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The Good Morning Angels Fund will assist Njabulo with a donation of R50,000 to cover the R41,000 needed to register for her final matric exams. The extra funds will help with other expenses during the last stretch of her matric year, ensuring she can give her very best in her final exams.

#burnleyfc #burnley #crewealexandra '#walsallfc #northernireland #motherwellfc #sligo #telford #bradfordcity ex player Stephen JonesStephen Graham Jones (born 25 October 1976) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Sandbach United football club. He has been capped 29 times by Northern Ireland and played for 20 clubs in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.Jones was born in Derry, Northern Ireland and moved to Manchester with his family at age 13. In his late teens, he played for Chadderton in the North West Counties Division One[5] before signing for Blackpool in July 1995.[6] After spending time playing for Blackpool's youth and reserve teams, he signed for Bury on a free transfer in July 1996. Unable to settle at Bury and frustrated by the lack of first-team opportunities, Jones decided to move to the Republic of Ireland and sign for League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers in July 1997, stating that Rovers manager Nicky Reid's offer of a full-time contract was what ultimately made up his mind.On 30 August 1997, he made his debut for The Bit o' Red in the league match against Bohemians, scoring just before half-time in the 2–2 draw at The Showgrounds. He spent almost two seasons with Sligo and won the League of Ireland Cup after playing in the final against Shelbourne in February 1998. Overall, he played 46 games and scored 6 goals for Sligo before moving to Bray Wanderers in January 1999. Jones made his debut for Bray on 22 January, playing in the 0–0 league draw with Finn Harps at Carlisle Grounds. Later that year, Jones was homesick and moved back to England, later having a brief spell with Northern Premier League side Chorley where he played in the last four games of the season for The Magpies.

