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Welcome to "The Readiness Brief," a limited podcast series hosted by The O2X Podcast, designed to explore the critical importance of readiness within the tactical community. In each episode, we bring to the forefront seasoned members of the O2X Integrated Readiness Platform (IRP) network, engaging in insightful conversations with senior leaders across the tactical population."The Readiness Brief" aims to foster a deeper understanding of the O2X Integrated Readiness Platform (IRP) while spotlighting successes and valuable insights from organizations committed to preparedness.Part 2 features O2X Human Performance Integration Manager & former Program Manager w/ DEA Training Academy Dan Williams and the former Unit Chief of the Tactical Training Unit at the DEA Academy Scott Seeley-Hacker.Scott Seeley-Hacker is DEA veteran with nearly 26 years of service, most recently serving as Unit Chief of the Tactical Training Unit at the DEA Academy, where he oversaw all Basic Agent training in Tactical Operations, Defensive Tactics, and Human Performance while managing instructor certification programs and the tactical training budget. His distinguished career includes service as Country Attaché at the US Embassy in Rome, where he coordinated drug trafficking investigations across Southern Europe; Group Supervisor for a New England task force combating heroin and fentanyl distribution; Special Agent in Bangkok building international partnerships; operations in New York focusing on organized crime; a brief assignment as a Federal Air Marshal following 9/11; and initial service in Seattle targeting multi-jurisdictional drug cases.Dan Williams is the Human Performance Integration Specialist Manager for O2X on the West Coast. Starting as an On-Site Human Performance Specialist specializing in Strength & Conditioning, Dan has cultivated extensive expertise in supporting tactical athletes. With over 12 years of experience in the human performance field, Daniel has a deep passion for working with tactical athletes, helping them achieve peak performance and resilience. Since 2015, Daniel has served as a Human Performance Specialist in the special operations community. His career began with the Air Force Special Operations Command, working with the 24th Special Operations Wing, Special Tactics Training Squadron (STTS). After two years with STTS, Daniel transitioned to Naval Special Warfare Group 1, where he spent over four years supporting Navy SEALs in optimizing their performance and readiness.Building Homes for Heroes:https://www.buildinghomesforheroes.org/Download the O2X Tactical Performance App:app.o2x.comLet us know what you think:Website - http://o2x.comIG - https://instagram.com/o2xhumanperformance?igshid=1kicimx55xt4f 

Today's top stories:Sacramento County man arrested, accused of kidnapping Kern County girlReport details attack of Kern County sheriff's deputy2 more men accused in Kern County EBT theft schemeReward raised to $35,000 for information leading to capture of escaped killer Cesar Hernandez50 years later, evacuation of US Embassy in Vietnam still pains manyYawning too much? It could be a warning signNFL pros return to Bakersfield for football camp2026 election season begins with Democratic hopeful announcing campaign for Rep. David Valadao's seatSen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez set for Bakersfield rallyMagnitude 5.2 earthquake rattles Southern CaliforniaFor more local news, visit KGET.com.

This week's update begins with a look at new warnings of an expected increase in attempted attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide with the approach of Passover. We then turn to a security alert issued by the US Embassy in Stockholm urging Americans to use caution around the embassy, as well as while attending large events or frequenting public venues. An expanded written version of this report can be found within our weekly Threat Journal email newsletter. You can subscribe for FREE by simply visiting https://www.ThreatJournal.com . A link to this issue will immediately be sent to you via email. AlertsUSA Homepage http://www.AlertsUSA.com – (Homeland Security Alerts for Mobile Devices) AlertsUSA on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alertsusa AlertsUSA on Twitter https://twitter.com/alertsusa Threat Journal on Twitter https://twitter.com/threatjournal Threat Journal Homepage https://www.ThreatJournal.com

DEI Hate Goes Global Karel Cast 25-47 USDA is freezing funding to Maine and you won't believe why. US Embassies around the world have sent out a letter to every company they do business with you won't believe what it says. MAGA isn't just waging a war against DEI in the USA, but everywhere. But why? The Karel Cast is heard on all streaming services from Apple Music to iHeart Media, Spotify to Spreaker. The show is Monday through Thursday at 10:30 am Live PST. It can also be seen on TikTok and Instagram. Karel is a history-making broadcaster and entertainer currently in Las Vegas with his little service girl Ember. The Karel Cast is supported by your donations at patreon.com/reallykarel Please watch, like and subscribe to the videos at youtube.com/reallykarel

After traversing seven countries, and spending six years in camps here, Bushra & Mahmood just want a home to raise their family. On this week's episode I had the profound privilege of sitting down with Bushra Ahmed and Mahmood Abdu, a couple whose lives have been defined by a war that is still ongoing in Yemen. Their courage, endurance, and aspiration for their family's future drove them to leave everything behind and begin the journey to find a new home. Their story, spanning seven countries, is one of unimaginable hardship and enforced determination. Bushra and Mahmood fled Yemen in 2017 with their three young sons aged just 3, 6 and 9 at the time. The political unrest and increasing danger made their home untenable. Bushra, once employed by the US Embassy, faced life-threatening risks as tensions escalated. Mahmood had worked for Yemen's Ministry of Agriculture. Both had built stable, professional lives – lives that were upended due to war. Their journey from Yemen went via Oman, Malaysia, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Belgium, and finally, Luxembourg. In Iran they were living in forests at border with Turkey and had to climb mountains at night and walk, with their three young boys, for two weeks to the capital city of Ankara. There, they paid for a treacherous boat crossing to Kos, captained by someone who didn't know the way. On Kos, where they lived for six months in awful conditions, Mahmood built them a shelter. Finally, they reached Luxembourg in 2019. A new chapter. A place of peace. Another baby. They could not have envisaged still living in camps in 2025. A Hidden Struggle in the Heart of Europe Since arriving in Luxembourg, Bushra and Mahmood have been housed in various refugee camps. Six years later, they're still there. Currently, they live in two small rooms in a camp in Luxembourg City, sharing bathroom and kitchen facilities with five other families. And they pay for it – over €1,100 per month. Despite Luxembourg's wealth and reputation for high living standards, their search for a stable home seems insurmountable. Their teenage sons, now in school in Clervaux, spend four hours a day commuting to and from school. Bushra, works but her health has been deeply impacted by relentless stress. Mahmood, has to manage the travel logistics for the children and support their education, alongside learning French. They have filled out hundreds of housing applications – public and private. But the answer is always the same: too expensive, too large a family, or simply, no response at all. Their story is one of many – but one we rarely hear. Luxembourg's Deepening Housing Crisis To shed light on the broader context, I was joined by RTL's French-language housing journalist, Gaël Arellano. His reporting has laid bare the critical state of housing in Luxembourg. Why is renting so hard – and so expensive? It's a perfect storm: - Population growth vs. housing supply: Luxembourg needs to build around 6,000 new homes per year to keep up with demand. In the last two years, only 700–800 homes were built annually. - Collapse of new construction: Rising interest rates and stagnant prices have stalled new builds. - Pressure shift: As buying has become unaffordable, pressure has shifted to the rental market, pushing rents higher. - Discrimination: Gaël has spoken with real estate agents who confirm that some landlords openly discriminate – against nationalities, large families, even people with children. Though laws exist to cap rent or ensure fair treatment, enforcement is often absent or toothless. And for refugee families like Bushra and Mahmood's, who may not have perfect credit histories or high incomes, the barriers multiply. A Home, Not Just a House Despite all this, Bushra and Mahmood remain incredibly gracious and resilient. Their sons are doing their best in school and have many friends, but they crave a normal, stable home life. “They just want to invite their friends over. They want to feel normal.” They simply want what every parent wants: a stable home where their children can grow, dream, and belong. Luxembourg is their home now. So let's ask ourselves – and our community – what can be done? We know the housing situation in Luxembourg is extremely tough, but so much moreso for refugees who are living in limbo. Bushra and Mahmood's story is so deeply humbling. A family who simply want to start their life from scratch and a build a home for their family. https://play.rtl.lu/shows/fr/la-bulle-immo/episodes

