Peter Kersting | Professional Voice Actor for E-Learning & Audiobooks

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Cavalrymen remember such moments. Dust swirling behind the pack mules. Regimental bugles shattering the air. Horses snorting and riders' tack creaking through the ranks. Their old company song rising on the wind. Come home, John. Don't stay long. Come home soon to your own Chickabitty. The date was October 3, 1871. Six hundred soldiers and twenty Tonkawa scouts had bivouacked on a lovely bend of the clear fork of the Brazos in a rolling scarred prairie of grama grass, scrub oak, sage, and chaparral about 150 miles west of Fort Worth, Texas. Now they were breaking camp, moving out in a long snaking line through the high cutbanks and quicksand streams. Though they did not know it at the time, the idea would have seemed preposterous. The sounding of boots and saddle that morning marked the beginning of the end of the Indian Wars in America, a fully 250 years of bloody combat that had begun almost with the first landing of the first ship on the first fatal shore in Virginia. The final destruction of the last of the hostile tribes would not take place for a few more years. Time would be yet required to round them all up, or starve them out, or exterminate their sources of food, or run them to ground in shallow canyons, or kill them outright. For the moment, the question was one of hard, unalloyed will. There had been brief spasms of official vengeance and retribution before. J.M. Chivington's and George Armstrong Custer's savage massacres of Cheyennes in 1864 and 1868 were examples. But in those days, there was no real attempt to destroy the tribes on a larger scale, no stomach for it. That had changed, and on October 3rd, the change assumed the form of an order, barked out through the lines of command to the men of the 4th Cavalry and 11th Infantry, to go forth and kill Comanches. It was the end of anything like tolerance, the beginning of the final solution.

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Reading this is like an examination of conscience. That's what I told my wife many years ago, while preparing to teach a college-level moral theology course for the first time. I had spent the summer slowly re-reading one of the most important works on virtue ever written, St. Thomas Aquinas' Account of the Virtues, in his classic Summa Theologiae, Summary of Theology. In this in-depth, systematic treatment, Aquinas explains what virtue is, the different kinds of virtues, how they are connected, and how they are acquired. Most of all, Aquinas walks one by one through the virtues themselves, explaining each with his characteristic depth and precision. It was intense reading, not just because it was hundreds of pages long, with practically every line containing a gem worthy of my fullest attention, but even more, because of how it challenged me personally. It really was a kind of examination of conscience for me. On one hand, I was inspired by the high cult of virtue, how beautiful the virtuous life is, and how virtue wonderfully enhances every aspect of life, friendships, marriage, family, work, community, citizenship, and the spiritual life. On the other hand, however, I began to realize just how much I was falling short of the standard of virtue in my own life. This was not my first dance with Aquinas on the virtues. I had read him in various classes during my graduate studies, and regularly turned to him as a principal guide for forming my thought. But I was in a different place in life that summer. I was no longer a young, single doctoral student, living on my own in Rome and buried in my books, seminars, papers, and exams. I was now married, a father, a few years into my career as a professor, and pouring my life into ministry on campus. Aquinas' teachings on the virtues hit me in a new, much more personal way this time. Most particularly, I began to see more clearly the close connections between growing in the virtues and growing in friendship and community with others. Previously, I think I had a more individualistic perspective on the virtues. Prudence, fortitude, temperance, justice. These were noble qualities each person needed to be a good Christian, but the emphasis was on the self. One needed to grow in virtue for the sake of his own moral and spiritual progress. Acquiring virtues was almost like earning badges for the soul, marking important milestones in one's own development as a Christian. What Aquinas helped me appreciate at a deeper level that summer was how virtue was not simply something good for me. It was crucial for the most important relationships in my life, the relationships I had with my wife, children, friends, colleagues, students, and most of all, God.

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Geralt drew aside the curtain, stiff and sticky with dirt, which hid the entrance to the alcove. Six men were seated at the table. Shrike wasn't with them. What do you want, yelled the man who noticed him first. He was balding, and his face was disfigured by a scar, which ran across his left eyebrow, the bridge of his nose, and his right cheek. I want to see Shrike. Two identical figures stood up. Identical motionless faces and fair disheveled shoulder length hair. Identical tight fitting black outfits glistening with silver ornaments. And with identical movements, the twins took identical swords from the bench. Keep calm, dear. Sit down, dear, said the man with the scar, leaning his elbows on the table. Who'd you say you wanted to see, brother? Who's Shrike? You know very well who I mean. Who's this, then, asked a half naked athlete, sweaty, girded crosswise with belts, and wearing spiked pads on his forearms. Do you know him, Norn? No, said the man with the scar. It's some albino, giggled a slim, dark-haired man sitting next to Norn. Delicate features, enormous black eyes, and pointed ears betrayed him to be a half-blood elf. Albino mutant freak of nature, and this sort of thing is allowed to enter pubs among decent people. I've seen him somewhere before, said a stocky, weather-beaten man with a plate, measuring Geralt with an evil look in his narrowed eyes. Doesn't matter where you've seen him before, Tavik, said Norn. Listen here, Syrval insulted you terribly a moment ago. Aren't you going to challenge him? It's such a boring evening. No, said the witcher calmly. And me? If I pour this fish soup over your head, are you gonna challenge me? Cackled the man sitting naked to the waist. Keep calm, 15, said Norn. He said no. That means no, for the time being. Well, brother, say what you have to say and clear out. You've got one chance to clear out on your own. You don't take it? The attendants will carry you out. I don't have anything to say to you. I want to see Shrike, Renfri. Do you hear that, boys? Norn looked around at his companions. He wants to see Renfri, and may I know why? No. Norn raised his head and looked at the twins as they took a step forward, the silver clasps on their high boots jangling. I know. The man with the plate said suddenly, I know where I see him now. What's that you're mumbling, Tavik, in front of the alderman's house? He brought some sort of dragon into trade, a cross between a spider and a crocodile. People were saying he's a witcher.

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The rat brought the boat alongside the bank, made her fast, helped a still awkward mole safely ashore, and swung out the luncheon basket. The mole begged as a favor to be allowed to unpack it all by himself, and the rat was very pleased to indulge him and to sprawl at full length on the grass and rest, while his excited friend shook out the tablecloth and spread it, took out all the mysterious packets one by one, and arranged their contents in due order, still gasping, Am I? Am I? Am I? Am I? Am I? Am I? At each fresh revelation. When all was ready, the rat said, Now, pitch it now, fellow. And the mole was indeed very glad to obey, for he had started his spring cleaning at a very early hour that morning, as people will do, and had not paused for bite or sup, and he had been through a very great deal since that distant time which now seemed so many days ago. What are you looking at? Said the rat presently, when the edge of their hunger was somewhat dulled, and the mole's eyes were able to wander off the tablecloth a little. I'm looking, said the mole, at a streak of bubbles that I see traveling along the surface of the water. That is a thing that strikes me as funny. Bubbles? A-ho, said the rat, and chirped cheerily in an inviting sort of way. A broad, glistening muzzle showed itself above the edge of the bank, and the otter hauled himself out and shook the water from his coat. Greedy beggars, he observed, making for the provender. Why didn't you invite me, Rutty? This was an impromptu affair, explained the rat. By the way, my friend, Mr. Mole. Proud, I'm sure, said the otter, and the two animals were friends forthwith. Such a rumpus everywhere, continued the otter. All the world seems out on the river today. I came up this backwater to try and get a moment's peace, and then stumbled upon you fellows. At least, I beg your pardon, I don't exactly mean that, you know. There was a rustle behind them, proceeding from a hedge wherein last year's leaves still clung thick, and a stripy head, with high shoulders behind it, peered forth on them. Come on, old badger, shouted the rat. The badger trotted forward a pace or two, then grunted, Company! And turned his back, and disappeared from view. That's just the sort of fellow he is, observed the disappointed rat. Simply hates society. Now we shan't see any more of him today. Tell us, who's out on the river? Toad's out for one, replied the otter, in his brand new wager boat. New togs, new everything. The two animals looked at each other and laughed. Once it was nothing but sailing, said the rat. Then he tired of that and took to punting. Nothing would please him but to punt all day and every day, and a nice mess he made of it. Last year, it was houseboating, and we all had to go and stay with him in his houseboat, and pretend we liked it. He was going to spend the rest of his life in a houseboat. It's all the same, whatever he takes up. He gets tired of it, and starts on something fresh. Such a good fellow, too, remarked the otter reflectively. But no stability, especially in a boat.

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Hello and welcome to Hallow Sleep. Tonight we'll meditate on God's Word as we prepare for sleep. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Start by taking some deep breaths in through the nose, and out through the mouth. In through the nose, and as you breathe out, close your eyes. Allow your breath to return to its regular rhythm. Acknowledge the intent of this session, that we are seeking to grow closer to God. Ask him for the gift of his peace tonight. A reading from the Book of Psalms. The Lord is my shepherd. There is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down. To still waters he leads me. He restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff comfort me. Was there a word or an image that stuck out to you? Sit with it and let it sink in. As we close, take a moment to acknowledge how you feel, and thank God for this night together. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank you for praying with us tonight. Let peace be with you.

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Let's begin. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me. After each petition, say either out loud or in your heart, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being loved, deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being honored. From the desire of being praised. From the desire of being preferred to others. From the desire of being consulted. From the desire of being approved. From the fear of being humiliated. From the fear of being despised. From the fear of suffering rebukes. From the fear of being calumniated. From the fear of being forgotten. From the fear of being ridiculed. From the fear of being wronged. From the fear of being suspected. For the remaining petitions, the response is, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be loved more than I. Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I. Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease. Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be chosen and I set aside. That others may be praised and I go unnoticed. That others may be preferred to me in everything. That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should. Amen. As you prayed this litany, was there a particular word or phrase that stood out to you? Begin a conversation with God. Share with Him whatever is on your heart. And take some time to listen to whatever it is He is saying to you in return. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Thank you for praying with us today. God bless.

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Welcome back to Saints in 60 Seconds. Saint Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Franciscan friar and martyr in the German death camp of Auschwitz. Famously, Mary visited Maximilian when he was just 12 years old, offering him two crowns. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both. Ordained a priest in 1918, Kolbe tirelessly promoted Mary and founded new Franciscan monasteries in Poland, India, and Japan. His newspaper, The Knights of the Immaculate, openly criticized the Nazis. This criticism led to his arrest and eventually interment in Auschwitz, where he was branded prisoner number 16670. After two weeks of dehydration and starvation, Kolbe died on August 14th from a lethal injection of carbolic acid. Depicted in a prison uniform with a needle in his arm, Saint Maximilian Kolbe is the patron saint of drug addicts, prisoners, families, and the pro-life movement. Saint Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us.

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Chapter 1, St. James the Greater In the year 58, the Apostle Paul told the Romans in his letter to them that he was going to preach in Spain and would call to see them on his way there. We know that when he did get to Rome, he was not able to leave that city, but was put to death there by Nero. But according to tradition, there was already a Christian church in Spain at least 15 years before St. Paul said he meant to visit it. And that church was founded by St. James the Apostle, who is called the Greater because he was taller than the other St. James, who was also a disciple of Jesus.

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All right, let's jump into the world of FanDuel Sportsbook, where placing bets is a slam dunk. First things first, let's get you set up with an account. Download the app, tap on Join Now, and follow the prompts to create your username and password. Can you say swish?

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Look John strong leadership is vital during changes. We should invest in development programs to help us navigate Uncertainties after all it's about building confidence and trust with the team as we move forward

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Did you know that a single sneeze can travel up to 40 miles per hour and release up to 40,000 droplets of mucus? It can also spray 100,000 germs into the air. Hope you learned something important today

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Energy is essential. However, our reliance on fossil fuels for energy production poses significant environmental risks. Bloom Energy offers a sustainable solution through the utilization of clean hydrogen. This process uses electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using zero-carbon electricity.

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In this lesson, we'll explore how Mazda Connect helps you stay on top of your vehicle's maintenance schedule. This will ensure your Mazda stays in peak condition for years to come. To get started, simply navigate to the maintenance menu using the touchscreen display or voice commands.

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That was great! We've totally got this!

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So, your Wi-Fi's decided to take a coffee break? Fear not, fellow netizens. We're here to navigate this digital jungle together. Step one, the classic reboot. Give that router a little love tap. Okay, maybe a full-on power cycle. Step two, embrace the chaos. Unplug, replug, and channel your inner IT guru.

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Small businesses thrive with strong customer relationships and effective marketing. Start by getting to know your customers completely, and leverage tools like CRM to monitor your efforts. Interacting strategically ensures lasting success.

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Nicely done! I knew you could do it! Click the close button to exit.

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Meet Tad and Chad. These old-school kahunas spend all summer long on the beach fishing or catching waves, but every season they have a problem. Their coolers just aren't up to their outdoor adventures. The handles break, latches snap off, and the lids cave in. They need a Yeti cooler, one that can take abuse and simply doesn't break. Yeti products were built to perform where it matters most, so Tad and Chad can focus on their aerials and not worry that any moment their cooler is gonna bail.

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From interactive toys to immersive voice interfaces, our award-winning studio has designed and engineered thousands of successful products, helping the world's leading entertainment, toy, technology, and learning companies bring iconic products to life and generate millions in revenue. Creativity Incorporated is an integrated team of designers and engineers, all working under one roof to solve any digital or physical product development challenge. Reach out at infoatcreativityinc.com.

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To say the team at Sage Rush Coffee Roastery loves fresh roasted coffee might be an understatement. We prefer to call it an obsession that may or may not border on the problematic. But for our customers, getting the absolute best coffee is never a problem. But it doesn't stop there. We don't roast a single bean until you order it. Each morning, we schedule our batches to fulfill only the previous day's orders. That way, when we ship it that afternoon, it is the freshest coffee available. Sage Rush Coffee Roastery

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Education goes beyond the four walls of the classroom. The Tefl Academy, in partnership with United World Schools, is bringing education to children in some of the most remote communities, empowering students with the tools they need to flourish and choose their own pathway in life, and ultimately, break out of the poverty cycle. Follow and share our journey with us, while we teach the unreached.