Last time we spoke about the surrender of Japan. Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender on August 15, prompting mixed public reactions: grief, shock, and sympathy for the Emperor, tempered by fear of hardship and occupation. The government's response included resignations and suicide as new leadership was brought in under Prime Minister Higashikuni, with Mamoru Shigemitsu as Foreign Minister and Kawabe Torashiro heading a delegation to Manila. General MacArthur directed the occupation plan, “Blacklist,” prioritizing rapid, phased entry into key Japanese areas and Korea, while demobilizing enemy forces. The surrender ceremony occurred aboard the Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, with Wainwright, Percival, Nimitz, and UN representatives in attendance. Civilians and soldiers across Asia began surrendering, and postwar rehabilitation, Indochina and Vietnam's independence movements, and Southeast Asian transitions rapidly unfolded as Allied forces established control. This episode is the Aftermath of the Pacific War Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  The Pacific War has ended. Peace has been restored by the Allies and most of the places conquered by the Japanese Empire have been liberated. In this post-war period, new challenges would be faced for those who won the war; and from the ashes of an empire, a defeated nation was also seeking to rebuild. As the Japanese demobilized their armed forces, many young boys were set to return to their homeland, even if they had previously thought that they wouldn't survive the ordeal. And yet, there were some cases of isolated men that would continue to fight for decades even, unaware that the war had already ended.  As we last saw, after the Japanese surrender, General MacArthur's forces began the occupation of the Japanese home islands, while their overseas empire was being dismantled by the Allies. To handle civil administration, MacArthur established the Military Government Section, commanded by Brigadier-General William Crist, staffed by hundreds of US experts trained in civil governance who were reassigned from Okinawa and the Philippines. As the occupation began, Americans dispatched tactical units and Military Government Teams to each prefecture to ensure that policies were faithfully carried out. By mid-September, General Eichelberger's 8th Army had taken over the Tokyo Bay region and began deploying to occupy Hokkaido and the northern half of Honshu. Then General Krueger's 6th Army arrived in late September, taking southern Honshu and Shikoku, with its base in Kyoto. In December, 6th Army was relieved of its occupation duties; in January 1946, it was deactivated, leaving the 8th Army as the main garrison force. By late 1945, about 430,000 American soldiers were garrisoned across Japan. President Truman approved inviting Allied involvement on American terms, with occupation armies integrated into a US command structure. Yet with the Chinese civil war and Russia's reluctance to place its forces under MacArthur's control, only Australia, Britain, India, and New Zealand sent brigades, more than 40,000 troops in southwestern Japan. Japanese troops were gradually disarmed by order of their own commanders, so the stigma of surrender would be less keenly felt by the individual soldier. In the homeland, about 1.5 million men were discharged and returned home by the end of August. Demobilization overseas, however, proceeded, not quickly, but as a long, difficult process of repatriation. In compliance with General Order No. 1, the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters disbanded on September 13 and was superseded by the Japanese War Department to manage demobilization. By November 1, the homeland had demobilized 2,228,761 personnel, roughly 97% of the Homeland Army. Yet some 6,413,215 men remained to be repatriated from overseas. On December 1, the Japanese War Ministry dissolved, and the First Demobilization Ministry took its place. The Second Demobilization Ministry was established to handle IJN demobilization, with 1,299,868 sailors, 81% of the Navy, demobilized by December 17. Japanese warships and merchant ships had their weapons rendered inoperative, and suicide craft were destroyed. Forty percent of naval vessels were allocated to evacuations in the Philippines, and 60% to evacuations of other Pacific islands. This effort eventually repatriated about 823,984 men to Japan by February 15, 1946. As repatriation accelerated, by October 15 only 1,909,401 men remained to be repatriated, most of them in the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, the Higashikuni Cabinet and Foreign Minister Shigemitsu Mamoru managed to persuade MacArthur not to impose direct military rule or martial law over all of Japan. Instead, the occupation would be indirect, guided by the Japanese government under the Emperor's direction. An early decision to feed occupation forces from American supplies, and to allow the Japanese to use their own limited food stores, helped ease a core fear: that Imperial forces would impose forced deliveries on the people they conquered. On September 17, MacArthur transferred his headquarters from Yokohama to Tokyo, setting up primary offices on the sixth floor of the Dai-Ichi Mutual Life Insurance Building, an imposing edifice overlooking the moat and the Imperial palace grounds in Hibiya, a symbolic heart of the nation.  While the average soldier did not fit the rapacious image of wartime Japanese propagandists, occupation personnel often behaved like neo-colonial overlords. The conquerors claimed privileges unimaginable to most Japanese. Entire trains and train compartments, fitted with dining cars, were set aside for the exclusive use of occupation forces. These silenced, half-empty trains sped past crowded platforms, provoking ire as Japanese passengers were forced to enter and exit packed cars through punched-out windows, or perch on carriage roofs, couplings, and running boards, often with tragic consequences. The luxury express coaches became irresistible targets for anonymous stone-throwers. During the war, retrenchment measures had closed restaurants, cabarets, beer halls, geisha houses, and theatres in Tokyo and other large cities. Now, a vast leisure industry sprang up to cater to the needs of the foreign occupants. Reopened restaurants and theatres, along with train stations, buses, and streetcars, were sometimes kept off limits to Allied personnel, partly for security, partly to avoid burdening Japanese resources, but a costly service infrastructure was built to the occupiers' specifications. Facilities reserved for occupation troops bore large signs reading “Japanese Keep Out” or “For Allied Personnel Only.” In downtown Tokyo, important public buildings requisitioned for occupation use had separate entrances for Americans and Japanese. The effect? A subtle but clear colour bar between the predominantly white conquerors and the conquered “Asiatic” Japanese. Although MacArthur was ready to work through the Japanese government, he lacked the organizational infrastructure to administer a nation of 74 million. Consequently, on October 2, MacArthur dissolved the Military Government Section and inaugurated General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, a separate headquarters focused on civil affairs and operating in tandem with the Army high command. SCAP immediately assumed responsibility for administering the Japanese home islands. It commandeered every large building not burned down to house thousands of civilians and requisitioned vast tracts of prime real estate to quarter several hundred thousand troops in the Tokyo–Yokohama area alone. Amidst the rise of American privilege, entire buildings were refurbished as officers' clubs, replete with slot machines and gambling parlours installed at occupation expense. The Stars and Stripes were hoisted over Tokyo, while the display of the Rising Sun was banned; and the downtown area, known as “Little America,” was transformed into a US enclave. The enclave mentality of this cocooned existence was reinforced by the arrival within the first six months of roughly 700 American families. At the peak of the occupation, about 14,800 families employed some 25,000 Japanese servants to ease the “rigours” of overseas duty. Even enlisted men in the sparse quonset-hut towns around the city lived like kings compared with ordinary Japanese. Japanese workers cleaned barracks, did kitchen chores, and handled other base duties. The lowest private earned a 25% hardship bonus until these special allotments were discontinued in 1949. Most military families quickly adjusted to a pampered lifestyle that went beyond maids and “boys,” including cooks, laundresses, babysitters, gardeners, and masseuses. Perks included spacious quarters with swimming pools, central heating, hot running water, and modern plumbing. Two observers compared GHQ to the British Raj at its height. George F. Kennan, head of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff, warned during his 1948 mission to Japan that Americans had monopolized “everything that smacks of comfort or elegance or luxury,” criticizing what he called the “American brand of philistinism” and the “monumental imperviousness” of MacArthur's staff to the Japanese suffering. This conqueror's mentality also showed in the bullying attitudes many top occupation officials displayed toward the Japanese with whom they dealt. Major Faubion Bowers, MacArthur's military secretary, later said, “I and nearly all the occupation people I knew were extremely conceited and extremely arrogant and used our power every inch of the way.” Initially, there were spasms of defiance against the occupation forces, such as anonymous stone-throwing, while armed robbery and minor assaults against occupation personnel were rife in the weeks and months after capitulation. Yet active resistance was neither widespread nor organized. The Americans successfully completed their initial deployment without violence, an astonishing feat given a heavily armed and vastly superior enemy operating on home terrain. The average citizen regarded the occupation as akin to force majeure, the unfortunate but inevitable aftermath of a natural calamity. Japan lay prostrate. Industrial output had fallen to about 10% of pre-war levels, and as late as 1946, more than 13 million remained unemployed. Nearly 40% of Japan's urban areas had been turned to rubble, and some 9 million people were homeless. The war-displaced, many of them orphans, slept in doorways and hallways, in bombed-out ruins, dugouts and packing crates, under bridges or on pavements, and crowded the hallways of train and subway stations. As winter 1945 descended, with food, fuel, and clothing scarce, people froze to death. Bonfires lit the streets to ward off the chill. "The only warm hands I have shaken thus far in Japan belonged to Americans," Mark Gayn noted in December 1945. "The Japanese do not have much of a chance to thaw out, and their hands are cold and red." Unable to afford shoes, many wore straw sandals; those with geta felt themselves privileged. The sight of a man wearing a woman's high-buttoned shoes in winter epitomized the daily struggle to stay dry and warm. Shantytowns built of scrap wood, rusted metal, and scavenged odds and ends sprang up everywhere, resembling vast junk yards. The poorest searched smouldering refuse heaps for castoffs that might be bartered for a scrap to eat or wear. Black markets (yami'ichi) run by Japanese, Koreans, and For-mosans mushroomed to replace collapsed distribution channels and cash in on inflated prices. Tokyo became "a world of scarcity in which every nail, every rag, and even a tangerine peel [had a] market value." Psychologically numbed, disoriented, and disillusioned with their leaders, demobilized veterans and civilians alike struggled to get their bearings, shed militaristic ideologies, and begin to embrace new values. In the vacuum of defeat, the Japanese people appeared ready to reject the past and grasp at the straw held out by the former enemy. Relations between occupier and occupied were not smooth, however. American troops comported themselves like conquerors, especially in the early weeks and months of occupation. Much of the violence was directed against women, with the first attacks beginning within hours after the landing of advance units. When US paratroopers landed in Sapporo, an orgy of looting, sexual violence, and drunken brawling ensued. Newspaper accounts reported 931 serious offences by GIs in the Yokohama area during the first week of occupation, including 487 armed robberies, 411 thefts of currency or goods, 9 rapes, 5 break-ins, 3 cases of assault and battery, and 16 other acts of lawlessness. In the first 10 days of occupation, there were 1,336 reported rapes by US soldiers in Kanagawa Prefecture alone. Americans were not the only perpetrators. A former prostitute recalled that when Australian troops arrived in Kure in early 1946, they “dragged young women into their jeeps, took them to the mountain, and then raped them. I heard them screaming for help nearly every night.” Such behaviour was commonplace, but news of criminal activity by occupation forces was quickly suppressed. On September 10, 1945, SCAP issued press and pre-censorship codes outlawing the publication of reports and statistics "inimical to the objectives of the occupation." In the sole instance of self-help General Eichelberger records in his memoirs, when locals formed a vigilante group and retaliated against off-duty GIs, 8th Army ordered armored vehicles into the streets and arrested the ringleaders, who received lengthy prison terms. Misbehavior ranged from black-market activity, petty theft, reckless driving, and disorderly conduct to vandalism, arson, murder, and rape. Soldiers and sailors often broke the law with impunity, and incidents of robbery, rape, and even murder were widely reported. Gang rapes and other sex atrocities were not infrequent; victims, shunned as outcasts, sometimes turned to prostitution in desperation, while others took their own lives to avoid bringing shame to their families. Military courts arrested relatively few soldiers for these offenses and convicted even fewer; Japanese attempts at self-defense were punished severely, and restitution for victims was rare. Fearing the worst, Japanese authorities had already prepared countermeasures against the supposed rapacity of foreign soldiers. Imperial troops in East Asia and the Pacific had behaved brutally toward women, so the government established “sexual comfort-stations” manned by geisha, bar hostesses, and prostitutes to “satisfy the lust of the Occupation forces,” as the Higashikuni Cabinet put it. A budget of 100 million yen was set aside for these Recreation and Amusement Associations, financed initially with public funds but run as private enterprises under police supervision. Through these, the government hoped to protect the daughters of the well-born and middle class by turning to lower-class women to satisfy the soldiers' sexual appetites. By the end of 1945, brothel operators had rounded up an estimated 20,000 young women and herded them into RAA establishments nationwide. Eventually, as many as 70,000 are said to have ended up in the state-run sex industry. Thankfully, as military discipline took hold and fresh troops replaced the Allied veterans responsible for the early crime wave, violence subsided and the occupier's patronising behavior and the ugly misdeeds of a lawless few were gradually overlooked. However, fraternisation was frowned upon by both sides, and segregation was practiced in principle, with the Japanese excluded from areas reserved for Allied personnel until September 1949, when MacArthur lifted virtually all restrictions on friendly association, stating that he was “establishing the same relations between occupation personnel and the Japanese population as exists between troops stationed in the United States and the American people.” In principle, the Occupation's administrative structure was highly complex. The Far Eastern Commission, based in Washington, included representatives from all 13 countries that had fought against Japan and was established in 1946 to formulate basic principles. The Allied Council for Japan was created in the same year to assist in developing and implementing surrender terms and in administering the country. It consisted of representatives from the USA, the USSR, Nationalist China, and the British Commonwealth. Although both bodies were active at first, they were largely ineffectual due to unwieldy decision-making, disagreements between the national delegations (especially the USA and USSR), and the obstructionism of General Douglas MacArthur. In practice, SCAP, the executive authority of the occupation, effectively ruled Japan from 1945 to 1952. And since it took orders only from the US government, the Occupation became primarily an American affair. The US occupation program, effectively carried out by SCAP, was revolutionary and rested on a two-pronged approach. To ensure Japan would never again become a menace to the United States or to world peace, SCAP pursued disarmament and demilitarization, with continuing control over Japan's capacity to make war. This involved destroying military supplies and installations, demobilizing more than five million Japanese soldiers, and thoroughly discrediting the military establishment. Accordingly, SCAP ordered the purge of tens of thousands of designated persons from public service positions, including accused war criminals, military officers, leaders of ultranationalist societies, leaders in the Imperial Rule Assistance Association, business leaders tied to overseas expansion, governors of former Japanese colonies, and national leaders who had steered Japan into war. In addition, MacArthur's International Military Tribunal for the Far East established a military court in Tokyo. It had jurisdiction over those charged with Class A crimes, top leaders who had planned and directed the war. Also considered were Class B charges, covering conventional war crimes, and Class C charges, covering crimes against humanity. Yet the military court in Tokyo wouldn't be the only one. More than 5,700 lower-ranking personnel were charged with conventional war crimes in separate trials convened by Australia, China, France, the Dutch East Indies, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Of the 5,700 Japanese individuals indicted for Class B war crimes, 984 were sentenced to death; 475 received life sentences; 2,944 were given more limited prison terms; 1,018 were acquitted; and 279 were never brought to trial or not sentenced. Among these, many, like General Ando Rikichi and Lieutenant-General Nomi Toshio, chose to commit suicide before facing prosecution. Notable cases include Lieutenant-General Tani Hisao, who was sentenced to death by the Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal for his role in the Nanjing Massacre; Lieutenant-General Sakai Takashi, who was executed in Nanjing for the murder of British and Chinese civilians during the occupation of Hong Kong. General Okamura Yasuji was convicted of war crimes by the Tribunal, yet he was immediately protected by the personal order of Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-Shek, who kept him as a military adviser for the Kuomintang. In the Manila trials, General Yamashita Tomoyuki was sentenced to death as he was in overall command during the Sook Ching massacre, the Rape of Manila, and other atrocities. Lieutenant-General Homma Masaharu was likewise executed in Manila for atrocities committed by troops under his command during the Bataan Death March. General Imamura Hitoshi was sentenced to ten years in prison, but he considered the punishment too light and even had a replica of the prison built in his garden, remaining there until his death in 1968. Lieutenant-General Kanda Masatane received a 14-year sentence for war crimes on Bougainville, though he served only four years. Lieutenant-General Adachi Hatazo was sentenced to life imprisonment for war crimes in New Guinea and subsequently committed suicide on September 10, 1947. Lieutenant-General Teshima Fusataro received three years of forced labour for using a hospital ship to transport troops. Lieutenant-General Baba Masao was sentenced to death for ordering the Sandakan Death Marches, during which over 2,200 Australian and British prisoners of war perished. Lieutenant-General Tanabe Moritake was sentenced to death by a Dutch military tribunal for unspecified war crimes. Rear-Admiral Sakaibara Shigematsu was executed in Guam for ordering the Wake Island massacre, in which 98 American civilians were murdered. Lieutenant-General Inoue Sadae was condemned to death in Guam for permitting subordinates to execute three downed American airmen captured in Palau, though his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1951 and he was released in 1953. Lieutenant-General Tachibana Yoshio was sentenced to death in Guam for his role in the Chichijima Incident, in which eight American airmen were cannibalized. By mid-1945, due to the Allied naval blockade, the 25,000 Japanese troops on Chichijima had run low on supplies. However, although the daily rice ration had been reduced from 400 grams per person per day to 240 grams, the troops were not at risk of starvation. In February and March 1945, in what would later be called the Chichijima incident, Tachibana Yoshio's senior staff turned to cannibalism. Nine American airmen had escaped from their planes after being shot down during bombing raids on Chichijima, eight of whom were captured. The ninth, the only one to evade capture, was future US President George H. W. Bush, then a 20-year-old pilot. Over several months, the prisoners were executed, and reportedly by the order of Major Matoba Sueyo, their bodies were butchered by the division's medical orderlies, with the livers and other organs consumed by the senior staff, including Matoba's superior Tachibana. In the Yokohama War Crimes Trials, Lieutenant-Generals Inada Masazumi and Yokoyama Isamu were convicted for their complicity in vivisection and other human medical experiments performed at Kyushu Imperial University on downed Allied airmen. The Tokyo War Crimes Trial, which began in May 1946 and lasted two and a half years, resulted in the execution by hanging of Generals Doihara Kenji and Itagaki Seishiro, and former Prime Ministers Hirota Koki and Tojo Hideki, for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace, specifically for the escalation of the Pacific War and for permitting the inhumane treatment of prisoners of war. Also sentenced to death were Lieutenant-General Muto Akira for his role in the Nanjing and Manila massacres; General Kimura Heitaro for planning the war strategy in China and Southeast Asia and for laxity in preventing atrocities against prisoners of war in Burma; and General Matsui Iwane for his involvement in the Rape of Nanjing. The seven defendants who were sentenced to death were executed at Sugamo Prison in Ikebukuro on December 23, 1948. Sixteen others were sentenced to life imprisonment, including the last Field Marshal Hata Shunroku, Generals Araki Sadao, Minami Hiro, and Umezu Shojiro, Admiral Shimada Shigetaro, former Prime Ministers Hiranuma Kiichiro and Koiso Kuniaki, Marquis Kido Koichi, and Colonel Hashimoto Kingoro, a major instigator of the second Sino-Japanese War. Additionally, former Foreign Ministers Togo Shigenori and Shigemitsu Mamoru received seven- and twenty-year sentences, respectively. The Soviet Union and Chinese Communist forces also held trials of Japanese war criminals, including the Khabarovsk War Crime Trials, which tried and found guilty some members of Japan's bacteriological and chemical warfare unit known as Unit 731. However, those who surrendered to the Americans were never brought to trial, as MacArthur granted immunity to Lieutenant-General Ishii Shiro and all members of the bacteriological research units in exchange for germ-w warfare data derived from human experimentation. If you would like to learn more about what I like to call Japan's Operation Paper clip, whereupon the US grabbed many scientists from Unit 731, check out my exclusive podcast. The SCAP-turn to democratization began with the drafting of a new constitution in 1947, addressing Japan's enduring feudal social structure. In the charter, sovereignty was vested in the people, and the emperor was designated a “symbol of the state and the unity of the people, deriving his position from the will of the people in whom resides sovereign power.” Because the emperor now possessed fewer powers than European constitutional monarchs, some have gone so far as to say that Japan became “a republic in fact if not in name.” Yet the retention of the emperor was, in fact, a compromise that suited both those who wanted to preserve the essence of the nation for stability and those who demanded that the emperor system, though not necessarily the emperor, should be expunged. In line with the democratic spirit of the new constitution, the peerage was abolished and the two-chamber Diet, to which the cabinet was now responsible, became the highest organ of state. The judiciary was made independent and local autonomy was granted in vital areas of jurisdiction such as education and the police. Moreover, the constitution stipulated that “the people shall not be prevented from enjoying any of the fundamental human rights,” that they “shall be respected as individuals,” and that “their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness shall … be the supreme consideration in legislation.” Its 29 articles guaranteed basic human rights: equality, freedom from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin, freedom of thought and freedom of religion. Finally, in its most controversial section, Article 9, the “peace clause,” Japan “renounce[d] war as a sovereign right of the nation” and vowed not to maintain any military forces and “other war potential.” To instill a thoroughly democratic ethos, reforms touched every facet of society. The dissolution of the zaibatsu decentralised economic power; the 1945 Labour Union Law and the 1946 Labour Relations Act guaranteed workers the right to collective action; the 1947 Labour Standards Law established basic working standards for men and women; and the revised Civil Code of 1948 abolished the patriarchal household and enshrined sexual equality. Reflecting core American principles, SCAP introduced a 6-3-3 schooling system, six years of compulsory elementary education, three years of junior high, and an optional three years of senior high, along with the aim of secular, locally controlled education. More crucially, ideological reform followed: censorship of feudal material in media, revision of textbooks, and prohibition of ideas glorifying war, dying for the emperor, or venerating war heroes. With women enfranchised and young people shaped to counter militarism and ultranationalism, rural Japan was transformed to undermine lingering class divisions. The land reform program provided for the purchase of all land held by absentee landlords, allowed resident landlords and owner-farmers to retain a set amount of land, and required that the remaining land be sold to the government so it could be offered to existing tenants. In 1948, amid the intensifying tensions of the Cold War that would soon culminate in the Korean War, the occupation's focus shifted from demilitarization and democratization toward economic rehabilitation and, ultimately, the remilitarization of Japan, an shift now known as the “Reverse Course.” The country was thus rebuilt as the Pacific region's primary bulwark against the spread of Communism. An Economic Stabilisation Programme was introduced, including a five-year plan to coordinate production and target capital through the Reconstruction Finance Bank. In 1949, the anti-inflationary Dodge Plan was adopted, advocating balanced budgets, fixing the exchange rate at 360 yen to the dollar, and ending broad government intervention. Additionally, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry was formed and supported the formation of conglomerates centered around banks, which encouraged the reemergence of a somewhat weakened set of zaibatsu, including Mitsui and Mitsubishi. By the end of the Occupation era, Japan was on the verge of surpassing its 1934–1936 levels of economic growth. Equally important was Japan's rearmament in alignment with American foreign policy: a National Police Reserve of about 75,000 was created with the outbreak of the Korean War; by 1952 it had expanded to 110,000 and was renamed the Self-Defense Force after the inclusion of an air force. However, the Reverse Course also facilitated the reestablishment of conservative politics and the rollback of gains made by women and the reforms of local autonomy and education. As the Occupation progressed, the Americans permitted greater Japanese initiative, and power gradually shifted from the reformers to the moderates. By 1949, the purge of the right came under review, and many who had been condemned began returning to influence, if not to the Diet, then to behind-the-scenes power. At the same time, Japanese authorities, with MacArthur's support, began purging left-wing activists. In June 1950, for example, the central office of the Japan Communist Party and the editorial board of The Red Flag were purged. The gains made by women also seemed to be reversed. Women were elected to 8% of available seats in the first lower-house election in 1946, but to only 2% in 1952, a trend not reversed until the so-called Madonna Boom of the 1980s. Although the number of women voting continued to rise, female politicisation remained more superficial than might be imagined. Women's employment also appeared little affected by labour legislation: though women formed nearly 40% of the labor force in 1952, they earned only 45% as much as men. Indeed, women's attitudes toward labor were influenced less by the new ethos of fulfilling individual potential than by traditional views of family and workplace responsibilities. In the areas of local autonomy and education, substantial modifications were made to the reforms. Because local authorities lacked sufficient power to tax, they were unable to realise their extensive powers, and, as a result, key responsibilities were transferred back to national jurisdiction. In 1951, for example, 90% of villages and towns placed their police forces under the control of the newly formed National Police Agency. Central control over education was also gradually reasserted; in 1951, the Yoshida government attempted to reintroduce ethics classes, proposed tighter central oversight of textbooks, and recommended abolishing local school board elections. By the end of the decade, all these changes had been implemented. The Soviet occupation of the Kurile Islands and the Habomai Islets was completed with Russian troops fully deployed by September 5. Immediately after the onset of the occupation, amid a climate of insecurity and fear marked by reports of sporadic rape and physical assault and widespread looting by occupying troops, an estimated 4,000 islanders fled to Hokkaido rather than face an uncertain repatriation. As Soviet forces moved in, they seized or destroyed telephone and telegraph installations and halted ship movements into and out of the islands, leaving residents without adequate food and other winter provisions. Yet, unlike Manchuria, where Japanese civilians faced widespread sexual violence and pillage, systematic violence against the civilian population on the Kuriles appears to have been exceptional. A series of military government proclamations assured islanders of safety so long as they did not resist Soviet rule and carried on normally; however, these orders also prohibited activities not explicitly authorized by the Red Army, which imposed many hardships on civilians. Residents endured harsh conditions under Soviet rule until late 1948, when Japanese repatriation out of the Kurils was completed. The Kuriles posed a special diplomatic problem, as the occupation of the southernmost islands—the Northern Territories—ignited a long-standing dispute between Tokyo and Moscow that continues to impede the normalisation of relations today. Although the Kuriles were promised to the Soviet Union in the Yalta agreement, Japan and the United States argued that this did not apply to the Northern Territories, since they were not part of the Kurile Islands. A substantial dispute regarding the status of the Kurile Islands arose between the United States and the Soviet Union during the preparation of the Treaty of San Francisco, which was intended as a permanent peace treaty between Japan and the Allied Powers of World War II. The treaty was ultimately signed by 49 nations in San Francisco on September 8, 1951, and came into force on April 28, 1952. It ended Japan's role as an imperial power, allocated compensation to Allied nations and former prisoners of war who had suffered Japanese war crimes, ended the Allied post-war occupation of Japan, and returned full sovereignty to Japan. Effectively, the document officially renounced Japan's treaty rights derived from the Boxer Protocol of 1901 and its rights to Korea, Formosa and the Pescadores, the Kurile Islands, the Spratly Islands, Antarctica, and South Sakhalin. Japan's South Seas Mandate, namely the Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, and Caroline Islands, had already been formally revoked by the United Nations on July 18, 1947, making the United States responsible for administration of those islands under a UN trusteeship agreement that established the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. In turn, the Bonin, Volcano, and Ryukyu Islands were progressively restored to Japan between 1953 and 1972, along with the Senkaku Islands, which were disputed by both Communist and Nationalist China. In addition, alongside the Treaty of San Francisco, Japan and the United States signed a Security Treaty that established a long-lasting military alliance between them. Although Japan renounced its rights to the Kuriles, the U.S. State Department later clarified that “the Habomai Islands and Shikotan ... are properly part of Hokkaido and that Japan is entitled to sovereignty over them,” hence why the Soviets refused to sign the treaty. Britain and the United States agreed that territorial rights would not be granted to nations that did not sign the Treaty of San Francisco, and as a result the Kurile Islands were not formally recognized as Soviet territory. A separate peace treaty, the Treaty of Taipei (formally the Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty), was signed in Taipei on April 28, 1952 between Japan and the Kuomintang, and on June 9 of that year the Treaty of Peace Between Japan and India followed. Finally, Japan and the Soviet Union ended their formal state of war with the Soviet–Japanese Joint Declaration of 1956, though this did not settle the Kurile Islands dispute. Even after these formal steps, Japan as a nation was not in a formal state of war, and many Japanese continued to believe the war was ongoing; those who held out after the surrender came to be known as Japanese holdouts.  Captain Oba Sakae and his medical company participated in the Saipan campaign beginning on July 7, 1944, and took part in what would become the largest banzai charge of the Pacific War. After 15 hours of intense hand-to-hand combat, almost 4,300 Japanese soldiers were dead, and Oba and his men were presumed among them. In reality, however, he survived the battle and gradually assumed command of over a hundred additional soldiers. Only five men from his original unit survived the battle, two of whom died in the following months. Oba then led over 200 Japanese civilians deeper into the jungles to evade capture, organizing them into mountain caves and hidden jungle villages. When the soldiers were not assisting the civilians with survival tasks, Oba and his men continued their battle against the garrison of US Marines. He used the 1,552‑ft Mount Tapochau as their primary base, which offered an unobstructed 360-degree view of the island. From their base camp on the western slope of the mountain, Oba and his men occasionally conducted guerrilla-style raids on American positions. Due to the speed and stealth of these operations, and the Marines' frustrated attempts to find him, the Saipan Marines eventually referred to Oba as “The Fox.” Oba and his men held out on the island for 512 days, or about 16 months. On November 27, 1945, former Major-General Amo Umahachi was able to draw out some of the Japanese in hiding by singing the anthem of the Japanese infantry branch. Amo was then able to present documents from the defunct IGHQ to Oba ordering him and his 46 remaining men to surrender themselves to the Americans. On December 1, the Japanese soldiers gathered on Tapochau and sang a song of departure to the spirits of the war dead; Oba led his people out of the jungle and they presented themselves to the Marines of the 18th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company. With great formality and commensurate dignity, Oba surrendered his sword to Lieutenant Colonel Howard G. Kirgis, and his men surrendered their arms and colors. On January 2, 1946, 20 Japanese soldiers hiding in a tunnel at Corregidor Island surrendered after learning the war had ended from a newspaper found while collecting water. In that same month, 120 Japanese were routed after a battle in the mountains 150 miles south of Manila. In April, during a seven-week campaign to clear Lubang Island, 41 more Japanese emerged from the jungle, unaware that the war had ended; however, a group of four Japanese continued to resist. In early 1947, Lieutenant Yamaguchi Ei and his band of 33 soldiers renewed fighting with the small Marine garrison on Peleliu, prompting reinforcements under Rear-Admiral Charles Pownall to be brought to the island to hunt down the guerrilla group. Along with them came former Rear-Admiral Sumikawa Michio, who ultimately convinced Yamaguchi to surrender in April after almost three years of guerrilla warfare. Also in April, seven Japanese emerged from Palawan Island and fifteen armed stragglers emerged from Luzon. In January 1948, 200 troops surrendered on Mindanao; and on May 12, the Associated Press reported that two unnamed Japanese soldiers had surrendered to civilian policemen in Guam the day before. On January 6, 1949, two former IJN soldiers, machine gunners Matsudo Rikio and Yamakage Kufuku, were discovered on Iwo Jima and surrendered peacefully. In March 1950, Private Akatsu Yūichi surrendered in the village of Looc, leaving only three Japanese still resisting on Lubang. By 1951 a group of Japanese on Anatahan Island refused to believe that the war was over and resisted every attempt by the Navy to remove them. This group was first discovered in February 1945, when several Chamorros from Saipan were sent to the island to recover the bodies of a Saipan-based B-29. The Chamorros reported that there were about thirty Japanese survivors from three ships sunk in June 1944, one of which was an Okinawan woman. Personal aggravations developed from the close confines of a small group on a small island and from tuba drinking; among the holdouts, 6 of 11 deaths were the result of violence, and one man displayed 13 knife wounds. The presence of only one woman, Higa Kazuko, caused considerable difficulty as she would transfer her affections among at least four men after each of them mysteriously disappeared, purportedly “swallowed by the waves while fishing.” According to the more sensational versions of the Anatahan tale, 11 of the 30 navy sailors stranded on the island died due to violent struggles over her affections. In July 1950, Higa went to the beach when an American vessel appeared offshore and finally asked to be removed from the island. She was taken to Saipan aboard the Miss Susie and, upon arrival, told authorities that the men on the island did not believe the war was over. As the Japanese government showed interest in the situation on Anatahan, the families of the holdouts were contacted in Japan and urged by the Navy to write letters stating that the war was over and that the holdouts should surrender. The letters were dropped by air on June 26 and ultimately convinced the holdouts to give themselves up. Thus, six years after the end of World War II, “Operation Removal” commenced from Saipan under the command of Lt. Commander James B. Johnson, USNR, aboard the Navy Tug USS Cocopa. Johnson and an interpreter went ashore by rubber boat and formally accepted the surrender on the morning of June 30, 1951. The Anatahan femme fatale story later inspired the 1953 Japanese film Anatahan and the 1998 novel Cage on the Sea. In 1953, Murata Susumu, the last holdout on Tinian, was finally captured. The next year, on May 7, Corporal Sumada Shoichi was killed in a clash with Filipino soldiers, leaving only two Japanese still resisting on Lubang. In November 1955, Seaman Kinoshita Noboru was captured in the Luzon jungle but soon after committed suicide rather than “return to Japan in defeat.” That same year, four Japanese airmen surrendered at Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea; and in 1956, nine soldiers were located and sent home from Morotai, while four men surrendered on Mindoro. In May 1960, Sergeant Ito Masashi became one of the last Japanese to surrender at Guam after the capture of his comrade Private Minagawa Bunzo, but the final surrender at Guam would come later with Sergeant Yokoi Shoichi. Sergeant Yokoi Shoichi survived in the jungles of Guam by living for years in an elaborately dug hole, subsisting on snails and lizards, a fate that, while undignified, showcased his ingenuity and resilience and earned him a warm welcome on his return to Japan. His capture was not heroic in the traditional sense: he was found half-starving by a group of villagers while foraging for shrimp in a stream, and the broader context included his awareness as early as 1952 that the war had ended. He explained that the wartime bushido code, emphasizing self-sacrifice or suicide rather than self-preservation, had left him fearing that repatriation would label him a deserter and likely lead to execution. Emerging from the jungle, Yokoi also became a vocal critic of Japan's wartime leadership, including Emperor Hirohito, which fits a view of him as a product of, and a prisoner within, his own education, military training, and the censorship and propaganda of the era. When asked by a young nephew how he survived so long on an island just a short distance from a major American airbase, he replied simply, “I was really good at hide and seek.”  That same year, Private Kozuka Kinshichi was killed in a shootout with Philippine police in October, leaving Lieutenant Onoda Hiroo still resisting on Lubang. Lieutenant Onoda Hiroo had been on Lubang since 1944, a few months before the Americans retook the Philippines. The last instructions he had received from his immediate superior ordered him to retreat to the interior of the island and harass the Allied occupying forces until the IJA eventually returned. Despite efforts by the Philippine Army, letters and newspapers left for him, radio broadcasts, and even a plea from Onoda's brother, he did not believe the war was over. On February 20, 1974, Onoda encountered a young Japanese university dropout named Suzuki Norio, who was traveling the world and had told friends that he planned to “look for Lieutenant Onoda, a panda, and the abominable snowman, in that order.” The two became friends, but Onoda stated that he was waiting for orders from one of his commanders. On March 9, 1974, Onoda went to an agreed-upon place and found a note left by Suzuki. Suzuki had brought along Onoda's former commander, Major Taniguchi, who delivered the oral orders for Onoda to surrender. Intelligence Officer 2nd Lt. Onoda Hiroo thus emerged from Lubang's jungle with his .25 caliber rifle, 500 rounds of ammunition, and several hand grenades. He surrendered 29 years after Japan's formal surrender, and 15 years after being declared legally dead in Japan. When he accepted that the war was over, he wept openly. He received a hero's welcome upon his return to Japan in 1974. The Japanese government offered him a large sum of money in back pay, which he refused. When money was pressed on him by well-wishers, he donated it to Yasukuni Shrine. Onoda was reportedly unhappy with the attention and what he saw as the withering of traditional Japanese values. He wrote No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War, a best-selling autobiography published in 1974. Yet the last Japanese to surrender would be Private Nakamura Teruo, an Amis aborigine from Formosa and a member of the Takasago Volunteers. Private Nakamura Teruo spent the tail end of World War II with a dwindling band on Morotai, repeatedly dispersing and reassembling in the jungle as they hunted for food. The group suffered continuous losses to starvation and disease, and survivors described Nakamura as highly self-sufficient. He left to live alone somewhere in the Morotai highlands between 1946 and 1947, rejoined the main group in 1950, and then disappeared again a few years later. Nakamura hinted in print that he fled into the jungle because he feared the other holdouts might murder him. He survives for decades beyond the war, eventually being found by 11 Indonesian soldiers. The emergence of an indigenous Taiwanese soldier among the search party embarrassed Japan as it sought to move past its imperial past. Many Japanese felt Nakamura deserved compensation for decades of loyalty, only to learn that his back pay for three decades of service amounted to 68,000 yen.   Nakamura's experience of peace was complex. When a journalist asked how he felt about “wasting” three decades of his life on Morotai, he replied that the years had not been wasted; he had been serving his country. Yet the country he returned to was Taiwan, and upon disembarking in Taipei in early January 1975, he learned that his wife had a son he had never met and that she had remarried a decade after his official death. Nakamura eventually lived with a daughter, and his story concluded with a bittersweet note when his wife reconsidered and reconciled with him. Several Japanese soldiers joined local Communist and insurgent groups after the war to avoid surrender. Notably, in 1956 and 1958, two soldiers returned to Japan after service in China's People's Liberation Army. Two others who defected with a larger group to the Malayan Communist Party around 1945 laid down their arms in 1989 and repatriated the next year, becoming among the last to return home. That is all for today, but fear not I will provide a few more goodies over the next few weeks. I will be releasing some of my exclusive podcast episodes from my youtube membership and patreon that are about pacific war subjects. Like I promised the first one will be on why Emperor Hirohito surrendered. Until then if you need your fix you know where to find me: eastern front week by week, fall and rise of china, echoes of war or on my Youtube membership of patreon at www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel.

