Podcasts about Yang

It's part 2 of our dive into the Insect Apocalypse, with our good friend Dr. Jason Dombroskie from the Cornell University Insect Collection!In this part, Jason fills us in on the drivers of the Insect Apocalypse and - most importantly - what we can do about it.This episode was recorded on August 21, 2025 at Rattlesnake Hill Wildlife Management Area in Dalton, NY.. Episode NotesDuring the episode, we made the claim that 40 million acres of the US is lawn, and that that area is equal to all of the country's National Parks put together. True? Well, sort of. The claim that the U.S. has about 40 million acres of lawn—roughly equal to all our national parks combined—is only partly true. A NASA-funded study led by Cristina Milesi estimated that turfgrass covers about 128,000 km² (≈31 million acres) of the continental U.S., making it the largest irrigated “crop” in the country (Milesi et al., Environmental Management, 2005; NASA Earth Observatory). Later analyses and popular summaries often round that up to ≈40 million acres (e.g., Scienceline, 2011; LawnStarter, 2023). By comparison, the total land area of all officially designated U.S. National Parks is about 52.4 million acres, while the entire National Park System—which also includes monuments, preserves, and historic sites—covers about 85 million acres (National Park Service, 2024). So while lawns and parks occupy areas of similar magnitude, lawns do not actually equal or exceed the combined area of the national parks. Is it better to mulch leaves on your lawn or leave them be? Here's what we found: It's generally best to mulch your leaves with a mower rather than rake or remove them. Research from Michigan State University found that mowing leaves into small pieces allows them to decompose quickly, returning nutrients to the soil and reducing weeds like dandelions and crabgrass (MSU Extension, “Don't rake leaves — mulch them into your lawn”, 2012). Cornell University studies similarly show that mulched leaves improve soil structure, moisture retention, and microbial activity (Cornell Cooperative Extension, “Leaf Mulching: A Sustainable Alternative”, 2019). However, in garden beds, wooded edges, or under shrubs, it's often better to leave leaves whole, since they provide winter habitat for butterflies, bees, and other invertebrates that overwinter in leaf litter (National Wildlife Federation, “Leave the Leaves for Wildlife”, 2020). The ideal approach is a mix: mow-mulch leaves on grassy areas for turf health and leave them intact where they naturally fall to support biodiversity and soil ecology. Episode LinksThe Cornell University Insect Collection Also, check out their great Instagram feedAnd their annual October event InsectapaloozaFind out more about the recently discovered species of Swallowtail, Papilio solstitius, commonly known as the Midsummer Tiger Swallowtail- https://www.sci.news/biology/papilio-solstitius-13710.htmlSponsors and Ways to Support UsThank you to Always Wandering Art (Website and Etsy Shop) for providing the artwork for many of our episodes.Support us on Patreon.Works CitedBiesmeijer, J.C., Roberts, S.P., Reemer, M., Ohlemuller, R., Edwards, M., Peeters, T., Schaffers, A.P., Potts, S.G., Kleukers, R.J.M.C., Thomas, C.D. and Settele, J., 2006. Parallel declines in pollinators and insect-pollinated plants in Britain and the Netherlands. Science, 313(5785), pp.351-354. Boyle, M.J., Bonebrake, T.C., Dias da Silva, K., Dongmo, M.A., Machado França, F., Gregory, N., Kitching, R.L., Ledger, M.J., Lewis, O.T., Sharp, A.C. and Stork, N.E., 2025. Causes and consequences of insect decline in tropical forests. Nature Reviews Biodiversity, pp.1-17. Burghardt, K.T., Tallamy, D.W., Philips, C. and Shropshire, K.J., 2010. Non‐native plants reduce abundance, richness, and host specialization in lepidopteran communities. Ecosphere, 1(5), pp.1-22. Colla, S.R. and Packer, L., 2008. Evidence for decline in eastern North American bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Apidae), with special focus on Bombus affinis Cresson. Biodiversity and Conservation, 17(6), pp.1379-1391. Crossley, M.S., Meier, A.R., Baldwin, E.M., Berry, L.L., Crenshaw, L.C., Hartman, G.L., Lagos-Kutz, D., Nichols, D.H., Patel, K., Varriano, S. and Snyder, W.E., 2020. No net insect abundance and diversity declines across US Long Term Ecological Research sites. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 4(10), pp.1368-1376. DeWalt, R.E., Favret, C. and Webb, D.W., 2005. Just how imperiled are aquatic insects? A case study of stoneflies (Plecoptera) in Illinois. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 98(6), pp.941-950. Edwards, C.B., Zipkin, E.F., Henry, E.H., Haddad, N.M., Forister, M.L., Burls, K.J., Campbell, S.P., Crone, E.E., Diffendorfer, J., Douglas, M.R. and Drum, R.G., 2025. Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century. Science, 387(6738), pp.1090-1094. Gaona, F.P., Iñiguez-Armijos, C., Brehm, G., Fiedler, K. and Espinosa, C.I., 2021. Drastic loss of insects (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in urban landscapes in a tropical biodiversity hotspot. Journal of Insect Conservation, 25(3), pp.395-405. Gardiner, M.M., Allee, L.L., Brown, P.M., Losey, J.E., Roy, H.E. and Smyth, R.R., 2012. Lessons from lady beetles: accuracy of monitoring data from US and UK citizen‐science programs. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 10(9), pp.471-476. Groenendijk, D. and van der Meulen, J., 2004. Conservation of moths in The Netherlands: population trends, distribution patterns and monitoring techniques of day-flying moths. Journal of Insect Conservation, 8(2), pp.109-118. Haddad, N.M., Haarstad, J. and Tilman, D., 2000. The effects of long-term nitrogen loading on grassland insect communities. Oecologia, 124(1), pp.73-84. Hallmann, C.A., Sorg, M., Jongejans, E., Siepel, H., Hofland, N., Schwan, H., Stenmans, W., Müller, A., Sumser, H., Hörren, T. and Goulson, D., 2017. More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas. PLoS ONE12 (10): e0185809 Hallmann, C.A., Ssymank, A., Sorg, M., de Kroon, H. and Jongejans, E., 2021. Insect biomass decline scaled to species diversity: General patterns derived from a hoverfly community. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002554117. Harris, J.E., Rodenhouse, N.L. and Holmes, R.T., 2019. Decline in beetle abundance and diversity in an intact temperate forest linked to climate warming. Biological Conservation, 240, p.108219. Hembry, D.H., 2013. Herbarium Specimens Reveal Putative Insect Extinction on the Deforested Island of Mangareva (Gambier Archipelago, French Polynesia). Pacific Science, 67(4), pp.553-560. Høye, T.T., Loboda, S., Koltz, A.M., Gillespie, M.A., Bowden, J.J. and Schmidt, N.M., 2021. Nonlinear trends in abundance and diversity and complex responses to climate change in Arctic arthropods. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002557117. Huryn, A.D. and Wallace, J.B., 2000. Life history and production of stream insects. Annual review of entomology, 45(1), pp.83-110. Kawahara, A.Y., Reeves, L.E., Barber, J.R. and Black, S.H., 2021. Eight simple actions that individuals can take to save insects from global declines. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002547117. Leuenberger, W., Doser, J.W., Belitz, M.W., Ries, L., Haddad, N.M., Thogmartin, W.E. and Zipkin, E.F., 2025. Three decades of declines restructure butterfly communities in the Midwestern United States. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(33), p.e2501340122. Liang, M., Yang, Q., Chase, J.M., Isbell, F., Loreau, M., Schmid, B., Seabloom, E.W., Tilman, D. and Wang, S., 2025. Unifying spatial scaling laws of biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Science, 387(6740), p.eadl2373. Lister, B.C. and Garcia, A., 2018. Climate-driven declines in arthropod abundance restructure a rainforest food web. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(44), pp.E10397-E10406. Owens, A.C., Pocock, M.J. and Seymoure, B.M., 2024. Current evidence in support of insect-friendly lighting practices. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 66, p.101276. Myers, L.W., Kondratieff, B.C., Grubbs, S.A., Pett, L.A., DeWalt, R.E., Mihuc, T.B. and Hart, L.V., 2025. Distributional and species richness patterns of the stoneflies (Insecta, Plecoptera) in New York State. Biodiversity Data Journal, 13, p.e158952. Pilotto, F., Kühn, I., Adrian, R., Alber, R., Alignier, A., Andrews, C., Bäck, J., Barbaro, L., Beaumont, D., Beenaerts, N. and Benham, S., 2020. Meta-analysis of multidecadal biodiversity trends in Europe. Nature communications, 11(1), p.3486. Pinkert, S., Farwig, N., Kawahara, A.Y. and Jetz, W., 2025. Global hotspots of butterfly diversity are threatened in a warming world. Nature Ecology & Evolution, pp.1-12. Raven, P.H. and Wagner, D.L., 2021. Agricultural intensification and climate change are rapidly decreasing insect biodiversity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002548117. Rodrigues, A.V., Rissanen, T., Jones, M.M., Huikkonen, I.M., Huitu, O., Korpimäki, E., Kuussaari, M., Lehikoinen, A., Lindén, A., Pietiäinen, H. and Pöyry, J., 2025. Cross‐Taxa Analysis of Long‐Term Data Reveals a Positive Biodiversity‐Stability Relationship With Taxon‐Specific Mechanistic Underpinning. Ecology Letters, 28(4), p.e70003. Salcido, D.M., Forister, M.L., Garcia Lopez, H. and Dyer, L.A., 2020. Loss of dominant caterpillar genera in a protected tropical forest. Scientific reports, 10(1), p.422. Sánchez-Bayo, F. and Wyckhuys, K.A., 2019. Worldwide decline of the entomofauna: A review of its drivers. Biological conservation, 232, pp.8-27. Schowalter, T.D., Pandey, M., Presley, S.J., Willig, M.R. and Zimmerman, J.K., 2021. Arthropods are not declining but are responsive to disturbance in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002556117. Sedlmeier, J.E., Grass, I., Bendalam, P., Höglinger, B., Walker, F., Gerhard, D., Piepho, H.P., Brühl, C.A. and Petschenka, G., 2025. Neonicotinoid insecticides can pose a severe threat to grassland plant bug communities. Communications Earth & Environment, 6(1), p.162. Shortall, C.R., Moore, A., Smith, E., Hall, M.J., Woiwod, I.P. and Harrington, R., 2009. Long‐term changes in the abundance of flying insects. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 2(4), pp.251-260. Soga, M. and Gaston, K.J., 2018. Shifting baseline syndrome: causes, consequences, and implications. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 16(4), pp.222-230. Stork, N.E., 2018. How many species of insects and other terrestrial arthropods are there on Earth?. Annual review of entomology, 63(2018), pp.31-45. Tallamy, D.W., Narango, D.L. and Mitchell, A.B., 2021. Do non‐native plants contribute to insect declines?. Ecological Entomology, 46(4), pp.729-742. Thomas, J.A., Telfer, M.G., Roy, D.B., Preston, C.D., Greenwood, J.J.D., Asher, J., Fox, R., Clarke, R.T. and Lawton, J.H., 2004. Comparative losses of British butterflies, birds, and plants and the global extinction crisis. Science, 303(5665), pp.1879-1881. Tierno de Figueroa, J.M., López-Rodríguez, M.J., Lorenz, A., Graf, W., Schmidt-Kloiber, A. and Hering, D., 2010. Vulnerable taxa of European Plecoptera (Insecta) in the context of climate change. Biodiversity and conservation, 19(5), pp.1269-1277. Turin, H. and Den Boer, P.J., 1988. Changes in the distribution of carabid beetles in The Netherlands since 1880. II. Isolation of habitats and long-term time trends in the occurence of carabid species with different powers of dispersal (Coleoptera, Carabidae). Biological Conservation, 44(3), pp.179-200. Van Deynze, B., Swinton, S.M., Hennessy, D.A., Haddad, N.M. and Ries, L., 2024. Insecticides, more than herbicides, land use, and climate, are associated with declines in butterfly species richness and abundance in the American Midwest. PLoS One, 19(6), p.e0304319. Van Klink, R., Bowler, D.E., Gongalsky, K.B., Swengel, A.B., Gentile, A. and Chase, J.M., 2020. Meta-analysis reveals declines in terrestrial but increases in freshwater insect abundances. Science, 368(6489), pp.417-420. Wagner, D.L., Fox, R., Salcido, D.M. and Dyer, L.A., 2021. A window to the world of global insect declines: Moth biodiversity trends are complex and heterogeneous. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002549117. Wagner DL, Grames EM, Forister ML, Berenbaum MR, Stopak D. Insect decline in the Anthropocene: Death by a thousand cuts. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2021 Jan 12;118(2):e2023989118. WallisDeVries, M.F. and van Swaay, C.A., 2017. A nitrogen index to track changes in butterfly species assemblages under nitrogen deposition. Biological Conservation, 212, pp.448-453. Warren, M.S., Hill, J.K., Thomas, J.A., Asher, J., Fox, R., Huntley, B., Roy, D.B., Telfer, M.G., Jeffcoate, S., Harding, P. and Jeffcoate, G., 2001. Rapid responses of British butterflies to opposing forces of climate and habitat change. Nature, 414(6859), pp.65-69. Warren, M.S., Maes, D., van Swaay, C.A., Goffart, P., Van Dyck, H., Bourn, N.A., Wynhoff, I., Hoare, D. and Ellis, S., 2021. The decline of butterflies in Europe: Problems, significance, and possible solutions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), p.e2002551117. Wilson, E.O., 1987. The little things that run the world (the importance and conservation of invertebrates). Conservation biology, pp.344-346. Yang, L.H. and Gratton, C., 2014. Insects as drivers of ecosystem processes. Current opinion in insect science, 2, pp.26-32.Visit thefieldguidespodcast.com for full episode notes, links, and works cited.

Yi Yi (2000; Dir.: Edward Yang) Canon Fodder Episode 48 Daniel and Corky turn to turn-of-the-century Taiwan to review Edward Yang's richly Renoir-ian tapestry of humanity. Yang offers a seemingly bottomless reservoir of empathy in Yi Yi, but did your hosts appreciate the plunge or did they sink like […] The post Yi Yi (2000) – Episode 48 appeared first on Dare Daniel & Canon Fodder Podcasts.

Sam and Andy sit down with friend of the pod, Zack Farmer — host of the Unofficial WCC Hoops podcast. They discuss the lay of the land in the WCC for next season, what the Beavers need to do to succeed, and how Santa Clara managed to sign a player from the G League.Plus, on the Yang Hansen Corner, Sam and Andy break down Yang's first two preseason games and debate whether he moves better than Donovan Clingan.Follow The Payton Years on Twitter: @YearsPayton

This week, we dissect who's in the hunt for individual event medals, obviously the most important phase of the competition. Who are the favorites? Who could pull off an upset? And how can you watch like an expert? UPDATE: Indonesia has denied all Israeli athlete visas. Vault Preview: Deng Yalan vs. the United States of Cheng Leanne Wong and Joscelyn Roberson are tied for the highest combined two vault D-scores this year, but should we be worried that these vaults won't materialize in time for competition? Why Deng Yalan could be the first Chinese gymnast to win a World Championships vault title since Cheng Fei Why you need to keep your eyes on Karla Navas, Angelina Melnikova, and Valentina Georgieva Will the double-twisting Yurchenko and Lopez group have enough D to sneak into vault finals? What do you need to know to watch vault like an expert?  Chapters  00:00 Intro  01:02 Show Open – Welcome to the Worlds Event Finals Preview 02:14 Update from Singapore – Israeli Visa Controversy & FIG Rules 05:53 How to Watch Worlds – BBC & Broadcast Info 06:25 Vault Preview 07:19 Pre-Meet Favorites – Wong, Roberson, Deng Yalan 10:13 Wide World of Spoilers – Melnikova, Navas, Georgieva 13:20 DTY/Lopez Group Questions – Fontaine, Martin & Co. 17:03 How to Watch Vault Like an Expert – Hand Support & Deduction Drama 22:33 Bars Preview 23:02 Pre-Meet Favorites – Nemour, Yang, Roshchina 25:05 What Is an Inbar Skill & Why It Matters 26:17 Wide World of Spoilers – Italians, Blakely, Dutch Contenders 27:34 Questions – Can You Succeed Without Connections? 29:14 How to Watch Bars Like an Expert – Handstands, Kips, & Deductions 31:45  Beam Preview 32:11 Sam Peszek Promo – Beam Queen Fear & Confidence 32:53 Pre-Meet Favorites – Zhou, Zhang, Hwang 35:04 How the Chinese Score 15s on Beam 37:19 Wide World of Spoilers – Nemour, Flavia, Okamura, Blakely 42:22 Coping with No Manila Esposito – Giulia Perotti 45:04 Team Layout Full – Ossysek & Voinea 46:10 Does Big Difficulty Pay Off? 47:02 How to Watch Beam Like an Expert – Why E-Scores Are “Crimes” 50:28 Beam Deductions Explained – Rhythm, Pauses, and Artistry 53:01  Floor Preview 53:22 Pre-Meet Favorites – Roberson, Voinea, Kalmykova 54:44 Why There Are No Clear Favorites This Year 55:36 Wide World of Spoilers – Moerz, Sugihara, Kishi, Ruby Evans 56:13 Who Doesn't Belong in Dance Prison – Fontaine, Marta Pihan-Kuleza, Petisco 58:03 The 3-Pass vs 4-Pass Debate 58:44 How to Watch Floor Like an Expert – Inquiry Rules Explained 01:01:08 When to File a Floor Inquiry & What's Changed 01:02:05  Show Close & Updates 01:02:36 Thank You Gifts & Travel Blessing from Vicky 01:03:21 Worlds Coverage Schedule & Club Gym Nerd Live Access 01:04:00 Sign-Off – “Take off and split on rights!” Bars Preview: The Kaylia Nemour Show How Kaylia Nemour and her gargantuan 6.9 D-score will win the World bars title Could Yang Fanyuwei and her eponymous full-twisting Jaeger give Nemour a run for gold? Which one of the AIN Russians will use the power of an inbar to make it into bar finals? The wide world of spoilers from the Italians, Skye Blakely, and the Dutch Can you qualify to bar finals without connecting everything? We look at Nakamura Haruka dilemma as a case study How can you watch bars like an expert Beam Preview: The Confidence Game Who are the current world leaders on beam? Why Zhou Yaqin and Zhang Qingying are leading the world beam rankings Whatever you do, DO NOT sleep on Hwang Seohyun and her massive new 6.9 D-score Why being a nonchalant beamer is the key to getting a 15 Is doing big-time F+ elements still worth the risk? There are probably 30 people who could legitimately contend for a World beam title, who else is on our list? Why is beam evaluated so harshly? We go over everything you need to know to watch beam like an expert Floor Preview: Doing Less is More Who are our favorites to win the title? Hint: it's nobody Who is currently leading the world floor rankings? Joscelyn Roberson is coming in HOT with her 6.5 D-score, but is she healthy enough to pull it off? Could this be Sabrina Voinea's Paris revenge tour? Why floor is probably one of the most unpredictable events this year. We have a looong list of gymnasts who could contend for a medal Who doesn't belong in dance prison? Why the three or four pass floor routine debate is the "is a hot dog a sandwich" debate of gymnastics How do you submit an inquiry on floor? What are the new procedures to submit an inquiry? WIN STUFF Raffle: Win a Full Commission Episode for $10! Raffle closes Oct. 7th! Club Gym Nerd Membership Scholarship GymCastic is matching all donations Nearly 50 scholarships have been awarded so far UP NEXT: Behind The Scenes: Live Podium Training Report podcast with Q&A from Jakarta on October 17th. SUPPORT THE SHOW Join Club Gym Nerd: https://gymcastic.com/club/ Headstand Game: https://gymcastic.com/headstand-plugin/ Forum: https://gymcastic.com/community/ Merch: https://gymcastic.com/shop/ Try Huel with 15% OFF for New Customers today using my code GYMCASTIC at https://huel.com/gymcastic. Fuel your best performance with Huel today! RELATED EPISODES: Episode – Jakarta World Championships Preview Part One: AA Draft, Stats, Subdivision Deep Dives Episode – Rolled Ankle-Gate! Selection Camp Down to 8 | Perotti Leads Italian World Team Episode – Jakarta World Team Trials Preview & Sho Nakamori on Judge-Eye-View Cameras Episode – Paris World Cup with Laura Cappelle Behind the Scenes – all episodes NEWSLETTERS Sign up for all three GymCastic newsletters  RESOURCES The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles by Aimee Boorman with Fact Checker. Aimee coached Simone from day one in gymnastics to three back to back World All Around titles, 14 world medals and an unprecedented 5 medals at the Rio Olympics. Get your copy now. And if you loved reading (or listening) to the book, please leave a review. Spencer's essential website The Balance Beam Situation  GIFs of the Week and Meet schedule with links. Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim Kensley's men's gymnastics site Neutral Deductions RESISTANCE RESOURCES > here Cover Art & Photos by Steve Cooper © Gymcastic

Last time we spoke about the Battle of Taierzhuang. Following the fall of Nanjing in December 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War entered a brutal phase of attrition as Japan sought to consolidate control and press toward central China. Chinese defense prioritized key rail corridors and urban strongholds, with Xuzhou, the JinPu and Longhai lines, and the Huai River system forming crucial lifelines. By early 1938, Japanese offensives aimed to link with forces around Beijing and Nanjing and encircle Chinese positions in the Central Yangtze region, threatening Wuhan. In response, Chiang Kai-shek fortified Xuzhou and expanded defenses to deter a pincer move, eventually amassing roughly 300,000 troops along strategic lines. Taierzhuang became a focal point when Japanese divisions attempted to press south and link with northern elements. Chinese commanders Li Zongren, Bai Chongxi, Tang Enbo, and Sun Lianzhong coordinated to complicate Japanese plans through offensive-defensive actions, counterattacks, and encirclement efforts. The victory, though numerically costly, thwarted immediate Japanese objectives and foreshadowed further attritional struggles ahead.   #171 The Flooding of the Yellow River Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. We last left off with a significant event during the Xuzhou campaign. Three Japanese divisions under General Itagaki Seishiro moved south to attack Taierzhuang and were met by forces commanded by Li Zongren, Sun Lianzhong, and Tang Enbo, whose units possessed a decent amount of artillery. In a two-week engagement from March 22 to April 7, the battle devolved into a costly urban warfare. Fighting was vicious, often conducted in close quarters and at night. The urban environment negated Japanese advantages in armor and artillery, allowing Chinese forces to contend on equal terms. The Chinese also disrupted Japanese logistics by resupplying their own troops and severing rear supply lines, draining Japanese ammunition, supplies, and reinforcements. By April 7, the Japanese were compelled to retreat, marking the first Chinese victory of the war. However both sides suffered heavy losses, with around 20,000 casualties on each side. In the aftermath of this rare victory, Chiang Kai-Shek pushed Tang Enbo and Li Zongren to capitalize on their success and increased deployments in the Taierzhuang theater to about 450,000 troops. Yet the Chinese Army remained hampered by fundamental problems. The parochialism that had crippled Chiang's forces over the preceding months resurfaced. Although the generals had agreed to coordinate in a war of resistance, each still prioritized the safety of his own troops, wary of Chiang's bid to consolidate power. Li Zongren, for example, did not deploy his top Guangxi provincial troops at Taierzhuang and sought to shift most of the fighting onto Tang Enbo's forces. Chiang's colleagues were mindful of the fates of Han Fuju of Shandong and Zhang Xueliang of Manchuria: Han was executed for refusing to fight, while Zhang, after allowing Chiang to reduce the size of his northeastern army, ended up under house arrest. They were right to distrust Chiang. He believed, after all, that provincial armies should come under a unified national command, which he would lead. From a national-unity perspective, his aspiration was not unreasonable. But it fed suspicion among other military leaders that participation in the anti-Japanese war would dilute their power. The divided nature of the command also hindered logistics, making ammunition and food supplies to the front unreliable and easy to cut off. By late April the Chinese had reinforced the Xuzhou area to between 450,000-600,000 to capitalize on their victory. However these armies were plagued with command and control issues. Likewise the Japanese licked their wounds and reinforced the area to roughly 400,000, with fresh troops and supplies flowing in from Tianjin and Nanjing. The Japanese continued with their objective of encircling Chinese forces. The North China Area Army comprised four divisions and two infantry brigades drawn from the Kwantung Army, while the Central China Expeditionary Army consisted of three divisions and the 1st and 2nd Tank Battalions along with motorized support units. The 5th Tank Battalion supported the 3rd Infantry Division as it advanced north along the railway toward Xuzhou. Fighting to the west, east, and north of Xuzhou was intense, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. On 18 April, the Japanese advanced southward toward Pizhou. Tang Enbo's 20th Army Corps, together with the 2nd, 22nd, 46th, and 59th corps, resisted fiercely, culminating in a stalemate by the end of April. The 60th Corps of the Yunnan Army engaged the Japanese 10th Division at Yuwang Mountain for nearly a month, repelling multiple assaults. By the time it ceded its position to the Guizhou 140th Division and withdrew on 15 May, the corps had sustained losses exceeding half of its forces. Simultaneously, the Japanese conducted offensives along both banks of the Huai River, where Chinese defenders held out for several weeks. Nevertheless, Japanese artillery and aerial bombardment gradually tilted the balance, allowing the attackers to seize Mengcheng on 9 May and Hefei on 14 May. From there, the southern flank split into two parts: one force moved west and then north to cut off the Longhai Railway escape route from Xuzhou, while another division moved directly north along the railway toward Suxian, just outside Xuzhou. Simultaneously, to the north, Japanese units from north China massed at Jining and began moving south beyond Tengxian. Along the coast, an amphibious landing was made at Lianyungang to reinforce troops attacking from the east. The remaining portions of Taierzhuang were captured in May, a development symbolically significant to Tokyo. On 17 May, Japanese artillery further tightened the noose around Xuzhou, striking targets inside the city.  To preserve its strength, the Nationalist government ordered the abandonment of Xuzhou and directed its main forces to break out toward northern Jiangsu, northern Anhui, and eastern Henan. To deter the Japanese army's rapid westward advance and penetration into northern Henan and western Shandong, many leading military and political figures within the Nationalist government proposed breaching dams over the Yellow River to delay the offensive, a strategy that would have been highly advantageous to the Nationalist forces at the time. Chiang Kai-shek vetoed the proposal outright, insisting that the Nationalist army could still resist. He understood that with tens of millions of Chinese lives at stake and a sliver of hope remaining, the levee plan must not be undertaken. Then a significant battle broke out at Lanfeng. Chiang also recognized that defeat could allow the elite Japanese mechanized divisions, the 14th, 16th, and 10th, to advance directly toward Zhengzhou. If Zhengzhou fell, the Japanese mechanized forces on the plains could advance unimpeded toward Tongguan. Their southward push would threaten Xi'an, Xiangfan, and Nanyang, directly jeopardizing the southwest's rear defenses. Concurrently, the Japanese would advance along the Huai River north of the Dabie Mountains toward Wuhan, creating a pincer with operations along the Yangtze River.  Now what followed was arguably the most important and skillful Chinese maneuver of the Xuzhou campaign: a brilliantly executed strategic retreat to the south and west across the Jinpu railway line. On May 15, Li Zongren, in consultation with Chiang Kai-shek, decided to withdraw from Xuzhou and focus on an escape plan. The evacuation of civilians and military personnel began that day. Li ordered troops to melt into the countryside and move south and west at night, crossing the Jinpu Railway and splitting into four groups that would head west. The plan was to regroup in the rugged Dabie Mountains region to the south and prepare for the defense of Wuhan. Li's generals departed reluctantly, having held out for so long; Tang Enbo was said to have wept. Under cover of night, about forty divisions, over 200,000 men, marched out of Japanese reach in less than a week. A critical moment occurred on May 18, when fog and a sandstorm obscured the retreating troops as they crossed the Jinpu Railway. By May 21, Li wired Chiang Kai-shek to report that the withdrawal was complete. He mobilized nearly all of the Kuomintang Central Army's elite units, such as the 74th Army, withdrawn from Xuzhou and transferred directly to Lanfeng, with a resolute intent to “burn their boats.” The force engaged the Japanese in a decisive battle at Lanfeng, aiming to secure the last line of defense for the Yellow River, a position carrying the lives of millions of Chinese civilians. Yet Chiang Kai-shek's strategy was not universally understood by all participating generals, who regarded it as akin to striking a rock with an egg. For the battle of Lanfeng the Chinese mobilized nearly all of the Kuomintang Central Army's elite forces, comprising 14 divisions totaling over 150,000 men. Among these, the 46th Division of the 27th Army, formerly the Central Training Brigade and the 36th, 88th, and 87th Divisions of the 71st Army were German-equipped. Additionally, the 8th Army, the Tax Police Corps having been reorganized into the Ministry of Finance's Anti-Smuggling Corps, the 74th Army, and Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps, the new 1st Army, equipped with the 8th Division were elite Nationalist troops that had demonstrated strong performance in the battle of Shanghai and the battle of Nanjing, and were outfitted with advanced matériel. However, these so-called “elite” forces were heavily degraded during the campaigns in Shanghai and Nanjing. The 46th Division and Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps sustained casualties above 85% in Nanjing, while the 88th and 87th Divisions suffered losses of up to 90%. The 74th Army and the 36th Division also endured losses exceeding 75%. Their German-made equipment incurred substantial losses; although replenishment occurred, inventories resembled roughly a half-German and half-Chinese mix. With very limited heavy weapons and a severe shortage of anti-tank artillery, they could not effectively match the elite Japanese regiments. Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps maintained its national equipment via a close relationship with Chiang Kai-shek. In contrast, the 74th Army, after fighting in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Xuzhou, suffered heavy casualties, and the few German weapons it had were largely destroyed at Nanjing, leaving it to rely on a mix of domestically produced and Hanyang-made armaments. The new recruits added to each unit largely lacked combat experience, with nearly half of the intake having received basic training. The hardest hit was Li Hanhun's 64th Army, established less than a year prior and already unpopular within the Guangdong Army. Although classified as one of the three Type A divisions, the 155th, 156th, and 187th Divisions, it was equipped entirely with Hanyang-made firearms. Its direct artillery battalion possessed only about 20 older mortars and three Type 92 infantry guns, limiting its heavy firepower to roughly that of a Japanese battalion. The 195th Division and several miscellaneous units were even less prominent, reorganized from local militias and lacking Hanyang rifles. Additionally, three batches of artillery purchased from the Soviet Union arrived in Lanzhou via Xinjiang between March and June 1938. Except for the 52nd Artillery Regiment assigned to the 200th Division, the other artillery regiments had recently received their weapons and were still undergoing training. The 200th Division, had been fighting awhile for in the Xuzhou area and incurred heavy casualties, was still in training and could only deploy its remaining tank battalion and armored vehicle company. The tank battalion was equipped with T-26 light tanks and a small number of remaining British Vickers tanks, while the armored vehicle company consisted entirely of Italian Fiat CV33 armored cars. The disparity in numbers was substantial, and this tank unit did not participate in the battle.  As for the Japanese, the 14th Division was an elite Type A formation. Originally organized with four regiments totaling over 30,000 men, the division's strength was later augmented. Doihara's 14th Division received supplements, a full infantry regiment and three artillery regiments, to prevent it from being surrounded and annihilated, effectively transforming the unit into a mobile reinforced division. Consequently, the division's mounted strength expanded to more than 40,000 personnel, comprising five infantry regiments and four artillery regiments. The four artillery regiments, the 24th Artillery Regiment, the 3rd Independence Mountain Artillery Regiment, the 5th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, and the 6th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, possessed substantial heavy firepower, including 150mm heavy howitzers and 105mm long-range field cannons, placing them far in excess of the Nationalist forces at Lanfeng. In addition, both the 14th and later the 16th Divisions commanded tank regiments with nearly 200 light and medium tanks each, while Nationalist forces were markedly short of anti-tank artillery. At the same time, the Nationalist Air Force, though it had procured more than 200 aircraft of various types from the Soviet Union, remained heavily reliant on Soviet aid-to-China aircraft, amounting to over 100 machines, and could defend only a few cities such as Wuhan, Nanchang, and Chongqing. In this context, Japanese forces effectively dominated the Battle of Lanfeng. Moreover, reports indicate that the Japanese employed poison gas on the battlefield, while elite Nationalist troops possessed only a limited number of gas masks, creating a stark disparity in chemical warfare preparedness. Despite these disparities, Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist government were initially unaware of the updated strength and composition of the Doihara Division. Faced with constrained options, Chiang chose to press ahead with combat operations. On May 12, 1939, after crossing the Yellow River, the IJA 14th Division continued its southward advance toward Lanfeng. The division's objective was to sever the Longhai Railway, disrupt the main Nationalist retreat toward Zhengzhou, and seize Zhengzhou itself. By May 15, the division split into two columns at Caoxian and moved toward key nodes on the Longhai Line. Major General Toyotomi Fusatarou led two infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, and one artillery regiment in the main assault toward Kaocheng with the aim of directly capturing Lanfeng. Doihara led three infantry regiments and three artillery regiments toward Neihuang and Minquan, threatening Guide. In response, the Nationalist forces concentrated along the railway from Lanfeng to Guide, uniting Song Xilian's 71st Army, Gui Yongqing's 27th Army, Yu Jishi's 74th Army, Li Hanhun's 64th Army, and Huang Jie's 8th Army. From May 15 to 17, the Fengjiu Brigade, advancing toward Lanfeng, met stubborn resistance near Kaocheng from roughly five divisions under Song Xilian and was forced to shift its effort toward Yejigang and Neihuang. The defense near Neihuang, including Shen Ke's 106th Division and Liang Kai's 195th Division, ultimately faltered, allowing Doihara's division to seize Neihuang, Yejigang, Mazhuangzhai, and Renheji. Nevertheless, the Nationalist forces managed to contain the Japanese advance east and west of the area, preventing a complete encirclement. Chiang Kai-shek ordered Cheng Qian, commander-in-chief of the 1st War Zone, to encircle and annihilate the Japanese 14th Division. The deployment plan mapped three routes: the Eastern Route Army, under Li Hanhun, would include the 74th Army, the 155th Division of the 64th Army, a brigade of the 88th Division, and a regiment of the 87th Division, advancing westward from Guide); the Western Route Army, commanded by Gui Yongqing, would comprise the 27th Army, the 71st Army, the 61st Division, and the 78th Division, advancing eastward from Lanfeng; and the Northern Route Army, formed by Sun Tongxuan's 3rd Army and Shang Zhen's 20th Army, was to cut off the enemy's retreat to the north bank of the Yellow River near Dingtao, Heze, Dongming, and Kaocheng, while attacking the Doihara Division from the east, west, and north to annihilate it in a single decisive operation.  On May 21, the Nationalist Army mounted a full-scale offensive. Yu Jishi's 74th Army, commanded by Wang Yaowu's 51st Division, joined a brigade of Song Xilian's 71st Army, led by the 88th Division, and drove the Japanese forces at Mazhuangzhai into retreat, capturing Neihuang and Renheji. The main Japanese force, more than 6,000 strong, withdrew southwest to Yangjiji and Shuangtaji. Song Xilian, commanding Shen Fazao's 87th Division, launched a sharp assault on Yejigang (Yifeng). The Japanese abandoned the stronghold, but their main body continued advancing toward Yangjiji, with some units retreating to Donggangtou and Maoguzhai. On May 23, Song Xilian's 71st Army and Yu Jishi's 74th Army enveloped and annihilated enemy forces at Donggangtou and Maoguzhai. That evening they seized Ximaoguzhai, Yangzhuang, and Helou, eliminating more than a thousand Japanese troops. The Japanese troops at Donggangtou fled toward Lanfeng. Meanwhile, Gui Yongqing's forces were retreating through Lanfeng. His superior strength, Jiang Fusheng's 36th Division, Li Liangrong's 46th Division, Zhong Song's 61st Division, Li Wen's 78th Division, Long Muhan's 88th Division, and Shen Ke's 106th Division—had held defensive positions along the Lanfeng–Yangji line. Equipped with a tank battalion and armored vehicle company commanded by Qiu Qingquan, they blocked the enemy's westward advance and awaited Japanese exhaustion. However, under the Japanese offensive, Gui Yongqing's poor command led to the loss of Maji and Mengjiaoji, forcing the 27th Army to retreat across its entire front. Its main force fled toward Qixian and Kaifeng. The Japanese seized the opportunity to capture Quxingji, Luowangzhai, and Luowang Railway Station west of Lanfeng. Before retreating, Gui Yongqing ordered Long Muhan to dispatch a brigade to replace the 106th Division in defending Lanfeng, while he directed the 106th Division to fall back to Shiyuan. Frightened by the enemy, Long Muhan unilaterally withdrew his troops on the night of the 23rd, leaving Lanfeng undefended. On the 24th, Japanese troops advancing westward from Donggangtou entered Lanfeng unopposed and, relying on well-fortified fortifications, held their ground until reinforcements arrived. In the initial four days, the Nationalist offensive failed to overwhelm the Japanese, who escaped encirclement and annihilation. The four infantry and artillery regiments and one cavalry regiment on the Japanese side managed to hold the line along Lanfeng, Luowangzhai, Sanyizhai, Lanfengkou, Quxingji, Yang'erzhai, and Chenliukou on the south bank of the Yellow River, offering stubborn resistance. The Longhai Railway was completely cut off. Chiang Kai-shek, furious upon hearing the news while stationed in Zhengzhou, ordered the execution of Long Muhan, commander of the 88th Division, to restore military morale. He also decided to consolidate Hu Zongnan's, Li Hanhun's, Yu Jishi's, Song Xilian's, and Gui Yongqing's troops into the 1st Corps, with Xue Yue as commander-in-chief. On the morning of May 25, they launched a determined counterattack on Doihara's 14th Division. Song Xilian personally led the front lines on May 24 to rally the defeated 88th Division.  Starting on May 25, after three days of intense combat, Li Hanhun's 64th Army advanced to seize Luowang Station and Luowangzhai, while Song Xilian's 71st Army retook Lanfeng City, temporarily reopening the Longhai Line to traffic. At Sanyi Village, Gui Yongqing's 27th Army and Yu Jishi's 74th Army captured a series of outlying positions, including Yang'eyao, Chailou, Cailou, Hezhai, Xuelou, and Baowangsi. Despite these gains, more than 6,000 Japanese troops offered stubborn resistance. During the fighting, Ji Hongru, commander of the 302nd Regiment, was seriously wounded but continued to fight, shouting, “Don't worry about my death! Brothers, fight on!” He ultimately died a heroic death from his wounds. By May 27, Chiang Kai-shek, concerned that the forces had not yet delivered a decisive victory at Lanfeng, personally reprimanded the participating generals and ordered them to completely encircle and annihilate the enemy west of Lanfeng by the following day. He warned that if the opportunity was missed and Japanese reinforcements arrived, the position could be endangered. The next day, Chiang Kai-shek issued another telegram, urging Cheng Qian's First War Zone and all participating units to press the offensive. The telegram allegedly had this in it “It will forever be a laughingstock in the history of warfare.” Meanwhile on the other side, to prevent the annihilation of Doihara's 14th Division, the elite Japanese 16th Division and the 3rd Mixed Brigade, totaling over 40,000 men, launched a westward assault from Dangshan, capturing Yucheng on May 26. They then began probing the outskirts of Guide. Huang Jie's Eighth Army, responsible for the defense, withdrew to the outskirts of Guide that evening. On May 28, Huang Jie again led his troops on his own initiative, retreating to Liuhe and Kaifeng, leaving only the 187th Division to defend Zhuji Station and Guide City. At dawn on May 29, Peng Linsheng, commander of the 187th Division, also withdrew his troops, leaving Guide a deserted city. The Japanese occupied Guide without a fight. The loss of Guide dramatically shifted the tide of the war. Threatened on the flanks by the Japanese 16th Division, the Nationalist forces were forced onto the defensive. On May 28, the Japanese 14th Division concentrated its forces to counterattack Gui Yongqing's troops, but they were defeated again, allowing the Japanese to stabilize their position. At the same time, the fall of Shangqiu compelled Xue Yue's corps to withdraw five divisions to block the enemy in Shangqiu, and the Nationalist Army shifted to a defensive posture with the 14th Division holding Sanyizhai and Quxingji. To the north of the battlefield, the Japanese 4th Mixed Brigade, numbering over 10,000 men, was preparing to force a crossing of the Yellow River in order to join with the nearby 14th Division. More seriously, the 10th Division, together with its 13th Mixed Brigade and totaling more than 40,000 men, had captured Woyang and Bozhou on the Henan-Anhui border and was rapidly encircling eastern Henan. By the time of the Battle of Lanfeng, Japanese forces had deployed more than 100,000 troops, effectively surrounding the Nationalist army. On May 31, the First War Zone decided to withdraw completely, and the Battle of Lanfeng ended in defeat for the Nationalists, forcing Chiang Kai-shek to authorize diverting the Yellow River embankment to relieve pressure. The consequence was a deteriorating strategic situation, as encirclement tightened and reinforcement options dwindled, driving a retreat from the Lanfeng front. The National Army suffered more than 67,000 casualties, killed and wounded more than 10,000 Japanese soldiers, Lanfeng was lost, and Zhengzhou was in danger.  As in Nanjing, this Chinese army might have lived to fight another day, but the effect on Xuzhou itself was horrific. The city had endured Japanese bombardment since August 1937, and the population's mood swung between cautious hope and utter despair. In March, Du Zhongyuan visited Xuzhou. Before he left Wuhan, friends told him that “the city was desolate and the people were terrified, all the inhabitants of Xuzhou were quietly getting on with their business … sometimes it was even calmer than Wuhan.” The Australian journalist Rhodes Farmer recalled a similar image in a book published at war's end, noting the “ordinary townsfolk who became wardens, fire-fighters and first-aid workers during the raid and then went back to their civil jobs.” Yet the mid-May departure of Nationalist troops left the city and its outskirts at the mercy of an angry Imperial Army. Bombing continued through the final days of battle, and a single raid on May 14, 1938 killed 700 people. Around Xuzhou, buildings and bridges were destroyed—some by retreating Chinese forces, some by advancing Japanese troops. Taierzhuang, the scene of the earlier iconic defense, was utterly destroyed. Canadian Jesuits who remained in Xuzhou after its fall recorded that more than a third of the houses were razed, and most of the local population had fled in terror. In rural areas around the city, massacres were repeatedly reported, many witnessed by missionaries. Beyond the atrocities of the Japanese, locals faced banditry in the absence of law enforcement, and vital agricultural work such as planting seed ground to a halt. The loss of Xuzhou was both strategic and symbolic. It dealt a severe blow to Chiang's attempt to hold central China and to control regional troop movements. Morale, which Taierzhuang had briefly boosted, was battered again though not extinguished. The fall signaled that the war would be long, and that swift victory against Japan was no longer likely. Mao Zedong's Yan'an base, far to the northwest, grasped the meaning of defeat there. In May 1938 he delivered one of his most celebrated lectures, “On Protracted War,” chiding those who had over-optimistically claimed the Xuzhou campaign could be a quasi-decisive victory and arguing that, after Taierzhuang, some had become “giddy.” Mao insisted that China would ultimately prevail, yet he warned that it could not be won quickly, and that the War of Resistance would be protracted. In the meantime, the development of guerrilla warfare remained an essential piece of the long-term strategy that the Communist armies would pursue in north China. Yet the loss of Xuzhou did not necessarily portend a long war; it could, instead, presage a war that would be terrifyingly short. By spring 1938 the Chinese defenders were desperate. There was a real danger that the entire war effort could collapse, and the Nationalist governments' notable success as protectors of a shrinking “Free China” lay in avoiding total disaster. Government propaganda had successfully portrayed a plan beyond retreat to foreign observers, yet had Tokyo captured Wuhan in the spring, the Chinese Army would have had to withdraw at speed, reinforcing perceptions of disintegration. Western governments were unlikely to intervene unless convinced it was in their interests. Within the Nationalist leadership, competing instincts persisted. The government pursued welfare measures for the people in the midst of a massive refugee relief effort, the state and local organizations, aided by the International Red Cross, housed large numbers of refugees in 1937–1938. Yet there was a harsher strain within policy circles, with some officials willing to sacrifice individual lives for strategic or political ends as the Japanese threat intensified. Throughout central China, the Yellow River, China's “Sorrow”, loomed as the dominant geographic force shaping history. The loess-laden river, notorious for floods and shifting channels, was banked by massive dikes near Zhengzhou, exactly along the line the Japanese would traverse toward Wuhan. Using the river as a military instrument was discussed as a drastic option: Chiang and Cheng Qian's First War Zone contemplated diverting or breaching the dikes to halt or slow the Japanese advance, a measure that could buy time but would unleash enormous civilian suffering. The idea dated back to 1887 floods that cost hundreds of thousands of lives, and even in 1935 Alexander von Falkenhausen had warned that the Yellow River could become the final line of defense. In 1938 Chiang, recognizing the futility of defeating the Japanese by conventional means at Zhengzhou, considered unleashing the river's force if necessary to impede the invaders. The political and strategic calculus was stark: protect central China and Wuhan, even if it required drastic and morally fraught measures. A more humane leader might have hesitated to break the dikes and spare the dams, allowing the Japanese to take Wuhan. But Chiang Kai-shek believed that if the dikes were not breached and Wuhan fell within days, the Nationalist government might be unable to relocate to Chongqing in time and would likely surrender, leaving Japan in control of almost all of China. Some have compared the choice to France's surrender in June 1940, underscoring that Chiang's decision came during the country's most terrifying assault, with Chinese forces much weaker and less trained than their European counterparts. The dilemma over whether to break the Yellow River dikes grew out of desperation. Chiang ultimately ordered General Wei Rulin to blow the dike that held the Yellow River in central Henan. There was no doubt about the consequences: floods would inundate vast areas of central China, creating a waterlogged barrier that would halt the Japanese advance. Yet for the plan to succeed, it had to be carried out quickly, and the government could offer no public warning in case the Japanese detected it and accelerated their movement. Xiong Xianyu, chief of staff in the 8th Division at the time, recorded the urgency of those hours in his diary. The Japanese were already on the north bank of the Yellow River, briefly delayed when the Chinese army blew up the railway bridge across the river. The destruction of the dikes was the next step: if the area became a sea of mud, there would be no way the Japanese could even attempt to reconstruct the bridge. Blasting the dikes proved easier in theory than in practice. Holding back such a massive body of water required substantial engineering, dams thick and well fortified. The army made its first attempts to blow the dike at the small town of Zhaokou between June 4 and 6, 1938, but the structure proved too durable; another nearby attempt failed as well. Hour by hour, the Japanese moved closer. Division commander Jiang Zaizhen asked Xiong Xianyu for his opinion on where they might breach the dams. Xiong wrote “I discussed the topography, and said that two places, Madukou and Huayuankou, were both possible.” But Madukou was too close to Zhaokou, where the breach had already failed, presenting a danger that the Japanese might reach it very soon. The village of Huayuankou, however, lay farther away and on a bend in the river: “To give ourselves enough time, Huayuankou would be best.” At first, the soldiers treated the task as a military engineering assignment, an “exciting” one in Xiong's words. Xiong and Wei Rulin conducted their first site inspection after dark, late on June 6. The surroundings offered a deceptive calm: Xiong recounted “The wind blew softly, and the river water trickled pleasantly.” Yet gauging the water level proved difficult, hampered by murky moonlight and burned-out flashlights. They spent the night in their car to determine precisely where to break the dike as soon as day broke. But daylight seemed to bring home the consequences of what they planned to do, and the soldiers grew increasingly anxious. Wang Songmei, commander of the 2nd Regiment, addressed the workers about to breach the dike: “My brothers, this plan will be of benefit to our country and our nation, and will lessen the harm that is being done to the people.In the future, you'll find good wives and have plenty of children.” Wang's words were meant to reassure the men of the political necessity of their actions and that fate would not, in the traditional Chinese sense, deny them a family because of the enormity of their deeds. General Wei confirmed that Huayuankou was the right spot, and on June 8 the work began, with about 2,000 men taking part. The Nationalist government was eager to ensure rapid progress. Xiong recorded that the “highest authorities”,, kept making telephone calls from Wuhan to check on progress. In addition, the party sent performers to sing and play music to bolster the workers' spirits. Senior General Shang Zhen announced to the laborers that if they breached the dam by midnight on June 8, each would receive 2,000 yuan; if they achieved it by six the next morning, they would still be paid 1,000 yuan. They needed encouragement, for the diggers had no artificial assistance. After the initial failures at Zhaokou, Wei's troops relied entirely on manual labor, with no explosives used. Yet the workers earned their payments, and the dike was breached in just a few hours. On the morning of June 9, Xiong recorded a rapid shift in mood: the atmosphere became tense and solemn. Initially, the river flow was modest, but by about 1:00 p.m. the water surged “fiercely,” flowing “like 10,000 horses.” Looking toward the distance, Xiong felt as though a sea had appeared before him. “My heart ached,” he wrote. The force of the water widened the breach, and a deadly stream hundreds of feet wide comprising about three-quarters of the river's volume—rushed southeast across the central Chinese plains. “We did this to stop the enemy,” Xiong reflected, “so we didn't regret the huge sacrifice, as it was for a greater victory.” Yet he and the other soldiers also saw a grim reality: the troops who had taken on the task of destroying the railway bridge and the dikes could not bear the flood's consequences alone. It would be up to the government and the people of the nation to provide relief for the countless households uprooted by the flood. In fact, the previous evening Commander Jiang had telephoned to request assistance for those flooded out of their homes.   Wei, Xiong, and their troops managed to escape by wooden boats. Hundreds of thousands of farmers trapped in the floods were far less fortunate. Time magazine's correspondent Theodore White reported on the devastation a few days later “Last week “The Ungovernable” [i.e. the Yellow River] lashed out with a flood which promised to change not only its own course but also the course of the whole Sino-Japanese War. Severe breaks in the dikes near Kaifeng sent a five-foot wall of water fanning out over a 500-squaremile area, spreading death. Toll from Yellow River floods is not so much from quick drowning as from gradual disease and starvation. The river's filth settles ankle-deep on the fields, mothering germs, smothering crops. Last week, about 500,000 peasants were driven from 2,000 communities to await rescue or death on whatever dry ground they could find”. Chiang's government had committed one of the grossest acts of violence against its own people, and he knew that the publicity could be a damaging blow to its reputation. He decided to divert blame by announcing that the dike had been broken, but blaming the breach on Japanese aerial bombing. The Japanese, in turn, fiercely denied having bombed the dikes. White's reporting reflected the immediate response of most foreigners; having heard about the atrocities at Nanjing and Xuzhou, he was disinclined to give the Japanese the benefit of the doubt. Furthermore, at the very time that the Yellow River was flooding central China, the Japanese were heavily bombing Guangzhou, causing thousands of casualties. To White, the Japanese counterargument—that the Chinese themselves were responsible, seemed unthinkable: “These accusations, foreign observers thought, were absurd. For the Chinese to check the Japanese advance at possible sacrifice of half a million lives would be a monstrous pyrrhic victory. Besides, dike-cutting is the blackest of Chinese crimes, and the Chinese Army would hardly risk universal censure for slight tactical gains.” But, of course, that is exactly what they had done. During the war the Nationalists never admitted that they, not the Japanese, had breached the dikes. But the truth quickly became widely known. Just a month later, on July 19, US Ambassador Johnson noted, in private communication, that the “Chinese blocked the advance on Chengchow [Zhengzhou] by breaching the Yellow River dikes.” Eventually some 54,000 square kilometers of central China were inundated by the floods. If the Japanese had committed such an act, it would have been remembered as the prime atrocity of the war, dwarfing even the Nanjing Massacre or the Chongqing air raids in terms of the number of people who suffered. Accurate statistics were impossible to obtain in the midst of wartime chaos and disaster, but in 1948 figures issued by the Nationalists themselves suggested enormous casualties: for the three affected provinces of Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu, the number of dead was put at 844,489, with some 4.8 million becoming refugees. More recent studies place the numbers lower, but still estimate the dead at around 500,000, and 3–5 million refugees. In contrast, the devastating May 1939 air raids on Chongqing killed some thousands. Xiong reflected in his diary that the breaching of the Yellow River dikes was a sacrifice for a greater victory. Even to some Japanese it seemed that the tactic had been successful in the short term: the first secretary at the US Embassy in Wuhan reported that the flood had “completely checked the Japanese advance on Chengchow” and had prevented them taking Wuhan by rail. Instead, he predicted, the attack was likely to come by water and along the north shore of the Yangtze. Supporters of the dike breaches could argue that these acts saved central China and Chiang's headquarters in Wuhan for another five months. The Japanese were indeed prevented from advancing along the Long–Hai railway toward Wuhan. In the short term the floods did what the Nationalists wanted. But the flooding was a tactic, a breathing space, and did not solve the fundamental problem: China's armies needed strong leadership and rapid reform. Some historians suggest that Chiang's decision was pointless anyway, since it merely delayed the inevitable. Theodore White was right: no strategic advantage could make the deaths of 500,000 of China's own people a worthwhile price to pay. However, Chiang Kai-shek's decision can be partly explained, though not excused, by the context. We can now look back at the actions of the Nationalists and argue that they should not have held on to Wuhan, or that their actions in breaching the dam were unjustifiable in the extreme. But for Chiang, in the hot summer of 1938, it seemed his only hope was to deny Japan as much of China for as long as possible and create the best possible circumstances for a long war from China's interior, while keeping the world's attention on what Japan was doing. The short delay won by the flooding was itself part of the strategy. In the struggle raging within the soul of the Nationalist Party, the callous, calculating streak had won, for the time being. The breaking of the dikes marked a turning point as the Nationalists committed an act whose terrible consequences they would eventually have to expiate. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In late 1937, China's frontline trembled as Japanese forces closed in on Wuhan. Chiang Kai-shek faced a brutal choice: endure costly defenses or unleash a desperate gamble. Chiangs' radical plan emerged: breach the Yellow River dikes at Huayuankou to flood central China, buying time. The flood roared, washing villages and futures away, yet slowing the enemy. The battlefield paused, while a nation weighed courage against civilian suffering, victory against devastating costs.

樊老师毕业了！从2023年到2025年，樊老师在欧洲修了一个学位——当然，所有的学习都会变成游学，她也趁机开始了自己的全球游历，甚至带着妈妈一起旅行了半年。两年的漫漫旅途，樊老师到底学了点啥？又有什么新的经历和发现？我们一起来听她唠唠。|故事节点|04:05 你到底学了点啥？06:27 12个同学之间的“冒犯” 12:09 重新做学生的“反思”20:50 津巴布韦的视障者房东32:06 “保护”自己和“过度”保护36:15 在埃及没被坑39:36 埃塞智斗黑老大49:08 挫败时刻52:31 牛气时刻55:50 释然时刻65:49 母女同游了半年71:53 邪典美食博主上线|壮游者|樊北溟:前深圳某高中语文教师，写作者、读行侠，文章散见同名公众号及《读者》杂志。|主播|Yang:一直边游边学的一名男子。海报：张张广告音乐：Connected by:OceanClouds剪辑：Yang出品：好一个壮游者咨询工作室“壮游者”埃及深度文化之旅旅行团开团了，2025年12月25 日到 2026 年 1 月 1 日，邀请您一起去埃及进行一次深度的文化之旅，再于跨年夜举办一场晚宴，来迎接 2026 年的到来。本次行程特邀埃及历史学者爱德全程导游，主播Yang也会全程陪伴，我们精心设计了古埃及文明主题线路，并配备主题手册；大概有3个博物馆，7个神庙，8个热/门探索地，其中包括金字塔、清真寺、教堂等，还从中挑选了几个非常规、价格贵但文物价值极高目的地，带您梳理古埃及的人文历史脉络，也让一趟旅程不留遗憾。欢迎您加入我们的旅行团，详情您可以查看“壮游者”同名公众号文章，也可以微信咨询（ 微信：zhuangyouzhe2018），期待和你一起探索世界。

Hello nerds.When I first started interviewing Scott Santens years ago during the Nerds for Yang era, he was one of the most relentless and articulate advocates for universal basic income (UBI) in America. Back then, it felt like the country was on the verge of something big. Andrew Yang was on the debate stage making “Freedom Dividend” a household phrase. Silicon Valley technologists were whispering about automation in the same breath as moral responsibility. Even Republican voters were entertaining the idea that direct cash transfers might be less bureaucratic and more empowering than sprawling social programs.Fast forward to 2025, and the conversation feels quieter. The pandemic-era stimulus checks are long gone. Washington has reverted to tribal warfare. Meanwhile, AI is advancing faster than anyone—maybe even Scott and Andrew —predicted. The irony is thick: the very forces that made UBI seem like a radical idea a decade ago are now transforming entire industries before our eyes. And yet, the movement feels stuck in neutral.So when Scott rejoined me on Nerds for Humanity this month from his new base in Washington, D.C., I wanted to know: What happened? Why did UBI lose its moment? And is there a realistic path back to the mainstream before millions of Americans get left behind?The Move to D.C. and the Lost MomentScott began by explaining why he left New Orleans for D.C. a few years ago. “It just seemed that UBI was really a bigger part of the conversation,” he said. “I thought if the Democrats came in again in 2024, I could actually get some traction.”He laughs a little when he says that now. “That didn't end up happening,” he admitted, reflecting on how the Biden reelection froze the kind of idea competition that defined 2020. “The big problem was that Biden decided to run again, and there was no primary process. Then suddenly Kamala comes in and still no primary process. So there was no ideas competition. We really missed out on that.”That lack of competition, Scott argues, has a ripple effect. Political movements thrive on moments of contrast, when new ideas bump up against old dogmas and voters are forced to re-evaluate assumptions. The 2020 race—with Yang, Sanders, Warren, and others pitching structural reforms—was one of those rare idea-rich moments. 2024, by comparison, was a desert.As Scott put it bluntly: “We were close enough to taste it during the pandemic. It really felt like we were actually on the cusp of doing a monthly cash payment that could change things. But none of that happened.”He's not wrong. The COVID checks were, in effect, a large-scale experiment in direct income support. Poverty temporarily plummeted. Families caught their breath. Consumer demand stayed strong. And then we let it all expire.AI Ate the Jobs While America SleptWhat's striking about this quiet period, as I noted to Scott, is that the threat he and Yang warned about—the automation of work—is no longer hypothetical. Knowledge worker jobs are being eaten by AI faster than policy debates can catch up.“I'm a parent of two teenagers,” I told him. “Other parents are starting to wonder if a computer science degree is still the golden ticket. Should we be preparing our kids to be plumbers instead?”Scott nodded grimly. “It's disheartening,” he said. “Now that these impacts are here… this is the stuff that we've been warning about. It's not a sudden thing, but it does seem to already be impacting the entry-level job market.”He pointed to a convergence of pressures: corporate hiring freezes driven by uncertainty around tariffs, companies experimenting with AI productivity tools, and executives under shareholder pressure to “do more with less.” The result: stagnating headcount even in high-growth sectors.“We don't really need people that we likely would have if AI had not been introduced,” he said. I observed from Silicon Valley, “What we're seeing right now is that companies can grow revenue while keeping headcount flat.”It's not a collapse. It's a quiet deceleration—a slow bleed. And that's arguably more dangerous because it doesn't provoke a policy response. There's no headline-grabbing “AI layoffs.” Just the invisible absence of opportunities for millions of new grads.Even top business schools are struggling to place students. “It's like the hardest market in years,” Scott said, and I agreed. “If we hit a recession,” he warned, “that's when all these businesses really lean into productivity. The recession ends, and they realize they don't need those people back.”That scenario—automation accelerated by economic downturn—is the nightmare UBI advocates have been predicting for over a decade. Each downturn becomes a ratchet that permanently eliminates another layer of middle-class work.The Automation MirageWhen politicians talk about “bringing manufacturing jobs back,” Scott and I get visibly frustrated. “I don't think people realize—you don't need that many people in those factories anymore,” I said.He reminded me of a chart he once published showing that U.S. manufacturing output is higher than ever, even though manufacturing employment has fallen dramatically. “We're manufacturing more than ever, we just have fewer jobs,” he said. “If we did reshoring, sure, we could manufacture even more, but jobs would continue going down.”I brought up a U.S. tech investor who recently toured Chinese EV plants. “He said the number of BYD employees per car is something like a fifth of what it is for Ford or GM,” I told Scott. “If we build plants here, we're not going to hire 20 people per car—we'll hire four or five.”Scott didn't hesitate: “Exactly. The only way to bring it back is to minimize labor. American labor is expensive. You can't both re-shore and keep the same job intensity.”Then he pivoted to a deeper critique of political dishonesty. “Trump sold a lot of people false hope,” he said. “He told them, ‘Once I negotiate these trade deals, everything's gonna be back to post–World War II full employment.' But that's a lie. We've heard that lie over and over again, even from people in the AI world. They say this will create more jobs than it displaces. Come on. We all know the realities.”This is the paradox of modern capitalism: productivity growth has decoupled from employment growth. We make more stuff with fewer people. And our political imagination hasn't caught up to that new reality.From Careers to Gigs: The New NormalScott traced this shift back decades. “We know what happened when we displaced people from manufacturing jobs—they went lower down the ladder into lower-paying work,” he said. “You went from careers to gig labor.”He rattled off examples that have become painfully familiar: “People now earn extra money by signing up for Uber, delivering food, DoorDashing. There's just a transformation of what employment even means.”In Scott's view, the only logical response to this is UBI. “You need to make sure everyone actually gets basic income,” he said. “That helps feed demand for new jobs. If people's incomes fall as a result of AI, demand falls. And when demand falls, the entire economy reorients.”He pointed to a staggering statistic: “Right now, the top 10% are buying half of everything produced and sold in the U.S. It's a very unequal consumption economy. The markets start ignoring the basic needs of people and reorient around luxury experiences.”That imbalance, he argued, isn't just economic—it's political. “It leads to people getting violent. It's key to the erosion of democracy.”The Coming Middle-Class AwakeningIf there's any silver lining, I said, it's that the pain is spreading up the income ladder.“I think it's going to affect a lot of middle-class and upper-middle-class people in a way it hasn't before,” I said. “When Andrew talked about truck drivers losing jobs, people thought, ‘My kid's going to college, they'll be fine.' Now they're realizing maybe not.”Scott agreed. “We just didn't realize how fast it would hit arts, music, images, and photos. I didn't think about that. It took me by surprise.”I added, “When he said doctors and lawyers, it felt far away. Now you're like—oh s**t—that's happening right now.”He laughed and I added more examples. “People are winning court cases using ChatGPT as their attorney. And with tools like Sora and Grok Imagine, you can generate realistic videos and images instantly. There's no ground truth anymore.”That last point hits hard. “You just give people a reason to doubt it,” Scott said. “You can have fake security cam footage of Sam Altman stealing something, and people will believe it. Or you can have real footage of Trump doing something, and people won't.”When truth itself becomes negotiable, democracy can't function. Evidence is the oxygen of public accountability. Once it's gone, all we have left are teams—and team loyalty.The Tariff FantasyThat team loyalty came up again when I told Scott about a debate I'd had with a MAGA relative in Florida. My brother argued that Trump's tariffs would pay for his tax cuts. Scott immediately laughed. “Even assuming that were true—which it's not—you're still taxing the working and middle class to pay for tax cuts for the rich,” he said.He broke it down simply: “It doesn't make any sense to say, ‘Tariff revenue will cover it.' Who covers the tariff revenue? It's the consumers. And yet people believe it.”Scott sees this as part of the broader epistemic collapse—people believing “whatever their team is saying,” no matter how illogical. “It's impressive in some ways,” I said. “You can propose policies that hurt your base and they'll cheer you for it.” He nodded. “Yeah. It's really frustrating.”UBI Research: Misunderstood and MisreportedI asked Scott about recent UBI research that some media outlets described as “disappointing.” His response was both sharp and nuanced.“Those weren't negative results,” he said. “They were null results.” He walked me through three often-cited studies: Baby's First Years, the Denver Homeless Pilot, and Sam Altman's Worldcoin/Overture experiment.“The key is to understand what's being tested,” he explained. “These weren't saturation pilots. They gave money to small groups of individuals. But real universal basic income changes communities. It creates new demand, new jobs, new dynamics.”He contrasted these with the Alaska Permanent Fund, which distributes oil dividends to every state resident annually. “In Alaska, we saw an overall increase in employment due to the dividend,” he said. “Some people worked less, but the spending created new jobs.”That's the essence of his argument: if you only study individuals, you miss the macro effects.He was especially skeptical of the way media covered the Baby's First Years study, which found no measurable difference in children's brain development after four years of $333 monthly payments. “That's a null result, not a failure,” Scott said. “It doesn't mean UBI doesn't work. It just means we didn't see differences yet. Impacts often show up later in life.”He also noted that measuring brain development via EEG scans is an odd and narrow metric. “Maybe families were happier. Maybe they bought what they needed. That still matters.”The Secret Study and New FrontiersScott hinted that a major new study is underway. “There's a study I can't talk about,” he said, smiling, “but it's looking at something no other experiment has looked at. I'm excited for those results.”He also mentioned Jeff Atwood (co-founder of Stack Overflow) is funding a $50 million set of county-level pilots, focusing on rural areas. “That's exciting,” Scott said. “It's a different political slice, and it's potentially saturation-like.”Globally, he's watching Thailand closely. “They announced they were going to do a negative income tax starting in 2027,” he said. “If that happens, they'd be the first country in the world to have a basic income guarantee. It could reduce poverty by over 90%.”Then he sighed. “But the day after they announced it, their prime minister got fired. So who knows.”ITSA Foundation: Building UBI From the Ground UpScott's not just theorizing anymore. His ITSA Foundation is taking action with two ambitious projects launching next year.First, the Bootstraps documentary series, which follows families receiving a basic income to humanize the policy through storytelling. “Storytelling is key,” he said. “People need to feel it, not just read data.”Second, the Comingle app, which will create what he calls “a small basic income floor of around $50 per week without waiting for government.”“You can create it yourself, through community pooling,” he said. “If Bill Gates joined Comingle and put 7% of his income in, everyone's income would go up. Don't worry about him getting $50 a week—everyone benefits.”It's the kind of practical experimentation the movement needs: bottom-up systems proving that shared prosperity can be engineered today, not someday.Reflections: The Hard Politics of Intelligent ReformAfter the interview ended, I stayed live on the stream to share a few personal reflections—some of them, frankly, tinged with frustration.I told my audience that I'm a believer in two three-letter acronyms: UBI and RCV (ranked choice voting). I have conviction that both are essential for a healthier democracy and a fairer economy. Yet it's maddening how little traction they get compared to what dominates our discourse.This morning, I argued politics with another MAGA acquaintance on WhatsApp. He was fired up about “the trans agenda” and “illegals.” When I asked what he thought about RCV or UBI, he admitted he didn't know what they were.And that, I said, is the tragedy. Many voters are animated by cultural wedge issues that barely affect their lives, while transformative structural reforms barely register. People will march for hours over trans athletes, but not over gerrymandering, open primaries, or the collapse of middle-class livelihoods.Maybe that's why Scott is investing in storytelling. “You have to boil this down into a bumper sticker,” I said. “Or a story.” Policy briefs won't cut through a media ecosystem optimized for outrage.It's sobering to realize how little energy we allocate to existential issues—like the sustainability of democracy or the viability of a middle-class life in an AI-driven economy—compared to the performative culture wars that dominate cable news.A Political System Addicted to DistractionI sometimes wonder if America is capable of solving long-term problems anymore. We have the tools and the talent, but not the attention span.We obsess over symbolic fights while the foundations rot. Closed primaries keep extremists in power. Gerrymandered districts ensure incumbents never lose. The electoral incentives all point toward division, not solutions.UBI and RCV are, in many ways, tests of whether we can think systemically again—about incentives, about fairness, about the structural forces shaping our future. And right now, the answer seems to be: not yet.As I told my audience, “It's sad that people will march for red-meat issues where government isn't even the decisive actor, while ignoring how broken the system itself has become.”The AI asteroid is heading straight for us. Millions of jobs—white-collar jobs—are on the chopping block. And neither party is talking seriously about it. Not Trump, not Schumer, not Newsom. Maybe Andrew Yang. Maybe Buttigieg. Maybe Bernie. But as a national conversation? Crickets.What's Next: Awakening or DenialMy optimism, if you can call it that, lies in inevitability. The pain will broaden until reform becomes unavoidable. Middle-class professionals will begin to experience the same precarity that working-class Americans have faced for decades.The good news is that when comfortable people get uncomfortable, politics shifts. The bad news is that it often takes crisis to get there.UBI isn't charity. It's infrastructure for an economy that no longer guarantees stability through employment. It's the plumbing of a post-industrial democracy.Scott put it best when he said: “You have to make sure everyone actually gets basic income so you have that cash. That can feed demand for new jobs. Without it, demand falls, inequality grows, and democracy erodes.”A Call to the NerdsAs we wrapped, I asked Scott how people could stay involved. “Sign up at ItsaFoundation.org,” he said. “Subscribe to the newsletter. Next year we'll have the Bootstraps docu-series, the Comingle app, and events across the country to organize communities.”I told him I'd be cheering him on. Because, frankly, the next five years are going to test whether America is still capable of rational self-government—or if we've outsourced that too.If you've made it this far into this post, you're probably one of the few people left who actually cares about data, ideas, and structural reform. You're a nerd. And that's a good thing.But as I told my audience at the end of the livestream: being a nerd isn't enough. We need to organize, support, and amplify. If we don't, the algorithms will drown out the quiet voices of reason.So if you value this kind of long-form conversation—the kind you won't find on cable news—please consider becoming a Nerds for Humanity YouTube channel member. Memberships help cover the operating costs of the livestream and keep these discussions going. Members also get shout-outs on every show as a thank-you for keeping independent, data-driven political analysis alive.And if you can't join as a member, the next best thing you can do is like, share, and comment. That helps the algorithm surface this content to others who might just be waking up to the same questions we've been asking for years.Bye nerds. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nerdsforhumanity.substack.com

A brief history of Mid-Autumn Festival, and the tale of Hou Yi the Archer & the Ten Suns, and Chang'e & the Moon In other words, please be trueIn other words, I love you. Sources:Barlett, Scarlett. The Mythology Bible: The Definitive Guide to Legendary Tales.Masaka, Mori. “Restoring the ‘Epic of Hou Yi'” in Asian Folklore Studies, vol. 52, no. 5.Yang, Lihui, Demin An, and Jessica Anderson Turner. Handbook of Chinese Mythology. (initially broadcast in 2022) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Judy Morgan hosts Steve Wohlberg, author of "Will My Pet Go to Heaven?" Steve shares his personal journey of faith and the loss of his dog, Jax, which inspired his book. He discusses biblical verses that suggest animals may be reunited with their owners in the afterlife, such as Psalm 104 and Romans 8. Steve also recounts the impact of his book on others, including a man who found renewed faith after losing his dog. Dr. Judy emphasizes the importance of hope and the unconditional love pets bring, sharing her own experiences with grief and the presence of animals in her life. They also discuss the therapeutic benefits of animals and the lessons they teach us. Listen in! SPECIAL OFFER: Some of Steve's White Horse Media supporters have donated to a "Book Giveaway Fund" and they would like to offer a FREE copy of "Will My Pet Go to Heaven?" for the first 10 callers who call White Horse Media and request a copy. You must say you watched or listened to Steve on this podcast. Call 1-800-78-BIBLE. Callers not in the first 10 group can still order the book. It makes a great gift! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitehorsemedia7 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevewohlberg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whitehorsemedia Website URL: whitehorsemedia.com PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT #1 Hi Dr, Judy Morgan, here, let me ask you something, how much have you already spent trying to help your pets? $1000s in vet bills with minimal results, $100s on supplements that didn't work, and countless hours researching and second guessing yourself. What if you could turn all that frustration into real knowledge that actually works? The Holistic Pet Health Coach certification with Dr Ruth Roberts isn't another generic pet nutrition course. This is 16 weeks of veterinary level education. The same training that qualifies for 40 continuing education hours for veterinarians. You'll master how the body actually works, why chronic diseases develop, and how to address root causes using integrative medicine and targeted nutrition protocols. This is about understanding your pet's health at a level most vets never reach. It's about having answers when conventional medicine says there's nothing more we can do. Don't spend another year wondering What If. Go to holisticpethealthcoach.com mention HPHC10 and save 10% on this program that could transform how you care for your pets forever. PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT #2 Listen up podcast listeners! Here is your chance to order Dr Judy's recent best selling book, Yin and Yang 2.0 Nutrition for Dogs. Dr Judy Morgan, world renowned holistic veterinarian and veterinary food therapist, shares her passion for healing with whole foods, minimizing the use of medications and chemicals. Making food for your dog doesn't have to be complicated. It can cost less than buying prescription diets and medications. This award winning book includes over 60 new recipes that maximize health with whole foods, not drugs. You can even get a signed copy from Dr Judy herself. Order yours at NaturallyHealthyPets.com and use the code PODCAST65 for 15% off. Your dog is begging for it.

Dave talks to Brooks Headley of Superiority Burger about a range of topics, from constant iteration and refining dishes to the punk-rock urge to zig when everyone else zags. Superiority Burger has moved since they last spoke, so the pair talks about adjusting to the new space, New York, and thoughts on expansion. Dave closes by answering an Ask Dave about prepping frozen fish. Learn more about Superiority Burger: https://www.superiorityburger.com/  Listen to our previous episode with Brooks Headley: https://open.spotify.com/episode/70nvKRNDXARAqCw5mOOslX?si=l9FoKuhwQEq4mOUroRsz5w  Listen to our previous episode with Nancy Silverton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3MLVEZq7CTbTTEKftrI7xk?si=Cc7FckT9TfWMXnbBYfU4yA  Listen to our previous episode with Mark Ladner: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5qjEx81gP1UuGxHwoxjqfq?si=WxuUwMT7SZaakxsNRBoAhQ  Read Dave's writing on Brooks for TIME 100: https://time.com/6964708/brooks-headley/  Hear the Ramones' 'All Quiet on the Eastern Front': https://open.spotify.com/track/3uxp0UwVWJVJqlXnH1d7zi?si=d6f4e464f8094a06  Learn more about Yang's Kitchen: https://www.yangskitchenla.com/  Learn more about Bread and Salt Bakery: https://www.instagram.com/breadandsaltbakery/?hl=en  Learn more about Chi Spacca: https://www.chispacca.com/  Learn more about Smoke House: https://www.smokehouse1946.com/  Learn more about El Bulli: https://elbullifoundation.com/en/  Learn more about Gramercy Tavern: https://www.gramercytavern.com/  Learn more about the Torrance Farmer's Market: https://www.torranceca.gov/our-city/cultural-services/farmers-market  Learn more about South Pasadena Farmer's Market: https://southpasadenafarmersmarket.org/  Learn more about Weiser Family Farms: https://www.weiserfamilyfarms.com/  Learn more about Santa Monica Market: https://www.santamonica.com/experience-santa-monica/farmers-markets/  Learn more about Rustic Canyon: https://rusticcanyonrestaurant.com/  Watch our previous podcast with Jeremy Fox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhkVPVTJwnA  Learn more about the Greenmarket: https://www.grownyc.org/greenmarket  Learn more about GPod Potatoes: https://gpodpotatoes.com/ Learn more about Edulis: https://www.edulisrestaurant.com/  Learn more about Arzak: https://www.arzak.es/en/  Send in your Ask Dave questions to bit.ly/AskDaveForm or askdave@majordomomedia.com Subscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedavechangshow Subscribe to Recipe Club on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@recipeclubofficial Submit your favorite food moments in your favorite movies to majorfoodporn.com Join our community Discord on majordomo.com Host: Dave Chang Guest: Mark Ladner Majordomo Media Producer: David Meyer Spotify Producer: Felipe Guilhermino Engineer: Belle Roman Editor: Stefano Sanchez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We had a lot of great listener questions and we have a question for you: what should we call listeners of the We Have A Take Podcast? Get you ideas in by telling us on Bluesky: @wehaveatake @tcbbiggs and @roselharding Cutest intro/outro music ever by @shoozumoops‪Team Mom‬ ‪@tcbbiggs.bsky.social‬: Which Blazer cutie will you miss the most? - Anonymous‪The Tortured Florist Department

Joyee Yang, financial educator and content creator with over 300,000 followers, joins Bilal Little at the NYSE to share her path from discovering dividend stocks at 19 to championing ETFs for diversification and risk management. She explains how YouTube and peer creators shaped her financial literacy and why she emphasizes transparency, dollar cost averaging, and long-term investing. Today, Yang is focused on simplifying finance and empowering Gen Z to build sustainable wealth with confidence.

本期节目的目的地是吴哥窟，分享人是吴哥爱好者和研究者佩如。她将带领我们走进举世闻名的吴哥古迹。节目将重点聊聊两座代表性建筑——小吴哥寺由苏利耶跋摩二世修建，建筑布局承载宇宙观：护城河象征宇宙之海，须弥山式的五塔象征神居之所。回廊壁画强调王权合法性和印度教神话叙事，如著名的“搅动乳海”，并出现了大量仙女形象，展现了高棉艺术从神性走向人性化的突破；巴戎寺则完全不同，它的壁画不仅有王室祭祀，还细致描绘了百姓捕鱼、行军、医疗的生活场景，被称为“高棉的微笑”。四面神像的真实身份至今仍是谜……节目也关注了吴哥赖以繁荣的水利系统。巨大的水池与灌溉网络支撑了稻作农业和庞大人口的生活，使文明在热带雨林中延续数百年。最后，佩如还提供了一条理解吴哥的旅行路径，从早期砖塔到小吴哥寺的巅峰，再到巴戎寺的多元融合，以及女王宫等雕刻艺术的高峰。每一步都对应着高棉文明的演进脉络。希望这一期节目能帮助你在亲临吴哥时，能看到更多建筑背后的文明逻辑与人文细节（部分细节图片将在公众号“壮游者”相关推送里展示）。祝您十一假期快乐！嘉宾提及书籍：周达观：《真腊风土记》石泽良沼：《东南亚：多民族世界的发现》乔治. 赛代斯：《东南亚的印度化国家》Vittorio Roveda：《Images of the Gods》嘉宾推荐参观顺序：博物馆-神牛寺-罗莱寺-巴空寺-豆蔻寺-东梅奔寺-西梅奔水池-茶胶寺-比粒寺-女王宫-小吴哥寺-巴戎寺、圣剑寺、斑黛喀蒂寺-塔布隆寺。另有：贡开遗址（离暹粒 100-120 公里）、柏威夏寺（柬泰边境）|壮游者|佩如:吴哥爱好者和研究者。|主播|Yang:去过两次吴哥窟依然觉得很神奇的男子。壮游者是一档独立播客，很需要你的支持。1、商务合作请邮件至zhuangyouzhe@126.com,或者添加微信“zhuangyouzhe2018”2、请通过ZFB账号zhuangyouzhe@126.com对“壮游者”进行赞助；也可通过微信公众号“壮游者”文章(本期相关细节图片也在文章里呈现)下方的“喜欢作者”以及节目下方的“赞赏”对单期节目进行赞助。3、请订阅、转发、评论和点赞节目，并在你使用的收听平台为“壮游者”专辑打五星好评。加听友群可微信添加"zhuangyouzhe2018"，与主播和听友直接交流。谢谢你，让我们有机会一起前行。

Gedanken aus meinem Urlaub und warum Yin immer mit Veränderung zu tun hatIn dieser Folge des Yin-Magazins nehme ich dich mit in meine persönlichen Reflexionen der letzten Wochen. Ich erzähle dir, warum ich mich entschieden habe, ein bereits gestartetes Projekt wieder zu stoppen, was das mit innerer Ehrlichkeit und Balance zu tun hat und weshalb Freiheit im Unternehmertum für mich so wesentlich ist.Du erfährst außerdem, warum scheinbar kleine Entscheidungen im Alltag viel über unsere inneren Muster verraten und wie stark sie mit Yin oder Yang verbunden sind. Es geht um Zufriedenheit, Gewohnheiten, die Komfortzone und um den Mut, neue Wege zu gehen.Wenn du Lust hast, tiefer einzutauchen, hör rein und lass dich inspirieren, deine eigenen Muster zu hinterfragen und deine weibliche Kraft bewusst zu leben.Was dich in dieser Folge erwartet:- Warum Newsletter authentischer als Social Media sind; meine Erkenntnis aus dem Urlaub- Der Mut, erfolgreiche Projekte zu beenden, wenn sie innerlich nicht stimmig sind- Herbst-Tag-und-Nachtgleiche: Zeit für Balance zwischen Seele und gelebtem Leben- Luxus vs. Einfachheit:  wie wir andere bewerten, ohne es zu merken- Warum wir immer dieselben Urlaubsorte wählen (Spoiler: es ist Yin-Mangel!)- Wie gesellschaftliche Systeme uns als Frauen klein und manipulierbar halten wollenIch erkläre dir, wie das Festhalten an Bekanntem (zB derselbe Urlaubsort, dieselben Routinen) oft ein Zeichen von Yin-Defizit ist. Und warum es so wichtig ist, dass wir als Frauen aus diesen bequemen, aber begrenzenden Mustern ausbrechen.

Send us a textApakah Anda penasaran mengapa ada produk yang langsung habis terjual di hari pertama peluncuran, sementara produk lain justru sepi peminat? Kami mengungkap rahasia peluncuran produk yang sukses melalui strategi pre-pre-launch, pre-launch, dan launching yang efektif. Statistik menunjukkan 85% brand yang menggunakan daftar tunggu mengalami peningkatan penjualan hingga 2 kali lipat saat launching.Yang akan Anda Pelajari kali ini : ✅ Anda akan memahami bagaimana menghindari kesalahan umum bisnis yang hanya mengumpulkan data audiens tanpa edukasi dan nurturing.✅ Lewat live session, webinar, atau video Q&A, Anda bisa menjawab keraguan audiens dan bahkan melakukan pre-selling dengan penawaran terbatas—membuat produk Anda semakin diminati bahkan sebelum resmi diluncurkan.✅ Pentingnya membangun momentum dan hype sebelum launching untuk menghindari peluncuran yang hambar✅ Strategi pre-launch dengan waiting list, teaser, dan countdown untuk membangun FOMO ✅ Tips pre-selling dengan penawaran terbatas seperti pre-order dan early bird

Hari ini sekitar 25 ribu petani bakal turun ke jalan, memeringati Hari Tani Nasional. Aksi yang melibatkan elemen buruh, mahasiswa, dan masyarakat sipil ini digelar serentak di berbagai wilayah, seperti Jakarta, Aceh, Medan, Palembang, Jambi, Lampung, Semarang, Makassar, Manado, hingga Kupang. Mereka menuntut penuntasan 24 permasalahan struktural agraria dan 9 langkah perbaikan.Petani juga menuntut pembentukan Badan Pelaksana Reforma Agraria Nasional yang lebih otoritatif. Pasalnya, Gugus Tugas Reforma Agraria (GTRA) yang digadang-gadang sejak era Jokowi dinilai gagal karena terbukti memperparah ketimpangan penguasaan tanah seiring meningkatnya petani yang kehilangan lahan.Janji reforma agraria kembali muncul di era Presiden Prabowo, bahkan menjadi agenda prioritas Asta Cita. Namun, hingga kini belum ada kebijakan dan program yang mendukung implementasinya. Yang terjadi adalah berbagai letupan konflik agraria, perampasan lahan, ketimpangan penguasaan tanah, kriminalisasi petani, serta tumpang tindih kebijakan.Data Konsorsium Pembaruan Agraria (KPA) mencatat sepanjang 2015–2024, terjadi 3.234 konflik agraria dengan luas mencapai 7,4 juta hektar. Konflik ini berdampak pada 1,8 juta keluarga yang kehilangan tanah dan mata pencaharian.Bagaimana situasi reforma agraria di era Prabowo? Bagaimana mendesak komitmen serius Prabowo dalam membenahi tata kelola agraria yang adil dan berkelanjutan?Di Ruang Publik KBR kita akan bahas topik ini bersama Wakil Ketua Umum Serikat Petani Indonesia (SPI) Agus Ruli Ardiansyah, Anggota Komisi IV DPR dari Fraksi PKS Slamet, dan Anggota Ombudsman RI Yeka Hendra Fatika.

David (Colin Farrell) i Sarah (Margot Robbie) spotykają się na weselu wspólnych znajomych. Tak mogłaby się zacząć pierwsza lepsza komedia romantyczna. Ale Kogonada, twórca „Columbus” i „Yang”, kręci filmy niebanalne. Tym razem jednak nie udało mu się zabrać widzów w „Wielką, odważną, piękną podróż”.   Autorka: Anna Konieczyńska Artykuł przeczytasz pod linkiem: https://www.vogue.pl/a/wielka-odwazna-piekna-podroz-recenzja-filmu

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with BRICS member states in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, while prioritizing partnerships in areas such as electric vehicles and solar and hydrogen power, the country's top industry regulator said on Tuesday.中国工业和信息化部部长李乐成于周二表示，中国愿与金砖国家在人工智能等新兴领域加强合作，同时将电动汽车、太阳能、氢能等领域合作置于优先位置。Li Lecheng, China's minister of industry and information technology, said BRICS countries and other developing nations should fully leverage their unique advantages in markets, resources and industrial capacity, given the intensifying global competition in the field of technology and profound shifts in the industrial landscape.李乐成指出，当前全球科技领域竞争加剧，产业格局深度调整，金砖国家及其他发展中国家应充分发挥在市场、资源、产业能力等方面的独特优势。"BRICS now accounts for nearly half of the world's population and approximately 40 percent of global GDP. The grouping plays a big role as a major factory, vast market and large-scale cooperative platform driving inclusive economic globalization," Li said.他强调：“金砖国家人口占全球近一半，经济总量约占全球40%，作为重要制造基地、广阔市场和大规模合作平台，在推动包容性经济全球化中发挥着重要作用。”The senior official made the remarks at the BRICS Forum on Partnership on New Industrial Revolution 2025, which kicked off in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Tuesday.这番话是李乐成在周二于福建厦门开幕的2025年金砖国家新工业革命伙伴关系论坛上发表的。President Xi Jinping had proposed the building of a BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution innovation center in Xiamen during the 12th BRICS Summit in November 2020.2020年11月，习近平主席在第十二届金砖国家峰会期间，提议在厦门建设金砖国家新工业革命伙伴关系创新中心。Concrete progress has been made over the past five years. According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the innovation center has advanced cooperation on policy coordination, personnel training and project development. It has helped enterprises from other BRICS countries to enter the Chinese market and vice versa, securing 107 industrial projects with a total investment of 50.6 billion yuan ($7.1 billion).过去五年，该创新中心建设取得实质性进展。据工信部介绍，创新中心在政策协调、人才培养、项目开发等领域推进合作，助力金砖国家企业双向开拓市场，已落地107个产业项目，总投资达506亿元人民币（约合71亿美元）。Last year, China also established a center for promoting AI development and cooperation within BRICS. The next step will involve building an innovation platform to share mature large language models and high-quality datasets, thereby reducing technological barriers, Li said.李乐成透露，中国去年还成立了金砖国家人工智能发展与合作中心。下一步，中国将搭建创新平台，共享成熟的大型语言模型和优质数据集，助力降低各国技术壁垒。他补充道：“我们需紧跟科技发展趋势，凝聚治理共识，加强政策法规协调，推动数字基础设施互联互通。”"We must keep pace with technological trends, build governance consensus, strengthen policy and regulatory coordination, and promote the interoperability of digital infrastructure," the minister added.他补充道：“我们需紧跟科技发展趋势，凝聚治理共识，加强政策法规协调，推动数字基础设施互联互通。According to Li, China will also encourage companies involved in new energy vehicles, photovoltaics, wind power and hydrogen energy to strengthen international cooperation. The goal is to jointly develop "accessible, affordable and effective "technologies and products to help BRICS nations build renewable energy systems.此外，中国将鼓励新能源汽车、光伏、风电、氢能等领域企业加强国际合作，目标是联合研发“可获取、可负担、高效能”的技术与产品，帮助金砖国家构建可再生能源体系。Speaking at the forum, Alekxey Vladimirovich Gruzdev, Russia's deputy minister of industry and trade, said: "Today, the forum is much more than just an industrial dialogue mechanism among the BRICS countries. Instead, it is a community of leading global experts and professionals, which contributes to technological leadership of the BRICS countries and shapes global industrial development."俄罗斯工业和贸易部副部长阿列克谢・弗拉基米罗维奇・格鲁兹杰夫在论坛上表示：“如今，该论坛已远超金砖国家间的产业对话机制范畴，成为全球顶尖专家学者的交流平台，为金砖国家抢占科技制高点、塑造全球产业发展格局作出贡献。”Gruzdev said the BRICS countries now account for almost 48 percent of Russia's foreign trade."We share and support the fundamental principles of the BRICS partnership on new industrial revolution in achieving sustainable and inclusive industrialization," he said, highlighting biotechnology as an area with huge potential for cooperation among BRICS countries.他提到，当前金砖国家在俄罗斯对外贸易中的占比已接近48%，并强调“我们认同并支持金砖国家新工业革命伙伴关系的基本原则，致力于实现可持续、包容性工业化”，同时指出生物技术是金砖国家合作的潜力领域。Faisol Riza, Indonesia's vice-minister of industry, said manufacturing accounts for more than 16.9 percent of Indonesia's GDP. However, there are challenges such as disruptions in global supply chains and geopolitical uncertainties. Indonesia joined BRICS as a full member earlier this year.印度尼西亚工业部副部长费索尔・里扎表示，制造业占印尼GDP的比重超过16.9%，但该国当前面临全球供应链中断、地缘政治不确定性等挑战。今年早些时候，印尼正式成为金砖国家新成员。Therefore, accelerating the green and digital transformation has become essential, which is why the forum in Xiamen is important, Riza added.里扎补充道，加快绿色转型与数字化转型已成为当务之急，这也凸显了厦门此次论坛的重要意义。Yang Jie, chairman of China Mobile, said there are tremendous opportunities for shared digital transformation among BRICS countries. According to Yang, China Mobile has partnered with industrial enterprises in Indonesia and other BRICS nations to establish joint AI laboratories. These facilities are designed to address local market needs through the development of AI algorithms, industry-specific models and tailored solutions. In countries such as Brazil and Egypt, the company is also supporting the construction of multiple smart factories.中国移动董事长杨杰指出，金砖国家在数字转型领域拥有巨大合作机遇。他介绍，中国移动已与印尼等金砖国家的工业企业合作建立联合人工智能实验室，通过研发人工智能算法、行业专用模型及定制化解决方案，满足当地市场需求；在巴西、埃及等国，中国移动还支持建设了多个智能工厂。"We will deepen cooperation with BRICS counterparts in promoting international alignment of AI and 6G standards, and building interconnected infrastructure to strengthen the digital backbone of BRICS countries," Yang added.杨杰表示：“我们将与金砖国家伙伴深化合作，推动人工智能、6G标准的国际对接，构建互联互通的基础设施，筑牢金砖国家数字发展根基。”prioritizingv.优先处理/praɪˈɒrətaɪzɪŋ/intensifyingv.加剧；增强/ɪnˈtensɪfaɪŋ/interoperabilityn.互操作性；互联互通性/ˌɪntərˌɒpərəˈbɪləti/tailoredadj.量身定制的；特制的/ˈteɪləd/

本期节目我们将来到同属黟县、同在2000年成为世界文化遗产的西递村。这里也是一处以宗族血缘关系为纽带、胡姓子孙聚族而居的古村落，保存明清古民居100多座，其中有3座祠堂。本期我们请来的分享人是黟县世界文化遗产事务中心的金忠民老师，走过的路线为：西递牌楼-桃李园-西园-东园-惇仁堂-敬爱堂-青云轩-尚德堂（请配合公众号“壮游者”里的图片收听，效果更佳；如在实地，请地图导航按路线走即可）。除了一些建筑细节的解读，金老师着重聊了徽商文化和宗族制度。宗族制度在这里不仅是一种血缘纽带，更是一整套社会运行方式：通过家谱维系血脉，通过祠堂确立秩序，通过族规界定行为。在西递的宗祠和民居间，就能感受到这种宗族网络如何覆盖村民的日常生活，也能看到它如何提供身份认同和社会保障。然而，西递（及古徽州地区）并非一味向内的聚居地。明清时期，徽州人走南闯北，以“徽商”闻名全国，西递也是这股商业浪潮的发源地之一。商业的成功带来财富，财富又反哺宗族，最终形成了建筑、制度与精神的合流。|壮游者|金忠民:黟县世界文化遗产事务中心三级调研员；西递、宏村申遗专题片《为了庄严的承诺》撰稿人。|主播|Yang:对徽派建筑久闻大名的一位男子。壮游者是一档独立播客，很需要你的支持。1、商务合作请邮件至zhuangyouzhe@126.com,或者添加微信“zhuangyouzhe2018”2、请通过ZFB账号zhuangyouzhe@126.com对“壮游者”进行赞助；也可通过微信公众号“壮游者”文章(本期相关细节图片也在文章里呈现)下方的“喜欢作者”以及节目下方的“赞赏”对单期节目进行赞助。3、请订阅、转发、评论和点赞节目，并在你使用的收听平台为“壮游者”专辑打五星好评。加听友群可微信添加"zhuangyouzhe2018"，与主播和听友直接交流。谢谢你，让我们有机会一起前行。

友情提醒：录制当天游客众多且下大雨，后期对声音做了些处理，因此也建议您戴耳机收听。在节目里，黄洁老师讲了很多细节，建议您配合公众号“壮游者”推送中的图片来收听，效果更佳。本期节目的目的地是安徽黟县宏村，宏村现有保存完整的明清古民居 140余幢，有“民间故宫”之称，2000年即入选世界文化遗产。我们邀请到了徽黄旅游集团副总经理黄洁老师，来带领大家走进宏村，去领略徽派建筑之美。我们的路线从南湖书院开始，这里不仅是村落文化的象征，也是徽州人崇文重教的缩影。顺着书院，我们又走进宏村赖以成村的水圳系统，黄洁老师会解读了这个精巧的水利工程和这里人的生活美学。此外，也会在乐叙堂听到胡重的故事——这位明代永乐年前的女性，在男性主导的传统社会中成为了宏村总设计师，她的构想至今仍让人惊叹。青砖小瓦马头墙，回廊挂落花格窗；大天井和徽州三雕（木雕、石雕和转调），这些徽派建筑的典型特点，不仅是装饰，也有实用价值，黄洁老师会通过宏村最具代表性的建筑——承志堂，来一一解读，这座宏大的宅院集合了徽派建筑的精华，从雕梁画栋到天井布局，无不体现着徽商的财富积累与文化追求。|故事节点|03:55 宏村概况10:45 南湖书院 19:19 水圳（引排水系统）25:32 马头墙29:08 月沼31:28 乐叙堂和设计师胡重42:35 承志堂：楹联、木雕和空间利用|壮游者|黄洁:徽黄旅游集团副总经理。|主播|Yang:对徽派建筑久闻大名的一位男子。壮游者是一档独立播客，很需要你的支持。1、商务合作请邮件至zhuangyouzhe@126.com,或者添加微信“zhuangyouzhe2018”2、请通过ZFB账号zhuangyouzhe@126.com对“壮游者”进行赞助；也可通过微信公众号“壮游者”文章(本期相关细节图片也在文章里呈现)下方的“喜欢作者”以及节目下方的“赞赏”对单期节目进行赞助。3、请订阅、转发、评论和点赞节目，并在你使用的收听平台为“壮游者”专辑打五星好评。加听友群可微信添加"zhuangyouzhe2018"，与主播和听友直接交流。谢谢你，让我们有机会一起前行。

The Ying and Yang of two of President Trump's policies don't mix well.  That kicks things off this afternoon.  This is the Business News Headlines for Friday the 12th day of September, thanks for listening! In other news, the graphic videos of the murder of Charlie Kirk call content moderation into question. The Congressional Budget Office has a warning about the US economy and employment. Boeing workers reject the latest contract offer extending the strike at 3 Midwestern factories. Wall Street ended the day mixed however at some record levels…we'll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report. And, finally consumer confidence takes yet another hit and we'll share what you say you are feeling.  For the conversation you'll meet Chef Lynn Pritchard the man behind Table 128 and Hugo's of Des Moines.  What's it like being a restauranter in 2025…we asked.  Let's go! Thanks for listening! The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

Disclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books.Messy reality TV chat turns into a smart, warm conversation about disability representation in romance. Laura and Becky from Buzzing About Romance share go-to authors, tropes, and why authentic, own-voices rep matters.In this episode, we talk about how disability and mental health are portrayed on the page (beyond “love cures all”), the rise of neurodivergent heroines and heroes, chronic illness storylines, mobility device users, and thoughtful depictions of PTSD, OCD, dyslexia, Menière's disease, and more—plus a stack of recs across indie and trad romance. Perfect for readers building an inclusive, feel-good TBR.

Welcome to the Olink® Proteomics in Proximity podcast!  Below are some useful resources mentioned in this episode:  Olink tools and software·       Olink® Explore HT, Olink's most advanced solution for high-throughput biomarker discovery, measuring 5400+ proteins simultaneously with a streamlined workflow and industry-leading specificity: https://olink.com/products-services/exploreht/  UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project (UKB-PPP), one of the world's largest scientific studies of blood protein biomarkers conducted to date, https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/learn-more-about-uk-biobank/news/uk-biobank-launches-one-of-the-largest-scientific-studies  World Health Organization (2003). Adherence to long-term therapies: evidence for action (PDF). Geneva: World Health Organisation. ISBN 978-92-4-154599-0 Research articles and news·       Thermo Fisher Scientific's Olink Platform Selected for World's Largest Human Proteome Studyhttps://ir.thermofisher.com/investors/news-events/news/news-details/2025/Thermo-Fisher-Scientifics-Olink-Platform-Selected-for-Worlds-Largest-Human-Proteome-Study/default.aspx·       Hamilton Se-Hwee Oh et al 2025. Plasma proteomics links brain and immune system aging with healthspan and longevityhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03798-1. Nature Medicine (2025)·       Song, Y., Abuduaini, B., Yang, X. et al. Identification of inflammatory protein biomarkers for predicting the different subtype of adult with tuberculosis: an Olink proteomic study. Inflamm. Res. 74, 60 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-025-02020-9·       Ferhan Qureshi et al 2023. Analytical validation of a multi-protein, serum-based assay for disease activity assessments in multiple sclerosis. Proteomics clinical application 2023·       Dhindsa, R.S., Burren, O.S., Sun, B.B. et al. Rare variant associations with plasma protein levels in the UK Biobank. 2023 Nature, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06547-xhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06547-x·       Sun, B.B., Chiou, J., Traylor, M. et al.  Plasma proteomic associations with genetics and health in the UK Biobank. 2023 Nature, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06592-6 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06592-6 https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehac495/6676779·       Eldjarn GH, et al. Large-scale plasma proteomics comparisons through genetics and disease associations. Nature. 2023 Oct;622(7982):348-358. doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06563-xhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06563-x#Sec44·        Carrasco-Zanini et al 2024 Proteomic prediction of common and rare diseases. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03142-z . NatureMedicine volume 30,  pages2489–2498 (2024)·       Watanabe K, Wilmanski T, Diener C, et al. Multiomic signatures of body mass index identify heterogeneous health phenotypes and responses to a lifestyle intervention.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02248-0·       Petrera A, von Toerne C, Behlr J, et al. Multiplatform Approach for Plasma Proteomics: Complementarity of Olink Proximity Extension Assay Technology to Mass Spectrometry-Based Protein Profiling. (2020) Journal of Proteome Research, https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00641·       Multicenter Collaborative Study to Optimize Mass Spectrometry Workflows of Clinical Specimens. Kardell O, von Toerne C, Merl-Pham J, König AC, Blindert M, Barth TK, Mergner J, Ludwig C, Tüshaus J, Eckert S, Müller SA, Breimann S, Giesbertz P, Bernhardt AM, Schweizer L, Albrecht V, Teupser D, Imhof A, Kuster B, Lichtenthaler SF, Mann M, Cox J, Hauck SM. J Proteome Res. 2024 Jan 5;23(1):117-129. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00473. Epub 2023 Nov 28. PMID: 38015820 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00473·       Wei, S., Shen, R., Lu, X. et al. Integrative multi-omics investigation of sleep apnea: gut microbiome metabolomics, proteomics and phenome-wide association study. Nutr Metab (Lond) 22, 57 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00925-0·       Liu, L., Li, M., Qin, Y. et al. Childhood obesity and insulin resistance is correlated with gut microbiome serum protein: an integrated metagenomic and proteomic analysis. Sci Rep 15, 21436 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07357-z·       Zhang, Xiaotao et al.Modulating a prebiotic food source influences inflammation and immune-regulating gut microbes and metabolites: insights from the BE GONE trial. eBioMedicine, Volume 98, 104873 (2023.).  10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104873·      &nb...

Tune into the newest episode of our Energy Works Podcast, where science meets spirit to help you heal, energize, and thrive. In this solo episode, Blaine explores the ancient concept of Yin and Yang, diving into its origins, meaning, and practical relevance in everyday life. She explains the dynamic interplay between Yin (cool, dark, restorative) and Yang (hot, light, active) energies, and why maintaining balance between them is essential for health and vitality.Blaine illustrates how these dual forces appear in nature and within our bodies, highlighting the importance of rest and activity, stillness and movement. She also introduces the Five Elements Theory in Chinese Medicine, showing how Yin and Yang pairings within each element influence our overall well-being.Whether you're new to Energy Medicine or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode offers valuable insights into how these timeless principles can support a more balanced and harmonious life.Tune in wherever you get your podcasts! Chapters:00:00 – Introduction01:45 – Understanding Yin and Yang05:11 – Examples of Yin and Yang in Daily Life08:44 – Yin and Yang in the Human Body13:44 – The Importance of Balance in Yin and Yang19:05 – Conclusion Episode Resources:Sign up for our FREE weekly Newsletter: https://www.energymedicineyoga.net/Listen on Spotify: Energy WorksListen on Apple Podcasts: Energy WorksFollow us on Instagram: @EnergyMedicineYogaFollow us on Facebook: @EnergyMedicineYoga#EnergyMedicineYoga #EnergyWorksPodcast #WellnessPodcast #YinAndYang #EnergyHealing #ChineseMedicine #FiveElementTheory #EnergyMedicine

Geoff and Marie's Good Life: Part 7Quiet Little OrgyA retired couple invite some new friends home.Based on posts by Only In My Mind, in 15 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.Eventually, by nine o'clock that Saturday morning, we had all showered and made our way downstairs for breakfast. I was last into the kitchen as I'd graciously allowed the women to go first. The dressing gowns that we'd bought for our Wednesday sessions came in useful in that Sue and Margie weren't faced with wearing their dancing dresses to eat in.I think they were both surprised at how relaxed the atmosphere was, I mean they had both fucked their hostess's husband the night before. Angie broke a comfortable silence as we ate. "Geoff. You know what you promised?" She meant the anal bareback that she'd been harping on about for a while."Yes my love?""Well," It was unusual for Angie to hesitate; if anything, her life would be much simpler if she did think more before speaking. "The thing is, would you mind if Sue and Margie came shopping to the naughty store and, maybe?" She looked at me as shyly as I'd ever seen her. "Could they watch while you sort of; do me? You know? Up the bum?" Marie snorted at the look on my face.I turned back to Angie. "Are you seriously suggesting that we take two women, who we've barely known for twelve hours, take them shopping in a sex store and then bring them back her to watch you and me having anal sex without a condom?""That pretty much sums it up," she conceded."Okay. As long as we're on the same page. It's fine by me."And so it was agreed. The two 'new girls' would go home in Sue's car, grab an overnight bag each and re-join us at our house for another evening of sexual exploration, including Angie's loss of her last virginity, and then they would go home on Sunday morning.This wasn't quite the weekend I'd imagined!Anyway, the five of us set off about twelve thirty and stopped at the little bistro we'd found on the way to the adult store. Margie and Sue insisted it was their treat to repay us for our hospitality. My clam linguini in white wine and cream sauce was excellent and the women seemed content with their meals too, so it was a contented crew who breezed into the store about an hour or so later.I left the girls to browse at their leisure as there was a particular item that I was interested in. Angie, very much a woman who was happy to get 'in your face' if you pissed her off, also had a well concealed submissive side that we had found by accident. I had resolved that, as a treat, I would buy her a collar that she could wear when she, and only she, decided she wanted to be dominated. I was aware from some basic research that there was an entire sub-culture around this behavior but, in our case, my only interest was to give my lover another way to express herself sexually. When we had experimented before, Marie was happy to play along but got no actual satisfaction from being submissive. With Angie though, as long as we were careful, she could use the experience to deal with some issues from way back.I found the relevant display and, satisfied that the girls were giggling together over something obviously particularly intriguing and probably disturbing from my point of view two aisles over, I made my choice and took it to the counter. The shop assistant approved of my choice. "So sir, for one of your ladies?" He enquired. I nodded. "Not S and M?""No. Just something she can wear to signal when she wants to be more, erm, passive," I explained."Perfect choice in that case," he replied.I took the collar and the receipt and put them in my pocket. I'd decide later when to give them to Angie. There was something else bothering me too, but I needed to speak to Marie first; a proper conversation that would have to wait until this weekend was over. I had an idea, and I hoped that she'd approve, but it was too important to risk getting it wrong.We left, not quite as laden as last time we visited, each of us carrying something designed to make sex even better. Isn't it sad that we're conditioned to find that somehow shameful? Marie regards me as a work in progress to break that conditioning. Ironic really, that it was her reaction to some sexy underwear that led us to where we found ourselves that day.We arrived back home a little after three and, while Marie took Angie upstairs to prepare, I led Margie and Sue into the kitchen to help make a brew while I checked the fridge to make sure that we had something to snack on later, having already had one substantial meal that day. I took Marie and Angie a cup of tea and a plate of chocolate biscuits and left them in the bedroom. I had no wish to be part of whatever they were doing in the bathroom with the bags, tubes and whatnot they had bought that afternoon.While I chatted with our new girls I diced a red onion, prepped some chorizo and sliced some Brie and Blue Wensleydale cheeses. I took a bag of ciabatta rolls out of the freezer to defrost and put a bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in the fridge to chill. Okay, so it wasn't a fine vintage wine but it was going to pair with onion, blue cheese and spiced sausage: why the Hell would I use an expensive wine to wash that down?Our prep done we retired to the living room and chatted about, well, sex while we waited for Angie to make herself ready. I confess that I was a little concerned that she'd invested a lot of anticipation in what we were about to do. It would be her first time and only my second. What if it all went wrong? What if she hated it?I had a thought and dashed to the kitchen. When I returned a minute later both girls looked at me enquiringly."ED22," I explained, rather unhelpfully. The look on their faces made it clear that this was not only insufficient but actually demanded a more detailed explanation than if I had just said that I'd forgotten something. I reminded them of my sexual performance the previous evening and pointed out this would have been remarkable for a man in his twenties, let alone someone of my vintage.I told how I was now in a user trial of a new generation of drug for erectile dysfunction which allowed me, with no particular clinical need, not to put too fine a point on it, to fuck like a steam train for hours. We chatted about that for a while until my wife shouted downstairs. "Geoffrey, ladies, if you're ready, the ceremony is about to begin. Please join us upstairs, remove your clothing and take your seats." It seemed like an excellent idea so that's exactly what we did.Somehow, between helping Angie with her 'purges', my wife had managed to get another couple of chairs into our bedroom though admittedly one was a folding chair from IKEA that we kept for situations where the six seats that came with our dining room suite weren't sufficient. I stood in my dressing gown, waiting for Angie to emerge from the bathroom, feeling like a nervous groom at the altar. Sue and Margie sat in the seats behind me wearing only their bras and panties.Marie, acting as mistress of ceremonies also dressed for effect in a pale blue Basque and, well, that was it actually, waited for the tension to rise before she opened the bathroom door with a theatrical flourish. "Angie," she announced, in her most sultry voice. "Your lover is here to rid you of your last virginity. Do you willingly surrender to him?"Angie stepped naked into the bedroom and stood before me. She looked at her friends assembled to witness something that seemed to be really important to her and smiled. "I surrender my body totally to him. I ask that he takes my anal virginity in the knowledge that no man has had my ass before him and nor will any other man after him."If I hadn't realized before, it was out there now. Angie was making a point here, she was giving herself, pledging herself, to me! Fighting the urge to, yes, panic is probably the most appropriate word, I looked to Marie. My wife seemed not just content but actually happily engaged with this small but weird ceremony. I had really wanted to talk to Marie before I took this step but the situation seemed to have arisen before I had the chance, so I decided to take the risk.Stepping to my bedside drawer, I took out a small gift box. It was a generic necklace box I'd found in the loft but it was fine for my purposes. "Angela," she stiffened at my using her full name: that reminded her the time I had hypnotized her and left some interesting legacy imperatives in her subconscious. "Angela, I accept the honor you bestow upon me. It would please me if you would wear this collar as a sign that your body is mine to take, use and bestow at my pleasure."We all watched entranced as she swayed slightly as she comprehended what I'd said. Almost before she could react I was in front of her. "Angela, will you wear my collar?" She looked at me wide eyed and nodded fervently. I continued before she could speak. "You may wear or remove it as you wish but, when you wear it, You. Are. Mine and mine alone. Do you understand?"Angie looked beseechingly at her best friend in the world, my wife, Marie. How would she respond to her husband claiming her best friend's body? With obvious delight was the honest answer. Marie ran to Angie and gave her a massive hug. "Oh, sweetheart," Marie sobbed, tears running down her cheeks. "You'll be like my Sister-Wife. I love you so much."Then Marie turned to me. "God! I love you so fucking much too! When you've finished with Angie, me and the girls are going to fuck you so hard we're all going to be sitting on soft cushions for the rest of the week. Fuck! But you're amazing, you wonderful old softie."While Marie was kissing and hugging me, the other girls descended on Angie. They helped her to put her collar on. Oh! I suppose I ought to describe my gift; The description in the store's on-line catalogue was, 'A discreet, rose gold, slave day-collar for submissives'. It was a fetching circlet of engine-turned pinkish-gold with a small ring, presumably for a leash, at the throat.When the women all settled down, Angie finally replied. "I understand. When I wear your collar my body and mind are yours, and I give them willingly." She thought for a moment. "How shall I address you? Do I call you Sir? Are you my Master?"I'd given that question some thought, even as I was deciding whether to buy the collar in the shop. "I'm still Geoff, and you are my lover, not my slave. You will obey me, though, and I will discipline you if you don't." I looked around the room. The other women seemed content with my approach. Now for the big moment."Angela. Lay on the bed and expose yourself."She took a deep breath. "Yes Geoff."She settled on the side of our bed, sitting upright, facing our little congregation. Slowly she parted her thighs to display a tiny jewel decorating the anal plug that her little ring of muscle was already accommodating to.I looked at the new girls. "Ladies. How would you like to share my new toy?" Without waiting for them to even consider how to reply, I turned to Angie and gazed into her eyes. She knew we were connecting and quivered as her body anticipated my next words. "Angela. Your master commands you. Go to your happy place and come."Sue and Margie were stunned when, at my words, Angie clenched her thighs together and slumped back on the bed giving every sign of climaxing. Margie spoke. "I am definitely asking if I can have whatever Angie's got, for Christmas.""Go on girls," I entreated them. "Before she comes down. Get her prepared. The more aroused she is the less discomfort she'll feel."Marie crossed to stand beside me. "That was lovely what you did for her, just now," she said, hugging me.I kissed the top of her head. "I actually wanted to talk to you first but when I saw how important this was to Angie, I just decided it was too perfect a moment to miss. Did I do right?""You did very well dear," she smiled.We stood like that for a couple of minutes watching two women we'd only met practice their newly discovered lesbian skills on our best friend. "Marie?" I began."Yes dear?""What are we? I mean you, me and Angie? Are we a;” I hesitated to even say the word. "Are we a throuple?""Geoffrey, I adore you but, if you ever use that word again, you and I are going to have a problem.""I know, I felt dirty just saying it. But seemingly not as dirty as Sue." We stopped our conversation and watched, fascinated, as Sue appeared to make Margie and Angie simultaneously shriek with delight. I shook my head to clear it. "Anyway." I tried to maintain my train of thought. "I was going to ask you about Angie's status; you know? Your friend, our lover. What is she? Is she part of our relationship? Or is she just a woman we have sex with? Will you think about it anyway? In the meantime, I think it's time to claim my thrall's last virginity."At some point, Sue and Margie had got naked and I managed to grab some delectable handfuls of flesh as I gently peeled them off Angie's body. I had red somewhere that anal sex in the doggy position is less comfortable for novices than when done prone. It looked like I may be on the way to having enough experience to comment but, for now, I decided missionary would do just fine.Again, research suggested that we should have vaginal sex first to relax my partner; this time, local knowledge, that is my Dom's command to his Sub, emphasized by a post hypnotic suggestion to orgasm followed by a two pronged lesbian assault, suggested to me that she would be about as sexed up as a woman can get without actually having three cocks inside her at the same time.And so, after Angie's lovely ceremony gifting me her last virginity, the moment arrived. Marie stepped up with the dispenser of lube and delicately applied it along little Geoff's length. She stood on tiptoe and kissed me. "Try not to hurt her, Geoff. She's been looking forward to this so much." I nodded. I knew that only too well.I knelt between Angie's thighs and felt rather than saw Marie, Margie and Sue draw close behind me. Angie looked up at me pleadingly. I smiled down at her and gently pulled out the tapered stainless steel plug that she'd inserted to ready her sphincter for penetration. Marie took it from me. Before the ring of muscle could recover its usual resting state I pushed forward as firmly as I could without hurting her.Angie gasped as this new intruder made its way inside her bowels. I paused. "Are you okay, babe?" I asked."It's so; It's such a strange feeling," she murmured. "It's not like anything I've felt before. Let me just get used to it for a moment."I paused. I was about two thirds inside her and I didn't seem to be causing her actual pain. I have to admit that I was having to get used to some odd sensations myself. The ass plug made my penetration less awkward than I'd expected, but her ring was tighter around my shaft than a cunt would have been. It was odd too, knowing that the skin on my cock was directly touching her bowel walls. Like Angie said, "such a strange feeling.""Go on. A bit more. I think I'm ready." She tensed, waiting for me to push."No babe. Relax," I told her. "We're nearly all the way there. A bit more lube please." That last comment aimed at Marie.How strange is my life that I can casually ask my wife to lube the part of my cock between my balls and her best friend's backside so that I can take her friend's anal virginity? How strange is her life that she did it anyway with a smile and another kiss for me. I pressed forward again and marveled at the sensation."Oh fuck!" Angie moaned as I bottomed out (Sorry, but I couldn't resist). "Fuck me Geoff. Do it now. Do it hard and fast."So I began, slowly at first, and not my favorite long strokes as I didn't want to pull out accidentally. Another time it might not matter, today it had to be right. So, gradually speeding up, I began to thrust in and out, each time as deep as I could get. I looked wordlessly at Marie and saw that she understood. The bowel doesn't have the same nerve endings as a cunt. We'd discussed this earlier, so Marie and the others began to use their hands on Angie's cunt and clit and their tongues on her tits.I could tell that she was getting close, Hell, so was I, but she wasn't able to keep focus on anything. Her body was just searching for that position, any position that would enhance the pleasure she was striving for. Her hands clutched at the sheets, the heads of the women suckling her tits, her own hair, as if she was trying to contain the sensations in her head. And then, she reached the peak. She seemed to freeze, as if movement would break the spell, and then she cried out, "O fuck! Yes! Yes! Yes!" And then, trembling, she began to relax.It was a relief when she blew, because I was so close myself. I wasn't sure if she even realized I'd come. As we all relaxed, my cock finally softened and slipped out of her bum and I sloped off to the bathroom to clean up. A surreptitious look on the way confirmed the effectiveness of the girls' preparation. I looked clean anyway. Regardless, little Geoff was getting a good wash.When I came out of the bathroom, Angie was sitting up on the bed, excitedly comparing notes with Marie, who'd had anal sex with me once before, although with a condom, and describing the sensation to the new girls who hadn't. From their conversation their attitude could more properly be described as, 'hadn't yet'. My alternate Friday nights for the next few weeks could end up being 'bareback bottom nights', particularly as Marie still wanted to try bareback too, at least once.What about me? Let's be clear, I'm not selfless, but I get pleasure from giving pleasure. I can't understand a man who would pump and dump in a woman in five minutes and think that was fun. I'd rather spend ten minutes loving her tits and at least the same again between her legs, knowing that when I actually enter her the resulting sex will be spectacular. So did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I do it again. Yes, if one or more of the girls wants to. Would it ruin my life I didn't? No. I have a wife and her permission to screw eight mature but attractive sex partners. I'm not going to moan about a shortage of anal sex. It's fun but I sometimes wonder if it's worth the attendant preparation and fuss.Sorry, got a bit introspective there. I went and sat next to Angie. She surprised me when she slipped off the bed and knelt in front of me. "Did I please you, Geoff? " She asked. Good girl. She's remembered she was wearing her collar."You did well," I reassured her. "Even when you wear your collar, I'll keep my promises to you. I was concerned that you were too invested in doing this for the first time. Was it what you hoped for?"She looked serious. "It was amazing and it was something I'd never done and I wanted the experience. But." She looked up at me. "Just as important, I wanted to do something with you that I'd not done with another man; and I knew Marie would be part of it.""Thank you, sweetheart, that was a lovely and special gesture." I bent down to kiss her. "Love you, Angie."As I sat back up I caught Marie's eye. She smiled and inclined her head slightly in acknowledgement of our previous conversation. She'd think about it and then we'd talk.Again, Sue and Margie joined me downstairs while Marie helped Angie clean up. They were only ten or fifteen minutes and when they came down Angie had taken her collar off. Good. I only wanted her to be submissive in the bedroom, anything else might be a step too far.By the time they got downstairs our filled ciabatta were already in the oven and the wine was open and ready to be poured. We sat at the dining table, the five of us just chatting and getting to know each other. Marie explained how our sexual reawakening happened and how it spread to include her friends and then Sue and Margie.When she got to the episode where we made a dirty video they insisted on seeing it so I went into the living room and set up the TV so that I could cast from my phone onto the big screen. When the girls had finished eating, they carried their drinks in to join me and I pressed play.I sat on one sofa with Marie and Angie while Margie and Sue sat together on the other. By the time the video finished I was in the presence of four rather horny women. Marie took charge. "Geoff, you promised Angie that your cock was hers today. So you take her to our room and I'll entertain our guests in the other. See you in a couple of hours." She gave me a huge kiss and herded Sue and Margie upstairs.I turned to Angie. "I'm all yours, sweetheart. What do you want to do?"She looked shyly at me. "You'll think I'm weird.""That ship disappeared over the horizon a long time ago, babe," I replied."Then; Then can we just go to bed and cuddle? I feel, I dunno, overwhelmed? I loved what you did for me but now I think I just want someone to hold me until the world settles again. See? Weird.""Not at all. You feel how you feel. If you need comfort and affection instead of sex, that's fine. I will warn you now though that if we both doze off there's a fair chance you'll wake up with little Geoff wedged into your bum crack."

This week, we're digging up some history with our “Ye Olde Comics” theme! Jessika dives into Kill Shakespeare #5, a mash-up of the Bard's greatest hits. Mike cracked open Yang #1 from 1973—a kung fu comic that's got more problematic content than it does punch.

When Getting Fired Becomes Your Greatest Gift: The Creative Breakthrough That Changed Everything What happens when losing your job becomes the catalyst for finding your true calling? Artist and author James McCrae reveals how getting fired from his corporate advertising position launched him from unemployed executive to viral social media sensation, transforming his relationship with creativity and authenticity in the process. After years as a brand strategist in New York City, McCrae found himself at a crossroads when his entire department was eliminated during a corporate acquisition. Instead of frantically job hunting, he made a decision that would change his life: he sat in meditation and asked what wanted to be born through him. The Artist’s Journey: From Small Town to Social Media Success McCrae’s creative journey began in small-town Minnesota, where poetry served as his escape and a way to “create new worlds and explore the universe in much more depth” than his surroundings offered. His path meandered through painting, graphic design, and eventually corporate brand strategy, where he describes “sneaking into the business world through the back door as an artist.” The turning point came when he started creating social media content and memes that began going viral. Rather than viewing social media as merely a marketing tool, McCrae transformed these platforms into his personal “art gallery of digital art and poetry.” The Yin and Yang of Creative Expression McCrae introduces a revolutionary framework for understanding creativity through the ancient concept of yin and yang. He argues that our society has created an overemphasis on “yang” energy (doing, productivity, action) while neglecting the essential “yin” energy (receptivity, stillness, pure potentiality). “All doing begins with non-doing,” McCrae explains, comparing creativity to farming. “You want to make art, but you can’t start by growing crops. You need to tend the soil, plant the seeds, and water the soil first.” This approach involves removing distractions and cultivating mindfulness through practices like meditation, spending time in nature, and consuming art. McCrae’s breakthrough came when he began a serious mindfulness practice in New York City, discovering meditation, yoga, and Eastern philosophy that helped him “tune out all the distractions and tune into my own inner being.” From Ego to Intuition: The Art of Inner Listening McCrae distinguishes between ego-driven and intuition-driven creativity, describing the ego as speaking “like an alarm going off or like a dog barking,” while intuition whispers quietly “almost more of a feeling than it is a thought.” His daily practice involves meditating each morning before writing, then “taking dictation from the muse” rather than forcing ideas. He emphasises that creation and editing must be separate processes: “You should not write and edit at the same time. They’re completely different mindsets.” The Vulnerability Revolution: Why Authenticity Goes Viral McCrae’s breakthrough moment came when he stopped trying to project a perfect image and started sharing his authentic self. While other self-help authors played it safe, he began posting what he calls “apocalyptic poetry” and “sarcastic existential memes.” “I’m just going to allow myself full permission to be an artist and express myself however I want,” he decided. The result was explosive: “I started really going viral online. Suddenly, I was getting thousands of followers every day, and people were reposting my memes all over the internet.” His key insight: “You can be yourself much better than you can be anyone else. There’s only one you.” This authenticity created what he calls intimacy with his audience, proving that “people are hungry for something that’s honest and real and valuable.” Redefining Creative Blocks and Writer’s Block McCrae challenges the concept of writer’s block, reframing it as simply having nothing ready to come out. “Creative expression is like a purge,” he explains. “You’re purging this energy that’s built up in you.” When creativity feels stuck, his solution isn’t to force it but to “fill up your cup of inspiration” through life experiences: reading, visiting art museums, travelling, falling in love, or getting your heart broken. “Writer’s block is more like your well is empty and you need to go out and experience emotions and novel experiences.” The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Creativity “There’s no creativity without vulnerability,” McCrae states, emphasising that emotions are “way more intelligent than our thoughts.” He compares thinking purely with the mind to “fishing in a shallow pond,” while accessing emotions allows you to fish “in a deep ocean where you can catch much more exotic, beautiful fish.” This emotional depth provides access to the subconscious mind, which McCrae describes as “full of so many more insights and ideas than the conscious mind.” Social Media as Creative Canvas McCrae transformed his relationship with social media after his literary agent rejected his memoir. Rather than waiting for traditional gatekeepers, he decided to treat social media like “writing a book in real time, post by post,” with each piece treated “with the same level of artistic integrity that I would treat a book or a poem or a painting.” This shift in perspective turned social media from a source of frustration into “a sandbox for my own creative exploration” and eventually led to the book deal he originally sought. Three Essential Practices for Creative Awakening McCrae leaves readers with two fundamental practices he considers essential for any creative person: Daily Mindfulness Practice: Commit to some form of mindfulness daily, even just five minutes. This could be meditation, nature walks, visiting art museums, or attending concerts, anything that breaks routine and allows access to inspiration. Keep a Dedicated Notebook: Every creative idea, from business concepts to poems, starts in McCrae’s notebook. “All my ideas, even my business ideas, like the classes that I teach, the workshops that I teach, the poems I write, everything I do, it starts in my notebook.” He describes it as “ground zero for your creative process” where there are no bad ideas and you can freely experiment. The Deeper Message: Creativity as Life Force McCrae argues that creativity isn’t just a skill but fundamental to human nature: “Creativity is a life force that we all not only have access to, but that is who we truly are.” He points to human design, from imagination and intuition to hands perfectly constructed to hold paintbrushes and pens, as evidence that we’re engineered for creative expression. The challenge is that society conditions us away from this natural creativity through rigid structures and capitalistic pressure to be productive. However, McCrae insists that reconnecting with our creative nature is “always just one shift in perception away.” Why This Matters Now In an age of increasing automation and artificial intelligence, McCrae’s message about authentic human creativity and vulnerability becomes even more relevant. His journey from corporate termination to viral success demonstrates that our perceived failures can become our greatest breakthroughs when we have the courage to listen to our inner creative voice. McCrae’s story offers hope to anyone feeling trapped in corporate structures or disconnected from their creative nature. Sometimes the most radical thing you can do is simply be yourself, trust your authentic voice, and allow your creativity to emerge naturally. You can watch the full conversation on YouTube About James McCrae James McCrae is a viral artist, author of “The Art of You,” and creative coach who helps creators find their authentic voice and build successful creative businesses. His social media content has reached millions, and he specialises in teaching the intersection of spirituality and creativity. Connect with James McCrae: Instagram: @wordsarevibrations

We've had a lot of splits on the Watchcast recently where we end up with a great Star Trek episode and a not-so-great Star Trek episode on the same podcast, but the gulf between great and not-so-great has never been greater than it is this week as we tackle The Omega Glory and The Ultimate Computer! CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 149: Star Trek: The Omega Glory and The Ultimate Computer (00:00:31) - Intro (and by intro, we mean trying to understand what the hell The Omega Glory is). (00:11:46) - Alright, let's start tearing into this thing for real and figure out who's responsible. (00:19:42) - What poor guest actors were subjected to this? (00:24:07) - They had us in the first 15 minutes. (00:29:21) - Talkin' Yang about the fountain of youth. (00:37:55) - How long can we stretch this jail cell fight. (00:43:00) - The snowball of stupid has officially started rolling down the hill. (00:47:45) - Welcome to chunk four, the worst chunk of all. (00:56:02) - A big dumb fist fight, Spock hypnotizes women now, and Kirk gives his history report. (01:04:49) - Final thoughts, such as they are. (01:08:25) - Break! (01:08:55) - We're back, and we should talk about an episode that doesn't suck, The Ultimate Computer! (01:10:11) - Production talk. (01:12:59) - We've got a heck of a guest star for this one. (01:17:36) - Launching into the unusually prescient plot. (01:28:36) - The M5 is perfect. Tooooo perfect. (01:34:04) - You put a brain in a computer? (01:43:39) - Has a war games scenario on Star Trek ever not resulted in unexpected consequences? (01:46:43) - Daystrom has gone bye-bye. (01:50:01) - The last time Kirk talks a computer to death (this season). (01:58:40) - Final thoughts. (02:00:06) - Housekeeping for next week. (02:03:09) - Outro.

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Selasa, 2 September 2025Bacaan: "Mengucap syukurlah dalam segala hal, sebab itulah yang dikehendaki Allah di dalam Kristus Yesus bagi kamu." (1 Tesalonika 5:18)Renungan: Pada suatu hari ada dua orang bersahabat yang melakukan perjalanan di padang pasir kehabisan minum. Akhirnya dengan harga yang sangat mahal mereka dapat membeli setengah gelas air sejuk untuk berdua dari kafilah yang lewat di padang pasir itu. Yang seorang berkata kepada kawannya, "Sungguh sial dapat air hanya sedikit saja." Sedangkan yang lain berkata, "Puji Tuhan, sekalipun sedikit kita masih dapat air." Apa yang menyebabkan kedua orang itu mempunyai pendapat yang berbeda? Karena orang yang pertama itu melihat pada setengah bagian gelas yang kosong itu, sedangkan orang yang kedua itu melihat pada setengah bagian gelas yang berisi air itu. Orang pertama berpikir dari segi negatifnya, sedangkan orang ke dua berpikir dari segi positifnya. Banyak orang merasa berat menjalani hidup ini karena selalu dipenuhi dengan pikiran yang negatif dan lupa untuk mengucap syukur. Sementara itu ada orang yang dengan ringan menjalani kehidupan ini karena mereka selalu mensyukuri atas apapun yang mereka dapatkan. Marilah kita belajar seperti orang yang kedua m, sehingga kita dapat mengucap syukur kepada Tuhan dalam setiap keadaan kita masing-masing. Ucapan syukur kita membuat langkah ini menjadi ringan untuk menuju hari esok. Tuhan Yesus memberkati.Doa:Tuhan Yesus, aku bersyukur karena boleh mendengar cerita dua sahabat tersebut. Banyak kali dalam kehidupanku aku kehilangan berkat-berkat-Mu karena pikiranku yang selalu negatif dan lupa untuk mengucap syukur, sehingga berkat yang Kau berikan hanya lewat begitu saja tanpa aku sadari. Yesus ajarilah aku untuk mengucap syukur atas segala peristiwa yang kuterima sepanjang hari ini, sehingga dapat meringankan langkahku untuk menuju hari esok bersama-Mu. Amin. (Dod).

孟加拉的旅游价值，只是印度的平替？那些猎奇的扒火车、贫民窟、火焰烫发、火焰槟榔……甚至惊动了外交部门的中国人去孟加拉“找”媳妇，这些是孟加拉的全部么？出于对第三世界国家的兴趣，特别是孟加拉在2024年发生了抗议公务员配额制度的街头运动，我们想去孟加拉看看这里到底什么样，于是，便请来了孟加拉青年张继德，带领我们在首都达卡进行了一场城市漫游。1、本期节目更多细节图片及视频请关注公众号“壮游者”相关推送。2、“斯里兰卡”漫游团信息亦请关注公众号“壮游者”相关推送3、注：如有旅游需求（中/英/孟加拉语翻译和导游），可联系邮箱：officialbit.ltd@gmail.com；微信：BIT‑LTD|故事节点|02:27 为什么要去达卡？06:48 入境：被抛入深夜的车海 12:26 屋顶的垃圾和豪华的商场17:40 孟加拉兄弟张继德来了！20:47 街头噪音和达卡在哪里？24:16 地铁、楼群和国家议会大厦29:54 街头对话：孟加拉的钱去哪了？33:12 最受欢迎的工作：公务员34:43 达卡大学：师生中心里的女性照片40:22 桥墩上被泼漆的国父、总理画像42:15 从英属印度到东巴基斯坦51:19 烈士纪念碑：孟加拉语言运动54:18 独立、国父被刺和哈西娜的变革59:48 公务员配额制度和怒火街头64:17 达卡大学：科尔孙厅70:09 拉尔巴格堡72:56 达凯什瓦里国家印度教寺庙74:40 乘三轮车穿过老达卡86:38 萨达尔盖特：泛舟布里甘加河91:13 歌曲：《哦，蓝色的大河》96:26 中孟两国相似的成语100:14 新达卡：古尔山的“时代广场”|壮游者|张继德：Md Redoan Mehebub，孟加拉青年，前广西大学进修生。|讲述者|Yang:喜欢吃孟加拉手抓饭和咖喱饭的一名男子。

KCBS Radio's Foodie Chap Liam Mayclem speaks with Chef and Co-owner, Yang, from The Wolf in Oakland about their delicious burger. The Wolf is one of the amazing restaurants listed on the Oakland Burger Trail Map.

Gordon Duncan is joined by Hugh Keevins & Scott Allan, as they look back at what has been a terrible week for Rangers and Celtic. They ALSO look ahead to Sunday's Old Firm game although the finger of blame is out from supporters of both sides.Plus St Mirren supporter Hammy tries to become the first to win a Beat the Pundit Coin and there is a great teaser involving the Dundee derby and Old Firm.And stand by for the Yang debate as Hugh takes on Doreen

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 202-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 24,438 on turnover of $6.8-billion N-T. The market's recent winning streak ended on Thursday, as the main board tumbled over 280-points after Nvidia's highly anticipated earnings report showed that sales of its artificial intelligence chipsets rose at a slower pace than analysts had anticipated. Lai admin. to hold more disaster response drills The government will be holding a series of drills that include trials (考驗，測試) of a earthquake warning system next month. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the drill will be taking place from September 17 through 19 and have been organized to coincide with the annual National Disaster Prevention Day - which falls on September 21. Deputy Interior Minister Ma Shih-yuan says the drills will simulate a magnitude 8.5 earthquake in the Ryukyu Trench east of Taiwan, followed by a tsunami .. .. while the main event will be a three-day exercise in Yilan County, simulating large-scale rescue operations. An earthquake rescue drill will also be held at Xinzhuang Sports Park in New Taipei City on September 18 and 19. Governor of Taiwan's central bank ranked A- by Global Finance Central bank governor Yang Jin-long has received an A- grade from New York-based Global Finance magazine. That grade is up from B+ last year. Based on the Central Banker Report Cards 2025, the magazine returned Yang to an A grade based on the bank's policies and decisions this year. Yang has worked for the central bank since 1989 and became governor in 2018. Yang's predecessor (前任) Peng Fai-nan has the distinction of being the only central banker in the world to have earned the top grade 14 times since the annual report was first released in 1994 - gaining straight A's from 2005-2017. UK Summons Russian Ambassador After Ukraine Strikes London says Russia's latest attack against Ukraine which killed at least 18 people in its capital, Kyiv, are "further sabotaging (破壞) international peace efforts." Russia launched nearly 600 drones and fired over 30 missiles overnight, hitting residential areas as well as the British Council building in Kyiv. Stuart Smith has more from London. US Seeks UN Authorization for Gang Suppression Force in Haiti The United States is seeking U.N. authorization for a new “Gang Suppression Force” to help tackle escalating violence in Haiti where the armed groups have expanded their activities from the capital into the countryside. Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea made the announcement at a U.N. Security Council meeting Thursday, but it was unclear how it would differ from the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support force now deployed in the violence-torn Caribbean nation trying to help police curb (抑制) gang violence. She said the U.S. and Panama will be circulating (傳遞) a draft resolution to the Security Council to establish the Gang Suppression Force and create a U.N. Support Office to provide logistical support to it. In February, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposed opening an office that would provide drones, fuel, ground and air transportation and other non-lethal support to the Kenya-led mission. Shea gave no indication of whether the United States would provide any military or police support to the new Gang Suppression Force. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

For every loud character in anime, there is a calm partner next to them. Both pushing each other to get stronger. A Light to someone's Dark. A Fire to someone's Ice. A Ying to someone's Yang. This is our top 5 Ying and Yang duos in anime!

What if the career you'd worked decades to build was the very thing holding you back from the life you actually wanted? In this episode, I sit down with Kerri Gibson, a former CPA who built a thriving hospitality empire in Quebec. After 22 years in tax and accounting software, Kerri's breaking point became her breakthrough when a simple house flip spiraled into seven renovated ski chalets—and eventually a full-scale motel transformation. Kerri opens up about the toll of burnout and the moments she missed with family because work always came first. She shares how she and partner Philip navigated the tricky shift from colleagues to business partners to spouses working side by side, and how a few uncomfortable conversations ultimately strengthened both their relationship and their business. Most impressively, Kerri has achieved what many hospitality owners dream of: 70% direct bookings through her own website—without relying on OTAs. She walks us through the exact strategies she built from the ground up, plus how she infused their signature “hygge” concept into a roadside motel, transforming it into a place where guests connect and create lasting memories. Packed with real-world advice and hard-earned wisdom, this episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling stuck—whether you're plotting your escape from corporate life or striving to build a hospitality business that truly reflects your values. HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS: [01:16] A short introduction about our guest Kerri Gibson and how she got into the world of short-term rentals [03:27] Kerri shares her journey from from CPA to tech leader in tax and accounting software [06:28] Kerri's breaking point that pushed her to leave the corporate world [13:20] Kerri reveals her two-question strategy for making big decisions without a support system [21:06] Kerri recounts her journey from renovating distressed chalets to revitalizing a roadside motel  [25:39]  Kerri outlines her vision to reinvent the roadside motel experience through Scandinavian-inspired design and communal spaces [30:17] The challenges and growth that come from defining roles when running a business with a spouse [38:04] How Kerri shifted from relying entirely on OTAs to achieving 70% direct bookings [45:15] The power of starting early with a strategy and evolving it over time [48:08] Kerri talks about her self-taught marketing journey and how she strategically brought in outside expertise [52:39] The lightning round  Golden Nuggets: • “Find coziness, comfort and the simplicity of the small moments of life surrounded by those that you love the most.” • “I had to learn to find space for him to be a part of the business and flourish. And as we've defined, find our swim lanes, which is super important. It's allowed us to find, like these great things that go in sync together. You know, the Ying and the Yang.” • “Never, ever, ever build your house on someone else's land, no matter how small you are.” • “You have to create the strategy, then go implement the strategy. But without that strategy-first approach, it's just like throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping that something works.” • “There's nothing you can't do, or nothing you can't be, there's only what you're willing to work for.” This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

The Go Radio Football Show: 26th of August, 2025 In Association with Burger King. This is a catch-up version of the live, daily Go Radio Football show.  Join host Paul Cooney along side Award Winning journalist Mark Guidi and ex Celtic Striker Andy Walker.. Celtic's Champions League Gamble Can Forrest and Yang deliver on the wings? Is Maeda the right man through the middle? Why the board's transfer delays could cost them dearly. Rangers in Turmoil Igamane's refusal to play sparks outrage - has he played his last game? Russell Martin under pressure: is Sunday's Old Firm clash make-or-break? Transfer window drama: who's staying, who's going, and who's not pulling their weight? Fan Reactions & Mystery Voices Craig from East Kilbride joins the £2,500 Vision Scotland Challenge. Listeners weigh in on Rangers' form, Celtic's European hopes, and the boardroom frustrations boiling over. Plus: Exclusive updates on Celtic's transfer targets: Balikwisha and Saracchi. Insightful commentary on the match as it unfolds in Kazakhstan. Heated debate on Scottish football's European standing and what's at stake for the coefficient. Don't miss it – PLAY and HIT SUBSCRIBE, and NEVER miss an episode! The Go Radio Football Show, weeknights from 5pm-7pm across Scotland on DAB, Online, Smart Speaker and on the Go Radio App. IOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/go-radio/id1510971202 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.thisisgo.goradio&pcampaignid=web_share  In Association with Burger King. Home of the Whopper, home delivery half time or full time, exclusively on the Burger King App  https://www.burgerking.co.uk/download-bk-app Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok  For more Go Creative Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD...

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Rabu, 27 Agustus 2025Bacaan: "Hendaklah kamu saling mengasihi sebagai saudara dan saling mendahului dalam memberi hormat." (Roma 12:10)Renungan: Dari semua tanaman di Palestina, Badam atau almond adalah pohon yang pertama kali berbunga pada akhir musim dingin atau di awal musim semi. Bunganya berwarna putih atau merah jambu keputih-putihan. Yang paling berharga dari badam adalah bijinya, karena bisa dimakan atau dijadikan bahan penting untuk campuran berbagai jenis makanan. Berbunga lebih awal dari pohon-pohon yang lain, itulah salah satu hal penting yang kita ketahui tentang pohon badam. Ini mengingatkan kita sebagai anak-anak Tuhan untuk selalu berlomba-lomba dan saling mendahului di dalam berbuat baik. Sangatlah mudah untuk membenci ketika seseorang menyakiti hati kita, kita mudah memfitnah seseorang karena sentimen pribadi, mudah menipu untuk mendapatkan keuntungan, mudah melontarkan kata-kata makian yang kasar ketika emosi, dan sebagainya. Tetapi untuk berlomba-lomba dan saling mendahului dalam berbuat baik, tidak semua orang mampu melakukannya. Ada sebuah pernyataan, "Kebaikan bukanlah sifat yang diturunkan, melainkan perilaku yang harus dipelajari." Mungkin selama ini kita hanya menyatakan kebaikan kepada orang-orang yang sudah berbuat baik kepada kita terlebih dahulu. Kita menunggu dan hanya menjadi penonton saja ketika orang lain berlomba-lomba berbuat baik. Kini saatnya kita belajar menjadi yang pertama di dalam berbuat baik, supaya di mana ada pertikaian, kita datang membawa damai. di mana ada kesedihan, kita datang membawa penghiburan. Tuhan Yesus memberkati.Doa:Tuhan Yesus, terima kasih karena Engkau telah lebih dulu mencintai dan mengasihiku. Aku rindu untuk membalas cinta-Mu. Bantulah aku untuk mau menyisihkan waktu dan sedikit penghasilanku untuk membantu mereka yang berkekurangan. Pakailah aku sebagai kepanjangan seluruh diri-Mu, agar melalui kehadiranku ada sukacita mengalir di hati mereka. Amin. (Dod).

Become a more confident English speaker, even if you're outside of the United States.Yang is proof that you can, and go you can even go on to shine when speaking English to an American audience!Learn what she did that worked BEST for her communication with Americans, and MASTER the American accent!Click here to Join the FREE Accent Training Community! BOOK YOUR CONSULTATION WITH ME HERE

Welcome back to Black Hoodie Alchemy, folks! My head was jumbled, my body was in a lot of pain, and I wasn't really sure what my next move was after this near-death experience at the beginning of the year -- so I took a bit of a longer, unexpected, and unannounced break. Some of it was out of frustration, a lot of it was out of total exhaustion, and even more of it was rooted in a level of surrender and acceptance. Some real serenity prayer sort of stuff on a very Jungian level, but it was all worth it. I'm feeling pretty damn solid now. Joe Rupe, host of Lighting the Void helps me get into all this, unpacking some of his mental health experiences and some of my recent ones, along with analyzing mental in the fringe spiritual, new age, conspiracy theory and fortean communities. People are always getting into these head-spaces and schools-of-thought for one reason or another, yet so many of them fail to ask themselves what these ideas and beliefs do for them on a daily practical level. People analyzing "real" alien species on internet forums, reading the "latest leaks" from Q, or trying to hex their neighbors are likely not considering the fundamental idea: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Because of this, their mental health usually suffers on a noticeable level. But beyond this, we get deeper into Jungian psychology and the relationship between our inner child and the archetypes of the Great Mother and Father, i.e. the Yin and Yang, et cetera. It's a heavy episode but in many ways it's a celebratory return with great music, some fun shout outs and an awesome guest! Thanks for tuning in, folks -- there's a lot more to come. I'm feeling better than I have all year and we hope you dig the listen.my links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DIVE MANUAL AUDIOBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (narrated by Joe Rupe)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HUNT MANUAL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BHA LINKTREE w books, shorts, and much more⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOE RUPE'S LIGHTING THE VOIDmy convo with Joe about Hermeticismmy convo with Ronnie Pontiac about alchemy and Manly Hallmy convo with Leticia Martinez about alchemy and medicinemy convo with AP Strange about unexplainable phenomena & mental healthSHOUT OUTS:Farewell, My Heartfind Farewell on instaSeedperson's new instaAlex Arck on instaPatrick's Southern Paranormal World youtube videos (i swear these are quiet noises and not jumpscares):Start listening around 11:35 with headphones and wait for itStart at around 1:45 with headphones and listen carefullyThis week's featured music -- some of the heaviest hitters that the underground has to offer! Feast For Worms - Grim Pesci x NightwalkerAny Reason At All - LEGITInfestation - Alex Arck

bagi Yang mau mengikuti Acara Live Podcast nya Hubungi >> Instagram @reddurpa_official

In this episode, Dana Yates explores Chu Shu, literally “End of Heat,” the solar term that marks summer's close and the transition to autumn. From ancient agricultural traditions to seasonal foods, wellness practices, and cultural customs, discover how this time-honored marker offers guidance for harmonizing with nature's shift from Yang to Yin.You can access the written article here: https://www.mayway.com/blogs/articles/chu-shu-end-of-heat-and-welcome-to-autumnSee our Monthly Practitioner Discounts https://www.mayway.com/monthly-specialsSign up for the Mayway Newsletterhttps://www.mayway.com/newsletter-signupFollow ushttps://www.facebook.com/MaywayHerbs/https://www.instagram.com/maywayherbs/

Robert Yang is a leading expert in digestive wellness, hormone restoration, and performance nutrition with over 27 years of clinical experience. He is an internationally sought-after presenter on a variety of topics on nutrition, gut health, and performance enhancement. He serves as an advisory board member for Titleist Performance Institute, the National Pitching Association, and the USDA's US National Development Program, where he's also the team nutritionist. He consults with elite professional athletes from the XGames, NFL, NHL, MLB, AVP, PGA, LPGA, and European Tour. In this episode of Conversations for Health, we examine the intersection of sports performance and functional nutrition, focusing on both elite and developing athletes. If you work with kids and their parents, you will find this conversation exceptionally valuable. Robert generously shares clinical pearls, information about the labs that he uses with athletes, pre- and post-workout nutrition, traumatic brain injuries, and much more, including the big picture that parents, coaches, and healthcare practitioners need to understand about long-term athletic development for youth athletes.   I'm your host, Evelyne Lambrecht. Thank you for designing a well world with us.   Episode Resources: Robert Yang: robertyang.net Design for Health Resources: Designs for Health - https://www.designsforhealth.com/ Designs for Health Practitioner Exclusive Drug Nutrient Depletion and Interaction Checker - https://www.designsforhealth.com/drug-nutrient-interaction/ Visit the Designs for Health Research and Education Library, which houses medical journals, protocols, webinars, and our blog. https://www.designsforhealth.com/research-and-education/education The Designs for Health Podcast is produced in partnership with Podfly Productions. Chapters: 00:00 Intro. 02:49 Robert Yang's career focuses on sports and performance nutrition and working with elite associations and athletes. 05:54 Key points of long-term athletic development and training for youth.  10:15 Training youth athletes fast throughout growth spurts. 18:07 A foundation of hydration and sodium in training athletes. 24:00 Protein recommendations during training and growth spurts. 29:24 Protein, fat, and fiber for blood sugar control. 30:34 Athletes, GI issues, leaky gut, and inflammation markers. 34:54 Dr. Yang's approach to anti-inflammatories, NSAIDs, and nutrients. 38:33 Lab panels for iron deficiencies and excess storage iron. 41:28 Creatine, amino acid, and other preferred supplements for pre- and post-workout. 49:02 Robert's nutrition strategy and views on intermittent fasting. 56:39 Intra-workout strategies for aging and average patients. 59:25 Post-workout carbohydrates and protein ratio recommendations. 1:04:30 Adaptogens, essential fatty acids, fish oil, and Omega-3 index numbers. 1:10:40 Nutrient recommendations for addressing traumatic brain injuries. 1:17:49 Robert's favorite supplements, favorite health practices, and his changed view on intermittent fasting.

It's an absolutely jam-packed show this week as we welcome Alan back to Extra Time. The first Extra Time of the new season no less! The team cover a ton of ground looking at Nygren, Tierney, Yang, Forrest, Idah and more. Alan then gives us his two cents on player trading profit at the club. Tune in!Want to support the channel? - https://huddlebreakdown.comLike this video and want more content like it? Subscribe to the channel below and hit the bell to get notified every time a new video goes live. Follow us on Twitter: @huddlebreakdown@Alan_Morrison67 @jucojames Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the past year, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has been as exciting and essential as DC's Absolute Universe or Skybound's Energon Universe. Writer Jason Aaron and artist Juan Ferreyra have built an unmissable monthly comic, not to forget the numerous other splinter titles and crossover minis. Shortly before San Diego Comic-Con International, The Hollywood Reporter announced Aaron and Ferreyra's departure, and we were a little heartbroken. Their time on the book was too brief, but if they must go, the news that cartoonist extraordinaire Gene Luen Yang and lifelong Turtle maniac Freddie E. Williams II eased the pain some. One of our missions for this year's San Diego Comic-Con was to return with more news regarding the TMNT baton pass between Aaron and Ferreyra and Yang and Williams. After moderating IDW Publishing's “The New Era of Turtle Power” panel, we retreated to the Hilton Bayfront, where we had a lengthy conversation with Gene Luen Yang about his passion for the Turtles and how he would apply it to the series, starting with issue thirteen. Also discussed at San Diego Comic-Con, Andrew Joustra, the script coordinator for the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, will write an arc for the newly announced Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, bringing the iconic Fugitoid character to the latest iteration of the TMNT universe. As passionate fans of Fugitoid ourselves, we had to trap Joustra in a media room for a deep dive into his take on the character and why he put so much of himself into the troubled fugitive android. Today, you get two podcasts for the price of one. With Gene Luen Yang, we discuss where we find the Turtles when his story begins, how they've grown throughout the Jason Aaron and Juan Ferreyra run, and why a certain new antagonist was necessary for his story. With Andrew Joustra, we explore the Fugitoid concept, his relationship with the Turtles through the various franchise incarnations, and why this story is so deeply personal. Be sure to follow Gene Luen Yang on his website, Blue Sky, Instagram, and TikTok. Also, follow Andrew Joustra on his website, Blue Sky, and Instagram. Our SDCC Coverage: Eric Powell and Harold Schechter on "Dr. Werthless" Alex Segura on Star Wars Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing on Thunderbolts Learn Oni Press SDCC Battle Plans Chip Zdarsky on Zdarsky Comic News Daniel Warren Johnson Live at Now Or Never Comics This Week's Sponsors We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. Do you want in on the biggest secret in comics today? IDW Publishing's Godzilla line of books is comics' greatest secret weapon. They're constantly snagging rockstar creators like James Stokoe, Tom Scioli, Andrew MacLean, Louie Joyce, Jake Smith, Eric Powell, Rosie Knight, and Oliver Ono to unleash their talents on cinema's most significant kaiju universe. And this July, IDW is taking their Godzilla books to the next level by introducing the Kei-Sei era. This new shared universe line begins with Godzilla #1 by Tim Seeley and Nikola Čižmešija. There's a new Godzilla design, a mess load of Kaiju antagonists…and protagonists - plus, superpowered human characters. Thanks to IDW Publishing, it's a good time to be a fan of the Big G and quality comics. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Brad and Lisa Gullickson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Sanford Greene in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Erica Korb from the University of Pennsylvania about her work on BRD4 and the histone variant H2BE, which influences synaptic genes and neuronal activity. Dr. Korb discusses the focus of her lab, which centers on epigenetic mechanisms impacting gene regulation in neurons. Her research primarily examines histone biology and its connection to neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities. Dr. Korb expounds on the collaborative environment at UPenn's Epigenetics Institute, emphasizing how the rich diversity of research topics fosters innovative ideas and projects within the community. Reflecting on her earlier work from her postdoctoral studies, Dr. Korb discusses her first significant findings regarding the protein BRD4. This work demonstrated BRD4's role in mediating transcriptional regulation crucial for learning and memory processes. She explains how disrupting this protein's function in neurons hindered critical gene activations required for memory formation in mice. This foundational understanding opened avenues for exploring the broader implications of chromatin regulation in various neurodevelopmental conditions. Transitioning into her current research endeavors, Dr. Korb reveals how she aims to expand her focus beyond Fragile X syndrome. With her lab now investigating multiple chromatin regulators implicated in various forms of autism spectrum disorders, she describes a recent project where RNA sequencing exposed substantial overlaps in gene expression changes associated with five distinct chromatin modifiers, each contributing uniquely to neuronal function while collectively demonstrating sensitivity to chromatin disruptions. A significant portion of the discussion centers around Dr. Korb's unexpected exploration into how COVID-19 intersects with chromatin biology through a phenomenon known as histone mimicry. Leveraging bioinformatic tools during the pandemic, her lab discovered that certain viral proteins mimic histone sequences, which may lead to altered transcriptional outputs in host cells. This coincidental finding illustrates both the creative adaptability needed in scientific research and the importance of collaborative efforts across disciplines to uncover new insights. The conversation also delves into Dr. Korb's recent work regarding the histone variant H2BE, initiated by one of her graduate students. She explains how prior research only recognized H2BE's expression in the olfactory system, yet her lab has demonstrated its significant role in regulating synaptic genes and memory formation throughout broader neuronal contexts. Notably, they identified a single amino acid change that influences H2BE's function in chromatin accessibility and gene transcription, emphasizing its potential evolutionary conservation across species. In terms of H2BE's role, Dr. Korb elucidates that its activity is integral in response to extracellular stimuli, particularly within the context of neuronal activation. Intriguingly, they found that H2BE expression decreases in reaction to long-term neuronal stimulation, suggesting a complex mechanism of homeostatic plasticity crucial for regulating neuronal activity levels. This research not only advances understanding of chromatin dynamics but also holds implications for neuronal health and disease mechanisms.   References Feierman, E. R., Louzon, S., Prescott, N. A., Biaco, T., Gao, Q., Qiu, Q., Choi, K., Palozola, K. C., Voss, A. J., Mehta, S. D., Quaye, C. N., Lynch, K. T., Fuccillo, M. V., Wu, H., David, Y., & Korb, E. (2024). Histone variant H2BE enhances chromatin accessibility in neurons to promote synaptic gene expression and long-term memory. Molecular cell, 84(15), 2822–2837.e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2024.06.025 Korb, E., Herre, M., Zucker-Scharff, I., Gresack, J., Allis, C. D., & Darnell, R. B. (2017). Excess Translation of Epigenetic Regulators Contributes to Fragile X Syndrome and Is Alleviated by Brd4 Inhibition. Cell, 170(6), 1209–1223.e20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2017.07.033 Kee, J., Thudium, S., Renner, D. M., Glastad, K., Palozola, K., Zhang, Z., Li, Y., Lan, Y., Cesare, J., Poleshko, A., Kiseleva, A. A., Truitt, R., Cardenas-Diaz, F. L., Zhang, X., Xie, X., Kotton, D. N., Alysandratos, K. D., Epstein, J. A., Shi, P. Y., Yang, W., … Korb, E. (2022). SARS-CoV-2 disrupts host epigenetic regulation via histone mimicry. Nature, 610(7931), 381–388. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05282-z Feierman, E. R., Paranjapye, A., Su, S., Qiu, Q., Wu, H., & Korb, E. (2024). Histone variant H2BE controls activity-dependent gene expression and homeostatic scaling. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology, 2024.11.01.620920. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.01.620920   Related Episodes Neuroepigenetic Mechanisms and Primate Epigenome Evolution (Boyan Bonev) DNA Methylation Alterations in Neurodegenerative Diseases (Paula Desplats) The Role of Histone Dopaminylation and Serotinylation in Neuronal Plasticity (Ian Maze)   Contact Epigenetics Podcast on Mastodon Epigenetics Podcast on Bluesky Dr. Stefan Dillinger on LinkedIn Active Motif on LinkedIn Active Motif on Bluesky Email: podcast@activemotif.com

Send us a textFairfax criminal lawyer Jonathan Katz one day Googled for other lawyers practicing martial arts, and came upon David Kaufman of KarateLaw.com . Now, several years later, Jon Katz speaks to David (now retired from law practice and serving as an expert witness and business security consultant) about applying martial arts experience and knowledge to criminal defense and to the practice of law generally, benefitting from the regular practice of martial arts, and keeping our wits and summoning our calmness during our legal battles. David has devoted years to learning and practicing judo and karate. Jon Katz daily practices the internal martial art of taijiquan Yang style short form, approaching every challenge in courthouse battle and beyond as one more opportunity to engage and improve in proverbial push hands / sensing hands sparring. For good reason this is Jon Katz's fourth martial arts-focused Beat the Prosecution episode. Great criminal defense is a fighting art, and the great martial arts already has paved the way for fighting in court and beyond. Jon Katz's zeal for fighting dates back for decades and continues to this day. This episode's links are on YouTube, on our URL and on Apple podcasts. This podcast with Fairfax, Virginia criminal / DUI lawyer Jon Katz is playable on all devices at podcast.BeatTheProsecution.com. For more information, visit https://KatzJustice.com or contact us at info@KatzJustice.com, 703-383-1100 (calling), or 571-406-7268 (text). If you like what you hear on our Beat the Prosecution podcast, please take a moment to post a review at our Apple podcasts page (with stars only, or else also with a comment) at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beat-the-prosecution/id1721413675

Last time we spoke about the battle along the Wusong Creek. The situation was dire for the Chinese defenders, who faced overwhelming odds. Among them was Ogishima, a Japanese soldier who experienced the brutal reality of war firsthand. Amidst the chaos, battles erupted along the Wusong Creek, where both sides suffered heavy casualties. Chinese forces, despite being greatly outnumbered in terms of tactical superiority, demonstrated extraordinary resilience, fighting bravely even when retreat was necessary. As the battle raged on, tactics evolved; Chinese troops fortified defenses and implemented guerrilla warfare strategies. The soldiers transformed the landscape into a fortification, turning abandoned buildings into strongholds. October brought a fresh wave of violence. The Japanese pressed their attack, unleashing superior firepower that gradually saw them conquer Dachang.    #161 The Battle of Shanghai #6: the 800 heroes who defended the Sihang Warehouse Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Before the fall of Dachang, despite the threat of court-martial for anyone abandoning their posts, a general withdrawal of all Chinese forces in the Jiangwan salient was already in progress. As early as the night between October 24 and 25, the divisions within the salient had been ordered to move their baggage trains and support services back southwest across Suzhou Creek, utilizing the Zhongshan Bridge and Jessfield Railway Bridge. As the fighting intensified north of Zhabei in the subsequent days, the flow of soldiers, vehicles, and pack animals continued. By the night between October 26 and 27, the Chinese completely vacated metropolitan Shanghai north of Suzhou Creek. A foreign journalist wrot “The enormous Chinese army simply melted away and at dawn the Japanese found themselves facing empty positions. The two armies were no longer in contact.” During their retreat from Zhabei, the Chinese systematically set fire to thousands of shops and homes, implementing a scorched earth policy. At 7:00 am on October 27, eight narrow columns of smoke cut across the horizon from one end of Zhabei to the other. Two hours later, these columns had transformed into “huge black pillars stretching towards the azure sky.” By afternoon, a massive wall of smoke stretched four miles long, rising thousands of feet into the air. In the words of a German advisor, it was a fire “of unimaginable extent” that raged out of control for several days, repeatedly threatening to spill into the International Settlement. Refugees who had left Zhabei weeks or months earlier, hoping to return now that the fighting seemed to be over, were devastated to see their homes consumed by an immense sea of flames. The Japanese Army, or more specifically the doctrine guiding it in the field, failed in two significant ways by allowing some of China's best divisions to escape the trap they had set for them. First, on the evening of October 26, after taking Dachang, the Japanese columns could have advanced across Zhabei right to the edge of the International Settlement. Instead, they followed orders and ceased their advance at the line they had reached at sunset. German advisor Borchardt wrote “The only explanation for this is the lack of independent thinking among junior Japanese commanders and their fear of deviating even slightly from a meticulously detailed attack plan.  Since the Japanese focused on rallying and reorganizing their forces after the fall of Dachang, they missed an opportunity for a victory so decisive that the Chinese would have been forced to give up their continued resistance in Shanghai.” If the Japanese made their first mistake by leaving a door open for the enemy to escape, they committed a second error by failing to notice that the enemy was using that door. Although Japanese reconnaissance planes monitored the two main bridges utilized by the Chinese to retreat and even deployed parachute flares to detect movements at night, they inexplicably failed to observe the Chinese withdrawal. The retreat was executed precisely as planned, with every piece of artillery withdrawn. This allowed the Chinese to occupy prepared positions south of Suzhou Creek and around Nanxiang, enabling them to continue the fight another day. Despite their missteps, the Japanese initially celebrated their conquest of Zhabei as a victory, placing thousands of small Rising Sun flags throughout the district's ruins. Amid this sea of white and red, the only relatively intact structure, the Four Banks' Warehouse, starkly reminded them that the Chinese still maintained a foothold north of Suzhou Creek. Rumors began to circulate that the soldiers inside had vowed to fight to the death. The Japanese came to realize that their triumph in Zhabei would be perceived as flawed and would even resemble a defeat as long as the warehouse remained in Chinese hands. It was back on October 26, Chiang Kai-shek ordered all forces in Shanghai to withdraw to the western rural region. To facilitate a safe retreat, a rearguard was necessary, as is standard in military withdrawals. Chiang issued orders to General Gu Zhutong, the acting commander of the 3rd Military Region, to leave the 88th Division behind, not only to buy time for the retreating forces but also to stage a final grand stand in front of the Shanghai International Settlement. This was a last-ditch effort to gain international support, as the nine Great Powers were set to convene on November 6. However, General Gu Zhutong was personally attached to the 88th Division, and thus reluctant to abandon them. It's worth noting that he was acting commander in this position because his next post was to lead the 88th Division. Therefore, he telegrammed the divisional commander at the time, General Sun Yuanliang, who also opposed the plan to leave the 88th Division behind. While neither Gu Zhutong nor Sun Yuanliang were willing to disobey orders from the Generalissimo, Sun proposed a solution: They could leave a portion of the troops behind, just not the entire 88th Division. In his words, “How many people we sacrifice would not make a difference; it would achieve the same purpose.” Sun suggested leaving behind a single regiment from the 88th Division to defend one or two heavily fortified positions. Gu Zhutong agreed to this plan, and at that time, the 88th Divisional Headquarters was located at the Sihang Warehouse. The Sihang Warehouse is a six-story concrete building situated in the Zhabei district, just north of Suzhou Creek, at the northwestern edge of the New Lese Bridge. The warehouse was constructed collaboratively by four banks, hence the name "Sihang," which translates to "four banks." Directly across Suzhou Creek lies the Shanghai International Settlement, a neutral territory where Western foreigners resided. The fighting would occur literally just across the creek, forcing Western observers to witness the heroic last stand that China would make in Shanghai up close. For those who might not be aware, there is an outstanding film titled “The Eight Hundred.” I even reviewed the movie on my channel, the Pacific War Channel, on YouTube. The film excellently captures the remarkable situation, depicting an extravagant city on one side of a river, filled with entertainment, casinos, bars, and restaurants. The international community enjoys their vibrant lives, full of colors and lights, while on the other side lies a literal warzone. The Sihang Warehouse stands there, bullet-ridden, as the Japanese continuously attempt to storm it against the Chinese defenders. It's a compelling film worth checking out, feel free to take a look at my review as well! Returning to the story, Sun Yuanliang reconsidered and believed that leaving an entire regiment was excessive. Instead, he opted to leave behind an over-strength battalion. The 1st Battalion of the 524th Regiment was chosen for this task. A young colonel, Xie Jinyuan, who was also new to the 88th Division, volunteered to lead the battalion. No one who had met Xie Jinyuan could doubt that he was the ideal choice to lead the battalion that would stay behind, holed up inside the Sihang Warehouse in a corner of Zhabei, demonstrating to both the domestic and international audience that China remained resolute in its resistance against Japanese aggression. The 32-year-old graduate of the elite Central Military Academy, who had been stationed in Shanghai with the 88th Division since hostilities began in August, was a soldier to the core. He stood as straight as a bayonet, and according to a foreign correspondent who met him, even while wearing a mask, he was unmistakably a military man. In the correspondent's words, he represented “modern China stripped for action.” Upon receiving his assignment on the night of October 26, Xie Jinyuan went directly to the warehouse and was pleased with what he found. It resembled a virtual fortress. Each of its walls was pockmarked with numerous rifle slots, ensuring that attacking infantry would face a barrage of fire from the building's well-defended positions. It was evident that once the Japanese arrived, they would surround the structure on three sides; however, a link remained to the International Settlement to the south across Lese Bridge. British forward positions were as close as 40 feet away, and with careful maneuvering and a bit of luck, it was likely that the injured could be evacuated under the cover of darkness. From a tactical standpoint, it was an ideal location.   Still, improvements were possible, and Xie ordered the soldiers already present to work through the night to enhance their defenses. They had an ample supply of large bags filled with wheat and corn at their disposal, which served as excellent substitutes for sandbags. Xie Jinyuan's first challenge was to rally the soldiers of the 524th Regiment's 1st Battalion to occupy the warehouse positions. This was a complex task, given the short notice, as the companies and platoons were scattered throughout Zhabei, and some had unknowingly begun moving west with the rest of the Chinese Army, unaware of the orders their battalion had received. Throughout the night, Xie and his second-in-command, Yang Ruifu, dispatched orderlies through the blazing streets in search of their men amidst the throng of retreating soldiers. Eventually, their efforts bore fruit. By 9:00 a.m. on October 27, the last remaining soldiers of the battalion arrived at the warehouse. By then, Xie Jinyuan's force consisted of just over 400 officers and soldiers. This was a minuscule number compared to the might of the Japanese military, and they were immediately put to the test. Xie was unfamiliar with the men under his command, effectively being thrown into the deep end, so to speak. The location chosen for their stand was, of course, the Sihang Warehouse. The 1st Battalion originally comprised eight hundred men, but casualties incurred during the Battle of Shanghai had reduced their numbers to just 452 soldiers before the defense of the Sihang Warehouse began. Each soldier was armed with either a Hanyang 88 or Chiang Kai-shek rifle, an 8mm Mauser, grenades, a German M1935 Stahlhelm, a gas mask, and they also had some Czech ZB vz.26 light machine guns, along with four Type 24 Maxim guns. They would face off against the forces of the 3rd IJA Division, commanded by General Iwane Matsui, as well as the 10th Battalion, 8th, and 9th Companies of the Shanghai Special Naval Landing Force under Captain Okochi Denshichi. The Japanese forces were further bolstered by approximately 260 sailors from the Yokosuka 2nd Independent SNLF Company and another 200 sailors from the Kure 1st SNLF 2nd Company. Additionally, the 8th and 9th Companies of the Shanghai SNLF, originally attached to the 4th Artillery Battalion, would provide support with howitzers and mountain guns. In total, around 980 infantrymen from the reinforced 10th Battalion of the Shanghai SNLF, along with another 200 artillerymen from the 8th and 9th Companies, were involved in the Japanese assault on the Sihang Warehouse. Xie Jinyuan consolidated his battalion's defenses inside the Sihang Warehouse, believing it would provide his men the highest chance of holding out for as long as possible. He correctly assessed that the Imperial Japanese Army would be unable to use their heaviest artillery, aerial bombardment, gas attacks, or naval guns for fear of accidentally striking the International Settlement. It's important to remember that this was 1937, and the Empire of Japan was not willing to risk open warfare with Western nations until 1941. What the Japanese did have access to were armored vehicles, such as the Type 94 tankettes. The Japanese infantry were equipped with various weapons, including the Arisaka Type 38 rifle, Type 11 and Type 96 light machine guns, the Nambu Type 14 pistol, Type 92 heavy machine gun, Type 97 grenade, Type 89 grenade discharger, and the Type 93 flamethrower. On October 27, various companies of the battalion reached the Sihang Warehouse after a fighting withdrawal. By this point, they numbered 414 men, who essentially volunteered for a suicide mission and were later acknowledged by Chiang Kai-shek for their “exemplary soldierly conduct.” The 1st Battalion was commanded by Army Major Yang Ruifu, and their forces included the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Companies, as well as a Machine Gun Company, totaling 452 men once the remaining soldiers arrived. Due to two months of intense fighting in Shanghai, many of the German-trained elite troops had been killed or wounded, leaving the majority of the reinforcements at the Sihang Warehouse to be garrison troops from the surrounding provinces. Many of these soldiers came from the 5th Regiment of the Hubei Province Garrison, which meant that many were also inexperienced recruits. On October 27, news began to circulate throughout Shanghai that Chinese forces were still resisting the Japanese in the Zhabei district at the Sihang Warehouse. At 4 a.m., a Girl Guide named Yang Huimin approached a British guard at a post at the Chinese end of the New Lese Bridge, where she noticed a British soldier tossing a pack of cigarettes into the warehouse. Yang asked the soldier what he was doing, and he informed her that there was a battalion of Chinese soldiers inside. She then wrote a message and requested that the soldier place it inside a cigarette box and toss it over. Soon, the Chinese tossed back the cigarette box with a message indicating they needed food, ammunition, and lubricant for their weapons. Yang then left the bridge and began pleading for help at the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, but no one believed her story. Xie Jinyuan deployed the 1st Company, led by Captain Tao Xingchun, on the right side of the warehouse along Tibet Road. The 3rd Company, led by Shi Meihao, was stationed on the left across from the Bank of Communications building, while the 2nd Company, commanded by Deng Ying, held the other sides. Two heavy Type 24 Maxim machine guns were mounted on the roof of the Sihang Warehouse, with additional machine guns distributed among each company. A forward platoon from each company was sent out to provide early warning of any enemy attack. Furthermore, Xie ordered his combat engineers to place remote-detonated charges in front of the warehouse. His units were strategically dispersed with rifles and machine guns throughout the warehouse and on the rooftop. They reinforced the building with bags of sand, corn, and beans, and razed surrounding structures to create a deadly killing field. At 7:30 am an advance outpost reported seeing Japanese marines near the North Train Station, and 45 minutes later, it confirmed that the enemy's flag was flying over that building. The Chinese soldiers were ordered to engage the advancing IJA 3rd division, and over the next two hours, they executed a fighting retreat back toward the warehouse. A brief pause ensued, during which the Chinese defenders prepared themselves, with some taking up positions on the various floors of the warehouse and others crouching behind an outer wall surrounding the building. At 1:00 pm a Japanese column approached the warehouse, confidently marching down the middle of the road behind a large Rising Sun banner. It appeared more like a victory parade than a tactical maneuver. Once they were in range, the Chinese officers ordered their men to fire. Five Japanese soldiers fell, causing the rest of the column to scramble for cover. Within an hour, the Japanese had amassed enough troops to attempt a storming assault on the warehouse. A sizable force surrounded the building, unleashing so much firepower that the Chinese were forced to abandon the outer wall and retreat to the warehouse itself. Although the defenses remained solid, the crisis was far from over, and the attackers appeared to have gained dangerous momentum The first bloodshed occurred when ten IJA soldiers were killed while attempting to secure fortifications around the warehouse that had been rigged with explosives. At 2 p.m., a National Revolutionary Army  platoon led by Yin Qiucheng exchanged fire with approximately fifty IJA troops. By 3 pm, an IJA company consisting of around 194 men launched an attack on the warehouse from the west. During this engagement, the 3rd Company commander, Shi Meihao, was shot in the face but continued to lead the defense until he was shot again in the leg. Meanwhile, about seventy IJA soldiers took cover in a blind spot just southwest of the warehouse. In response, the NRA climbed to the rooftop and threw grenades at the IJA, killing seven and wounding twenty. The initial assault by the IJA was a failure, prompting them to set fire to the northwestern section of the warehouse, where fuel and lumber were stored. By 5 pm., firefighter efforts had extinguished the blaze, as the IJA were preoccupied with looting the Zhabei area. At this point, Yang Ruifu, the second-in-command, commanded a dozen soldiers to rush to the roof and lob hand grenades at the Japanese forces below. This counterattack halted the Japanese advance. As the Japanese withdrew, they left behind seven dead. Much of the fighting was closely watched by excited Chinese on the other side of the 60-yard Suzhou Creek. Each time news spread of another Japanese soldier being killed, a triumphant cheer erupted from the crowd. At 9 pm, battalion commander Yang Ruifu assessed that there would likely be no further IJA attacks that day and ordered the NRA to repair their fortifications and eat their meals. However, no one slept that night. The NRA suffered two deaths and four wounded, while the IJA reported seventeen dead and twenty wounded. Foreign correspondents witnessed the battle from the safety of Suzhou Creek, enjoying a front-row seat to the harsh reality of urban combat. One reporter observed a small group of Japanese soldiers cautiously approaching the warehouse, navigating through the broken masonry and twisted metal. Crawling from cover to cover, it took them 50 minutes to traverse just 50 yards. The Chinese defenders, watching from concealed vantage points, had been monitoring their movements all along. Once the Japanese party was close enough, the defenders unleashed a barrage of hand grenades. After the dust settled, they used their rifles to finish off anyone still able to move. Several Japanese attempting to rescue their wounded comrades were also killed. It was a war without mercy. Even after darkness fell over the warehouse, there was no time for sleep. The soldiers worked tirelessly to repair damages and reinforce their positions.  The next morning, Xie Jinyuan contacted the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce for assistance, having received their phone number from Yang Huimin. At 7 am on October 28, Japanese bombers began to circle the warehouse but refrained from dropping any bombs for fear of hitting the International Settlement. Surrounding the rooftops of nearby buildings was a sea of Rising Sun flags, serving to intimidate the NRA and signal that they were encircled. By 8 am, Xie delivered a pep talk to the defenders and noticed an IJA squad advancing along the Suzhou Creek. According to Yang Ruifu's memoirs, Xie picked up a rifle and shot one of the IJA soldiers from over a kilometer away, halting the squad's advance. At 3 pm, it began to rain as the IJA launched a major attack on the west side of the warehouse, taking control of the Bank of Communications building. From there, they deployed machine guns and cannons to bombard the north face of the warehouse. However, the cannons were unable to significantly damage the six-foot-thick walls, and the Japanese troops in the bank building were easily suppressed by the defenders on the warehouse roof, who enjoyed a superior vantage point. After two hours of fighting, the Japanese gave up on the attack but managed to cut electricity and water to the warehouse. Yang Ruifu ordered strict rationing, with each company placing its water reserves under guard and collecting urine in large barrels for firefighting purposes if necessary. Witnessing the fierce Chinese resistance, the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce was invigorated, and news of the stand quickly spread via radio. Crowds of 30,000 people gathered along the southern bank of the Suzhou Creek, cheering the defenders on. In response, ten truckloads of aid were donated by Shanghai citizens, making their way over the bridge to the warehouse throughout the night. The defenders received food, fruit, clothing, utensils, and letters of support from the citizens. A few journalists attempted to visit, but due to the commanding officers being busy, they only managed to meet with Lei Xiong, the Machine Gun Company commander. Xie Jinyuan also utilized the same trucks to transport ten wounded men into the International Settlement. During these truck transit actions, three NRA soldiers were killed by Japanese sharpshooters. Yang Huimin courageously ran to the warehouse to personally deliver the Republic of China flag to Xie Jinyuan. Upon receiving the flag, Xie was asked by a reporter about his plans, to which he simply replied, “Defend to the death.” Yang Huimin then requested a list of the soldiers' names to announce to the entire country. However, Xie was reluctant to provide this information, fearing it would reveal his actual numbers and prompt the Japanese to storm the warehouse. Instead, he wrote down 800 names from the original 524th Regiment's roster. Thus, the legend of the “800 Heroes” was born. The next morning, the Republic of China flag was hoisted on a thirteen-foot pole atop the Sihang Warehouse. Since Yang Huimin had only delivered the flag without a pole, the defenders constructed a makeshift pole using two bamboo culms tied together, holding a flag-raising ceremony. Crowds gathered in the International Settlement, reaching up to thirty thousand in number, shouting “Zhōnghuá Mínguó wànsu!” (Long live the Republic of China). Japanese aircraft attempted to destroy the flag with strafing fire but were unsuccessful and were forced to retreat due to anti-aircraft fire. At noon, the IJA launched their largest offensive to date, attacking the warehouse from all directions with Type 94 tankettes and cannons. The 3rd NRA Company was pushed out of their defensive lines to the base of the warehouse and then further into the warehouse itself. The IJA's cannon fire chipped away at the warehouse structure, creating new firing ports on the windowless west wall. The Japanese attempted to scale the walls to the second floor using ladders. Xie Jinyuan was positioned near a window when two IJA soldiers managed to climb into the second floor beside him. He choked the first soldier to death and shot the other while kicking over the ladder they had used. The situation became dire as a platoon of IJA soldiers began placing explosives to breach the west wall. As the battle raged on, the IJA platoon continued planting explosives at the base of the west wall in an effort to breach it. When the Chinese defenders noticed what they were doing, 21-year-old Private Chen Shusheng, armed with a grenade vest, jumped from a second-story window onto the IJA platoon that was planting the explosives. His suicide attack killed himself and twenty Japanese soldiers below. The fighting continued until darkness fell, with waves of IJA soldiers storming the warehouse using armored vehicles. Ultimately, the IJA had to abandon their assault and began digging a tunnel towards the warehouse with an excavator. In response, posters emerged in the International Settlement, showcasing the movement of the IJA to the NRA. At 7 am, on October 30, the IJA recommenced their attacks, this time employing heavy artillery, firing approximately one shell per second throughout the day. The NRA responded by reinforcing the warehouse with additional sandbags. As night approached, the IJA utilized floodlights to illuminate the warehouse, allowing their artillery fire to continue unabated. Despite the overwhelming firepower, the defenders still managed to destroy some of the IJA's armored vehicles. The International Settlement exerted pressure on the IJA to cease the artillery fire, as it was dangerously close to their area. They informed the IJA that they would attempt to persuade the NRA to end their defense. A petition was sent to Chiang Kai-shek to stop the fighting for humanitarian reasons. By this point, the defense of the Sihang Warehouse had accomplished all its objectives. The NRA forces in Shanghai had successfully redeployed to more favorable positions in the rural west. Moreover, the defense of the warehouse had garnered significant attention from the Western world. Consequently, Chiang Kai-shek authorized a retreat. Chiang Kai-shek ordered the battalion to retreat into the foreign concession and to rejoin the 88th Division, which was now fighting in western Shanghai. A meeting was arranged with British General Telfer-Smollet and Yan Hu of the Shanghai Auxiliary Police to facilitate the retreat. The 524th Regiment would retreat to the International Settlement by crossing the New Lese Bridge. The 3rd IJA Division commander, Matsui Iwane, was notified of this plan and agreed, promising to allow the defenders to retreat unharmed, although he would ultimately not fulfill this promise. At midnight on November 1, Xie Jinyuan led the retreat of 376 men out of the warehouse and across the New Lese Bridge into the International Settlement. Ten NRA soldiers had been killed, and twenty-seven were too wounded to move; those soldiers volunteered to stay behind and man the machine guns on the rooftop to provide cover for the retreat. During the crossing, ten additional NRA soldiers were wounded by IJA sharpshooter fire. By 2 a.m. on November 1, the retreat was complete, marking the end of the defense of the Sihang Warehouse. After the battle, Xie Jinyuan reported that more than 100 Japanese troops had been killed by the defenders. General Sun Yuanliang stated, “Enemy corpses in the vicinity of Sihang Warehouse totaled approximately two hundred.” Xie Jimin claimed, “More than 200 enemy troops were killed and countless others were wounded. Two enemy tanks were also destroyed, and two more were damaged. The number of enemies was based on the daily counts obtained by observation posts.” The NRA suffered ten deaths and thirty-seven wounded, while the IJA incurred an estimated two hundred killed, along with several others wounded. However, a Japanese report indicated that after the SNLF 10th Battalion stormed the Sihang Warehouse, they found only 80 Chinese corpses. As of 2022, historians now estimate that 377 Chinese soldiers managed to retreat, suggesting that the actual death toll for the Chinese was likely around 33. The Battle of Shanghai was arguably unwinnable for the Chinese from the outset. It was only a matter of time before the Japanese would gain the upper hand due to their material and technological advantages. As the fighting dragged on, with the Japanese capturing stronghold after stronghold in the countryside surrounding the city, the immense toll exacted on the defenders led a growing number of Chinese generals to question the wisdom of clinging to a city that was ultimately destined to fall. They pushed for a more comprehensive withdrawal rather than the tactical retreat from Zhabei and Jiangwan that had already taken place. Otherwise, thousands more soldiers would die in vain. Moreover, there were serious concerns about morale taking a devastating hit, which could compromise China's ability to continue the fight. This was becoming a pressing issue. Chinese troops, who had initially entered the battle with an upbeat and patriotic spirit, gradually lost their fervor as casualties mounted in a seemingly hopeless battle. Once a division was reduced to one-third of its original strength, it was sent to the rear for reorganization and replenishment before being returned to the frontline. Most soldiers perceived the odds of survival as heavily stacked against them. Despite regular visits to the front, Chiang Kai-shek remained largely unaware of these grim realities. Officers who understood the true conditions in the trenches were also familiar with the supreme commander's stubborn nature and his determination to defend Shanghai to the bitter end. Given the circumstances, they felt it unwise to reveal the full truth to him. This charade could not continue indefinitely. In some units, the situation was deteriorating so rapidly that it became increasingly likely soldiers would simply abandon their positions. With mutiny looming as a possibility, senior commanders sought to persuade Chiang Kai-shek that a complete withdrawal of all Chinese troops from the Shanghai area to a fortified line stretching from Suzhou to Jiaxing, a city about 35 miles to the south, was the only viable option. In early November, General Bai Chongxi informed Chiang that the officers at the front could no longer control their men and that a pullback would serve as a face-saving measure, forestalling potential rebellion within the ranks. However, nothing they said seemed to impress Chiang Kai-shek. General Li Zongren, another officer who had previously attempted to advocate for a retreat, realized that arguing with the man at the top was futile. “War plans were decided by him personally, and no one else was allowed to say anything,” Li noted in his memoirs. Despite this, there were moments when Chiang appeared tantalizingly close to being swayed by the views of his lieutenants. As early as the first days of October, he seemed to favor a withdrawal from the front, only to reverse his decision later. A similar situation arose late in the month when Chiang called a meeting with his frontline commanders in a train carriage at Songjiang Railway Station, southwest of Shanghai. Before his arrival, the generals discussed the battle and concluded they could do little against the enemy's superior firepower. Upon Chiang's arrival, Zhang Fakui, the commander of the troops in Pudong, suggested moving ten divisions to prepared positions further in the rear, where defense would be easier than in Shanghai. The majority agreed with this proposal. At this point, Madame Chiang Kai-shek made her entrance, dressed in an expensive fur coat and fresh from a visit to the Shanghai front. “If we can hold Shanghai for ten more days,” she declared, “China will win international sympathy.” She was vague about the specifics but seemed to be referring to the upcoming Brussels conference. This declaration galvanized Chiang. “Shanghai must be held at all costs,” he asserted with firm conviction, as if that had been his sentiment all along. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. As Chinese troops retreated across Suzhou Creek, a small battalion under Colonel Xie Jinyuan held their ground, transforming the warehouse into a fortress. Despite fierce attacks, including artillery and tank assaults, they showcased unparalleled bravery. Reinforced by messages of support from locals, spirits soared. Amidst mounting casualties, they persisted until a strategic retreat was ordered. As dawn broke on November 1, Xie led the remaining troops to safety, leaving behind a legacy of valor that inspired future generations. Thus, the "800 Heroes" legend was born.

本期是“斯里兰卡”系列的第4期。我们带你从斯里兰卡的心脏地带一路南下，走过高山、平原与海岸，看到岛国的多重面貌。目的地有锡吉里耶（狮子岩）、康缇、努瓦拉埃利耶、雅拉国家公园、加勒和科伦坡。我们去拜访了斯里兰卡“好心人一家”的茶厂，看到了一杯“锡兰红茶”从茶芽到茶桌的完整旅程；也在雅拉国家公园与豹子、大象不期而遇；最后走进科伦坡，用一条城市漫步路线来了解斯里兰卡为什么会在2022年宣布破产？以及现在老百姓们的生活怎么样(更多图片和视频请在公众号“壮游者”相关推送中观看)。至此，“斯里兰卡”系列结束，在本次旅程中，我们穿过自然美景、殖民遗产与现代天际线，为你分享了斯里兰卡的历史脉络与独特魅力，感谢收听。|故事节点|01:06 亭可马里的沙滩04:44 狮子岩 14:08 末代王朝在康缇26:18 佛牙寺和植物园38:00 房东的“南北联姻”45:32 “好心人”家的大茶厂61:40 “锡兰红茶”发家史69:07 霍顿平原徒步77:41 雅拉国家公园的明星动物 83:15 大象能预知海啸么？89:50 高跷钓鱼和加勒古堡96:52 科伦坡城市漫步路线112:25 斯里兰卡是怎么“破产”的？120:21 在加勒菲斯酒店缅怀安东尼·波登|壮游者|贝贝&Yang:顺利结束斯里兰卡旅程的一对青年男女。壮游者是一档独立播客，很需要你的支持。1、商务合作请邮件至zhuangyouzhe@126.com,或者添加微信“zhuangyouzhe2018”2、请通过ZFB账号zhuangyouzhe@126.com对“壮游者”进行赞助；也可通过微信公众号“壮游者”文章(本期相关细节图片也在文章里呈现)下方的“喜欢作者”以及节目下方的“赞赏”对单期节目进行赞助。3、请订阅、转发、评论和点赞节目，并在你使用的收听平台为“壮游者”专辑打五星好评。加听友群可微信添加"zhuangyouzhe2018"，与主播和听友直接交流。谢谢你，让我们有机会一起前行。

In this uplifting solo episode of the SuperLife podcast, Darin Olien dives into the science and soul of happiness—what it really is, why we've misunderstood it, and how we can rewire ourselves for true contentment. Backed by decades of research (including the 85-year Harvard study on happiness), Darin explores the power of relationships, gratitude, movement, nature, and intention-setting as daily tools for thriving. Whether you're feeling disconnected or just looking for new ways to deepen your joy and resilience, this episode is packed with actionable steps, mindset shifts, and real talk to help you reconnect with what truly matters.     What You'll Learn: 00:02:15 – The true art and science of happiness in a chaotic world 00:03:45 – How to build resilience by stepping outside the “matrix” 00:04:21 – The #1 predictor of long-term health and happiness 00:06:35 – Harvard's 85-year study on relationships and longevity 00:08:12 – How close connections protect your brain and body 00:09:48 – Why “social fitness” is just as important as physical fitness 00:11:16 – The surprising benefits of aging: boundaries & positivity 00:12:32 – Meaningful goals vs. meaningless ambition 00:14:10 – Darin's mindfulness and breathing routines for mental clarity 00:15:46 – Why sleep is the ultimate superpower (and how he gets 8.5 hours) 00:16:13 – Micro-habits that reset your mood instantly 00:17:56 – The ripple effect of small acts of kindness 00:18:16 – Using nature and awe as powerful antidepressants 00:19:46 – Smiling as a nervous system hack 00:20:04 – Reframing negative thoughts and using them for insight 00:21:42 – The power of deliberately scheduling positivity 00:22:25 – Why writing out your “perfect day” can transform your life 00:24:39 – How contentment is your default state (and how to return to it) 00:25:23 – Darin's upcoming Patreon and the future of SuperLife content     Thank You to Our Sponsor: Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off     Get More From Darin Olien: Website: www.darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Podcast: SuperLife Book: Fatal Conveniences     Key Takeaway: "The science is clear—happiness isn't something you chase. It's something you build. One small choice at a time."     Bibliography of Key Studies on Happiness, Contentment, and Positive Outlook: Positive Relationships and Happiness · Harvard Study of Adult Development: An ongoing 85-year longitudinal study identifying strong, positive relationships as the single strongest predictor of long-term health and happiness. https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org · Larson, R., Mannell, R., & Zuzanek, J. (1986). “Daily experiences of mood: A study of the relationships between social activities and happiness”. · Baumeister, R. & Leary, M. (1995); Bowlby, J. (1969); Deci, E. & Ryan, R. (2000): Theories and empirical work on subjective well-being and close relationships. · Argyle, M. (2001); Dolan, P., Peasgood, T., & White, M. (2008): Links between quality relationships and happiness. Mindfulness and Mental Health · Keng, S.-L., Smoski, M.J., & Robins, C.J. (2011). “Effects of Mindfulness on Psychological Health: A Review of Empirical Studies.” Clinical Psychology Review, 31(6), 1041–1056. Review of empirical research on mindfulness interventions. · Systematic review and meta-analysis (Frontiers in Public Health, 2023): Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep. · American Psychological Association (APA): Review of over 200 studies showing mindfulness meditation reduces stress, anxiety, and negative affect. Gratitude and Well-Being · Emmons, R.A. & McCullough, M.E. (2003). “Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life.”. · Dickerhoof, R. (2007); Froh, J.J. et al. (2008, 2011); Wood, A.M. et al. (2010): Multiple studies examining gratitude journaling and life satisfaction. · Wood, A.M. et al. (2010–2016): Research into how gratitude predicts sleep quality, personality, and subjective well-being. · Systematic review and meta-analysis (2023): Gratitude interventions linked to increases in life satisfaction, mental health, and reduced anxiety. · Harvard Health (2024): Overview of gratitude's effects on health, sleep, and happiness. Growth Mindset and Happiness · Berg, J. M., Wrzesniewski, A., Grant, A. M., Kurkoski, J., & Welle, B. (2022). “Getting unstuck: The effects of growth mindsets about the self and job on happiness at work.” Journal of Applied Psychology. · Yang, Y., et al. (2022). “The Influence of Growth Mindset on the Mental Health and Life Perception of College Students.” Frontiers in Psychology. · MindVue Profile Study: Correlations between mindset factors and happiness, highlighting impacts of growth mindset. Kindness, Acts of Kindness, and Well-Being · Otake, K. et al. (2006). “Happy people become happier through kindness: A counting kindnesses intervention”. · University of Ohio study (2023): Compared acts of kindness, social activity, and cognitive therapy—finding acts of kindness improve life satisfaction and social connection. · Uprise Health: Report on neurochemical and well-being benefits of performing and receiving acts of kindness.