Podcasts about undeterred

H.W. Brands describes how the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, fundamentally changed the nature of the conflict, which Lindbergh privately characterized as Roosevelt getting the country "in through the back door." While Roosevelt was surprised by the location of the attack, he had been pressuring Japan through ultimatums regarding their presence in China and Indonesia. Hitler, believing Roosevelt was already "itching for a cause of war," did the president a "favor" by declaring war on the United States 72 hours later, merging two separate conflicts into World War II. Once the U.S. was officially at war, Lindbergh attempted to fulfill his duty as a loyal citizen by volunteering for the Army Air Corps. Roosevelt personally blocked the request, unwilling to let his chief critic become a military hero, while his administration continued to smear Lindbergh as a "Nazi sympathizer" unfit for command. Undeterred, Lindbergh signed on with aircraft manufacturers as a consultant and surreptitiously traveled to the Pacific theater. There, he not only tested planes but also flew combat missions against the Japanese, providing his skills to his country despite being officially barred from service. Lindbergh lived until 1974, eventually dying in Hawaii, leaving behind a legacy as a man whose technical brilliance was overshadowed by a bitter and historic debate over America's role in the world. (8)19441936

Have you ever been told you aren't good enough to do something, then gone ahead and proved the naysayers wrong by doing it anyway - in glorious, headline-grabbing style? That is the satisfying story of Dr Dean Lomax. Dean grew up in Doncaster with a passion for fossils but after failing various school exams, was told by teachers that he'd never make it as a palaeontologist. Undeterred by leaving school with no qualifications, Dean sold his childhood Star Wars collection to fund a fossil-hunting trip to America that changed his life - after which a chance discovery led to him publishing his first ever scientific paper at the age of just 20. Today, he's an expert on ichthyosaurs - the massive marine reptiles that once inhabited our seas - and has discovered and named several new species, written books for both adults and children, and brought the prehistoric world to life on TV. Talking to Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Dean discusses dinosaurs as a 'gateway science', discovering the Rutland Sea Dragon and the importance of cutting out noise from nay-sayers to follow your dreams...

    Last we left off, the Tempests were heading North towards Rokasing, the Frozen North. It's where the enemy seemed to be operating, and it's where their old friend GE-MINI had been moved to after supposedly being rescued by Brick, though she was severely damaged. The party stuck to the roads, deciding that it would be easier, if not longer, than try to cut through the forest with a giant mobile cart-home..     Their first stop would be Crossroads, a small junction town they'd passed through previously before heading North West. Unfortunately, they arrived in the early hours of nightfall and the gates were already closed. Undeterred, Kasumi decided to grab Zaan, their most 'diplomatic' party member, to see about getting the guards to open the gates for them.     Without pre-amble, Zaan leapt up onto the walls and asked if the gate could be lowered, then was immediately arrested. Kasumi was a tad bit too late to stop these events, and was turned away despite flailing around Sir Reginald's insignia and letter. The gates were to remained closed through the night on the Duchess' orders. Zaan would have to spend the night in jail.     Come the morning, the Tempests waltzed right in to Crossroads and went about freeing their companion from confinement. Zaan however, rushed out in his eagerness to be free after paying the fine and nearly scarpered off with his manacles still around his wrists.     We rejoin the Tempests now as they regroup just outside the jail in Crossroads and come to the realization that their forward scout, Bogbo, was missing.   We have merch! Shirts, Candles, Buttons, Stickers, and other things are for sale on our Etsy page at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/foolsandflagons    A huge shoutout to Nick Black who made our intro jingle. Go show some love to @NickBlackMusic and his Banana Army at https://www.twitch.tv/nickblackmusic and let him know we sent you! You can check out his music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2JJiUnuFWy9200nltASksL?si=LIy7N---SX24Z0ktRQbUsQ If you'd like to join the community to chat with the Fools and other D&D aficionados, considering joining our discord! https://discord.gg/BjNJX5CzJj If you like what we do and would like to support us, consider donating to our Ko-Fi page at https://www.ko-fi.com/foolsandflagons You can catch us live every other Friday on Twitch at: https://www.twitch.tv/foolsnflagons/ If you'd like to see our past adventures, you can check out the VODs on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/c/FoolsNFlagons  

When a practical American family purchases the ancient Canterville Chase in England, they receive a grave warning: the historic mansion is haunted by a restless noble ghost who has terrified residents for centuries. Undeterred by superstition, the lively Otis family moves in, bringing modern ideas, humor, and fearlessness into a world steeped in tradition. What follows is a delightful clash of cultures, hilarious hauntings, and an unexpected journey toward compassion and peace in this witty Oscar Wilde classic. Read by Steve Rimmer.

When Nila Ibrahimi posted a video of herself online, singing proudly in protest of the ban on girls over 12 singing in public, she hoped the music would inspire young girls to continue their education. It was 2021 and the Taliban’s return to Afghanistan had come down swiftly on women's freedom. The video went viral and the ban was reversed, sending a powerful message across social media – women of Afghanistan would not be erased from public life. The Taliban would, however, go on to prohibit female education and Nila and her family would have to flee her homeland. Undeterred, Nila continues to advocate for Afghan girls from Canada.Listen in to winner of the 2024 International Children’s Peace Prize Nila Ibrahimi in her first ever visit to Australia. In conversation with UNSW’s Verity Firth, they’ll unpack how peaceful grassroots activism can empower people of all ages to challenge authority and the importance of a right to education.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Read OnlineAs Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Mark 10:46–48Though the Torah commanded kindness and justice toward the blind, they were often treated poorly by the wider community. Unable to work or provide for themselves, the blind were typically reduced to begging. They also bore the stigma of being seen as suffering God's judgment, whether for their own sins or the sins of their parents. While today's story about Bartimaeus vividly illustrates the pitiful social and economic position of the blind at that time, it even more powerfully presents him as an ideal model to imitate.First, we should humbly see ourselves in Bartimaeus. On a spiritual level, we are all blind and in need of God's mercy. Like Bartimaeus, we must identify as people who are poor, ostracized, and incapable of seeing all that God wants to reveal to us. Pride gives us a false sense of who we are and blinds us to the truth of our spiritual poverty. Humility, on the other hand, opens the eyes of faith, enabling us to recognize our need for God's mercy and His healing grace so that we may see and understand life as He wishes to reveal it.Bartimaeus is not only a model of the humility we need; he is also a model of faith and prayer. In his humility, as soon as he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he cried out in a twofold way. First, he called Jesus the “Son of David.” This was a profession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah. “Son of David” was a messianic title rooted in Nathan's prophecy, in which God promised King David that his descendant would establish an everlasting kingdom (cf. 2 Samuel 7:12–16). By calling Jesus the “Son of David,” Bartimaeus professed his belief that Jesus was the fulfillment of that prophecy.With his profession of faith, Bartimaeus also prayed the ideal prayer: “Have pity on me.” The word “pity” is a translation of the Greek eleison, which is also rendered as “have mercy.” For example, at Mass, we pray in Greek, “Kyrie eleison,” or “Lord, have mercy.” This prayer is ideal because every gift from God is an act of mercy. We do not earn or deserve His grace; it is a freely bestowed gift, and our prayer should reflect this profound truth.As Bartimaeus prayed, many people told him to be silent. Despite their rebukes, Bartimaeus intensified his prayer, “calling out all the more.” This persistence serves as another model for the ideals of prayer. The “many” who rebuked him and tried to silence him symbolize the numerous obstacles we face in our pursuit of God's mercy.Though the greatest obstacles we face are our own sins, which discourage us from approaching God in prayer, we also encounter challenges in the form of temptations. These temptations, like the “many” who sought to silence Bartimaeus, try to lead us away from prayer. They urge us to give up, doubt God's care for us, or remain complacent in our spiritual lives. Bartimaeus' response—to pray even louder and more fervently—teaches us the importance of perseverance in prayer, even in the face of discouragement or opposition.Reflect today on this poor blind man, Bartimaeus, sitting on the roadside. With him, profess your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and cry out for mercy. When sin hinders you, have the courage to admit it, confess it, and plead for forgiveness. When temptations try to silence you, resist them and cry out all the louder. In the end, Jesus called Bartimaeus to Himself and healed him. Jesus desires to do the same for us. He will, if we humbly identify with Bartimaeus, see ourselves in his condition, and imitate his unwavering faith and persistent prayer.Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! With Bartimaeus, I profess my belief in You as the Messiah, the Savior of the world. With him, I also plead for Your mercy in my life and in the world around me. You alone are the source of all grace and mercy, and though I am unworthy, You freely bestow it upon the humble. Lord, I want to see. Open the eyes of my heart and grant me the reward of Your mercy. Jesus, I trust in You.Image via Adobe StockSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Have you ever been told you aren't good enough to do something, then gone ahead and proved the naysayers wrong by doing it anyway - in glorious, headline-grabbing style? That is the satisfying story of Dr Dean Lomax. Dean grew up in Doncaster with a passion for fossils but after failing various school exams, was told by teachers that he'd never make it as a palaeontologist. Undeterred by leaving school with no qualifications, Dean sold his childhood Star Wars collection to fund a fossil-hunting trip to America that changed his life - after which a chance discovery led to him publishing his first ever scientific paper at the age of just 20. Today, he's an expert on ichthyosaurs - the massive marine reptiles that once inhabited our seas - and has discovered and named several new species, written books for both adults and children, and brought the prehistoric world to life on TV. Talking to Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Dean discusses dinosaurs as a 'gateway science', discovering the Rutland Sea Dragon and the importance of cutting out noise from nay-sayers to follow your dreams...Presented by Jim Al-Khalili Produced by Lucy Taylor A BBC Studios production

A psychological thriller inspired by real events revealing the treachery of a ruthless stalker, the alarming failure of the legal system and the unthinkable battle a daughter must face to protect her family.___________________________________________________________________________________________Dawn Smith, a vet tech living in rural South Carolina, catches her boyfriend in a series of lies and abruptly ends the relationship. Rather than accepting the break-up, he begins to stalk and harass her, forcing Dawn to seek a restraining order. Undeterred, he launches a deeply personal attack—suing for guardianship and conservatorship of Dawn's infirm mother. In court, he manipulates the truth using evidence that he planted while the couple were still dating. And just when Dawn thinks things can't get any worse, she is faced with an impossible choice: rekindle the relationship or lose her mother forever.Readers also enjoyed Liz's other books with these themes:Free of Malice (self-protection, racial tension)Plea for Justice (self/body-image, literacy)Shades of Silence (grief, sex trafficking)Complimentary excerpts at: www.lizlazarus.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/houseofmysteryradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previously on Saga of the Jewels…The life of seventeen-year-old RYN, bookish son of a wealthy landowner, changes forever when his hometown is destroyed by the EMPIRE and everyone he has ever known is killed. Ryn discovers that the Empire are seeking TWELVE PRIMEVAL JEWELS which grant the power to manipulate different elements, and that his father had been hiding the FIRE RUBY. He sets out to take revenge on the Imperial General who killed his family and retrieve the Fire Ruby, and along the way meets NUTHEA the lightning-slinging princess, SAGAR the swaggering skypirate, ELRANN the tomboy engineer, CID the wizened old healer, and VISH the poppy-seed-addicted bounty hunter. Together the companions decide to find all of the Jewels in order to stop the EMPEROR from finding them first and taking over the world. They have thus far succeeded in retrieving the Fire Ruby, borne by Ryn, and the Lightning Crystal, borne by Nuthea. They have now come to the land of FARR where they intend to compete in a hand-to-hand fighting tournament in order to attempt to win its prize, the EARTH EMERALD. However, the Farrian fighting-monk, HULD, has also entered, and has progressed to the quarter finals too…EPISODE FORTY-ONE: THE TOURNAMENT: QUARTER FINAL FOUR: HULD OF FARR VS. QENDRA OF FRIKIAThe brown-stone arena tiles warmed Huld's bare feet.The tiles had been baking in the sun all day, which was still bright and hot this afternoon, though strangely a clump of dark clouds had formed in one corner of the sky.It's not time for the rainy-season to arrive yet, is it? No, of course not.He dismissed the thought.Underneath the mostly-clear sky, thousands of his fellow Farrians stood watching around Tenkachi's arena, so many that he couldn't see beyond them.Boys with toothy, eager smiles plastered on their faces. Men with stony-serious frowns and folded arms, unmoving as boulders. Girls staring keenly, biting their nails or with both hands clasped together in front of their mouths like they were praying. Women murmuring silently or anxiously hopping from foot to foot. Wriggling babes in arms. Statuesque elderly. And all the ages in between.I must not let them down.All of the native Farrians who had competed in the Tournament's Quarter Finals thus far had lost. Although, to be fair, one had been a woman, which was Not Correct, and one had been a dishonourable exhibitionist fool–not a soldier-monk trained in one of the religious fighting-schools of Eto like Huld had been, but a sacrilegious free agent who made money out of his fighting.And, also to be fair, none of those losses mattered that much, anyway. This was Huld's tournament to win. That he won his matches, and won the whole thing, and won the prize for Farr, was all that really mattered.Huld needed to win this tournament, not only to claim the Earth Emerald, but also for the honour of his country–to show that the Farrians were the strongest, the greatest, the supreme people of Mid.That was what the Governor had told him, and what he knew to be true.“Are you ready?”Huld came back to the present with a jolt. The tournament announcer had asked him a question from where he stood at the side of the arena. The monk was vaguely aware that the announcer had asked him this question once already, but he had been lost for a moment in a rare drifting of focus.He looked over at his opponent standing opposite him.A tall, dark-skinned Frikian woman with a curiously shaved head, except for an asymmetric fringe of jet-black hair that on one side curved around to her left ear and on the other came down over her right eye. She wore a garment made of the skin of some spotted animal, which clung to her slim body, tied at the waist with a rope belt, leaving her smooth arms and legs bare. She winked at him.Another woman. Most strange. What were these tournaments coming to, that two women had made it into the Quarter Finals? And this one was not even a fellow Farrian, but a filthy foreigner as well! It was practically an insult for him to even have to fight her.Huld nodded. “I am ready,” he said levelly.“Alright…” said the announcer. “Then……BEGIN!”Huld dropped his weight into chocobo stance, bending his knees and resting his fists at his hips, taking a defensive poise to see how the Frikian would open.The Frikian did nothing at all. She just stood there watching him, a wry little smile creeping out from behind the overhanging half of her fringe.Then, slowly, deliberately, exaggerating the movements painstakingly, she lowered herself into chocobo stance too, still smiling.A muscle in Huld's jaw twitched. Does she mean to mock me? She can't know the Farrian arts. No master would allow a Frikian to train with him, let alone a woman… She must be copying me…Carefully, gaze still trained on the woman, Huld extended his fingers and pinched them together against his thumbs, putting a foot forward and bringing his hands up in front of him, one close to his chest, the other stretched further out. Crane stance. An investigative stance.In front of him, the woman did exactly the same, mirroring his movements exactly.Huld kept the irritation out of his expression. So she was copying him. Well, that was having some success in baiting him, he reluctantly acknowledged, but it would only get her so far. She couldn't mirror his every move. Not in the heat of battle.But then why is she still smiling?He took a step forwards, towards her, and the woman stepped forwards too.He took a few more steps, and the woman matched him exactly, the gap between them closing by degrees, about eight paces now.He took another step, but this time he walked diagonally right, no longer approaching her head-on but moving to one side, to flank her.This time the woman moved to her own diagonal right, Huld's left, keeping her mirror image of his movements so that the size of the gap between them stayed the same.Huld continued to strafe to his right, and Qendra of Frikia did the same, so that they circled one another across the stone tiles of the arena.As they did, Huld watched her lithe, toned limbs closely, looking for some opening or sign of weakness.The thing was, Huld noticed with a start that nearly made him misstep, the woman's stance was perfect. She wasn't just poorly copying his thousands-of-times-practiced poses and positions on the spot, apparently. Her arms were held out at precisely the right lengths, her legs moving in precisely the right sequence, her torso tensed in precisely the right way, for crane stance.Maybe she has been trained by a Farrian?But if she had, why mess around with this mirroring game? Why not open with a distinctive attack of her own, or put up a more conventional defence and let him come to her instead? It was like she was playing a game of Check where she had decided just to mimic his every move.Enough contemplation, Huld thought. It's time to put an end to this stage-play.He kicked off from the arena floor, launching himself at the Frikian with a crane-fisted strike from left to right aimed to hit the side of her head with the back of his hand.In the same instant, the Frikian sprang towards him with her own identical strike……then at the last moment dropped her body, ducking under Huld's blow. As he moved past her, she lashed out and up with her knee, catching him in the stomach. Huld doubled up, the wind knocked out of him, gasping at the sudden pain.The Frikian drew her leg back, then flicked it around her off-side in a vicious roundhouse aimed at Huld's face.He ducked the kick, thrust his legs back to press himself flat against the arena floor, then rolled away rapidly, spinning over several times before coming up into dragon stance, one fist held back, one up in front of him with two bent fingers.Opposite him, the Frikian already stood in exactly the same stance a few paces away.“What game are you playing?!” Huld yelled at her, ignoring the calls of the crowd, angry at what the Frikian woman was doing, angry that she had landed the first blow, angry that she had broken his composure–already. “How are you mirroring my movements so perfectly?”That irritating smile still mocked him. Her lips were cherry-red.“Well,” said the Frikian in a disturbingly confident and sensual voice, “that would be telling, wouldn't it now?”Huld moved forwards in dragon stance. The woman did the same. Dragon stance, at least, Huld knew had been exported from Farr by some travelling masters who had prostituted themselves by selling ancient fighting techniques to filthy foreigners. He had seen the fireboy use it earlier in his short-lived match against that Morekemian. But it wasn't just that the Frikian used dragon stance—she was still mirroring his every movement with complete precision.This time when he got close to her, he feinted with the beginning of a simple front-kick, then quickly brought his foot back down and flung out his left hand in a thrusting punch instead.The Frikian copied him exactly, right down to the feint, and flung out the start of the same punch, but then turned it into a feint of her own, suddenly slipping beneath his strike, spinning as she did so in order to throw out a fast-moving low sweep kick.This time Huld was ready for it. He jumped the sweep, then came down with a palm-thrust. The woman backed away, quick as a snake, then dodged his follow-up punch, and the one after that as well.She flipped backwards heels-over-head, and Huld thought he had her on the run, but as she turned over in the air her foot flashed out and caught him in the face.He staggered backwards, blinking away his surprise, then blocked every strike of her subsequent assault with his hands. She had underestimated his reaction speed.He made to grab her arm, missed, but when she pulled away in alarm he stepped up and followed through with an almighty punch from his other hand, hitting her square in the stomach.The Frikian grunted as she stumbled back across the arena. She landed on her back but managed to turn her momentum into another flip which got her on her feet again at once, where she adopted a stance Huld had not seen before–a low crouch with two arms outstretched to either side of her, pointed fingers and thumbs at the end of flat palms.“So you do have more than mirroring to you!” Huld called over the noise of the crowd. He was sure they were cheering for him.“Much more,” said the Frikian. Infuriatingly she was still smiling. “But ‘mirroring' seems to be serving me well enough.”No wonder this woman made it to the Quarter Final, he thought as he watched her crouched there, himself crouching and lowering his arms into monkey stance. On top of her mirroring trick, she is astoundingly fast, and deceptively strong. In terms of fighting skill, the two of them might even be evenly matched! He did not know how that was possible, but somehow it was. He had not thought a Frikian could be this skilled at fighting, let alone a woman.He would have to use a trick of his own in order to win.No, not a trick, a skill, he corrected himself.A skill he had earned.Huld broke his stance and ran straight at the woman. Predictably, she did the same, coming right at him.He thrust forwards with a straight punch, and the woman mirrored him, but then at the last moment caught his hand and jumped, pushing herself off of it in order to flip into the air again. Her feet came around in a circle behind her and back down towards Huld's head as she turned over, but he got his hands up and blocked the kicks, which glanced off them.The woman hit the ground in front of him with a wobble, almost losing her footing, and Huld saw his chance.He stepped forwards with another punch, moving just a fraction slower than normal.At the same time, he willed a section of stone tile just behind the woman to rise quickly to form of a small pillar, up and slightly at an angle.To Huld's great satisfaction, the woman stepped backwards out of the way of his just-a-bit-too-slow punch…and straight into the path of his earth attack.The rising pillar of stone smashed up into her, now making her lose her feet completely, connecting with her back with a dull thwack. It carried her along through the air for a moment, then, as Huld stepped out of the way and willed the stone to stop rising, the woman was thrown from it with an enraged grunt of shock.She tumbled in an arc through the air, flailing her arms and legs around desperately, then managed to turn her descent into a graceful dive, tucking her limbs into her body and trying to steer her descent.But it was no use. Huld's earth attack had taken her completely by surprise, and hit her too hard, and she came down several rows back in the audience, who yelped and hollered when she landed among them, throwing up their hands and scrambling to get out of the way.“Out of bounds!” cried the tournament announcer immediately from the side of the arena. “Huld of Farr is the victor!”The cheer went up, the loudest Huld had heard so far that day–a wall of noise that fenced him in.He exhaled relief, and looked over at his Lord Governor, sitting in his viewing box above the arena.The Governor was applauding like the rest of the audience, but he was not cheering. Instead, he sat close-mouthed, his stare intense.Huld nodded to him, tilting his head just a fraction. The Governor nodded back, just barely perceptibly.The monk became aware that the crowd were doing more than just cheering for him–they were chattering frantically about something.“How did he do that?” he heard someone say nearby.“More sorcery!” said someone else.“Is he allowed to do that too?”Huld realised that he had left the angled stone pillar he had made from the arena floor with his earth manipulation still standing.Ah. That was right. They had all seen him perform the earth attack with their own eyes, right in front of them. The chocobo was truly out of the stable now.Meanwhile, the Frikian woman had made her way back through the audience and was climbing over the wooden perimeter. She walked back into the arena, still smiling, and extended her hand to him.“Good match,” she said, for his ears alone.Normally Huld would not have condescended to clasp her arm, an unhygienic foreigners' custom, especially when bowing would have sufficed just as well, but to his own surprise he found that today he was happy to reciprocate the gesture. She had, after all, indeed given him a good match. An unexpectedly good match.“How did you do that trick with the floor?” the woman whispered to him as he clasped her arm.“How did you do that trick with mirroring my movements?” Huld countered, breaking the arm-clasp.The woman shrugged a shoulder. “Fair enough,” she intoned, her eyes gleaming a disconcerting milky white in the sunshine. “You keep your secrets, and I will keep mine.”Huld frowned. He couldn't admit it out loud, but he was deeply unsettled by this woman. She had nearly given him the fight of his life. A filthy foreigner had nearly given him the fight of his life! If he hadn't resorted to using that earth manipulation technique, the match could have gone either way. Now, how to explain that to everyone else?A collective gasp issued from the crowd, and Huld looked round.The Governor had left his viewing box and was walking onto arena.Now Huld did bow, low and long, before looking up again.The Governor strode over to Huld and the Frikian and held up his hands for silence from the crowd.Hush fell immediately.“People of Farr!” boomed the Governor. “People of the greatest nation of Mid! Your eyes are not deceiving you! What you have witnessed here today is a display of earthmoving!”The audience gasped again.“It has been made possible,” the Governor continued, “because one of our fighting monks recently retrieved the fabled Earth Emerald from its resting place in the Shrine to Eto! This is the same Emerald whose power was once used to build our mighty capital city of Shun Pei!”Chatter broke out over the audience like the after-tremors of an earthquake.“Did he really just say that?”“The mythical jewel–could it really be?”“I thought it had been lost!”Undeterred by the chatter, the Governor carried on loud and clear, and the crowd fell to listening again: “In view of this being revealed by our champion earthmover, Brother Huld, I am pleased to disclose that the prize for the winner of this Tournament will not only be one million gold pieces from Shun Pei's Treasury, but the gift of the Earth Emerald itself! The Tournament Winner can claim it for whatever nation they represent!”Yet more astonished gasps broke out across the crowd, chased by chatter.Huld's palms began to sweat as he watched the onlookers heatedly discussing this news. The pressure was really on now. It had already been on, given he was now the only Farrian left in the tournament, and the only one who had been personally entered into it by the Governor himself, but now the whole country would know that he was fighting for the Emerald. He was fighting for his people's honour. He must not let them, or his Lord Governor, down. He must not fail them.The Governor held up his hands again, and got the quiet he wanted instantly. “Furthermore,” he bellowed, “I have a second important announcement! It would appear, my fellow Farrians, that an unusually early rainy season is upon us!” He gestured up towards the sky, at the growing contingent of dark grey clouds that were gathering, blowing in from somewhere east. “Therefore, to avoid the Tournament being called off, I am exercising my Governing authority to decree that this Tournament will conclude today, so as to beat the rain! On with the Semi-Finals!”Huld's eyes went wide. The crowd erupted, shouting its approval. They were thirsty for more fighting.“Lord Governor,” Huld said quietly as he walked with the Governor and Qendra back towards the arena dugout, “are you sure you want to do that? There might be some wisdom in postponing the tourn–”“Do not presume to question me, Huld,” the Governor chastised him equally quietly, “especially in public. You forget your place.”Huld blanched. He had forgotten his place, momentarily–but the announcement had been so unexpected, and he was tired from his fight with the Frikian…“You can see those clouds,” the Governor continued, flicking his head upwards. “It is going to pour soon. The rainy-season seems to have come upon us unusually early this year. Our people will not want to stand and watch the fighting in the rain–they will leave, and travel home. But the Tournament is good for the economy, and for national morale. Best to get it over with today and to show those foreigners our supremacy as quickly as possible. That will send a message to the rest of Mid that Farr is not to be challenged. Can you do that for me, Huld?”“Yes, Lord Governor,” said Huld.“Good. Of course you can.” They had reached the tunnel to the dugout, and the Governor came down into it with them. “Now, listen to me. The Jewel-touched foreigners have a healer among them. I have made an arrangement with him. He will heal you now so that you are ready to fight straight away at full capacity in your next bout. You are to win it, and the Grand Final, using your earth powers, putting on a fine display just as we practiced, to show that Farr is supreme over all the other nations. Do you understand?”“Yes, Lord Governor,” Huld said aloud.But in his heart, as he watched the Frikian woman go ahead of him to gather up her things, he thought, But are we really supreme over all the other nations? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sagaofthejewels.substack.com

    Last we left off, the Tempests were moving through the West on their journey North and came across a ghost town. Perhaps a week or more prior, the denizens had left the town unguarded and unmanned, taking what they needed and left the rest behind. Undeterred, the Tempests continued on towards the pass through the mountain.     Approaching the pass, the original members of the Tempests noticed something a bit different compared to the last time they came through. Barricades, trenches, and other defensives lines had been erected. Curious about this change, Lakin took Zaan and Pez skyward to investigate. The soldiers let loose a volley of arrows towards the flying group and struck Lakin in the shoulder, which infuriated the Orc. However, Zaan was able to diffuse the situation and the leader of the soldiers was called out to handle things. Sir Reginald greeted the Tempests, recalling their last visit through the pass and quickly explained their situation. Many of his Harpermere soldiers had abandoned their post in lieu of returning to their homeland, but the Welterwatch men stayed behind to defend the pass and assure that nothing heinous came through. Magic had dwindled or faded entirely and many assaults by members of the Transcendent Maw had harried their position in the past, so seeing people flying immediately put the men on the defense. And the best defense is a good offense.     With tempers quelled and Lakin... somewhat.. subdued, we rejoin the Tempests now as Sir Reginald escorts the Tempests to the Dragonshade Camp where Zaan and Moriko could help heal the wounded men and perhaps learn more about what was happening on the continent of Drago.   We have merch! Shirts, Candles, Buttons, Stickers, and other things are for sale on our Etsy page at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/foolsandflagons    A huge shoutout to Nick Black who made our intro jingle. Go show some love to @NickBlackMusic and his Banana Army at https://www.twitch.tv/nickblackmusic and let him know we sent you! You can check out his music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2JJiUnuFWy9200nltASksL?si=LIy7N---SX24Z0ktRQbUsQ If you'd like to join the community to chat with the Fools and other D&D aficionados, considering joining our discord! https://discord.gg/BjNJX5CzJj If you like what we do and would like to support us, consider donating to our Ko-Fi page at https://www.ko-fi.com/foolsandflagons You can catch us live every other Friday on Twitch at: https://www.twitch.tv/foolsnflagons/ If you'd like to see our past adventures, you can check out the VODs on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/c/FoolsNFlagons  

LeAnne's financial journey once felt steady: minimal debt and retirement savings on track. But a decision to return to school, combined with unexpected job loss, quickly shifted her footing. Retirement savings were depleted, and credit card and student loan balances began to climb, bringing mounting stress that affected both her mental and physical health.  Undeterred, she explored resources and eventually found her way to GreenPath.  Five years later, she eliminated her credit card debt. While she still has work ahead of her to tackle her student debt and replenish her retirement savings, LeAnne is proud of what she has accomplished so far and eager to continue climbing towards a brighter financial future.    Key Moments 2:29  LeAnne talks about her experience with money growing up.  3:49  She talks about debt accumulation after she decided to attend school for graphic design and subsequently lost her job.  10:38  She speaks to the effect that her debt had on her mental and physical health.  11:49  She considers options for addressing her debt and eventually finds GreenPath.  13:25  She discusses her experience talking to GreenPath.  17:57  LeAnne reflects on the changes she made to her spending plan to ensure she could pay off her debt.  21:12  She celebrates the completion of her program.  21:59  Her student loans are still a source of stress.  24:40  She shares her inspiration for sharing her story.  32:16  Our cohosts reflect on the themes from LeAnne's story.  GreenPath Financial Service GreenPath, A Financial Resource If you're interested in building healthy financial habits, paying down debt, or saving for what matters most, take a look at these free financial tools. Free Resources Free Resources

Ali Rezaei Majd — is the fearless Iranian fitness giant who stared down the IRGC regime and ignited a firestorm.A towering, tattooed former gym owner from the warrior province of Lorestan, Ali had secretly followed Jesus for ten years in the shadows of persecution. On January 5th, he joined the streets of Doroud demanding freedom — only to watch the Revolutionary Guard forces gun down his friends in cold blood!The very next day, with bullets still echoing, he recorded a raw, defiant video in English. He exposed the regime's lies, declared that Iranians do not hate America or Israel, and cried out for liberty: “Our voices are silenced… our people are suffering.”That single act of courage went viral — nearly 2 million views in English and almost 10 million in Farsi. The IRGC regime immediately hunted him down.Undeterred, Ali fled on foot, evading capture for days before escaping across the border into Iraq. Now this Christian “sheepdog for the Lord” continues his fight, calling for the jihadi regime's downfall while offering forgiveness to his persecutors.A powerful symbol of unbreakable faith and fearless defiance.Support The Doron Keidar Podcast on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cryforzionnFollow and support Ali Rezaei Majd here:Instagram:@Ali_the_LorYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ali_the_lor#podcast #israel #BreakingIsraelNews #DoronKeidar #TheDoronKeidarPodcast #Ali_the_Lor #Iran #IRGC 

In 1993, three eight-year old boys, Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Chris Byers, were murdered; their naked, mutilated bodies found shoved into the mud at the bottom of a ditch. The information developed by investigators pointed to three teenagers as the murderers. The three teens were convicted after two separate trials. One was sentenced to life imprisonment, one was sentenced to life plus forty years, and the third was sentenced to death. The convictions of the three teens became one of the most controversial cases in the State of Arkansas. During the early years of their incarceration, the growth of the Internet connected people all over the world through discussion forums and websites. As a result, the three teens, who became known as the “West Memphis Three,” developed a cult following that included the support of high-profile celebrities, including Johnny Depp, Peter Jackson, and Eddie Vedder and others, who all bought into the myth that the three convicted murderers were innocent.Today, the three convicted murderers are free. They appear to have given up their quest for judicial exoneration. Once they exhausted all other potential “guilty” parties, (some joined their camp and others were obviously not guilty), they focused their attention on Terry Hobbs, step-father of Stevie Branch, in an effort to divert attention from the evidence proving their guilt. Terry Hobbs was never a suspect in the murders and the facts of the case do not support his guilt. Undeterred, the convicted killers and their supporters continue to point fingers at Terry Hobbs.This is Terry Hobbs' story.https://amzn.to/4ui86q1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Welcome back to Part 2 with Tommy Robinson. The fearless British activist exposes how he and the English Defence League shattered the silence on Muslim grooming gangs devastating UK towns. From 2009 onward, they warned that organized Pakistani Muslim networks were raping and trafficking thousands of young British girls — while police, councils, and politicians looked the other way to avoid “racism” labels.Robinson highlights the horrific scale: 1,400 victims in Rotherham alone and over 1,000 in Telford (a town with just 1.7% Muslim population, matching America's). Authorities knew the torture, trafficking, and murders but prioritized political correctness over protecting working-class daughters.He reveals the brutal personal price: repeated arrests, home raids, reporting restrictions, two-tier policing that arrested fathers instead of rapists, and multiple prison terms — including solitary confinement — simply for speaking the truth and exposing judicial corruption.Undeterred, Robinson built hard-hitting documentaries and the massive Unite the Kingdom rallies that drew over 100,000 patriots celebrating British culture, free speech, and Judeo-Christian heritage.This is a sobering warning for America: Don't let open borders, elite denial, and fear of “Islamophobia” import the same nightmare here. Real conservatism means defending our children, our borders, and our civilization.Follow Tommy: @TRobinsonNewEra on XDocumentaries at TRFilms.co.uk

Although the end of Genesis largely tells the story of Joseph, the line of the Christ goes through a different son of Jacob: Judah. When his first two sons are put to death by the LORD without having any children, Judah does not give his third son in marriage to his daughter-in-law Tamar. Undeterred by Judah's inaction, Tamar accomplishes her plan to conceive a child in cunning fashion. Her father-in-law is ignorant of what she has done until she reveals that he is the father of her twin children. Although the account is full of mankind's sin, the LORD works to preserve the line of the Savior, who comes precisely for sinners like Judah and like us.  Rev. Ned Moerbe, pastor at Memorial Lutheran Church and School in Houston, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Genesis 38:1-30.  To learn more about Memorial Lutheran, visit mlchouston.org. “In the Beginning” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies Genesis. The first book of Moses sets the stage for God's entire story of salvation. As we learn the beginning of the story, God prepares us to receive the fulfillment of the story: Jesus Christ, the Offspring of the woman who has crushed our enemy's head.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Rector Amy Winkle preaches from Matthew 21 on Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his invitation to us to follow him all the way to the cross.

In 1993, three eight-year old boys, Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Chris Byers, were murdered; their naked, mutilated bodies found shoved into the mud at the bottom of a ditch. The information developed by investigators pointed to three teenagers as the murderers. The three teens were convicted after two separate trials. One was sentenced to life imprisonment, one was sentenced to life plus forty years, and the third was sentenced to death. The convictions of the three teens became one of the most controversial cases in the State of Arkansas. During the early years of their incarceration, the growth of the Internet connected people all over the world through discussion forums and websites. As a result, the three teens, who became known as the “West Memphis Three,” developed a cult following that included the support of high-profile celebrities, including Johnny Depp, Peter Jackson, and Eddie Vedder and others, who all bought into the myth that the three convicted murderers were innocent.Today, the three convicted murderers are free. They appear to have given up their quest for judicial exoneration. Once they exhausted all other potential “guilty” parties, (some joined their camp and others were obviously not guilty), they focused their attention on Terry Hobbs, step-father of Stevie Branch, in an effort to divert attention from the evidence proving their guilt. Terry Hobbs was never a suspect in the murders and the facts of the case do not support his guilt. Undeterred, the convicted killers and their supporters continue to point fingers at Terry Hobbs.This is Terry Hobbs' story.https://amzn.to/4ui86q1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Luke begins today's passage by including a brief log of their journeys, including a prophecy from Agabus, who foretells that Paul will be bound by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles when he reaches Jerusalem. Undeterred, Paul heads to Jerusalem and meets with the elders of the church. There is a rumor going around that Paul is maligning Jewish customs amongst those Jews who live alongside the Gentiles, when in reality, he's only teaching that those customs have no saving power. When he enters to the temple, Paul is falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple, and a riot ensues. Our reading ends just four verses shy of the entire chapter simply because those verses are better read as a direct prelude to chapter 22. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comToday I'm honored to have on the show: MK ULTRA, Satanic Ritual Abuse and Organized abuse survivor, overcomer and warrior, Australia's first whistleblower of government-sponsored child sex trafficking, published writer and author, blogger, and a hero whose voice has set countless victims and survivors free: Fiona Barnett Born into a world tainted by multigenerational trauma, Fiona's nightmare began in childhood, ensnared in Australia's underbelly of elite pedophile rings and occult rituals. Ritually abused by figures including her Nazi grandparents, British Playschool presenter John Hamblin, and CIA-linked psychologists like Antony Kidman (father of actress Nicole Kidman), she endured programming that included hypnosis, psychedelics, rape, waterboarding, sensory deprivation, spinning, and electrocution as part of MK-ULTRA and MK-DELTA.These experiments unfolded in places such as hidden facilities, where she was groomed as a "Candy Girl" child prostitute trafficked to VIPs - including U.S. President Richard Nixon, media mogul Ted Turner, and actress Meryl Streep - and trained as an MK-DELTA child soldier in psychic warfare, involving gruesome acts like cannibalism and ‘the most dangerous game' of human hunting.Fiona's awakening marked a pivotal turn. Over a decade ago, she became the first whistleblower to publicly expose Australia's involvement in this Western military intelligence-coordinated trafficking operation, testifying before the Child Abuse Royal Commission, holding a high-profile Sydney press conference, and submitting complaints to health authorities, NSW Police, and the Australian Federal Police. Her allegations against Antony Kidman led to his placement on suicide watch and mysterious death in Singapore, with altered cause-of-death reports. Undeterred by relentless harassment and defamation, she launched a six-year independent campaign for victim protection and trauma therapy. Blacklisted from mainstream platforms, she turned to alternative media, collaborating on the historically ground-breaking "Candy Girl" documentary, hosting podcasts, publishing articles, and releasing her groundbreaking book Eyes Wide Open for free - an underground classic distributed via David Icke's website, detailing trauma-based mind control, satanic ritual abuse, and global cover-ups without any monetization. Her efforts reintroduced "ritual abuse" into public discourse, influencing Prime Minister Scott Morrison's 2018 national apology to child abuse victims, sparking police taskforces, and leading to convictions of low-level perpetrators.WATCH FIONA'S DOCUMENTARY 'CANDY GIRL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2pAnwTB90gCONNECT WITH FionaWebsite: https://fionabarnett.org/Twitter: https://x.com/TheFionaBarnettCONNECT WITH EMMA:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imaginationpodcastofficialRumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheImaginationPodcastEMAIL: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.com OR standbysurvivors@protonmail.comMy Substack: https://emmakatherine.substack.com/BUY ME A COFFEE: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theimaginationVENMO: @emmapreneurCASHAPP: $EmmaKatherine1204All links: https://direct.me/theimaginationpodcastSupport the show

In 1993, three eight-year old boys, Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Chris Byers, were murdered; their naked, mutilated bodies found shoved into the mud at the bottom of a ditch. The information developed by investigators pointed to three teenagers as the murderers. The three teens were convicted after two separate trials. One was sentenced to life imprisonment, one was sentenced to life plus forty years, and the third was sentenced to death. The convictions of the three teens became one of the most controversial cases in the State of Arkansas. During the early years of their incarceration, the growth of the Internet connected people all over the world through discussion forums and websites. As a result, the three teens, who became known as the “West Memphis Three,” developed a cult following that included the support of high-profile celebrities, including Johnny Depp, Peter Jackson, and Eddie Vedder and others, who all bought into the myth that the three convicted murderers were innocent.Today, the three convicted murderers are free. They appear to have given up their quest for judicial exoneration. Once they exhausted all other potential “guilty” parties, (some joined their camp and others were obviously not guilty), they focused their attention on Terry Hobbs, step-father of Stevie Branch, in an effort to divert attention from the evidence proving their guilt. Terry Hobbs was never a suspect in the murders and the facts of the case do not support his guilt. Undeterred, the convicted killers and their supporters continue to point fingers at Terry Hobbs.This is Terry Hobbs' story.https://amzn.to/4ui86q1Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

MRKT Matrix - Monday, March 2nd S&P 500 teeters, cutting earlier losses as traders buy the dip after U.S.-Iran attacks (CNBC) Jamie Dimon expects cyber, terror attacks in retaliation for Iran strikes (CNBC) Jamie Dimon Says Iran Conflict Won't Be Major Inflationary Hit (WSJ) Hedge funds rethink emerging market bets after US-Israel strikes on Iran (FT) Geopolitics Bets Hit a Record on Polymarket as Iran War Escalates (Bloomberg) Mortgage rates jump sharply higher after Iran strikes, reversing last week's decline (CNBC) Apple Debuts iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air, Starting Product Wave (Bloomberg) NVIDIA Announces Strategic Partnership With Lumentum to Develop State-of-the-Art Optics Technology (Nvidia) Nvidia's stock is stuck. Morgan Stanley says it's time to buy again (CNBC) Anthropic's Claude Goes Down Amid ‘Unprecedented Demand' (Bloomberg) Musk's X, xAI to Pay Back $17.5 Billion Debt as SpaceX IPO Nears (Bloomberg) --- Subscribe to our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://riskreversalmedia.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MRKT Matrix by RiskReversal Media is a daily AI powered podcast bringing you the top stories moving financial markets Story curation by RiskReversal, scripts by Perplexity Pro, voice by ElevenLabs

Sermon Title: The Undeterred WillSermon Text: Luke 13:31-35PREACHING: Matt Knapp, Transitional PastorSermon Questions:1. What are your “sights set on?”2. How do you and the people you are close to deal with suffering? 3. How are you different today because of any suffering you may have experienced recently or experienced a while ago?

In this episode, Jenn Foster is joined by Michael Erath, the accomplished author of "5 Obsessions: The Elite Organizations." Michael isn't just a business coach—he's lived the entrepreneurial rollercoaster himself. In his 20s and 30s, Michael grew a manufacturing business from $8 million to a staggering $45 million, only to lose everything during the 2009 housing market crash. Undeterred, he rebuilt his life and business, ultimately turning his focus to mentoring other entrepreneurs who want to build truly elite organizations.

Noise cancelling headphones filter out sound waves that we don't want to hear. Listener Ahmed in Libya loves wearing his and, as he was listening to them, he had a thought: ‘Could we cancel out light waves in a similar way to how noise cancelling headphones do it?' He sent his question to CrowdScience and now presenter Alex Lathbridge is getting deep into the physics, to find out if light cancelling devices could replace curtains and shutters. Alex starts at the Ray Dolby Centre in Cambridge in the UK, built to honour Ray Dolby's invention of noise cancelling technology. In this amazing building he meets Jeremy Baumberg, Professor of Nanophotonics at Cambridge University. With the help of a tuning fork and a laser beams, Jeremy shows Alex that manipulating light is no easy feat. Undeterred, Alex tracks down Stefan Rotter, Professor of Theoretical Physics at Vienna Technical University in Austria. Stefan and his colleagues around the world have been pushing forward the development of a device called the ‘anti-laser'. Alex and Stefan explore whether this could be the light-cancelling device of Ahmed's imagination. And once we've created a light-cancelling device, what do we do with it? Mary Lou Jepsen is an inventor and the founder of health tech firm Openwater. She tells Alex about how she's using light wave manipulation to open up new possibilities for medical imaging, and even treatment. This programme includes clips from: Surrounded by Sound: Ray Dolby and the Art of Noise Reduction https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002bswq CrowdScience: Can we trap light in a box? https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3cswvwy Presenter: Alex Lathbridge Producer: Tom Bonnett Editor: Ben Motley(Photo: Eyesight and vision concept - stock photo Credit: J Studios / Getty Images)

Last time we spoke about The Battle of Suixian–Zaoyang-Shatow. Following the brutal 1938 capture of Wuhan, Japanese forces aimed to solidify their hold by launching an offensive against Chinese troops in the 5th War Zone, a rugged natural fortress in northern Hubei and southern Henan. Under General Yasuji Okamura, the 11th Army deployed three divisions and cavalry in a pincer assault starting May 1, 1939, targeting Suixian and Zaoyang to crush Nationalist resistance and secure flanks. Chinese commander Li Zongren, leveraging terrain like the Dabie and Tongbai Mountains, orchestrated defenses with over 200,000 troops, including Tang Enbo's 31st Army Group. By May 23, they recaptured Suixian and Zaoyang, forcing a Japanese withdrawal with heavy losses, over 13,000 Japanese casualties versus 25,000 Chinese, restoring pre-battle lines. Shifting south, Japan targeted Shantou in Guangdong to sever supply lines from Hong Kong. In a massive June 21 amphibious assault, the 21st Army overwhelmed thin Chinese defenses, capturing the port and Chao'an despite guerrilla resistance led by Zhang Fakui. Though losses mounted, Japan tightened its blockade, straining China's war effort amid ongoing attrition.   #188 From Changkufeng to Nomonhan Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Well hello again, and yes you all have probably guessed we are taking another detour. Do not worry I hope to shorten this one a bit more so than what became a sort of mini series on the battle of Changkufeng or Battle of Lake Khasan. What we are about to jump into is known in the west as the battle of khalkin Gol, by the Japanese the Nomohan incident. But first I need to sort of set the table up so to say. So back on August 10th, 1938 the Litvinov-Shigemitsu agreement established a joint border commission tasked with redemarcating the disputed boundary between the Soviet Union and Japanese-controlled Manchukuo. However, this commission never achieved a mutually agreeable definition of the border in the contested area. In reality, the outcome was decided well before the group's inaugural meeting. Mere hours after the cease-fire took effect on the afternoon of August 11, General Grigory Shtern convened with a regimental commander from Japan's 19th Division to coordinate the disengagement of forces. With the conflict deemed "honorably" concluded, Japan's Imperial General Headquarters mandated the swift withdrawal of all Japanese troops to the west bank of the Tumen River. By the night of August 13, as the final Japanese soldier crossed the river, it effectively became the de facto border. Soviet forces promptly reoccupied Changkufeng Hill and the adjacent heights—a move that would carry unexpected and profound repercussions. Authoritative Japanese military analyses suggest that if negotiations in Moscow had dragged on for just one more day, the 19th Division would likely have been dislodged from Changkufeng and its surrounding elevations. Undoubtedly, General Shtern's infantry breathed a sigh of relief as the bloodshed ceased. Yet, one can't help but question why Moscow opted for a cease-fire at a juncture when Soviet troops were on the cusp of total battlefield triumph. Perhaps Kremlin leaders deemed it wiser to settle for a substantial gain, roughly three-quarters of their objectives, rather than risk everything. After all, Japan had mobilized threatening forces in eastern Manchuria, and the Imperial Army had a history of impulsive, unpredictable aggression. Moreover, amid the escalating crisis over Czechoslovakia, Moscow may have been wary of provoking a broader Asian conflict. Another theory posits that Soviet high command was misinformed about the ground situation. Reports of capturing a small segment of Changkufeng's crest might have been misinterpreted as control over the entire ridge, or an imminent full takeover before midnight on August 10. The unexpected phone call from Foreign Minister Maxim Litvinov to the Japanese embassy that night—proposing a one-kilometer Japanese retreat in exchange for a cease-fire along existing lines—hints at communication breakdowns between Shtern's headquarters and the Kremlin. Ironically, such lapses may have preserved Japanese military honor, allowing the 19th Division's evacuation through diplomacy rather than defeat. Both sides endured severe losses. Initial Japanese press reports claimed 158 killed and 740 wounded. However, the 19th Division's medical logs reveal a grimmer toll: 526 dead and 914 injured, totaling 1,440 casualties. The true figure may have climbed higher, possibly to 1,500–2,000. Following the armistice, the Soviet news agency TASS reported 236 Red Army fatalities and 611 wounded. Given Shtern's uphill assaults across open terrain against entrenched positions, these numbers seem understated. Attackers in such scenarios typically suffered two to three times the defenders' losses, suggesting Soviet casualties ranged from 3,000 to 5,000. This aligns with a Soviet Military Council investigation on August 31, 1938, which documented 408 killed and 2,807 wounded. Japanese estimates placed Soviet losses even higher, at 4,500–7,000. Not all victims perished in combat. Marshal Vasily Blyukher, a decorated Soviet commander, former warlord of the Far East, and Central Committee candidate, was summoned to Moscow in August 1938. Relieved of duty in September and arrested with his family in October, he faced charges of inadequate preparation against Japanese aggression and harboring "enemies of the people" within his ranks. On November 9, 1938, Blyukher died during interrogation a euphemism for torture-induced death.Other innocents suffered as well. In the wake of the fighting, Soviet authorities deported hundreds of thousands of Korean rice farmers from the Ussuri region to Kazakhstan, aiming to eradicate Korean settlements that Japanese spies had allegedly exploited. The Changkufeng clash indirectly hampered Japan's Wuhan offensive, a massive push to subdue China. The influx of troops and supplies for this campaign was briefly disrupted by the border flare-up. Notably, Kwantung Army's 2nd Air Group, slated for Wuhan, was retained due to the Soviet threat. Chiang Kai-shek's drastic measure, breaching the Yellow River dikes to flood Japanese advance routes—further delayed the assault. By October 25, 1938, when Japanese forces captured Hankow, Chiang had relocated his capital to distant Chungking. Paradoxically, Wuhan's fall cut rail links from Canton inland, heightening Chiang's reliance on Soviet aid routed overland and by air from Central Asia. Japan secured a tactical win but missed the decisive blow; Chinese resistance persisted, pinning down a million Japanese troops in occupation duties. What was the true significance of Changkufeng? For General Koiso Suetaka and the 19th Division, it evoked a mix of bitterness and pride. Those eager for combat got their share, though not on their terms. To veterans mourning fallen comrades on those desolate slopes, it might have felt like senseless tragedy. Yet, they fought valiantly under dire conditions, holding firm until a retreat that blended humiliation with imperial praise, a bittersweet inheritance. For the Red Army, it marked a crucial trial of resolve amid Stalin's purges. While Shtern's forces didn't shine brilliantly, they acquitted themselves well in adversity. The U.S. military attaché in Moscow observed that any purge-related inefficiencies had been surmounted, praising the Red Army's valor, reliability, and equipment. His counterpart in China, Colonel Joseph Stilwell, put it bluntly: the Soviets "appeared to advantage," urging skeptics to rethink notions of a weakened Red Army. Yet, by World War II's eve, many British, French, German, and Japanese leaders still dismissed it as a "paper tiger." Soviet leaders appeared content, promoting Shtern to command the Transbaikal Military District and colonel general by 1940, while honoring "Heroes of Lake Khasan" with medals. In a fiery November 7, 1938, speech, Marshal Kliment Voroshilov warned that future incursions would prompt strikes deep into enemy territory. Tokyo's views diverged sharply. Many in the military and government saw it as a stain on Imperial Army prestige, especially Kwantung Army, humiliated on Manchukuo soil it swore to protect. Colonel Masanobu Tsuji Inada, however, framed it as a successful reconnaissance, confirming Soviet border defense without broader aggression, allowing the Wuhan push to proceed safely. Critics, including Major General Gun Hashimoto and historians, questioned this. They argued IGHQ lacked contingency plans for a massive Soviet response, especially with Wuhan preparations underway since June. One expert warned Japan had "played with fire," risking Manchuria and Korea if escalation occurred. Yet, Japanese commanders gleaned few lessons, downplaying Soviet materiel superiority and maintaining disdain for Red Army prowess. The 19th Division's stand against outnumbered odds reinforced this hubris, as did tolerance for local insubordination—attitudes that would prove costly. The Kremlin, conversely, learned Japan remained unpredictable despite its China quagmire. But for Emperor Hirohito's intervention, the conflict might have ballooned. Amid purges and the Czech crisis, Stalin likely viewed it as a reminder of eastern vulnerabilities, especially with Munich advancing German threats westward. Both sides toyed with peril. Moderation won in Tokyo, but Kwantung Army seethed. On August 11, Premier Fumimaro Konoye noted the need for caution. Kwantung, however, pushed for and secured control of the disputed salient from Chosen Army by October 8, 1938. Even winter's chill couldn't quench their vengeful fire, setting the stage for future confrontations. A quick look at the regional map reveals how Manchukuo and the Mongolian People's Republic each jut into the other's territory like protruding salients. These bulges could be seen as aggressive thrusts into enemy land, yet they also risked encirclement and absorption by the opposing empire. A northward push from western Manchuria through Mongolia could sever the MPR and Soviet Far East from the USSR's heartland. Conversely, a pincer movement from Mongolia and the Soviet Maritime Province might envelop and isolate Manchukuo. This dynamic highlights the frontier's strategic volatility in the 1930s. One particularly tense sector was the broad Mongolian salient extending about 150 miles eastward into west-central Manchukuo. There, in mid-1939, Soviet-Japanese tensions erupted into major combat. Known to the Japanese as the Nomonhan Incident and to the Soviets and Mongolians as the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, this clash dwarfed the earlier Changkufeng affair in scale, duration, and impact. Spanning four months and claiming 30,000 to 50,000 casualties, it amounted to a small undeclared war, the modern era's first limited conflict between great powers. The Mongolian salient features vast, semiarid plains of sandy grassland, gently rolling terrain dotted with sparse scrub pines and low shrubs. The climate is unforgivingly continental: May brings hot days and freezing nights, while July and August see daytime highs exceeding 38°C (100°F in American units), with cool evenings. Swarms of mosquitoes and massive horseflies necessitate netting in summer. Rainfall is scarce, but dense morning fogs are common in August. Come September, temperatures plummet, with heavy snows by October and midwinter lows dipping to –34°C. This blend of North African aridity and North Dakotan winters supports only sparse populations, mainly two related but distinct Mongol tribes. The Buriat (or Barga) Mongols migrated into the Nomonhan area from the northwest in the late 17th to early 18th centuries, likely fleeing Russian expansion after the 1689 Treaty of Nerchinsk. Organized by Manchu emperors between 1732 and 1735, they settled east of the river they called Khalkhin Gol (Mongolian for "river"), in lands that would later become Manchukuo. The Khalkha Mongols, named for the word meaning "barrier" or "shield," traditionally guarded the Mongol Empire's northern frontiers. Their territories lay west of the Buriats, in what would become the MPR. For centuries, these tribes herded livestock across sands, river crossings, and desert paths, largely oblivious to any formal borders. For hundreds of years, the line dividing the Mongolian salient from western Manchuria was a hazy administrative divide within the Qing Empire. In the 20th century, Russia's detachment of Outer Mongolia and Japan's seizure of Manchuria transformed this vague boundary into a frontline between rival powers. The Nomonhan Incident ignited over this contested border. Near the salient's northeastern edge, the river, called Khalkhin Gol by Mongols and Soviets, and Halha by Manchurians and Japanese, flows northwest into Lake Buir Nor. The core dispute: Was the river, as Japan asserted, the historic boundary between Manchukuo and the MPR? Soviet and MPR officials insisted the line ran parallel to and 10–12 miles east of the river, claiming the intervening strip. Japan cited no fewer than 18 maps, from Chinese and Japanese sources, to support the river as the border, a logical choice in such barren terrain, where it served as the sole natural divider. Yet, Soviets and Mongolians countered with evidence like a 1919 Chinese postal atlas and maps from Japanese and Manchukuoan agencies (1919–1934). Unbeknownst to combatants, in July 1939, China's military attaché in Moscow shared a 1934 General Staff map with his American counterpart, showing the border east of the river. Postwar Japanese studies of 18th-century Chinese records confirm that in 1734, the Qing emperor set a boundary between Buriat and Khalkha Mongols east of the river, passing through the hamlet of Nomonhan—as the Soviets claimed. However, Kwantung Army Headquarters dismissed this as non-binding, viewing it as an internal Qing affair without Russian involvement. Two former Kwantung Army officers offer a pragmatic explanation: From 1931 to 1935, when Soviet forces in the Far East were weak, Japanese and Manchukuoan authorities imposed the river as the de facto border, with MPR acquiescence. By the mid- to late 1930s, as Soviet strength grew, Japan refused to yield, while Mongolians and Soviets rejected the river line, sparking clashes. In 1935, Kwantung Army revised its maps to align with the river claim. From late that year, the Lake Buir Nor–Halha sector saw frequent skirmishes between Manchukuoan and MPR patrols. Until mid-1938, frontier defense in northwestern Manchukuo fell to the 8th Border Garrison Unit , based near Hailar. This 7,000-man force, spread thin, lacked mobility, training, and, in Kwantung Army's eyes, combat readiness. That summer, the newly formed 23rd Division, under Kwantung Army, took station at Hailar, absorbing the 8th BGU under its command, led by Lieutenant General Michitaro Komatsubara. At 52, Komatsubara was a premier Russian specialist in the Imperial Army, with stints as military attaché in the USSR and head of Kwantung's Special Services Agency in Harbin. Standing 5'7" with a sturdy build, glasses, and a small mustache, he was detail-oriented, keeping meticulous diaries, writing lengthy letters, and composing poetry, though he lacked combat experience. Before departing Tokyo in July 1938, Komatsubara received briefings from Colonel Masazumi Inada, AGS Operations Section chief. Amid planning for Changkufeng, Inada urged calm on the Manchukuo-MPR border given China's ongoing campaigns. Guidelines: Ignore minor incidents, prioritize intelligence on Soviet forces east of Lake Baikal, and study operations against the Soviet Far East's western sector. Familiar with the region from his Harbin days, Komatsubara adopted a low-key approach. Neither impulsive nor aggressive, he kept the green 23rd Division near Hailar, delegating patrols to the 8th BGU. An autumn incident underscores his restraint. On November 1, 1938, an 8th BGU patrol was ambushed by MPR forces. Per Japanese accounts, the three-man team, led by a lieutenant, strayed too close to the border and was attacked 50 meters inside Manchukuo. The lieutenant escaped, but his men died. Komatsubara sent an infantry company to secure the site but forbade retaliation. He pursued body recovery diplomatically, protested to MPR and Soviet officials, and disciplined his officers: garrison leaders got five days' confinement for poor troop training, the lieutenant thirty days. Despite this caution, pressures at AGS and KwAHQ were mounting, poised to thrust the 23rd Division into fierce battle. Modern militaries routinely develop contingency plans against potential adversaries, and the mere existence of such strategies doesn't inherently signal aggressive intentions. That said, shifts in Japan's operational planning vis-à-vis the Soviet Union may have inadvertently fueled the Nomonhan Incident. From 1934 to 1938, Japanese war scenarios emphasized a massive surprise assault in the Ussuri River region, paired with defensive holding actions in northwestern Manchuria. However, between mid-1938 and early 1939, a clandestine joint task force from the Army General Staff  and Kwantung Army's Operations Departments crafted a bold new blueprint. This revised strategy proposed containing Soviet forces in the east and north while unleashing a full-scale offensive from Hailar, advancing west-northwest toward Chita and ultimately Lake Baikal. The goal: sever the Transbaikal Soviet Far East from the USSR's core. Dubbed Plan Eight-B, it gained Kwantung Army's endorsement in March 1939. Key architects—Colonels Takushiro Hattori and Masao Terada, along with Major Takeharu Shimanuki—were reassigned from AGS to Kwantung Army Headquarters to oversee implementation. The plan anticipated a five-year buildup before execution, with Hattori assuming the role of chief operations staff officer.  A map review exposes a glaring vulnerability in Plan Eight-B: the Japanese advance would leave its southern flank exposed to Soviet counterstrikes from the Mongolian salient. By spring 1939, KwAHQ likely began perceiving this protrusion as a strategic liability. Notably, at the outbreak of Nomonhan hostilities, no detailed operational contingencies for the area had been formalized. Concurrently, Japan initiated plans for a vital railroad linking Harlun Arshan to Hailar. While its direct tie to Plan Eight-B remains unclear, the route skirted perilously close to the Halha River, potentially heightening KwAHQ's focus on the disputed Mongolian salient. In early 1939, the 23rd Division intensified reconnaissance patrols near the river. Around this time, General Grigory Shtern, freshly appointed commander of Soviet Far Eastern forces, issued a public warning that Japan was gearing up for an assault on the Mongolian People's Republic. As Plan Eight-B took shape and railroad proposals advanced, KwAHQ issued a strikingly confrontational set of guidelines for frontier troops. These directives are often cited as a catalyst for the Nomonhan clash, forging a chain linking the 1937 Amur River incident, the 1938 Changkufeng debacle, and the 1939 conflict.Resentment had festered at KwAHQ over perceived AGS meddling during the Amur affair, which curtailed their command autonomy. This frustration intensified at Changkufeng, where General Kamezo Suetaka's 19th Division endured heavy losses, only for the contested Manchukuoan territory to be effectively ceded. Kwantung Army lobbied successfully to wrest oversight of the Changkufeng salient from Chosen Army. In November 1938, Major Masanobu Tsuji of KwAHQ's Operations Section was sent to survey the site. The audacious officer was dismayed: Soviet forces dominated the land from the disputed ridge to the Tumen River. Tsuji undertook several winter reconnaissance missions. His final outing in March 1939 involved leading 40 men to Changkufeng's base. With rifles slung non-threateningly, they ascended to within 200 yards of Soviet lines, formed a line, and urinated in unison, eliciting amused reactions from the enemy. They then picnicked with obentos and sake, sang army tunes, and left gifts of canned meat, chocolates, and whiskey. This theatrical stunt concealed Tsuji's real aim: covert photography proving Soviet fortifications encroached on Manchukuoan soil. Tsuji was a singular figure. Born of modest means, he embodied a modern samurai ethos, channeling a sharp intellect into a frail, often ailing body through feats of extraordinary daring. A creative tactician, he thrived in intelligence ops, political scheming, aerial scouting, planning, and frontline command—excelling across a tumultuous career. Yet, flaws marred his brilliance: narrow bigotry, virulent racism, and capacity for cruelty. Ever the ambitious outsider, Tsuji wielded outsized influence via gekokujo—Japan's tradition of subordinates steering policy from below. In 1939, he was a major, but his pivotal role at Nomonhan stemmed from this dynamic. Back in Hsinking after his Changkufeng escapade, Tsuji drafted a response plan: negotiate border "rectification" with the Soviets; if talks failed, launch an attack to expel intruders. Kwantung Army adopted it. Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Otozaburo Yano flew to Tokyo with Tsuji's photos, seeking AGS approval. There, he was rebuffed—Changkufeng was deemed settled, and minor violations should be overlooked amid Tokyo's aversion to Soviet conflict. Yano's plea that leniency would invite aggression was countered by notes on Europe's tensions restraining Moscow. Yano's return sparked outrage at KwAHQ, seen as AGS thwarting their imperial duty to safeguard Manchukuo. Fury peaked in the Operations Section, setting the stage for Tsuji's drafting of stringent new frontier guidelines: "Principles for the Settlement of Soviet-Manchukuoan Border Disputes." The core tenet: "If Soviet troops transgress the Manchukuoan frontiers, Kwantung Army will nip their ambitions in the bud by completely destroying them." Specific directives for local commanders included: "If the enemy crosses the frontiers … annihilate him without delay, employing strength carefully built up beforehand. To accomplish our mission, it is permissible to enter Soviet territory, or to trap or lure Soviet troops into Manchukuoan territory and allow them to remain there for some time… . Where boundary lines are not clearly defined, area defense commanders will, upon their own initiative, establish boundaries and indicate them to the forward elements… . In the event of an armed clash, fight until victory is won, regardless of relative strengths or of the location of the boundaries. If the enemy violates the borders, friendly units must challenge him courageously and endeavor to triumph in their zone of action without concerning themselves about the consequences, which will be the responsibility of higher headquarters." Major Tsuji Masanobu later justified the new guidelines by pointing to the "contradictory orders" that had hamstrung frontier commanders under the old rules. They were tasked with upholding Manchukuo's territorial integrity yet forbidden from actions that might spark conflict. This, Tsuji argued, bred hesitation, as officers feared repercussions for decisive responses to incursions. The updated directives aimed to alleviate this "anxiety," empowering local leaders to act boldly without personal liability. In truth, Tsuji's "Principles for the Settlement of Soviet-Manchukuoan Border Disputes" were more incendiary than conciliatory. They introduced provocative measures: authorizing commanders to unilaterally define unclear boundaries, enforce them with immediate force "shoot first, ask questions later", permit pursuits into enemy territory, and even encourage luring adversaries across the line. Such tactics flouted both government policy and official army doctrine, prioritizing escalation over restraint. The proposals sparked intense debate within Kwantung Army's Operations Section. Section chief Colonel Takushiro Hattori and Colonel Masao Terada outranked Tsuji, as did Major Takeharu Shimanuki, all recent transfers from the Army General Staff. Tsuji, however, boasted longer tenure at Kwantung Army Headquarters since April 1936 and in Operations since November 1937, making him the de facto veteran. Hattori and Terada hesitated to challenge the assertive major, whose reputation for intellect, persuasion, and deep knowledge of Manchuria commanded respect. In a 1960 interview, Shimanuki recalled Tsuji's dominance in discussions, where his proactive ideas often swayed the group. Unified, the section forwarded Tsuji's plan to Kwantung Army Command. Commander Lieutenant General Kenkichi Ueda consulted Chief of Staff General Rensuke Isogai and Vice Chief General Otozaburo Yano, seasoned leaders who should have spotted the guidelines' volatility. Yet, lingering grudges from AGS "interference" in past incidents like the Amur River and Changkufeng clouded their judgment. Ueda, Isogai, and Tsuji shared history from the 1932 Shanghai Incident: Tsuji, then a captain, led a company in the 7th Regiment under Colonel Isogai, with Yano as staff officer and Ueda commanding the 9th Division. Tsuji was wounded there, forging bonds of camaraderie. This "clique," which grew to include Hattori, Terada, and Shimanuki, amplified Tsuji's influence. Despite Isogai's initial reservations as the group's moderate voice, the guidelines won approval. Ueda issued them as Kwantung Army Operations Order 1488 on April 25, 1939, during a division commanders' conference at KwAHQ. A routine copy reached AGS in Tokyo, but no formal reply came. Preoccupied with the China War and alliance talks with Germany, AGS may have overlooked border matters. Colonel Masazumi Inada, AGS Operations head, later noted basic acceptance of Order 1488, with an informal expectation—relayed to Hattori and Terada—of prior consultation on violations. KwAHQ dismissed this as another Tokyo intrusion on their autonomy. Some Japanese analysts contend a stern AGS rejection might have prevented Nomonhan's catastrophe, though quelling Kwantung's defiance could have required mass staff reassignments, a disruptive step AGS avoided. Tsuji countered that permitting forceful action at Changkufeng would have deterred Nomonhan altogether, underscoring the interconnectedness of these clashes while implicitly critiquing the 1939 battle's location. Undeniably, Order 1488's issuance on April 25 paved the way for conflict three weeks later. Japanese records confirm that Khalkha Mongols and MPR patrols routinely crossed the Halha River—viewed by them as internal territory, 10 miles from the true border. Such crossings passed uneventfully in March and April 1939. Post-Order 1488, however, 23rd Division commander General Michitaro Komatsubara responded aggressively, setting the stage for escalation. The Nomonhan Incident ignited with a border clash on May 11–12, 1939, that rapidly spiraled into a major conflict. Over a dozen "authoritative" accounts exist, varying in viewpoint, focus, and specifics. After cross-referencing these sources, a coherent timeline emerges. On the night of May 10–11, a 20-man Mongolian People's Republic border patrol crossed eastward over the Halha River (known as Khalkhin Gol to Mongols and Soviets). About 10 miles east, atop a 150-foot sandy hill, lay the tiny hamlet of Nomonhan, a cluster of crude huts housing a few Mongol families. Just south flowed the Holsten River, merging westward into the broader Halha. By morning on May 11, Manchukuoan forces spotted the MPR patrol north of the Holsten and west of Nomonhan. In the MPR/Soviet perspective, Nomonhan Hill marked the Mongolia-Manchuria border. To Manchukuoans and Japanese, it sat 10 miles inside Manchukuo, well east of the Halha. A 40-man Manchukuoan cavalry unit repelled the Mongolians back across the river, inflicting initial casualties on both sides—the Manchukuoans drawing first blood. The MPR patrol leader exaggerated the attackers as 200 strong. The next day, May 12, a 60-man MPR force under Major P. Chogdan evicted the Manchukuoans from the disputed zone, reestablishing positions between the Halha and Nomonhan. The Manchukuoans, in turn, reported facing 700 enemies. Sporadic skirmishes and maneuvering persisted through the week. On May 13, two days post-clash, the local Manchukuoan commander alerted General Michitaro Komatsubara's 23rd Division headquarters in Hailar. Simultaneously, Major Chogdan reported to Soviet military command in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital. What began as a Mongolian-Manchukuoan spat was poised to draw in Soviet and Japanese patrons. Attributing the May 10–11 violation hinges on border interpretations: both sides claimed the Halha-Nomonhan strip. Yet, most accounts concur that Manchukuoan forces initiated the fighting. Post-May 13 notifications to Moscow and Tokyo clarify the record thereafter. Midday on May 13, Komatsubara was leading a staff conference on the newly issued Kwantung Army Operations Order 1488—Major Tsuji Masanobu's aggressive border guidelines. Ironically, the first Nomonhan combat report arrived mid-discussion. Officers present recall Komatsubara deciding instantly to "destroy the invading Outer Mongolian forces" per Order 1488. That afternoon, he informed Kwantung Army Headquarters of the incident and his intent to eradicate the intruders, requesting air support and trucks. General Kenkichi Ueda, Kwantung commander, approved Komatsubara's "positive attitude," dispatching six scout planes, 40 fighters, 10 light bombers, two anti-aircraft batteries, and two motorized transport companies. Ueda added a caveat: exercise "extreme caution" to prevent escalation—a paradoxical blend of destruction and restraint, reflective of KwAHQ's fervent mood. Ueda relayed the details to Tokyo's Army General Staff, which responded that Kwantung should handle it "appropriately." Despite Kwantung's impulsive reputation, Tokyo deferred, perhaps trusting the northern strategic imbalance, eight Japanese divisions versus 30 Soviet ones from Lake Baikal to Vladivostok, would enforce prudence. This faith proved misguided. On May 14, Major Tsuji flew from KwAHQ for aerial reconnaissance over Nomonhan, spotting 20 horses but no troops. Upon landing, a fresh bullet hole in his plane confirmed lingering MPR presence east of the Halha. Tsuji briefed 23rd Division staff and reported to Ueda that the incident seemed minor. Aligning with Order 1488's spirit, Komatsubara deployed a force under Lieutenant Colonel Yaozo Azuma: an armored car company, two infantry companies, and a cavalry troop. Arriving at Nomonhan on May 15, Azuma learned most MPR forces had retreated westward across the Halha the prior night, with only token elements remaining, and those withdrawing. Undeterred, he pursued. The advance met scant resistance, as foes had crossed the river. However, Japanese light bombers struck a small MPR concentration on the west bank, Outpost Number 7, killing two and wounding 15 per MPR reports; Japanese claimed 30–40 kills. All agree: the raid targeted undisputed MPR territory. Hearing of May 15's events, Komatsubara deemed the Mongolians sufficiently rebuked and recalled Azuma to Hailar on May 16. KwAHQ concurred, closing the matter. Soviet leaders, however, saw it differently. Mid-May prompted Soviet support for the MPR under their 1936 Mutual Defense Pact. The Red Army's 57th Corps, stationed in Mongolia, faced initial disarray: Commander Nikolai Feklenko was hunting, Chief of Staff A. M. Kushchev in Ulan Ude with his ill wife. Moscow learned of clashes via international press from Japanese sources, sparking Chief of Staff Boris Shaposhnikov's furious inquiry. Feklenko and Kushchev rushed back to Ulaanbaatar, dispatching a mixed force—a battalion from the 149th Infantry Regiment (36th Division), plus light armor and artillery from the 11th Tank Brigade—to Tamsag Bulak, 80 miles west of the Halha. Led by Major A. E. Bykov, it bolstered the MPR's 6th Cavalry Division. Bykov and Cavalry Commander Colonel Shoaaiibuu inspected the site on May 15, post-Azum's departure. The cavalry arrived two days later, backed by Bykov (ordered to remain west of the river and avoid combat if possible). Some MPR troops recrossed, occupying the disputed zone. Clashes with Manchukuoan cavalry resumed and intensified. Notified of renewed hostilities, Komatsubara viewed it as defiance, a personal affront. Emboldened by Order 1488, he aimed not just to repel but to encircle and annihilate. The incident was on the verge of major expansion. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The ghosts of the Changufeng incident have come back to haunt both the USSR and Japan. Those like Tsuji Masanobu instigated yet another border clash that would erupt into a full blown battle that would set a precedent for both nations until the very end of WW2. 

Miracles can happen on Christmas Eve.Based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at My First Time.Ken Dix flipped through the TV guide at a moderate pace; “500 channels, and nothing but Christmas specials on.”Finding nothing but disappointment at every turn. As it was Christmas Eve, every show was a mushy feel-good romp spouting lines about family and goodwill to others. None of that spoke to Ken in the slightest.“Ken?” a voice came from the kitchen.“What’s up, Mom?”“I’ve got my hands full with making everything for dinner tonight, but I’m going to run short on a couple of ingredients,” Helen Dix said, poking her head into the living room. “Can you run to the store real quick for me please?”“Sure thing,” Ken replied, seeing as he had nothing better to do.“Great, thank you. I made a list on the counter for you. The store should be open for another hour or two. The main things would be the eggs; I don’t have enough to finish my famous chess pie. If they have tea by the gallon, grab one sweet and one unsweet. The rest are great if you find them, but not essential.”“Got it,” Ken said as he took the list from the counter.Heading out to his car, Ken cranked up his Honda Civic and pulled out of the driveway. As he made his way into town, Ken reflected on his current situation. Though he loved his mom, being home for the holidays was always nerve-wracking for him. His hometown of Alpharetta, Georgia was crawling with former high school classmates of his, people he’d just as soon never see again. But up at MIT, he was actually among peers that he could relate to on an intellectual level. Not that he’d made that many friends up there. As a nineteen-year-old freshman, he was still stuck in the same boring math and science classes as everyone else. He couldn’t wait until he could start his health sciences training. Maybe then he could meet some decent people, perhaps of the female variety.Ken soon arrived in the parking lot of the local Kroger. It was soon obvious that the place was packed with last-minute shoppers, all trying to find that one final ingredient they were missing. Locking his car, Ken sauntered into the store, grabbing a shopping basket along the way. He found the shelves of the store well picked over, striking out on the nonessential items on his mom’s list. Making his way to the drinks aisle, he was pleased to see that the store was keeping the gallon jugs of tea well stocked for the holidays, and picked up a pair.Ken soon arrived in the refrigerated section of the store. Almost every shelf was empty, but he did manage to find one last carton of six eggs, just what his mom needed. Depositing the carton in his shopping basket, Ken made his way back to the front of the store, checking out in the express lane. He gripped the shopping bags tightly, being careful that the eggs weren’t harmed from the swinging of the bags. Arriving back in the parking lot, he was pleasantly surprised to see one of his former classmates, Jacqueline Brown. As he approached, she saw him coming.“Ken? Kenneth Dix?”She was extremely pretty, as was befitting one of the most popular girls in school, and kept her chestnut-brown hair cut just below her jawline. Her soft, warm facial features and bubbly personality belied the sharp intellect hiding underneath. She and Ken had been partners a few times in various subjects, and he had helped craft her entrance essay to the University of Washington. This earned her a full ride scholarship. In spite of her popularity, they had worked well together, and Ken even dared to call her a friend, at least in his own mind. They had never hung out on a social basis; her circle of friends would never have let her live that down. Still, times had changed. They were both out of high school, after all. What could it hurt to ask?“Jacqueline? Wow, I never thought I’d see you back here. Thought you escaped to cooler climates?”“Yeah, Seattle is nice, but nothing beats Christmas at home,” she replied, adjusting her UW sweatshirt. “You back for the same reason?”“Uh huh. Mom pretty much insisted. She won’t settle for anything less than a full family gathering on Christmas Eve. I’m just grabbing a few last things for her. But yeah, it’s great seeing you again. You, uh, you look good.”“Um; thanks,” she replied with hesitation.“I’m, uh, gonna be home for a couple of weeks. Would you want to, I don’t know, hang out sometime? Maybe grab a bite to eat? My treat.”“Well, Ken, that’s sweet of you to ask.” she said almost to herself. As she paused, her eyes suddenly lit up as if she had gotten an idea. “Alright! Here, let me give you my number.” She scribbled a series of digits down on a scrap piece of paper, writing her name next to them. “I’ll, um, talk to you later, I guess?”“Sounds great!”Ken couldn’t believe it; he had actually done it! He had asked out the prettiest girl he had ever known! Moreover, she had given him her number! Things were definitely looking up.“Dick!” a voice behind them yelled.Ken turned, immediately recognizing Jason Brown, Jacqueline’s fraternal twin brother, along with his two flunkies, Brian and Barrett Sullivan. Jason had been the star quarterback at his high school, and the Sullivan boys were his best offensive linemen. They often served as his muscle off the football field, as well. Ken was intimately familiar with these three, as they had made it their mission in high school to make his life a living hell. Being stuffed in lockers, having his wallet stolen, all were commonplace with them. The three approached, attempting to appear imposing, which they were from the perspective of the ever-scrawny Ken.“I’ve got nothing to say to you guys,” Ken muttered as they approached.“Well I’ve got something to say to you, Mr. Kenny Dick,” Jason growled.“Just shut up and leave me alone,” Ken replied, his blood boiling at the use of Jason’s longtime nickname for him.“No! You shut the fuck up and listen!” Jason said, grabbing Ken by the collar of his tee-shirt and flinging him against his car. In the process, Ken dropped his shopping bags, the jugs of tea landing directly on the egg carton.“Jason! Stop it!” Jacqueline protested.Undeterred, Jason threatened. “Listen fuck-wad, you stay the hell away from my sister!”“She’s an adult, dickhead! She can have anyone she wants as a friend!” Ken protested.“You don’t belong on the same Planet as her! You’re nothing’! A pathetic sack of guts your dumbass mother decided to give a name to! Know what? Just do us all a favor and drop dead!”Enraged at the insult to his mom, Ken swung a wild haymaker at his assailant, but Jason was more than ready, pinning Ken’s arm back against his car. Jason then delivered a crushing punch to Ken’s gut, dropping him down to his knees. Before leaving, Jason knelt down next to his gasping victim.“Next time, I won’t be so nice. Next time; I might just kill you myself. See ya around. Dick.” Turning to his sister, Jason said, “Come on, time to go home.”Jacqueline looked down at the pitiful form of Ken before muttering, “Sorry, Ken.”The trio of boys sauntered off across the parking lot, laughing and high-fiving at their antics. Jacqueline followed right behind them. Ken picked himself up and inspected his groceries, discovering the crushed eggs in his bag. Swearing and cursing, he grabbed the misshapen carton and went to throw it in a nearby trash can.“No chess pie tonight.”As Ken returned to his car and began his drive home, Jason and his flunkies watched on from his car, still pleased with their efforts.“You shouldn’t have done that,” Jacqueline said in a lecturing tone.Jason turned to face his sister. “I do what I gotta do, Jacqueline. That fuck-wad has no business getting friendly with you. He needs to learn his place.”“Be that as it may, I can take care of myself,” she replied firmly.“Take care of yourself? Wait; you didn’t?”“I did. Jason, someday you’ll learn that there are more subtle and effective ways to ward off undesirables. Trust me, Ken won’t bother me ever again.”Back at Home.Upon arriving back home, Ken couldn’t bring himself to tell his mom about the incident with the eggs. He instead told her that the store had run out altogether. She had spent many sleepless nights in the past worrying about the constant bullying her son was subjected to in school. Ken didn’t want to give her anything else to worry about. By this time, has uncles had started arriving, and the living room was soon filled with the sounds of football games. In Ken’s mind, these were no more thought provoking that the mindless Christmas specials he had found earlier. Ken went up to his room to take a hot shower, as well as get some alone time in the process. As he stripped down, he saw a bruise beginning to form on his stomach from Jason’s punch. He winced in pain as he touched the tender skin.Shit; that’s not going away for a while.Ken took some Tylenol for the pain before stepping into the shower. The hot water helped relax his body, and the steam gradually built up, clearing his mind a bit. He finished after a while and, after making sure his door was shut, flopped facedown onto his bed. After laying there for around an hour or so, his mom finally called him down to rejoin the family for dinner.Taking his seat at the table, Ken glanced around the room at his various family members. His mom had two older brothers, Lee and Stan. Though Lee was tall and still relatively youthful looking at forty-five, Stan was shorter and beginning to bald as he approached fifty. Still, both of them had one notable thing in common as far as Ken was concerned: they were both still jocks at heart. Ken had never known his father; it had always just been him and his mom. He could tell that his uncles tried to be male role models for him, but their efforts were usually ill-conceived attempts to “man him up.” Never once did they understand his introverted tendencies, and always tried to get him to be more of a people person. After a while, Ken stopped paying their advice any attention.It was striking to Ken how similar Lee and Stan’s families were. They had both married beautiful, blonde cheerleaders, and now both had sixteen-year-old daughters, both of whom were among the most popular girls in school. It all sickened Ken; they were just perpetuating the stereotype of pretty and popular being the be-all, end-all in life. As the family ate, Ken remained silent for the most part. The adults were engrossed in discussions about their jobs, and the two daughters were giggling and playing on their phones the entire time. None of this was relevant to Ken.“You know, I saw something interesting today,” Lee said as dessert was being brought out. “I was at Kroger filling up my car, and saw you in the main parking lot, Ken. Looked like you were, uh, having some words with a few guys out there.”Shit! He saw that?Not wanting to worry his mom, Ken replied, “It; it was nothing.”“Nothing, eh? Is that why that punk punched you in the gut?”With a worried look on her face, Helen asked, “Ken, sweetie, what is he talking about?” She walked around the table to Ken’s seat and lifted up his shirt, seeing the bruise on his abdomen. “Was it that Jason boy again?”“Mom, just let it go.”“No! Ken, you know I worry about you!”“You worry about Me? I think you need to worry more about your brother!” Ken shouted, his anger exploding at last. “Right, Uncle Lee? Come on, you see your own nephew being ganged up on in a parking lot, yet you do nothing to help him out?!”“A man’s gotta learn to fight his own battles,” Lee replied in a calm voice.“No. You want to know what a man does? A man sticks up for his Family! No. Matter. What! You stood there and watched your own nephew get beaten up. That says a hell of a lot more about you than it does me. And if that’s family; I don’t want any part of this one.”Without a word, Ken stood and left the dining room. He then grabbed his MIT hoodie and headed for the front door. As he was about to get into his car and drive off, he saw to his frustration that his uncles’ cars were parked in the driveway behind him, blocking him in. Cursing under his breath, he prepared to leave on foot.“Ken! Come back inside, please!” Helen called after him, running down the driveway.“No. I’ve got to go out; clear my head.”“Ken, it’s Christmas Eve. Please, come be with your family.”“Mom, aside from you, not a single person in that house feels like family to me,” Ken replied coldly. “I’ll; I’ll call you after while.”Ken walked off into the cold Georgia night, not knowing for sure where to go or what to do. Nobody else was out, as they were all at home with their families. Remembering the square in historic downtown Alpharetta, he decided to head in that direction. Maybe the quiet walk would do him some good.Arriving in the town square, Ken walked along the sidewalks for a bit, peering into the darkened windows of the various shops and restaurants. Everything looked so different to him with everyone gone for the day; it all seemed so peaceful. As he continued to walk, he soon saw City Hall in the distance. In front of the building was a large green space, which was teeming with a surprising amount of activity for it being Christmas Eve. Ken moved closer, now spying a large gathering of people sitting on picnic blankets, all bundled up in coats and hats. Ahead of them, a large screen projected the classic film, It’s a Wonderful Life.Though Ken was never into the Christmas cheer, as it were, he felt strangely drawn to watch a few minutes of the film from a distance. He soon began to regret that decision, as the movie had reached the point where George Baily had an arrest warrant out for him, lashing out at his family in anger. Watching him get drunk and punched in a bar fight, Ken began to feel sick with anger. Despite all his efforts to help better the world around him, the universe conspired against George Baily; just as it seemed to be conspiring against Ken. Unable to watch a moment more, he turned and walked into the nearby park.Again alone with his thoughts, Ken sat on a bench near the fountain in the center of the park. He contemplated many things, as he often did in solitude. He thought about his piss poor excuse for a family, intent on changing him into what they say he should be. If only they could love him as he is. He thought about Jason Brown, a perpetual asshole that managed to get all the beautiful women his heart desired. If only the universe would serve up his just desserts, rather than conspiring against Ken. Sighing in frustration, he stuffed his freezing hands into his jeans pockets.Jacqueline!Feeling the scrap of paper still in his pocket, Ken suddenly felt a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dreary day. He needed something, anything to lift his spirits, and hearing her kind, sweet voice might just do it. Hell, he didn’t even care anymore if she was interested in him in a romantic sense; he just needed someone to listen and understand him. Digging out his phone, he dialed the number. After a single ring, a message began to play, seeming to be read by a game show host.“Congratulations! You’ve reached Live 95.5 FM’s world-famous Loser Line! Live 95.5; featuring the best entertainment in Seattle! If you’ve reached this message, you have attempted to hit on a girl Way out of your league! That poor young lady wants nothing to do with you, but you just couldn’t help creeping on her! That’s where we come in! Now you know what a loser you really are! So leave the girl alone, loser! You’re doing everyone a favor! If you’d like to leave a message for the world-famous Loser Line, begin speaking at the tone!”Beep!Ken hung up the phone in quiet disbelief. How could he have been so wrong about Jacqueline? They had worked so well together in school, and he even considered her a friend! She always spoke so kindly to him, how could this have happened? Was she really as nasty and shallow as her dumbass brother? Was she really just that good of an actress? As he pondered all this, Ken’s rage finally exploded out of him.“That two-faced bitch! Who the fuck does she think she is?! I trusted her! Hell, she would never have gotten a full scholarship without my help! All I ever did was Like her! And after all that, she doesn’t even have the decency to turn me down to my face?! What The Fucking Hell? At least her brother was honest about his disdain. She’s far worse! I can’t imagine how evil she’d be if a person actually offended her?”Slumping back down onto the park bench, every thought that entered Ken’s mind brought him lower. Jason was an ass, but then again, he didn’t know how to act any different. Uncle Lee was a moron, but then again, he had no malicious intent. But Jacqueline; she was the last straw. He had trusted her, opened up to her, and she repaid him by committing the single most cruel and senseless act Ken could ever imagine. Everything was crashing down around him. As he continued to sulk, Jason’s words entered into his mind once more.“I should just do everyone a favor and drop dead; is that what you want, Jacqueline? Seems like you agree with your brother, or you wouldn’t have given me that number.”Ken reached into his pocket, withdrawing a folding knife. It had been a high school graduation present to him from his grandfather, before he passed a few months later. A far cry from the typical Swiss Army knife, he unfolded the shiny, four-inch blade, which stood in beautiful contrast to the wooden handle. Inscribed in the wood were Ken’s initials. He had not used it for anything yet, never had any need to. As he stared at his reflection in the blade, Ken kept replaying Jason’s cruel words in his mind, to do the world a favor and drop dead.“Maybe that’s not such a bad idea.” Ken mumbled.Just as he took a firm grip on the handle, preparing to take the knife to his throat, an unfamiliar voice came from off to the side.“Hey!”Gabrielle’s Christmas night.Gabrielle Libertine relaxed in a lawn chair, savoring the crisp, cold air of Christmas Eve. This was her favorite time of the year, and being able to enjoy an outdoor showing of her favorite Christmas film, It’s a Wonderful Life, made it even better. It all fit in perfectly with her life philosophy: live for happiness. Not only her own, but as much as could be had for the world around her too.“You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and

Miracles can happen on Christmas Eve.Based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at My First Time.Ken Dix flipped through the TV guide at a moderate pace; “500 channels, and nothing but Christmas specials on.”Finding nothing but disappointment at every turn. As it was Christmas Eve, every show was a mushy feel-good romp spouting lines about family and goodwill to others. None of that spoke to Ken in the slightest.“Ken?” a voice came from the kitchen.“What’s up, Mom?”“I’ve got my hands full with making everything for dinner tonight, but I’m going to run short on a couple of ingredients,” Helen Dix said, poking her head into the living room. “Can you run to the store real quick for me please?”“Sure thing,” Ken replied, seeing as he had nothing better to do.“Great, thank you. I made a list on the counter for you. The store should be open for another hour or two. The main things would be the eggs; I don’t have enough to finish my famous chess pie. If they have tea by the gallon, grab one sweet and one unsweet. The rest are great if you find them, but not essential.”“Got it,” Ken said as he took the list from the counter.Heading out to his car, Ken cranked up his Honda Civic and pulled out of the driveway. As he made his way into town, Ken reflected on his current situation. Though he loved his mom, being home for the holidays was always nerve-wracking for him. His hometown of Alpharetta, Georgia was crawling with former high school classmates of his, people he’d just as soon never see again. But up at MIT, he was actually among peers that he could relate to on an intellectual level. Not that he’d made that many friends up there. As a nineteen-year-old freshman, he was still stuck in the same boring math and science classes as everyone else. He couldn’t wait until he could start his health sciences training. Maybe then he could meet some decent people, perhaps of the female variety.Ken soon arrived in the parking lot of the local Kroger. It was soon obvious that the place was packed with last-minute shoppers, all trying to find that one final ingredient they were missing. Locking his car, Ken sauntered into the store, grabbing a shopping basket along the way. He found the shelves of the store well picked over, striking out on the nonessential items on his mom’s list. Making his way to the drinks aisle, he was pleased to see that the store was keeping the gallon jugs of tea well stocked for the holidays, and picked up a pair.Ken soon arrived in the refrigerated section of the store. Almost every shelf was empty, but he did manage to find one last carton of six eggs, just what his mom needed. Depositing the carton in his shopping basket, Ken made his way back to the front of the store, checking out in the express lane. He gripped the shopping bags tightly, being careful that the eggs weren’t harmed from the swinging of the bags. Arriving back in the parking lot, he was pleasantly surprised to see one of his former classmates, Jacqueline Brown. As he approached, she saw him coming.“Ken? Kenneth Dix?”She was extremely pretty, as was befitting one of the most popular girls in school, and kept her chestnut-brown hair cut just below her jawline. Her soft, warm facial features and bubbly personality belied the sharp intellect hiding underneath. She and Ken had been partners a few times in various subjects, and he had helped craft her entrance essay to the University of Washington. This earned her a full ride scholarship. In spite of her popularity, they had worked well together, and Ken even dared to call her a friend, at least in his own mind. They had never hung out on a social basis; her circle of friends would never have let her live that down. Still, times had changed. They were both out of high school, after all. What could it hurt to ask?“Jacqueline? Wow, I never thought I’d see you back here. Thought you escaped to cooler climates?”“Yeah, Seattle is nice, but nothing beats Christmas at home,” she replied, adjusting her UW sweatshirt. “You back for the same reason?”“Uh huh. Mom pretty much insisted. She won’t settle for anything less than a full family gathering on Christmas Eve. I’m just grabbing a few last things for her. But yeah, it’s great seeing you again. You, uh, you look good.”“Um; thanks,” she replied with hesitation.“I’m, uh, gonna be home for a couple of weeks. Would you want to, I don’t know, hang out sometime? Maybe grab a bite to eat? My treat.”“Well, Ken, that’s sweet of you to ask.” she said almost to herself. As she paused, her eyes suddenly lit up as if she had gotten an idea. “Alright! Here, let me give you my number.” She scribbled a series of digits down on a scrap piece of paper, writing her name next to them. “I’ll, um, talk to you later, I guess?”“Sounds great!”Ken couldn’t believe it; he had actually done it! He had asked out the prettiest girl he had ever known! Moreover, she had given him her number! Things were definitely looking up.“Dick!” a voice behind them yelled.Ken turned, immediately recognizing Jason Brown, Jacqueline’s fraternal twin brother, along with his two flunkies, Brian and Barrett Sullivan. Jason had been the star quarterback at his high school, and the Sullivan boys were his best offensive linemen. They often served as his muscle off the football field, as well. Ken was intimately familiar with these three, as they had made it their mission in high school to make his life a living hell. Being stuffed in lockers, having his wallet stolen, all were commonplace with them. The three approached, attempting to appear imposing, which they were from the perspective of the ever-scrawny Ken.“I’ve got nothing to say to you guys,” Ken muttered as they approached.“Well I’ve got something to say to you, Mr. Kenny Dick,” Jason growled.“Just shut up and leave me alone,” Ken replied, his blood boiling at the use of Jason’s longtime nickname for him.“No! You shut the fuck up and listen!” Jason said, grabbing Ken by the collar of his tee-shirt and flinging him against his car. In the process, Ken dropped his shopping bags, the jugs of tea landing directly on the egg carton.“Jason! Stop it!” Jacqueline protested.Undeterred, Jason threatened. “Listen fuck-wad, you stay the hell away from my sister!”“She’s an adult, dickhead! She can have anyone she wants as a friend!” Ken protested.“You don’t belong on the same Planet as her! You’re nothing’! A pathetic sack of guts your dumbass mother decided to give a name to! Know what? Just do us all a favor and drop dead!”Enraged at the insult to his mom, Ken swung a wild haymaker at his assailant, but Jason was more than ready, pinning Ken’s arm back against his car. Jason then delivered a crushing punch to Ken’s gut, dropping him down to his knees. Before leaving, Jason knelt down next to his gasping victim.“Next time, I won’t be so nice. Next time; I might just kill you myself. See ya around. Dick.” Turning to his sister, Jason said, “Come on, time to go home.”Jacqueline looked down at the pitiful form of Ken before muttering, “Sorry, Ken.”The trio of boys sauntered off across the parking lot, laughing and high-fiving at their antics. Jacqueline followed right behind them. Ken picked himself up and inspected his groceries, discovering the crushed eggs in his bag. Swearing and cursing, he grabbed the misshapen carton and went to throw it in a nearby trash can.“No chess pie tonight.”As Ken returned to his car and began his drive home, Jason and his flunkies watched on from his car, still pleased with their efforts.“You shouldn’t have done that,” Jacqueline said in a lecturing tone.Jason turned to face his sister. “I do what I gotta do, Jacqueline. That fuck-wad has no business getting friendly with you. He needs to learn his place.”“Be that as it may, I can take care of myself,” she replied firmly.“Take care of yourself? Wait; you didn’t?”“I did. Jason, someday you’ll learn that there are more subtle and effective ways to ward off undesirables. Trust me, Ken won’t bother me ever again.”Back at Home.Upon arriving back home, Ken couldn’t bring himself to tell his mom about the incident with the eggs. He instead told her that the store had run out altogether. She had spent many sleepless nights in the past worrying about the constant bullying her son was subjected to in school. Ken didn’t want to give her anything else to worry about. By this time, has uncles had started arriving, and the living room was soon filled with the sounds of football games. In Ken’s mind, these were no more thought provoking that the mindless Christmas specials he had found earlier. Ken went up to his room to take a hot shower, as well as get some alone time in the process. As he stripped down, he saw a bruise beginning to form on his stomach from Jason’s punch. He winced in pain as he touched the tender skin.Shit; that’s not going away for a while.Ken took some Tylenol for the pain before stepping into the shower. The hot water helped relax his body, and the steam gradually built up, clearing his mind a bit. He finished after a while and, after making sure his door was shut, flopped facedown onto his bed. After laying there for around an hour or so, his mom finally called him down to rejoin the family for dinner.Taking his seat at the table, Ken glanced around the room at his various family members. His mom had two older brothers, Lee and Stan. Though Lee was tall and still relatively youthful looking at forty-five, Stan was shorter and beginning to bald as he approached fifty. Still, both of them had one notable thing in common as far as Ken was concerned: they were both still jocks at heart. Ken had never known his father; it had always just been him and his mom. He could tell that his uncles tried to be male role models for him, but their efforts were usually ill-conceived attempts to “man him up.” Never once did they understand his introverted tendencies, and always tried to get him to be more of a people person. After a while, Ken stopped paying their advice any attention.It was striking to Ken how similar Lee and Stan’s families were. They had both married beautiful, blonde cheerleaders, and now both had sixteen-year-old daughters, both of whom were among the most popular girls in school. It all sickened Ken; they were just perpetuating the stereotype of pretty and popular being the be-all, end-all in life. As the family ate, Ken remained silent for the most part. The adults were engrossed in discussions about their jobs, and the two daughters were giggling and playing on their phones the entire time. None of this was relevant to Ken.“You know, I saw something interesting today,” Lee said as dessert was being brought out. “I was at Kroger filling up my car, and saw you in the main parking lot, Ken. Looked like you were, uh, having some words with a few guys out there.”Shit! He saw that?Not wanting to worry his mom, Ken replied, “It; it was nothing.”“Nothing, eh? Is that why that punk punched you in the gut?”With a worried look on her face, Helen asked, “Ken, sweetie, what is he talking about?” She walked around the table to Ken’s seat and lifted up his shirt, seeing the bruise on his abdomen. “Was it that Jason boy again?”“Mom, just let it go.”“No! Ken, you know I worry about you!”“You worry about Me? I think you need to worry more about your brother!” Ken shouted, his anger exploding at last. “Right, Uncle Lee? Come on, you see your own nephew being ganged up on in a parking lot, yet you do nothing to help him out?!”“A man’s gotta learn to fight his own battles,” Lee replied in a calm voice.“No. You want to know what a man does? A man sticks up for his Family! No. Matter. What! You stood there and watched your own nephew get beaten up. That says a hell of a lot more about you than it does me. And if that’s family; I don’t want any part of this one.”Without a word, Ken stood and left the dining room. He then grabbed his MIT hoodie and headed for the front door. As he was about to get into his car and drive off, he saw to his frustration that his uncles’ cars were parked in the driveway behind him, blocking him in. Cursing under his breath, he prepared to leave on foot.“Ken! Come back inside, please!” Helen called after him, running down the driveway.“No. I’ve got to go out; clear my head.”“Ken, it’s Christmas Eve. Please, come be with your family.”“Mom, aside from you, not a single person in that house feels like family to me,” Ken replied coldly. “I’ll; I’ll call you after while.”Ken walked off into the cold Georgia night, not knowing for sure where to go or what to do. Nobody else was out, as they were all at home with their families. Remembering the square in historic downtown Alpharetta, he decided to head in that direction. Maybe the quiet walk would do him some good.Arriving in the town square, Ken walked along the sidewalks for a bit, peering into the darkened windows of the various shops and restaurants. Everything looked so different to him with everyone gone for the day; it all seemed so peaceful. As he continued to walk, he soon saw City Hall in the distance. In front of the building was a large green space, which was teeming with a surprising amount of activity for it being Christmas Eve. Ken moved closer, now spying a large gathering of people sitting on picnic blankets, all bundled up in coats and hats. Ahead of them, a large screen projected the classic film, It’s a Wonderful Life.Though Ken was never into the Christmas cheer, as it were, he felt strangely drawn to watch a few minutes of the film from a distance. He soon began to regret that decision, as the movie had reached the point where George Baily had an arrest warrant out for him, lashing out at his family in anger. Watching him get drunk and punched in a bar fight, Ken began to feel sick with anger. Despite all his efforts to help better the world around him, the universe conspired against George Baily; just as it seemed to be conspiring against Ken. Unable to watch a moment more, he turned and walked into the nearby park.Again alone with his thoughts, Ken sat on a bench near the fountain in the center of the park. He contemplated many things, as he often did in solitude. He thought about his piss poor excuse for a family, intent on changing him into what they say he should be. If only they could love him as he is. He thought about Jason Brown, a perpetual asshole that managed to get all the beautiful women his heart desired. If only the universe would serve up his just desserts, rather than conspiring against Ken. Sighing in frustration, he stuffed his freezing hands into his jeans pockets.Jacqueline!Feeling the scrap of paper still in his pocket, Ken suddenly felt a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dreary day. He needed something, anything to lift his spirits, and hearing her kind, sweet voice might just do it. Hell, he didn’t even care anymore if she was interested in him in a romantic sense; he just needed someone to listen and understand him. Digging out his phone, he dialed the number. After a single ring, a message began to play, seeming to be read by a game show host.“Congratulations! You’ve reached Live 95.5 FM’s world-famous Loser Line! Live 95.5; featuring the best entertainment in Seattle! If you’ve reached this message, you have attempted to hit on a girl Way out of your league! That poor young lady wants nothing to do with you, but you just couldn’t help creeping on her! That’s where we come in! Now you know what a loser you really are! So leave the girl alone, loser! You’re doing everyone a favor! If you’d like to leave a message for the world-famous Loser Line, begin speaking at the tone!”Beep!Ken hung up the phone in quiet disbelief. How could he have been so wrong about Jacqueline? They had worked so well together in school, and he even considered her a friend! She always spoke so kindly to him, how could this have happened? Was she really as nasty and shallow as her dumbass brother? Was she really just that good of an actress? As he pondered all this, Ken’s rage finally exploded out of him.“That two-faced bitch! Who the fuck does she think she is?! I trusted her! Hell, she would never have gotten a full scholarship without my help! All I ever did was Like her! And after all that, she doesn’t even have the decency to turn me down to my face?! What The Fucking Hell? At least her brother was honest about his disdain. She’s far worse! I can’t imagine how evil she’d be if a person actually offended her?”Slumping back down onto the park bench, every thought that entered Ken’s mind brought him lower. Jason was an ass, but then again, he didn’t know how to act any different. Uncle Lee was a moron, but then again, he had no malicious intent. But Jacqueline; she was the last straw. He had trusted her, opened up to her, and she repaid him by committing the single most cruel and senseless act Ken could ever imagine. Everything was crashing down around him. As he continued to sulk, Jason’s words entered into his mind once more.“I should just do everyone a favor and drop dead; is that what you want, Jacqueline? Seems like you agree with your brother, or you wouldn’t have given me that number.”Ken reached into his pocket, withdrawing a folding knife. It had been a high school graduation present to him from his grandfather, before he passed a few months later. A far cry from the typical Swiss Army knife, he unfolded the shiny, four-inch blade, which stood in beautiful contrast to the wooden handle. Inscribed in the wood were Ken’s initials. He had not used it for anything yet, never had any need to. As he stared at his reflection in the blade, Ken kept replaying Jason’s cruel words in his mind, to do the world a favor and drop dead.“Maybe that’s not such a bad idea.” Ken mumbled.Just as he took a firm grip on the handle, preparing to take the knife to his throat, an unfamiliar voice came from off to the side.“Hey!”Gabrielle’s Christmas night.Gabrielle Libertine relaxed in a lawn chair, savoring the crisp, cold air of Christmas Eve. This was her favorite time of the year, and being able to enjoy an outdoor showing of her favorite Christmas film, It’s a Wonderful Life, made it even better. It all fit in perfectly with her life philosophy: live for happiness. Not only her own, but as much as could be had for the world around her too.“You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and

Miracles can happen on Christmas Eve.Based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at My First Time.Ken Dix flipped through the TV guide at a moderate pace; “500 channels, and nothing but Christmas specials on.”Finding nothing but disappointment at every turn. As it was Christmas Eve, every show was a mushy feel-good romp spouting lines about family and goodwill to others. None of that spoke to Ken in the slightest.“Ken?” a voice came from the kitchen.“What’s up, Mom?”“I’ve got my hands full with making everything for dinner tonight, but I’m going to run short on a couple of ingredients,” Helen Dix said, poking her head into the living room. “Can you run to the store real quick for me please?”“Sure thing,” Ken replied, seeing as he had nothing better to do.“Great, thank you. I made a list on the counter for you. The store should be open for another hour or two. The main things would be the eggs; I don’t have enough to finish my famous chess pie. If they have tea by the gallon, grab one sweet and one unsweet. The rest are great if you find them, but not essential.”“Got it,” Ken said as he took the list from the counter.Heading out to his car, Ken cranked up his Honda Civic and pulled out of the driveway. As he made his way into town, Ken reflected on his current situation. Though he loved his mom, being home for the holidays was always nerve-wracking for him. His hometown of Alpharetta, Georgia was crawling with former high school classmates of his, people he’d just as soon never see again. But up at MIT, he was actually among peers that he could relate to on an intellectual level. Not that he’d made that many friends up there. As a nineteen-year-old freshman, he was still stuck in the same boring math and science classes as everyone else. He couldn’t wait until he could start his health sciences training. Maybe then he could meet some decent people, perhaps of the female variety.Ken soon arrived in the parking lot of the local Kroger. It was soon obvious that the place was packed with last-minute shoppers, all trying to find that one final ingredient they were missing. Locking his car, Ken sauntered into the store, grabbing a shopping basket along the way. He found the shelves of the store well picked over, striking out on the nonessential items on his mom’s list. Making his way to the drinks aisle, he was pleased to see that the store was keeping the gallon jugs of tea well stocked for the holidays, and picked up a pair.Ken soon arrived in the refrigerated section of the store. Almost every shelf was empty, but he did manage to find one last carton of six eggs, just what his mom needed. Depositing the carton in his shopping basket, Ken made his way back to the front of the store, checking out in the express lane. He gripped the shopping bags tightly, being careful that the eggs weren’t harmed from the swinging of the bags. Arriving back in the parking lot, he was pleasantly surprised to see one of his former classmates, Jacqueline Brown. As he approached, she saw him coming.“Ken? Kenneth Dix?”She was extremely pretty, as was befitting one of the most popular girls in school, and kept her chestnut-brown hair cut just below her jawline. Her soft, warm facial features and bubbly personality belied the sharp intellect hiding underneath. She and Ken had been partners a few times in various subjects, and he had helped craft her entrance essay to the University of Washington. This earned her a full ride scholarship. In spite of her popularity, they had worked well together, and Ken even dared to call her a friend, at least in his own mind. They had never hung out on a social basis; her circle of friends would never have let her live that down. Still, times had changed. They were both out of high school, after all. What could it hurt to ask?“Jacqueline? Wow, I never thought I’d see you back here. Thought you escaped to cooler climates?”“Yeah, Seattle is nice, but nothing beats Christmas at home,” she replied, adjusting her UW sweatshirt. “You back for the same reason?”“Uh huh. Mom pretty much insisted. She won’t settle for anything less than a full family gathering on Christmas Eve. I’m just grabbing a few last things for her. But yeah, it’s great seeing you again. You, uh, you look good.”“Um; thanks,” she replied with hesitation.“I’m, uh, gonna be home for a couple of weeks. Would you want to, I don’t know, hang out sometime? Maybe grab a bite to eat? My treat.”“Well, Ken, that’s sweet of you to ask.” she said almost to herself. As she paused, her eyes suddenly lit up as if she had gotten an idea. “Alright! Here, let me give you my number.” She scribbled a series of digits down on a scrap piece of paper, writing her name next to them. “I’ll, um, talk to you later, I guess?”“Sounds great!”Ken couldn’t believe it; he had actually done it! He had asked out the prettiest girl he had ever known! Moreover, she had given him her number! Things were definitely looking up.“Dick!” a voice behind them yelled.Ken turned, immediately recognizing Jason Brown, Jacqueline’s fraternal twin brother, along with his two flunkies, Brian and Barrett Sullivan. Jason had been the star quarterback at his high school, and the Sullivan boys were his best offensive linemen. They often served as his muscle off the football field, as well. Ken was intimately familiar with these three, as they had made it their mission in high school to make his life a living hell. Being stuffed in lockers, having his wallet stolen, all were commonplace with them. The three approached, attempting to appear imposing, which they were from the perspective of the ever-scrawny Ken.“I’ve got nothing to say to you guys,” Ken muttered as they approached.“Well I’ve got something to say to you, Mr. Kenny Dick,” Jason growled.“Just shut up and leave me alone,” Ken replied, his blood boiling at the use of Jason’s longtime nickname for him.“No! You shut the fuck up and listen!” Jason said, grabbing Ken by the collar of his tee-shirt and flinging him against his car. In the process, Ken dropped his shopping bags, the jugs of tea landing directly on the egg carton.“Jason! Stop it!” Jacqueline protested.Undeterred, Jason threatened. “Listen fuck-wad, you stay the hell away from my sister!”“She’s an adult, dickhead! She can have anyone she wants as a friend!” Ken protested.“You don’t belong on the same Planet as her! You’re nothing’! A pathetic sack of guts your dumbass mother decided to give a name to! Know what? Just do us all a favor and drop dead!”Enraged at the insult to his mom, Ken swung a wild haymaker at his assailant, but Jason was more than ready, pinning Ken’s arm back against his car. Jason then delivered a crushing punch to Ken’s gut, dropping him down to his knees. Before leaving, Jason knelt down next to his gasping victim.“Next time, I won’t be so nice. Next time; I might just kill you myself. See ya around. Dick.” Turning to his sister, Jason said, “Come on, time to go home.”Jacqueline looked down at the pitiful form of Ken before muttering, “Sorry, Ken.”The trio of boys sauntered off across the parking lot, laughing and high-fiving at their antics. Jacqueline followed right behind them. Ken picked himself up and inspected his groceries, discovering the crushed eggs in his bag. Swearing and cursing, he grabbed the misshapen carton and went to throw it in a nearby trash can.“No chess pie tonight.”As Ken returned to his car and began his drive home, Jason and his flunkies watched on from his car, still pleased with their efforts.“You shouldn’t have done that,” Jacqueline said in a lecturing tone.Jason turned to face his sister. “I do what I gotta do, Jacqueline. That fuck-wad has no business getting friendly with you. He needs to learn his place.”“Be that as it may, I can take care of myself,” she replied firmly.“Take care of yourself? Wait; you didn’t?”“I did. Jason, someday you’ll learn that there are more subtle and effective ways to ward off undesirables. Trust me, Ken won’t bother me ever again.”Back at Home.Upon arriving back home, Ken couldn’t bring himself to tell his mom about the incident with the eggs. He instead told her that the store had run out altogether. She had spent many sleepless nights in the past worrying about the constant bullying her son was subjected to in school. Ken didn’t want to give her anything else to worry about. By this time, has uncles had started arriving, and the living room was soon filled with the sounds of football games. In Ken’s mind, these were no more thought provoking that the mindless Christmas specials he had found earlier. Ken went up to his room to take a hot shower, as well as get some alone time in the process. As he stripped down, he saw a bruise beginning to form on his stomach from Jason’s punch. He winced in pain as he touched the tender skin.Shit; that’s not going away for a while.Ken took some Tylenol for the pain before stepping into the shower. The hot water helped relax his body, and the steam gradually built up, clearing his mind a bit. He finished after a while and, after making sure his door was shut, flopped facedown onto his bed. After laying there for around an hour or so, his mom finally called him down to rejoin the family for dinner.Taking his seat at the table, Ken glanced around the room at his various family members. His mom had two older brothers, Lee and Stan. Though Lee was tall and still relatively youthful looking at forty-five, Stan was shorter and beginning to bald as he approached fifty. Still, both of them had one notable thing in common as far as Ken was concerned: they were both still jocks at heart. Ken had never known his father; it had always just been him and his mom. He could tell that his uncles tried to be male role models for him, but their efforts were usually ill-conceived attempts to “man him up.” Never once did they understand his introverted tendencies, and always tried to get him to be more of a people person. After a while, Ken stopped paying their advice any attention.It was striking to Ken how similar Lee and Stan’s families were. They had both married beautiful, blonde cheerleaders, and now both had sixteen-year-old daughters, both of whom were among the most popular girls in school. It all sickened Ken; they were just perpetuating the stereotype of pretty and popular being the be-all, end-all in life. As the family ate, Ken remained silent for the most part. The adults were engrossed in discussions about their jobs, and the two daughters were giggling and playing on their phones the entire time. None of this was relevant to Ken.“You know, I saw something interesting today,” Lee said as dessert was being brought out. “I was at Kroger filling up my car, and saw you in the main parking lot, Ken. Looked like you were, uh, having some words with a few guys out there.”Shit! He saw that?Not wanting to worry his mom, Ken replied, “It; it was nothing.”“Nothing, eh? Is that why that punk punched you in the gut?”With a worried look on her face, Helen asked, “Ken, sweetie, what is he talking about?” She walked around the table to Ken’s seat and lifted up his shirt, seeing the bruise on his abdomen. “Was it that Jason boy again?”“Mom, just let it go.”“No! Ken, you know I worry about you!”“You worry about Me? I think you need to worry more about your brother!” Ken shouted, his anger exploding at last. “Right, Uncle Lee? Come on, you see your own nephew being ganged up on in a parking lot, yet you do nothing to help him out?!”“A man’s gotta learn to fight his own battles,” Lee replied in a calm voice.“No. You want to know what a man does? A man sticks up for his Family! No. Matter. What! You stood there and watched your own nephew get beaten up. That says a hell of a lot more about you than it does me. And if that’s family; I don’t want any part of this one.”Without a word, Ken stood and left the dining room. He then grabbed his MIT hoodie and headed for the front door. As he was about to get into his car and drive off, he saw to his frustration that his uncles’ cars were parked in the driveway behind him, blocking him in. Cursing under his breath, he prepared to leave on foot.“Ken! Come back inside, please!” Helen called after him, running down the driveway.“No. I’ve got to go out; clear my head.”“Ken, it’s Christmas Eve. Please, come be with your family.”“Mom, aside from you, not a single person in that house feels like family to me,” Ken replied coldly. “I’ll; I’ll call you after while.”Ken walked off into the cold Georgia night, not knowing for sure where to go or what to do. Nobody else was out, as they were all at home with their families. Remembering the square in historic downtown Alpharetta, he decided to head in that direction. Maybe the quiet walk would do him some good.Arriving in the town square, Ken walked along the sidewalks for a bit, peering into the darkened windows of the various shops and restaurants. Everything looked so different to him with everyone gone for the day; it all seemed so peaceful. As he continued to walk, he soon saw City Hall in the distance. In front of the building was a large green space, which was teeming with a surprising amount of activity for it being Christmas Eve. Ken moved closer, now spying a large gathering of people sitting on picnic blankets, all bundled up in coats and hats. Ahead of them, a large screen projected the classic film, It’s a Wonderful Life.Though Ken was never into the Christmas cheer, as it were, he felt strangely drawn to watch a few minutes of the film from a distance. He soon began to regret that decision, as the movie had reached the point where George Baily had an arrest warrant out for him, lashing out at his family in anger. Watching him get drunk and punched in a bar fight, Ken began to feel sick with anger. Despite all his efforts to help better the world around him, the universe conspired against George Baily; just as it seemed to be conspiring against Ken. Unable to watch a moment more, he turned and walked into the nearby park.Again alone with his thoughts, Ken sat on a bench near the fountain in the center of the park. He contemplated many things, as he often did in solitude. He thought about his piss poor excuse for a family, intent on changing him into what they say he should be. If only they could love him as he is. He thought about Jason Brown, a perpetual asshole that managed to get all the beautiful women his heart desired. If only the universe would serve up his just desserts, rather than conspiring against Ken. Sighing in frustration, he stuffed his freezing hands into his jeans pockets.Jacqueline!Feeling the scrap of paper still in his pocket, Ken suddenly felt a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dreary day. He needed something, anything to lift his spirits, and hearing her kind, sweet voice might just do it. Hell, he didn’t even care anymore if she was interested in him in a romantic sense; he just needed someone to listen and understand him. Digging out his phone, he dialed the number. After a single ring, a message began to play, seeming to be read by a game show host.“Congratulations! You’ve reached Live 95.5 FM’s world-famous Loser Line! Live 95.5; featuring the best entertainment in Seattle! If you’ve reached this message, you have attempted to hit on a girl Way out of your league! That poor young lady wants nothing to do with you, but you just couldn’t help creeping on her! That’s where we come in! Now you know what a loser you really are! So leave the girl alone, loser! You’re doing everyone a favor! If you’d like to leave a message for the world-famous Loser Line, begin speaking at the tone!”Beep!Ken hung up the phone in quiet disbelief. How could he have been so wrong about Jacqueline? They had worked so well together in school, and he even considered her a friend! She always spoke so kindly to him, how could this have happened? Was she really as nasty and shallow as her dumbass brother? Was she really just that good of an actress? As he pondered all this, Ken’s rage finally exploded out of him.“That two-faced bitch! Who the fuck does she think she is?! I trusted her! Hell, she would never have gotten a full scholarship without my help! All I ever did was Like her! And after all that, she doesn’t even have the decency to turn me down to my face?! What The Fucking Hell? At least her brother was honest about his disdain. She’s far worse! I can’t imagine how evil she’d be if a person actually offended her?”Slumping back down onto the park bench, every thought that entered Ken’s mind brought him lower. Jason was an ass, but then again, he didn’t know how to act any different. Uncle Lee was a moron, but then again, he had no malicious intent. But Jacqueline; she was the last straw. He had trusted her, opened up to her, and she repaid him by committing the single most cruel and senseless act Ken could ever imagine. Everything was crashing down around him. As he continued to sulk, Jason’s words entered into his mind once more.“I should just do everyone a favor and drop dead; is that what you want, Jacqueline? Seems like you agree with your brother, or you wouldn’t have given me that number.”Ken reached into his pocket, withdrawing a folding knife. It had been a high school graduation present to him from his grandfather, before he passed a few months later. A far cry from the typical Swiss Army knife, he unfolded the shiny, four-inch blade, which stood in beautiful contrast to the wooden handle. Inscribed in the wood were Ken’s initials. He had not used it for anything yet, never had any need to. As he stared at his reflection in the blade, Ken kept replaying Jason’s cruel words in his mind, to do the world a favor and drop dead.“Maybe that’s not such a bad idea.” Ken mumbled.Just as he took a firm grip on the handle, preparing to take the knife to his throat, an unfamiliar voice came from off to the side.“Hey!”Gabrielle’s Christmas night.Gabrielle Libertine relaxed in a lawn chair, savoring the crisp, cold air of Christmas Eve. This was her favorite time of the year, and being able to enjoy an outdoor showing of her favorite Christmas film, It’s a Wonderful Life, made it even better. It all fit in perfectly with her life philosophy: live for happiness. Not only her own, but as much as could be had for the world around her too.“You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and

Last time we spoke about the battle of Nanchang. After securing Hainan and targeting Zhejiang–Jiangxi Railway corridors, Japan's 11th Army, backed by armor, air power, and riverine operations, sought a rapid, surgical seizure of Nanchang to sever eastern Chinese logistics and coerce Chongqing. China, reorganizing under Chiang Kai-shek, concentrated over 200,000 troops across 52 divisions in the Ninth and Third War Zones, with Xue Yue commanding the 9th War Zone in defense of Wuhan-Nanchang corridors. The fighting began with German-style, combined-arms river operations along the Xiushui and Gan rivers, including feints, river crossings, and heavy artillery, sometimes using poison gas. From March 20–23, Japanese forces established a beachhead and advanced into Fengxin, Shengmi, and later Nanchang, despite stiff Chinese resistance and bridges being destroyed. Chiang's strategic shift toward attrition pushed for broader offensives to disrupt railways and rear areas, though Chinese plans for a counteroffensive repeatedly stalled due to logistics and coordination issues. By early May, Japanese forces encircled and captured Nanchang, albeit at heavy cost, with Chinese casualties surpassing 43,000 dead and Japanese losses over 2,200 dead.    #187 The Battle of Suixian–Zaoyang-Shatow Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Having seized Wuhan in a brutal offensive the previous year, the Japanese sought not just to hold their ground but to solidify their grip on this vital hub. Wuhan, a bustling metropolis at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han Rivers, had become a linchpin in their strategy, a base from which they could project power across central China. Yet, the city was far from secure, Chinese troops in northern Hubei and southern Henan, perched above the mighty Yangtze, posed an unrelenting threat. To relieve the mounting pressure on their newfound stronghold, the Japanese high command orchestrated a bold offensive against the towns of Suixian and Zaoyang. They aimed to annihilate the main force of the Chinese 5th War Zone, a move that would crush the Nationalist resistance in the region and secure their flanks. This theater of war, freshly designated as the 5th War Zone after the grueling Battle of Wuhan, encompassed a vast expanse west of Shashi in the upper Yangtze basin. It stretched across northern Hubei, southern Henan, and the rugged Dabie Mountains in eastern Anhui, forming a strategic bulwark that guarded the eastern approaches to Sichuan, the very heartland of the Nationalist government's central institutions. Historian Rana Mitter in Forgotten Ally described this zone as "a gateway of immense importance, a natural fortress that could either serve as a launchpad for offensives against Japanese-held territories or a defensive redoubt protecting the rear areas of Sichuan and Shaanxi". The terrain itself was a defender's dream and an attacker's nightmare: to the east rose the imposing Dabie Mountains, their peaks cloaked in mist and folklore; the Tongbai Mountains sliced across the north like a jagged spine; the Jing Mountains guarded the west; the Yangtze River snaked southward, its waters a formidable barrier; the Dahong Mountains dominated the center, offering hidden valleys for ambushes; and the Han River (also known as the Xiang River) carved a north-south path through it all. Two critical transport arteries—the Hanyi Road linking Hankou to Yichang in Hubei, and the Xianghua Road connecting Xiangyang to Huayuan near Hankou—crisscrossed this landscape, integrating the war zone into a web of mobility. From here, Chinese forces could menace the vital Pinghan Railway, that iron lifeline running from Beiping (modern Beijing) to Hankou, while also threatening the Wuhan region itself. In retreat, it provided a sanctuary to shield the Nationalist heartlands. As military strategist Sun Tzu might have appreciated, this area had long been a magnet for generals, its contours shaping the fates of empires since ancient times. Despite the 5th War Zone's intricate troop deployments, marked by units of varying combat prowess and a glaring shortage of heavy weapons, the Chinese forces made masterful use of the terrain to harass their invaders. Drawing from accounts in Li Zongren's memoirs, he noted how these defenders, often outgunned but never outmaneuvered, turned hills into fortresses and rivers into moats. In early April 1939, as spring rains turned paths to mud, Chinese troops ramped up their disruptions along the southern stretches of the Pinghan Railway, striking from both eastern and western flanks with guerrilla precision. What truly rattled the Japanese garrison in Wuhan was the arrival of reinforcements: six full divisions redeployed to Zaoyang, bolstering the Chinese capacity to launch flanking assaults that could unravel Japanese supply lines. Alarmed by this buildup, the Japanese 11th Army, ensconced in the Wuhan area under the command of General Yasuji Okamura, a figure whose tactical acumen would later earn him notoriety in the Pacific War, devised a daring plan. They intended to plunge deep into the 5th War Zone, smashing the core of the Chinese forces and rendering them impotent, thereby neutralizing the northwestern threat to Wuhan once and for all. From April onward, the Japanese mobilized with meticulous preparation, amassing troops equipped with formidable artillery, rumbling tanks, and squadrons of aircraft that darkened the skies. Historians estimate they committed roughly three and a half divisions to this endeavor, as detailed in Edward J. Drea's In the Service of the Emperor: Essays on the Imperial Japanese Army. Employing a classic pincer movement, a two-flank encirclement coupled with a central breakthrough, they aimed for a swift, decisive strike to obliterate the main Chinese force in the narrow Suixian-Zaoyang corridor, squeezed between the Tongbai and Dahong Mountains. The offensive erupted in full fury on May 1, 1939, as Japanese columns surged forward like a tidal wave, their engines roaring and banners fluttering in the dust-choked air. General Li Zongren, the commander of the 5th War Zone, a man whose leadership had already shone in earlier campaigns like the defense of Tai'erzhuang in 1938, issued urgent orders to cease offensive actions against the Japanese and pivot to a defensive stance. Based on intelligence about the enemy's dispositions, Li orchestrated a comprehensive campaign structure, assigning precise defensive roles and battle plans to each unit. This was no haphazard scramble; it was a symphony of strategy, as Li himself recounted in his memoirs, emphasizing the need to exploit the terrain's natural advantages. While various Chinese war zones executed the "April Offensive" from late April to mid-May, actively harrying and containing Japanese forces, the 5th War Zone focused its energies on the southern segment of the Pinghan Railway, assaulting it from both sides in a bid to disrupt logistics. The main force of the 31st Army Group, under the command of Tang Enbo, a general known for his aggressive tactics and later criticized for corruption, shifted from elsewhere in Hubei to Zaoyang, fortifying the zone and posing a dire threat to the Japanese flanks and rear areas. To counter this peril and safeguard transportation along the Wuhan-Pinghan Railway, the Japanese, led by the formidable Okamura, unleashed their assault from the line stretching through Xinyang, Yingshan, and Zhongxiang. Mobilizing the 3rd, 13th, and 16th Divisions alongside the 2nd and 4th Cavalry Brigades, they charged toward the Suixian-Zaoyang region in western Hubei, intent on eradicating the Chinese main force and alleviating the siege-like pressure on Wuhan. In a masterful reorganization, Li Zongren divided his forces into two army groups, the left and right, plus a dedicated river defense army. His strategy was a blend of attrition and opportunism: harnessing the Tongbai and Dahong Mountains, clinging to key towns like lifelines, and grinding down the Japanese through prolonged warfare while biding time for a counterstroke. This approach echoed the Fabian tactics of ancient Rome, wearing the enemy thin before delivering the coup de grâce. The storm broke at dawn on May 1, when the main contingents of the Japanese 16th and 13th Divisions, bolstered by the 4th Cavalry Brigade from their bases in Zhongxiang and Jingshan, hurled themselves against the Chinese 37th and 180th Divisions of the Right Army Group. Supported by droning aircraft that strafed from above and tanks that churned the earth below, the Japanese advanced with mechanical precision. By May 4, they had shattered the defensive lines flanking Changshoudian, then surged along the east bank of the Xiang River toward Zaoyang in a massive offensive. Fierce combat raged through May 5, as described in Japanese war diaries compiled in Senshi Sōsho (the official Japanese war history series), where soldiers recounted the relentless Chinese resistance amid the smoke and clamor. The Japanese finally breached the defenses, turning their fury on the 122nd Division of the 41st Army. In a heroic stand, the 180th Division clung to Changshoudian, providing cover for the main force's retreat along the east-west Huangqi'an line. The 37th Division fell back to the Yaojiahe line, while elements of the 38th Division repositioned into Liushuigou. On May 6, the Japanese seized Changshoudian, punched through Huangqi'an, and drove northward, unleashing a devastating assault on the 122nd Division's positions near Wenjiamiao. Undeterred, Chinese defenders executed daring flanking maneuvers in the Fenglehe, Yaojiahe, Liushuihe, Shuanghe, and Zhangjiaji areas, turning the landscape into a labyrinth of ambushes. May 7 saw the Japanese pressing on, capturing Zhangjiaji and Shuanghe. By May 8, they assaulted Maozifan and Xinji, where ferocious battles erupted, soldiers clashing in hand-to-hand combat amid the ruins. By May 10, the Japanese had overrun Huyang Town and Xinye, advancing toward Tanghe and the northeastern fringes of Zaoyang. Yet, the Tanghe River front witnessed partial Chinese recoveries: remnants of the Right Army Group, alongside troops from east of the Xianghe, reclaimed Xinye. The 122nd and 180th Divisions withdrew north of Tanghe and Fancheng, while the 37th, 38th, and 132nd Divisions steadfastly held the east bank of the Xianghe River. Concurrently, the main force of the Japanese 3rd Division launched from Yingshan against the 84th and 13th Armies of the 11th Group Army in the Suixian sector. After a whirlwind of combat, the Chinese 84th Army retreated to the Taerwan position. On May 2, the 3rd Division targeted the Gaocheng position of the 13th Army within the 31st Group Army; the ensuing clashes in Taerwan and Gaocheng were a maelstrom of fire, with the Taerwan position exchanging hands multiple times like a deadly game of tug-of-war. By May 4, in a grim escalation, Japanese forces deployed poison gas, a violation of international norms that drew condemnation and is documented in Allied reports from the era, inflicting horrific casualties and compelling the Chinese to relinquish Gaocheng, which fell into enemy hands. On May 5, backed by aerial bombardments, tank charges, and artillery barrages, the Japanese renewed their onslaught along the Gaocheng River and the Lishan-Jiangjiahe line. By May 6, the beleaguered Chinese were forced back to the Tianhekou and Gaocheng line. Suixian succumbed on May 7. On May 8, the Japanese shattered the second line of the 84th Army, capturing Zaoyang and advancing on the Jiangtoudian position of the 85th Army. To evade encirclement, the defenders mounted a valiant resistance before withdrawing from Jiangtoudian; the 84th Army relocated to the Tanghe and Baihe areas, while the 39th Army embedded itself in the Dahongshan for guerrilla operations—a tactic that would bleed the Japanese through hit-and-run warfare, as noted in guerrilla warfare studies by Mao Zedong himself. By May 10, the bulk of the 31st Army Group maneuvered toward Tanghe, reaching north of Biyang by May 15. From Xinyang, Japanese forces struck at Tongbai on May 8; by May 10, elements from Zaoyang advanced to Zhangdian Town and Shangtun Town. In response, the 68th Army of the 1st War Zone dispatched the 143rd Division to defend Queshan and Minggang, and the 119th Division to hold Tongbai. After staunchly blocking the Japanese, they withdrew on May 11 to positions northwest and southwest of Tongbai, shielding the retreat of 5th War Zone units. The Japanese 4th Cavalry Brigade drove toward Tanghe, seizing Tanghe County on May 12. But the tide was turning. In a brilliant reversal, the Fifth War Zone commanded the 31st Army Group, in concert with the 2nd Army Group from the 1st War Zone, to advance from southwestern Henan. Their mission: encircle the bulk of Japanese forces on the Xiangdong Plain and deliver a crushing blow. The main force of the 33rd Army Group targeted Zaoyang, while other units pinned down Japanese rear guards in Zhongxiang. The Chinese counteroffensive erupted with swift successes, Tanghe County was recaptured on May 14, and Tongbai liberated on May 16, shattering the Japanese encirclement scheme. On May 19, after four grueling days of combat, Chinese forces mauled the retreating Japanese, reclaiming Zaoyang and leaving the fields strewn with enemy dead. The 39th Army of the Left Army Group dispersed into the mountains for guerrilla warfare, a shadowy campaign of sabotage and surprise. Forces of the Right Army Group east of the river, along with river defense units, conducted relentless raids on Japanese rears and supply lines over multiple days, sowing chaos before withdrawing to the west bank of the Xiang River on May 21. On May 22, they pressed toward Suixian, recapturing it on May 23. The Japanese, battered and depleted, retreated to their original garrisons in Zhongxiang and Yingshan, restoring the pre-war lines as the battle drew to a close. Throughout this clash, the Chinese held a marked superiority in manpower and coordination, though their deployments lacked full flexibility, briefly placing them on the defensive. After protracted, blood-soaked fighting, they restored the original equilibrium. Despite grievous losses, the Chinese thwarted the Japanese encirclement and exacted a heavy toll, reports from the time, corroborated by Japanese records in Senshi Sōsho, indicate over 13,000 Japanese killed or wounded, with more than 5,000 corpses abandoned on the battlefield. This fulfilled the strategic goal of containing and eroding Japanese strength. Chinese casualties surpassed 25,000, a testament to the ferocity of the struggle. The 5th War Zone seized the initiative in advances and retreats, deftly shifting to outer lines and maintaining positional advantages. As Japanese forces withdrew, Chinese pursuers harried and obstructed them, yielding substantial victories. The Battle of Suizao spanned less than three weeks. The Japanese main force pierced defenses on the east bank of the Han River, advancing to encircle one flank as planned. However, the other two formations met fierce opposition near Suixian and northward, stalling their progress. Adapting to the battlefield's ebb and flow, the Fifth War Zone transformed its tactics: the main force escaped encirclement, maneuvered to outer lines for offensives, and exploited terrain to hammer the Japanese. The pivotal order to flip from defense to offense doomed the encirclement; with the counterattack triumphant, the Japanese declined to hold and retreated. The Chinese pursued with unyielding vigor. By May 24, they had reclaimed Zaoyang, Tongbai, and other locales. Save for Suixian County, the Japanese had fallen back to pre-war positions, reinstating the regional status quo. Thus, the battle concluded, a chapter of resilience etched into the chronicles of China's defiance. In the sweltering heat of southern China, where the humid air clung to every breath like a persistent fog, the Japanese General Staff basked in what they called a triumphant offensive and defensive campaign in Guangdong. But victory, as history so often teaches, is a double-edged sword. By early 1939, the strain was palpable. Their secret supply line snaking from the British colony of Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland was under constant disruption, raids by shadowy guerrilla bands, opportunistic smugglers, and the sheer unpredictability of wartime logistics turning what should have been a lifeline into a leaky sieve. Blockading the entire coastline? A pipe dream, given the vast, jagged shores of Guangdong, dotted with hidden coves and fishing villages that had evaded imperial edicts for centuries. Yet, the General Staff's priorities were unyielding, laser-focused on strangling the Nationalist capital of Chongqing through a relentless blockade. This meant the 21st Army, that workhorse of the Japanese invasion force, had to stay in the fight—no rest for the weary. Drawing from historical records like the Senshi Sōsho (War History Series) compiled by Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies, we know that after the 21st Army reported severing what they dubbed the "secret transport line" at Xinhui, a gritty, hard-fought skirmish that left the local landscape scarred with craters and abandoned supply crates, the General Staff circled back to the idea of a full coastal blockade. It was a classic case of military opportunism: staff officers, poring over maps in dimly lit war rooms in Tokyo, suddenly "discovered" Shantou as a major port. Not just any port, mind you, but a bustling hub tied to the heartstrings of Guangdong's overseas Chinese communities. Shantou and nearby Chao'an weren't mere dots on a map; they were the ancestral hometowns of countless Chaoshan people who had ventured abroad to Southeast Asia, sending back remittances that flowed like lifeblood into the region. Historical economic studies, such as those in The Overseas Chinese in the People's Republic of China by Stephen Fitzgerald, highlight how these funds from the Chaoshan diaspora, often funneled through family networks in places like Singapore and Thailand, were substantial, indirectly fueling China's war effort by sustaining local economies and even purchasing arms on the black market. The Chao-Shao Highway, that dusty artery running near Shantou, was pinpointed as a critical vein connecting Hong Kong's ports to the mainland's interior. So, in early June 1939, the die was cast: Army Order No. 310 thundered from headquarters, commanding the 21st Army to seize Shantou. The Chief of the General Staff himself provided the strategic blueprint, a personal touch that underscored the operation's gravity. The Army Department christened the Chaoshan push "Operation Hua," a nod perhaps to the flowery illusions of easy conquest, while instructing the Navy Department to tag along for the ride. In naval parlance, it became "Operation J," a cryptic label that masked the sheer scale unfolding. Under the Headquarters' watchful eye, what started as a modest blockade morphed into a massive amphibious assault, conjured seemingly out of thin air like a magician's trick, but one with deadly props. The 5th Fleet's orders mobilized an impressive lineup: the 9th Squadron for heavy hitting, the 5th Mine Boat Squadron to clear watery hazards, the 12th and 21st Sweeper Squadrons sweeping for mines like diligent janitors of the sea, the 45th Destroyer Squadron adding destroyer muscle, and air power from the 3rd Combined Air Group (boasting 24 land-based attack aircraft and 9 reconnaissance planes that could spot a fishing boat from miles away). Then there was the Chiyoda Air Group with its 9 reconnaissance aircraft, the Guangdong Air Group contributing a quirky airship and one more recon plane, the 9th Special Landing Squadron from Sasebo trained for beach assaults, and a flotilla of special ships for logistics. On the ground, the 21st Army threw in the 132nd Brigade from the 104th Division, beefed up with the 76th Infantry Battalion, two mountain artillery battalions for lobbing shells over rugged terrain, two engineer battalions to bridge rivers and clear paths, a light armored vehicle platoon rumbling with mechanized menace, and a river-crossing supplies company to keep the troops fed and armed. All under the command of Brigade Commander Juro Goto, a stern officer whose tactical acumen was forged in earlier Manchurian campaigns. The convoy's size demanded rehearsals; the 132nd Brigade trained for boat transfers at Magong in the Penghu Islands, practicing the precarious dance of loading men and gear onto rocking vessels under simulated fire. Secrecy shrouded the whole affair, many officers and soldiers, boarding ships in the dead of night, whispered among themselves that they were finally heading home to Japan, a cruel ruse to maintain operational security. For extra punch, the 21st Army tacked on the 31st Air Squadron for air support, their planes droning like angry hornets ready to sting. This overkill didn't sit well with everyone. Lieutenant General Ando Rikichi, the pragmatic commander overseeing Japanese forces in the region, must have fumed in his Guangzhou headquarters. His intelligence staff, drawing from intercepted radio chatter and local spies as noted in postwar analyses like The Japanese Army in World War II by Gordon L. Rottman, reported that the Chongqing forces in Chaozhou were laughably thin: just the 9th Independent Brigade, a couple of security regiments, and ragtag "self-defense groups" of armed civilians. Why unleash such a sledgehammer on a fly? The mobilization's magnitude even forced a reshuffling of defenses around Guangzhou, pulling resources from the 12th Army's front lines and overburdening the already stretched 18th Division. It was bureaucratic overreach at its finest, a testament to the Imperial Staff's penchant for grand gestures over tactical efficiency. Meanwhile, on the Nationalist side, the winds of war carried whispers of impending doom. The National Revolutionary Army's war histories, such as those compiled in the Zhongguo Kangri Zhanzheng Shi (History of China's War of Resistance Against Japan), note that Chiang Kai-shek's Military Commission had snagged intelligence as early as February 1939 about Japan's plans for a large-scale invasion of Shantou. The efficiency of the Military Command's Second Bureau and the Military Intelligence Bureau was nothing short of astonishing, networks of agents, double agents, and radio intercepts piercing the veil of Japanese secrecy. Even as the convoy slipped out of Penghu, a detailed report outlining operational orders landed on Commander Zhang Fakui's desk, the ink still fresh. Zhang, a battle-hardened strategist whose career spanned the Northern Expedition and beyond , had four months to prepare for what would be dubbed the decisive battle of Chaoshan. Yet, in a move that baffled some contemporaries, he chose not to fortify and defend it tooth and nail. After the Fourth War Zone submitted its opinions, likely heated debates in smoke-filled command posts, Chiang Kai-shek greenlit the plan. By March, the Military Commission issued its strategic policy: when the enemy hit Chaoshan, a sliver of regular troops would team up with civilian armed forces for mobile and guerrilla warfare, grinding down the invaders like sandpaper on steel. The orders specified guerrilla zones in Chaozhou, Jiaxing, and Huizhou, unifying local militias under a banner of "extensive guerrilla warfare" to coordinate with regular army maneuvers, gradually eroding the Japanese thrust. In essence, the 4th War Zone wasn't tasked with holding Chao'an and Shantou at all costs; instead, they'd strike hard during the landing, then let guerrillas harry the occupiers post-capture. It was a doctrine of attrition in a "confined battlefield," honing skills through maneuver and ambush. Remarkably, the fall of these cities was preordained by the Military Commission three months before the Japanese even issued their orders, a strategic feint that echoed ancient Sun Tzu tactics of yielding ground to preserve strength. To execute this, the 4th War Zone birthed the Chao-Jia-Hui Guerrilla Command after meticulous preparation, with General Zou Hong, head of Guangdong's Security Bureau and a no-nonsense administrator known for his anti-smuggling campaigns, taking the helm. In just three months, Zhang Fakui scraped together the Independent 9th Brigade, the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Guangdong Provincial Security Regiments, and the Security Training Regiment. Even with the 9th Army Group lurking nearby, he handed the reins of the Chao-Shan operation to the 12th Army Group's planners. Their March guidelines sketched three lines of resistance from the coast to the mountains, a staged withdrawal that allowed frontline defenders to melt away like ghosts. This blueprint mirrored Chiang Kai-shek's post-Wuhan reassessment, where the loss of that key city in 1938 prompted a shift to protracted warfare. A Xinhua News Agency columnist later summed it up scathingly: "The Chongqing government, having lost its will to resist, colludes with the Japanese and seeks to eliminate the Communists, adopting a policy of passive resistance." This narrative, propagated by Communist sources, dogged Chiang and the National Revolutionary Army for decades, painting them as defeatists even as they bled the Japanese dry through attrition. February 1939 saw Commander Zhang kicking off a reorganization of the 12th Army Group, transforming it from a patchwork force into something resembling a modern army. He could have hunkered down, assigning troops to a desperate defense of Chaoshan, but that would have handed the initiative to the overcautious Japanese General Staff, whose activism often bordered on paranoia. Zhang, with the wisdom of a seasoned general who had navigated the treacherous politics of pre-war China, weighed the scales carefully. His vision? Forge the 12th Army Group into a nimble field army, not squander tens of thousands on a secondary port. Japan's naval and air dominance—evident in the devastation of Shanghai in 1937, meant Guangdong's forces could be pulverized in Shantou just as easily. Losing Chaozhou and Shantou? Acceptable, if it preserved core strength for the long haul. Post-Xinhui, Zhang doubled down on resistance, channeling efforts into live-fire exercises for the 12th Army, turning green recruits into battle-ready soldiers amid the Guangdong hills. The war's trajectory after 1939 would vindicate him: his forces became pivotal in later counteroffensives, proving that a living army trumped dead cities. Opting out of a static defense, Zhang pivoted to guerrilla warfare to bleed the Japanese while clutching strategic initiative. He ordered local governments to whip up coastal guerrilla forces from Chao'an to Huizhou—melding militias, national guards, police, and private armed groups into official folds. These weren't elite shock troops, but in wartime's chaos, they controlled locales effectively, disrupting supply lines and gathering intel. For surprises, he unleashed two mobile units: the 9th Independent Brigade and the 20th Independent Brigade. Formed fresh after the War of Resistance erupted, these brigades shone for their efficiency within the cumbersome Guangdong Army structure. Division-level units were too bulky for spotty communications, so Yu Hanmou's command birthed these independent outfits, staffed with crack officers. The 9th, packing direct-fire artillery for punch, and the 20th, dubbed semi-mechanized for its truck-borne speed, prowled the Chaoshan–Huizhou coast from 1939. Zhang retained their three-regiment setup, naming Hua Zhenzhong and Zhang Shou as commanders, granting them autonomy to command in the field like roving wolves. As the 9th Independent Brigade shifted to Shantou, its 627th Regiment was still reorganizing in Heyuan, a logistical hiccup amid the scramble. Hua Zhenzhong, a commander noted for his tactical flexibility in regional annals, deployed the 625th Regiment and 5th Security Regiment along the coast, with the 626th as reserve in Chao'an. Though the Fourth War Zone had written off Chaoshan, Zhang yearned to showcase Guangdong grit before the pullback. Dawn broke on June 21, 1939, at 4:30 a.m., with Japanese reconnaissance planes slicing through the fog over Shantou, Anbu, and Nanbeigang, ghostly silhouettes against the gray sky. By 5:30, the mist lifted, revealing a nightmare armada: over 40 destroyers and 70–80 landing craft churning toward the coast on multiple vectors, their hulls cutting the waves like knives. The 626th Regiment's 3rd Battalion at Donghushan met the first wave with a hail of fire from six light machine guns, repelling the initial boats in a frenzy of splashes and shouts. But the brigade's long-range guns couldn't stem the tide; Hua focused on key chokepoints, aiming to bloody the invaders rather than obliterate them. By morning, the 3rd Battalion of the 625th Regiment charged into Shantou City, joined by the local police corps digging in amid urban sprawl. Combat raged at Xinjin Port and the airport's fringes, where Nationalist troops traded shots with advancing Japanese under the absent shadow of a Chinese navy. Japanese naval guns, massed offshore, pounded the outskirts like thunder gods in fury. By 2:00 a.m. on the 22nd, Shantou crumpled as defenders' ammo ran dry, the city falling in a haze of smoke and echoes. Before the loss, Hua had positioned the 1st Battalion of the 5th Security Regiment at Anbu, guarding the road to Chao'an. Local lore, preserved in oral histories collected by the Chaozhou Historical Society, recalls Battalion Commander Du Ruo leading from the front, rifle in hand, but Japanese barrages, bolstered by superior firepower—forced a retreat. Post-capture, Tokyo's forces paused to consolidate, unleashing massacres on fleeing civilians in the outskirts. A flotilla of civilian boats, intercepted at sea, became a grim training ground for bayonet drills, a barbarity echoed in survivor testimonies compiled in The Rape of Nanking and Beyond extensions to Guangdong atrocities. With Shantou gone, Hua pivoted to flank defense, orchestrating night raids on Japanese positions around Anbu and Meixi. On June 24th, Major Du Ruo spearheaded an assault into Anbu but fell gravely wounded amid the chaos. Later, the 2nd Battalion of the 626th overran spots near Meixi. A Japanese sea-flanking maneuver targeted Anbu, but Nationalists held at Liulong, sparking nocturnal clashes, grenade volleys, bayonet charges, and hand-to-hand brawls that drained both sides like a slow bleed. June 26th saw the 132nd Brigade lumber toward Chao'an. Hua weighed options: all-out assault or guerrilla fade? He chose to dig in on the outskirts, reserving two companies of the 625th and a special ops battalion in the city. The 27th brought a day-long Japanese onslaught, culminating in Chao'an's fall after fierce rear-guard actions by the 9th Independent Brigade. Evacuations preceded the collapse, with Japanese propaganda banners fluttering falsely, claiming Nationalists had abandoned defense. Yet Hua's call preserved his brigade for future fights; the Japanese claimed an empty prize. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The Japanese operations had yet again plugged up supply leaks into Nationalist China. The fall of Suixian, Zaoyang and Shantou were heavy losses for the Chinese war effort. However the Chinese were also able to exact heavy casualties on the invaders and thwarted their encirclement attempts. China was still in the fight for her life.

This week's message reflects on Jesus' return from temptation, His rejection in His hometown of Nazareth, and His continued ministry of healing and authority in Galilee. Though fully divine, Jesus was not immune to human pain—rejection, suffering, and loneliness—and yet He pressed forward in faithful obedience to His calling. Drawing from Hebrews and lived experience, the sermon reminds us that suffering often deepens our reliance on God and clarifies our true purpose. In a world that may feel disenchanted or overwhelming, we are reminded that God's Spirit dwells within us, calling each of us to live into the purpose He has given. As Jesus lived humbly, freely, and faithfully into His mission, we too are invited to let God work through us, discovering true freedom and identity in Christ.

The Bald Prince and His Tall Knight Make Perfect Travel Companions This week on the podcast, Brian and Darryl are talking about the new GOT spinoff A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. And Wonderman Episode 1. All this and… some Brandon Sanderson news. Episode Index Intro: 0:07 Sanderson: 8:45 Wonderman: 19:00 Dunk & Egg: 35:07 Brandon Sanderson's Literary Fantasy Universe ‘Cosmere' Picked Up by Apple TV (Exclusive) https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/brandon-sandersons-mistborn-stormlight-archive-movie-tv-1236487271/ Wonderman (Disney+) Episode 1 – “Matinee” (Premiere) Episode 1 introduces us to Simon Williams (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a struggling actor and stuntman whose career is in a tailspin. After being fired from a TV role and dumped by his girlfriend, Simon is at a crossroads. When he runs into Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), a fellow actor with an eccentric reputation, he learns Slattery is auditioning for a remake of the classic superhero film Wonder Man — a movie Simon loved as a kid and which inspired him to pursue acting in the first place. Simon pushes for a shot at the role, but his agent refuses. Undeterred, he somehow lands an audition alongside Slattery anyway. Slattery gives him advice that helps him make an impression. Meanwhile, Department of Damage Control agent P. Cleary secretly contacts Slattery with instructions to watch Simon closely because he might have actual superpowers, tying Simon's acting ambitions to real-world MCU stakes. This episode sets up two parallel arcs: Simon's Hollywood hustle and dream of stardom, and the hint that he may be more than just an actor, potentially linking him to actual superhero abilities and the broader Marvel universe. Tone-wise, Episode 1 blends industry satire, comedy, and superhero setup, spotlighting the absurdities of Hollywood while weaving in classic MCU connective tissue. Ratings: Out of 5 Here’s a Note For You… Get Out Darryl: 3.75/5 Brian: 3.8/5 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max) Episode 1 – “The Hedge Knight” This premiere introduces Dunk (Ser Duncan the Tall) and Egg (the boy who becomes his squire), setting up the tone and stakes for the series. It takes place about 100 years before Game of Thrones and focuses on a smaller-scale story full of character and humor rather than sweeping war and politics. Here's what happens: Dunk buries his mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, and takes his sword, shield, and three horses as he heads toward the Ashford tourney, hoping to make his name and find work. At an inn, he meets a young bald boy who asks to be his squire. After initially refusing, Dunk ultimately accepts him and names the boy Egg. At Ashford, Dunk tries to enter the tournament but learns he needs someone reputable to vouch for him. He seeks out knights who knew Ser Arlan, but nobody will put their name on the line for a wandering hedge knight. Along the way we see the rough, earthy humor and grounded Westerosi world the show is leaning into (including some decidedly human moments missing from prior franchise entries). By the end, Dunk officially becomes Ser Duncan the Tall, and he and Egg share a moment under the stars, signaling the start of their journey together. Tone note: it's lighter and more character-focused than Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, blending heartfelt moments with gritty, grounded humor. Episode 2 – “Hard Salt Beef” In the second episode, Dunk's quest to enter the Ashford tourney continues and the story expands slightly into the world's wider politics and personality. Key beats: Dunk spends much of the episode telling other knights about his mentor Ser Arlan, trying to get someone to vouch for him so he can compete, but keeps getting brushed off. Egg helps by pointing out the unfairness of Dunk needing permission when he's already a knight, showing how their dynamic is evolving. Members of House Targaryen arrive at the tourney — princes including Baelor, Maekar, and Aerion — and their presence adds weight to the event. Dunk overhears a conversation about missing Targaryen children and uses the moment (and a bit of boldness) to appeal directly to Prince Baelor to vouch for him. Baelor does remember Ser Arlan and, while not lavish in praise, quietly ensures Dunk's name is added to the tournament list. Dunk and Egg also start to settle more into the tourney rhythm — from watching performances to joining in games — as Dunk grapples with what legacy and honor really mean in this world. This episode deepens the relationship between Dunk and Egg, introduces more of Westeros's nobility (in a relatively casual, grounded way), and frames Dunk's struggles not just to fight but to matter. Quick Character & World Context Dunk and Egg are adapted from the Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas by George R.R. Martin. The series is intentionally smaller in scale, focusing on relationships and the everyday lives of knights and squires rather than epic political wars or dragons. Contact Us The Infamous Podcast can be found wherever podcasts are found on the Interwebs, feel free to subscribe and follow along on social media. And don't be shy about helping out the show with a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help us move up in the ratings. @infamouspodcast facebook/infamouspodcast instagram/infamouspodcast stitcher Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play iHeart Radio contact@infamouspodcast.com Our theme music is ‘Skate Beat’ provided by Michael Henry, with additional music provided by Michael Henry. Find more at MeetMichaelHenry.com. The Infamous Podcast is hosted by Brian Tudor and Darryl Jasper, is recorded in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show is produced and edited by Brian Tudor. Subscribe today!

It's time for a new episode for Festive Fridays as we catch up on another 2025 Christmas movie — this time from Prime Video.ABOUT OH. WHAT. FUN.Claire plans a special Christmas, but is forgotten by her family. When they realize that she's missing, their holiday is at risk until she returns to give them the celebration they deserve.AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR OH. WHAT. FUN.December 3 2025 | Prime VideoCAST & CREW OF OH. WHAT. FUN.Michelle Pfeiffer as ClaireDenis Leary as NickFelicity Jones as ChanningChloë Grace Moretz as TaylorDominic Sessa as SammyJason Schwartzman as DougBRAN'S OH. WHAT. FUN. SYNOPSISMeet Claire Clauster. She believes it's time someone finally makes a movie about the real heroes of the holiday season: housewives. All she wants for Christmas is for her kids to submit her to the Zazzy Tims Holiday Moms Contest, so she can meet her favorite TV personality.Claire and her husband, Nick, are excited because all three of their kids—Channing, Taylor, and Sammy—are coming home for Christmas. Channing arrives first with her family. Sammy shows up next, heartbroken after his girlfriend dumped him right before the trip. Taylor arrives last… with her new girlfriend, DJ Sweatpants.We also meet Claire's neighbor, Jeanne, who appears to have the perfect family and is extremely prim and proper.Claire grows increasingly sad when she realizes none of her kids seem to have picked up on her very obvious hints (and direct requests) to submit her for the Zazzy contest. When the whole family leaves without her to attend a Christmas show, she snaps. Claire packs up and decides to drive to California to find Zazzy herself.This sparks an all-out family meltdown. Arguments explode, feelings get hurt, and everyone storms off in different directions.Claire ends up at a hotel where only one room is available. Another woman arrives at the same time, so they agree to share—but the noise is unbearable. Claire opts to sleep in her car… which promptly gets towed. Undeterred, she buys a random car for $300 and continues her journey to California.Against all odds, Claire sneaks onto the show with the winning moms, dances with Zazzy on stage, and vents about her kids on national television. Zazzy loves her and invites Claire backstage. They drink, they smoke, and they have the time of their lives.Seeing this, the family hops on a plane to California, and Zazzy invites the entire family onto the show. At first, Claire refuses to forgive them—but eventually, she gives in.One year later, the family is spending Christmas together in a cabin. The neighbors across the street are there too, because Sammy is now in love with one of their daughters. Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtubeInterested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comToday I'm honored to have back on the show once again: Podcast regular, United Church Minister turned whistleblower, Canadian Hero, humanitarian, loving father, published writer and author, public speaker and podcaster, documentary filmmaker, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, co-founder of the International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State, righteous soul, and Eagle Strong Voice: Kevin AnnettA little bit about Kevin if you've missed any of his episodes or are new here, and a recap and sneak peek of what we will be talking about today: Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Annett entered the ministry in the early 1990s, serving indigenous communities in Port Alberni, British Columbia - communities scarred by the brutal legacy of Canada's government-funded, church-run Indian residential schools. What began as pastoral care unraveled into horror as survivors confided tales of torture, rape, sodomy, unexplained deaths, and systematic genocide orchestrated by the United, Anglican, and Catholic churches.Undeterred, Kevin escalated his mission beyond Canada's borders. In 2010, he co-founded the International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State (ITCCS), a citizen-led court uniting survivors from 26 nations to prosecute global elites for crimes against humanity. Through the ITCCS, he exposed a vast international network linking residential school horrors to ritualistic child abuse and sacrifice. His most explosive revelations center on the Ninth Circle Cult - a centuries-old secret society embedded at the Vatican's rotten core, involving high-ranking Vatican officials, European royals, politicians, and other elites who engage in ritual child sacrifices to appease ancient occult rites.Eyewitness testimonies gathered by Kevin and the ITCCS describe Ninth Circle ceremonies in Vatican basements, remote estates, and hidden facilities, where children trafficked from orphanages and networks are ritually abused, tortured, and killed. Former Popes Benedict and Francis have been directly accused of involvement, with Benedict's 2013 resignation allegedly prompted by ITCCS arrest warrants for genocide and child trafficking. Last time Kevin was on, he relayed the connections between ICE, Trump and the government, the Mormon Church, Elon Musk and Neuralink, and child trafficking and crimes against humanity. On today's episode, Kevin returns to share some ground-breaking and explosive news updates building on the last episode regarding President Donald Trump, news of a Declaration of a new kind, and so much more. You will not want to miss one moment of this episode! INTERIM REPORT:https://murderbydecree.com/2025/08/09/interim-report-of-the-special-prosecutor/#page-contentCONNECT WITH KEVIN:Email: angelfire101@protonmail.comPhone: 289-680-8724Websites:-Republic of Kanata: https://republicofkanata.org/-Radio Free Kanata: https://bbsradio.com/radiofreekanata-'Murder by Decree' & other books published by Kevin: https://murderbydecree.com/#books-'Unrepentant' Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czej73SfYJcCONNECT WITH THE IMAGINATION:EMAIL: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comMy Substack: https://emmakatherine.substack.com/BUY ME A COFFEE: Support the show

New Hallmark movie to review, and this one's taking love deep into the rainforest.ABOUT LOVE ON THE AMAZONClaire travels to Brazil and hires Danny, a riverboat captain, to help her deliver an important message for her sister Amelia, a marine biologist studying pink dolphins on the Amazon River.AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR LOVE ON THE AMAZONJanuary 17, 2026 | Hallmark ChannelCAST & CREW OF LOVE ON THE AMAZONJaicy Elliot as ClaireRafael de la Fuente as DannyBRAN'S LOVE ON THE AMAZON SYNOPSISClaire is house-sitting for her sister while she's in the Amazon for work when a letter arrives saying her sister has been accepted for a fellowship, but she needs to sign it by the end of next week. With no way to contact her, Claire decides the only option is to deliver it herself.She hops on a plane and hires a riverboat captain named Danny to take her to her sister, but Danny says the location is too remote. Undeterred, Claire joins the next excursion headed in the right direction, planning to figure it out as she goes. Unfortunately, it's going to take way too long. She tries hiring other guides, but no one wants to go that far into the jungle.Eventually, she runs into Danny again, and he gives in once he realizes who her sister is. They actually know each other. So off they go.Along the way, they stop in different villages. At first, the crew isn't thrilled with Claire, but eventually they warm up to her and basically let her join the team. They get as far as they can by boat and then have to continue on foot through the jungle. During the trek, Claire panics, thinking she hears her sister calling out to her, but it turns out to just be the “tree of Chucky.” Classic jungle moment.After a long journey, she finally finds her sister. She delivers the paperwork, and the sisters start talking about Danny. Claire insists she could never be with him—unfortunately, Danny overhears this and is clearly hurt.That night, there's dancing. Instead of asking Claire to stay, Danny says he's leaving and peaces out. Claire's sister talks some sense into her and convinces her not to let him go. Claire hops into a small boat, chases down the bigger one, and tells Danny she's staying in the Amazon.They kiss. Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtubeInterested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this deeply personal episode of Brightn, Jeff Johnston sits down with his son Ian for an open, unscripted conversation about grief, resilience, and what it truly means to live undeterred after unimaginable loss.Together, they reflect on the moments that shaped their family forever—the loss of a brother, the weight of generational grief, and the crossroads that follow trauma. This episode isn't about pretending pain disappears. It's about choosing purpose anyway, and finding meaning through action, entrepreneurship, community, and connection.In this episode, we explore:Ian's journey as a young entrepreneur and the story behind Tribute KicksHow grief shaped identity—and why it didn't get the final wordThe power of choosing a different road when life breaks you openTurning loss into legacy through giving back and mental health advocacyWhy living undeterred isn't about strength—it's about intentionFather–son healing, shared memories, and honoring loved ones through how we liveFinding light, purpose, and even joy after devastationThis conversation is raw, honest, and hopeful—a reminder that even in life's darkest moments, we still get to decide who we become. Whether you're navigating grief, rebuilding after loss, or searching for meaning beyond survival, this episode offers a powerful example of what it looks like to move forward without forgetting.

The 49ers' magical opening touchdown drive Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field gave them an early lead, but the Eagles wore down San Francisco's already depleted defense and George Kittle tore his Achilles after that. Undeterred, the 49ers mounted an incredible fourth-quarter comeback that defied the odds and secured them a divisional-round matchup against the rival Seahawks. On this episode of "49ers Talk," co-hosts Matt Maiocco and Jennifer Lee Chan break down the wild-card performance from a very unlikely bunch of 49ers players, who gutted out a remarkable result in a hostile environment. The duo highlights the 49ers' season-long resiliency, especially in big moments, and address how Brock Purdy turned an otherwise forgettable performance around with his leadership and determination. Matt and Jennifer also discuss how the coaching staff has steered the ship as unsung contributors popped up throughout the season.--(0:00) 49ers most unlikely team to advance past wild-card round(1:30) Unsung heroes stepping up has been 49ers' identity all season(3:00) How these 49ers compare to Kyle Shanahan's past playoff teams(5:00) 49ers are battle-tested with depth gaining valuable reps(10:00) Pressure mounted on Eagles as game wore on(15:00) Breaking down Brock Purdy's performance(18:00) Backup linebackers were outstanding with veteran leadership(23:00) How coaching staff rose to occasion vs. Eagles(29:00) Outside noise, doubt fueling 49ers this season Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We've all heard the saying "three strikes and you're out." Donald Trump, Pam Bondi, and Lindsey Halligan have now struck out three times trying to prosecute New York State Attorney General Letitia James. The first indictment that Lindsey Halligan unlawfully obtained against James was dismissed by a federal judge. The second time involved another prosecutor who went into the grand jury and tried to convince them to indict James. The grand jury concluded there was not sufficient evidence to indict her, and refused to do so.Undeterred, DOJ tried to indict James again, and yet again the grand jury said no. This is an example of the American people - the members of the grand jury - standing up to the prosecutorial overreach, abuse, and misconduct of Trump, Bondi, and Halligan.Glenn also discusses the prosecutor from Missouri that the DOJ has now sent into the grand jury TWICE to fail. Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Nurses Report on America Out Loud with Gail Macrae, BSN, RN –The fallout was swift. In October 2021, Kaiser fired her for refusing the vaccine, despite her proof of natural immunity. Her university then barred her from clinical hours, effectively ousting her despite completed coursework—a move she attributes to institutional sabotage. Undeterred, Macrae pivoted to medical advocacy...

The Nurses Report on America Out Loud with Gail Macrae, BSN, RN –The fallout was swift. In October 2021, Kaiser fired her for refusing the vaccine, despite her proof of natural immunity. Her university then barred her from clinical hours, effectively ousting her despite completed coursework—a move she attributes to institutional sabotage. Undeterred, Macrae pivoted to medical advocacy...

We've all heard the saying "three strikes and you're out." Donald Trump, Pam Bondi, and Lindsey Halligan have now struck out three times trying to prosecute New York State Attorney General Letitia James. The first indictment that Lindsey Halligan unlawfully obtained against James was dismissed by a federal judge. The second time involved another prosecutor who went into the grand jury and tried to convince them to indict James. The grand jury concluded there was not sufficient evidence to indict her, and refused to do so.Undeterred, DOJ tried to indict James again, and yet again the grand jury said no. This is an example of the American people - the members of the grand jury - standing up to the prosecutorial overreach, abuse, and misconduct of Trump, Bondi, and Halligan.Glenn also discusses the prosecutor from Missouri that the DOJ has now sent into the grand jury TWICE to fail. Find Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Coach Who Vanished: A Bizarre Christmas Football Mystery from 1917Before the era of 12-team playoffs and million-dollar bowl games, the 1917 football season was pure chaos, defined by World War I restrictions and a lack of organized post-season play. Amidst this turmoil, an impromptu Christmas Day tiebreaker game was scheduled in San Diego, pitting the Utah Artillerymen (Camp Kearney) against the Balboa Park team. But the biggest drama wasn't on the field; it was off it, where the Utah squad's coach vanished just two days before kickoff. This is the astonishing, forgotten story of Coach Richard F. King, a true football history rogue whose disappearance forced a team to play its biggest game coachless.The story from our guest Timothy Brown's archives in a post he put out titled: The 1917 Postseason and the AWOL Football Coach.The Chaotic Post-Season of 1917In the early days of football, postseason games were rare, and World War I further complicated travel and scheduling. The prestigious Rose Bowl, for instance, had only just returned in 1916. Sensing an opportunity for local excitement, San Diego decided to host its own holiday spectacle in Balboa Park.The contest materialized after a December 9th match between the local Balboa Park team and the championship winners of Camp Kearney—a field artillery unit largely composed of men from the Utah National Guard—ended in a tie. A Christmas Day rematch was quickly arranged, but the military team's leader, Coach Richard F. King, was quickly becoming the center of attention for all the wrong reasons.The Disappearing Coach and the Web of LiesCoach King, who had served along the Mexican border in 1916 and was coaching the artillery unit's football team, was a man shrouded in a spectacular fog of deceit. He routinely told elaborate lies, claiming he attended prestigious institutions like West Point and Lehigh and was even the brother of famous Princeton All-American, Phil King. More troubling than his tall tales was his habit of borrowing significant sums of money from fellow officers without repaying his debts.As the Christmas Day game approached, King's superior officer finally confronted him about his conduct and finances. Rather than facing the music, Richard F. King simply disappeared. He went officially AWOL from the Army just 48 hours before his team's crucial post-season game, leaving the Utah Artillerymen scrambling and coachless for their biggest match of the season.The Rogue's Continuing SagaKing's bizarre story didn't end there. He was reportedly spotted partying in Los Angeles before beginning a cross-country odyssey, mailing letters from El Paso and Chicago that falsely claimed he was already serving in France. A world without national IDs or digital records allowed him to thrive.In Chicago, King re-enlisted under a completely different name, successfully deploying to France where he was eventually spotted by a man who had previously served under him in California. Arrested and shipped back to the U.S., King promptly escaped custody. Undeterred, he reenlisted a third time under a new alias. His final capture occurred in Hawaii after he accrued too many debts while scheduled to sail to Siberia after the war.Despite the coach's ongoing personal chaos, the Utah Artillerymen were forced to play the Christmas Day tiebreaker. Without their leader, they ultimately fell to the Balboa Park squad with a final score of 24–13, suffering a defeat made even sadder by their coach's spectacular abandonment. King and his wife disappeared shortly thereafter, never to be heard...

On a chaotic Sunday evening in late November 2025, Mississippi radio and internet personality Clay Edwards went live for an impromptu “special edition” of The Clay Edwards Show to react to the bombshell news that had just broken across college football: Lane Kiffin was leaving Ole Miss to become the next head coach at LSU.   What followed was a two-and-a-half-hour, high-energy, profanity-laced, drink-spilling, keyboard-soaking monologue that perfectly captured the raw emotion sweeping through the state of Mississippi — especially among Ole Miss fans who felt betrayed and Mississippi State fans (like Clay) who couldn't decide whether to feel sorry for their rivals or simply enjoy the circus.   The Scene Clay opened the stream already in mid-chaos: he'd just knocked over an energy drink and a cup of greens all over his desk and shorts while frantically tweaking audio settings. Undeterred, he powered through, declaring, “Metallica can play in thunder and lightning and rainstorms; Clay Edwards can keep streaming with greens and Red Bull all over his shorts.”   Personal Context Clay, a lifelong Mississippi State fan, had attended his very first Egg Bowl just two days earlier on Black Friday. He'd gone primarily because he had a gut feeling it might be Lane Kiffin's final game in Oxford. Sitting in a cushy end-zone suite with his two Ole Miss-fan daughters (cheering in blue pom-poms while surrounded by mostly State fans), Clay snapped several now-viral photos of Kiffin on the sideline and doing his halftime interview. He jokingly captioned them at the time, “Could this be Lane Kiffin's last walk off the field as Ole Miss head coach?” Turns out his instinct was dead-on.   The Departure: “He Dipped Out Like a Hoe”Clay didn't mince words: “Lane Kiffin has dipped out on Ole Miss.” He compared the spectacle of LSU sending not one but two private jets to Oxford to pick up Kiffin and his family to “a dude rolling up to your house in a Lamborghini, walking up to your front porch, and taking your woman while you just stand there and watch.”   He then played video of angry Ole Miss fans gathering at the Oxford airport to scream profanities and flip the bird as Kiffin boarded the jet. Clay, a State fan with no dog in the fight, openly admitted, “I love this energy. This is big ‘f*** around and find out' energy. I'm kinda proud of y'all right now.”   Ole Miss's Swift Counterpunch Within hours of Kiffin's departure becoming official, Ole Miss promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding to full-time head coach (not interim) and, in a move Clay called “absolute big-dick energy,” offered to double the salary of every assistant coach who chose to stay in Oxford instead of following Kiffin to Baton Rouge. Clay repeatedly praised the move: “Two can play that game, Hoss. Screw you, Lane. Screw you, LSU. We're keeping our staff.”   He acknowledged the hire gives “Zach Arnett vibes” (the Mississippi State DC who was promoted after Mike Leach's death, flopped spectacularly, then ended up… at Ole Miss), but said given the timing and the coaching carousel chaos, Ole Miss's hands were tied and the move made sense.   Lane's Farewell Letter: “His Agent Wrote That Bullsh*t”Clay tore into Kiffin's official goodbye statement, especially the line about “prayer and family time” leading him to LSU and his claim that Ole Miss denied his request to coach the Rebels through the playoffs. “Really, Lane? You prayed about it? So if you go 8–4 next year and don't win a natty, was God wrong?”   He scoffed at the idea that the players begged Kiffin to stay through the postseason: “Ain't no way in hell the team wanted you to dump them for the prettier girl and then still get a one-night stand through the playoffs. That letter was 100% written by his agent.”   The Bigger Picture Despite being a State fan, Clay repeatedly said he was rooting for Ole Miss to make a Cinderella run in the 12-team playoff: “Y'all have a real shot to be America's Team now. Coach just told the world ‘you ain't good enough to win the big one with.' Go win the damn thing and shove it down his throat.” He argued a deep Ole Miss playoff run would light a fire under Mississippi State's own boosters: “A high tide lifts all ships. When your rival is rolling, it makes you sick of hearing about them and spend whatever it takes to beat them.”   Final Verdict from Clay -Lane Kiffin is exactly who we thought he was: a brilliant football mind but a serial disloyal “hoe” who will leave anyone for a perceived bigger job (and Clay believes Alabama is still the one he really wants). -Ole Miss got done dirty in the optics, but responded like gangsters with the Golding hire and the “double your salary if you stay” offer. -The entire saga is the perfect illustration of everything wrong with the current coaching carousel and transfer-portal timing. -As a Mississippi State fan, he hates both Ole Miss and LSU… but he's pulling for the Rebels to win a couple playoff games “because it'll be the ultimate middle finger to Lane Train and it'll make our boosters open their wallets.” In classic Clay Edwards fashion, he closed the marathon stream covered in spilled drinks, laughing, and promising, “Man, what a day to be alive and love college football in the state of Mississippi.”  

Bigfoot Came at Him and He Had to ShootAn experienced hunter, unable to join his usual family group, tags along with a friend's neighbors for a three-day hunt. Wary of one drunken member (whose rifle is confiscated), he starts the first day late due to a delayed breakfast, arriving at a remote plateau overlooking timber and waterways well after dawn. Ignoring warnings about getting lost in 40 square miles of swampy woods, he ventures north alone along a game trail, crossing a treacherous 30-foot waterway via a fallen log—only to plunge into icy, quicksand-like depths mid-crossing.He escapes using his 30/30 rifle's new sling to haul himself back onto the log, then continues, soaked but undeterred. Drying off while hiking to high ground, he spots fresh bear tracks near the crossing (possibly drawn by his splash), prompting caution. He observes snowshoe rabbits and a group of seven deer (including two bucks) from a log pile vantage, letting them pass as another hunter trails them.Pushing deeper north through dense underbrush, he finds no deer sign in the isolated terrain, which puzzles him. As heavy snow turns to a blizzard near dusk, he retraces his steps, recrossing the log safely but arriving at the empty parking area—stranded in pitch darkness as his group has abandoned him. Waiting in limited 10-foot visibility, he hears rustling below and yells to alert what he assumes is the other hunter. Silence follows, but an unseen entity approaches uphill through an impenetrable 50-yard wall of 6-foot briar thickets laced with 1-inch "Wait-a-Minute" thorns—snapping branches in a bipedal rhythm that rules out human or bear. Drawing on prior friendly Bigfoot encounters during a Canadian fishing trip, he suspects a hostile 8-foot-tall one.With no escape on the exposed plateau, he issues final warnings, then fires three close warning shots from his 30/30 (aiming to deter without killing, leveraging his 82nd Airborne background). Undeterred, the creature closes to 30 yards, forcing him to ready a lethal headshot. In a split-second twist of fate, a pickup truck crests the plateau just inches from him—the returning group, chastised for leaving early. He leaps aboard with his still-loaded rifle, urging them to flee without explaining the terror. The hunter reflects that without that timely arrival, the story would have ended fatally.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

Donald Trump's US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, failed to convince three grand juries to bring felony charges against a woman named Sydney Lori Reid for allegedly assaulting a law enforcement officer during immigration enforcement operations. Undeterred by the grand jury's repeated rejection of criminal charges, Pirro directed her prosecutors to charge Ms. Reid with a misdemeanor crime. In a direct repudiation of Pirro's prosecutorial overreach, a jury - sitting as the conscience of the community, - has found Ms. Reid NOT GUILTY! This result reinforces that, whether it's 23 people in a private grand jury room, 12 people in a jury box in a public courtroom, or seven million people in the streets of American protesting against Trump's tyranny, IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE POWER! For Glenn's Substack: hhtps://glennkirschner.substack.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Undeterred by self doubt, Danyelle Nys bought a $400k SDE business at a fantastic price. She's grown it 25% in year one.Topics in Danyelle's interview:Working in her family's asphalt businessLearning about ETA from a masterclassHiring a coach for the search processBuying a business for the price of inventory + working capitalThe seller was running it remotelyRaising prices and salaries after acquisitionDealing with an obstinate commercial landlordMoving 14,000 sq ft of inventory to a new warehouseHiring her mom as the bookkeeper“F*** your mood. Follow the plan.”References and how to contact Danyelle:LinkedInDecorus Home StagingKyle Boyden & Jake Furfaro on Acquiring Minds: Stacking Small Acquisitions to $5m in RevenueGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business:Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you're a searcherLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:The Acquisition LabWork with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:Pioneer Capital AdvisoryConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comToday I'm honored to have back on the show: Podcast regular, United Church Minister turned whistleblower, Canadian Hero, humanitarian, loving father, published writer and author, public speaker and podcaster, documentary filmmaker, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, co-founder of the International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State, righteous soul, and Eagle Strong Voice: Kevin AnnettBorn in Edmonton, Canada, in 1956, Kevin was a United Church minister turned global human rights crusader whose relentless pursuit of truth has shaken the foundations of power. Known as Eagle Strong Voice, Kevin's life transformed when he uncovered horrific crimes at the Port Alberni Indian Residential School in the early 1990s. His refusal to stay silent cost him his ministry, marriage, and reputation, as the United Church and Canadian authorities blacklisted him. Undeterred, Kevin's courage ignited a movement to expose systemic genocide, leading him to confront one of the world's most powerful institutions: the Vatican.Kevin's groundbreaking work began with the 1998 human rights tribunal in Vancouver, where he documented Canada's residential school genocide, forcing the nation to face its dark past. His award-winning documentary Unrepentant and books like Hidden from History: The Canadian Holocaust brought global attention to the deaths of thousands of Indigenous children, compelling Canada's 2008 apology. But Kevin's mission didn't stop there. In 2010, he co-founded the International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State (ITCCS), uniting survivors across 26 countries to hold the Vatican, British Crown, and others accountable for crimes against humanity. His efforts led to the historic resignation of Pope Benedict in 2013 after the ITCCS convicted him of complicity in child trafficking and abuse.As discussed on our last episode, Kevin has now set his sights on exposing the shadowy Ninth Circle cult and its sinister leader, our current Pope, Pope Leo. Through the International Common Law Court of Justice (ICLCJ), where he serves as a chief advisor, Kevin is spearheading a 2025 criminal lawsuit charging Pope Leo with murder, conspiracy, and crimes against humanity. Drawing on chilling eyewitness testimonies, Vatican archives, and INTERPOL records, Kevin's investigation reveals Pope Leo's alleged role in ritualistic child sacrifice, trafficking, and drug trade cover-ups, implicating other global elites like Donald Trump, King Charles III, Cardinal Dolan and even the CEO of Pfizer. Today, he will be updating us on what's happened since the last time he was on, where the case stands today, and what is next.Kevin is a beacon of hope, proving one voice can challenge empires. His fearless stand against the Vatican and Pope Leo calls us all to action, igniting a global movement for justice and healing. Join him at www.murderbydecree.com to stand with the voiceless, reclaim truth, and build a world where no child suffers in silence. Together, with fearless leaders like Kevin leading the way, we can forge a future of courage, compassion, and unstoppable change.INTERIM REPORT / VERDICT:https://murderbydecree.com/2025/10/06/__trashed/#page-contentCONNECT WITH KEVIN: Email: angelfire101@protonmail.comPhone: 289-680-8724 Websites: -Republic of Kanata: https://republicofkanata.org/-Radio Free Kanata: https://bbsradio.com/radiofreekanata-'Murder by Decree' & other books published by Kevin: https://murderbydecree.com/#books -'Unrepentant' Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czej73SfYJcCONNECT WITH THE IMAGINATION:EMAIL: imagineabetterworld2020@gmailSupport the show

HEADLINE: Houthis Remain Undeterred Despite Israeli Strikes and US Sanctions GUEST AND TITLE: Bridget Toomey, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Houthi Watcher; Bill Roggio, Senior Fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies SUMMARY: Bridget Toomey reports Houthis continue daily drone and missile launches towards Israel, with Israeli Iron Dome defenses proving effective. Israel responded with strikes on Houthi military and media infrastructure in Sana'a, causing civilian casualties. US Treasury sanctioned 32 Houthi-affiliated individuals/entities for supporting Iranian-backed smuggling networks. Toomey confirms Iran absolutely provides weapons, mostly via ship routes, despite interdiction efforts. She notes Houthis are undeterred, fueled by past attacks, and will likely continue unless Iran is held accountable. Bill Roggio critiques a recent, unsuccessful Israeli strike in Doha. 1940

HEADLINE: Houthis Remain Undeterred Despite Israeli Strikes and US Sanctions GUEST AND TITLE: Bridget Toomey, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Houthi Watcher; Bill Roggio, Senior Fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies SUMMARY: Bridget Toomey reports Houthis continue daily drone and missile launches towards Israel, with Israeli Iron Dome defenses proving effective. Israel responded with strikes on Houthi military and media infrastructure in Sana'a, causing civilian casualties. US Treasury sanctioned 32 Houthi-affiliated individuals/entities for supporting Iranian-backed smuggling networks. Toomey confirms Iran absolutely provides weapons, mostly via ship routes, despite interdiction efforts. She notes Houthis are undeterred, fueled by past attacks, and will likely continue unless Iran is held accountable. Bill Roggio critiques a recent, unsuccessful Israeli strike in Doha. 1943

Pashtana Durrani (b. 1997 near Quetta, Pakistan) is an Afghan feminist, human-rights advocate, and educator devoted to securing education for girls in Afghanistan. Born and raised in a refugee camp, she was deeply influenced by her parents—her father, a tribal leader, had opened a girls’ school in the camp, and her mother and aunt taught there—a foundation that sparked her lifelong commitment to learning. In 2018, she founded LEARN Afghanistan, the nation’s first digital school network, which delivers educational content via tablets and an offline platform to girls and boys in underserved areas. By the Taliban’s return in 2021, LEARN operated 18 digital schools, educating over 10,000 students and training more than 80 teachers in digital literacy. It also includes programs on menstrual hygiene, reaching hundreds of girls. After the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Durrani went into hiding and eventually fled to the United States. Undeterred, within a month, she resumed operations covertly, creating underground schools across six provinces—Kandahar, Helmand, Daikundi, Samangan, Herat, and Bamyan—educating hundreds of girls daily. Academically, Pashtana was a visiting fellow—and later International Scholar-in-Residence—at the Wellesley Centers for Women, continuing her work on girls’ education and maternal health, while pursuing a Master’s degree at Harvard University. Her work has earned global recognition through many accolades, including the Malala Fund Education Champion award, the Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Emerging Leader Prize, recognition among the BBC 100 Women, the UN Young Activists Award, and honors from the World Economic Forum, the Muhammad Ali Center, and the International Leadership Association, among others. Durrani is also the author of Last to Eat, Last to Learn, a memoir recounting her journey from refugee to activist and her fight for Afghan girls’ education.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.