Sometimes a small step in the wrong direction can be magnified by factors such as greed and willful moral blindness. This was the case seventy years before St. Peter Claver was born to a farming family outside of Barcelona, Spain in 1580. King Ferdinand of Spain authorized the purchase of 250 African slaves in Lisbon for his territories in New Spain. One hundred years later, 10,000 African slaves were arriving every year to the New Kingdom of Granada, today known as Columbia. The king's small decision to supposedly help farmers and landowners in New Spain meet their need for laborers allowed the slave trade to grow to epidemic proportions throughout the Americas.  St. Peter's life's work as a Jesuit priest was helping the men and women who arrived sick, exhausted, and maltreated to the port city of Cartagena. He would meet the ships upon their arrival and go down into the holds where the human cargo was packed tightly together. It is estimated that one third of the men and women died in transit. Peter would carry medicine, food, bread, and lemons to those who survived. He attended to their human needs first and then, over time, tried his best to meet their spiritual needs.  Peter also preached the Gospel message to the merchants, sailors, and ship owners. He tried to impress upon them that we are all human beings and that we have a common need to be treated with dignity and respect. When he visited the plantations where the African slaves were working, he would stay with them rather than in the comfortable homes of the landowners. He preached in the city squares, country areas, and was often among the sick in the hospitals. Fellow Jesuit Fr. John Hardon could have been reflecting on the life of Peter Claver when he wrote: “Love is shown more in deeds than in words. Love does not mean that I like doing what I'm doing, love means that I do it, and the doing is your love.”    Over the course of his life, the conservative estimate is that Peter baptized 300,000 people - and he continued his instructions after they were baptized by distributing holy pictures and having translators help him to preach. He heard 5,000 confessions on a yearly basis. It should be no surprise that his last years were filled with ill health. Unable to leave his room, his community assigned an ex-slave to attend to his needs. Unfortunately, this man mistreated Fr. Claver and stole his food. Peter did not complain, seeing his ill treatment as a penance for his sins. When he died on September 8, 1654, word spread quickly. People came from all over the countryside to visit his room, which was soon stripped of everything that might be considered a relic. His life was such a heroic example of the Christian praxis of love and the exercise of human rights that September 9th, the day after Peter's death, is celebrated today in Columbia as Human Rights Day.  St. Peter Claver, friend of the marginalized and oppressed, pray for us.   Blessings, Fr. Kevin MacDonald, C.Ss.R.

After an exciting trip to Canbearah, Pinky returned to the airport to be recognised by a fellow traveller - and while she knew the face, she had totally forgotten the name.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Acts 12:1-5 The early church that started out in Jerusalem was growing rapidly. This brought about the first wave of fierce persecution. The persecution of the church is never unwarranted. Persecution often accompanies progress. This is made clear in Acts 12 this morning. Those opposed to the Christian faith are fighting a losing battle. Unable to stop the spread of the gospel. Which resulted in multitudes embracing the true faith. This prompted a second wave of persecution. An attack was carried out upon the early church. This time the opposition against the church was conspicuous. It went beyond the verbal threats and warnings that the apostles endured.

We've said it before and we'll say it again. People sometimes ask why we share so many stories with happy endings and miraculous yeshu'ot. "It's not real life," they argue. "So many stories don't end with that glamorous ending. Why only highlight the miraculous?" Some even feel disheartened that others are receiving salvations while they themselves are still waiting. It is true — not every story ends the way we want. But every story does end the exact way it is supposed to. Knowing that HaShem is the One in charge of all outcomes should give us chizuk. Everything is always going according to plan. Nothing ever happens haphazardly. And when we do see HaShem's wondrous hand in someone else's story, it strengthens our emunah that He is running the world. Furthermore, one of the questions a person will be asked after 120 is: "Did you anticipate My salvation?" The simple meaning is whether we anticipated the coming of Mashiaḥ. But the Bet HaLevi explains there is also a personal dimension: did we anticipate HaShem's salvation in our own struggles? When a person sees story after story of HaShem bringing yeshu'ot in extraordinary ways, it should strengthen him to believe that he too can be helped. It should give him hope, and motivate him to pray harder, realizing that salvation is a reality. Believing in HaShem's abilities and control is a great avodah. It is incumbent upon us to do whatever we can to strengthen that belief. Hearing real-life stories of others who experienced salvation is one of the best ways to build that hope. And even if we don't receive the miraculous yeshu'ah we were hoping for, knowing that HaShem is with us every step of the way can itself give us tremendous chizuk. A man related that he woke up in the middle of the night, consumed with worry over his financial situation. Unable to sleep, he went downstairs to think. His wife runs a small daycare center, but the government had canceled the subsidies for the families who sent their children there. Most parents couldn't afford the full tuition, meaning she would lose a significant amount of income that year. On top of that, his father-in-law, who had been paying their mortgage until then, had fallen into debt and could no longer help. The pressure was crushing. Sitting at the kitchen table in the early hours of the morning, he noticed a Hashgachah Peratit pamphlet that had arrived four months earlier. He hadn't read it, but in that moment, desperate for chizuk, he opened it. The first story he read was about a man who owed 20,000 shekels to the electric company and how HaShem helped him pay it. That was the exact amount he himself owed. The story gave him such encouragement — if HaShem could help that man, He could surely help him too. The second story he read was about a sofer. He himself was a sofer by profession, and that too gave him strength. Then he came across a third story that stunned him. It was about a man whose father-in-law fell into debt and could no longer support him — and how HaShem had helped him through it. At that point, nothing in his bank account had changed. The bills were all still waiting. But suddenly, he felt as though a heavy stone had been lifted from his chest. In just half an hour of reading, he became a new person. His family didn't know it yet, but they had just received a different husband and father — happy, smiling, and unburdened. HaShem had given him exactly the chizuk he needed. Stories of hashgachah and yeshu'ot are not just inspiring — they are powerful tools to strengthen our emunah. They remind us that HaShem is always involved, that He can help us in an instant, and that even if the yeshu'ah doesn't come right away, it is without question for the best.

Unable to rally support for an unpopular budget proposal, French Prime Minister François Bayrou has decided to go out with a bang by invoking Article 49.1 of the Constitution. Guest Marlon Ettinger from the Flep24 podcast joins Patrick to unpack how we got here and to make predictions about what comes next.Don't forget to rate and subscribe to Flep24—and support them on Patreon!

Looking to make the postseason and still leading the American League West Division ahead of their competitors, the Astros begin to draw lots of concern for fans after yesterday's loss to the Yankees. Teeing off against one of their biggest postseason rivals, the Astros lose their series opener with a final score of 7-1, leaving many shocked following the club's recent struggles, hoping to improve them before the postseason arrives. Unable to score runs with runners in scoring positions, followed by poor base running, Astros GM Dana Brown breaks the silence with a few answers to questions many have.       

How a romantic getaway ended in disaster.Dutch financier Annette Herfkens boarded Vietnam Airlines Flight 474 in November 1992, embarking on what was meant to be a romantic break with her fiancé Willem van der Pas or ‘Pasje'. But fate had other plans. Midway through the flight from Ho Chi Minh City to the coastal resort of Nha Trang, the Soviet-built Yakovlev Yak-40 encountered severe weather and slammed into a remote, fog-shrouded mountain ridge in the dense Vietnamese jungle. The impact was catastrophic, killing all 30 other passengers and crew on board, including Annette's beloved Pasje.   Incredibly, Annette emerged as the sole survivor of the crash, defying odds in one of the most amazing real-life tales of endurance. Thrown from the wreckage with devastating injuries—including a collapsed lung, a broken jaw, two fractured legs, and a dozen fractures in her hips—she found herself stranded amid the twisted metal and bodies of her fellow travellers. Unable to walk or even crawl far, she endured eight gruelling days in the unforgiving wilderness, battling excruciating pain, dehydration, and the psychological torment of her loss. With no food, she sustained herself solely on rainwater collected from the jungle foliage, her will to live fuelled by sheer determination and fleeting moments of hope that a rescue would come. Annette's book is called Turbulence: A True Story of Survival.Presenter: Asya Fouks Producer: Edgar MaddicottLives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Our latest mini-series Hold Fast! tells the incredible true story of how The Avontuur was locked down at sea for 188 days during the Covid-19 pandemic, with 15 people on board.Step into someone else's life and expect the unexpected.  Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784   You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice

Social Media Is Making People Miserable and Unable To Have Fun

NS9 Postgame Show Powered by Primanti Bros. Jim and Cody recap the Pirates' 5–2 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway. Mitch Keller delivered a strong start with seven strikeouts and no earned runs, but defensive miscues and a disastrous inside-the-park homer flipped the game. The guys dig into Henry Davis' continued offensive struggles despite his defensive growth, wasted scoring chances with runners on base, and Alexander Canario's rare big day capped by a homer over the Green Monster. They also hit on bullpen concerns, Don Kelly's 100th game as manager, and the bigger picture of how the Pirates' pitching staff is shaping up for 2026. Subscribe for more Pirates talk and postgame coverage all season long! Presented by Fanduel Use Promo Code NS930 for 30% off your first order at https://www.defer.coffee Use Promo Code NS9 for 30% off your first order at https://www.gritily.com Use Promo Code NORTHSHORENINE for $20 off your first order at https://www.seatgeek.com LIKE and SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS ON if you enjoyed the show! NS9 MERCH: https://northshorenine.myspreadshop.com ►Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NorthShoreNine ►Website: https://www.northshorenine.com ►Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/northshorenine ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@northshorenine ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northshorenine ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northshorenine ►Discord: https://discord.gg/3HVYPg544m ►BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/northshorenine.bsky.social

Send us a textSpeak by Laurie Halse Anderson follows Melinda Sordino as she navigates the aftermath of her sexual assault at a high school party. Unable to speak about what happened to her, Melinda also has to deal with losing her friends, being ostracized by her peers, and having parents who can't seem to parent. Some small beacons of light in her life are her newfound friend, David, who stands up for his beliefs and encourages Melinda to do the same and her art teacher Mr. Freeman, who definitely knows something is up with Melinda and encourages her to speak through her art. In this episode, we discuss the concept of problem novels ("misery porn"), the portrayal of teachers in YA novels and Maria drops some Fairmount High School lore. These Books Made Me is a podcast about the literary heroines who shaped us and is a product of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System podcast network. Stay in touch with us via Twitter @PGCMLS with #TheseBooksMadeMe, on Instagram @TheseBooksMadeMe or by email at TheseBooksMadeMe@pgcmls.info. For recommended readalikes and deep dives into topics related to each episode, visit our blog at https://pgcmls.medium.com/.

On this episode, Patrick and Hayden discuss Liverpool's early season struggles and preview their matchup against Arsenal. Is something wrong with their attack? Next, Piero Hincapie is linked to an Arsenal move, but does he fix their problems? Then Kobbie Mainoo wants out of Manchester United, but where should he go and is he really a good fit for the Premier League? The episode finishes with discussions on Garnacho or Xavi Simons for Chelsea and Jørgen Strand Larsen's rumoured £55m move from Wolves to Newcastle. Enjoy! Subscribe to our FREE newsletter: https://www.thetransferflow.com/subscribe Join Variance Betting: https://www.thetransferflow.com/upgrade Follow us on our Socials: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1WTKOt7byrELQcGRSzu1Q X: https://x.com/TheTransferFlow Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetransferflow.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransferflow/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transferflowpodcast Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:13 - Liverpool's strange start to the season 02:14 - Newcastle were able to apply pressure 03:24 - Szoboszlai at RB? 04:14 - Concerns for Liverpool 05:27 - Expectations for Liverpool vs. Arsenal 06:43 - Wirtz needs to get on the ball 07:57 - Losing progression in wide areas 10:08 - Arsenal will shell and try to play transition 10:54 - Liverpool looked uncomfortable against set pieces 12:12 - Problems if Salah can't threaten Arsenal 12:54 - Issues with the Liverpool squad 14:00 - A good time for Arsenal to be playing Liverpool, except for Saka's injury 15:10 - Will Eze come in and contribute already? + Gakpo 17:00 - Eze and Madueke starting on the wings? 18:00 - Good depth for Arsenal in this game 18:52 - Piero Hincapie to Arsenal? 20:20 - Is he the left-back they're missing? 22:04 - Gives you lots of flexibility 24:17 - Is the price fair? 27:06 - Lots of similar style players in the squad? 28:30 - Lewis-Skelly to take some of Declan Rice's minutes? 29:25 - Kobbie Mainoo wants out of Manchester United? 29:53 - Unable to find a home in Amorim's system 30:20 - Very technical, but slow 31:50 - United won't get the fee they want for him 32:35 - Is the Premier League the right place for Mainoo? 33:50 - Better suited for Italy or Spain? 34:42 - Inter Milan can't pay what United want 35:24 - Mainoo needs regular minutes 36:12 - Jackson out at Chelsea, should Garnacho or Simons replace him? 37:24 - Garnacho doesn't really fit Chelsea's pace of play 38:07 - Simons can also backup Cole Palmer 39:00 - Previous talk of Garnacho to Chelsea 39:42 - Lower wages and fee for Garnacho? 40:48 - Simons fits the system better 41:41 - Flipping Garnacho for profit? 43:20 - Garnacho could add shots which Chelsea are lacking 44:40 - Strand Larsen linked to Newcastle for £55m? 45:41 - A bad idea for Newcastle? 46:27 - Wolves can reinvest that sum + desperation for Newcastle? 48:12 - 35 or 40 million would be a better price 50:04 - The price makes you expect more from the player 51:27 - They still need an attacking midfielder 52:18 - Where to find Patrick and Hayden

What happens when a family legacy meets a bold mission for change? Rochelle Jacobs, co-founder of Naturally Serious, joins us to share how her journey, from watching her Persian grandmother blend skincare from tea leaves to launching a patented antioxidant-rich brand, has been decades in the making. In this inspiring episode, Rochelle shares how her confidence, entrepreneurial roots, and commitment to clean, effective beauty helped shape Naturally Serious into a lifestyle brand women can trust. Rochelle reminds us that confidence is a tool, self-care is non-negotiable, and that skin is more than surface—it's the story we tell the world.

Abel Police is transforming law enforcement efficiency through AI-powered report generation technology. With $5 million in funding, the company has developed a computer vision and natural language processing platform that automatically generates police reports from body camera footage, reducing officer paperwork time by up to one-third. In this episode of Category Visionaries, we sat down with Daniel Francis, Founder and CEO of Abel Police, to explore how a former data engineer with no policing background identified a massive inefficiency in law enforcement and built technology to address it. Topics Discussed: How a personal experience with domestic violence response times led to the founding of Abel Police The discovery that police officers spend one-third of their time writing reports Abel Police's approach to integrating with existing digital evidence management systems The unique challenges of selling technology to government agencies and police departments The company's evolution from attempting full record management system integration to standalone solutions The regulatory compliance requirements specific to criminal justice information systems (CJIS) GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Immerse yourself completely in your target customer's world: Daniel spent 32 ride-alongs with police officers across different departments, not just conducting interviews but observing their daily workflows for hours. He describes himself as "chief ride along officer" and emphasizes that he had to "creepily watch them work for hours" to understand their pain points. B2B founders should go beyond traditional customer interviews and embed themselves in their customers' actual work environment to identify problems that aren't immediately obvious through conversation alone. Start with mock data when real data is inaccessible: Unable to access actual body camera footage, Daniel created fake scenarios with friends, filming mock arrests and citations to train their AI models. This creative workaround allowed them to begin product development despite regulatory barriers to accessing real police footage. B2B founders facing data access challenges should find creative ways to simulate their target environment and data types to begin building and testing their solutions. Become an insider to overcome industry skepticism: Daniel secured a position as a "records intern" at Richmond Police Department when they wouldn't initially buy his solution, giving him access to real body camera footage and deeper understanding of police workflows. This inside access became crucial for product development and credibility. B2B founders entering unfamiliar industries should consider temporary or consulting arrangements that allow them to work alongside their target customers and gain credibility within the industry. Give away pilots strategically in government markets: Contrary to Y Combinator's advice to always charge for pilots, Daniel found that offering free trials was essential for police departments due to their complex procurement processes. He explains that "if they have to pay for something, that's a hassle" in government settings, but if they're willing to share their data with you, "they're serious about it." B2B founders selling to government should consider free pilots as a necessary investment to navigate bureaucratic purchasing processes. Build standalone solutions before attempting platform integration: Abel Police initially tried to integrate with every record management system, which significantly delayed their go-to-market timeline. They found success by building a standalone version first, then pursuing integrations. Daniel notes they "would have never sold anything" if they had stuck to their original integration-first approach. B2B founders should prioritize getting a working solution in customers' hands over achieving perfect system integration from day one. Leverage adjacent opportunities from your core market position: Once established with police departments, Abel Police identified additional problems like online citizen reporting and policy/law lookup tools. Their relationship with agencies made them "very open to new solutions" since "there's way more problems than there is solutions" in policing. B2B founders should view their initial market entry as a platform for identifying and addressing related problems within the same customer base.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co   //   Don't Miss: New Podcast Series — How I Hire Senior GTM leaders share the tactical hiring frameworks they use to build winning revenue teams. Hosted by Andy Mowat, who scaled 4 unicorns from $10M to $100M+ ARR and launched Whispered to help executives find their next role. Subscribe here: https://open.spotify.com/show/53yCHlPfLSMFimtv0riPyM 

Send us a textThis week On The Porch, we're joined by Mac Rumbolt. Mac is the winner of the Cottage Springs Country Rising contest, where he took home the grand prize of $10,000, and an artist development package with Starseed Entertainment.Mac comes from small-town Nova Scotia, where he learned to play guitar at just five years old. Unsure of how a career in music may unfold, he initially headed to Alberta for an apprenticeship as a Harley Davidson mechanic. One drive by shooting and a leg amputation later, Mac found himself back at home working in behavioural health.Unable to play sports anymore, Mac turned back to his guitar and writing music, a place of comfort while he rehabbed his injuries. A Facebook ad and a dream later, Mac applied for the Country Rising contest and found himself the winner.This summer, he opened for the Reklaws in Windsor, along with their back to back sold out shows at the legendary Kee To Bala.We can't wait to see what's next from Mac, including a single release in the near future!We're so excited to bring back Season 4 of On The Porch with Front Porch Music. If you liked this episode, please rate, review and subscribe … It's the easiest way to support our show. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and join us On The Front Porch, every other Tuesday.On The Porch with Front Porch Music is a Front Porch Production and hosted by Logan Miller and Jenna Weishar. On The Porch with Front Porch Music is produced by Jason Saunders. The theme song for this podcast was written, produced, and performed by Owen Riegling.This Week's Emerging Artist This week, we have Adinah Vine, a country artist from Ontario, sharing her song "What If We Run Out Of Gas?". Available now wherever you get your music. Support the show

This week's Thursday on The Book Fix, we're cracking open A Spell to Wake the Dead, a witchy YA thriller that drips with eerie Cape Cod atmosphere, murder, and magic gone wrong. When Mazzy and her best friend Nora sneak to the beach one moonlit night to cast a spell, they expect nothing more than a little harmless witchcraft. Instead, the tide delivers the mutilated body of a woman missing her hands and teeth — and a supernatural connection they can't explain. Unable to leave the mystery to the police, the girls dive into spells and divination, uncovering a string of disappearances spanning years. As ghostly whispers grow louder and visions blur reality, a second body surfaces, pulling them deeper into danger. Support the showOur Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thebookfix?utm_source=linktree_admin_sharebecome our Patron ♡ https://www.patreon.com/BookFixbuy us a book ♡ https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thebookfixBusiness Inquiries: thebookfixpodcast@gmail.comfollow us on Tiktok! ♡ https://www.tiktok.com/@thebookfix

Unable to continue keeping secrets from her, Gat finally opens up to Cadence about his perspective on the island - one that doesn't always reflect the fairy-tale nostalgia of her own experience. While they head into town in search of answers.

The Dyslexic's Discovery #RTTBROS #Nightlight The Dyslexic's Discovery: When Weakness Becomes Wonder"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).In the rolling hills of Devon, England, a young girl sat frustrated at her school desk, tears threatening to spill as letters danced mockingly before her eyes. The words seemed to flip and twist, refusing to hold still long enough for her mind to grasp their meaning. Her teachers shook their heads in disappointment. Her classmates snickered. Reading aloud was agony, and writing felt like trying to capture lightning with her bare hands.That little girl was Agatha Christie, and she was discovering what millions of dyslexic children know all too well, the crushing weight of being different in a world that demands conformity.The Prison of Perceived FailureDyslexia wasn't even recognized as a learning difference in Christie's era; she was simply labeled as slow, lazy, or unintelligent. The very foundation of education—reading and writing, felt like an insurmountable mountain. While her peers effortlessly decoded words on pages, Agatha's brilliant mind was trapped behind what seemed like an impenetrable barrier.How many of us carry similar wounds? Perhaps your "dyslexia" isn't with letters but with numbers, social situations, or physical coordination. Maybe you stutter when you speak, struggle with anxiety, or feel awkward in your own skin. The world has a way of making us feel broken, doesn't it? Like we're missing some essential piece that everyone else seems to possess naturally.The Divine ParadoxBut here's where God's economy differs radically from the world's accounting system. Paul discovered this truth when he pleaded with God to remove his "thorn in the flesh", some unnamed struggle that caused him constant difficulty. Instead of healing, God gave him something better: a revelation that would echo through the centuries."My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."Perfect. Not adequate. Not acceptable. Perfect. The Greek word for perfect here means to complete, to bring to full development, to achieve the intended purpose. God wasn't just making the best of a bad situation, He was revealing that weakness is the precise condition where His power operates most effectively.When Disadvantage Becomes Divine AdvantageChristie's dyslexia forced her to develop compensatory skills that would revolutionize mystery writing. Unable to rely on traditional reading and writing methods, she learned to:Think in pictures and sounds rather than words, creating vivid mental movies of her storiesDevelop exceptional memory to compensate for reading difficulties, allowing her to keep complex plot threads straight without extensive notesHear dialogue internally with perfect pitch, making her characters come alive through their voicesApproach problems from unique angles, since conventional thinking patterns weren't available to herWhat appeared to be a devastating weakness became the foundation of her genius. Her brain, wired differently by necessity, created stories so intricate and compelling that she became the most widely published author in history, with over two billion books sold worldwide.Agatha Christie's dyslexia wasn't overcome, it was transformed. Her weakness became her wonder, her struggle her strength, her disability her distinctive calling. The same God who worked that miracle in a confused little girl in Devon is ready to work a similar miracle in you.Your weakness isn't your disqualification; it's your divine appointment. Your disadvantage isn't your downfall; it's your doorway to discovering that His grace truly is sufficient, and His strength truly is made perfect in the very places where you feel most inadequate.The world may see limitation. God sees limitless possibility. And that makes all the difference.

In this episode of My Miniature Obsession, Rachel sits down with the incredibly talented Bleaus Custom, a standout voice in the world of modern miniatures.What began as a simple fix to a childhood dollhouse turned into a full-blown creative business. Unable to find the siding they needed, they made their own and never looked back. Now, their bold, modern aesthetic and stunning attention to detail have earned them three features in American Miniaturist magazine and a devoted following of makers and collectors.You'll hear about:How Bleau's business started and why it stands outTheir creative process and approach to modern designThe launch of their own miniature subscription boxTips for miniaturists looking to break the moldWhether you're deep into dollhouse design or just starting to explore the hobby, this episode is packed with inspiration, insight, and creative encouragement.

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 30 of The Vaguely Vaping Related Podcast - Unable to Process There are a few new products out this week, so we do have some new vapes to talk about. The new tank from Ambition Mods, the Revorie, the new NeXlim Go Vape Kit form Oxva and the Gemini pod kit from Vandy Vape. We also take a look at the new Salt range from Pixie juice (available at The Alchemists Cupboard), a new range of Salts from Zeus Juice and some EZPZ Cotn from Coilology. It's also warm, so we do complain about the weather, hw very British of us! Enjoy Chandler, Jimmy & Dave

Happy Flow is choosing to go in the direction of Balanced Growth, Not to paddle upstream or let your mind wander and your thoughts scatter, But to fully immerse yourself in the activity, in the form and the content both, So that you can focus, attend, and fully apply yourself to the current matter. [full text below] Ep. 415 - Happy Flow We begin as always  with the Happy Creed. We believe in Happy,  in Balance and Growth,  of being Mindful and Grateful, Compassionate and Understanding. Yowza Haha My Happy Friends! Some things hurt more the more you fight them, while other things may simply break, If you've ever had a sudden dread about what might happen, like a health scare, Then you know the fear it can instill within you and all the stress it can make As you try not to think about it, you try to carry on, even while the panic is still there. But fighting your possible future can destroy your actual present and leave you wanting, Unable to cope with the business of living because of something that may not come to pass, Robbing you of vitality, hope and good cheer, turning your dreams into something haunting, Where every effort is painful, every decision dire, and every doubt is just there to harass. Happy Flow is choosing to go in the direction of Balanced Growth, Not to paddle upstream or let your mind wander and your thoughts scatter, But to fully immerse yourself in the activity, in the form and the content both, So that you can focus, attend, and fully apply yourself to the current matter. This allows your efforts to work in unison, and not be fragmented, wasted, or lost, You become absorbed and carried along, your attention becomes effortless and controlled, You're able to keep going without self-consciousness and with very little mental cost, Because your actions and intentions are aligned making the process a thing to behold. Haha  Yowza    

Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” — Matthew 19:27 Often in life we are taught that we will be rewarded for certain behaviors and actions—especially if we try hard and work at something with all our heart. In our reading for today, Peter speaks for the others around him and asserts that they've given up everything to follow Jesus. Can they expect a reward? In his teaching here, Jesus indicates that there is a cost in following him. When a rich young man asks how he can “get eternal life,” Jesus speaks of keeping God's commandments, and he calls on the young man to give up his wealth to the poor and to follow him. Unable to do that, the rich young man turns away disappointed. Jesus explains to his disciples how hard it can be for a rich person to be saved. In fact, he says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle” than for a rich person to enter God's kingdom. Gaining salvation for ourselves is impossible, but, thankfully, God has provided a way for us. If we turn to Jesus, he will save us and give us new life. Like Peter and the other disciples, we should turn to Jesus, recognizing that all that we have has been given by God. And we should seek to honor God first by serving him and others. Though our rewards in this life may not include wealth or status, the Lord will bless us with all we need and with the assurance that we will have eternal life with him “at the renewal of all things.” Help us, Lord, to follow where you lead, serving you and others as we await full life in your presence. Amen.

Unable to step off the ship, tensions are rising amongst the crew of the Avontuur and coping mechanisms begin to emerge. When the dry store is raided and boxes of biscuits go missing, ship's cook Giulia is forced to turn detective.15 people, 188 days at sea, one extraordinary ship: how the Avontuur was locked down at sea during the Covid-19 pandemic.Narrated by Siobhán McSweeney Produced by Christina Hardinge Sound and music by Noémie Ducimetière Artwork by Joe Magee Narration written by Laura Thomas For Lives Less Ordinary, the series producer is Laura Thomas and the editor, Munazza Khan.Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Step into someone else's life and expect the unexpected.Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784 You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice

Hey Friend, In today's conversation you'll get a peak behind the curtain on my life. I resonated SO much with the story and work of today's guest that I couldn't help but share how I struggle with a lot of the things she helps mom's overcome.   If you're like me, you might be in a season of chaos with your kids, trying to juggle it all and keep your head above water. It can feel like you've lost yourself and that it's a daily challenge to be the mom you want to be, let alone get in a workout or care for your own well being.   I don't think I'm alone on this and I'm grateful that God has people like Aubree who have gotten His direction and strategy on how to step into an intentional mom life.    In His Grace, Robin *** Aubree Felderhoff is a Spark Coach for Moms, a mom of three spirited boys, and host of the top-ranked Mom Intentional podcast. After a sudden, life-altering illness left her bedridden and completely disconnected from who she was, Aubree faced a hard truth—she had spent so long taking care of everyone else, she no longer recognized herself. That breaking point became the start of her mission.   Now, she helps overwhelmed moms who feel lost in motherhood rediscover their identity, rebuild their confidence, and create a life they love. Through coaching designed to help women reclaim their spark, Aubree guides moms from burnout to purpose—so they can stop running on empty and finally feel alive again.   As she often says: You're not broken—you're buried. Let's uncover you.   More from Aubree: Take the Assessment on her site: www.momintentional.com Join her free Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BeTiFTWR7/ Follow Aubree on Instagram: @momintentional   *** When you're ready, here are 4 ways I can support you in your health journey:    1. Grab my free 5 Day Sugar Fast Devotional In this 5 Day Devotional you have the opportunity to drop weight and sugar cravings while gaining a totally new approach to health that is grounded in Jesus. Download it here: https://madewellhealth.com/sugarfast   2. Join my free Facebook group  In this group you'll have access to years of resources I've shared along with the new content I put out weekly. Additionally, you'll be in good company with fellow Jesus loving ladies looking to live a sustainable healthy lifestyle. Join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RobinRhineMcD/   3. Take the Healthy Cooking Made Easy Mini Course  This short course will show you how to enjoy healthy cooking with confidence by saving time, cooking less, and loving what you make! Sign up here: https://go.madewellhealth.com/cooking   4. Work with Me Directly Whether it's joining my 6 week course, the Healthy Weight Loss Academy or getting 1-1 coaching, I am all about SIMPLIFYING healthy weight loss and providing the tools and resources you need to create healthy habits you'll keep by partnering with God and following my proven Sustainable Health process. For more info and to apply, click here: https://www.visiondrivenhealth.com/get-coaching  

Ron March is a once vital man suffering from debilitating Lupus. Unable to work, he lucks out with subsidized housing in a Burnaby, British Columbia apartment building, and soon befriends his neighbor across the hall, Loray Rayne. Loray is a cancer survivor still in precarious health, who receives care from her roommate, Lance Standberg. But Lance is gone for long spells working in the oilfields, so Loray comes to rely on Ron when he's away. Ron ends the friendship when Loray's demands become overbearing, enraging his neighbor and igniting the violent fury of her roommate – who will stop at nothing to avenge the insult to Loray's honor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Lees returns to the podcast to discuss his newest comic from Mad Cave Studios: ORLA! John has partnered with Sally Cantirino, Dearbhla Kelly, and Lucas Gattoni for this tale of love and monsters, well, one monster in particular, The Ick. John and Jimmy discuss some of the terrible men Orla finds herself dating, the wonderful visual jokes the incredible Sally Cantirino added to the story, and the fun of making a comic with all the tropes of a romantic comedy. John also talks about the current Kickstarter campaign for Grawlgore & Shanks that he worked on with Joe Mulvey being published by ComixTribe. It's Lord of the Rings meets Knives Out, and it looks incredible. John is a fantastic storyteller who is so passionate about the collaboration of making comics and it's great to have him back on the podcast.  From the Publisher Love is a monster. Orla Bard is an antique restorer, romance novel enjoyer and keen birder. She also believes in true love, continuing to navigate Seattle's singles scene despite repeated disappointment. But Orla has a secret. She is afflicted with The Ick, a man-eating monstrous entity dwelling inside her, who violently emerges whenever she gets too angry or afraid. Unable to rid herself of this curse, Orla uses The Ick to save other women by removing the scummiest men from the dating pool…permanently. Hearts (and bodies) will be broken in this offbeat romcom/creature-feature mashup! Order ORLA Check out Grawlgore & Shanks #1 on Kickstarter Follow John on Bluesky Follow Comic Book Yeti

Elias Makos Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy, and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia. Prominent Canadian pundit Paul Wells is pulling no punches in his latest column, under the headline “Let’s Admit It: Canada is losing the trade war with Trump.” Unable to get any important meetings with officials in Washington, D.C., Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Foreign Minister Anita Anand headed to Mexico and met with President Claudia Sheinbaum. Mark Carney is thinking of changing the Online News Act, or getting rid of it all together. This, two years after Meta “banned” news on its platforms. 42 giant 18-metre gold masts put up on Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue in front of the Big O are causing a lot of conversation. What do you say? Ugly or not?

When life unravels—through loss, illness, or uncertainty—can we really believe that God works all things together for our good? In this honest and hope-filled devotional, Lynette Kittle wrestles with Romans 8:28 and what it means to trust God when life doesn’t make sense. From unexpected hospital visits to life-threatening moments turned miraculous, this episode reminds listeners that God’s plans are always good, even when our circumstances aren’t. Whether you're facing job loss, grief, or simply feeling crushed under life’s weight, this devotional encourages you to cling to God’s promises and believe that He’s working behind the scenes for your good and His glory. Highlights (What You’ll Learn) What it really means to believe Romans 8:28 in the middle of suffering Why God’s goodness isn’t limited by our understanding of “good” A real-life story of how an unexpected illness led to a life-saving intervention Encouragement to shift from fear and worry to trust and peace How to lean into God’s promises during personal trials and heartache

After months of intensive negotiations, the US tariff deadline has finally arrived. Unable to reach a deal at the final hour, Switzerland is reeling from 39% tariffs. We look at how this will affect Swiss businesses, and if it's likely to stick. Elsewhere, we get the reaction from two other countries that were able to strike a deal - Taiwan and Lesotho. And the 78th Edinburgh Festival Fringe gets under way, with millions of visitors expected across the festival. We see how local business is booming.

Lisa Marchiano is a Jungian analyst and is the co-host of This Jungian Life podcast.------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Finding Jung Feels Like a Native Tongue(02:10) Early Memories: Mother and Jung's Mysterious Books(04:35) The Story of Jung's Bell and the Paranormal(06:20) From History and Humanitarian Work to Inner Crisis(08:15) A Breakup Sparks a Deep Depression(10:50) The Columbus Avenue Bookstore Ritual(13:10) Stumbling Upon “On the Way to the Wedding”(15:35) Reading the Book That Changed Everything(18:10) Writing Down Dreams and the Rabbit Hole Begins(20:25) Realizing Suffering Has Meaning(22:50) Deferring Law School for Work in Bosnia(25:05) Growing Doubt About Her Career Path(28:15) The Phone Call to the Jung Institute(31:10) Refusing the Call but Unable to Let It Go(34:20) Wrestling With Persona and Prestige(38:15) Choosing Social Work Over Law(41:40) The Calling Becomes Stronger in Bosnia(45:05) Returning to New York and Social Work School(48:20) Balancing Training With Motherhood(50:40) Why Jung's Ideas Are So Beautiful and Expansive(55:20) The Rise of Jung's Popularity and the Podcast(60:15) Depth Versus Ideology: Why Jung Resonates Today(64:10) Jungian Work as a Container for Meaning(67:50) Defining Synchronicity and Its Significance(70:00) Her Mother's Legacy and Final Reflections

Q:I watched your YT session on "If Christians should use AI".   I have a dilemma currently with music. I only listen to Faith/Christian music and recently have found some new music that I am very much enjoying.  I always do research on the band/music/song to ensure it is morally within the context of Scripture and the message is directed about Jesus. However, I found out that this new Christian/Faith music that I was listening to was AI created.  The publisher of the music on social media has openly admitted that the songs are AI created.  The messages in the songs are (in my belief) to be strong Christian messages.  I do have some reservations with AI creating songs like this.  I am not sure if I am over-reacting to this, but it scares me somewhat. One day we may not know what AI created and passed as someone's work.  Would it be wrong to let AI help us create something that we feel are unable to express?  It seems that we are cheating in some way by using AI. Summary: In this episode, Dr. E tackles a question about whether or not it's wrong to let AI help us creatively. AI isn't inherently evil. It's a tool—like electricity or a microwave. It can help us find information, speed up tasks, and even assist in medicine. But when it starts replacing our thinking, our creativity, or our worship, we need to pause. MIT research shows that relying on AI can actually reduce how our brains function. That's not just a tech issue. That's a spiritual issue. We're image-bearers of a creative God. We're meant to struggle, to think, to wrestle with truth and beauty. Taking shortcuts with something as sacred as worship or prayer robs us of the growth God intended. AI might be efficient, but it's not inspired.  Takeaways: AI is a tool, not a substitute for the God-given work of creativity and discipleship. Outsourcing creative labor to AI can undermine spiritual formation. AI-generated messages, even with good theology, lack the soul of human wrestling. MIT studies show AI use diminishes brain activity and engagement over time. Christians should be cautious about “cheating” their way through expressions of faith. We are image-bearers of a Creator—designed to think, feel, and create, not copy. Links Mentioned: Should Christians Use AI?  The Kerby Anderson interview Michael mentions will come out on 8/5. We'll update this with the link once it's live but you can subscribe here to keep an eye out.  Kerby Anderson on AI use John Piper ChatGPT Prayer  Find more episodes of Ask Dr. E here. If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.

With the new season of Platonic dropping next week, we had to bring in Seth Rogen and proud Aussie Rose Byrne to give us a sneak peek at what’s in store before Rose opens up about a surprising injury of her own... Platonic season two premieres Wednesday, 6 August on Apple TV+ Watch the trailer here!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A single compromised password led to the collapse of 158-year-old UK logistics firm KNP, after hackers—suspected to be the Akira gang—used it to gain access, encrypt systems, and demand a £5 million ransom. Unable to pay, the company lost all its data and folded, putting 700 employees out of work. The breach underscores how weak access controls can have catastrophic consequences.To counter massive botnets, Google is now combining technical defenses with legal action. Its lawsuit against the “BadBox 2.0” operators marks a major shift: targeting criminals behind malware that infected over 10 million Android devices. Google's strategy includes leveraging the CFAA and RICO Act to not just stop malware but dismantle the entire criminal infrastructure—signaling a more aggressive, litigation-driven cybersecurity era.Meanwhile, a new malware delivery method is exploiting DNS—a common but often under-monitored network function. Attackers hide malware in DNS TXT records, break it into chunks, and reassemble it on target systems using standard DNS queries. Since DNS traffic is rarely scrutinized, this technique bypasses traditional defenses, making DNS monitoring essential for comprehensive protection.Travelers to China face serious privacy risks. Authorities are using malware like “Massistant” to extract sensitive data from mobile phones during inspections. Developed by Chinese firm Meiya Pico, the software accesses encrypted texts, location history, and even Signal messages upon installation. Though evidence of compromise may remain, the intrusion happens before detection, raising concerns for anyone bringing devices into the country.China has also shifted its cyberattack strategy by outsourcing operations to private firms. These companies now discover and sell zero-day vulnerabilities to government agencies. This model, which evolved from loosely affiliated hacker groups, blurs the line between state and private enterprise, making attribution difficult. As a result, China-linked hackers increasingly infiltrate U.S. critical infrastructure while masking their origins, and exposure alone no longer seems to deter them.In response to national security concerns, Microsoft has removed China-based engineers from U.S. military cloud projects. A ProPublica investigation revealed their prior involvement, prompting a Pentagon ban on such support. Previously, Chinese engineers worked under U.S. supervision, a practice now deemed too risky for defense-related systems.Microsoft's SharePoint is also under siege. Chinese state actors exploited a critical flaw dubbed “ToolShell” to compromise at least 54 organizations, including those in critical infrastructure. The attack allowed for deep system access, extraction of encryption keys, and installation of web shells—despite prior patches. The incident stresses the need for rapid patching and vigilance, even on widely used enterprise platforms.Cyberwarfare is influencing real-world military dynamics. Ukrainian cyber operatives claim to have digitally crippled a major Russian drone manufacturer, deleting 47TB of production data and disabling access systems. Allegedly backed by military intelligence, the attack highlights how digital sabotage can directly disrupt military production and reshape conflict outcomes. Code is now as consequential as conventional weapons on the modern battlefield.

Do glazed earthenware vessels absorb, and if so, to what extent? Can they be kashered? Meriemar appears to issue contradictory rulings regarding this topic, particularly vessels that contained wine of idol worshippers versus the kashering of vessels for Pesach. How is this contradiction resolved? Rabbi Akiva was asked three questions, one of which pertained to clay jugs previously owned by non-Jews. Unable to provide answers on the spot, he went to the beit midrash, where he ultimately discovered the correct rulings. The jugs can be used after twelve months of not having been used for wine.  Grape seeds, grape peels, and fish stew (morayis) mentioned in the Mishna are discussed in detail, along with the halachic issues they raise. Different sages mention items that can be used after twelve months without undergoing any kashering process.  Why are cheeses from Onaiki forbidden? Reish Lakish proposes an explanation, but his answer is challenged based on a seemingly contradictory statement he made in a different context. The resolution of this difficulty involves a clarification of his original statement.  Feces from an ox that gored and was sentenced to be stoned are not forbidden, even though the ox itself is. However, feces from an animal that was used for idol worship are forbidden. The distinction between these two cases is clarified through logical reasoning and supported by verses from the Torah. Rava adds that our Mishna can also serve as a textual basis for these rulings.

Do glazed earthenware vessels absorb, and if so, to what extent? Can they be kashered? Meriemar appears to issue contradictory rulings regarding this topic, particularly vessels that contained wine of idol worshippers versus the kashering of vessels for Pesach. How is this contradiction resolved? Rabbi Akiva was asked three questions, one of which pertained to clay jugs previously owned by non-Jews. Unable to provide answers on the spot, he went to the beit midrash, where he ultimately discovered the correct rulings. The jugs can be used after twelve months of not having been used for wine.  Grape seeds, grape peels, and fish stew (morayis) mentioned in the Mishna are discussed in detail, along with the halachic issues they raise. Different sages mention items that can be used after twelve months without undergoing any kashering process.  Why are cheeses from Onaiki forbidden? Reish Lakish proposes an explanation, but his answer is challenged based on a seemingly contradictory statement he made in a different context. The resolution of this difficulty involves a clarification of his original statement.  Feces from an ox that gored and was sentenced to be stoned are not forbidden, even though the ox itself is. However, feces from an animal that was used for idol worship are forbidden. The distinction between these two cases is clarified through logical reasoning and supported by verses from the Torah. Rava adds that our Mishna can also serve as a textual basis for these rulings.

Today - A Sierra Vista couple says they’re stuck in place, caught between Arizona’s rent laws and a park policy they say is blocking the sale of their home. Read more: https://www.myheraldreview.com/news/sierravista/rent-hike-leaves-sv-couple-unable-to-sell-mobile-home/article_50d9704b-fa1c-433a-8283-87af516e6287.htmlSupport the show: https://www.myheraldreview.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emma Unson Rotor took leave from her job as a math teacher in the Philippines to study physics at Johns Hopkins University in 1941. Her plans were disrupted when the Imperial Japanese Army invaded and occupied the Philippines. Unable to access her Philippine government scholarship to attend Johns Hopkins, she joined the Ordnance Development Division at the National Bureau of Standards. It was here that she did groundbreaking research on the proximity fuze, the “world's first ‘smart' weapon,” in the words of physicist Frank Belknap Baldwin, who also helped develop the technology. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The breathtaking design of the heavens and the foundations of the earth point unmistakably to a Creator whose hands shaped it all—and whose presence gives meaning to our own existence.

In this first of two episodes on Sarah Updegraff Murray, I explore the profound lessons of courage I've learned from her remarkable example. Next episode, we'll hear directly from Sarah in an interview. Last spring, Sarah slipped on black ice, sustaining a spinal injury that led to paralysis. Here, I reflect on her inspiring embodiment of virtue: courage in action.We'll discuss Victor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning and a Marcus Aurelius quote about finding encouragement. I'll also share our connection through Nordic Choir at Luther College. Sarah's story is one of inspiration. Her Facebook page, Hope is a Strategy, could just as fittingly be called Hope is a Choice. Unable to change what happened, Sarah chose to respond with hope. Grateful that she shared her time with me. This was one of the best interviews that I have done on the RockneCast!

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 As the moments pass,  I find myself wound tight, Unsure of what's up or down.  Much needs my attention, My decisions, my time, To organize the chaos around.  PAUSE Walls start to cave, Surroundings turn dark, My mind can't take any more.  I find myself frozen, Unable to move, Twisted thoughts are at war.  PAUSE One more fork in the road, One more decision to make, Mental lists of pros and cons.  The weight is getting heavy, Because up ahead I know, Another fork awaits my response. 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,

In today's episode of the Atheist Experience, Secular Rarity and JMike dive into various arguments for belief, including personal, historical, and philosophical claims, challenging callers to define their terms and defend their positions against logical scrutiny and internal contradictions. They also explore the practical applications of critical thinking in constructing a secular moral framework.Marianne in NJ calls in to present personal experience, scientific, and historical evidence for Christianity, focusing on the Bible's supposed singular narrative written over 1500 years by 40 writers. The hosts challenge this idea with the Documentary Hypothesis, noting the Bible's internal contradictions, and quickly identify her reasoning as circular. They question the utility of her "Google this" approach and dismiss her car crash analogy as not representative of the Gospels' discrepancies. Why does the God of the Bible continue to be described as loving when his actions are anything but?Sam in AZ initially seeks to discuss scientific and historic arguments for God, but quickly pivots to advocating for a "general theism" and then the ontological argument. The hosts challenge the coherence of arguing for a God about whom nothing is known, using a "bare designer" analogy to highlight the lack of predictive power in such a vague concept. They press him to provide a specific version of the ontological argument, which he struggles to articulate clearly. What distinguishes a "general theism" from other unsubstantiated claims?  Unable to actually carry on an intelligent conversation, Sam resorts to racial and anti-lgbtq+ slurs before rage quitting, but thanks to the magic of editing, you won't hear the slurs! We did however leave in the hosts justified ridicule of this immature tactic.  You're welcome!Rich in CT questions the Council of Nicaea, believing it's where "the whole Jesus bullshit started" and wonders why it isn't discussed more. Hosts explain that while the Council does not inherently disprove Christianity, its historical context should invite skepticism. They note that many self-professed Christians are not knowledgeable on this history and recommend Bart Ehrman's work for deeper insight. Can historical skepticism lead to a more honest understanding of religious origins?Watcher in PA presents life, love, and goodness as evidence for God. Focusing on "God is love" from 1 Corinthians 13:4, the hosts construct a modus tollens argument, contrasting this definition of love with God's actions in the Bible, such as commanding the slaughter of innocent infants. They highlight the special pleading involved in Watcher's justification of such acts as "judgment," challenging him to admit the contradiction inherent in his definition of love. Does the Bible's portrayal of God align with any consistent definition of love?Lord in CA introduces his secular moral framework called "compression logic," which aims to ethically remove contradictions from systems by focusing on reducing suffering, recognizing all variables, preserving existence, and allowing mobility. The hosts question the foundational basis for these four moral pillars, discussing the long-standing debate between moral realism and anti-realism. They also push for a more precise definition of "collapse" in his framework, differentiating between tangible and conceptual failures, and suggest exploring the works of Immanuel Kant and constructivism. Can a moral framework truly avoid collapse if its foundational principles are not universally accepted or clearly defined?Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-atheist-experience--3254896/support.

In 1999, Swedish medical student, Anna Bågenholm, was skiing in Norway with friends when she fell through a frozen stream and became trapped under a thick layer of ice. Unable to free herself, and forced to wait for rescue, her body temperature quickly fell to 13.7°C (56.7°F) and she fell unconscious. 80 minutes later, Bågenholm was brought to the surface by rescuers, clinically dead. But that is not the end of Anna's story... Sources: -Aftonbladet- Her temp was down to 13.8 degrees -Swedish-Norwegian co-operation in the treatment of three hypothermia victims: A case report, Scandinavian Journal of Trauma Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine - Tjugofyra7, Clinically dead but Anna survived – My story can help others -Another Day: Cheating Death To advertise on this podcast please email: ad-sales@libsyn.com    Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/Marooned 

Police Confirm BigfootIn July 2010, a city police officer in Spencer County, Indiana, experienced an unsettling encounter while staying alone at a friend's house on a large, forested property. Late at night, while unpacking on his day off, he felt an eerie sense of being watched. Dismissing it initially, he continued his tasks with his sidearm on. However, the situation escalated when a rock struck the front window, prompting him to grab his shotgun and step onto the porch, suspecting trespassers. There, he spotted a large silhouette at the tree line, roughly 40 yards away, standing nearly eye-level with him despite the elevated porch. As a seasoned officer, he was accustomed to high-pressure situations, but this figure left him frozen and unnerved.The encounter lasted only seconds, with the figure snorting loudly before retreating into the woods, its departure marked by the sound of breaking branches. The officer felt no direct threat and chose not to aim his weapon, sensing the figure's curiosity rather than hostility. Unable to sleep, he later drove to his station and met a county deputy who casually mentioned reports of a large figure in a ghillie suit in the area, referring to it as a recurring presence. The officer learned of similar sightings nearby, including reports four and six miles from his location, suggesting the mysterious figure was known in the region, possibly a local legend or unexplained phenomenon.Join my Supporters Club for $4.99 per month for exclusive stories:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-if-it-s-true-podcast--5445587/support

Dennis Jurgens was a chubby, joyful, and active toddler when Harold and Lois Jurgens adopted him in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Unable to have children of their own, Lois and Harold adopted several children over the years. Dennis wasn't their first or last. From the very beginning, case workers from the adoption agency had their […] The post The Terrible & Totally Preventable Death of Dennis Jurgens appeared first on Tiegrabber.

 Former barrister turned philosopher and writer, Aedamar Kirrane experienced a spontaneous mystical awakening that began in 2015 and continues to unfold. Unable to find any support or understanding within her own Christian tradition she embarked on a deep enquiry to understand the inner dynamics and telos of awakening. She came to believe in life as an original blessing rather than the doctrine of original sin that she thinks has destroyed our sense of ourselves as sacred beings. Her spiritual autobiography is Light on Fire: Waking Up to Divine Love, published 2021. Through ongoing reflection and curiosity she has developed her own threefold mystical cosmology that understands creation in the pattern of exodus and return; that recognises all of life as sacred, described through the concept of panentheism; and that the purpose of human life is deification or the return to our divine state while still in human form. All this is set within the context of the Great Awakening we are living through now, of which the human experience is a micro version. She has come to recognise that spontaneity is characteristic of the human experience of an evolutionary shift in consciousness. Aedamar's awakening is mediated through her mystical and spiritual writing and she recognises sacred writing as its own spiritual path that she calls The Via Scriptoria. Aedamar's visions are published on aedamarkirrane.com. She blogs at The New Scriptorium. Aedamar will be opening a wisdom school called "The Mystical Birth of the True Self" in September. It will be a nine month programme to support awakening to our inner divinity. If you would like to be notified when it is formally announced please visit her website to sign up for her newsletter or sign up here. Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group Interview recorded June 21, 2025

"It was terrifying. The effect was paralysis. I was fully conscious, in pain, but unable to move, speak, or see. I could not even open my eyelids. The only one I could truly communicate with was God." ---------- What if the only thing you could do was feel pain—and hear? That became Robert Koonce's reality after an autoimmune attack left him completely paralyzed. He couldn't move, speak, blink, or even clear his throat. All he could do was endure—and pray. In this episode, Robert, a man of deep faith, working within the Diocese of Cleveland, recounts his yearlong journey through suffering, silence, and supernatural encounters. Unable to interact with the world, his only true conversation was with God—and that dialogue went deeper than ever before. From spiritual consolation to demonic deception, Robert's story reminds us that even when the body is bound, the soul is free to rise. ---------- Share Your Story If you have a Touched by Heaven moment that you would like to share with Trapper, please leave us a note at https://touchedbyheaven.net/contact Our listeners look forward to hearing about life-changing encounters and miraculous stories every week. Stay Informed Trapper sends out a weekly email. If you're not receiving it, and would like to stay in touch to get the bonus stories and other interesting content that will further fortify your faith. Join our email family by subscribing on https://trapperjackspeaks.com  Become a Patron We pray that our listeners and followers benefit from our podcasts and programs and develop a deeper personal relationship with God. We thank you for your prayers and for supporting our efforts by helping to cover the costs. Become a Patron and getting lots of fun extras. Please go to https://patreon.com/bfl to check out the details. More About Trapper Jack Visit Our Website: https://TrapperJackSpeaks.com Patreon Donation Link: https://www.patreon.com/bfl Purchase our Products ·       Talk Downloads: https://www.patreon.com/bfl/shop ·       CD Sales: https://trapperjackspeaks.com/cds/  Join us on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TouchedByHeaven.TrapperJack Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trapperjack/ Join us on X/Twitter: https://x.com/TrapperJack1  

The witness described a man in his 20s, just shy of six feet tall, with a gaunt face and light-coloured hair. Though uneasy, the passerby—out for a quiet walk along the River Aire—was quickly reassured. The man, standing over a pale woman crumpled in the grass, said she had simply fallen. The man offered his name and explained that he knew where the woman lived. Perhaps out of politeness and a desire not to pry, the witness continued on her journey. Unable to shake the feeling that something was not right, she raised the alarm. However, by then it was too late…*** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED *** This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane.Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions.Script editing, additional writing, illustrations and production direction by Rosanna FittonNarration, additional audio editing and mixing, and script editing by Benjamin Fitton.To get early ad-free access, including Season 1, sign up for They Walk Among PLUS, available from Patreon or Apple Podcasts.More information and episode references can be found on our website https://theywalkamonguspodcast.comMUSIC: Violent Delights by Cody Martin Creeper by Hill Memories Of Future Events by Hill Against The Odds by Cody Martin Artisan Craft by Cody Martin Dark Night by Cody Martin Final Moments by Cody Martin Loaves & Fish by Cody Martin Realm Of Men by Cody Martin Sabotage by Cody Martin Storms Coming by Cody Martin Tesseract by Cody Martin The Fall by Cody Martin The Arctic by Gold Coast Undernight by Lincoln Davis Endless Night by Moments Steadfast by Moments Reconciliation by Wicked Cinema SOCIAL MEDIA: https://linktr.ee/TheyWalkAmongUsSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/theywalkamongus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.