She came out into the hallway shouting, “Agent Avila, He's been shot!” Victor Avila was a US Diplomat in Mexico with the Global Trafficking and Human Initiative taking down human traffickers and fighting the cartels. Wife, Claudia, was also working at the US Embassy. Together with their two children they begin a fight for survival and justice. Can the cartel be dismantled? See and feel the love of God in this award-winning series. Subscribe for more at parentcompass.tv/subscribe. Download the Parent Compass App.You will hear:She came into the hallway shouting, “Agent Avila, He's been shot!” I am trying to grab the phone from her. – ClaudiaWhen you hear your boss say he is not aware of any security issues in Mexico, it's a problem. – VictorI was in charge of taking down human traffickers. – VictorI felt warping out of one world into another. – VictorWe had a great life. – ClaudiaI always knew there was risk. – ClaudiaBlessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. – Matthew 5:58 of them come out. We have our hands up. – VictorNo one can tell me if he was alive. – ClaudiaThey shot over 100 rounds. – VictorShot with a AK47. Bleeding profusely. – VictorI knew he was in trouble when he said he was going to be on that highway. – ClaudiaAll I remember is someone pulling me away from the phone, because I wanted to talk to Victor. – ClaudiaThis is where my panic and my fear sets in. – VictorWe need to be a complete family. – ClaudiaWhat about my kids. – ClaudiaBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:3Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. – Matthew 5:4It could have very well been my husband that died that day. – ClaudiaThe incident has escalated and we are having the Government of Mexico escorting us to the airport. Brace yourself. – ClaudiaWe have these hoods put over our heads. – Victor Emilio, age 6 at the timeThey put us in the back of this suburban. – Sofia, age 10 at the timeThey put a hood over my head and kind of escorted me. There was at least seven, if not more, vehicles with armed guards on the back of the trucks pointing long guns at everything. – ClaudiaIt was scary. – ClaudiaI remember my kids just “Momma, mommy, momma.” – ClaudiaThis is way too much for a fire hazard. This does not make sense. – SofiaThe alarms were blaring. They were yelling at us. Keep your kids down. – ClaudiaArmed vehicles next to us and it front of us and we are just hauling. What else is happening? – ClaudiaAre our lives in danger? What is happening? – ClaudiaWe get to the airport and there is military all over the place. That is when I was told it was a cartel hit. – ClaudiaNothing made sense. – ClaudiaSomething is not right here. – SofiaNews trucks pulling up to the house. – SofiaHow do you tell your kids, your dad was gunned down by cartels and they killed his partner. – ClaudiaHad a lot of survivor's guilt. A lot of people died. Your partner died. But, why didn't you die? – Victor.Things seemed just so out of control. – SofiaWithout God, can't make sense out of anything. – Claudia.They won't have to worry about me. I won't let them down. – Victor EmilioThe seven were extradited from Mexico, charged with murder—calls for a mandatory life sentence. – Victor.The only reason why he's here is by the grace of God. – SofiaI had to do calls to the family and let them know there is no one in prison for the murder of their son. – VictorOpen communication and trust and faith is the cornerstone of our family. – Claudia.Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:10You cannot have inner peace without faith. – Claudia.We all have just become so close. – SofiaI have changed a lot for the better. I don't sweat the small stuff anymore. – VictorEverything we knew just changed overnight. – Claudia.I testified. The Zeta cartel was dismantled because of this case. – VictorIt was nothing short of a miracle. – Sofia.Faith has always been in background. You talk to God. You ask him for guidance, for help. – VictorIf there's tragedy, we find a way out of it. And it's all because of Him. – ClaudiaDon't miss a show. Subscribe at parentcompass.tv/subscribe. Download the Parent Compass App. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1493/29

With the sun setting over Gaza's skyline and warplanes flying overhead, trauma surgeon Dr. Feroze Sidhwa and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mark Perlmutter huddle in front of their webcam at Nasser Hospital in the south of Gaza to describe some of the horrors they have seen over the last week. SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribeWATCH ‘MEHDI UNFILTERED' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/mehdi-unfilteredFIND ZETEO:Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_newsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonewsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonewsFIND MEHDI:Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasanTwitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasanTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit zeteo.com/subscribe

Join Jennifer as she delves into an enriching conversation with Katheryn Gronauer, a dynamic coach and facilitator with expertise in leadership, cross-cultural transition, and wellness. There are fascinating parallels between business or life transitions and the traditional Japanese “sento” or public bath experience. Whether navigating a career shift, exploring new ventures, or simply seeking inspiration for personal growth, this episode offers a wealth of wisdom on embracing change, “dropping the towel” to be more authentic and finding more alignment in your work and life. Don't miss the valuable lessons on transparency, resilience, and the profound impact of incremental progress.If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we'd love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. In this episode you'll hear:Katheryn's first experience with feeling out of alignment with her environmentLearning to be an entrepreneur in her own wayThe Sento Mindset as a metaphor for transformationsThe question: Are you transitioning or transforming?About KatherynKatheryn Gronauer is a coach with expertise in leadership, cross-cultural transition, and wellness. She is a graduate of Sophia University with a degree in International Business & Culture, a certified coach through both the Center for Executive Coaching (International Coaching Federation Accredited) and Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and a certified ATD Trainer & Change Management Facilitator. Beyond coaching and training, Katheryn is a Speaker and Writer. She has spoken at Tedx on The Sento Mindset, the US Embassy, Toyo University, Roppongi Cooperative, and more. She has written for JapanToday, Savvy, Women's Health, HuffPost, and more, as well as authored the book Confessions of a Yo-yo Dieter on her experience of losing 40 pounds with Western and Eastern health concepts. Katheryn is originally from Florida and currently lives with her family in Tokyo.Connect with Katherynwww.katheryngronauer.comwww.thrivetokyo.comlu.ma/thrive-tokyo www.linkedin.com/in/katheryngronauer www.instagram.com/katheryngronauer Connect with JenniferLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifershinkai/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifershinkaicoach Website: https://jennifershinkai.com/ Instagram Coaching and Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/Instagram Artist: https://www.instagram.com/jennifershinkai/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ikigaiwithjennifershinkai/

Darren Price of Springfield converted to the Catholic Church in 2019. Just a few months later, he went on a trip to the Holy Land where he almost died. His incredible story of walking the streets of Jerusalem in severe pain, needing the US Embassy to get involved, and money wire transfers needing to happen all sound like a movie script, but it was his reality. How his story gave him a new appreciation for Christ and suffering.

Guest Introduction: Joining us today is Yaruq Nadeem, a force of nature propelling Pakistan's innovation landscape. As the spearhead of Innovation and Partnerships at the National Science & Technology Park (NSTP), he's not just talking about change – he's delivering it. In just four years, Yaruq has facilitated a staggering PKR 20+ billion in revenue and PKR 12+ billion in startup funding, ignited the spark for over 300 startups, and created 6,000 jobs, catapulting Pakistan to 88th in the Global Innovation Index. But his impact doesn't stop there. He recently led the US Embassy's groundbreaking Rising Stars Startup Competition, championing inclusivity for minorities and women. From designing internationally renowned incubation programs under TechOne to launching the 'Innovation Inside' initiative, Yaruq is a catalyst for entrepreneurial empowerment. He's even shaped the entrepreneurship curriculum at NUST and guided over 50 student-led venturesTo get more information about studying in the UK: https://www.britishcouncil.pk/study-ukDo not forget to subscribe and press the bell icon to catch on to some amazing conversations coming your way!#thoughtbehindthings #muzamilhasan #yaruqnadeem #startups Socials:TBT's Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings Muzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan Yaruq's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaruqnadeem/NSTP Website: https://nstp.pk/Podcast Links:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3z1cE7F Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/2S84VEd Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3cgIkf

Working as a diplomat for the US Embassy in Mexico, Victor was ordered to take an armored vehicle on a dangerous highway. He and his partner in the vehicle were ambushed by a violent drug cartel. His wife, Claudia, finds out immediately, as she works at the Embassy. Hear of his rescue. 8 of them come out. We have our hands up. Victor No one can tell me if he was alive. Claudia They shot over 100 rounds. Victor Shot with a AK47. Bleeding profusely. Victor I knew he was in trouble when he said he was going to be on that highway. Claudia All I remember is someone pulling me away from the phone, because I wanted to talk to Victor. Claudia This is where my panic and my fear sets in. Victor We need to be a complete family. Claudia What about my kids. Claudia Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 Don't miss a show. Subscribe at parentcompass.tv/subscribe. Download the Parent Compass App. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1493/29

Illustrators Samya Arif and Sana Nasir come on TPE to discuss the world of design, illustration, art, Indus Valley School, Feminism, Social Media and AI.Sana Nasir is an international award winning Illustrator and a record label Art Director. Sana's work is rooted in illustration told through local folklore, mythology and fantasy that she uniquely incorporates into the field of music, event and festival design as well as activism. Amongst her recent achievements Sana created the visual identity for the global event series, Boiler Room for itʼs historic debut in Pakistan and was part of the team that received the coveted British Council New Perspectives Grant in 2022 for which she was invited to speak at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Nasirʼs talk ʻDesign in the Name of Loveʼ was debuted at the National Digital Design Conference (ND2C) in 2018 and her talk, ʻCulture Alt Deleteʼ was featured on Islamabadʼs first PechaKucha 20x20. Her work is inspired from folklore and mythology combined with technology and pop-culture and has been acclaimed and featured on platforms such as World Illustration Awards, Communication Arts Awards, Vice, Pen America, Oxford University Press, Border Movement and several local publications including Herald magazine.Sana currently lives and works between Karachi and Kathmandu as an illustrator and multi-disciplinary artist and as Art Director at an ethical record label that she and her partner co-run called Cape Monze Records.sananasir.coSamya Arif is a Pakistani visual artist, illustrator, and graphic designer whose work has been featured internationally. Her artistry is focused on female perspectives and observations of social and cultural paradigms, often exploring the themes of women and the spaces they inhabit.After earning her degree in Communication Design from the Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture, Samya has built a diverse portfolio that includes creating visuals for publications, editorials, book covers, and film posters. Additionally, she has been actively involved as an artist, designer, and DJ in Karachi's budding underground electronic and indie music scene.She has been featured in several prestigious publications such as The New York Times, BBC, Vice, CBC, The Fader, and Pitchfork. Samya has also collaborated on a variety of international projects, such as the Mumbai-based Taxi Fabric, for which her designs were featured in the music video of the British band Coldplay. Her client list includes Penguin Books, HarperCollins, Al Jazeera, the US Embassy in Nepal, British Council, NPR, and Google. Her illustrations were regularly published in Pakistan's renowned, now defunct Herald magazine.Samya's work has been exhibited in numerous countries, including Pakistan, India, UAE, England, US, Belgium, and Spain. She currently resides and works in Karachi, Pakistan and serves as a part-time professor at her alma mater.The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperienceChapters:0:00 Introduction2:00 Difference between Graphic Design and Illustration8:30 Indus Valley10:00 Choosing Design and Love for Music13:30 Is it innate or can you learn Art?16:00 Parents and living as Artists20:00 Herald27:30 Do you care about what people think?30:30 Paving the way and Woke Culture33:00 Being trolled online35:00 Saying something through Art40:00 Progress across Generations43:00 Feminism of our mothers48:00 Putting yourself in your Art51:30 Creative Process and Finding yourself55:00 Would you rather be in your 20s?57:00 Delusion is a super power1:02:00 The world of Social Media1:10:30 Watermelon symbol and the Power of an Image1:17:00 Local Context is very important1:25:00 Making your own art1:30:40 What is Pakistani culture and Getting inspired1:39:40 AI and Art1:58:40 Audience Questions

In January 2024, the US Embassy issued a warning to all American travelers: Be careful using dating apps in Colombia. Eight men had been killed in two months — several of them after traveling to Medellin and using apps to connect with women online. Bloomberg’s Natalie Lung and Antonia Mufarech investigated and found an even darker situation. On today’s Big Take podcast, they join host Sarah Holder to explain how apps from US-based tech companies are being used for sex trafficking and child exploitation in Colombia — and why it’s so hard for the companies to keep criminals off their platforms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beginning in 2016, diplomats at the US Embassy in Havana started reporting strange concussion-like symptoms, even though they hadn't taken a blow to the head. Some claimed they'd been the victim of a mysterious “sonic weapon”, aimed at them from somewhere outside and accompanied by a loud, high-pitched noise. Several scientific papers followed that appeared to confirm they'd been attacked. In this episode of The Studies Show, Tom and Stuart tell the whole story of Havana Syndrome, and dare to touch on the highly controversial theory that the symptoms might've been the result of mass hysteria (or as it's now known, “mass psychogenic illness”).The Studies Show is brought to you by Works in Progress magazine. Their Substack is full of shorter articles that highlight apects of science and technology you might never have considered. This week: the surprising story of “The Prophet of Parking”. You can find that any all of their shorter items at worksinprogress.news.Show notes* The most recent (January 2025) development in the story of Havana Syndrome* Stuart's New Statesman article on Havana Syndrome from 2021* Long and detailed ProPublica article from 2018* Wikipedia articles on the LRAD and the Active Denial System* NY Times article from around the time, about the Trump administration's reaction to the “attacks”* US Senate hearings on the “attacks” led by Marco Rubio* Initial 2018 JAMA article with cognitive and other tests* Response letters 1, 2, and 3 (“cognitive impairments everybody has”)* 2019 JAMA article on brain imaging results* Stuart's 2015 study on brain imaging in ageing* Entomologists report on the similarity of the recorded sound to that of a cricket* Declassified US report that agrees* A history of mass psychogenic illness* BBC article on “The Bristol Hum”* Guardian article on the bizarre phenomenon of Morgellon's Syndrome* Article arguing that critics of the “mass psychogenic illness” theory have misunderstood the condition* 2020 National Academy of Sciences report* Putin bragging about high-tech Russian weaponsCreditsThe Studies Show is produced by Julian Mayers at Yada Yada Productions. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thestudiesshowpod.com/subscribe

Not the welcome we expectedWhen your tour guide is an assassin, what can go wrong?By FinalStand. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.You can do wrong while trying to do right.FlashbackAlal's 'milk of human kindness' had finally run dry as the Visigoths sacked his Roman villa. While looters ran off with his latest trappings of wealth, and deserted by his servants and his slaves, Grandpa decided that he was tired of fucking around with the Human Race. He felt they were simply too stupid, venal and weak to make any positive, lasting changes in the world.Alal decided that he was going to make the key choices for them. Fuck free will. Fuck letting the vermin that floated to the top of the cesspool destroy everything good in the world, as he had witnessed them doing time and time again. He had lost count of the monuments destroyed, histories of peoples forgotten and benefits to mankind burned away by barbarism and ignorance.By the fading light of August the 26th, 410 CE, Alal found himself sitting back in the pergola (a sort of mini-gazebo) in his rear gardens, drinking through several amphora of wine all the while having a deep philosophical debate with the several dozen very dead Goths decorating his environs.As three or four looters would enter the garden, he would kill them. And then three or four more would show up looking for the earlier group,, on and on. This reinforced Alal's belief that something drastic had to be done. He seriously considered going to the coast, getting a ship and five solid stone anchors. He'd sail out two days, maybe three, wrap himself in the anchors and jump overboard.The problem, as he saw it, was that given a few decades, the ropes would rot and he'd bob to the surface to see again that none of the fundamentals had changed. Further complicating his current thinking was that every time he came close to throwing in the cosmic towel, some more GOD DAMN GOTHS would come around, calling for their buddies, the dead ones. Somewhere around noon on August the 27th, Alal vowed that he was tired of this shit.Right on cue, around twenty Goths came strolling through the rear of his villa and soaked up the carnage out back. Fifty-two of their brethren were in various states of dismemberment and defilement (Alal had been, as usual, angry). They saw this dark-skinned Roman and rightly asked 'where's the army that killed these fellows?' He walked up to them in his wine-splashed toga."Are you the one in charge?" he asked the meanest looking Visigoth in passible Goth."I am," the leader responded. With lightning speed, he killed the man with his own sword. The Germans weren't sure what to make of that, it had happened so fast."You can join me," Alal indicated himself, "or you can join him," he indicated the corpse of their former leader. He had his new band of followers and the rest was Illuminati history.End FlashbackFor me, this meant more to me than living with the memories of a very bitter, driven and pitiless man. Alal was essentially the anti-me. It gave me chills to realize that all of Alal's gifts were bestowed on me with a purpose. I knew it was part of his greater plan. Normally, to end-run an evil genius, you just find him and kill him. Not only would Alal not stay dead, I now knew how well he could fight.I knew only four people who might be in his league, and I wasn't one of them. Of the four, Sakuniyas wasn't likely to help Pamela, Saint Marie and Elsa get the job done. That meant I had to rev up the deception engine to comfort my Aunts with hope, while dispelling the knowledge of how little they mattered to their sire. Almost as bad, I had to ignore what horribly people they were while extending that portion of my soul.It was with some relief that I hugged, kissed, and forcefully separated myself from the Aunts in Dublin. We were going on to Budapest's Ferenc Liszt International Airport. My next action was to make my request to Selena for a contract with the Ghost Tigers to defend Hana when she arrived in Russia. (Of the three 9 Clan Assassin-Babes, Selena was the least impressed with me.) She informed me that the Ghost Tigers didn't do bodyguard work. I still wanted her to relay my request, so she relented. After that, I passed out.We left Dublin around 9:30 am Friday morning and landed in Budapest at 1:45 pm., still Friday. As Rachel rousted me so I could grab a quick shower before touchdown, I was gifted with the misconceptions of my fellow travelers:To put it nicely, Riki thought I was somewhat revolting, Virginia was disturbed and Chaz had lowered his opinion of my moral character. It was the incest thing. Vincent being polite was a pleasant surprise, Delilah's camaraderie less so and Odette was peaches with my most recent sexcapades. She was far too good to me. The Amazons uniformly didn't give a crap."So, is there going to be any other bizarre behavior we should be prepared for?" Riki sat down next to me as I was drying my hair. I was back to my 'jeans, t-shirt and wind-breaker' style."Fine, " I said loudly. "It is really none of your business what I did with and to my mother's clones. Yes, they are all clones of my mother, who died when I was seven." A lie."They are also the genetic creations of my grandfather, also known by many as Cáel O'Shea. They are sterile, they are wickedly evil, and two weeks ago I didn't know they existed. I do have a real aunt in Maryland. She's my Father's sister and is not part of the menagerie. Oh yeah, my grandpa is currently a disembodied spirit, back from the Netherworld and looking for a body to take over, if he hasn't found one already," I added."He was born roughly five thousand years ago, was cursed by an ancient Sumerian Goddess such that he can never just die and stay dead. I have his memories running around my head, which, along with denying me a good night's sleep, allows me to speak an assortment of languages, use virtually every weapon built before 1970 and know that he is a vicious criminal mastermind the likes of which you've never imagined outside of fiction.How does that sound, Riki? Shall I get more bizarre? Trust me, I can," I regarded her evenly. She was speechless, but not out of awe. No, she was certain that I was completely unhinged."Everyone who believes Cáel, raise their hand," Odette demanded. Her hand went up. Odette and the Amazons agreeing was expected by the outsiders. Delilah and Virginia joining in was not."Captain Fairchild?" Colour Sgt. Chaz Tomorrow requested clarification."You've all seen those five O'Shea's that left the plane in Ireland. Barring some cosmetic changes, they were the exact same woman. You can either go with Sean Connery's Tak-ne creating a female clone army, or you can believe there is an otherworldly plastic surgeon altering a cadre of super-rich bitches to all look alike," Delilah, who was a captain of something, put out there."Who in the Hell is Tak-ne?" Riki mumbled."Duh," I poked the State Department lassie. "Connor MacLeod's Egyptian mentor in Highlander, the original movie and in the less than stellar sequel, Highlander: The Quickening"."You are mistaken. Connery was that Spanish guy," Riki poked me back."Actually, the relevant quote is: 'I am Juan Sánchez Villalobos Ramírez, Chief metallurgist to King Charles V of Spain. And I'm at your service'," Vincent regaled us with his movie trivia. "He later reveals that he was born Tak-ne in Egypt in the 9th century BCE. Also, his Spanish name makes no sense, he has one too many surnames.""Agent Loire, I am beginning to find intelligent men to be attractive," Charlotte said."Umm, thank you," Vincent responded warily."This might be a good point to get something clear," Chaz inquired. "Mr. Nyilas, whose side are you on? It appears to be rather complicated.""Okay, Chaz, call me Cáel. Calling me Mr. Nyilas makes me miss my dad. I can also be addressed as Cáel 'Wakko' Ishara, Head of House Ishara of the First Twenty Houses of the Amazon Host. Or, you can call me what the Great Khan does, Magyarorszag es Erdely Hercege. Finally, those who love me, or find me amusing, may call me Fehér mén."Selena's snort indicated she'd failed to hide her amusement at my presumptiveness, both titular and physically."Do you want to explain what's so amusing?" Riki looked over to the Black Hand assassin."Your job should be exceptionally easy now," Selena mocked me, "Prince of Hungry and Transylvania, or do you prefer 'White Stud'?""Laugh while you can, Monkey-Girl," I sneered. "The guy currently making a run at erasing seven hundred years of Asian history gave me that title. As for Fehér mén, that means 'White Stallion' and is symbolic of my ties to House Epona, not a phallic reference." Riki's look had gone from disgust, to anger (because she thought she was being played) and lastly, to shock."No," I interpreted her fear. "I am not here as some vanguard to unite the Magyar people to their cultural kinfolk in Central Asia. If you know your Central European history, you might recall that the Mongols devastated my homeland. For the next 450 years, the Turks were unwelcome visitors, conquerors and overlords. My princely status is a pat on the head for a job well done and nothing more.""What job did you do?" Riki prodded."I saved a man's life," I looked pained to admit. She didn't get it."It must have been a major VIPs life," Chaz suggested."You can say that," Pamela nodded. "End of discussion time too."At Ferenc Liszt International, we were diverted to a private hangar once more, courtesy of the Republic of Ireland's diplomatic umbrella. Three grey Ford Focuses and a white panel truck advertising a furniture repair store awaited us. Security issues were immediately obvious. They wanted to separate us (in the Fords) from most of our luggage (in the truck).The five guy welcoming party hid under the cloak of 'don't speak any language you claim to speak' and Selena was of zip help. So, I spoke to them in Hungarian. They glanced my way, but didn't respond. Serbian? Nope. Romanian? Nope."Bows and doves," I commanded.That translated rather logically as 'guns/bows' and 'phones/doves'. Out came our pistols. The only Black Hand to react fast enough was Selena and Pamela had her covered. The Amazons were aiming at the locals while Delilah and Chaz had their weapons out and scanning. Vincent and Virginia hadn't been fast enough, this time. They also didn't have guns pointed at them.The lead BH flunky began talking calmly in German, heavily Slavic accented German."What do you think you are doing?" he inquired of me, in German."Disarming you, ya Moron," I grumbled. Then added in Hittite; "Go", and in my Amazons went to very roughly search, disarm and de-phone our not so friendly friends."Alright, gather up your luggage," I called out to my group. "We are walking to town." That wasn't truly accurate. There was a metro associated with the airport, a kilometer away max. Our guides didn't speak English so they were rather surprised when the bags came out of the truck and were distributed to their owners. Riki Martin and Odette were in some trouble.Girls and 'only packing the necessities', Well, we had some diplomatic lumber to toss at the security services, Vincent had web-searched our location and the route we needed to take to the metro, and Delilah had purchased week-long public transport passes for the group. Only when we started marching out of the hangar did the BH comprehend the totality of their error.The five guys in the hangar were chattering away, in Hungarian, and Selena was peeved."You are upsetting my superiors by blatantly disrespecting their courtesy," she reminded me. "They have guaranteed your safety.""Less than a day has passed since the shootout in London, Selena," I countered."This is the Black Hand's backyard," Selena persisted, "not London.""So, you are only going to help us if we do stupid shit we wouldn't do, even on our own home ground, is that it?" I chuckled. "Sweet," then, to my people, "I guess we are on our own."The airport security guards didn't know what to make of our group of over-worked Sherpa, but the US State department and the RoI (Republic of Ireland) vouched for us, so they let us pass.We hadn't taken the cars and the truck because that would have been theft. The confiscated guns and phones had been disassembled and tossed into a large iron drum of used aviation lubricant. Odette began shopping around for hotel reservations (I was carrying most of her gear). She was the logical choice because she sounded the most human of the bunch.Selena called her people back, explained the fuck up and engaged in a mutual ass-chewing that spilled over a half-dozen languages and ended up with Dick-head, the local BH chieftain providing us with quarters that would turn a blind eye to our arsenal. With that address in mind, we made for the bowels of modern Budapest.Dutifully, Riki contacted the US Embassy to Hungary's CIA mission head and Chargé D' Affaires, a.i., updating them on our arrival and movements. At the last moment, I had Riki relay the wrong address, on a paranoid hunch. I was right to be paranoid except I was looking in the wrong direction.We had just disembarked at the Kőbánya-Kispest M3 station when we walked into the rolling ambush. A 'rolling ambush' is like a meeting engagement, the difference being that one side (ours) is on the move, not knowing it is being hunted while the other side (our attackers) was rushing to catch up with us, not knowing where along the path they would find us.As we preparing to transition from the station to the attached terminal, looking for the bus line that would connect us to the BH safe house in the Kőbánya (X) District, our attackers were dismounting their vehicles from across the street as well as to our left and right. They were dressed like cops. Had they been armed like cops,"Oh look," I snickered to Pamela, "I see a whole bunch of heavily armed people coming our way.""Good for you," Pamela muttered. "Your eyes are still working.""Do you think they are here to raise me up on their shields and proclaim me 'Prince'?" I joked."I think they are here to kill us," Pamela grinned."I prefer to think positively," I grinned back."I am positive they are here to kill us," Pamela laughed. It had to be our relaxed demeanor that confused them.Had we been the droids they were looking for, we wouldn't have been chatting in the open with our bags in our hands. That would have made us crazy, and they would have been right. We were crazy alright and there was a method to our madness. It was mid-afternoon, yet there were plenty of average Hungarians wandering about.Sure, they saw the 'special cops' closing in. They didn't see the upcoming shoot-out because that was plain nuts. A gun battle in a modern metropolis in broad daylight? London yesterday was an aberration, not the new normal. Our impromptu plan was to let the killers get as close as possible to limit the collateral damage.This wasn't classic Amazon training. It was a concession to allies who did care about civilians killed in the cross-fire. The oncoming hit squad was finally putting faces to targets when Odette broke the calm before the storm. All she did was squeak when Vincent pushed her behind a kiosk. Riki took Virginia shifting her to cover in silence.Delilah took off at a dead-run to the south-east. They were raising their shotguns and assault rifles. We were drawing our pistols. Normally this would have been an unequal match, except that in the time period where, in their eyes, we had gone from bystanders to targets, they'd also covered a good deal of ground, to the point that they were out in the open while my fighting band was in close proximity to all kinds of cover.It started out as eighteen to twelve. Pamela, Chaz and Selena quickly cut down those odd by five. Me? I didn't try to shoot and run at the same time, so I made it to cover and was stuck there by our opponents use of fully-automatic fire.My lack of martial prowess could be forgiven by the reality I was the one they were trying to off. My greatest contribution to this skirmish was tossing my SPAS-12 to Chaz so he could use something more than his standard military issue Glock-17. I had barely gotten Chaz's appreciative nod when two grenades went off in close proximity to me.At first, I heard and felt nothing. My eyes were having trouble focusing. When my limbs began to orient themselves, I had to fight down the instinct to move. I was lying down, which was far safer than staggering around in the middle of this hail of lead. The twin grenades turned out to be their second and very fatal mistake on this mission.The first had been their delay in identifying my group. The second, using the stun grenades, did put me, Pamela and Selena out of commission temporarily. But their mistake was having misplaced my six Amazons in this mess they had created. They did have thirteen shooters versus Chaz, Virginia and Vincent. They rushed our position using the classic advance while firing rote.Two meters from me, the six Amazons revealed themselves with five P-90's and one big-ass bow. Four escaped the kill zone only to find themselves flanked by Delilah. Her .480, combined with their confusion, finished off the survivors. That wasn't the end of it. We still had to effect our get-away.I was still getting my head on straight as the ladies decided to hotwire some of the deceased men's rides and get us the heck out of Dodge. Recovery brought with it the knowledge that Virginia and Chaz had been shot. Pamela, Selena and me, we had some scrapes and bruises. Everyone else checked out. Mona let us know that she could handle the wounded. They wouldn't be doing jumping jacks for a week or two, but a hospital was not required. On the downside, no one believed that eighteen killers dressed as cops randomly rolled up on our transit point by accident. The only people who knew about our change in travel plans had been the Black Hand. We'd lied to the US.We broke into an abandoned factory to stash the vehicles and make our next plan. Selena was coldly furious. Not only did she come to the same conclusion we had, the Black Hand had set us up to be murdered, we weren't letting her call in. Wiesława and Charlotte kept their guns pointed at her, so low was our level of trust.Chaz was pretty much of the opinion that Selena should be coerced to provide us with the names and locations of the Black Hand involved so that we could do our own 'fact finding tour'. Oddly, none of the Americans asked to be pulled out. Vincent and Riki wanted to let the US Embassy know what had happened, yet were willing to wait until we were secure somewhere first.Rachel was on board with Chaz's idea, with the addendum that they kill every Black Hand they could get their hands on before fleeing the city. They had tried to kill ME after all. I was touched. It was Pamela who put things in perspective.1) The attackers were not Black Hand, they were mercenaries and that pointed a bloody finger at the Condottieri.2) Selena wasn't a fanatic and her life had been in as much danger as anyone else's. She wasn't part of our ambush. Her buddies had tossed her under the bus.3) It would have been far easier to catch us in that convoy they'd tried to stick us with. Caught in pre-planned crossfires and without our heavier weapons, we would have all died.4) Having failed to deliver us to the pre-planned ambush site, the Condottieri had to rush to our metro stop because, the safe house they had prepared for us wouldn't have worked. We had the numbers to allow us take total charge of our security once we were in place. No, gauging our numbers, this traitor had sent the mercs into a straight-up fight they'd just lost.

Pro-Trump rally outside US Embassy in Tshwane on Saturday Silence of the BRICS block against Trump’s executive orders to South Africa See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Prophecy News Podcast, with Donald Trump back in the White House, we are getting ready to witness another round of some very intense end times events and happenings. In his first term, Trump moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem, declared Jerusalem to be the eternal capital of Israel, and affirmed that Israel had sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Those things represent the heady heights of things we really liked to see. On the other side, however, Trump was also used to put the world on lockdown, worked to create a highly poisonous fake vaccine that was forced on people, and signed his name to the Abraham Accords that, in all likelihood is the covenant that Antichrist confirms in Daniel 9:27. Here in 2025, newly re-elected President Trump is working feverishly to rid America of DEI, the Woke Agenda, and government waste and corruption, all things we very much like seeing. On the other side, however, his is also ushering in the age of cryptocurrency, the digital dollar, and American territorial expansion, things we very much do not like to see. On this episode, we bring you New Age NAR High Priestess Paula White, the woman Donald Trump has just appointed as head of the White House Faith Office. She is not a wolf in sheep's clothing, she is a wolf in wolf's clothing, and she is very bad news for the spiritual climate of America, but very good news for the timing of the Rapture.

A US Embassy official says the US is 'vigorously' enforcing its immigration laws. So far, military aircrafts have flown migrants to Guatemala, Peru and Honduras. ----more---- https://theprint.in/india/under-trump-2-0-first-deportation-flight-to-india-takes-off-with-200-onboard-military-aircraft/2478489/

Monday, January 27th, 2025Today, in what I'm calling the Friday Night Massacre, Donald Trump illegally fired 17 inspectors general; Senate Democrats are preparing a formal resolution to condemn the pardons of January 6th insurrectionists; after Colombia refuses to allow planes with deportees from the US to land, Trump imposes tariffs and closed the visa section at the US Embassy in Bogota; Secretary of State Marco Rubio has halted all foreign aid; a US meteorologist was fired after calling out Elon Musk's nazi salute on her private social media account; Mexico has also refused to accept a US deportation flight; Trump's hiring freeze is creating chaos across federal agencies as he declares he wants to eliminate FEMA altogether; after Trump axed DEIA programs across the government - many private corporations are falling in line - we will name and shame them; Trump demands an interest rate cut from the Fed; and a Mississippi lawmaker has introduced the Contraception Begins at Erection Act; and Allison delivers your Good News.Thank You HomeChefFor a limited time, HomeChef is offering you 18 Free Meals PLUS Free Dessert for Life and of course, Free Shipping on your first box! Go to HomeChef.com/DAILYBEANS.Guest: Justin GillShare and sign the petition at nursesforamerica.netDirect Link to sign the Statement NFA is ALARMED by RFK Jr (google doc)A nurse's perspective: RFK Jr.'s confirmation would be irresponsible (OP ED - JustinGill | The Seattle Times)Stories:Trump fires 17 independent watchdogs at multiple agencies in late-night move (Katherine Faulders, Benjamin Siegel, Alexander Mallin, and Allison Pecorin | ABC News)Senate Democrats ready formal resolution to condemn Trump's pardons of Jan. 6 defendants (Scott MacFarlane | CBS News)Mexico refuses to accept a U.S. deportation flight (Courtney Kube and Jonathan Allen | CBS News)Trump floats overhauling or eliminating FEMA while touring hurricane damage in North Carolina (Elyse Perlmutter-Gumbiner, Vaughn Hillyard and Alexandra Marquez | NBC News)US meteorologist fired from TV station after criticizing Elon Musk salute (Maya Yang | The Guardian)Which US companies are pulling back on diversity initiatives? (AP News)**HRC | Corporate Equality Index 2025Mississippi lawmaker introduces 'Contraception Begins at Erection Act' (Alexandra Marquez | MyNBC15 Alabama)Good Trouble Share and sign the petition at nursesforamerica.netDirect Link to sign the Statement NFA is ALARMED by RFK Jr (google doc)Have some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/From The Good NewsWhat Do We Mean By Sex and Gender? (Yale School Of Medicine)Deuterostome - WikipediaWomen across Iceland, including the prime minister, go on strike for equal pay and no more violence | AP News Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/Subscribe for free to MuellerSheWrote on Substackhttps://muellershewrote.substack.comFollow AG and Dana on Social MediaDr. Allison Gill Substack|Muellershewrote, Twitter|@MuellerSheWrote, Threads|@muellershewrote, TikTok|@muellershewrote, IG|muellershewrote, BlueSky|@muellershewroteDana GoldbergTwitter|@DGComedy, IG|dgcomedy, facebook|dgcomedy, IG|dgcomedy, danagoldberg.com, BlueSky|@dgcomedyHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?Supercasthttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/Patreon https://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr subscribe on Apple Podcasts with our affiliate linkThe Daily Beans on Apple Podcasts

"Three Things You Need to Know"...US Embassies can only fly specific flags now...Gulf of America t-shirts...DOGE going to work..."Debbie Does Movies" replaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to 2025 everyone! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:What's the differences between vaccines that are routine, recommended and required?What is Pertussis, and how can I avoid it?What can the US embassy do for me when I'm abroad?African Sleeping Sickness… what's the dealTrekking Poles: Help or Hindrance?Isn't it just safer to stay home?Wha't the best layover duration from an anxiety perspective?What's mycoplasma pneumonia?We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please send us your questions and travel health anecdotes: germandworm@gmail.com.Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford's & Dr. Pottinger's alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.

Jimmy Carter's four years in the White House were largely defined by an event that took place halfway through his term. On November 4th, 1979 Iranian college students took over the US Embassy in Tehran, and took 52 Americans hostage.For the next 444 days, the Carter administration tried to secure the hostages' release. In April, 1980 they even commissioned a rescue mission that ended in failure. While Carter was trying to end the hostage crisis, he was also campaigning for a second term. A year to the day after the Americans were taken hostage, Ronald Reagan beat Carter in a landslide.The hostage crisis played a key role in Carter's defeat. The Iranian Hostage crisis helped doom Jimmy Carter's presidency, but for some of the people he helped free, he was a hero. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.orgEmail us at considerthis@npr.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Listen to everything from the beginning at davidrovics.com/ahistoryoftheworld or just start with this one! 1970's and 1980's The blowing up of a dam and the birth of the Icelandic environmental movement The discovery of the FBI's Cointelpro by the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI The imprisonment and escape from prison of Assata Shakur The CIA-backed coup in Chile, and solidarity from East Kilbride, Scotland The struggle for land and freedom at Big Mountain and the Navajo/Hopi dispute The collective construction of the world's biggest windmill in Denmark The CIA-backed coup in Australia that overthrew Gough Whitlam's government The Iranian Revolution and the seizure of the US Embassy by students Armed Republican resistance in Ireland, and the 1981 prison hunger strikes Civil war in El Salvador

My guest on this episode of the College Faith podcast is my colleague Dr. Stephen Garrett, Vice-President of Curriculum at Global Scholars. Steve is uniquely qualified to help us understand the benefits and challenges of students taking a semester or year to study abroad, having taught in Lithuania as a “receiving” professor of study abroad students and being a “sending” parent of a son who studied abroad. In this podcast we discuss: Steve's perspective as a "sending" parent: How Steve and his wife first began considering with his son the possibility of studying abroad The value of studying abroad How much parents should be involved in the process The importance of realizing that every school offers different study-abroad programs  Three different models or ways to study abroad  Benefits and cautions about third-party study abroad companies  Who might studying abroad not be for Other considerations such as the language of the host university and country, the status of the host university, the weather, etc. What he wishes he knew as a parent before sending his son off to study abroad Allaying parent's fears of security and safety for students studying abroad The importance of registering with the US Embassy in the host country Concerns about connecting and making friends in the host country The value of the inevitable “failures” while studying abroad Steve's perspective as a “receiving” professor: What helps students have a good study abroad experience The role understanding different cultures plays in a good experience What will ensure the student has a very bad study abroad experience Resources mentioned during our conversation: Your university's Study Abroad Office (or similar title) US State Department's website The Red Cross T. S. Eliot, Christianity and Culture: Essays The Culture Company's Country Comparison Tool Andy Crouch, Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling

Welcome to an episode that's a bit different.  Today, there are four of us talking and sharing experiences from the perspective of Foreign Service life – mainly as spouses and one contractor.  If you happened to listen to episode 162 which was about fitness, you may recognize these amazing women – Hillery Midkiff, Susie Csorsz Brown, and Morgan Loosli.  The four of us all met while living and working Sri Lanka, starting back in 2020.  At this point, I am now living in the US, Hillery and Susie are still in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Morgan and her family are living in Shanghai.We recorded this conversation in the spring of 2024, and it got lost in my folders, so hence the delay in publication.  As I listened to it recently, I appreciated the stories and decided it needed to be released into the wild!IF you are not connected with the Foreign Service, a warning that there are a number of acronyms that you will hear and likely not understand.  The most frequent one is probably EFM which stands for Eligible Family Member – the term given to spouses and children who are considered dependents of Foreign Service Officers.  Susie, Morgan, and I are in the role of EFMs.  Hillery is a contracted officer and her husband is an EFM.  Other than that, I think you'll be able to follow just fine despite the other acronyms.We are talking about careers, finding professional fulfillment, and unique challenges that are associated with living and moving internationally.  Sometimes in countries where we have permission to work in the local economy, and sometimes in countries where we do not have permission to work locally.  A certain number of jobs exist at our US Embassies and Consulates that are specific for EFM employment – Susie and Morgan will share about some of their experiences in those positions.  I have chosen to develop my own business and have also worked on a part-time basis as a trainer for the Foreign Service Institute, the training center for the US Department of State.  Susie, Morgan, Hillery – thank you for this conversation.  Thanks for sharing the ups and downs and realities of this interesting life we live.  I'm super grateful for your friendships and how we stay connected across the globe!  (And quick note that Hillery does indeed drop the F bomb at one point in our conversation, so it's marked explicit.  She'll appreciate the shoutout for that.  You are welcome, Hillery!!)And with that, let me turn this over to our conversation that is graciously hosted by Susie.Make Life Less Difficult

James Hagengruber Acting Public Affairs Officer of US Embassy on Thanks Giving day by Capital FM

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports London authorities have charged a man in last week's bomb hoax at the US Embassy.

Recent developments in the Middle East have raised concern about the potential for a wider regional war. What do escalating tensions in Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond mean for the future? Join RBI Director John Torpey as he discusses the complexities of the contemporary Middle East with Win Dayton, a retired senior member of the U.S. Foreign Service and former Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Beirut. Mr. Dayton shares insights from his decades of diplomatic experience, exploring the shifting dynamics of U.S. foreign policy, the challenges of intervention, and the prospects for stability amid growing regional and global pressures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Recent developments in the Middle East have raised concern about the potential for a wider regional war. What do escalating tensions in Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond mean for the future? Join RBI Director John Torpey as he discusses the complexities of the contemporary Middle East with Win Dayton, a retired senior member of the U.S. Foreign Service and former Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Beirut. Mr. Dayton shares insights from his decades of diplomatic experience, exploring the shifting dynamics of U.S. foreign policy, the challenges of intervention, and the prospects for stability amid growing regional and global pressures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

Recent developments in the Middle East have raised concern about the potential for a wider regional war. What do escalating tensions in Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond mean for the future? Join RBI Director John Torpey as he discusses the complexities of the contemporary Middle East with Win Dayton, a retired senior member of the U.S. Foreign Service and former Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Beirut. Mr. Dayton shares insights from his decades of diplomatic experience, exploring the shifting dynamics of U.S. foreign policy, the challenges of intervention, and the prospects for stability amid growing regional and global pressures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies

Recent developments in the Middle East have raised concern about the potential for a wider regional war. What do escalating tensions in Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond mean for the future? Join RBI Director John Torpey as he discusses the complexities of the contemporary Middle East with Win Dayton, a retired senior member of the U.S. Foreign Service and former Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Beirut. Mr. Dayton shares insights from his decades of diplomatic experience, exploring the shifting dynamics of U.S. foreign policy, the challenges of intervention, and the prospects for stability amid growing regional and global pressures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

Recent developments in the Middle East have raised concern about the potential for a wider regional war. What do escalating tensions in Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond mean for the future? Join RBI Director John Torpey as he discusses the complexities of the contemporary Middle East with Win Dayton, a retired senior member of the U.S. Foreign Service and former Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Beirut. Mr. Dayton shares insights from his decades of diplomatic experience, exploring the shifting dynamics of U.S. foreign policy, the challenges of intervention, and the prospects for stability amid growing regional and global pressures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/israel-studies

Hedieh Mirahmadi shares her profound journey to understanding her identity, her faith, and her work in global politics. She and Virginia emphasize the importance of understanding the ideological underpinnings of extremism and the need for a moral compass in navigating today's chaotic world. They discuss the importance of reconciliation and unity in a divided world, emphasizing the transformative power of God in their own lives and the lives of others. The dialogue highlights the need for understanding and addressing the underlying spiritual and moral issues that affect individuals and society as a whole.Hedieh Mirahmadi has had a national security career spanning over two decades, serving as a senior advisor to FBI headquarters, a political officer in the US Embassy in Afghanistan, and a visiting scholar to some of Washington D.C.'s most prominent think tanks. Mirahmadi also serves as general counsel to a healthcare services enterprise generating over $3 million in annual revenue, managing legal and administrative affairs for 26 employees across five service locations. She has held top secret, Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance while working as a contractor for the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2015 to 2017. During this time, she provided subject matter expertise to develop a national FBI program aimed at preventing terrorism, particularly for individuals with social emotional disturbances, and collaborated with field agents, intelligence analysts and local law enforcement to implement a pilot program across 10 FBI field offices as the founder, president and general counsel of the World Organization for resource development and Education. Mirahmadi transformed the organization from its inception into a trusted federal partner in terrorism and violence prevention. Her leadership resulted in securing millions of dollars in US government grants to create the first evidence based coalition of over 300 public and private partners focused on public safety and terrorism prevention, a model replicated in several US jurisdictions. She developed training content and provided in person instruction to over 1000 law enforcement officers, public health workers and community members across more than a dozen jurisdictions, introducing innovative behavioral threat assessment tools and protocols to assess risks of suicidal or homicidal violence. Additionally, she established the first nationally recognized social services agency dedicated to assisting at risk immigrant families, serving over 100 families. Mirahmadi has briefed senior U.S. officials, including former Vice President Cheney, President Obama, members of Congress and senior leaders of intelligence agencies such as the Director of National Intelligence and the FBI. She has also testified before the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on issues related to national security. Her experience extends to influential think tanks, where she served as a visiting fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Stein program on counter terrorism and intelligence, authoring policy briefs and organizing forums that included White House officials and law enforcement. At the American Enterprise Institute, she managed programs on political Islam and global security, publishing research and hosting policy forums. In 2004, she served as a senior advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, where she provided expertise on creating community based programs to counter Islamist extremist recruitment. Mirahmadi holds a doctorate from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from UCLA. She is a licensed member of the California State Bar, the District of Columbia Bar, and the American Bar Association. As founder and president of Resurrect Ministry, she created a non-denominational digital Christian platform to promote spiritual engagement and healing through an online experience. She also...

AP correspondent Karen Chammas reports on a controlled explosion near the US Embassy in London.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv closes amid intelligence warnings of a potential Russian airstrike, as Ukrainian forces launch UK-made Storm Shadow missiles into Russian territory. An update on the alleged sabotage of underwater cables in the Baltic Sea, with Denmark now monitoring a Chinese ship suspected of involvement. A major setback for U.S.-China relations as Beijing's Defense Minister refuses to meet with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. And in today's Back of the Brief: Donald Trump announces former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker as the next U.S. ambassador to NATO. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Patriot Gold: Call 1-888-870-5457 for a free investor guide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's safe to say we have entered World War three, with the amount of movement that is happening right now in Ukraine, the United States embassy now closed, the evacuations taking place, the United Kingdom, of course, throwing their weight behind, sending additional missiles and training into Ukraine as it relates to attacking Russia. 

Russia has just launched an intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine, which would mark a “clear escalation” by President Vladimir Putin in the ongoing war in Europe. Meanwhile, a US Embassy in Kyiv warns of a ‘potential significant’ air attack in the coming days. At the same time, Russia has just accused Britain of ‘directly being […]

Fighting the System.  US Embassy in Kyiv closed.  No Trans in the bathroom.  No more judicial appointments.  House Ethics Committee keeps Gaetz report under wraps. DOGEcast a podcast that outline all the government cost-cutting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

   It's incredible to hear Dem Governors and Mayors challenging and threatening Trump from deporting illegal aliens, especially after the beatdown they just took in this election.  Yet, they seem to double down on everything, like the war in Ukraine, which has just seen a US Embassy close because Russia may bomb it.  What the hell is going on?    The entire GOP is feeling it including Rep Nancy Mace who unloads on the possibility of a person with a penis sharing her bathroom and locker room at the House.  Polls show America loves the team Trump is assembling.   College basketball had a huge problem that's even bigger now.  The Chiefs and Bills tv ratings are historic for our times.  Royals skipper Matt Quatraro finishes second for AL Manager of the Year but if you know Stephen Vogt's story, you'll know why he won.  And Charles Barkley jokes about working for ESPN next year.  

Fighting the System.  US Embassy in Kyiv closed.  No Trans in the bathroom.  No more judicial appointments.  House Ethics Committee keeps Gaetz report under wraps. DOGEcast a podcast that outline all the government cost-cutting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fighting the System.  US Embassy in Kyiv closed.  No Trans in the bathroom.  No more judicial appointments.  House Ethics Committee keeps Gaetz report under wraps. DOGEcast a podcast that outline all the government cost-cutting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fighting the System.  US Embassy in Kyiv closed.  No Trans in the bathroom.  No more judicial appointments.  House Ethics Committee keeps Gaetz report under wraps. DOGEcast a podcast that outline all the government cost-cutting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria Mezentseva, Ukrainian MP, discusses the long range missiles strike deep into Russia for the first time in a new phase of the 1,000 day war.

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports on precautions in Ukraine under escalated Russian air attacks.

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine's capital remains closed, amid fears of a Russia air attack.

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports Western and Ukrainian officials say Russia has been stockpiling powerful long-range missiles, as tensions grow over the use of such missiles.

In the late 1970s, the United States found itself at the centre of a crisis where 52 US Embassy staff were held hostage in Iran. Our latest episode takes you on a journey through the tumultuous events of 1980, exploring the covert operation known as the “October Surprise” that allegedly influenced the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. William Casey is at the heart of this story, a brilliant yet enigmatic figure who played a pivotal role in the Reagan campaign. Described as a master spy, Casey is said to have orchestrated a complex web of secret meetings and illegal arms sales, all aimed at manipulating 52 American hostages held captive in Iran to Ronald Reagan's advantage. Our guest, Craig Unger an investigative journalist with decades of experience, has written a new book on the subject Den of Spies: Reagan, Carter, and the Secret History of the Treason That Stole the White House. Episode extras here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode375/ The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You'll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you'll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, we welcome one-off donations via the same link.   Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/ Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Love history? Join Intohistory https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deep in the African rainforests, how do you hold together a decolonising nation in the wake of mass regional instability? James Stejskal, ex-CIA and former Green Beret, tells the story of his time in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As the nation wrestles with its post-colonial identity, regional instability, and the AIDS crisis, James' job is to keep an exposed US Embassy safe and operating - giving Zaire its best chance to survive in the post-Cold War new world order... From SPYSCAPE, the HQ of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Produced by Morgan Childs. Series producer Joe Foley. Music by Nick Ryan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The US wants Americans in Lebanon out as Israel's aerial and ground offensive against the Hezbollah militant group there continues. Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign has new proposals targeting Black male voters. Fewer than 5% of homeowners in many Central Florida counties have flood insurance. A new study by the CDC reports that overdose deaths involving opioids fell by 3% in 2023. Plus, this year's Nobel Prize in economics goes to three men who studied why some countries are richer than others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we welcome Jack Carr back to the show. He is a retired Navy SEAL that spent 20 years in Naval Special Warfare. He's also the author of the #1 NYT Bestselling fiction thriller writer of the James Reece series which includes The Terminal List, True Believer, Savage Son, The Devil's Hand, In the Blood, Only the Dead, and Red Sky Mourning. His debut novel, The Terminal List, was adapted for the screen, stared Chris Pratt, and became the #1 Amazon Prime Video series. That led to the announcement of season two of The Terminal List with Chris Pratt, and a spinoff series about Ben Edwards (played by Taylor Kitsch) called Dark Wolf. In this interview, we discuss his first foray into the world of non-fiction with the release of Targeted: Beirut, why he decided to write a military history book after experiencing so much success on the thriller front, what it was like writing with a co-author that is a bonafide historian, why he choose to write a book about the Marine barracks bombing in Lebanon in 1983, what the Middle East was like in the early 1980s, what led to the bombing of both the US Embassy and Marine barracks in 1983, why the US never retaliated for the attacks, why political pressure in America kept the Marines from operating at full capacity while on the ground in Lebanon, how weakness and cowardice in the White House leads to more conflict around the globe, whether or not peace in the Middle East is even possible, and much more. Let's get into it…  Episode notes and links HERE. Donate to support our mission of equipping men to push back darkness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices