. The Fathers do not say that healing comes through argument, vindication, or emotional catharsis. They prescribe something far more humbling and far more powerful: prayer for the one who has wounded us. Not a feeling of goodwill, not an internal resolution, but the concrete act of standing before God and interceding. Again and again the teaching is the same. Pray for him. Pray for her. Force yourself if you must. Obey even when the heart resists. The story of the brother who obeyed the Elder and prayed is quietly miraculous. Nothing dramatic happens. There is no confrontation, no apology demanded, no psychological analysis. Within a week, the anger is gone. Not suppressed. Extinguished. Grace works where the will yields, even reluctantly. The healing is not self-generated. It is given. The account of the two brothers under persecution reveals just how serious this is. One accepts reconciliation and is strengthened beyond his natural limits. The other clings to ill will and collapses under the same torments. The difference is not courage or endurance. It is love. Grace remains where love remains. When rancor is chosen, protection is withdrawn, not as punishment, but because the soul has closed itself to the very atmosphere in which grace operates. St. Maximos names the interior mechanism with precision. Distress clings to the memory of the one who harmed us. The image of the person becomes fused with pain. Prayer loosens that bond. When we pray, distress is separated from memory. Slowly, the person is no longer experienced as an enemy but as a suffering human being in need of mercy. Compassion does not excuse the wrong. It dissolves its power. What is perhaps most astonishing is the Fathers' confidence that kindness can heal not only the one who was wounded, but the one who wounds. Be kind to the person who harbors resentment against you, St. Maximos says, and you may deliver him from his passion. This is not naïveté. It is spiritual realism. Demons feed on mutual hostility. They lose their dwelling place when humility and gentleness appear. Foxes flee when the ground is no longer hospitable. St. Ephraim's image is unforgettable. Rancor drives knowledge from the heart the way smoke drives away bees. The heart was made to gather sweetness. When bitterness fills the air, nothing can remain. Tears, prayer, and the offering of oneself like incense clear the space again. This teaching is beautiful because it is honest. It does not minimize the pain of insult or harm. It is challenging because it leaves us without excuses. We cannot claim prayer while nursing grudges. We cannot claim suffering for Christ while secretly rejoicing at another's downfall. The path offered is narrow and costly, but it is also liberating. Resentment chains us to the past. Kindness loosens the chain. Prayer opens the hand. Grace does the rest. --- Text from chat during the group: 00:04:55 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 332 Section B Hypothesis XLII Volume II 00:11:28 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 332 Section B Hypothesis XLII Volume II 00:11:41 Janine: Yes, thank you Uncle Father! 00:11:57 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Reacted to "Yes, thank you Uncle..." with

Episode 2546, Beer league. Featuring a cover of Tears of Gold by Violet King. Blunt Talk Podcast is guaranteed TO LIFT. X Fitness is committed to lifting in body, mind, and soul. There is enough depressing news. We won't add to it. Good Inspirational News Only. Free, permanently archived downloads compliments of X Fitness. Blessings & all good things. #peace

Brian Dick is joined by Birmingham City legend Martin Grainger who discusses his book Cut Short, his Blues career and his life after football. The left-back takes us through the highs and lows of his time at St Andrew's and adapting to life outside the game EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/keeprighton Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

Season 6 Episode 7: A Holiday Message From The Invisible Tears Family As we are all busy this holiday week, we are not posting an episode for Invisible Tears. Not to worry though, we will be back next week with episodes on December 30th. All of us want to wish you all a very safe and happy holiday! Follow or Visit Invisible Tears everywhere at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/invisibletearspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to Our Patreon and get ad free and extended episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/InvisibleTearsPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Episode Produced/Edited by Amanda Bedard Other music credits: Peaceful-piano-christmas-background-music-251336 Music by Nicholas Panek from Pixabay Podcast Cover Art designed by Emiley Burriss Other Visual Assets designed/photographed by: Amanda Bedard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 2545. My lifting team. Featuring a cover of Tears of Gold by Violet King. Blunt Talk Podcast is guaranteed TO LIFT. X Fitness is committed to lifting in body, mind, and soul. There is enough depressing news. We won't add to it. Good Inspirational News Only. Free, permanently archived downloads compliments of X Fitness. Blessings & all good things. #peace  

SLAP tears refer to injuries of the superior labrum of the shoulder, where the long head of the biceps tendon attaches to the glenoid. These tears are commonly identified on imaging, particularly in overhead athletes and aging populations, but their presence does not always explain pain or dysfunction. The shoulder relies heavily on soft tissue structures for stability, and the biceps–labral complex is exposed to significant load during overhead and deceleration activities. Importantly, labral changes are frequently seen in asymptomatic individuals, highlighting that structural findings alone do not equate to symptoms. Clinically, SLAP tears may present with deep shoulder pain, discomfort during overhead activity, clicking sensations, or fatigue with repeated use, though symptoms often overlap with other shoulder conditions. Diagnosis is challenging, as no single clinical test is highly accurate and imaging frequently reveals incidental findings. Meaningful diagnosis requires correlating symptoms, functional limitations, and activity demands rather than relying on imaging alone. From a treatment standpoint, conservative management is the first-line approach for most individuals. Rehabilitation focuses on restoring shoulder strength, scapular control, and load tolerance rather than "fixing" the labrum itself. While surgery may be appropriate in select cases, many people experience meaningful improvement with well-structured physical therapy. This episode explores how education, progressive loading, and evidence-based rehab strategies can help individuals return to function, even in the presence of a diagnosed SLAP tear. Link for my book: https://amzn.to/3Ld7ssd Link for my app: https://rehabscience.com/membership/ YouTube SLAP rehab video: https://youtu.be/FwiDJ6hoaYo?si=924NiLBuqPxBri0g  

It's track five time! “Eldest Daughter” may be one of Taylor's sweetest songs on the album… and despite some negative criticisms, Sara and Laura absolutely LOVE this song and will defend it to death. The ladies discuss the notion of Eldest Daughter Syndrome and how Taylor's self-protection becomes unnecessary when she feels safe with the right person. Tears are shed in this episode, but what else is new!? Chapters(00:00) Welcome!(01:42) What's On Our Plates(16:29) Taylor Updates(21:46) Eldest Daughter Introduction(25:38) Personal Associations and Emotional Connections(33:08) Folk"lore" Of The Song(49:12) Verse 1: An Unbothered Front, Apathy, Cancellation, The Illusion Of Hot Takes, Survival Strategies(56:18) Pre Chorus 1: Terminal Uniqueness, Play On Words About Death, Glorification Of "Cool" In Society(01:01:33) Chorus 1: Taylor's Specific Satiricial Vernacular, Self-Perception(01:09:01) Verse 2: Childlike Innocence, Cautious Discretion and Growth, Vulnerability, Marriage Trauma(01:24:04) Pre Chorus 2: A Lamb In Wolf's Clothing, The Burden Of Sacrifice As An Eldest Daughter. Self-Protection(01:29:20) Bridge: Montage Of Sweet, Innocent, Childlike Love, Hope and Future Possibilities Once Unimaginable(01:38:39) Pre Chorus 3: Travis Connection, Finding Home In A Stable Person(01:40:35) Chorus 3 & Outro(01:41:52) Music Theory Analysis: Right Hand On Piano As The Eldest Daughter, The Magic Of The Bridge, Interpolation of White Horse(01:47:11) Favorite Lyrics & Rating(01:49:46) This Song As A Recipe(01:51:47) Signing Off!(01:53:13) Patreon Preview: 'tis the damn seasonSUPPORT US ON PATREON! Show us some love and get monthly bonus episodes and first dibs on upcoming episode ideas. We'd be enchanted to have you join our Swiftie community!Links ReferencedSara's Episode On Finding Mr. Height: Spotify, Apple MusicEli Rallo's Commentary on Eldest Daughter LoreTaylor's Interview With Zane LoweBirth Order Dating TheoryBrigid Kaelin's Music Theory Analysis of Eldest DaughterSpiked Blackberry Lilac Lemonade RecipeHomemade Dunkaroo's RecipePlease make sure to subscribe and leave a review. If you'd like to reach out to send in a question or comment, please do so via any of these platforms:email blankplatepod@gmail.comleave a voicemail at (717) 382-831Patreon (get bonus episodes and first dibs on episode ideas)YouTubeInstagramTikTokYou can also follow Sara and Laura individually:• Laura: Instagram and Tiktok• Sara: InstagramListen to our previous podcast: Passports & Pizza

Welcome back to Pursuing Pixels.  We've got the full gang in attendance once again, and all sorts of gaming goodies to discuss, so let's get right into the action! Randall kicks things off with some first impressions on his brand new Analogue 3D console, which is breathing some new life into his Nintendo 64 library. After that, John keeps the first impression train rolling, after snagging a new 8BitDo Ultimate 2C controller — before rolling right into some quick updates on his continued time with both ARC Raiders & Tears of the Kingdom. Kevin closes things out with some first impressions of his own, after finally getting his hands on a PS5 console — including his thoughts on Astro's Playroom, along with a quick Crash Bandicoot 4 addendum.    Timestamps: Analogue 3D Console + N64  -  00:00:59 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Controller  -  00:16:07 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom  -  00:19:39 ARC Raiders  -  00:21:49 Kevin's New PS5  -  00:29:58 ↳  Crash Bandicoot 4 + CTR: Nitro-Fueled  -  00:31:14 ↳  Astro's Playroom  -  00:33:34   Thanks for taking the time to listen!  If you'd like to find us elsewhere on the Internet, you can find us at:   

Episode 2544. Grocery shocking. Featuring a cover of Tears of Gold by Violet King. Blunt Talk Podcast is guaranteed TO LIFT. X Fitness is committed to lifting in body, mind, and soul. There is enough depressing news. We won't add to it. Good Inspirational News Only. Free, permanently archived downloads compliments of X Fitness. Blessings & all good things. #peace

"AahBecause the world is roundIt turns me onBecause the world is roundAahBecause the wind is highIt blows my mindBecause the wind is high"Please join me on this 1st day of the Winter Solstice "Because" I have prepared another terrific soundtrack for your Sunday Evening. Coming along for the journey are 10CC, Don McLean, The Band, Jerry Garcia, The Eagles, Harry Chapin, Spirit, The Doors, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, America, Simon & Garfunkel, The Doors, Moody Blues, Traffic, Sly & The Family Stone, Little Feat, Blood Sweat & Tears, Little River Band, Marshall Tucker Band, John Lennon, The Guess Who, War and The Beatles...

In the wake of the Bondi beach tragedy last weekend, Sydney has welcomed new mental health support systems. New South Wales Health is offering support for anyone affected - both directly and indirectly. - После трагедии на Бондае в минувшие выходные в Сиднее были внедрены дополнительные меры поддержки психического здоровья. Служба здравоохранения Нового Южного Уэльса оказывает помощь всем, кого затронули эти события, как напрямую, так и косвенно.

It's official — with the swipe of President Donald Trump's pen, North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe is now the 575th federally recognized tribe. Correspondent Matt Laslo has the story from Washington. Dozens of members of the Lumbee Tribe traveled from North Carolina to Washington to be a part of history this week. Tears were heard in the gallery after the U.S. Senate approved the measure granting the Lumbee federal recognition Wednesday. And after President Trump signed it into law Thursday, Lumbee Chairman John Lowery could barely contain his joy. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning, and our joy is here. It's here. We finally achieved what our ancestors fought so long and so hard to achieve.” There are roughly 60,000 members of the Lumbee, making it the largest Native American tribe east of the Mississippi River. North Carolina officials recognized the tribe after the Civil War in 1885, but not federal officials. U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) has helped lead the fight in the Senate in recent years. “Yeah, we’re a little bit excited after 137 years, on their part, about 40 years on Senate members part, it’s good to see it get done.” Tillis is retiring at the end of his term next year, but he says the decade-long battle for federal recognition for the Lumbee shows Washington isn't totally broken — even if the tribe and North Carolina lawmakers fought an uphill battle for years now. “A lot of educating and just, you know, prioritize the way. This is the way this works, right? You come in, you use leverage, you have discussions, you build a case. I think that’s what happened. I really appreciate the delegation. This was a well-coordinated effort.” Back in 1956, Congress partially recognized the Lumbee, but that left the tribe locked out of federal health services. And it meant the tribe couldn't operate casinos or marijuana dispensaries like other tribes. Chairman Lowery says it's a new day for the Lumbee. “The 1956 act, which left us in legal limbo, is now erased. It is no more and we are now fully, fairly recognized.” The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians fought the federal recognition of the Lumbee, which passed as a part of an annual $900 billion defense authorization bill. The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Kansas issued a statement this week to its tribal members about a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contract after the deal was met with public scrutiny. In a video statement, Chairman Joseph Rupnick said the Nation and its subsidiaries have fully divested from the ICE contract. “As a result, Prairie Band, LLC is no longer a direct or indirect owner or participant in, or otherwise affiliated with, any ICE-related projects, contracts, or operations. In our next General Council meeting in January, Tribal Council plans to further address the steps we will take to ensure that our Nation's economic interests do not come into conflict with our values in the future.” Tribal citizens from across the U.S. have raised concerns about ICE and the Trump administration's immigration policies. Native people have also reported being confronted by ICE, including actress Elaine Miles, who has been sharing her story with media outlets about her run-in with ICE agents in November. (Courtesy Elaine Miles) U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, U.S Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and 10 of their Senate colleagues recently sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about reports of ICE encounters with tribal citizens. They are urging her to develop policy and trainings to recognize tribal IDs and requested a response by January 11. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling https://www.nativeamericacalling.com/friday-december-19-2025-native-music-in-2025/

Neil Stubenhaus is a legendary bass player who has performed with just about everyone. His credits list is like the NYC phone book. It's 12 pages long with too many names to recite including Blood Sweat and Tears, Quincy Jones, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Whitney Houston, Roberta Flack and a zillion others. He's been Barbra Streisand's bassist forever. He's also a fixture in the session world where he's performed on more than 600 albums (of which over 70 have been Grammy nominated), over 20 Grammy winning songs, and more than 60 Gold and Platinum records. He's also recorded over 150 movie soundtracks as well as countless jingles and commercials.My featured song is “Sunday Slide”, my recent single. Spotify link.—-----------------------------------------------------------The Follow Your Dream Podcast:Top 1% of all podcasts with Listeners in 200 countries!Click here for All Episodes Click here for Guest List Click here for Guest Groupings Click here for Guest TestimonialsClick here to Subscribe Click here to receive our Email UpdatesClick here to Rate and Review the podcast—----------------------------------------CONNECT WITH NEIL:www.nstubenhausbass@facebook.com—----------------------------------------ROBERT'S LATEST SINGLE:“MA PETITE FLEUR STRING QUARTET” is Robert's latest release. It transforms his jazz ballad into a lush classical string quartet piece. Praised by a host of classical music stars.CLICK HERE FOR YOUTUBE LINKCLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS—---------------------------------------ROBERT'S RECENT SINGLE“MI CACHIMBER” is Robert's recent single. It's Robert's tribute to his father who played the trumpet and loved Latin music.. Featuring world class guest artists Benny Benack III and Dave Smith on flugelhornCLICK HERE FOR YOUTUBE LINKCLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS—--------------------------------------ROBERT'S LATEST ALBUM:“WHAT'S UP!” is Robert's latest compilation album. Featuring 10 of his recent singles including all the ones listed below. Instrumentals and vocals. Jazz, Rock, Pop and Fusion. “My best work so far. (Robert)”CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL VIDEOCLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS—----------------------------------------Audio production:Jimmy RavenscroftKymera Films Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast:Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.comEmail Robert - robert@followyourdreampodcast.com Follow Robert's band, Project Grand Slam, and his music:Website - www.projectgrandslam.comYouTubeSpotify MusicApple MusicEmail - pgs@projectgrandslam.com  

Today on the Logan Blackman Show we react to Patrick Mahomes tearing his ACL and what that could do to the future of the Chiefs and the AFC West. We then go over a rivalry unlike any other, Josh Allen vs random people on social media, discussing what's true and what's not while also talking about his chances of coming home with another MVP. Speaking of MVP we take a look at the current favorite, Matthew Stafford, and discuss what his legacy could look like if he were to win the award as well as where he could rank all time if he and the Rams also come away with another Super Bowl. We then discuss the new age of the NFL Draft process, focusing on quarterbacks such as Jayden Maiava, Darian Mensah, and Brendan Sorsby and how they're going about the process. Finally, we talk about the transfer portal as a whole, preview the first round of the College Football Playoff, and recap the Heisman Trophy results. Enjoy!

Send us a textAs you know, I've dedicated the month of December to the angels. They've been putting in WORK to keep us humans from feeling non-stop despair during this rough times. As I meditated on which angels to shine a spotlight on, first one C-angel came forward, Caliel, then another soon used my pen to jot down their name. Like others, I assumed their name was Castiel - like the character from the TV series, Supernatural. But, they patiently waited for me to correct my work. Cassiel is this angel's name, and I can't wait to share more.Let's get into it.Cassiel 101The Black Feather Intuitive is one of my go-to sources on angels. She is incredible and gives such rich depth and breadth to the angels. Her writing is excellent, too, so give her website a visit using the link I've provided for you in the show notes.Here's what she has to say about Cassiel;"Who is Archangel Cassiel? The Archangel of Duality"Archangel Cassiel, known as the Angel of Tears and Temperament or who I refer to as The Archangel of Duality, can help us find harmony and balance when we are feeling low, open up new realities, and help us embrace the duality within each of us.Show SourcesArchangel Cassiel: The Archangel of Duality, The Black Feather IntuitiveThe Seventh Hall, Archangel Cassiel, StudyLib.netCassiel from the Occult Encyclopedia I don't accept sponsors and paid advertisers. I choose people, podcasts and authors I believe in to highlight in the ad segment. That's why I've been shining a spotlight on Derek Condit at Mystical Wares. He is both talented and generous with those gifts. Please give his books a look on the Mystical Wares website.Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director, Nora, has a handmade, ethically-sourced jewelry company!

Title: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (ゼルダ無双 封印戦記, Zeruda Musō: Fūin Senki; lit. "Zelda Musou: Chronicle of the Sealed War") [Wikipedia] [IMDb] Developer: AAA Games Studio Publisher(s): Nintendo, Koei Tecmo (JP) Designers: Koki Aoyanagi (director), Kyohei Oka, Yifan Chen, Mastaka Kuroki Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 Release date: November 6, 2025 PROMO: Collateral Cinema Movie Podcast (@CCinemaPodcast) SHOWNOTES: On this Game Launch Edition of Collateral Gaming, Ash is covering the latest Zelda and Warriors crossover spin-off on Switch 2—Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment! Similar to the previous Hyrule Warriors installment, Age of Calamity—which acted as an alternate timeline prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild—this 2025 title from Nintendo and Koei Tecmo is adjacent to Tears of the Kingdom, covering the canon events of the Imprisoning War, while offering Musou-style hack and slash gameplay on Nintendo's newest hardware. Listen now, and stay tuned for our two-part episode on Metroid Prime 4 and our Holiday Special on Zelda: A Link to the Past! Collateral Gaming is on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter, and is on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeart, and wherever else you get your podcasts! Also, check out Collateral Let's Play! on our YouTube channel. Collateral Media merch is available on Dashery! Check out everything from shirts and hats, to stickers and even tapestries, at our affiliate link now: collateralmedia.dashery.com (Collateral Gaming is a Collateral Media Podcast. Intro song is a license-free beat from Purple Planet Music. All music and game clips are owned by their respective creators and are used for educational purposes only. Please don't sue us; we're poor!)

The guys give their thoughts on the death of the Chiefs' season and what's next after Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL.

This episode of the 1M Project Podcast delves into how important commuity is when you are going through hardship. Host Jen DeBrot, along with guests Carmen Meurer, author of Stories from the Heart, a devotional for mothers estranged from their children, and Anna Porter, a leader within the 1M Project and the author of Tears that Talk, share their insights and experiences with how to hold onto key friendships while walking through a challenging season. In this episode, they touch on how to reach out for support, know who to trust, and find renewed purpose from heartache.  

May the God of Wonders Bless You!

Jase, Al, and Zach are joined by bestselling author and podcaster Lisa Harper for one of the most emotionally honest conversations ever about lifelong shame, feelings of inadequacy, and adoption highs and lows. Lisa opens up about the heartbreak and long waiting that marked her adoption journey and the exhausting habit of performing spiritually instead of resting in God's presence. Tears flow as Zach and Jase share their own adoption experiences and rejoice in the reflection of God's nature through it all.  In this episode: Luke 13, verses 10–17; John 4, verses 1–42; James 1, verse 17; James 1, verse 27; Ephesians 5, verses 22–33; Malachi 2, verses 13–16; John 17, verses 1–26 “Unashamed” Episode 1232 is sponsored by: https://preborn.com/unashamed — Visit the PreBorn! website or dial #250 and use keyword BABY to donate today. https://andrewandtodd.com or call 888-888-1172 — These guys are the real deal. Get trusted mortgage guidance and expertise from someone who shares your values! https://myphdweightloss.com — Find out how Al is finally losing weight! Schedule your one-on-one consultation today by visiting the website or calling 864-644-1900. https://www.puretalk.com/unashamed — Through your generosity PureTalk was able to donate over half a million dollars to America's Warrior Partnership! http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ — Sign up now for free, and join the Unashamed hosts every Friday for Unashamed Academy Powered by Hillsdale College Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://open.spotify.com/show/3LY8eJ4ZBZHmsImGoDNK2l Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters: 00:00-07:34 Lisa Harper could have been a comedian 07:35-14:40 How Lisa found Jesus & her ministry 14:41-22:28 Trusting God at your lowest point in life 22:29-28:53 God values presence over performance 28:54-40:40 The Bible as a love letter to us 40:41-47:20 Am I good enough to be a parent? 47:21-56:18 The joy & heartbreak of being an adoptive parent — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode features a brand new story written by over a hundred different members of the Story Pirates Creator Club! The next Create a Story session is coming up on Friday, January 23rd @ 7pm ET Grownups, your kids can join Peter and Lee to make a new story in a virtual Create a Story session and hear it come to life on the podcast! Create a Story Zooms happen four times per year for our Premium Creator Club members. To join us, sign up for a Premium membership at storypirates.com/creatorclub All Creator Club memberships also include Podcast Plus, where you can hear even more bonus episodes like this one and listen to the Story Pirates Podcast ad-free! Help us finish our season and get a personal video from a Story Pirates Podcast host for a limited time only at storypirates.com/support Submit kids’ stories at storypirates.com/submit-a-story Check out Story Quest, our in-school digital creative writing program, at storypirates.com/about-story-quest Learn about Story Love, our corporate volunteer program, at storypirateschangemakers.org/story-loveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rip sits down with Andrea Freeman, James Beard Award-winning author of Ruin Their Crops on the Ground. Drawing on more than 20 years of research, Andrea unpacks how food, race, and class have shaped America's food system, exploring the historical roots of inequality that still influence what ends up on our plates today.Their conversation takes listeners on a journey from the Trail of Tears to contemporary food policies, revealing how government decisions and corporate interests have systematically marginalized communities, perpetuating cycles of poor health and limited access to nutritious food. Andrea's insights illuminate the ways in which food systems have been—and continue to be—tools of oppression, while also showing how understanding this history empowers us to advocate for meaningful change.Rob and Andrea dive into key topics including:The politics of food and its intersections with race and classFood deserts, systemic barriers, and ongoing food justice challengeThe historical impact of school lunch programs and agricultural subsidiesHow corporate influence shapes dietary guidelines and marketingThe lasting effects of colonial-era food policies on modern dietsAndrea also emphasizes the power of advocacy, inspiring listeners to see food not just as sustenance, but as a reflection of cultural identity and social justice. She encourages critical thinking about the choices available to consumers and how we can support policies that prioritize health and equity over profit.Watch the Episode on YouTubeEpisode WebpageLearn More About our 2026 Live PLANTSTRONG Events: https://plantstrong.com/pages/events Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyTake the Free 7-Day Challenge: https://liveplantstrong.com/free-7-day-challenge/ Learn More About Our Corporate Wellness Program: https://liveplantstrong.com/corporate-wellness/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrongfoods.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotify

Pastor Michael Kisaka shares a powerful reflection on Psalm 56:8, emphasizing God's intimate knowledge of and presence in our suffering. He illustrates how God attentively keeps track of our sorrows and is compassionately close, even collecting our tears.

Marcas Grant, Michael F. Florio, and LaQuan Jones bring you the latest fantasy headlines after Sunday’s week fifteen games. They start the show by talking about the Bills comeback against the Patriots, then they discuss Patrick Mahomes' ACL tear and how they feel about the Chiefs pass catchers for the rest of the season (4:52). They also consider the impacts of Davante Adams’ hamstring injury (10:25) and Christian Watson’s chest injury (12:45). Next, they discuss Philip Rivers returning to the field after five years off and what his performance means for the Colts pass catchers going forward (20:20). After the break they review the heroes and villains from week one of the fantasy playoffs (25:34) and answer the big questions from week fifteen (37:35). They wrap the show by sharing the players in the drop zone (43:16) and who to pickup on the waive wire (48:02). The NFL Fantasy Football Podcast is a part of the NFL Podcasts Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet. Nick Wright recaps Week 15 of the NFL season, starting with the Kansas City Chiefs being eliminated from the playoffs and Patrick Mahomes’ devastating ACL injury. What's next for Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid, and KC? Then, Nick discusses the Joe Burrow fiasco in Cincinnati and what it means for the Bengals. Next, Nick reacts to Micah Parsons tearing his ACL in the Green Bay Packers' loss to the Denver Broncos. Have Jordan Love and Green Bay's Super Bowl hopes been dashed? And are Bo Nix and the Broncos the team to beat in the AFC? What does Nick make of Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills' monster comeback win over Drake Maye's New England Patriots? Later, Nick and Damonza answer your questions. #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's word of the day is ‘depravity' as in Brown University as in Bondi Beach as in the Reiner Family as in the world we live in. We're a sports show, so we will talk sports first. The Chiefs dynasty ended in the worst way possible; a loss to a division rival to be eliminated from playoff contention and a Patrick Mahomes torn ACL. Disaster. (12:30) Philip Rivers looked… decent! After 4+ years off he was back to slinging footballs in the NFL. Wow. (27:30) The Mets weekend was something. Pete Alonso gets introduced for the Orioles. Edwin Diaz gets introduced for the Dodgers. And the Mets sign Jorge Polanco. (37:30) Review: Bugonia. (41:00) NPPOD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's word of the day is ‘depravity' as in Brown University as in Bondi Beach as in the Reiner Family as in the world we live in. We're a sports show, so we will talk sports first. The Chiefs dynasty ended in the worst way possible; a loss to a division rival to be eliminated from playoff contention and a Patrick Mahomes torn ACL. Disaster. (12:30) Philip Rivers looked… decent! After 4+ years off he was back to slinging footballs in the NFL. Wow. (27:30) The Mets weekend was something. Pete Alonso gets introduced for the Orioles. Edwin Diaz gets introduced for the Dodgers. And the Mets sign Jorge Polanco. (37:30) Review: Bugonia. (41:00) NPPOD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get your 10-minute fantasy football edge: Bob Harris & Mike Dempsey break down today's NFL news + what it means for your team.  

(2:45) – Rotoworld Player News: Patrick Mahomes suffers torn ACL, TreVeyon Henderson scores 2 long TD, prioritizing Patriots receivers, Davante Adams injures hamstring, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams dominate Lions pass game(22:20) – More Week 15 Reaction: Trevor Lawrence throws 5 TD, searching for Jets viability, Jacoby Brissett finds Michael Wilson for another score, Jawhar Jordan steps in for Woody Marks, Christian Watson leaves game with chest injury, Bo Nix throws 4 TD(40:30) – Weekend Warriors: Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Jaxson Dart, Tyrone Tracy Jr., DJ Moore, D'Andre Swift, Chris Olave, Tony Pollard, Dallas Goedert, J.J. McCarthy(46:10) – Sunday Scaries: Justin Jefferson, George Pickens, Justin Herbert, Ladd McConkey, Ashton Jeanty, Tetairoa McMillan, Tyler Warren(49:30) – Last Call: Favorite Dolphins at Steelers bets  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join NFL Legends James "Deebo" Harrison and Joe Haden as they react to Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns falling to the Chicago Bears. Later, they react to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs being eliminated from playoff contention, Patrick Mahomes suffering a torn ACL, Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals being eliminated from playoff contention after losing to Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, and much more from Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season! Download the PrizePicks app today and use code DEEBOJOE to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup! https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/DEEBOJOE Timeline:00:00 - Bears beat Browns13:53 - Browns Wristband-Gate20:00 - Ravens beat Bengals31:30 - Bills beat Patriots40:40 - Chiefs Eliminated, Mahomes tears ACL39:15 - Steelers-Dolphins MNF Preview54:35 - Play or Fade presented by PrizePicks (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) #Club #NightcapSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shannon Sharpe & Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson react to the Denver Broncos beating the Green Bay Packers to stay atop of their division, the Los Angeles Chargers go on the road and beat the Kansas City Chiefs to elimnate them from the playoffs, and the Buffalo Bills comeback to beat the New England Patriots and much more! Subscribe to Nightcap presented by PrizePicks so you don’t miss out on any new drops! Download the PrizePicks app today and use code SHANNON to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/NI... 0:00 - Broncos beat Packers9:25 - Chargers beat Chiefs21:49 - Bills beat Pats38:45 - Rams beat Lions44:20 - Seahawks beat Colts49:30 - Eagles beat Raiders (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) #ClubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Harmon and Chris Allen provide instant fantasy analysis to all the action from Week 15 in the NFL. The two react to all the major injuries that took place on Sunday, including the Kansas City Chiefs losing Patrick Mahomes for the season to a torn ACL. The two place games in three fantasy buckets: Games we care about the most, games we sort of care about and games that could have been an email.(2:00) - Boom and Bust players of Week 15: Trevor Lawrence and Quinshon Judkins(6:30) - Games we care about the most: LAC@KC, BUF@NE(25:40) - Games we care about the most: DET@LAR, GB@DEN(41:15) - Games we sort of care about: BAL@CIN, NYJ@JAX, CAR@NO, IND@SEA(59:10) - Games that could have been an email Subscribe to the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on your favorite podcast app: