Settlement that is bigger than a village but smaller than a city
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Federal tax credits for solar projects are expiring at the end of this year, and some smaller towns in rural Minnesota have tapped into the benefits.For Climate Cast this week, MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner talks to Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Kristoffer Tigue about the skepticism around solar power that many small and local governments had adopted over the years and the economic benefits that changed their minds.
If more towns band together to plan and pay for projects, it might be possible to reduce the impact of flooding in the state's larger economic centers, usually downriver.
On this week's episode of Change Agents, Andy sits down with award-winning journalist Mariana van Zeller, host of National Geographic's Trafficked, to explore cartels, black markets, and human trafficking in the U.S. and abroad. Mariana discusses how cartels operate in small American towns, use domestic flights for smuggling, and recruit American citizens as distributors. She also examines the trade of Vietnamese brides into China and the broader social and economic factors that enable these crimes. The conversation highlights the scale of drug trafficking and human exploitation and emphasizes the need for awareness and solutions that address the root causes. Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: Firecracker Farm Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/ AmmoSquared Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission. TacPack Visit http://www.TacPack.com and use code IRONCLAD at checkout to get a free $70 tactical gift Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
One of the most common concerns we hear from small-town leaders and residents is the idea of the “brain drain,” or the fear that young people will leave and never return. This is a very valid fear, but there is so much we can do about it! We are so excited to welcome one of our very own, Jaci Praska, who grew up in our small town of Oakes, ND, to talk to us about just how we get to keep people like her! About Jaci: I attend the University of North Dakota, where I am double-majoring in Accounting and Public Affairs. While attending UND, I also work as a Peer Mentor in the Nistler College of Business Pancratz Center and serve as Vice-President of the UND Sales team, traveling nationwide to compete in sales competitions while learning from industry professionals. I am also a member of UND's Women in Business Club and Marketing Club. I grew up in Oakes, ND, working in my family's local hardware store, where I have seen firsthand the power of small-town community. I have always been deeply involved in our community food pantry, where we strive to serve our community members in need. In high school, I was honored to represent students of North Dakota as a North Dakota High School Activities Association Distinguished Student and on the North Dakota Association of Student Councils State Board as the Class B representative. I was also involved in volleyball, basketball, track, choir, FFA, Honor Society, and Student Ambassadors giving me the true “Class B” experience! In this episode, we cover: The tension young people feel between opportunities in the “big city,” and their roots at home How family businesses and strong community shape future leaders Breaking the stigma around “coming back” to your hometown. Myths and realities about Gen Z in the workplace, especially around work ethic. The importance of celebrating returners and reframing the narrative about North Dakota. Links + Resources Mentioned: Praska Hardware Facebook: facebook.com/praskashardwarehank Sponsor Spotlight: Brodie Mueller and The Market on the Plaza In small towns, coffee is more than caffeine. It's community! Market on the Plaza roasts beans locally in Aberdeen, in small batches for the freshest, richest cup to start your day or for an afternoon pick-me-up. Stop in to grab a bag for home or linger over a cup with neighbors. Proudly local, always welcoming. This week's Small-Town Shout-Out is: Fort Pierre, SD! Sunny shared the things that make Fort Pier fantastic: the people, their history, the rodeos, and their new Missouri River Bridge. Sounds like we all need to make a trip to Fort Pierre and experience all that awesomeness for ourselves! Way to go, Fort Pierre. We Want to Hear From You! Some of the best parts about radio shows and podcasts are listener call-ins, so we've decided to make those a part of the Growing Small Towns Podcast. We really, really want to hear from you! We're have two “participation dance” elements of the show: “Small town humblebrags”: Call in and tell us about something amazing you did in your small town so we can celebrate with you. No win is too small—we want to hear it all, and we will be excessively enthusiastic about whatever it is! You can call in for your friends, too, because giving shout-outs is one of our favorite things. “Solving Your Small-Town People Challenges”: Have a tough issue in your community? We want to help. Call in and tell us about your problem, and we'll solve it on an episode of the podcast. Want to remain anonymous? Totally cool, we can be all secretive and stuff. We're suave like that. If you've got a humblebrag or a tricky people problem, call 701-203-3337 and leave a message with the deets. We really can't wait to hear from you! Get In Touch Have an idea for a future episode/guest, have feedback or a question, or just want to chat? Email us at hello@growingsmalltowns.org Subscribe + Review Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of The Growing Small Towns Show! If the information in our conversations and interviews has helped you in your small town, head out to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver relevant, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more small-town trailblazers just like you!
Edition No249 | 28-09-2025 - Today we turn the spotlight squarely on Russia's propaganda machinery — and how its most vicious threats now extend even to Britain's ancient universities. Solovyov has threatened to wipe out the town where I live in an atomic inferno, for no other reason that we refuse to allow Russia to erase Ukraine from the world map. Perhaps he's also upset he can't get to his Italian villas since 2022. So, Russia's foremost propagandist has threatened to wipe out one of the most ancient seats of learning and civilisation, and by extension threaten to kill me. Apart from the bluster and vicious hatred, it's such utterances that show Russia has fallen far from what could be considered civilisation, civilised language and behaviour, and that no regime hack or representative should be allowed in civilised company, at least for the lifetime of the current regime. That ban should also extend to all the minions and enablers of the regime. We'll explore how that fits into a broader pattern: Russia's imperial ambitions, its civilizational decline, and the accelerating slide in global norms under pressure from China, Russia, and their allies — but also how Ukraine and its global backers confront this – showing that resistance, and a reassertion of civilised values is possible – though it comes at a steep price.We begin — shockingly — with Vladimir Solovyov's threat to bomb Oxford and Cambridge.----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SOURCES: “Russia should ‘bomb Oxford', key Putin ally says,” UK News / Yahoo, Sept 2025“Top Russian propagandist issues threat to drop nuclear bombs …” LADbible, Sept 2025 Nancy Ries, *Russia's Atrocity Rhetoric During Its War on Ukraine* (RCIN) An Independent Legal Analysis of the Russian Federation's Breaches of the Genocide Convention (New Lines Institute) “Holding Putin's propagandists accountable for crimes in Ukraine,” Atlantic Council UkraineAlert, June 2024 “Dmitry Medvedev says editors of The Times are ‘legitimate military targets',” The Guardian, Dec 2024 “Russia is at war with Britain …”, The Guardian / Fiona Hill commentary, June 2025 “International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Russian leaders,” Wikipedia / ICC context “Andrey Gurulyov,” Wikipedia (remarks on bombing Britain)----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------
Summer heatwaves and missed bin collections have created panic in the press that rat numbers in the UK are increasing. We ask Steve Belmain, Professor of Ecology at the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich for the science. This summer Wales became the first country in the UK to ban plastic in wet wipes, with the other nations pledging they will do the same. Over the past few weeks there's been work to remove a giant mound of them, known as ‘Wet Wipe Island' on the Thames in west London. Marnie Chesterton has been to find out how they got there and what damage they could be doing to the river's ecosystem.Professor Sadiah Quereshi, Chair in Modern British History at the University of Manchester explains why we should see the extinction of species as a modern, and often political phenomenon. Her book Vanished: An Unnatural History of Extinction is the second book we're featuring from the shortlist for the 2025 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize.And Lizzie Gibney, senior physics reporter at Nature brings us a round up of the news causing a stir in science circles this week.Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producers: Ella Hubber, Jonathan Blackwell and Clare Salisbury Editor: Ilan Goodman Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth
How an upstate New York community was able to access the resources needed to test for dangerous mosquito-borne diseases. Plus, a Scott administration push to get state employees into their work places more often gets support from Montpelier retailers, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns says many Vermont communities are experiencing a shortage of essential workers, state police reveal the name of a Burlington officer involved in a shooting incident, and Windham Southeast Supervisory Union bus drivers vote to ratify a new 5-year contract with their employer.
Send us a textIn this episode the Madcaps discuss a few of the many ghost towns that exist in Florida. These are settlements that are long gone and have few visual reminders. Towns discussed:Ethel https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/historic-town-ethelEllaville:https://abandonedfl.com/the-town-of-ellaville/Indian Key;https://www.floridastateparks.org/IndianKeyOlenohttps://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/oleno-state-parkPlease subscribe! Shares and reviews are much appreciated!Get your FREE sticker from the Florida Springs Council and sign up to be a springs advocate at https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/madcapsQuestions and comments can be emailed at thefloridamadcaps@gmail.comRyan can be found on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/the_fl_excursionist/Chris and Chelsey can be found at https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestateseekers/?hl=en
Send us a textJoin regular correspondent Maryann Rosen as she continues her journey through the Peak-to-Peak area! In this segment, she discusses the history and stories of Idaho Springs, Allenspark, Raymond, Lily Lake, and Estes Park! Thank you for listening to The Mountain-Ear Podcast, featuring news and culture from peak to peak! Additional pages are linked below!If you want to be involved in the podcast or paper, contact our editor at info@themountainear.com and/or our podcast host at media@themountainear.com! Head to our website for all of the latest news from peak to peak! SUBSCRIBE ONLINE and use the coupon code PODCAST for A 10% DISCOUNT for ALL NEW SUBSCRIBERS! Submit local events to promote them in the paper and on our website! Find us on Facebook @mtnear and Instagram @mtn.ear! Listen and watch on YouTube today! Share this podcast around by scrolling to the bottom of our website home page or by heading to our main hub on Buzzsprout!Thank you for listening!
In this episode, host Merlin Fulcher is joined by Dr Jane Hall, architectural historian and founding member of the Turner Prize-winning collective Assemble. Together they discuss:Lords call for stronger leadership for the government's new towns // The UK's largest architecture firm reports record-breaking turnover amid a surge in global projects // Campaigners against the old Museum of London's demolition win the right to appeal // And they are the biggest cars on the road… could a new tax on sports utility vehicles raise £2 billion for the UK?Subscribe to the Open City Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud or iTunesThe Open City Podcast is supported by Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture platform and produced in association with the Architects' Journal, London Society, C20 Society and Save Britain's Heritage.The Open City Podcast is recorded and produced at the Open City offices located in Bureau. Bureau is a co-working space for creatives offering a new approach to membership workspace. Bureau prioritises not just room to think and do, but also shared resources and space to collaborate.To help support excellent and accessible, independent journalism about the buildings and the urban environment, please become an Open City Friend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Radio TRO is brought to you in part by:Twisted Road - Motorcycle Rental in the USAVisit Twisted.TRO.bike to get a FREE riding day!Brian's liking Suzuki's latest additions to GSX-8 surge. The 8T and 8TT naked/retro siblings to Robin's faired 8R stand out. His Road America report mixes poetry and pain, hitting over 130 mph on a naked bike in the wet. In the mailbag he says use real starting batteries: DEKA, Super Start, Big Crank or MotoBatt. He then explains his navigation style: north-up maps and a matrix he keeps in his head.Robin fires off a heartfelt thanks to track day helpers: Jack's ramp, Mallory holding the bike on chocks and Adam's Snickers diplomacy. He passed on a sweet SV650 for his wife because it lacked ABS (always buy the bike you actually want). His Road America saga runs from U-Haul chaos to warm Wisconsin hospitality, riding wet slides through turn five into a 1/2 zen "this is going to be expensive" rear step out. His mantra ... fear and tension are not fuel. In the incommunicado segment, his route-first planning approach contrasts that of Brian's.Joanne keeps it simple in the Armory. Flashy OEM dash screens are fine for stats and for maintenance via apps but navigation and rider-to-rider talk still belong to Cardo and Sena. Pick gear based on the crew you ride with. She's Team Cardo for IP67 waterproofing and current Bluetooth support, from Freecoms to the Pactalk Edge. Cross-brand pairing can work but mesh systems do not mix.Jordan continues the origin story of USA pavement, beginning as wagon ruts that grew into the National Road. Railroads later sidelined it but in the 1880s, bicyclists brought it back. Towns then grew short spurs to tap the traffic. He traces the surfacing path from Baltimore Pike to concrete and asphalt. He pits old Portland cement longevity against today's "rebuild in four years" approach.Episode Page: https://tro.bike/podcast/2025e25/Music by Rabid Neon and Otis McDonald
Popcorn festivals and even "popcorn capitals of the world" dot the middle of the country. Yet this ubiquitous snack is grown on fewer than 1,000 farms in the U.S. today.
CalMatters' Jeanne Kuang discusses changes that could come to California's 1st Congressional District if Prop 50 passes. Also, podcast explores cold case murder in Woodland. Finally, former gold rush towns get their due in new book from Sac Library.
Hotel Pacifico was created by Air Quotes Media with support from FortisBC.In a special episode, Mike welcomes back frequent guest Global News reporter Richard Zussman to discuss the upcoming Union of BC Municipalities Convention and why it matters. They discuss the hot topics for mayors and councillors such as the Cowichan decision, Heritage Conservation Act, street disorder, and the natural resource economy. Mike and Richard squeeze in a few minutes on the ongoing B.C. Conservative leadership review with results expected shortly. Plus, the final days of the Green leadership battle.
Fall in Italy is a dream for travelers. It's a season of golden vineyards, festivals, and quiet piazzas where you can while away an hour or two. In this episode, we explore eight Italian towns that shine in autumn - from a hilltop town in Umbria to a city famed for truffle markets, and a Renaissance jewel and beyond. Discover lesser-known gems in Veneto, Lombardy, Lazio, and Abruzzo where seasonal flavors and breathtaking landscapes make fall an unforgettable time to visit.Read the full episode show notes here > untolditaly.com/291NEW! - the Untold Italy app - access our entire podcast history ad free and searchable - DOWNLOAD FOR iOS • DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROIDThe app is FREE to download and check out our Milan guide and general travel content. Upgrade to PREMIUM for a one time fee to access Rome, Florence, Venice, Sorrento, Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Ischia, Tuscany, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Veneto, Lombardy, Campania, Lazio, Puglia, Abruzzo, Calabria, Umbria, Molise with much more to comeSupport the showSubscribe to our mailing list and get our FREE Italy trip planning toolkit - subscribe hereNeed help with your trip? Check out our Trip Planning ServicesJoin us on tour. Browse our Trip scheduleFollowSubstackInstagram • Facebook • YouTube Editorial InformationThe Untold Italy travel podcast is an independent production. Podcast Editing, Audio Production and Website Development by Mark Hatter. Production Assistance and Content Writing by the other Katie Clarke
WWW.ADVENTUREFREAKSSS.COM Find your Ideal Destination Here:https://adventurefreaksss.com/ideal-destination-finder/================================= How to work with me: =================================
Curfews, community service and fines for parents of repeat offenders are among the suggestions going to the Dáil today to address anti-social behaviour in Irish towns. Ciara discusses these suggestions with Independent TD for Dublin Mid-West Paul Gogarty.
Karl-Anthony Towns had one of the best debut seasons in Knicks history, becoming an All-Star again (first with NY) all at the same time. There are many positives to take away from KAT's first year with the Knicks but also one major issue to understand to.... defense. Towns' defense is his worst trait on the basketball court and he addressed that in a recent interview. Deuce McBride has also been speaking with the media and he didn't hold back when giving his thoughts on Tom Thibodeau's lack of creativity with the roster... Troy Mahabir breaks all of this down! SHOW CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 00:45 - KAT Discusses Defensive Issues 01:28 - Towns Addresses Defense & Aggressiveness Concerns 04:17 - Every Knick Fan Needs To Hear KAT's Goal This Season... 06:25 - KAT On Thibodeau Being Fired 07:30 - Miles McBride Takes Shot At Thibodeau 08:10 - McBride Has Been Working w/ Mike Brown For Months! 10:37 - FanDuel Odds For Winner Of NBA Finals 12:31 - Knicks Want To Break 53 Year Title Drought LISTEN NOW TO GET YOUR KNICKS FIX! Catch the latest special interviews, shorts, fan interactions, and more by following the show! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you don't miss another episode! Rather Watch the latest Knicks Recap episode? Catch us on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKnicksRecap Follow The Knicks Recap on all social media platforms! Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheKnicksRecap Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheKnicksRecap/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/u/TheKnicksRecap?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKnicksRecap/ Rather Listen to The Knicks Recap on a different platform? Catch us on ALL of your favorite streaming platforms: Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3SKSl8o Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3QrEfr6 iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-knicks-recap-a-new-yor-100895112/ Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3QoZrOd Other Pod Channels: https://anchor.fm/the-knicks-recap Grab our MERCH featuring some of the graphics you've seen us create to take your Knicks fandom to the NEXT LEVEL: MAIN STORE: https://theknicksrecap.myspreadshop.com/ CashApp: $TheKnicksRecap Have a comment about the show, an interview, or a graphic idea? Reach out to The Knicks Recap on ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Pippa Hudson speaks to Curtis and Sonia Dillon, the husband-and-wife duo behind Dust Bugs Travel. They’ve criss-crossed the country, visiting and documenting more than 600 towns—from tiny dorpies you may have just seen on a signboard to some of our biggest tourist hot spots. Lunch with Pippa Hudson is CapeTalk’s mid-afternoon show. This 2-hour respite from hard news encourages the audience to take the time to explore, taste, read and reflect. The show - presented by former journalist, baker and water sports enthusiast Pippa Hudson - is unashamedly lifestyle driven. Popular features include a daily profile interview #OnTheCouch at 1:10pm. Consumer issues are in the spotlight every Wednesday while the team also unpacks all things related to health, wealth & the environment. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Lunch with Pippa Hudson Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 13:00 and 15:00 (SA Time) to Lunch with Pippa Hudson broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/MdSlWEs or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/fDJWe69 Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Estes Park, Colorado, gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, has long relied on its outdoor recreation economy. In fact, just a few years ago, it was outpacing the rest of Colorado in tourism growth. But in 2025, federal policy changes, including mass firings at federal agencies like the National Park Service, are raising questions:Will communities like Estes Park be able to weather the storm?In this episode, we visit Estes Park to speak directly with business owners and guides whose livelihoods are intertwined with the health of public lands. Despite economic pressures and staffing cuts, visitation to Rocky Mountain National Park is up. But will that be enough to sustain local businesses? And what role do national policies really play in the day-to-day reality of a mountain town?Featured Guests:Melissa Strong – Climber and Owner of Bird & Jim Restaurant & Bird's Nest CafeThomas Pemberton – Owner of Estes Park Tour GuidesReed Woodford – Owner of KMAC GuidesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/Website: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalistBuy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/outdoorminimalistListener Survey: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976-----------------KMAC Guides: https://kmacguides.com/Estes Park Tour Guides: https://estesparktourguides.com/Bird & Jim: https://www.birdandjim.com/Visit Estes Park: https://www.visitestespark.com/Turner PR: https://www.turnerpr.com/-----------------Sources Used in Episode:https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/layoffs-rocky-mountain-national-park-impact-estes-park-business-colorado/ https://estesvalleyvoice.com/2025/08/17/state-of-estes-park-business-climate-mixed/ https://www.visitestespark.com/transparency/dashboard-report-executive-summary/ https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/03/05/rocky-mountain-national-park-colorado-layoffs-trump https://www.visitestespark.com/articles/post/new-data-shows-tourism-continues-to-positively-impact-economy-in-estes-park/ https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1/clients/estespark/Visit_Estes_Park_Annual_Report_2023_small_cfcacfba-3478-44b1-a422-d9938d7f17fa.pdf https://www.rockymountainnationalpark.com/gallery/20250217/ https://www.rockymountainnationalpark.com/gallery/20250217/ https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSReports/Park%20Specific%20Reports/Monthly%20Public%20Use?Park=ROMO
Worldbuilding. It's one of the most talked about aspects of running TTRPGs, as it is the sandbox into which you will throw your party to adventure in. We've talked about tips and tricks in past episodes and articles, and have come down on both sides of the debate surrounding how much to do with a focus totally on your specific table and party.However, in this episode, Tony, Chris, and Dave have decided to become a bit more involved with a new experiment that we cooked up.Something that has never been done on 3WD before – we're going to start building a new world live! In real time, we begin asking the questions that will shape our new creation. As this is a show by DMs for DMs, we're adding another aspect. YOU! We're asking you to share in the brainstorm and offer ideas. So, tune in now as 3WD starts building a whole new world!1:40 Introduction of our new experiment. Reach out to 3wisedms@gmail.com with your ideas and votes!3:40 Low Fantasy? High Fantasy? Low Magic? High Magic? What do we mean by this.7:40 Is our world completely new or a version of Earth (i.e. Middle Earth, The Dying Earth, Shannara)?9:50 DM Tony's idea of “High Magic” – a return to Greyhawk.11:50 The concept of “starting small.”13:35 What type of story does this world support? And can a world support ANY story?16:35 Building a world that was our Earth (at some point) lends a sense of familiarity when you're building your new world.18:40 Towns? Cities? States? Kingdoms? 22:53 The archetypes and Tropes of stories. We ALL steal.28:30 People will eventually congregate. The history of the world can't always be “Mad Max”.31:35 Looking to history.36:00 Final Thoughts.
Who's afraid of the dark? Adventurer Dan Richards shines a gentle light on what goes on in our world after sunset. Then an Italy tour guide looks beyond the crowds of Florence, Venice, and Rome to share her favorite side trips that are worth the diversion. And a Mexico City guide clues us in on the multicultural neighborhoods and cosmopolitan vibe of his city, the largest metro area in North America and still growing. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.
Are you backpacking, section hiking, or thru hiking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT)? Triple Crowner and host, Carol "Cheer" Coyne has some tips for you in this episode! Here, she discusses something she knew was coming - but not to the extent that it did: Seclusion.In this episode, you'll hear about:1. Cheer's personal stories of seclusion on the CDT2. The northbound (NOBO) and southbound (SOBO) bubbles3. Towns and hostels where hikers congregate & more!If you'd like to watch this video (with clips from the CDT!), you can watch on Cheer's YouTube Channel here.Did you love this episode? If so, please help fellow hikers find the show by following, rating, and reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!Connect With Us:Join The Trail FamilyTHRU-r WebsiteTHRU-r InstagramTHRU-r TikTokTHRU-r FacebookTHRU-r YoutubeTHRU-r ThreadsCheer's YouTubeCheer's InstagramEpisode Music: "Communicator" by Reed Mathis
From a Vermont bridge where a jilted teenage girl leaped to her death to a Tennessee intersection that was a the site of a deadly shoot out, we venture into towns across America haunted by the transgressions of the past. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Shaffrey Architects was established in 1967 by Patrick and Maura Shaffrey. Based on Ormond Quay,the practice has made a real and meaningful contribution to Dublin and beyond, with projects including 14 Henrietta Street and Wicklow Head Lighthouse. Fifty years on from Patrick Shaffrey producing The Irish Town: An Approach to Survival, Grainne Shaffrey joins me to talk about the journey since. This event was part of the brilliant Seán Corcoran Series in Drogheda's Highlanes Gallery, an annual event dedicated to the life, work and memory of one of Ireland's great collectors and local champions: www.seancorcoranseries.com/ (Image: William Murphy shot of 14 Henrietta Street. Creative Commons. With thanks to William for his on-going photography capturing Dublin.)
Rural towns are attracting huge data centers that handle artificial intelligence training work, due in part to their location agnostic nature. In this episode of All Day Digital, data center expert Scott Schneider looks at how these campuses impact rural communities, including local broadband partnerships, auxiliary service jobs and water use.
PJ hears from Opinion Line Producer Paul Byrne who has been talking to passengers in Ballycotton and Cloyne who face problems that are seen throughout the county with relying on busses to get to work or study. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 156.2: Bolton, Lawfare, Top Lewd Sounding Towns, Deep Sea Fishing, Jerky, Plantar Fibroma, Buying New Shoes, Most Dangerous Animal by State, and Larriken High Wheat Rye
In the Tudor and Stuart period towns in the UK were still predominantly wooden but moving to brick construction was a hallmark of success. Distinctive styles such as Oriel windows and elaborate carvings were seen on the buildings of the wealthy. Meanwhile the houses of the poor remained meagre and crowded. Join us as we continue our series on the development of town and cities. Send us a text
The regional towns at the heart of the mushroom murder trial were inundated with a massive media contingent; now those communities want to move on.
Crain's residential real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin and host Amy Guth discuss the latest news from the local housing market, including a suburb ranked as the safest and wealthiest town in the U.S. for the second year in a row and the rehab of an East Garfield Park mansion aiming to spotlight to city's West Side.Plus: Pritzker says Texas Guard is prepping for Chicago posting as Trump vows federal action, Ulta raises sales outlook in signal of consumer strength, Advocate becomes latest health system to halt gender-affirming care for minors and McDonald's CEO says American brands' reputations have "dimmed."
Unless you went there specifically to shop you might not realize you are in a mall because of the construction...Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/Sources, links, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
PJ talks to Mark Gannon who runs Atlantic Whale & Wildlife Tours and has had to move one of his boats from Courtmacsherry to Kinsale because of the decline in tourists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
JPR's Charlie Zimmerman hosts a showcase of news features from around our region.
Jennie O' Sullivan reports on a bumper year for cruise tourism along the Cork coastline.
Last year, the last coalition government which included the Green Party passed legislation which would have allowed extensive changes to urban speed limits – specifically reducing speed from 50k to 30k per hour. The Department of Transport told the Irish Examiner that this legislation won’t be enacted at this time however. Instead, the department says it’s up to councils to reduce speed limits in town and villages through the use of special bylaws. The Green Party argues this means widespread speed reductions won’t happen as local authorities already have the power to change speed limits. Anne-Marie Fuller is a Kerry Green Party representative.
Thursday, August 21, 2025 Inside Sports with Al Eschbach -Wolverine and badgers, Al's Walk of Shame, Jim and Al's 'bad towns', Twilight Zone movie and more. Follow the Sports Animal on Facebook, Instagram and X Follow Tony Z on Instagram and Facebook Listen to past episodes HERE! Follow Inside Sports Podcasts on Apple, Google and SpotifySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Helen Pidd grew up in Morecambe, and life in seaside towns has only got harder since she was a teenager. She went back to find out why. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
Today: Greg has some strange obsession with a small town, is it really real and what is the story, going camping in the woods, Popples and Wuzzles, and Sarah has been asked to join a new kind of 'friendship' service - have a great night all! :)
The final hour of Wednesday's 3 Man Front featured the latest on the potential realignment of MLB's divisions, a brand new edition of #PatPonders & a list of the most dangerous college towns in America!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hour 2 of Jake & Ben on August 20, 2025 BYU Insider Mitch Harper joined the show to talk about Bear Bachmeier winning BYU's QB Battle. What You Got Wednesday: Jerk Head Coaches & People with Animal Names. This article has to be FAKE NEWS.
Investing in older, infill markets that are being repositioned and growing can be a recipe for huge appreciation. Over the past decade, several cities in Northern New Jersey with easy access to transportation have seen explosive growth in values. Gentrification has led to changes that have made these areas desirable to live in for upscale demographics. Aaron Fragnito, Co-founder of People's Capital Group, is an apartment syndicator who invests in smaller apartment buildings in Northern New Jersey and rehabs them to optimize their full potential. Aaron is a buy and hold operator who achieves return-of-capital via refinances.
After an ode to ice cream and popsicles, Sarah and Mike cover a few irksome news items of the summer. They discuss the potential impacts of a regional health insurer's sudden rate increase and the results of a recent tax vote in Wendell, as well as a pending solary array development in that town. They then give a very humane, un-sensationalized recap of recent churn in the Montague Police Department. Plus, school merger fantasies and BULBS BULBS BULBS! Read, support, and check out the fall bulb fundraiser at https://montaguereporter.org/
Last time we spoke about the fall of Shanghai. In October 1937 a small battalion led by Colonel Xie Jinyuan transformed the Sihang Warehouse into a fortress against the advancing Japanese army. These men, known as the "800 Heroes," became symbols of hope, rallying local citizens who provided vital support. Despite heavy casualties, they held out against overwhelming odds until a strategic retreat was ordered on November 1. As Japanese forces intensified their assaults, they breached the Chinese defenses and captured strategic positions along Suzhou Creek. The fighting was fierce, marked by desperate counterattacks from the besieged Chinese soldiers, who faced an unyielding enemy. By November 9, the Chinese faced a full retreat, their organized defenses collapsing into chaos as they fled the city. Desperate civilians sought refuge in the International Settlement but were met with hostility, exacerbating the terror of the moment. Amidst the turmoil, remaining forces continued to resist in pockets, holding out as long as possible. By November 11, Japanese troops raised their flag in the last stronghold, marking a grim victory. #163 Crossing Nanjing's Rubicon Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. As the Japanese were mopping up Shanghai, Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary on November 11th “I fear that they could threaten Nanjing”. Over In Shanghai, General Matsui Iwane was dealing with foreign correspondents, eager to learn what Japan's next move would be and to this he simply stated “For future developments, you had better ask Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek”. The correspondents were surprised by this response and pressed him further. He replied . “Chiang Kai-shek was reported to have predicted a five-year war, well, it might be that long. We don't know whether we will go to Nanjing or not. It all depends on Chiang.” At this point Shanghai was falling under Japanese control and now Matsui and his fellow field commanders were thinking, what's next? Nanjing was certainly the next objective. It was a common understanding amongst the Japanese leadership, that if the four main eastern cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing were lost, Chiang Kai-Shek's government would collapse. Three of these cities had been taken, Nanjing was dangling like fresh fruit. Matsui's staff believed the Chinese units departing Shanghai would mount a stand immediately west of the city, probably a defensive line running from Jiading to Huangduzhen. On the night of November 11th, Matsui issued a command to all units in the Shanghai area to advance west along the railway towards Nanjing. Their first objective would be a line extending from Taicang to Kunshan. Chiang Kai-Shek was not only reeling from military defeats, but also the gradual loss of his German allies. The Germans were increasingly aligning with the Japanese. Chiang Kai-Shek was looking for new external help, so he turned to the Soviets. It was a marriage of convenience, Chiang Kai-Shek signed a non-aggression pact with the USSR that year and wasted no time pleading for aircraft and pilots. Moscow began sending them before the ink touched the paper. 200 aircraft and pilots in return for some essential minerals, wolfram and tungsten. The Sino-Soviet friendship even drew in an unlikely source of support, Sir Winston Churchill. The Soviet envoy to the UK described how during a meeting with Churchill “he greatly praised our tactics in the Far East: maintenance of neutrality and simultaneous aid to China in weaponry.” Soviet pilots found themselves dispatched to Nanjing where they were briefed by Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich, the deputy commander of the Soviet Air Force. “The Japanese armed forces are technically superior to the Chinese. The Chinese Air Force is a particular concern. Soviet pilots who have rushed to China's aid are currently in Nanjing. They are fighting valiantly.” Meanwhile back at Shanghai discipline and order that had characterized previous Chinese withdrawal had collapsed. Simply put, there were hundreds of thousands of men trying to retreat across the lower Yangtze region, it was a shitstorm. Many units had to disengage during combat with the enemy and scramble to pull out. Huang Qixiang, the deputy commander of the Chinese right flank in Shanghai, executed a strategic withdrawal moments before his command post succumbed to the advancing enemy forces. Just fifteen minutes after his departure, the area was overrun by Japanese troops. In a desperate bid to avoid capture, another general had to cross a creek, nearly drowning in the process. Rescued while barely clinging to life and drenched in icy water, he was welcomed by a peasant family who aided in his recovery before he resumed his arduous journey westward. The scale of this withdrawal, occurring both day and night, could hardly escape the enemy's notice, and its complexity made the operation increasingly difficult. The execution of the withdrawal exacerbated the situation significantly. Orders to abandon their positions started to trickle down immediately after the upper command made the decision. However, these orders reached the units in a disorganized manner. Many telephone lines had been sabotaged, and when soldiers were sent to relay the orders in person, they faced severe disruptions in the transportation network. Consequently, many units only became aware of the withdrawal when they witnessed the mass movements of their comrades heading westward. Upon realizing what was happening, many soldiers fled in a state of panic. There were no comprehensive plans outlining the retreat, no designated routes for the various units, nor any established timetables. The outcome was a chaotic scramble for survival. Soldiers who had fought side by side for three months suddenly found themselves competing against one another in a desperate race to escape. At bridges and other chokepoints, weary soldiers exhausted their last reserves of strength, brawling with their fellow troops to be the first to cross. Meanwhile, officers traveling in chauffeur-driven cars attempted to assert their rank to gain priority access to the roads, adding to the growing disorder that ensued. The massive army was hindered by its sheer size, resulting in miles of congested roads filled with men unable to move in any direction. This made them easy targets for Japanese aircraft, leading to a bloody cycle of repeated attacks. Planes adorned with the red Rising Sun insignia would emerge from the horizon, swooping down to strike at these vulnerable formations. As commander Chen Yiding recalled “The lack of organization and the gridlocked roads resulted in far more casualties than could have been avoided,”. On November 12th, the newspaper Zhaongyang Ribao, published an editorial addressing the citizens of Nanjing, to remind them that tough times lay ahead now that Shanghai had fallen. The article stipulated they needed to prepare the city for the upcoming battle, “Now, all the citizenry of the capital must fulfill their duty in a way that can serve as a model for the entire nation.” Nanjing in 1937 was a city touched by the war, but not enough to change the social fabric just yet. Cinema's remained open, the shopping arcade was crowded as usual, traffic was heavy along Zhongshan Road, order remained. Telephones remained on, except during air raids. Connections to the outside world functioned as they should, given this was the capital. The region had seen a good harvest in 1937, no one was going hungry. However as the front 200 miles away drew closer, bombing raids more frequent, fear of the enemy increased. Contact with the outside world gradually declined. By mid November the train link from Nanjing to Shanghai was severed. While the fear amongst the populace increased, so did a newfound sense of common purpose against a common enemy. Poster calling for the Chinese to unite against the Japanese invaders were found throughout Nanjing. Residents were conscripted for various fortification efforts, with some receiving basic military training to help defend the city. Those who refused to cooperate faced severe penalties as “traitors,” while the majority willingly participated. Both military and civilian police were deployed throughout the city, diligently checking identities in an ongoing effort to root out spies and traitors. The authorities enforced a strict prohibition against discussing military matters in restaurants and other public venues. Then all the high ranking military officials and politicians families gradually began departing the city in secrecy. This was followed by said politicians and military officials. Twas not a good look. Nanjing soon saw its population decline from 1 million to half a million. Those who stayed behind were mainly the poor, or those anchored, like shopkeepers. Every day saw a steady stream of Nanjing citizens leaving the city over her main roads, fleeing into the countryside with carts full of belongings. On November 12th at 10am orders were issued for the Japanese to advance west. What had been a war of attrition, where inches of land were claimed with blood, suddenly it was a war of movement. As one Japanese soldier recalled “In the course of 50 days, I had moved only two miles. Now suddenly we were experiencing rapid advance”. As the Japanese came across small towns, they found large posters plastered on all the walls. These were all anti-japanese with some nationalist propaganda. The Japanese soldiers would tear them down and paint up their own messages “down with Chiang Kai-Shek!”. Towns and cities west of Shanghai fell rapidly one after another, each succumbing to a grim pattern: swift conquest followed by widespread devastation. Jiading, a county seat with a population of approximately 30,000, succumbed to a prolonged siege. When the 10st division captured Jiading on November 13, after relentless shelling had leveled a third of the city, they began a massacre, indiscriminately killing nearly everyone in their path, men, women, and children alike. The battle and its aftermath resulted in over 8,000 casualties among the city's residents and surrounding countryside. One Japanese soldier referred to Jiading as “A city of death, in a mysteriously silent world in which the only sound was the tap of our own footsteps”. On November 14, soldiers from the 9th Division reached Taicang, an ancient walled city designed to withstand lengthy sieges. As they crossed the 70-foot moat amid heavy fire, the Japanese troops confronted the formidable 20-foot-high city wall. After breaching the wall, their infantry swiftly entered the city and seized control. The destruction persisted long after the fighting ceased, with half of the city being devastated, including significant cultural institutions like the library, and salt and grain reserves were looted. It was as if the Japanese aimed to obliterate not just the material existence of the people but their spiritual foundation as well. Casual cruelty marked the nature of warfare along the entire front, with few prisoners being taken. Ishii Seitaro, a soldier in the 13th Division's 26th Brigade, encountered a mass execution while marching alongside the Yangtze River. Several headless corpses floated nearby, yet three Chinese prisoners remained alive. A Japanese officer, personally overseeing the execution, wore a simple uniform, but the two ornate swords at his belt indicated his wealthy background. Approaching one prisoner, the officer dramatically drew one of the swords and brandished it through the air with exaggerated flair. In an almost theatrical display, he held it aloft, the blade trembling as if he were nervous. The prisoner, in stark contrast, exhibited an unnerving calmness as he knelt, awaiting his inevitable fate. The officer swung the sword down but failed to deliver a clean strike. Although he inflicted a deep gash to the prisoner's skull, it was not fatal. The prisoner collapsed, thrashing and emitting a prolonged scream that sent chills through those present. The officer, seemingly exhilarated by the anguish he caused, began wildly slashing at the figure until the screams subsided. Ishii turned away in horror, his mind swirling with confusion. Why were the Chinese being executed? Had they not surrendered? Three months into the war's expansion to the Yangtze region, air raids had become an all too frequent menace in Nanjing. The first major raid came on August 15th and increased each week. On the night of August 27, approximately 30 bombs were dropped on Purple Mountain, specifically targeting the Memorial Park for Sun Yat-sen, aiming to hurt the morale of Nanjing's residents. As days melted into weeks and weeks stretched into months, the landscape of Nanjing transformed under the weight of war. Residents began constructing dugouts in courtyards, gardens, public squares, and even on streets. Foreigners painted their national flags on top of buildings and vehicles, attempting to avoid the risk of being machine-gunned by strafing aircraft. Each raid followed a predictable routine: sirens wailed loudly 20 to 30 minutes before the attack, signaling pedestrians to seek shelter and drivers to stop their engines. By the time a shorter warning sounded, the streets had to be cleared, leaving nothing to do but await the arrival of Japanese planes. Initially, the part-US-trained Chinese Air Force posed a considerable threat to Japanese bombers. The 4th and 5th Chinese Squadrons, stationed near Nanjing to defend the capital, achieved early success, reportedly downing six bombers during the first air raid on Nanjing. Much of the credit for these aerial victories belonged to Claire Chennault, a retired American Army Air Corps captain who had become an advisor to the Chinese Air Force, overseeing Nanjing's air defense. Chennault taught his pilots tactics he had developed in the US but had never fully implemented. His strategy was straightforward: three fighters would focus on one enemy bomber at a time. One would attack from above, another from below, while a third would hover in reserve to deliver the final blow if necessary. He instructed the Chinese pilots to target the engines rather than the fuselage, reasoning that any missed shots could hit the gas tanks located in the wing roots. This approach proved successful, leading to the loss of 54 Japanese planes within three days. For Chennault, it validated his belief that air superiority required a diverse range of aircraft, not just bombers. Nighttime raids, however, posed a greater challenge. Chennault, along with other commanders, sought solutions. Chinese General C.C. Wong, a German-trained artillery officer overseeing the country's anti-aircraft defenses, ensured that dozens of large Sperry searchlights were positioned throughout Nanjing in a grid pattern. This setup had a dual purpose: it would dazzle the Japanese bomber crews and highlight their planes in silhouette for Chinese fighters above to target. The bravery of the most skilled Chinese pilots occasionally gained media attention, making them local celebrities amidst an otherwise grim war environment. However, this bright moment faded quickly when the Japanese command decided to provide escorts for their bombers. Consequently, the elite of China's air force, its finest pilots and aircraft, were lost within weeks that fall. All air raids were brutal, but the worst assaults occurred at the end of September. As a radio broadcaster reported on September 25th “Gallons of civilian blood flowed today as Nanking endured three ferocious air raids”. In total, 96 Japanese sorties were launched on that day. Witnesses observed around a dozen Chinese aircraft retreating north across the Yangtze, initially believing they were fleeing, but some returned to confront the enemy. When Chinese fighters managed to down a Japanese bomber, the streets erupted in cheers as civilians momentarily forgot their fear. The primary aim of the September 25 attack appeared to be spreading terror among the civilian population. Chiang Kai-Shek wrote in his diary that day “The repeated Japanese air raids over the past several days have had no impact on our military installations. Instead, civilian property has sustained significant damage.” Around 20 bombs struck the Central Hospital, one of Nanjing's largest medical facilities, causing extensive destruction and prompting the evacuation of its staff. Two 1,000-pound bombs exploded nearby, leaving large craters. Had these bombs landed slightly closer, they could have resulted in mass casualties among the hospital's 100 patients, including a Japanese pilot who had been shot down earlier that month. The air raids at the end of September prompted protests from the Americans, British, and French governments to Japan. In response, Tokyo issued a statement on September 30, asserting that while they were not intentionally targeting non-combatants, it was “unavoidable” for achieving military objectives that military airfields and installations in and around Nanjing be bombed. The battle for Jiashan was among the fiercest in the southern Yangtze delta campaign in November 1937. Although Jiashan was a moderately sized town straddling a crucial railway connecting Shanghai to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. For the Japanese, seizing Jiashan was imperative for their westward advance; without it, their military progress would be severely hampered. Jiashan had endured three days of relentless bombing by the Japanese Air Force, driving most residents to flee into the surrounding countryside. Only about 100 remained, those who were too old or too sick to escape, abandoned by family or friends who lacked the means to assist them. The Japanese troops brutally bayoneted nearly all of these individuals and buried them in a mass grave just outside the town's northern gate. Jiashan was captured by the 10th Army, a division fresh from victories and eager to engage in combat, unlike the weary forces of the Shanghai Expeditionary Force further north. With less than a week of combat experience, the 10th Army's soldiers were hungry for a fight. The martial spirit of the 10th Army was exemplified by its commander, Yanagawa Heisuke. Born near Nagasaki in 1879, he was among a group of retired officers called back to active service as the war in China escalated unexpectedly. Having served in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 and taught at the Beijing Army College in 1918, Yanagawa had considerable experience in military affairs. However, his past exposure to China did not cultivate any empathy for the enemy. He was determined to push all the way to Nanjing, and once there, he intended to blanket the city in mustard gas and incendiaries until it capitulated. While Japanese commanders debated the value of capturing Nanjing, the Chinese were equally preoccupied with whether it was worth defending. Most military professionals viewed the situation as a lost cause from the start. After the fall of Shanghai, Chiang Kai-shek summoned one of his top commanders, Chen Cheng, to Nanjing for discussions. “How can Nanjing be held?” Chen Cheng shot back “Are you ordering me to hold Nanjing?” Chiang replied “I am not”. Chen Cheng stated frankly, “I believe Nanjing should not be held at all.” By mid-November, Bai Chongxi, one of China's most respected generals, advocated for declaring Nanjing an open city. He argued that defending it was not only unnecessary but also impossible. All available forces had been deployed to Shanghai and were now exhausted. Furthermore, no reinforcements would be forthcoming if they made a stand in Nanjing. Instead of stubbornly clinging to fixed positions, he preferred a more flexible defensive strategy. Zhang Qun, Chiang's secretary, supported Bai's stance, believing that while Nanjing should ultimately be abandoned, political considerations were paramount. If the Chinese simply withdrew and allowed the Japanese to occupy the city, it would undermine China's position in any future negotiations. The Japanese would not be able to present themselves as victors who had triumphed in battle. Similarly, Chiang's chief military advisor, General Alexander von Falkenhausen, was against attempting to hold Nanjing. He deemed it “useless from a military perspective, suggesting it would be madness.” He warned that if Chiang forced his army into a decisive battle with their backs to the Yangtze River, “a disaster would probably be unavoidable.” Chiang's head of the operations bureau Liu Fei argued Nanjing could not be abandoned without a fight as it would crush the NRA's morale. He believed that defending the city could be managed with as few as 12 regiments, although 18 would be feasible. Most at the meeting agreed and Chiang understood Nanjing's international recognition necessitated some form of defense, doomed or not. A second meeting was formed whereupon, Tang Shengzhi, a general staff officer whose loyalties were, lets be honest very flip floppy. During the warlord era, he routinely switched sides, especially against Chiang Kai-Shek. At the meeting Tang stated in regards to Nanjing's international prominence and being the final resting place of Dr Sun Yat-Sen “How can we face the spirit of the former president in heaven? We have no choice but to defend the capital to the death.” Chiang's commanders were all well aware of his intentions. The generalissimo was eager for a dramatic last stand in Nanjing to serve propaganda purposes, aiming to rally the nation and convey to the world that China was resolute in its fight against Japan. His commanders also recognized the rationale behind fighting for Nanjing; however, very few were inclined to embark on what seemed a likely suicide mission. The third meeting occurred the day after the second. Chiang opened by asking, as many anticipated, “Who is willing to shoulder the burden of defending Nanjing?” An awkward silence followed. Then Tang Shengzhi stepped forward. “Chairman, if no one else is willing, I will. I'm prepared to defend Nanjing and to hold it to the death.” Without hesitation, Chiang accepted his offer. “Good, the responsibility is yours.”A little refresher on Tang, he had played a role in Chiang Kai-shek's efforts to unify China by force in the 1920s, when the nation was a patchwork of fiefdoms. However, their relationship had soured on two occasions, forcing Tang into temporary exile, first to Japan and then to Hong Kong. The Japanese invasion of northeastern China in 1931 prompted a loose reconciliation, and since then, Tang had held several important positions, notably organizing war games simulating a Japanese assault on Nanjing. However Tang had often suffered from illness, and crucially, he had not led troops in the field against the Japanese since the onset of full-scale war that summer. Hailing from Hunan province, he was a typical provincial soldier and would likely face challenges commanding respect among elite divisions loyal solely to the central government in Nanjing. He was definitely not the first choice for such a significant task. Amazingly, while tens of thousands of Chinese and Japanese were killing each other, while Japanese planes relentlessly bombarded Chinese cities including the capital, and while Japanese soldiers committed heinous atrocities against Chinese civilians, the two nations maintained diplomatic relations. China had a fully operational embassy in Tokyo, led by Xu Shiying, a 65-year-old diplomat. This surreal arrangement persisted because neither side was willing to officially declare war. In the fall of 1937, as Japanese armies were heavily engaged on two fronts within mainland China, Xu met with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirota Koki to propose a non-aggression treaty. The proposal was swiftly rejected in Nanjing. By November 1937, Xu was no longer at the forefront of events, and foreign observers shifted their focus from the capitals of the warring nations to Belgium. While large-scale battles raged along the lower Yangtze, representatives from 19 countries convened in Brussels to search for a way to end hostilities. Although China participated in the conference, Japan did not. Japan had received two invitations to join the talks, with its response to the second arriving in Brussels on November 12: a firm rejection. Japan asserted that it preferred direct bilateral negotiations with China, dismissing the Brussels conference held under the auspices of the Nine-Power Treaty, a pact signed in 1922 aimed at ensuring China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Japan argued that intervention by a collective body like the conference “would merely stir national sentiments in both countries and complicate efforts to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution.” The League of Nations had called for a Nine-Power conference a month earlier, which ultimately became a 19-power conference as other nations with interests in East Asia joined. From the outset, Japan opposed the assembly and was absent when the first plenary meeting commenced in Brussels on November 3. Japanese leaders feared that China might attempt to leverage the conference against Western powers, recalling how, in 1895, Japan had been denied its spoils following its first modern war with China due to the intervention of Russia, France, and Germany, who blocked Japan from claiming the strategic Liaodong Peninsula adjacent to Korea. China also exhibited a lukewarm attitude toward the conference. While Japan feared the potential outcomes, China was concerned about the lack of significant results. The proposal to transition discussions from the League of Nations, perceived as ineffective, to the even less authoritative Nine Powers, which lacked formal organization. Nonetheless, the Chinese chose to participate in Brussels, maintaining the pretense that something meaningful could be accomplished. Shortly after Japan's second rejection of the invitation, Wellington Koo made an impassioned plea in Brussels, stating, “Now that the door to conciliation and mediation has been slammed in your face by the latest reply of the Japanese Government, will you not decide to withhold supplies of war materials and credit to Japan and extend aid to China?” In reality, Koo understood that significant Western aid to China was highly unlikely, aside from token gestures. Previous international discussions had momentarily halted Japanese advances in the past; for instance, in 1932, Japanese troops had paused their movements in the Shanghai area just hours before the League of Nations General Assembly commenced. However, that was nearly six years earlier, and circumstances had changed dramatically since then. Rogue states had grown bolder, while democracies seemed increasingly timid. Thus, the Chinese agenda in Brussels was not primarily driven by hopes for substantial Western concessions. Instead, the delegates had been tasked by Nanjing to anticipate the post-conference landscape and to actively seek ways to encourage Europe and America to support Soviet military action against Japan. China, long reliant on Germany as a diplomatic partner, increasingly felt betrayed, not just by Germany, but also by its fascist ally, Italy. Consequently, it began looking more favorably upon the Soviet Union, Japan's archrival in Northeast Asia, as its main source of international support. The Soviet Union exhibited a firmer stance than the Western democracies at the Brussels conference, joining China in advocating for collective security in Europe and Asia. On November 15th, a small group of officers from the 10th Army gathered for late-night discussions in an abandoned building north of Hangzhou Bay, where they would effectively decide the fate of China. Yanagawa Heisuke, the commander of the 10th Army, presided over the discussions. Fresh from the battlefield since the beginning of the month, he was eager to escalate the fight, a sentiment echoed among the others. It was an unusual meeting, where officers as low in rank as major were making decisions typically reserved for the highest echelons of political power. The agenda included a pivotal question: Should they adhere to Order No. 600 received from Tokyo a week prior, which instructed them to halt their advance along a line from Suzhou to Jiaxing? Or, should they disregard these explicit orders and push forward to seize Nanjing? While the Japanese Army had failed to completely annihilate the Chinese forces around Shanghai, there was a consensus that their adversary was now reeling from recent setbacks, presenting an opportune moment to strike decisively and secure a swift victory. The only remaining question was how aggressively to pursue this goal. Colonel Terada Masao, a senior staff officer within the 10th Army, spoke first. “The Chinese Army is currently retreating toward the capital. We should cross that line and pursue the enemy straight to Nanjing.” Major Iketani Hanjiro, a staff officer recently attached to the fast-moving 6th Division, then offered his input “From a tactical perspective, I completely agree with Terada that we should cross the line, but the decision to attack Nanjing should be considered not just tactically, but also politically. It's not that field commanders can't create a fait accompli to pressure our superiors in Tokyo. However, we must proceed with great