Podcasts about Wind

This episode we cover the first silver mine in Japan, as well as the way that this sovereign is approaching offerings to the kami and handling family matters. For more check out: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-138   Rough Transcript: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is Episode 138: Offerings and Covenants   A gentle summer breeze blew through the cherry-tree-covered hills of Yoshino valley.  The royal residence, a kind of summer home for the royal family, normally somewhat quiet, was suddenly abuzz with activity.  The regular groundskeepers and those who tended the site throughout the year mingled with servants sent from the capital to make it ready for a royal visit.  Rooms were aired out and swept. Metal fixtures were polished.  The kitchen was stocked and ready to go. It had been some years since the prince—now sovereign—had resided in the valley as an attempt to proclaim he had retired from the world.  Now he was sitting at the top of the state government, but as such, he was more often than not living in the grand palace in Asuka, which he had renovated at the start of his reign. This, the Yoshino palace, was left as more of a vacation home—though "home" hardly did it justice given its majesty compared to the meager dwellings that otherwise surrounded it. And now there was a massive royal procession on their way.  Sure, it was the sovereign and his queen, and only a handful of princes, but they would each need their own quarters and likely have their own household staff that would no doubt need to be fed and housed.  In such a way a "simple" outing for the royal family was so often anything but for those who had to make it happen. And yet, such labor was much preferred to toiling in the fields, especially as the heat of the day started to rise, and the height of summer loomed large in the all-too-immediate future.   Alright, so we are in the midst of the reign of Ohoama, aka Temmu Tennou, the brother of Naka no Ohoe, who came to power through the use of military force—purportedly used in self-defense—and the sovereign who would have a profound effect on solidifying the Ritsuryo state, as well as the Chronicles and the history of the archipelago as we know it.  We've talked about Ohoama's ascension to the throne, and even his first year.  We mentioned how, during his reign, he rewarded those who helped him, tweaked the rank system, and we talked a bit about what we know of the clothing and the material culture of the period. This episode, we continue looking at what occurred during Ohoama's reign.  Specifically we'll be covering some of the ways in which Ohoama and his court were shaping the government and the structures of power to serve him and his family.  This includes everything from ritual, such as making offerings to various kami, to the way that he seems to have centralized power to himself and his family, which would have lasting impacts through the Asuka and Nara periods. First, though, a tiny little digression about silver.  We start in the 3rd lunar month of the second year since Ohoama ascended the throne, or the year 674 by the western calendar.  We are told that Woshiumi no Miyatsuko no Ohokuni, the governor of Tsushima, the island that formed the main border between the archipelago and the mainland, reported that silver had been produced there for the first time, and sent in some as tribute.  This is the first recorded instance of silver being produced in Japan. At this time, silver mining was mostly limited to finding a vein of silver on the surface and digging it out as far as one could possibly go into the rock and stone.  Still, silver would eventually become an important resource for the archipelago.  Tsushima would continue to produce silver through modern times.  Granted, production was limited until new refining techniques were introduced from Joseon Korea in the 16th century.  This was just as Ming dynasty deposits were declining, and as such, silver would become a major export from the archipelago to the mainland.  Indeed, by the 17th century, it is said that Japan accounted for one quarter to one third of the entire world's silver production. For now, however, the discovery of native silver was certainly a good start, but the Yamato court wasn't switching to a silver coin currency just yet—rice and cloth were still the major currencies for tax and trade purposes.  Still this find seems not insignificant, and clearly the chroniclers thought so as well -- as did the court.  They granted Ohokuni, the governor of Tsushima, the rank of Lower Shoukin.  The silver produced by the mine was offered to the various kami of heaven and earth, and presents were made to the high ministers and others of the rank of Shoukin and above. Now back to the Chronicles, and to the meat of what I'll be talking about this episode. On the 3rd day of the 8th lunar month of 674, we are told that the Royal Prince Wosakabe was sent to Isonokami shrine to polish up the divine treasures, at which point the sovereign made a rather spectacular decree:  he declared that all of the precious things originally deposited in the sacred treasuries by the various houses should be returned to their descendants. This appears to be a reference to the long-standing practice by Yamato of demanding that those they had gained some level of hegemony over turn over their sacred objects for Yamato's keeping.    We talked about this back in episodes 19 and 29, for example, when we talked about how Mimaki Iribiko, aka Sujin Tenno, and Ikume Iribiko, aka Suinin Tenno, had both requested treasures from Izumo and elsewhere, to be stored in the treasure house of Isonokami. We aren't told what all of these treasures were, but we can deduce that these were sacred treasures of the different houses and localities, much as the mirror, jewel, and sword were sacred treasures of Yamato.  These were items that early on distinguished the elite class in the archipelago, and had come to be gathered in the divine store houses.  You may recall how, early on, we saw mentions in the Chroncles that ships sent out to meet with others from different lands would place such treasures on a makeshift tree on the deck as a way of depicting who they were—who they represented. It would seem that these sacred objects came to represent the divine ancestors of the elites, and so eventually were associated with the idea of power and authority.  As Yamato spread its influence, possibly as much through the spiritual authority of Mt. Miwa as through its economic and military capability, it seems to have demanded that the various lands that came under its sway place their sacred treasures in Yamato's storehouse—a powerful image of Yamato's authority.  In a sense, this was a kind of hostage situation: recognize our authority, or your most sacred treasures, representing your ancestors, will be at risk .  One wonders if this isn't part of the reason that we find buried caches of bronze ritual items, including weapons, bells, and other such things, perhaps as a means of keeping them safe from those who would steal them away. However, in the new era of the Ritsuryo system, those objects, while still considered divine and sacred, did not hold the same value as they once had.  Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but this really seems to me to be particularly illustrative of the idea that the cultural imaginary of state power and authority had shifted.  Yamato's power and authority was no longer based on its role as a spiritual powerhouse as much as it was centered on the continental framework of a heavenly mandate and a system of laws and punishments.   And so, the sovereign could return the sacred items back to their descendants, because to do so did not cost him anything, and at the same time would no doubt earn him goodwill.  He could appear magnanimous and, in so doing, solidify his position as the supreme hegemon of this new state.  In many ways this acknowledged the importance of the divine treasures to the people and to the kami while also no doubt reinforcing Confucian stereotypes of the benevolent ruler. More importantly, this shows how Ohoama was restructuring the rituals of the state.  After all, he had the Jingikan, an entire governmental department dedicated to administering the various shrines and sacred rituals; so even if the sacred treasures were returned, they were still technically under the control of the state apparatus.  We've already talked about the Daijosai, the Feast of First Fruits for a new reign, a central ritual to which Ohoama had added further pomp and circumstance.  But as no less a scholar than Herman Ooms has written about, Ohoama also initiated the practice of ordering regular centralized offerings to not just one particular kami, but to several or even a number of kami, or shrines, at any given time.  We see this in the following year, on the 23rd day of the first lunar month of 675, in an almost off-hand remark. Later, in the 10th month of 676 offerings were made to all of the "Ahimbe" kami of Heaven and Earth—that is all of kami that were part of the festival of first fruits held on the first day of the rabbit on the 11th lunar month.  Offerings were also made to all of the Heavenly and Earthly kami on the second day of the year in 681. Of course, these offerings would not just be enriching the shrines of these various kami, but it would also reflect on the various uji connected to each of those shrines, as well. Another example of the court's involvement in these ritual innovations appears to be the worship of the deities at Tatsuta and Hirose.  The first example of that is also in 675, in the 4th month of that year.  Prince Mino and Saheki no Muraji no Hirotari were sent to the Wind-gods at Tateno, in Tatsuta.  Aston notes that there is a litany to the Wind-gods mentioned in the Engishiki, a 10th century collection of information on various rituals of the time, so this practice seems to have taken hold, at least enough to persist over 3 centuries later.  Also in the 4th month of 675, Hashibito no Muraji no Ohobuta and Sone no Muraji no Karainu were sent to worship the Oho-imi deity at Kahawa, in Hirose. The Oho-imi appears to be a "big abstinence" deity, whom Aston identifies with Waka'ukahime, responsible for food.  Worship is again paid twice in the year 676, once in 677, then twice again in 679, continuing twice a year, almost exclusively in the 4th and 7th lunar months, through the end of the reign.  Why were these particular deities chosen for special worship by the court?  Ooms notes that these shrines were built downstream along the Yamato river, which, along with its tributaries, was responsible for the irrigation of the crops in the Nara basin.  This mirrors, in some ways, the responsibility of rulers in the Yellow River and Yangzi river regions to help ensure the flow of the rivers while preventing devastating flooding – a very continental idea of the responsibilities of the sovereign, though expressed here with a particularly Japanese style. Indeed, Aston associates the deity at Hirose, with the deity of food.   Likewise, the Wind-deities at Tatsuta were also related to helping to grow crops.  After all, Tatsuta would have been situated near the break in the mountains that surrounds the Nara basin, where the Yamato River flows out towards the Kawachi plain.  As anyone who lives near a mountain gap is no doubt familiar, those areas are notorious for channeling weather phenomena, including storms, which can bring rain, but could also bring terrible winds.  So it does seem a natural point to pray for good weather for your harvest or otherwise, given the geography that made up the sovereign's world. We also have, in this reign, considerably more discussion of Ise than we've seen, previously.  In 673 we have the Royal Princess Ohoku no Himemiko entering the Saigu, the Abstinence, or Purification, Palace, where she was to be purified before going to Ise, which she did in the 10th lunar month of 674.  Ohoku is said to have been the first official Saiou, the unmarried royal princess sent to oversee shrine operations, of Ise Shrine.  This is a practice we see at multiple shrines, although it's most prominent at Ise. The term for the position in general is Saiou, although at Ise the royal princess would also be known as the Saiguu, after the purification palace.  Although Ohoku is said to have been the first Saiguu at Ise, this is muddied somewhat by some earlier mentions in the Chronicles.  There are those who are said to have been sent as Shrine Princesses to Ise back in the time of Mimaki Iribiko and Ikume Iribiko, but the process was largely discontinued—or at least rarely mentioned—until this period.  There are certainly several named individuals who are said to have served the Deity of Ise previously, starting with the presumably mythical Yamato Hime, who is credited with founding the shrine.  There are also various royal princesses are noted as either having served or as having been made ineligible due to their indiscretions. However, those earlier mentions rarely go into the detail we see here —starting with the abstinence hall, where the would-be Shrine Princess must purify herself prior to approaching the shrine, a process that took some time.  Certainly we first really see this put into action with Ohoku, and from that time the position of Saiguu or Saiou at Ise does appear to have been regularly filled.  That Ohoku was actually the first "Saiguu" shrine princess appears to be confirmed by the "Fusou Ryakki", which states that the first Saiou was appointed when then Prince Ohoama, in the midst of the Jinshin war, made a prayer to Ise and offered the royal princess Ohoku no Himemiko in exchange for victory.  In fact, a lot of the focus on Ise seems to stem from its apparent involvement, at the behest of either Ohoama or his consort, Uno no Sarara Hime, in the conflict. The following year we are told that the Royal Princesses Towochi and Abe proceeded to Ise Shrine as well, though presumably just for a brief visit.  Towochi, you may recall, was Ohoama's daughter who had been married to Ohotomo, aka Koubun Tennou, whom Ohoama had defeated to take the throne.  Abe was a daughter of Naka no Oe, half-sister to Ohoama's queen, Uno, and would eventually go on to marry the Crown Prince, Kusakabe.  That gives you some idea of the position of those were going to the shrine. Princess Towochi herself would fall ill a few years later in 678.  In fact, it was just as the sovereign himself was preparing to go pay a visit to the abstinence palace, perhaps so that he could also head out to Ise.  The court had a divination to figure out when he would leave, officers had cleared the roads, and the public functionaries were in a line of procession when word came that Princess Towochi, suddenly took ill and died within the palace.  This stopped everything in its tracks, and in that year there was no sacrifice made to the kami of heaven and earth.  I suspect that this was in part due to mourning and in part due to the pollution more generally associated with death. Two weeks later, she was buried at Akaho, and Ohoama raised a lament for her. Later, in 686, we are told that the Royal Princess Taki, the Princess Yamashiro no Hime, and the Lady Ishikawa were all sent to Ise Shrine, though Princess Taki returned in less than a fortnight. Why all this focus on Ise?  Remember that the Chronicles were begun in this era, and so the "truth" they would tell would be the truth that Ohoama and his immediate successors orchestrated. The focus on Amaterasu, her shrine at Ise, and the role of the sovereign as Heavenly Descendant was thus part of the overarching narrative that the Chroniclers tried to promote.  Still, hints that the focus on Ise shrine may have been something largely created in this era, however, are scattered throughout the existing literature, despite the Chroniclers' best efforts. For one thing, it is fairly clear that early on, the focus in the Chronicles is on  Mt. Miwa and the deity  Ohomononushi, rather than Amaterasu.  We also see the fingerprints of deities like Takami no Musubi, who in one story is the one who is actually responsible for sending the Heavenly Grandchild down to earth in the first place. It also seems telling that Amaterasu is not mentioned in earlier court rituals.  Worship of Amaterasu by the royal family takes place at Ise shrine.  Meanwhile, there are various rituals preserved within the traditions of the palace that include many other, seemingly older deities. I have also noted in the past how Ise shrine isn't even the primary shrine of Ise no Kuni.  In fact, that is claimed by Tsubaki shrine, the shrine to Saruta Hiko no Ohokami, with a separate shrine to Ame no Uzume, who are both said to have met the heavenly grandchild on his descent. None of this is to say that Ise Jingu was brand new at the time of the Chronicles' writing —there does seem to have been a shrine on that spot for some time, though even the Chronicles suggest that it might have been moved from a shrine originally housed in the Nara basin.  It is also possible, and even likely, that the rise of Ise and Amaterasu coincided with other trends at the time.  Even if the Sun Goddess had not always been centered in Yamato ritual, she was not a new deity, and it may have been the case that her prominence, and that of her shrine in Ise had been growing in prominence before this time, and so the court was now adopting that popularity for themselves.  Of course, Ohoama and Uno don't exactly spell out what they were attempting to achieve, beyond the unification of the archipelago, more broadly.  How, exactly, their focus on Ise Shrine was meant to play into that I don't know that I could fully state, but it certainly seems to have allowed the sovereign to create a new cultic focus for kami worship with a story that touched on regions from Kyushu all the way to the eastern shore of the Kii peninsula. Given the decentralized nature of kami worship, I don't believe it was possible to completely rewrite all of the stories—hence the numerous and conflicting accounts given in the Chronicles.  However, that is also what would have made it easier to hide newly fabricated—or perhaps simply exaggerated—stories in the mix.  And of course, it wasn't necessarily that the Chroniclers were creating things out of whole cloth, but they were able to choose those things that people would remember and what would be lost and forgotten over time.  They had to make the decision, for instance, which story they told was the "main" storyline, and which were listed as coming from "other books", implying a degree of separation from the truth. Through all of this, it certainly seems that propping up the royal family and its lineage was a central focus—even if that lineage was largely something that had recently been created.  As a reminder, we see a lot heavier reliance at this point on royal princes as opposed to other elite families, and an actual or implied reliance, in particular, on the royal family, as that is where Ohoama was consolidating most of the power and authority. Kitayama Shigeo coined the term "Koushin Seiji" to refer to this idea of a consolidated royal—or imperial—family managing the affairs of state.  Literally it is something like "Imperial Family Government".   In Shigeo's concept this was specifically an autocratic authority executed by the sovereign, and those of his immediate family.  Of course, writing in the post-war era, it is more than a little likely that Shigeo and others were looking at the concept of Tennou in the 20th century compared with many other world monarchs.  In that vein, the Asuka and Nara periods do seem to have been one of the rare times—perhaps even the last time—that the sovereigns had such a direct hand in the government and the making and establishment of law and tradition. That said, not everyone ascribes entirely to the idea that Ohoama was a completely autocratic despot—after all, it was clear that there were still plenty of powerful families in the archipelago, and the Ritsuryo state itself was also being strengthened.  Still, it does seem that Ohoama had brought his queen, Uno no Sarara, and his descendants into government.  And they would not only assist him, but continue his work for the next generations, such that even though the histories would not be finished until well after Ohoama's death, they would still show his influence on events. The dedication of the royal family to work as one is perhaps most clearly demonstrated in the events of the 5th lunar month of 679.  It was then that the sovereign, and his family, proceeded to the Yoshino Palace.  Now Ohoama had plenty of offspring—among them 10 sons.  And as long as he was around, there would be a certain amount of civility, but he knew all too well how things could break down after a sovereign's death.  And so he brought them together and he made them enter into a pact, which we know as the Yoshino Covenant, or Yoshino no Meiyaku.  Besides Ohoama himself, there were several others in attendance, presumably those who might stand to one day inherit the realm.  These included his partner and queen, Uno no Sarara Hime, as well as her son, Prince Kusakabe, who would be named Crown Prince, only a couple of years later.  It also included the Royal princes Ohotsu, Takechi, Kawashima, Osakabe, and Shiki.  All of these individuals were made to swear an oath to support each other, even though they were all from different mothers, and they agreed. But so what?  Why does it matter?  It is all well and good that Ohoama brought them together for a bit of kumbaya in his old digs away from the capital, but was there anything really to this covenant. This covenant is significant in several ways.  First off, it is clear that Ohoama was pulling in his family and trying to ensure they were onboard with what he was doing and what was planned.  Furthermore, it set out a clear line of succession, something that had not really been done up to this point. We have ideas on what would have made a candidate eligible, but other than naming a particular crown prince there hasn't exactly been any clear process or rules of precedence for who would assume the throne.  Here, though, we have a list that appears to be in order of precedence, since it otherwise may not seem to make sense, at least from a modern perspective. A key clue in the Chronicles is often the order of the names.  The most important or highest ranking person is usually given first, and then names are typically given in descending order of precedence.  There are clues that this is the case, but it becomes even more stark when we actually see reference to an individual's court rank or the size of their fief.  Since this period brings about court rank even for royal princes, we have some of that, at least in later records.  As such, there is the idea that this order was actually providing for a line of succession.   As I mentioned, up to this point, the contest for the throne was a toss up with each monarch's death.  Claims from competing princes were often considered equally valid until one proved their claim through a political or military victory.  Ohoama appears to have been trying to add greater structure to this.  Specifically, we see that Uno no Sarara's son, Kusakabe, is given pride of place.  In fact, throughout the Chronicle it is typical that we see the Chroniclers designate a queen—a Kougou—that is considered the primary wife.  This queen is almost always found to be the descendant of previous royalty, granting their child a doubly royal lineage, through both the maternal and paternal lines.   There has been plenty of reason to doubt that this was actually the case, and it often seems like the Chroniclers stretched things more than a bit to make it all work out.  However, now we are almost more concerned with the very *truth* that the Chroniclers were attempting to burn into the social consciousness rather than the historical facts, because that gives us direct insight into how the court of the day viewed succession and legitimacy.And that does lead to another possible thought:  since the Chroniclers knew how things turned out it is possible that they were the ones ensuring that the order was as we have it.  So we cannot definitively say that this exactly mirrors's Ohoama's idea, but it certainly seems in line with his history and intentions and helps set the stage for us, at least, regarding what would later transpire in regards to succession.. Getting back to the covenant, as I noted, the first person listed, after Ohoama and Uno no Sarara Hime, is Prince Kusakabe.  He would be about 17 or 18 years old at this time, which is probably why he wasn't formally named Crown Prince until a couple of years later.  He isn't the eldest son, however.  Rather he was the second son.  Ohoama's eldest son, Prince Takechi, was actually third in line. Takechihad been with his father helping to lead the troops during the Jinshin War. While he was some 8 years senior to Kusakabe, he was nonetheless a son of Amago no Musume, one of Ohoama's consorts from a powerful clan, but not a royal princess like Uno no Sarara, Kusakabe's mother. Between Kusakabe and Takechi, in the second place spot for succession, was actually Prince Ohotsu, whom we also mentioned during the Jinshin War.  Ohotsu was likely 16-17 years old around this time.  While he was the third eldest child, he, like Kusakabe, was the son of a Royal Princess, Princess Ota, daughter of Naka no Oe, giving him greater bonafides than Takechi, apparently. So, in the top three slots, we have: Ohoama's eldest son by a royal mother, Ohoama's second eldest son by a royal mother, and finally Ohoama's eldest son by a non-royal mother. Fourth in line, and the 4th eldest, presumably, though I don't know that we have an actual age for him, is Prince Wosakabe.  He likely wasn't too young, however, as he had been given the task, previously, to polish the divine treasures in Isonokami's storehouse. It would appear that six of Ohoama's other sons didn't even get a mention.  That includes Princes Naga and Yuge, born to another daughter of Naka no Ohoe, Ohoye no Himemiko.  Then there is Prince Toneri, son of Royal Princess Nittabe, not to be confused with Royal Prince Nittabe, Ohoama's son by way of a daughter of Fujiwara no Kamatari.  Finally there was Royal Prince Hodzumi, a maternal grandson of Soga no Akaye, and Prince Shiki, a full brother to Prince Wosakabe. Prince Toneri is particularly conspicuous in his absence.  We know that he held the 5th rank, and two positions in government—that of Nagon, or Councillor, as well as the Minister of the Household, our Kunaikyou.  This may be because he was not doing so well.  We aren't told the story until the following year, on the 2nd day of the 7th lunar month of 680, when we are told that Prince Toneri took ill and was on the point of death.  His half-brother, Prince Takechi, went to check on him, and a day later Toneri passed away.  The way these are written it would be easy to believe that it all happened in a pretty short timeframe, but it is also just as likely that illness lingered, especially without modern medicine.  So it is possible that Prince Toneri was too sick at the time of the original covenant, though there could be some other reason we weren't told. This doesn't necessarily hold for all of the others, though.  For instance, we have the Princes Naga and Yuge mentioned in 693, well over a decade later, being granted the 2nd Broader Pure Rank at the same time that Prince Takechi is granted the 1st Broader Pure Rank.  So we can at least see that they were ranked below Takechi.   Similarly we see Prince Hodzumi likewise attained 2nd Broader Pure Rank at some point, and was still around to have his own fief and to receive houses to it in the following reign.  Hozumi even ranked above some of the others were in Yoshino, and yet was not present. It is possible that the princes not mentioned, assuming they had not met with an untimely end that was not mentioned in the record somewhere, could have been too young or too junior at the time of the meeting.  After all, when we look at the known ages of those who were there, we see that Prince Takechi may have been 25 years old, but Prince Kusakabe and Prince Otsu were just under 20, and it is unclear if others were older or younger than they were. There are two other princes who were part of the covenant who were not, perhaps surprisingly, sons of Ohoama.  Rather they were his nephews, sons of Ohoama's brother, Naka no Ohoe.  They were the princes Kawashima and Shiki. Kawashima is mentioned several times throughout the record.  Kawashima's mother was from a high ranking noble family, but given that Kawashima was married to his cousin, one of Ohoama's daughters, that may have brought him closer to the family.  He was about 22 years old at the time, too.  We see him often teaming up with Prince Osakabe on various projects, including the project to compile together the history of the royal household.  In fact, Prince Kawashima always precedes Prince Osakabe when they are mentioned together.  That said, we have evidence of Kawashima only being awarded up to 3rd Greater Pure rank, below even that of some who were not present, such as Prince Hodzumi.  His importance and impact, however, is noted through his numerous appearances in the record. In contrast, Prince Shiki has almost no mentions in the record.  It doesn't help that there are two Princes Shiki, one born to Naka no Ohoye and one born to Ohoama.  Their names are spelled differently, however, and although the first character of "Shiki" used in the Yoshino record matches neither name, the second character suggests that this was the son of Naka no Ohoye and not the Shiki that was brother to Prince Osakabe—though given that one followed the other in the record, there may have been some confusion on this point. And with all of that we have our apparent line of succession, as well as an idea of who the movers and shakers might be within the royal family.  From Ohoama and Uno no Sarara, we have Princes Kusakabe, Ohotsu, Takechi, Kawashima, Osakabe, and Shiki.  Six princes, four directly descended from the current sovereign, Ohoama, and two from the Naka no Ohoe lineage. Obviously, promoting the idea of a strictly patrilineal succession of father to son would have caused some problems for Ohoama's own legitimacy, not that anyone was going to gainsay him while he was on the throne.  However, with Kusakabe they seem to have established that in a de facto format, at least.  Furthermore it provided a blueprint for succession might fall to the other lines should the main line not work out.  This put Prince Ohotsu as next in line, should anything happen to Kusakabe, followed by Takechi.  That Kawashima may have had a shot over Osakabe and then Shiki is interesting as it suggests that it wasn't strictly about who descended from whom. We'll have to wait for Ohoama's death before we can fully appreciate how well this worked, of course.  Throughout history, agreements and covenants amongst powerful interests are often only as permanent as long as all of the interests remain aligned with one another, whether through mutual benefit or threat of consequences.  Once the power shifts, as it always does, those promises and treaties are almost always up for renegotiation, unless they are supported by some higher authority, whatever that might be. Following the royal family's off-site, they returned to the palace in Asuka.  There they had a formal ceremony in the Great Hall, the Ohodono, where the six princes all demonstrated their allegiance and paid respects to Ohoama.  Given the timing of this event, one can likely assume that it was a kind of public acknowledgement of the covenant and the agreement that they would all be working together as a united front on the project of the government. And with that, I think we can bring it to  a close for now.  There is plenty more about this reign to discuss before we move on, but we'll get there. Until then, if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  

Experience two continuous hours of pure white noise designed to quiet distractions and promote deep concentration or restful sleep. The smooth, even sound masks background activity, creating a calm and consistent atmosphere perfect for studying, relaxation, or meditation. Let this steady flow of sound help you unwind, focus deeply, and find your rhythm in peace.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/asmr-rain-recordings--5347561/support.Lose the AD intros by becoming a subscriber!https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/asmr-rain-recordings--5347561/support

Democrats pretend that things are sailing smooth. They ignore the reality of their loss to Trump in November and where things are headed, due to false flags, ironically that they set themselves. Apparently they believe they will regain the levers of power, when they wont.Today, I discuss the problems Democrats face, and from which there will be no recovery.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to a new episode of ASMR Sleep Recordings. In this episode, you will hear cozy rainfall on a tent. Improve your health and happiness.The sound you hear in this episode creates a calm atmosphere and at the same time blocks out disturbing noises. This will help you de-stress, unwind, and rest. Enjoy two hours of relaxing sounds to help you relax, focus, study and fall asleep.About ASMR Sleep Recordings:The purpose of ASMR Sleep Recording is to help you sleep and concentrate better. This particular episode lasts two hours and has no ads in the middle, so you won't be woken up or disturbed while focusing or relaxing. When you listen to ASMR Sleep Recordings, you can lock your phone, so you won't get any bothersome stimuli from notifications and other sounds from your phone. You can switch between apps while studying or working without pausing the ambient sound.About our sounds:Water creates a natural white noise. Infused with the relaxing quality of nature and the sound-masking properties of white noise, listening to running water is an ideal way to turn off all the stressful things life brings, and to de-stress. Some of our most popular sounds include a river, flowing creek, babbling brook, gentle waves on a lake, and a bamboo fountain. Rain also creates a natural white noise. Infused with the relaxing quality of nature and the sound-masking properties of white noise, listening to rain is an ideal way to switch off all the stressful things life brings and to de-stress. Some of our most popular sounds are rain on an umbrella, hailstorms, hard rain, soft rain, gentle rain, wind and rain, rain on a car.White noise helps babies and children to get a better and deeper night's sleep. This is because external sounds are masked by the noise. With white noise in the background, your child will not hear annoying cars driving by or dogs barking in bed. This allows your little one to sleep better. And it also saves you as a parent a lot of hours!Pink noise is more common in nature than you might expect. It can be compared to continuous rainfall or wind. In addition to white noise, pink noise is also increasing in popularity, especially in business environments. Because it can increase productivity, concentration and creativity.Brown noise can be compared to waves of the sea, a river current, strong winds or the sound of thunder during a storm. Like pink noise, brown noise is very similar to white noise. However, the frequencies have been lowered even further and a lot more concentrated. This gives it a rougher/coarse tone than pink noise. It sounds a bit deeper and a bit bass-like. The benefits of brown noise are the same as the other types of noise. It provides relaxation, increased focus and improved deep sleep.DISCLAIMER: Be aware that loud noises can damage your hearing. If you can't carry on a conversation without raising your voice while playing one of our spheres, the sound may be too loud for your ears. Do not place the speakers directly next to a baby's ears. If you have trouble hearing or ringing in your ears, stop listening to the white noise immediately and see an audiologist or your doctor. The sounds provided by ASMR Sleep Recordings are for entertainment purposes only and are not a treatment for sleep disorders or tinnitus. Consult your doctor if you regularly have severe sleeping problems, experience fitful/restless sleep or feel tired during the day.ASMR Sleep Recordings is the white noise and nature sounds podcast to help you sleep, study or soothe a baby. ASMR Sleep Recordings has uploaded more than 400+ episodes in the 4 years that the podcast has been online. You can listen to all episodes of the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. People use white noise for sleep, focus, sound masking or relaxation. This podcast has the sound for you, whether you're using white noise to study, to soothe a baby with cramps, to fall asleep, or to just enjoy a quiet moment. You don't need to buy a white noise machine if you can listen to these sounds for free.

This message on John 3:1-8 on 'The Wind of the Spirit' was preached on Pentecost Sunday. David explores the image of the Spirit being like wind and breath and how that impacts our lives. The need to be 'born again of the Spirit' and be 'filled with the Spirit' of God. The Christian message is about God's breath living in us, possessing us so that we can live His life. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format...

Nach ihrer Reise über das Festland Nordjütlands (Folge 424) setzt Miriam ihre Dänemark-Erkundung fort – und nimmt uns mit auf eine kleine, aber außergewöhnliche Insel mitten im Kattegat: Læsø. Nur rund 1.800 Menschen leben hier ganzjährig – umgeben von Wind, Wellen und weiter Landschaft.Das Leben auf Læsø folgt einem eigenen Rhythmus. Auch wenn im Winter Stürme über die Insel ziehen und die Fähre manchmal pausiert, schätzen viele Einwohnerinnen und Einwohner gerade diese Ruhe und Abgeschiedenheit. Warum, das erfährt Miriam in dieser Folge von denjenigen, die Læsø prägen:von Dorthe, die vor einigen Jahren hierhergezogen ist, weil sie sich in die Insel verliebt hat,vom Salzsieder Mikkel, der das alte Handwerk der Salzgewinnung fortführt,von Leif, der historische Seegrasdächer restauriert,und von Rie, die aus den Algen der Insel nachhaltige Produkte herstellt.Es geht um Tradition und Gemeinschaft, um das Leben im Rhythmus der Natur und um die besondere Ruhe, die diese Insel ausstrahlt. WerbungDiese Folge entstand mit freundlicher Unterstützung von Visit Denmark. Mehr Informationen findet ihr unter www.visitdenmark.de. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show Notes – Episode 5: Mastering Uncertainty — Learning to Fly When the Wind Changes Series: Becoming the Butterfly – A Tribe Sober Mini-Series Theme: Emotional Power, Uncertainty & Self-Leadership Music: “Remember” by Sutherland

In der Schweiz gab es am Donnerstag und Freitag gebietsweise Temperaturen über 20 Grad. Mit 23.5 Grad wurde es in Delémont am wärmsten. Dies entspricht dort einem neuen Temperaturrekord für den Monat November. Solch hohe Temperaturen im Spätherbst oder Winter hängen von zwei Faktoren ab. Erstens muss in der Höhe relativ warme Luft zur Schweiz geführt werden. Zweitens ist Wind nötig, damit diese warme Luft bis an den Boden heruntergemischt und erwärmt wird. Die Sonneneinstrahlung hat zu dieser Jahreszeit nur noch einen geringen Einfluss. Am Donnerstag konnte dies sehr gut beobachtet werden. So wurden in der Delémont dank Südwestwind auch nachts Temperaturen um 20 Grad gemessen.

Talking About Climate Change with Confidence: A Conversation with Dr. Alice Alpert Climate change is a topic that affects every one of us, yet it can feel confusing, overwhelming, or even polarizing. That's why I was excited to welcome Dr. Alice Alpert, Senior Scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund, to the Go Natural English podcast. Dr. Alpert studies emerging climate technologies, evaluates their real-world impact, and works with teams focused on methane, climate policy, and international sustainability partnerships. In our conversation, we explored misconceptions, sources of hope, daily sustainability habits, and clear English vocabulary related to the climate conversation. What Does a Climate Scientist Do? Dr. Alpert evaluates new climate solutions, from clean energy to carbon-removal technologies to sustainable farming. Her work starts with two key questions: Does this solution meaningfully help reduce climate impact? What are the trade-offs or challenges that come with it? Her job is not just to imagine solutions but to determine what actually works. The Biggest Misunderstanding About Climate Change Dr. Alpert explained that a major misconception is the idea that climate action is "all or nothing." People often believe: "It's too late to do anything," or "It's someone else's responsibility." Both mindsets lead to inaction. "You don't have to be perfect," she said. "Every step forward helps. The idea of 'everything or nothing' isn't useful." How She Stays Hopeful Climate news can feel heavy, so I asked what keeps her motivated. Her answer was simple: the future. "I have three kids. That's three votes for the future. We are moving in the right direction, and I think we'll get most of the way there." Her optimism is practical and rooted in evidence. Many climate solutions are already working and becoming more affordable. Misconceptions About Sustainability, Especially in Texas One surprising part of our conversation was about renewable energy in Texas. Many people assume Texas is not sustainable, but the opposite is true. Texas produces more clean energy than any other U.S. state, and by a huge margin. Wind, solar, and battery storage are growing rapidly. Much of this growth is driven by economics, not ideology. "It's the cheapest energy," she said. "People are making money from it." Another misconception is that sustainability is always more expensive. In reality, the cheapest new energy to build today is solar. Short-Term Costs vs. Long-Term Benefits Many sustainable choices cost more upfront but save money over time: installing solar panels, buying an electric vehicle, or purchasing high-quality items that last longer. I shared the example of clothing I've kept for more than a decade. A well-made sweater ended up costing less over time than several cheaper ones. Dr. Alpert agreed. "The upfront investment is real. But long-term thinking matters." Everyday Sustainability: What Works for You Dr. Alpert emphasized that sustainability should be personal and realistic. A few examples we discussed: Thrifting and Secondhand Shopping Buying used items reduces waste and builds community. Reusing Items for Children Circulating children's items among families increases their lifespan and reduces unnecessary purchases. Flexible Eating Habits She chooses what feels natural. She doesn't eliminate any foods, but she eats less beef because she doesn't enjoy it much and knows it has a higher climate impact. Her philosophy is simple: do what works for your lifestyle, not someone else's. Cultural Differences in Sustainability Many listeners of Go Natural English live in the United States but grew up abroad. If that describes you, you may have noticed differences in: recycling habits how food is packaged energy use transportation diet choices We would love to hear about your experiences and what surprised you when comparing sustainability practices around the world. Key English Vocabulary for Talking About Climate Change Because much climate information is published in English, we reviewed several useful terms. Carbon footprint The amount of greenhouse gases created by an activity. Carbon neutral No net increase in emissions; emissions are balanced by removals. Renewable or clean energy Energy sources that do not rely on fossil fuels. Examples include wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and sometimes nuclear. Fossil fuels Coal, oil, and natural gas. Dr. Alpert jokingly compared them to "burning dinosaurs." Move the needle To make a meaningful impact or measurable improvement. In the same boat Facing the same challenge or depending on the same shared resource. Individual Actions and Leadership Actions While individual choices matter, Dr. Alpert pointed out something important: You cannot expect one person to "save the world." Leadership and policy matter too. So how do we hold leaders accountable? Voting, especially at the local level Joining conservation-minded organizations Speaking up through social media or letters Staying informed on local policies Supporting leaders who prioritize clean energy and sustainability These steps make a meaningful difference. Where to Learn More Dr. Alpert recommends two easy places to start: The book "Not the End of the World" by Hannah Ritchie

Guest Host James Lott Jr talks about Butterfly McQueen! Butterfly McQueen was an African American actress and dancer, best remembered for her role as Prissy in the classic 1939 film Gone With the Wind. Her distinctive, high-pitched voice and expressive personality made her unforgettable to audiences — but her legacy extends far beyond that one film.Forgotten Hollywood is on Facebook.The books are on Amazon.

Course Correction ep.805 M.R. Lehman Wiens is a Pushcart-nominated writer and stay-at-home dad living in Minnesota. His work has previously appeared, or is upcoming in, F(r)iction, Short Édition, Consequence, The Wild Umbrella Literary Journal, and others. He can be found at lehmanwienswrites.com. Course Correction previously appeared in the Fall 2019 issue of The First Line Literary Journal   ---- Listen Elsewhere ---- YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/TallTaleTV Website: http://www.TallTaleTV.com   ---- Story Submission ---- Got a short story you'd like to submit? Submission guidelines can be found at http://www.TallTaleTV.com   ---- About Tall Tale TV ---- Hi there! My name is Chris Herron and I'm an audiobook narrator. In 2015, I suffered from poor Type 1 diabetes control which lead me to become legally blind for almost a year. The doctors didn't give me much hope, predicting an 80% chance that I would never see again. But I refused to give up and changed my lifestyle drastically. Through sheer willpower (and an amazing eye surgeon) I beat the odds and regained my vision. During that difficult time, I couldn't read or write, which was devastating as they had always been a source of comfort for me since childhood. However, my wife took me to the local library where she read out the titles of audiobooks to me. I selected some of my favorite books, such as the Disc World series, Name of the Wind, Harry Potter, and more, and the audiobooks brought these stories to life in a way I had never experienced before. They helped me through the darkest period of my life and I fell in love with audiobooks. Once I regained my vision, I decided to pursue a career as an audiobook narrator instead of a writer. That's why I created Tall Tale TV, to support aspiring authors in the writing communities that I had grown to love before my ordeal. My goal was to help them promote their work by providing a promotional audio short story that showcases their writing skills to readers. They say the strongest form of advertising is word of mouth, so I offer a platform for readers to share these videos and help spread the word about these talented writers. Please consider sharing these stories with your friends and family to support these amazing authors. Thank you!   ---- legal ---- All stories on Tall Tale TV have been submitted in accordance with the terms of service provided on http://www.talltaletv.com or obtained with permission by the author. All images used on Tall Tale TV are either original or Royalty and Attribution free. Most stock images used are provided by http://www.pixabay.com , https://www.canstockphoto.com/ or created using AI. Image attribution will be declared only when required by the copyright owner. Common Affiliates are: Amazon, Smashwords  

RP, Listra, Foo and Kermit talking change and where we are heading.Find us onhttps://twitter.com/3rdfactionshowhttps://twitter.com/MsListra https://bsky.app/profile/mslistra.bsky.social and Twitch.tv/Mslistrahttps://twitter.com/briccostud and Twitch.tv/Briccostudhttps://twitter.com/RPGamer4life and Twitch.tv/RPGovanDiscord Serverhttps://discord.gg/jNYr9mVNN7You can email the show onthethirdfactionshow@gmail.com

Welcome to episode 15 of season 6, where we look at German vocabulary and sentences based on a particular topic. Today we're covering German sentences you might need or hear about flying kites in Germany. We also mentioned my German vocabulary notebooks which are perfect for keeping the sentences from the show https://geni.us/fV85T (red cover) or https://geni.us/oXfo52p (orange cover) Here are all the sentences. To find out what they mean, watch the video

Join Eric, @ShelleyWynter1, @DrJoeEsposito, @TimAndrewsHere, @Autopritts, @JaredYamamoto, Greg, and George LIVE on 95.5 WSB from 3pm-7pm as they chat about Lame ducks, Hitler's micro penis, Wind phones, and so much more! *New episodes of our sister shows: The Popcast with Tim Andrews and The Nightcap with Jared Yamamoto are available as well!

Mike, a real estate professional, addresses the challenges of the past three years in the residential market, noting the lowest transaction numbers in 35 years. Despite this, Mike is optimistic about a market shift, citing recent reports of increased home buying and mortgage application volumes. Mike emphasizes the importance of adapting to market changes and suggests solutions like the portability of mortgages to ease affordability. They encourage agents to engage in their business and take advantage of the potential rebound in 2026.

Ben Criddle talks BYU sports every weekday from 2 to 6 pm.Today's Co-Hosts: Ben Criddle (@criddlebenjamin)Subscribe to the Cougar Sports with Ben Criddle podcast:Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cougar-sports-with-ben-criddle/id99676

Dark has overtaken an Australian forest and like clockwork the crickets and owls come out, chirping and hooting. As the night passes a gentle breeze stirs the eucalyptus leaves in the canopy above.Spotify listener? Lose the intros by becoming a subscriber!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://anchor.fm/tmsoft/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Looking for something specific? Check out our playlists: ⁠Waves⁠, ⁠Rain⁠, ⁠Storms⁠, ⁠Meditation⁠, ⁠Fire⁠, ⁠Wind⁠, ⁠Fans⁠, ⁠Nature⁠, ⁠Trains⁠, ⁠Traffic & Cars⁠, ⁠Household⁠, ⁠City⁠, ⁠Winter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about the White Noise App⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download the White Noise app for free!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Our Albums Ad Free on Spotify!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Drift away to the serene sounds of a cascading waterfall deep in nature. For two tranquil hours, the steady rush of water creates a soothing atmosphere that melts away tension and clears the mind. Ideal for sleep, meditation, or focused study, this natural soundscape surrounds you with the calming energy of flowing water and the quiet whispers of the forest beyond.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/asmr-rain-recordings--5347561/support.Lose the AD intros by becoming a subscriber!https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/asmr-rain-recordings--5347561/support

Guest: Ken BurnsHe's an Award-Winning Filmmaker known for his documentary films and television series, many of which chronicle American history and culture. Some of his most popular works include the Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, the National Parks, Prohibition, the Roosevelts, the Vietnam War, and Country Music. Behind the majestic shots and carefully chosen words, there's another character always in the frame: the weather. From outracing clouds to chasing snow that just won't fall, even filmmaker Ken Burns has learned that Mother Nature doesn't always take direction. While shooting his newest series The American Revolution, weather wasn't just a backdrop — it was a full-fledged co-star. Today, we'll talk with Ken about the challenges and surprises of filming history in real weather, how climate and geography shaped the American Revolution, and why sometimes the best storyteller is the sky.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ken Burns and His Work01:10 The Role of Weather in Filmmaking02:22 The American Revolution: A Complex Narrative04:19 Challenges of Capturing Weather in Filmmaking07:14 The Importance of Authenticity in Storytelling09:36 Weather's Impact on Historical Events12:13 Technological Advancements and Their Influence14:27 The Unpredictability of History17:31 The Drama of Real Weather in StorytellingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textIn today's episode, I'm chatting with Tessa Afshar. Tessa's award-winning novels have been on Publishers Weekly and CBA bestseller lists and have been translated into 13 languages. Winner of the ECPA Bronze Milestone award, the Christy, the INSPY, and the ECPA Christian Book Award for her Bible study, The Way Home. Tessa holds a Master of Divinity from Yale, where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship for one year. Born in the Middle East to a nominally Muslim family, Tessa converted to Christianity in her twenties. She is a devoted wife, a mediocre gardener, and an enthusiastic cook of biblical recipes. We talked about the power of deep connections and how books can be a bridge to those relationships. Tessa shared how recreating biblical recipes has helped her bring her stories to life in new and meaningful ways. We also discussed how biblical fiction can make scripture feel more relatable and give readers something to strive for in their own lives. I especially loved her reflection:“I am more than what I do—and that is enough. I can rest in that.”Tessa also shared about her series on Queen Esther, her experiences growing up in the Middle East, and the way literature was taught there. We're here today to dive into her latest novel, The Royal Artisan. Episode Highlights:Using books as a tool for connection and spiritual growth.Cooking biblical recipes and bringing ancient stories to life.Finding rest and identity beyond productivity.Writing about Queen Esther and exploring courage in faith.Growing up in the Middle East and the role of literature in shaping worldview.Connect with Tessa:InstagramFacebookWebsiteBuy Tessa's booksShow NotesSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Leo Tolstoy booksGone with the Wind by Margaret MitchellMy Friends by Fredrik BackmanBook FlightJane Eyre by Charlotte BronteEmbergold by Rachelle NelsonDear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! Instagram Facebook Website

Welcome to a new episode of ASMR Sleep Recordings. In this episode, you will hear the rain in the tropics. Improve your health and happiness.The sound you hear in this episode creates a calm atmosphere and at the same time blocks out disturbing noises. This will help you de-stress, unwind, and rest. Enjoy two hours of relaxing sounds to help you relax, focus, study and fall asleep.About ASMR Sleep Recordings:The purpose of ASMR Sleep Recording is to help you sleep and concentrate better. This particular episode lasts two hours and has no ads in the middle, so you won't be woken up or disturbed while focusing or relaxing. When you listen to ASMR Sleep Recordings, you can lock your phone, so you won't get any bothersome stimuli from notifications and other sounds from your phone. You can switch between apps while studying or working without pausing the ambient sound.About our sounds:Water creates a natural white noise. Infused with the relaxing quality of nature and the sound-masking properties of white noise, listening to running water is an ideal way to turn off all the stressful things life brings, and to de-stress. Some of our most popular sounds include a river, flowing creek, babbling brook, gentle waves on a lake, and a bamboo fountain. Rain also creates a natural white noise. Infused with the relaxing quality of nature and the sound-masking properties of white noise, listening to rain is an ideal way to switch off all the stressful things life brings and to de-stress. Some of our most popular sounds are rain on an umbrella, hailstorms, hard rain, soft rain, gentle rain, wind and rain, rain on a car.White noise helps babies and children to get a better and deeper night's sleep. This is because external sounds are masked by the noise. With white noise in the background, your child will not hear annoying cars driving by or dogs barking in bed. This allows your little one to sleep better. And it also saves you as a parent a lot of hours!Pink noise is more common in nature than you might expect. It can be compared to continuous rainfall or wind. In addition to white noise, pink noise is also increasing in popularity, especially in business environments. Because it can increase productivity, concentration and creativity.Brown noise can be compared to waves of the sea, a river current, strong winds or the sound of thunder during a storm. Like pink noise, brown noise is very similar to white noise. However, the frequencies have been lowered even further and a lot more concentrated. This gives it a rougher/coarse tone than pink noise. It sounds a bit deeper and a bit bass-like. The benefits of brown noise are the same as the other types of noise. It provides relaxation, increased focus and improved deep sleep.DISCLAIMER: Be aware that loud noises can damage your hearing. If you can't carry on a conversation without raising your voice while playing one of our spheres, the sound may be too loud for your ears. Do not place the speakers directly next to a baby's ears. If you have trouble hearing or ringing in your ears, stop listening to the white noise immediately and see an audiologist or your doctor. The sounds provided by ASMR Sleep Recordings are for entertainment purposes only and are not a treatment for sleep disorders or tinnitus. Consult your doctor if you regularly have severe sleeping problems, experience fitful/restless sleep or feel tired during the day.ASMR Sleep Recordings is the white noise and nature sounds podcast to help you sleep, study or soothe a baby. ASMR Sleep Recordings has uploaded more than 400+ episodes in the 4 years that the podcast has been online. You can listen to all episodes of the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. People use white noise for sleep, focus, sound masking or relaxation. This podcast has the sound for you, whether you're using white noise to study, to soothe a baby with cramps, to fall asleep, or to just enjoy a quiet moment. You don't need to buy a white noise machine if you can listen to these sounds for free.

On today's podcast you'll hear from a Hollywood icon and a woman who's been carried off the set, after a Clark Gable kiss. She was very young when she saw "Gone With the Wind," and fell in love with Gable. She said he was an old man then, but she was head over heals in love with him, even though she was married. Carroll Baker was the star of "Baby Doll" and "Giant," and turned down the role in "Rebel Without a Cause" because she disliked the script. She and James Dean were a pair of snobby method actors on the set of "Giant," until Liz Taylor swooped in and stole the spotlight.

Kerry Butler, CFO of Woolnorth Renewables, Tasmania shares her bold NetSuite rollout, revealing strategic insights on tech, budgeting, AI, and scaling clean energy operations. Summary Today I'm speaking with Kerry Butler, CFO of Woolnorth Renewables, Tasmania In this episode, we talk about . . . Insights from attending SuiteWorld 2025 in Las Vegas Strategic NetSuite rollout, starting with Planning & Budgeting (NSPB) Overcoming implementation challenges with a lean finance team Use of implementation partners: Pivot Two & Netgain Multilingual board reporting (Chinese & English) and real-time forecasting Integrations with SharePoint, virtual cards, and maintenance systems Leveraging AI and Ask Oracle for smarter decision-making Community involvement and commitment to renewable energy Advice for scaling businesses and choosing the right tech stack

The Senate just passed a government funding deal, and House members will vote soon. Many Democrats wanted the party to hold out for Affordable Care Act subsidies, and some of them have turned against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, even though he opposed the deal. Schumer's former legislative director, Jim Kessler, explains more.And, the Food and Drug Administration is removing a decades-old warning on hormone replacement therapy products for women experiencing menopause. Theresa Gaffney, a reporter at STAT, the health and medicine publication, joins us to discuss.Then, this Veterans Day, Marine Corps chaplain Navy Lt. Terry A. Roberts joins us to reflect on what the day means to him and how he sees his role as sort of a father figure to young Marines on the battlefield.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Summary Dr. Paul welcomes chef and author Pete Evans to discuss his book Healthy Food for Healthy Kids. Pete shares his journey as a parent and chef, emphasizing prevention and the importance of nutrient-dense foods for children. He highlights the problems with gluten and dairy, the role of organ meats and healthy fats, and practical tips for making baby food at home. Together, Dr. Paul and Pete explore how parents can take an active role in shaping their children's health through nutrition.

Jonathan Drake returns for The No Treason Podcast Ep. 6, continuing his deep dive into Lysander Spooner's No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority. Picking up with Sections 8 through 15, Jonathan exposes how the secret ballot, far from being a safeguard of liberty, is actually a tool of tyranny, shielding voters from accountability while empowering what Spooner calls “a secret band of robbers and murderers.” He unpacks Spooner's dismantling of the notion of consent in governance, explaining how elections, oaths of office, and the Constitution itself fail every test of natural law. With sharp humor and vivid analogies, from pork smoking and squirrels teaching natural law to the absurdity of “oaths given to the wind”, Jonathan ties Spooner's 19th-century insights to modern politics and moral philosophy. It's a masterclass in understanding why secret governance and blind patriotism lead not to freedom, but to voluntary servitude.

It's Episode 400!!! A perfect day for Mariaelena and I to finally dive in to...The Emerald Tablet of Hermes. It's something she has been referring to from the days of us first plotting this monthly collaboration, and since I started to explore alchemy, it's been of interest for me to go deeper. This is the translation we're working from for purposes of our conversation."True, without falsehood, certain and most true, that which is above is as that which is below, and that which is below is as that which is above, for the performance of the miracles of the One Thing. And as all things are from One, by the mediation of One, so all things have their birth from this One Thing by adaptation. The Sun is its father, the Moon its mother, and the Wind carries it in its belly, its nurse is the Earth. This is the father of all perfection, or consummation of the whole world. Its power is integrating, if it be turned into earth.Thou shalt separate the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross, suavely, and with great ingenuity. It ascends from earth to heaven and descends again to earth, and receives the power of the superiors and of the inferiors. So thou hast the glory of the whole world; therefore let all obscurity flee before thee. This is the strong force of all forces, overcoming every subtle and penetrating every solid thing. So the world was created. Hence were all wonderful adaptations, of which this is the manner. Therefore am I called Hermes Trismegistus, having the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world. What I have to tell is completed, concerning the Operation of the Sun."Marielena ties the Tarot to the Tablet, and we work through some of the meaning and purpose of the text. This may be cringy for those of you well steeped in the text, but it's a window into the beginner's mind and how someone, like myself, is coming to it seeking an understanding of how it's relevant to the art of living. We explore the notion of the "One Thing," what are miracles, and what it means to be perfected. Is it a formula for creating, for being like "GOD?" We've got more to go and will continue in our next conversation in December.Today's show was engineered by Ian Seda from Radiokingston.org.Our show music is from Shana Falana!Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org** Please: SUBSCRIBE to the pod and leave a REVIEW wherever you are listening, it helps other users FIND IThttp://iwantwhatshehas.org/podcastITUNES | SPOTIFYITUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/i-want-what-she-has/id1451648361?mt=2SPOTIFY:https://open.spotify.com/show/77pmJwS2q9vTywz7Uhiyff?si=G2eYCjLjT3KltgdfA6XXCAFollow:INSTAGRAM * https://www.instagram.com/iwantwhatshehaspodcast/FACEBOOK * https://www.facebook.com/iwantwhatshehaspodcast 

In this episode, we speak with legendary rocker Graham Parker and author Jay Nachman about their great new book, Graham Parker's Howlin' Wind, which tells the story of Graham's early life and career that led up to his iconic 1976 debut album, Howlin' Wind.

The power of the wind is something best-selling author Simon Winchester knows a lot about. He's investigated it in a thought-provoking book called The Breath of the Gods: The History and Future of the Wind. 

For The Love of Music is a funky disco house music podcast. Great classics that will bring back tons of memories. Artist names and song titles are in order of play... HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES-THE LOVE I LOST, HEATWAVE-BOOGIE NIGHTS, THE O'JAYS-BACK STABBERS, THE TRAMMPS-DISCO INFERNO, EARTH, WIND, & FIRE-SEPTEMBER, AARON SMITH-DANCIN', MADISON AVENUE-DON'T CALL ME BABY, GQ-ROCK FREQ, DAN HARTMAN-RELIGHT MY FIRE, JOCELYN BROWN-PICKIN' UP PROMISES, JAMIROQUAI-SUMMER GIRL, THE O'JAYS-MESSAGE IN OUR MUSIC, PEOPLE'S CHOICE-HERE WE GO AGAIN, THELMA HOUSTON-I'M HERE AGAIN, CHRISTOPHER CROSS-RIDE LIKE THE WIND, KLEEER-TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT, ATLANTIC STARR-CIRCLES, BOB SINCLAR-LOVE IS THE ANSWER, JAMIROQUAI-COSMIC GIRL, BOB MARLEY-EXODUS. End. Thanks for listening to Ken Steele Music.

Music, creativity, life. All an endurance sport. Just like running, I think the key is tricking yourself sometimes. And enjoying the uphill as much as the down.For 30% off your first year with DistroKid to share your music with the world click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DistroKid.com/vip/lovemusicmore⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to hear my music? For all things links visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ScoobertDoobert.pizza⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to this pod's blog on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive deeper dives on the regular

This week on The Middle of Culture, we close out our dive into Transformers with Transformers One, last year's animated prequel that tells the origin story of Optimus and Megatron. We rave about how shockingly good it is—beautiful animation, heartfelt storytelling, and voice performances that actually make you care about robots punching each other. Along the way, we talk about Sanderson's declining prose, the “YA-ification” of modern fiction, the decline of mass-market paperbacks, and why we'll always have a soft spot for dumb robot movies done well.Episode NotesOpening BanterPeter returns from travel (Boise and Napa), happy to be home.Eden vents about a rough week and hostile engineers during digital accessibility training, complete with an on-campus shooting alert mid-meeting.Peter describes an incredible dinner at Bistro Jeanty in Napa (truffle deviled eggs, beef bourguignon, and chocolate croissant bread pudding).Books & ReadingPeter finishes Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes (yes, the “Piña Colada Song” guy)—a darkly funny and satisfying story about the McMaster's School of Homicide.Reads Artificial Condition, the second Murderbot novella, and starts Write Your Novel from the Middle.Discussion on how story structure midpoints define theme and cohesion.Critique of Brandon Sanderson's Wind and Truth: great worldbuilding, but noticeably weaker prose since losing his longtime editor.Eden speculates that the issue might extend to the whole fantasy industry—less editing, more aesthetic consumerism, and the death of the mass-market paperback.Broader talk on the “dumbing down” of fiction and the rise of YA and “New Adult” markets catering to comfort rather than challenge.Music & Games CornerPeter dives into rediscovering Psychotic Waltz, Psychonaut, and Oramet—bands that balance progressive creativity with restraint.New release highlight: PowerWash Simulator 2.Eden tests two disappointing gacha games (Duet Night Abyss and Resonance Solstice) and finally uninstalls all HoyoVerse titles.Back to Final Fantasy XIV, excited about the new patch allowing full cross-class glamours.Main Feature – Transformers One (2024)Both agree: it's the best Transformers movie ever made—heartfelt, gorgeously animated, and genuinely emotional.Plot rundown: Orion Pax (Optimus) and D16 (Megatron) rise from the oppressed underclass of “Cogless” robots, uncover Sentinel Prime's corruption, and witness the birth of Autobot vs. Decepticon ideology.Core theme: friendship, betrayal, and revolution—the tragedy of two friends who believe in justice but choose different paths.Voice acting highlights:Brian Tyree Henry's nuanced Megatron is phenomenal.John Hamm nails the duplicitous Sentinel Prime.Scarlett Johansson and Chris Hemsworth have real chemistry, even if Hemsworth is the weakest link.Laurence Fishburne brings gravitas as Alpha Trion.Keegan-Michael Key's Bumblebee is purposefully annoying but fits the tone.Praise for the movie's subtle callbacks to the 1986 film (“You don't have the touch or the power”), strong emotional beats, and sense of earned tragedy.Both lament how poorly it performed at the box office—“we are part of the problem”—and hope it gets a sequel.Brief detour comparing the animated film's depth to the shallow chaos of the Michael Bay series.Closing ThoughtsTransformers One feels like the first time the franchise truly understood its own heart.Recommendation: watch it—it's smart, emotional, and fun as hell.

Melissa Sheketoff and Gary MacNamara demo podcast series on crime prevention

An Angel For Bishop: Part 3 Willows tortured past exposes itself. In 4 parts, based on a post by BurntRedstone. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. Once they were both clean they were breathing hard and standing facing each other. The moment he leaned towards her lips she surged forward to press hers against his. His tongue slipped forward to brush against hers and suddenly she was sucking at his tongue. His hands came up and cupped her breasts and he gently took her nipples between his thumb and finger, feeling the little gold barbells and rings dangle from them. Willow gasped into his mouth and he felt Willow's legs buckle a little. She was beginning to make those needy yips as she rolled her hips. She tugged, but he jolted back. "Willow, I don't have any condoms and I doubt Percy had the decency to put you on the pill. We can't." "I can't get pregnant," was all she said as she tugged at him. "What?" he gasped, as it was difficult holding a conversation with her. "The doctor made sure I couldn't have babies so it's okay," she said in a matter of fact tone. His head was spinning. He was still incredibly worked up and wanted to take Willow right now, but she'd just dropped a bomb from her past in his lap and his mind was reeling with the implications of her words. "Please! I need it!" she whined as he continued to hold her off while he tried to get his head back in the game. Willow dropped to her knees in one movement. First her lips were sliding, then her nose was buried against his stomach. He could feel her swallowing but he couldn't feel her breathing so he pulled back until he heard her gasp.  Willow got to her feet then turned around and put her hands against the shower wall, pushing her ass back. She rubbed him up and down her crack a few times. Dan grabbed her hips and Willow sighed. She was surprisingly tight and he couldn't get over how amazing she felt. Willow was moaning loudly and bearing down with her joyous cries she was loving every second. He could not exploit her vulnerable mental state, but knew that rejection was beyond her capacity to tolerate. So he continued to caress her and gently show her that she was precious and respected. The feeling of real love was enough to set her body into what seemed like multiple waves of ecstasy. Somehow Dan had found an amazing tool of therapy for this sexually abused woman. He pulled her back to stand upright. This sensation and her cries of joy triggered him. For good measure he gave her neck a gentle kiss and felt her trigger off again. He held her exhausted body suspended between his arm circling her chest and his other arm around her hip. She leaned back against his chest and her breath came out in deep gasps. Once their breathing had returned to normal Dan set her feet back on the floor. He looked at her and said "We need to talk about what you said about the doctor. I need to hear the whole story, but later." He tenderly washed between her legs. Then he shampooed and conditioned her hair once more. God he loved running his fingers through her hair and from the way she moaned and purred he knew she loved it too. He washed his hair, rinsed off, and turned the water off. They stepped out and dried off with their thick towels together. He replaced her bandages once more with dry ones. They padded into his bedroom and Dan remembered her clothes should be ready in the dryer. He quickly collected them and brought them back to her. He inspected the garments and saw the jeans were largely undamaged though there were some grease stains on the lower legs he suspected came from riding the motorcycle. Her shirt had a tear where the branch had pierced her shoulder. He could probably fix it but it wouldn't be pretty. He flipped it over and for the first time noticed the faded word across the back. It said 'Bitch'. He frowned. That asshole probably made her wear it. He wouldn't let her wear this again. He ripped it in two between his hands. He looked up and saw Willow staring at him wide eyed. "Sorry, the shirt had a word on it that doesn't belong on you. You won't be wearing clothes like that with me. You deserve better," he said. She smiled shyly at him. He saw she was struggling to get the bikini top on. Now that he was an 'expert' he showed her how to tie the lower string first under her tits (while struggling to keep his hands off of them), spin the knot around to the back, and pull the cups up, tying the top strings behind her neck. With his hands behind her neck, feeling her damp but now much smoother hair caressing his hands he saw she was looking into his eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her lips tenderly. He just wanted to feel her amazing lips on his as her kiss was so sweet. Willow's eyes closed and she swayed a little when he pulled back. His heart hurt she was so lovely. How anyone could hurt someone so beautiful was beyond him. He pulled her into a hug and squeezed her body against his, wanting to protect her with his strength and relishing the intimacy. Her arms wrapped around his chest and he felt her shiver. He pulled back and looked at her questioningly. He saw tears sliding down her cheeks. "What's wrong?" he asked gently. "I've never felt like this before," she whispered and hiccupped. "I feel so safe in your arms." She clung to him and pressed her face against his neck. He squeezed her to him again, feeling her tremble against him. They stood like that for a while. Once her trembling calmed he stepped back and gave her a smile which she returned. Her eyes glowed and she seemed as relaxed as he'd ever seen her. Chapter 3 Dan gave Willow a tour of the 'log cabin' which was more accurately described as a log mansion. He was rather proud of the building as it showcased his engineering expertise. The building was all on one level and followed the natural contours of the hillside in a serpentine curve with a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains, or in this case the blizzard which continued to rage into its second day. Under the gleaming hardwood flooring the entire structure was built on a poured concrete base with in-floor heating courtesy of a complex network of piping linked to the hot springs and an even more complex computer control system. The power needed to support the electronics and the rest of the house was fed by a huge series of batteries stored in an underground bunker built into the hillside. This array was on a constant trickle feed from multiple sources. Wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal, and even a small hydro turbine generator tapping into an underground river they discovered during construction. All said, they had energy to spare. Beyond the amazing array of technology he'd built into the mansion the building contained all the comforts you could ask for. There was a huge living room with a large stone fireplace surrounded by deep comfy couches and facing a panoramic view of the mountainside. A large deck started on the northern side of the house and wrapped around to the western side to create a huge, two level socializing area in front of the living and dining room windows. Behind the living room built into the mountain was a large home theatre with stadium seating for twelve, three rows of four comfy recliners. Next to the living room was a large dining room with a massive polished slab of shiny hardwood for a table and seating for twelve. The next room was the kitchen which Willow was familiar with. There was an enormous pantry off the kitchen and a second door which led to the communications/control center for the house which doubled as a safe room. The table in the kitchen sat six and there was a deck accessible by a door next to the table. Exiting from the other side of the kitchen was a corridor which had the laundry room on one side, a utility room on the other, and continued on to the five big guest bedrooms each having a small seating area and a dedicated full washroom. The final bedroom was the master which had an enormous washroom suite, a walk-in closet, and a decent sized office. On the uphill side of the building at this point was the garage, a concrete and steel bunker built right into the mountainside. It was deep and wide enough for eight vehicles and at its far end was a complete metal and wood working workshop with all the required tools for maintaining the house. The roof deck of the garage was the home for communication dishes, a large greenhouse with a pool area again heated by the hot spring. There was interior access to the pool area by a spiral staircase in the garage. When Dan led Willow back to the kitchen she was looking a little overwhelmed. "So... you're rich?" she asked quietly. "Rich?" he replied in surprise. Then he smiled and said "I designed and built the home but it's not mine. I just live in it during the winter months when no one else is here. The home is owned by the Noskov family from Russia. They are... incredibly rich, and generous. I was unofficially adopted by the Noskov's when I... helped get them out of a hot zone in Iraq during the war. They let me build them this house and I get to live in it. They also set me up with a... trust fund I guess you'd call it. When I need something I can tap into it. I don't think I'm rich but I'm pretty comfortable. I mean I have my engineering degree and the stuff I learned building this house has set me up in a very lucrative business of designing custom energy systems for people wanting to live off the grid. I have patents pending on several of the components and their designs. There is also a waiting list of customers wanting me to design for their specific environments. I can do most of that right from here. All that brings in a good income... huh, maybe I am rich or at least have the potential to be!" he smiled at the delight in Willow's eyes. Dan busied himself making some herbal tea. It still wasn't time for dinner yet but a snack would be good. He wanted to ensure Willow started taking in the calories she needed to get back to a healthy weight. He dropped some bread slices in the toaster and pulled out the peanut butter. He poured the tea and sweetened it for Willow. He spread the peanut butter on toast watching it melt. Then he stopped. Dan was pissed at himself again but he kept that anger inside so he wouldn't spook Willow. He just made an assumption that might have been really bad for her. "Willow, are you allergic to anything? Like nuts?" he asked. "I don't think so," she replied. "Have you eaten peanut butter before? Do you like it?" Dan asked. "Yes, I love peanut butter but I've never had it on toast," she said. Dan shook off the tremble that crept up his back. He needed to know more about her to prevent something like this from happening again. He saw the notepad was still on the table. He carried the herbal teas to the table then brought Willow her peanut butter toast. She looked at him when she saw he didn't have any toast in front of him. "You need the calories. I'll wait for dinner," he said with a smile. Willow carefully picked up her toast and took a small bite. When the warm peanut butter hit her tongue a broad smile spread across her face. "I LOVE peanut butter toast!" she gushed. She took a few more bites. He grinned at her delight and picked up the notepad. After a sip of his tea he looked at Willow and asked "I hope you don't mind but I'd like to see how much more of your history we can fill in." She continued to munch on the toast and sip at the tea but gave him a nod. "Do you recall the name of the man Percy, uh, took you from?" He still felt weird saying that. "Herman Denk. He was a doctor. He gave me my new tits and fixed me so I couldn't make babies or have a period." she said. Dan's stomach clenched. She said it like it was nothing but Dan was grateful to Percy for having killed the bastard who butchered Willow for his own needs and enjoyment. He took a deep breath and wrote down the Doctor's name and the approximate year he died. "Do you recall how long you lived with Herman? How many winters or summers?" he asked her next. Willow looked confused then sad. "Herman lived in Las Vegas and I stayed inside in my room most of the time when he wasn't taking me out to parties. I don't remember how long that was but I think I stayed with him the longest. Before we moved to Las Vegas we were in Florida. That's where he poisoned and killed Officer Warren Greggs and took me from him. Officer Greggs used his handcuffs on me a lot and beat me because I wasn't worthy of having sex with him. That's where these scars came from." She showed him the rough white ridges encircling both of her wrists. Obviously the cuffs had done some serious damage to her skin at that time as the scar tissue was extensive. "He kept me chained in a room in his basement. When I got sick Officer Greggs brought Herman to fix me. We moved to Las Vegas after Officer Greggs was dead." Dan was feeling a little queasy but while Willow was feeling talkative he'd get the information from her. As long as he had names and knew they had died he could find their obituaries and work out a timeline from that. He jotted down some notes and nodded at Willow to continue. "Madam Tallia was my Mistress before Officer Greggs took me from her. She lived in a big old house in Georgia. She was angry a lot. She had been hurt in a car accident and she lost her eye. She wore a fancy eye patch but her mouth was so cruel. She told me I looked just like the bitch who destroyed her beauty. She would tie me up and burn my arms and legs with her cigarettes." Willow pointed out a few of the older circular scars running up her arms. "She told me that she was saving my face for later. I was always terrified that she was going to burn my face. Officer Greggs was at one of her parties. He found me tied up in my bedroom and put me in the trunk of his car. He told me he burned Mistress Tallia's house down with her inside." Willow took a long sip of her tea to moisten her throat as she was unaccustomed to talking for so long. "Mistress Tallia got me from Mr. Bill who brought me to one of her parties. Mistress Tallia called him Buffalo Bill because she said he was from that 'miserable place'. She told me that she wasn't going to give me back to Mr. Bill. She told me she gave him poisoned heroin so he wouldn't come back to get me the morning after the party and he didn't so I guess he's dead. When I was with Mr. Bill we moved around a lot and we lived out of his car. I don't remember his last name. Sometimes he gave me drugs and I would forget things. He loaned me out to people who gave him drugs and took me to lots of sex parties. I think Mr. Bill bought me from my mom's boyfriend when she died." Willow's voice ran out at that point. It was the longest Dan had ever heard her speak and while the subject matter was horrific to him, he was so glad that he got her story. He could work with this. "Do you remember your mom's name?" he asked gently. She thought about it then shook her head sadly. "Do you remember how old you were when your mom died?" he asked. Willow sat quietly for a minute thinking. "I remember... a tenth birthday party. I think it was shortly after that when some men came to the house looking for mom's boyfriend. I was playing outside but I heard them yelling 'where is he'. When they left I went inside and she was dead. When her boyfriend got home he took me with him in the car and we drove away. He met Mr. Bill at a truck stop on the highway and sold me to him." Dan sat looking at Willow. He couldn't breathe. His chest felt tight. Her mother was murdered when she was 10 and she was immediately sold off into the sex trade and slavery? How could that not screw you up? He opened his arms and Willow was immediately curled up on his lap and in his arms. They sat like that for quite a while, just holding each other and rocking gently. It gave Dan time to think. Dan felt completely inadequate for the task of healing Willow. He knew he could love her and was surprised that he was already starting to feel that way towards her. He reminded himself that they'd only met the day before and there'd been a lot of intense emotion involved in that short time. Before he started throwing words like love around he needed to get some perspective. Difficult to get when her soft body was clinging to him. Based on her account she'd been held captive by five people and had been raped and tortured multiple times by them and raped by many others starting from a very early age. Now she was with him. Was she better off? He'd already had sex with her, multiple times in the very short time he'd known her. And he'd killed for her as they had. He was willing to grant that in his case at least it really had been kill or be killed and her life was at risk at the time. That said it was easy for him to see how similar he was to previous 'masters'. God, his skin crawled when he thought of himself in those terms. Maybe that was the difference? He didn't want to be her master. He wanted her to be a whole person. He wasn't sure that was going to be possible considering her past. But he knew he would do what he could to help her regain as much as she could. He felt so protective of her! He wasn't clear where that came from but it certainly didn't seem harmful to her so he felt okay about letting her see that. The first thing he could do to help her was get her identity back. With the information he had an investigator should be able to connect the dots to get back to the start. Then he could get her birth certificate, then a passport, an identity. Maybe it was just his paranoia but he wanted a discreet investigation. There had been at least one police officer involved in her abduction and Percy's gang was not going to be too friendly to someone who killed one of their members. He was again over his head but he knew someone that could help. "I could stay here all day holding you but I need to make a call and send a note. I have to report Percy's death to the police or things could get messy. And I have to contact Andrei Noskov, the man who owns this house, to ask a favor. I thought we'd cook up a frozen pizza for dinner tonight. Can I ask you to go to the walk-in freezer in the garage and pick one out? They're on the rack to the left and there should be a supreme on top but any will do." She stood and headed off to the garage. Dan walked into the communications room and checked the signal strength. The storm seemed to be winding down but it still had the potential for affecting the line of sight antenna. He'd prefer not to use the satellite phone to contact the police as he wasn't sure how long he'd be on the line. He used the PC to dial up the nearest state police station and waited for someone to answer. He heard some weird stuttering on the line so he knew his connection was fairly weak. When someone finally answered he asked for Officer Benson or Officer Duncan as he'd met them and his instincts said they were okay. Not the best gauge but it was what he had. Benson was gone for the day but Duncan was just coming on shift so Dan was put through to his desk. "Officer Duncan." He sounded tired. "Hello, my name's Dan Bishop. I live at the Noskov Estate off Mountain Road 23 up on Peacemill Peak. I need to report a traffic accident, a shooting, and a fatality." "Sorry, Mr. Bishop, this seems to be a bad line. Did you say a fatality?" Officer Duncan asked. "Yes, a fatality. Sorry about the poor connection. The line of sight towers up here on the mountain are having some trouble with the storm." "Can you give me the details before we lose our connection?" the officer asked. The connection must have sounded worse on his end. "Sure. I was driving back to the house yesterday when that storm hit. I was just about back to the house when I noticed someone hung up on one of the trees hanging over the edge of the cliff. I stopped and went to see if I could help. There was a trike motorcycle on a ledge 50 feet down and a badly injured man. He'd gone through the guardrail. I tried to climb up to the woman stuck in the tree but the man woke up and started shooting at us. He shot at me and then he hit the woman twice. Once in the arm and once on the side of her helmet. I had to drop the broken guardrail on him to stop him from shooting her. He fell to the bottom of the gorge with his motorcycle. He's dead. Did you get all that?" There was silence for a bit and Dan thought he'd lost the connection when Officer Duncan's voice came back on. "Yeah, I got it. Is there any access to that gorge?" "I don't think so. It's very narrow and the river in it is pretty wild most of the year. I have a buddy with a Sikorsky cargo helicopter that might be able to lower someone with a line from above but it would be a long hairy ride down. Anyway, I can send you the GPS coordinates. I had the entire area mapped when we were building this place." "What about the woman?" Officer Duncan asked. "I got her back to the house before she froze to death and patched her wounds which appear to be pretty minor. She's suffering from malnutrition and her weight is very low. She may have some memory loss as she has been unable to recall her name. She did remember the name of the man she was with. Percy Jackson. From the marking I saw on his jacket I think he may have been a member of a motorcycle gang, maybe the Blood Brothers. I have no idea what he was doing trying to drive his bike up this mountain road in a snow storm. Makes no sense to me." "Damn, that complicates things considerably. The Feds are going to want in on this. When can you come in for a statement?" the officer asked. "In about four months," Dan replied. "What?" came the shocked reply. "Sorry, but the mountain road is closed for the season. It will remain blocked with snow until the spring. We're completely snowed in. I can get extra supplies air dropped in but us getting out is up to Mother Nature," he explained. "OK, but I can reach you at this number?" "As long as the storms aren't interfering with the connection, yes," Dan answered. "Thank you Mr. Bishop. I'll be contacting you once I find out how the Feds want to handle this." After signing off Dan looked over to see Willow standing in the doorway watching him. He gave her a smile which she returned. "I just have to send a note to Andrei to fill him in. Can you come over here a minute?" She approached him and sat on his lap when he indicated he wanted her to sit. He turned on the webcam on the PC and they posed for a quick snapshot. Then he asked her to look into the camera and took a close up of just her face. "I'm going to send these along to Andrei. The family is going to be very curious about you and Andrei will need the close up for his investigator. I'm going to ask him to have them do some discreet searches based on the information you gave me. One thing you should know, as Andrei is a Russian national, all of my communications with him are very likely monitored by Homeland Security. I'm not worried about it but I just wanted you to know as well. Okay?" he asked. Willow nodded at him with wide eyes. He just smiled at her with wonder at how good she made him feel. He gently pulled her face down to his and kissed her tenderly. She moaned a little and hugged him fiercely. After he returned her hug he had her stand again so he could prepare the email for Andrei. Willow sat on the floor beside his chair and rested her head on his thigh. He was going to protest but she looked so content he turned back to the keyboard. Once he had described the events of the past two days (omitting the racy bits) and included the chronology he'd gotten from Willow he completed the note to Andrei, attached the images and sent it off. He turned back to Willow and ran his fingers through her hair. He felt her purr in pleasure at his touch. He tucked a tablet PC under his arm, helped lift Willow to her feet then they walked back into the kitchen. Dan started the oven, slid the pizza inside, and set the timer. Dan took her hand and they walked into the living room. They sat together on one of the sofas and snuggled under a blanket while they waited for the pizza. "Speaking of comfortable..." he smiled and continued "I think we'd better order you some clothes and other items you may need." Willow looked out the window at the continuing blizzard and back at him. "How?" was all she could say. Dan smiled at her and pulled a tablet PC from under the blanket. "Through the magic of the Internet!" he said with a flourish. All he got for his theatrics was a puzzled expression. "Okay, I'll let you in on the secret. We order stuff and get it delivered to my buddy Wally's place. Then he delivers it by air drop in the meadow just past the small forest to the east of the house. Wally's a pilot and enjoys the challenge of precision payload delivery. I'll set up the target and he drops the delivery bundle on it. If he's within 3 feet of the target I owe him a beer. If not, he owes me one." Willow was still looking at him like he was a little nuts so he just flipped on the tablet and proceeded to load up the webpage for an online clothing retailer. First he had to figure out her size. He found the help page and saw how he needed to determine her measurements. He gave Willow the tablet and rushed off to the workshop where he grabbed a cloth tape measure. Granted it had a one hundred foot spool and was used for more industrial purposes but it would work. He grabbed the pencil and pad on the way back to Willow and asked her to stand. Using the tape measure he recorded her measurements on the pad and Willow had a good giggle at how flustered Dan got when he had to measure her for a bra. Now that he had the details out of the way Dan took Willow through the webpages where she could see the clothes. Dan watched her face to see if she liked any of the clothes but when she didn't react to any of them he started to suspect she didn't realize what they were doing. "Willow, do you understand I want to buy you some clothes? Have you ever gone shopping for clothes?" he asked. She glanced at him and shook her head. "So people just brought you clothes and you wore them whether you liked them or not?" he asked. She nodded but had a puzzled look on her face. "OK, I'd like you to try imagining yourself in one of the outfits you see on this page and let me know which one you think might look good on you and be nice to have." Willow looked at the models on the page and turned her eyes back to him. "Which ones do you like?" she asked. That stopped him short. He realized that she couldn't make this kind of decision. She'd been basically a living dress up doll for quite possibly most of her life and only wore clothes at the whim of her 'masters' to please them. Well, he wasn't going to make her feel bad about it now. He turned his eyes back to the page and studied what the models were wearing. He finally clued in that he had no idea how to dress a woman. Guys were easy; undershirt, shirt, underwear, pants, socks and you're done. Mixing and matching? Please. He needed help. Female help. He heard a chirping and realized he had an incoming call on the PC. He got up again and hustled into the communications room. Willow was right behind him. He sat and she sunk to kneel next to his chair. He suppressed his annoyance as her reaction might just be an automatic reaction for her. He'd talk to her about it later. Dan answered the call and Kira Noskov's face appeared on the screen. At her elbow was her youngest daughter, Katya. The picture was choppy as the signal was weak but that didn't diminish the brilliance of the woman's smile as she greeted him. "Hello Daniel! We received your message and I wanted to call you immediately to congratulate you two! You make a beautiful couple! I've been telling you for years to find yourself a woman. You've finally taken my advice!" she laughed. Dan realized that Kira read more into the photo he'd sent of Willow sitting on his lap than he'd intended. He looked down at Willow and saw the smile on her face and knew he couldn't try to explain it now. "Thank you Kira! And hello Katya!" "Svetlana is crying, DanDan. She is not happy," Katya said, using her pet name for him. Kira looked pained then apologetic. "Not to worry Daniel, Svetlana has been holding onto her hero worship too long. She will grow from this and her tears will dry." Dan's expression froze and twitched as he realized he'd fucked up again and hurt the young girl unintentionally. He knew she'd had a crush on him. They had a strong bond from what they'd gone through together. "Oh god, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt her." His PTSD surfaced with a series of twitches. Kira's voice grew firm, "Daniel, stop this. You are not responsible for Svetlana's happiness or tears." She turned to Katya and said something quietly to the girl who vanished out of the frame. Willow got worried at Dan's stricken expression so she stood and took his face in her hands and turned his face to hers so she could look into his eyes. He was slightly dazed but his eyes came back into focus when they were looking into the vibrant green depths of Willow's eyes. He heaved a sigh and came back to the present. Kira witnessed the transformation with a satisfied smile on her face. There were tears in the corners of her eyes as she saw her friend pulled back from an attack. She was convinced that this young woman was just the medicine her Daniel had been missing all of these years. She didn't approve of his self-imposed solitude but he hadn't listen to her protests. She didn't know anything else about this woman but she was good for him, this much she knew. Svetlana appeared in the picture and took in the shaken expression on Dan's face and the beautiful woman holding him. Her jealousy flared terribly to see another woman touching Dan. She'd vowed she'd marry him so many years ago when he'd saved her and her family. But she couldn't bear the thought that she'd caused him pain. Above all else she knew the scars he carried from that day and how long he'd struggled with them. "Da, Daniel! I am so pleased to see you looking well! Please know that I am well and happy for you! Do not worry about me! I have many friends here and many boyfriends- I mean many who would like to be my boyfriend!" she corrected herself before her mother could protest. She looked at the annoyed expression on her mother's face then gave Daniel one more forced smile and left the picture." Kira came back into the picture. "If there is anything we can do Daniel please let us know." Dan pulled himself together and looked at Willow with gratitude. "First off, I'd like to introduce you officially to Willow." Willow smiled uncertainly at the screen but Kira graciously took the conversation from there. "Hello Willow! My name is Kira. I am so pleased to meet you!" Uncertain what to do as she'd never spoken to anyone over a computer before much less been allowed to speak without permission Willow just nodded her head towards the screen. Dan rubbed her back and felt her jump slightly at his touch then she climbed up and snuggled on his lap. Dan was uncomfortable with such a display in front of Kira but couldn't scold her for the damage that might do. Kira seemed to be enjoying his blush as she wore a big grin on her face. Then he thought of something. "There is one thing I would like to ask of you actually. I have no clothes for Willow here at the house and we're snowed in. I was going to order some online and have Wally airdrop them but I have no idea what to order. I've never had to buy women's clothes before and Willow hasn't ever chosen her own clothes. If I gave you the credentials for my online account could I ask you to shop for the clothes she'll need for the next 4 months?" "That I can do! Send me her measurements and I will place the order," Kira said with a smile. "Thank you so much! Please speak to Svetlana for me! You know I think the world of her, and Irina and Katya! I would never do anything to hurt them!" he blurted and glanced awkwardly at the blond curled on his lap. Kira made placating gestures. "They know you do and they all love you for it. Some a little too strongly. Not to worry Daniel. Because they love you they understand. I will speak with you soon as will Andrei. Goodbye, Willow!" and she disconnected. To Be Continued in part 4, based on a post by BurntRedstone for Literotica

Bluetech's wind-optimized SeaWasp tanker design models demonstrate significant gains in propulsion power and fuel savings on representative trade routes, based on a joint research project with tanker owner International Seaways, Inc. (INSW) Bluetech partnered with NYSE-listed INSW to explore a critical question: Can wind propulsion deliver more power in our ships of the future? Advanced simulations using Bluetech's new 'SeaWasp' vessel design showed the answer to be a resounding yes. SeaWasp boosts vessel performance With the support of wind-propulsion specialist Norsepower, Bluetech modified its BT50 design to extract maximum forward thrust from two 35-metre Rotor SailsTM. This resulted in a total savings of up to 876 kW of propulsion power on one representative INSW MR tanker route from San Francisco to South Korea - equating to around 597.2 MT of fuel per annum. The design modifications alone are estimated to contribute 104 kW or 71.5 MT of the savings, effectively improving the vessel's overall performance by around 13.5% in certain conditions. Wind-assisted ship propulsion (WASP or sometimes WAPS) technologies have traditionally been used to add propulsion power to existing ship types that were not originally designed to accommodate such forces. Even newbuild projects that integrate WASP from the planning phase make little or no changes to the ship's overall design beyond what is necessary to install the units and comply with regulations. However, Bluetech's designers went back to the drawing board with SeaWasp, creating a vessel that is purpose-designed for wind, but still practical for INSW MR fleet operations. STRONG FOCUS ON OPERATING PROFILE "We set out to develop a ship that is entirely WASP-optimized, but maintains every essential operational feature and meets all trade-specific terminal and port restrictions," said Sam Robin, Director of Energy Savings Solutions at Bluetech. Michael LaGrassa, Director of Performance and New Construction at INSW, added: "We focused on more than just energy savings and emissions reduction - our goal was a concept design that works in the real-world conditions of the MR trade. That meant ensuring reasonable build costs, equivalent cargo capacity and a design fit for purpose. Our approach was to test a wide range of scenarios across the MR trade, rather than rely on selectively favorable assumptions." For this reason, the project also carefully examined the lower end of the savings potential. For example, on a route from South Korea to Singapore, the SeaWasp saves 185.9 MT or 275 kW per annum versus a conventionally powered BT50, due to the prevailing wind directions. Keeping such a baseline allowed for a range in the data analysis and ensured that any commercial projections were realistic. EFFICIENCY BY DESIGN - ABOVE AND BELOW THE WATERLINE "On routes where wind propulsion offers limited advantage, the inherent efficiency of the vessel's core design becomes paramount. The BT50 design is itself approximately 12% more efficient than the typical tanker performance profiles in the sample fleet. Our design modifications enhance that efficiency even further," said Robin. One ground-breaking feature beneath the waterline is a unique new fin design dubbed 'blueSURF' that computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis shows has significant power saving potential. "We were genuinely surprised to see such pronounced benefits in power demand, making the fins an additional powerful design modification that improves the case for WASP deployment," said Juha Hanhinen, Head of Hydrodynamics at Bluetech. Modifications above the waterline include an aero upper deck and superstructure, as well as semi-enclosed mooring stations to reduce wind disturbance. COMPARING CONFIGURATIONS The project also examined which Rotor SailsTM configuration - four smaller 24-metre devices instead of the two 35-metre devices - had the best combination of cost versus thrust. "Each configuration had slightly better performan...

A flotilla of Indigenous leaders have made a symbolic journey from the glaciers of the Andes to Belém, Brazil in time for the COP30 climate summit.Their mission: to demand a greater role in climate talks and protections for their territories, as extraction industries and climate change press ever deeper into Indigenous lands.Super Typhoon Fung-wong has weakened after battering the Philippines this weekend.Wind speeds of around 115 mph dropped to between 80 and 100 mph as the storm moved northeast towards Taiwan.An international team of scientists has achieved a world-first, creating plasma 'fireballs' to discover how powerful jets from distant black holes stay stable.Pablo Bilbau, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Oxford, explained what they've been doing and whyAlso in this episode:China has partially lifted export controls on key computer chips used in car productionA new national forest has been confirmed for the Oxford-Cambridge corridorScientists say camels and llamas could help unlock new treatments for brain disorders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nach dem Großen Preis von São Paulo sprechen Ralf Schumacher und Peter Hardenacke in „Backstage Boxengasse“ über die aktuellsten Themen der Formel 1. John Elkann sorgt bei Ferrari für Aufsehen und kritisiert beide Fahrer. Bleibt Charles Leclerc bei Ferrari? Wie steht es um Lewis Hamiltons Zukunft – und könnte Oliver Bearman bald für frischen Wind sorgen? Außerdem: Hat Max Verstappen in Brasilien seine letzte Chance auf den WM-Titel verspielt oder kann ein neuer Motor alles ändern? Dazu gibt's spannende Einblicke in die Teamdynamik bei McLaren und die Machtspiele hinter den Kulissen. Jetzt reinhören und alle Hintergründe erfahren!

On this episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: a poem a day + excitement over release days Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: we discuss your top books from 2019-2024 and draw the giveaway winner The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). .  .  .  1:59 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 2:07 - The Poetry Foundation's Poem of the Day 2:27 - A Rebellion of Care by David Gate 3:55 - The Black Wolf by Louise Penny 4:34 - The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny 6:02 - Our Current Reads 6:08 - The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong (Kaytee) 8:21- A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers 9:03 - The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman (Meredith) 10:11 - Words Matter Bookshop 10:40 - The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman 14:17 - The Bookshop by Evan Friss (Kaytee) 15:12 - Parnassus Books 17:29 - Exile in Bookville 17:58 - Books - A Manifesto: Or, How to Build A Library by Ian Patterson (Meredith, Goldsboro link)  20:16 - Goldsboro Books UK 24:16 - The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler  26:03 - I Leave It Up To You by Jinwoo Chong (Kaytee) 29:05 - Flux by Jinwoo Chong (amazon link) 29:34 - The Wasp Trap by Michael Edwards (Meredith) 32:45 - The Guest List by Lucy Foley 33:09 - Listeners' Top Ranked Books 35:11 - Giveaway Post to see other listeners' best books! (reminder - giveaway is CLOSED) 42:17 - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 42:32 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 42:43 - The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green 42:56 - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry 43:06 - Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 43:07 - Still Life by Louise Penny 43:59 - Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon 44:03 - Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 44:08 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 44:16 - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 44:18 - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Giveaway Winner Christie's Reads 47:25 - Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen 47:27 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 47:30 - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 47:33 - Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout 47:35 - The Anxious Generation by Johnathan Haidt 47:39 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 48:17 - Meet Us At The Fountain 48:22 - I wish to tell you about the gold star item I found for reading and sleep. (Kaytee) 48:32 - Stolen Focus by Johann Hari 48:47 - Bloom 51:30 - I wish for you to try more specific ASMR rooms or listening to playlists for books. (Meredith) 51:34 - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang 51:37 - A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 51:38 - Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon   Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. November's's IPL is brought to us from Content Bookstore in Northfield, Minnesota. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

Episode Description: This Week in Music History - November 10-16 | Pink Floyd, Beatles, Fleetwood Mac & More Join host Buzz Knight and master of music mayhem and music historian Harry Jacobs for another captivating episode of This Week in Music History, covering November 10-16. Dive deep into legendary moments that shaped rock, pop, and cultural history. Featured Music History Highlights: Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” (Nov 10, 1975) - Discover the untold story behind this iconic album’s #1 UK chart debut and its heartbreaking connection to Syd Barrett, who unexpectedly appeared during recording sessions. Led Zeppelin IV (Nov 12, 1971) - Explore the album featuring “Stairway to Heaven,” “Black Dog,” and “Rock and Roll” that sold 37 million copies worldwide and earned 24x Platinum certification. Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” (Nov 13, 1965) - Harry reveals why this Abbey Road recording remains one of his favorite Beatles albums, featuring classics like “In My Life,” “Norwegian Wood,” and “Michelle.” Fleetwood Mac’s Self-Titled Album (Nov 15, 1975) - Learn about Stevie Nicks’ emotional dedication of “Landslide” to her father and the latest rumors about Lindsay Buckingham’s potential reunion with the band. Additional Topics Covered: • Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and the incredible story of “Candle in the Wind” selling 660,000 copies in one day after Princess Diana’s funeral • Freddie Mercury’s final public appearance (Nov 14, 1991) and his AIDS diagnosis announcement • Donna Summer’s disco classic “MacArthur Park” hitting #1 • Jimi Hendrix’s “Electric Ladyland” chart success • John Lennon’s only #1 solo single during his lifetime (you’ll be surprised which song it was!) • Sesame Street’s PBS debut and its cultural impact • Bob Dylan’s “New Morning” album evolution Perfect for: Classic rock enthusiasts, music history buffs, Beatles fans, Pink Floyd devotees, and anyone fascinated by the stories behind legendary albums. Subscribe to Taking a Walk podcast for weekly deep dives into music history with Buzz Knight and Harry Jacobs, your guides through rock and roll’s most memorable moments. #MusicHistory #ClassicRock #PinkFloyd #Beatles #LedZeppelin #FleetwoodMac #PodcastEpisode #TakingAWalk #RockHistory​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Support the show: https://takinawalk.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Along the sides of the cobbled streets in Ollantaytambo the Incan aqueducts still flow. The water babbles past and echoes between the stone walls with soothing fluidity.Spotify listener? Lose the intros by becoming a subscriber!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://anchor.fm/tmsoft/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Looking for something specific? Check out our playlists: ⁠Waves⁠, ⁠Rain⁠, ⁠Storms⁠, ⁠Meditation⁠, ⁠Fire⁠, ⁠Wind⁠, ⁠Fans⁠, ⁠Nature⁠, ⁠Trains⁠, ⁠Traffic & Cars⁠, ⁠Household⁠, ⁠City⁠, ⁠Winter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about the White Noise App⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download the White Noise app for free!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to Our Albums Ad Free on Spotify!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the soothing rhythm of rain falling over quiet city streets for two peaceful hours. The soft patter of droplets blends with distant echoes of traffic and the occasional splash of puddles, creating an immersive urban rain experience. Perfect for sleep, studying, or unwinding after a long day, this ambient soundscape captures the calm beauty of a rainy evening surrounded by the gentle hum of city life.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/asmr-rain-recordings--5347561/support.Lose the AD intros by becoming a subscriber!https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/asmr-rain-recordings--5347561/support

Welcome to a new episode of ASMR Sleep Recordings. In this episode, you will hear soft rain tapping on the window. Improve your health and happiness.The sound you hear in this episode creates a calm atmosphere and at the same time blocks out disturbing noises. This will help you de-stress, unwind, and rest. Enjoy two hours of relaxing sounds to help you relax, focus, study and fall asleep.About ASMR Sleep Recordings:The purpose of ASMR Sleep Recording is to help you sleep and concentrate better. This particular episode lasts two hours and has no ads in the middle, so you won't be woken up or disturbed while focusing or relaxing. When you listen to ASMR Sleep Recordings, you can lock your phone, so you won't get any bothersome stimuli from notifications and other sounds from your phone. You can switch between apps while studying or working without pausing the ambient sound.About our sounds:Water creates a natural white noise. Infused with the relaxing quality of nature and the sound-masking properties of white noise, listening to running water is an ideal way to turn off all the stressful things life brings, and to de-stress. Some of our most popular sounds include a river, flowing creek, babbling brook, gentle waves on a lake, and a bamboo fountain. Rain also creates a natural white noise. Infused with the relaxing quality of nature and the sound-masking properties of white noise, listening to rain is an ideal way to switch off all the stressful things life brings and to de-stress. Some of our most popular sounds are rain on an umbrella, hailstorms, hard rain, soft rain, gentle rain, wind and rain, rain on a car.White noise helps babies and children to get a better and deeper night's sleep. This is because external sounds are masked by the noise. With white noise in the background, your child will not hear annoying cars driving by or dogs barking in bed. This allows your little one to sleep better. And it also saves you as a parent a lot of hours!Pink noise is more common in nature than you might expect. It can be compared to continuous rainfall or wind. In addition to white noise, pink noise is also increasing in popularity, especially in business environments. Because it can increase productivity, concentration and creativity.Brown noise can be compared to waves of the sea, a river current, strong winds or the sound of thunder during a storm. Like pink noise, brown noise is very similar to white noise. However, the frequencies have been lowered even further and a lot more concentrated. This gives it a rougher/coarse tone than pink noise. It sounds a bit deeper and a bit bass-like. The benefits of brown noise are the same as the other types of noise. It provides relaxation, increased focus and improved deep sleep.DISCLAIMER: Be aware that loud noises can damage your hearing. If you can't carry on a conversation without raising your voice while playing one of our spheres, the sound may be too loud for your ears. Do not place the speakers directly next to a baby's ears. If you have trouble hearing or ringing in your ears, stop listening to the white noise immediately and see an audiologist or your doctor. The sounds provided by ASMR Sleep Recordings are for entertainment purposes only and are not a treatment for sleep disorders or tinnitus. Consult your doctor if you regularly have severe sleeping problems, experience fitful/restless sleep or feel tired during the day.ASMR Sleep Recordings is the white noise and nature sounds podcast to help you sleep, study or soothe a baby. ASMR Sleep Recordings has uploaded more than 400+ episodes in the 4 years that the podcast has been online. You can listen to all episodes of the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. People use white noise for sleep, focus, sound masking or relaxation. This podcast has the sound for you, whether you're using white noise to study, to soothe a baby with cramps, to fall asleep, or to just enjoy a quiet moment. You don't need to buy a white noise machine if you can listen to these sounds for free.

Of Monsters and Mushrooms, Ch. 11 (book 1 NEW) ep. 804 Weapon of Mass Distraction NOTE: This is a rewrite of book 1. Originally, 'Of Monsters and Mushrooms' was supposed to be a multi-part short story that transformed halfway through into a novel. This left the plot (and the voice acting, to be honest) lacking. We decided to go back and completely rewrite book one to fix any plot holes and bring the quality in line with the rest of the series. Listen to the new book one playlist here https://talltaletv.com/series-of-monsters-and-mushrooms-new/ or Listen to book one (NEW!) https://talltaletv.com/series-of-monsters-and-mushrooms-new/ Listen to book two http://talltaletv.com/series-of-tyrants-and-teakettles/ Listen to book three http://talltaletv.com/series-of-bandits-and-bad-magic/ Listen to book 3.5 https://talltaletv.com/series-an-interlude-of-intrigue/ Listen to book four https://talltaletv.com/series-of-portals-and-portents/ Listen to book five https://talltaletv.com/series-of-risk-and-relativity/   Listen to the original book one http://talltaletv.com/series-monsters-mushrooms/   ---- Listen Elsewhere ---- YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/TallTaleTV Website: http://www.TallTaleTV.com   ---- Story Submission ---- Got a short story you'd like to submit? Submission guidelines can be found at http://www.TallTaleTV.com   ---- About Tall Tale TV ---- Hi there! My name is Chris Herron and I'm an audiobook narrator. In 2015, I suffered from poor Type 1 diabetes control which lead me to become legally blind for almost a year. The doctors didn't give me much hope, predicting an 80% chance that I would never see again. But I refused to give up and changed my lifestyle drastically. Through sheer willpower (and an amazing eye surgeon) I beat the odds and regained my vision. During that difficult time, I couldn't read or write, which was devastating as they had always been a source of comfort for me since childhood. However, my wife took me to the local library where she read out the titles of audiobooks to me. I selected some of my favorite books, such as the Disc World series, Name of the Wind, Harry Potter, and more, and the audiobooks brought these stories to life in a way I had never experienced before. They helped me through the darkest period of my life and I fell in love with audiobooks. Once I regained my vision, I decided to pursue a career as an audiobook narrator instead of a writer. That's why I created Tall Tale TV, to support aspiring authors in the writing communities that I had grown to love before my ordeal. My goal was to help them promote their work by providing a promotional audio short story that showcases their writing skills to readers. They say the strongest form of advertising is word of mouth, so I offer a platform for readers to share these videos and help spread the word about these talented writers. Please consider sharing these stories with your friends and family to support these amazing authors. Thank you!   ---- legal ---- All stories on Tall Tale TV have been submitted in accordance with the terms of service provided on http://www.talltaletv.com or obtained with permission by the author. All images used on Tall Tale TV are either original or Royalty and Attribution free. Most stock images used are provided by http://www.pixabay.com , https://www.canstockphoto.com/ or created using AI. Image attribution will be declared only when required by the copyright owner. Common Affiliates are: Amazon, Smashwords

You don't have to earn your Intuition. You don't have to perform spirituality. And you definitely don't have to be “consistent” to be Loved or Guided.In this episode, we're dismantling the myth that spiritual growth requires discipline—and exploring the deeper truth that while Love doesn't require devotion, devotion magnifies Love.You'll hear me share how my own intuition practice evolved over time: from rigid daily routines and spiritual guilt to a fluid, Love-led rhythm that feels alive and sustainable. I'll tell personal stories—from when I was a pastor working with postpartum moms, to moments in my women's circle, to the way I now approach my own daily connection with Spirit.If you've ever:Felt guilty for “falling off” your practice or not being consistent enoughLonged to feel closer to your Intuition but didn't know where to beginConfused structure with intimacy or discipline with devotionNeeded permission to rest, pause, or reconnect in your own way—then this episode will feel like a deep exhale.You'll walk away understanding:The real difference between discipline and devotionHow to build a relationship with your Intuition that's based on Love, not obligationWhy consistency doesn't mean doing the same thing every dayHow to recognize when Love is already speaking to you through ordinary lifeHow to release guilt and respond to the invitation of devotion when it arisesWhether you're in a quiet winter of the soul or a season of blooming creativity, this conversation will remind you that Love hasn't gone anywhere.Love doesn't need your discipline—but it delights in your attention.Mentioned in this episode:“The Wind, One Brilliant Day” and “Traveler, There Is No Path” by Antonio MachadoIf this episode resonates:Visit my newly updated website to explore 1:1 coaching openings for the end of 2025. This is the work we do together—releasing guilt, deepening trust, and learning to live guided by Love, not fear.Let's Connect on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!Free Resources- Feel how you want to feel NOW with my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Desire Map⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- FREE Masterclass: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discover Your Spiritual Gifts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Sign up for a FREE 1:1 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coaching curiosity call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode Description: This Week in Music History - November 10-16 | Pink Floyd, Beatles, Fleetwood Mac & More Join host Buzz Knight and master of music mayhem and music historian Harry Jacobs for another captivating episode of This Week in Music History, covering November 10-16. Dive deep into legendary moments that shaped rock, pop, and cultural history. Featured Music History Highlights: Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” (Nov 10, 1975) - Discover the untold story behind this iconic album’s #1 UK chart debut and its heartbreaking connection to Syd Barrett, who unexpectedly appeared during recording sessions. Led Zeppelin IV (Nov 12, 1971) - Explore the album featuring “Stairway to Heaven,” “Black Dog,” and “Rock and Roll” that sold 37 million copies worldwide and earned 24x Platinum certification. Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” (Nov 13, 1965) - Harry reveals why this Abbey Road recording remains one of his favorite Beatles albums, featuring classics like “In My Life,” “Norwegian Wood,” and “Michelle.” Fleetwood Mac’s Self-Titled Album (Nov 15, 1975) - Learn about Stevie Nicks’ emotional dedication of “Landslide” to her father and the latest rumors about Lindsay Buckingham’s potential reunion with the band. Additional Topics Covered: • Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and the incredible story of “Candle in the Wind” selling 660,000 copies in one day after Princess Diana’s funeral • Freddie Mercury’s final public appearance (Nov 14, 1991) and his AIDS diagnosis announcement • Donna Summer’s disco classic “MacArthur Park” hitting #1 • Jimi Hendrix’s “Electric Ladyland” chart success • John Lennon’s only #1 solo single during his lifetime (you’ll be surprised which song it was!) • Sesame Street’s PBS debut and its cultural impact • Bob Dylan’s “New Morning” album evolution Perfect for: Classic rock enthusiasts, music history buffs, Beatles fans, Pink Floyd devotees, and anyone fascinated by the stories behind legendary albums. Subscribe to Taking a Walk podcast for weekly deep dives into music history with Buzz Knight and Harry Jacobs, your guides through rock and roll’s most memorable moments. #MusicHistory #ClassicRock #PinkFloyd #Beatles #LedZeppelin #FleetwoodMac #PodcastEpisode #TakingAWalk #RockHistory​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Support the show: https://musicsavedme.net/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Karen Edwards joins Harley Coleman from Anchor to take a deep dive into the forces of wind uplift and how they impact roofing systems. The conversation explores what wind uplift is, why it matters and how attachment methods influence a roof's resistance to uplift. Harley will share Anchor's innovations in fasteners designed to keep buildings safe "against the wind." Join them as they discuss a powerful case study from iPark Hudson in Yonkers, New York, where Anchor's U-Anchors stood firm through Superstorm Sandy, protecting the rooftop solar investment when other systems failed. Listeners will come away with a better understanding of how proper attachment protects structures and how contractors can strengthen their own roofing practices with the right products and design approach. Learn more at RoofersCoffeeShop.com! https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/   Are you a contractor looking for resources? Become an R-Club Member today! https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/rcs-club-sign-up   Sign up for the Week in Roofing! https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/sign-up     Follow Us!   https://www.facebook.com/rooferscoffeeshop/   https://www.linkedin.com/company/rooferscoffeeshop-com   https://x.com/RoofCoffeeShop   https://www.instagram.com/rooferscoffeeshop/   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAQTC5U3FL9M-_wcRiEEyvw   https://www.pinterest.com/rcscom/   https://www.tiktok.com/@rooferscoffeeshop   https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/rss     #AnchorProducts #RoofersCoffeeShop #MetalCoffeeShop #AskARoofer #CoatingsCoffeeShop #RoofingProfessionals #RoofingContractors #RoofingIndustry 

A winter gale moves across the Baltic Sea. Wind presses against the steel hull, while freezing rain traces slow paths across the porthole glass. The sea rolls in long, dark waves beneath a sky heavy with cloud. From time to time, a faint radio signal flickers through the static, then fades back into the weather. The atmosphere settles into a steady rhythm—enduring, quiet, and continuous. A sound to rest inside. A space held against the storm outside. This podcast is entirely independent, and your support helps keep it going. When you like, share, or comment, it shows podcast platforms that people value Your Sleep Guru Podcast, enabling it to reach a wider audience. These small actions make a big difference in helping the podcast grow. Other ways you can support the show: Shop Your Sleep Guru Podcast exclusive T-shirts and baseball caps HERE: https://your-sleep-guru-podcast.printify.me/  created especially for you!

Konstantin Efimov was born in 1958 in St. Petersburg, Russia, the elder (by 10 years) of two sons born to Igor Efimov, well-established movie actor, and his wife, Irina, whom he met while attending Moscow's prestigious Maly Theater School.  Irina performed on stage until a few days before Kostia's birth.  "That must be why I enjoy being on stage so much," says Kostia, who goes by his childhood nickname.  His parents chose to live in St. Petersburg to be close to Igor's elderly mother.  In 1961, they signed a five-year contract with the Theater Group of the Soviet Army Force, performing in East Berlin.  KGB regulations, however, did not allow them to bring Kostia, then age 2-½ with them.  He stayed, as an "insurance policy," with his grandmother, Valya, living in a communal apartment that housed nine families (33 people) in 11 rooms, all sharing the same hallway, kitchen and bathroom.  "The bathtub was always filled with laundry," Kostia recalls.  "We took our baths twice a week in the community bathhouse."  As a child, Kostia displayed a tremendous interest in music, spending much time in front of the radio in his grandmother's tiny room.  At age 4, a present was delivered to him from his parents -- a 1937 Wolkenhauer upright piano, upon which he soon learned to play hundreds of Russian folk songs.  "It became the center of life in our home," Kostia remembers.  "Even my pet rooster, Peter, used the lid as his favorite perch, and he would sit there and listen while I played."  Kostia's parents returned from East Germany in July of 1965, when he was 7.  His grandmother died of a stroke the following month.  The same year, Kostia was accepted into a special music preparatory school of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory.  For the next 11 years, each day involved four to six hours of piano practice.  At the school he met his first great influence, teacher Tamara Karetkina.  "I was her first student," Kostia recalls.  "She was a tremendous pianist and a beautiful woman, very much resembling Jacqueline Bisset.”  Because of his talent, Kostia and other elite prodigies were forbidden to play sports, for fear of hand injuries.  At 14, Kostia, who loved basketball, broke a finger in his right hand during a clandestine pick-up game.  "I was so frightened," Kostia says. "The thought of not being able to play again was so horrifying!  It was worse than death for me.  I didn't tell my mother that I did it playing basketball; I told her I fell down carrying my briefcase."  While his right hand healed, Kostia passed the time mastering pieces written by Ravel and Scriabin for left hand.  Ravel's piece was composed in honor of a pianist who lost his right hand during World War I.  At 18, Kostia entered the famed St. Petersburg Conservatory.  Here he met and studied under Vladimir Nielsen, one of the last great masters of Russian Romanticism.  He completed his Conservatory studies in 1982 with advanced graduate degrees in four disciplines:  concert (solo) pianist, pianist for chamber ensemble, accompanist, and piano teacher.  Following graduation, Kostia performed throughout Russia, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia as a soloist, with orchestras, with ethnic ensembles and his own jazz-fusion group.  Typically, Conservatory graduates move into teaching.  "I decided to go another way.  I was already involved with jazz and pop performances, and I was pretty well known as an arranger, so I wanted to explore new music.  Friends introduced me to Oscar Peterson, and modern jazz and progressive rock bands like Genesis, Yes and King Crimson.  It was very different, extremely energetic, and absolutely spontaneous, like myself.  I am definitely a free spirit, and playing this music allowed me a certain level of freedom that I wasn't able to explore in classical music."  Kostia received a proposal from the St. Petersburg Cultural Center to start, essentially, an experimental music group.  "This was 1982," he says, "and things were warming up a little bit."  Kostia called the group “ARS” -- Latin for "art.”  While working with ARS, Kostia started composing and arranging music for movies, documentaries and theatrical productions.  He freelanced as an arranger, working on a number of soundtracks for the various stage productions.  His skills as a performer led him to work with some of the well-established Russian composers (i.e., Alfred Schnitke, Vladislav Uspensky, Vladislav Panchenko), and a number of Soviet pop stars, including Marina Kapuro and Aleksander Rosenbaum, among others.  During a visit to the United States in 1989 with the Soviet-American Cultural Exchange project "Clay Stomp," Kostia had an opportunity to perform for his first American audience at the Milwaukee Art Museum, where he shared the stage with Narada artist David Lanz.  That day changed Kostia's life forever.  The next morning he received a call from Narada records offering him a recording contract.  From 1989 until 1997, Kostia worked extensively on various Narada projects as a performer, arranger and producer, including David Arkenstone's Grammy-nominated In the Wake of the Wind, and Narada's most celebrated recording, Nutcracker.  Kostia's music appeared on more than a dozen of Narada's collections and compilation albums.  In 1992, Kostia and David Arkenstone collaborated on the first album ever endorsed by the United States Olympic Committee, Spirit of Olympia.  In 1994, Narada released Kostia's first piano solo album Suite St. Petersburg, which he describes as "a piano portrait of my beloved city."  1996 brought another critically acclaimed piano album, Ten Pebbles, where Kostia revisits some of his most cherished memories.  Both albums won him respect and recognition of his fellow musicians and the love of fans around the world.  Beginning in 1997, Kostia started a series of recordings with North Sound Music Group dedicated to piano idols of pop music.  That year, he released Kostia's Interpretations of Billy Joel followed by Kostia's Interpretations of Elton John in 1998.  The success of these projects led to a number of tribute recordings completed with world renowned instrumentalists such as Daryl Stuermer, guitarist from Genesis and Phil Collins Band; Paul McCandless, Windham Hill artist and reed and saxophone player from the band Oregon; and Windham Hill guitarist, Alex De Grassi.  In 1999, Kostia composed the soundtrack for the motion picture Czar of Make Believe from Italian director Daniel Alegi, which won an award for Best Short Film at the Rhode Island International Film Festival. In 2001, Kostia released Piano Ocean, an album of original music recorded in collaboration with ex-Narada star Spencer Brewer.  At the same time, he composed the soundtracks for a motion picture, The Play in the Modern Style, and a short film of Alex Boguslavsky entitled Blue Lamp.  New Millennium also brought several other exciting projects to Kostia as well – a collaboration between LEGO and George Lucas Film, celebrated short animated film “Star Wars: “Revenge of the Brick.”; new Alex Boguslavsky's film “My Little Philosopher”; a pilot for an independent motion picture “Slow Poison.”; a collaboration with legendary band Sweetbottom (original Indi fusion group) – “Sweetbottom Live”; several new albums with old band mate, Daryl Stuermer – “GO!”, “Rewired”, “Retrofit”; debut album of Carmen Nickerson “Tomorrow Is Another Day” etc. One of Kostia's compositions made it to the world renown TV series “Sex and the City.”  In addition to collaborations with well-established music groups and individual artists, Kostia has had his music performed by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Utah Symphony Orchestra, the internationally famed Veronica String Quartet, and Present Music cellist, Paul Gemainder, to name a few.  Currently, Kostia is at work composing music for his next CD, performing solo piano concerts around the country, and recording and performing with the Daryl Stuermer Band.  Future plans?  "I am thinking about something I always wanted to do – a series of pieces for chorus, poem for string quartet, and six pictures for piano and orchestra," says Kostia.  His journey continues.  "Musical Columbus," as he is often called by journalists, is again on the way to discovering new worlds for himself and his fans. Kostia plays regularly at Fox River Congregational Church where he is a composer in residence.  

Immerse yourself in the powerful sounds of a raging storm with two full hours of relentless wind and pouring rain. The rhythmic crash of rain against the ground blends with the deep roar of the wind, creating a natural white noise that calms the mind and blocks out distractions. Perfect for deep sleep, focused studying, or meditative relaxation, this atmospheric storm soundscape transports you to a cozy space where nature's energy meets tranquility.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/asmr-rain-recordings--5347561/support.Lose the AD intros by becoming a subscriber!https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/asmr-rain-recordings--5347561/support