caution”. A staff officer raised this question “What if Tokyo orders us to pull back those smaller units?” Iketani responded “In that case, we will, of course, withdraw them to this side of the line”. Ultimately, Iketani's cautions were set aside, and Terada's aggressive approach prevailed. The majority agreed that the tactical circumstances presented a rare opportunity. Japanese troops in the Shanghai area were poised to advance west, not through small, individual skirmishes but with a substantial deployment of their forces. Officers estimated that if a decisive push was made immediately, Nanjing could fall into Japanese hands within 20 days. However Colonel Kawabe Torashiro, the newly appointed chief of the Army General Staff's Operations Section suddenly arrived at the theater. He was sent on a mission to assess whether the Central China Area Army should be granted greater operational freedom. It was well known in Tokyo that field officers were eager to capitalize on the momentum created by the collapse of Chinese defenses around Shanghai. Kawabe's task was to explore the possibility of allowing forces to cross the line from Suzhou to Jiaxing and move westward in pursuit of the retreating enemy. However, Kawabe was staunchly opposed to further military adventures in China. Kawabe was part of the dwindling faction of "China doves" within the Japanese military. As early as the summer of 1937, he had become alarmed by a letter from a civilian Japanese visitor to the Chinese mainland, warning that Japanese officers were attempting to engineer an “incident” with China to provoke open conflict. This would provide Japan with a pretext to expand its influence in northern China. Kawabe had attempted to alert his superiors, but his warnings fell on deaf ears. They had been lulled into a false sense of security by reports from China that dismissed all talk of war-mongering as baseless and alarmist. When he arrived to the front he stated “I am here to inspect conditions on the ground so that a final decision can be made on where to establish the operational restriction line”. Alongside him came General Akira Muto, recently appointed the commander of the Central China Area Army. He also happened to be one of the architects of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. Muto responded promptly: “The line currently stretches from Suzhou to Jiaxing, but we should consider crossing it. This will help us achieve our overall objectives in the theater.” Muto continued, arguing that the 10th Army should be permitted to advance to Huzhou, south of Lake Tai, effectively cutting off communications between Nanjing and the strategic city of Hangzhou. He further claimed that the Shanghai Expeditionary Force should be allowed to capture the vital city of Jiangyin, suggesting, perhaps overly optimistically, that its loss could lead to the fall of Chiang Kai-shek. Ultimately, Muto insisted, Nanjing should also be seized, which he asserted would bring an end to the war. Kawabe listened patiently, a practice he would repeat in the following days as other field officers echoed similar sentiments, eagerly expressing their desire to advance all the way to Nanjing. Yanagawa and his 10th Army exemplified this aggressive mindset. Nevertheless, just as the hawks within the Japanese military and the nation's political leadership appeared to be prevailing in the struggle over China policy, they faced unexpected challenges from a different direction. Germany, a power with ambiguous sympathies in East Asia, was quietly engaged in negotiations aimed at bringing peace. Oskar Trautmann, Germany's ambassador to China, had maintained an objective and neutral stance when he met with Chiang Kai-shek in early November to relay Japan's conditions for initiating peace talks. These conditions included extensive concessions in northern China, such as the withdrawal of all Chinese troops to a line south of Beijing and the establishment of a pro-Japanese regime in Inner Mongolia, bordering the Soviet-controlled Mongolian People's Republic. Chiang dismissed these demands outright, but Trautmann and his superiors in Beijing continued their top-secret efforts. Germany's motivation for seeking an end to the Sino-Japanese War was not rooted in a genuine love for peace, but rather in their embarrassment over witnessing their old Asian ally, China, fighting against their new partner, Japan. Herman Göring, president of the Reichstag and a leading figure in the Nazi party, told a Chinese visitor, “China and Japan are both friends of Germany. The Sino-Japanese War has put Germany between Scylla and Charybdis. That's why Germany is ready to seize the chance to become a mediator.” Germany also feared that a prolonged conflict in China could jeopardize its commercial interests in East Asia and weaken Japan's capacity to confront the Soviet Union, potentially freeing Moscow to allocate more resources to a fight in Europe. In essence, continued hostilities could significantly harm Germany. Japanese field commanders were frustrated by Germany's mediation efforts. When news of Trautmann's mission leaked, the German diplomat faced severe criticism in the Chinese media, which deemed any negotiation with the "Japanese devils" unacceptable. Additionally, there was the matter of China's ties with the Soviet Union; employing a German mediator raised the possibility of cooperation among China, Japan, and Germany, potentially expanding the anti-Soviet bloc, which would, in turn, pressure Moscow to increase its support for China. By mid-November, however, the complexities of this diplomatic game started unraveling and then Japan took action. At 7:00 am on November 19, Yanagawa issued instructions to his troops in the field. “The enemy's command system is in disarray, and a mood of defeat has descended over their entire army. They have lost the will to fight. The main Chinese forces were retreating west of the line stretching from Suzhou to Jiaxing, and this withdrawal was soon likely to spiral into a full-scale retreat. We must not miss the opportunity to pursue the enemy to Nanjing.” I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Shanghai had fallen, and the Japanese forces pursued their fleeing enemy further west. However they had orders to halt, but would they? Officers from top down deliberating on the issue, with the vast majority pushing for a drive to Nanjing. They thought it represented the end objective of the conflict. They would all be very wrong.
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Belief Hole | Conspiracy, the Paranormal and Other Tasty Thought Snacks
Join us as we journey deep into the haunted heart of Appalachia as we explore dangers lurking along the Appalachian Trail, the chilling mysteries of missing persons, phantom hitchhikers, and the infamous curse of Dudleytown, with legendary storyteller Steve Stockton. From tales of haunted schools and bewitched mirrors to seances and spiritual architecture, Steve drives this Belief Hole bus deep into mysteries of the Smokies. So Buckle up, because Appalachia's backroads are calling! TIMESTAMPS 02:01 | Introduction to Steve Stockton 09:35 | Dangers of the Appalachian Trail 12:48 | Young Steve Searches for Dennis Martin | 1969 |TN 23:17 | Concept: Containment Theory in Appalachians Mountains 31:36 | Phantom Motorcycle 35:15 | Granny's Ghosts and Running Water 38:00 | Barricading the Boogeyman & Spirit Architecture 41:30 | Expansion Preview | Freaks in Las Vegas 43:52 | Recap | Steve's Second Sight | Granny and Steve's Seances 52:23 | Curse of Dudleytown 1:06:36 | The Smoking Ghost | 1973 | Halloween 1:12:34 | Hauntings of Fairview Elementary 1:22:15 | The Bewitched Mirror Encounter 1:28:02 | Mirrors and Nails (Listener Story) | Oyster Creek, TX | July 2018 1:29:56 | Witch Bottles - More Spirit Architecture 1:32:34 | Haunted Las Vegas House Steve's Channels Missing Persons Mysteries | YT Tales Untold | YT 13 Past Midnight | YT Steve's Books My Strange World National Park Mysteries & Disappearances: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park National Park Mysteries & Disappearances: California National Park Mysteries & Disappearances: The Pacific Northwest Strange Things in the Woods SteveStocktonBooks - Etsy SHOW NOTES: EXPANSION LINK: https://expansion.beliefhole.com/7-9-exp-freaks-in-las-vegas-alien-imposters-and-abductions-on-the-strip
In this episode Rick Kamla and Dr. A debate the "Career Year Theory" — a framework for identifying NBA players who are about to have the best season of their career and who to fade. We dive into: What exactly is a "career year"? Can it happen to players like Nikola Jokic who are already elite? Success & failure cases from past seasons Rick's list of 2024–25 career year candidates: Towns, Dyson, Hart, Franz, Powell, Suggs, PJ Washington, Grimes, Jerome Can they repeat it? Regress? Or level up even further? Who's primed to explode this upcoming season? BONUS: Quick Celtics win total segment Download the SportsEthos App on the APP Store and Google Play! FantasyPass now includes DAILY PROJECTIONS—perfect for DFS and head-to-head leagues. Join the Discussion on DISCORD for real-time advice and community support. Subscribe, Rate, and Review on Apple and Spotify for expert updates and tips!