record_id: 2daf8b3e-f83d-81b7-a632-dd203cc8cbec
created_time: 2025-12-31T18:35:00.000Z
title: 12-22 A Chronicle of Family Life, Media Consumption, and Shared Stories
source_url: /

[TRANSCRIPTION]
Speaker 1 00:01:05
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2 00:02:03
Turns out that way added a lot of time.
Speaker 1 00:03:25
next year and do that there or no i mean all right all right.
Speaker 1 00:04:51
You just need to make sure tonight you're crazy.
Speaker 2 00:06:37
It's dark in the morning. Hi.
Speaker 3 00:06:47
Happy New Year. Beer me. There's only one way we can do it.
Speaker 2 00:06:53
Beer me. What? Beer me. And the beer glass. I did everything else. You know where the beer glasses are? In case. Maddie? You know where the beer glasses are? The above the freezer. The chest freezer. The white. The.
Speaker 1 00:07:21
How you doing, honey? Where's his old backpack? I'm doing alright. I'm still full. So turn the bus along. Hm? It was a super long way to go. Where's his old backpack? It's still at the place. Oh. You can shut it.
Speaker 2 00:07:56
You want to do it kiddo. 
Speaker 3 00:08:01
Oh, never mind. I'll play it. I'll play it on my iPad.
Speaker 2 00:08:09
Oh, you can try it from the other side now. Okay, do you know how to pour it. 
Speaker 4 00:08:17
Yep. He's going to your base.
Speaker 1 00:08:30
That won't fit in Maddie's case. Right? I only had to get a little bit of bubbles.
Speaker 3 00:08:41
Because I... It was going to spill.
Speaker 5 00:08:44
It doesn't know how to pour it down.
Speaker 2 00:09:37
I didn't tell you, but I don't mind doing this. I don't mind the issue behind it.
Speaker 2 00:10:11
issue with you then, we had already talked about it. So he wanted to...
Speaker 1 00:10:33
Here's the thing, Maddie, once you have this iPad...
Speaker 3 00:10:37
Yeah, can I leave it there. 
Speaker 1 00:10:38
Yes. You won't be like, you'll be sitting down with it, like only on the couch. Like, close as possible to the floor. As close? You won't be on the floor, but like you'll be sitting on the couch with it. Do you like the blue color, Maddie. 
Speaker 3 00:11:10
Did I pick it up? You're hungry, aren't you. 
Speaker 1 00:11:18
I can eat. Am I starving? No. The boys had a late lunch. A super late lunch.
Speaker 2 00:11:28
Anyways, he thought Lin-Manuel was going to leave him. Why? That. You told me. I shouldn't say this. Yeah, you told me. But no, I said this. He didn't want to leave Lin-Manuel and take the sheep around London. Fine. You have to work as him.
Speaker 2 00:11:58
Yeah. Now that you're like this. Bow down. And then he throws a bag. The lawyer worked on me this morning. No, I'm not working. Because if he shows up, it's Christmas. But now I'm like, I don't know, I've agreed to serve for him.
Speaker 2 00:12:31
Now you can forgive him. You should call Roman once you're ready, okay? Why? Because the reason why his dad is asking...
Speaker 1 00:12:45
My dad? He was texting you? No.
Speaker 2 00:12:51
Do you need help with that. 
Speaker 1 00:12:52
Itches. Do you want to sit in the front on the...
Speaker 2 00:13:03
We can try his old case and see if this works. Maddy, do you want to try to see if your old case works? For now? We already know that. We don't know that.
Speaker 3 00:13:15
And we, and on chat TVT, we show you shoes.
Speaker 2 00:13:26
Okay. You guys are on chat TVT.
Speaker 1 00:13:32
I mean, the reality is just that, I mean, that one is like a box and this one kind of like does this. Oh, yeah, the camera. So, you know, none of it will, none of the features will fit. Maybe we can just take this and kind of put it around it. Yeah, but the camera won't be all right. I was going to say, I can take this off and just kind of put it around it.
Speaker 2 00:14:07
Yeah, I can't get off. Anyways, so so he showed up he showed up and it was like hey, he is tentative. You know the fire detail you grew up like that pile has a detail that.
Speaker 2 00:15:00
He's like, I don't think that you know, I want to do it a little bit differently if that's okay, you know, This way this way this way and you didn't read my note and because the elevations are this and this, you're gonna want to tuck it in underneath means like i see your point okay let's do it down um.
Speaker 1 00:15:29
good news is i'm off on the second too okay so 11 days off yeah sorry i don't want you to read.
Speaker 2 00:15:44
anything into it i read nothing i couldn't find my shoes this morning i saw them somewhere and then i couldn't find them when i wanted to go put them on your helper shoes what thank goodness you had your helper shoes my helper shoes these i wear these often but i wear my regular shoes in the car and then when i'm gonna go on the job site i change into these.
Speaker 2 00:16:14
Unless unless I'm not really if the pool is nice already then I won't.
Speaker 2 00:17:18
Okay. I'd rather go do it.
Speaker 1 00:17:27
Okay. I can do that then.
Speaker 2 00:17:30
Is that okay. 
Speaker 1 00:17:30
Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:17:32
But I don't want you to feel...
Speaker 1 00:17:35
I don't feel bad. I feel bad that I, that you have to go do that for me, but I don't feel bad.
Speaker 2 00:17:41
I'm also not trying to pressure you.
Speaker 1 00:17:45
No.
Speaker 2 00:17:45
To like...
Speaker 1 00:17:46
It's like, this is kind of around the time, because like I said, we all have like a wrench.
Speaker 2 00:17:59
How's the run guys? Huh? Can you guys give me useful information? Can I have an e-shirt? Good. Can I have an e-shirt? Babes, right? Do you complain this much when you rest? The run that they're doing is hard. I will say that. So, I joke, but they're doing hard.
Speaker 2 00:18:34
You know, it's the warmup, it's a 30 second sprint, 90 second rest, and that's six times. And then it's a 60 second sprint, 90 second rest, another six times.
Speaker 1 00:18:50
It's really cool.
Speaker 2 00:18:53
So, they've been- Is that long enough for you, Matty? Ooh! Do you need a longer shorter? They've been, so they've been doing that about three times a week, so, but. So, Eric, better. 
Speaker 4 00:19:12
Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:19:14
Ben, better? What was your record? huh how long was your how many feet was your sprint i think my best is 1.5 1.5 or 1.4.15 and on the on the 90. whatever you tell me you didn't hear it right here's i didn't check.
Speaker 2 00:19:52
there's dude i can hear it when it's not here i know which means you gotta do this.
Speaker 4 00:20:03
is it going.
Speaker 3 00:20:18
Hello, what are you taking out? You can voice this fine and then it goes to the exit.
Speaker 5 00:20:43
Does it. 
Speaker 1 00:20:44
Yeah, I might have to.
Speaker 3 00:21:02
Did you do that? How long did this take for Ben to write that. 
Speaker 4 00:21:12
I don't know.
Speaker 3 00:21:26
What? Check her out.
Speaker 4 00:21:38
Ugh.
Speaker 2 00:21:39
Like this? This is a good idea.
Speaker 3 00:21:45
I did it. I know. Then I had a puppy baby. What? I died. What? Then I had a puppy baby.
Speaker 4 00:22:07
Alright.
Speaker 2 00:22:14
Mommy.
Speaker 3 00:22:16
You say that to us, it's your turn. You're wearing shoes in a row.
Speaker 1 00:22:26
I know, I was planning on taking you guys golfing, but you forgot. Today? You know, I wanted to, but... Aw. It didn't make sense. I did it! No, aw, too fast.
Speaker 3 00:22:43
Let's do a mini 1v1 right here. That's terrible.
Speaker 2 00:22:46
I need, I need a couple minutes. I'm so tired right now. Yeah. And actually, like, working all day. Like, physically working. You wanna give me an address and whatnot? 911. It's not an address, it's a phone number. Two minutes. Okay. Five, five. What? Two minutes.
Speaker 4 00:23:44
One minute. What is it? Just keep going. Um, one question.
Speaker 1 00:24:02
What's that bag behind this? What's that bag right there? I'm just picking it up.
Speaker 2 00:24:09
What's wrong with you? Yeah.
Speaker 4 00:24:12
No. What? No.
Speaker 1 00:24:20
Stop buying stuff. What was that? I didn't want to buy it. No! Candace, Candace had a total problem. It was about a car. I was saying, can the car, can the Tesla fit that. 
Speaker 2 00:24:30
It doesn't know what to check out? It's one.
Speaker 1 00:24:34
Uh, yeah. I feel like, I mean, you feel like you're talking about it. It's like, it's like, They have a lot of money, they're just disorganized. Oh, they is though. I think so, yeah. Oh. 
Speaker 4 00:24:58
Whoa! Hey. Oh my God! You see what I'm doing though. 
Speaker 2 00:25:12
The way you go, I put my body in between you.
Speaker 3 00:25:18
So now you're playing soccer. Hmm? So now you're playing soccer.
Speaker 2 00:25:22
You dive in. Oh, sorry. You okay? And I set the ball. Ah. 
Speaker 3 00:25:38
Now I'm gonna run it to a different building for us. Okay. good stuff yes pick the random photo i think it's what i thought now let's see, pastor for matthew.
Speaker 3 00:26:17
there's something capital no oh yeah something too definitely yeah.
Speaker 4 00:26:36
yeah no you hit a g.
Speaker 2 00:26:44
You're slow. You're slow. 2[REDACTED_PHONE].
Speaker 2 00:27:56
Oh, yeah, yeah, that was after our call died. I appreciate it. Did you go okay today? Okay, good. All right. Cool. Thank you.
Speaker 1 00:28:16
What's your plan on getting to Billy. 
Speaker 2 00:28:22
Um, I'll hit him up. So, it's just for photos. It's when you open up a file.
Speaker 3 00:28:49
That's what he's doing, that's what he's doing. I'm gonna have to go wipe my hands. Can I check out this stuff in my iPad. 
Speaker 2 00:29:12
Checking with Rowan though. Oh, he's trying to finish his bed. Do this.
Speaker 2 00:30:18
Hey Ebony. Hi.
Speaker 1 00:30:23
Well I think you guys are getting up at the same time, but you need to go to Billy's.
Speaker 2 00:30:28
Is he getting up at 1.30. 
Speaker 1 00:30:29
I don't know.
Speaker 2 00:30:30
I'm not staying until 3.30.
Speaker 1 00:30:33
Yeah. No, it's fine.
Speaker 1 00:31:39
Did she? Yeah, the $150 that they got was $100 from... No, I didn't, I didn't realize that.
Speaker 2 00:32:02
So, it means that you're, we need to update a little bit harder.
Speaker 3 00:32:11
Like what do you mean they just got a new, like.
Speaker 2 00:32:13
There, somebody, a hacker, like, hacked something that had your password, that you put your password into. Like, so let's say, like, I'm just going to make it up.
Speaker 3 00:32:27
Like someone hacked me.
Speaker 2 00:32:28
Roblox, yeah.
Speaker 3 00:32:30
Like a hacker is hacking my iPad right now.
Speaker 2 00:32:33
Can you explain it? Yeah. No, not your iPad. If you let me explain, I can explain it to you. But you've got to stop asking questions while I explain. Deal? Yeah. So, let's say you've got your password something 2015, right. 
Speaker 4 00:32:46
Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:32:48
And you use that for Roblox, right? And so somebody hacked Roblox. I'm just making it up. I don't know that it was Roblox. Somebody hacked Roblox and downloaded all the passwords for like a million people. So now, and then somebody discovers it and says, oh, this has been hacked. All these people, all these passwords, hacked. So Apple can check that list and go, hey, that's your password. Your password got hacked.
Speaker 2 00:33:21
So it's not you that got hacked. It's that somebody hacked Roblox. Your password was part of all that stuff that got hacked.
Speaker 4 00:33:32
No! Good question.
Speaker 2 00:34:18
Hey Ben, I expect more of you. It wasn't funny.
Speaker 4 00:34:24
I will say, and I think you'd appreciate this.
Speaker 2 00:34:48
Wait, I need to find a new way to... So when we do our sealant, we brought this sand into it, so it can stick to the sand.
Speaker 2 00:35:26
And the guys would, they'd throw sand into it, but like all the sand ends up on the ground. So I'm like, look. And so I was doing that today, and I'm like, let's do this. So I grabbed a handful of sand, and I just rubbed it up on it, and it was like, that's something else here. Right? So I put a cup, so imagine like there's a crack detail right here, right? There's a big old crack. So I put the sealant in, and then I have a cup of sand, and I grab some, and I put the.
Speaker 2 00:36:04
cup right here, and I go whoosh. And I grab more, and I go whoosh. It's like even my guy comes up. He's like you're just so much prettier than ours I'm like, yeah so much easier dude, and I do it in half the time and he's like oh, yeah.
Speaker 1 00:36:19
But when you're taking a stand up to create because you're putting it in so you can have a bonder, right? Something to bond to something about you. Like are you pushing the sand into it or no? Mm-hmm. Yeah, but like Do you want the sand to be pushed into it because then it's like encapsulated. I'm not think of it, I'm saying yeah the difference of like broadcasting and throwing it into the ground and then it's sinking in it's not.
Speaker 1 00:37:06
We're teaching to control up, for it to fall in, because if you're throwing it down then it causes it to create almost like a divot into the material itself, and then often times it's like encapsulated into a little starburst, and then like around it. But obviously like, if you're pushing it in, then you don't have anything to do with it.
Speaker 2 00:37:27
And I'm not really like pushing, I'm just kind of like skimming up, so I wonder if I get close enough.
Speaker 1 00:37:34
I hope you don't mind me.
Speaker 2 00:37:36
No, not at all. So essentially like the white is the material, all the gray is the sand. So I was able to get myself a layer of sand, essentially, right? But I did it from far away, so I didn't take any close up photos. I like that. But like, in the beginning, you see like all that sand fell, right? Whereas...
Speaker 2 00:38:07
at the end i had like nothing falling you know and it just looked like it looked like i had full, coverage 100 coverage of sand because here's my problem like we're waterproofing right yeah and, our waterproofing doesn't stick to the sealant it sticks to the sand well if i don't get 100 coverage there's a chance my water person's that water is going through.
Speaker 1 00:38:39
it through would you chill out yo i had to deal with that one i can't i've been like a dog with him all day and the second i found out that it had gotten canceled it was like you wouldn't even let me breathe without coming i'm like i can't even have a plan matthew you're all over me well she should you are obnoxious, You shouldn't have called them. No! What? You shouldn't have called them. I was sitting there just checking emails, and something else, and I was like, oh, the.
Speaker 1 00:39:15
thing was cancelled. They said that in front of all of them? No. And then Matty was like, no, no, no. 
Speaker 3 00:39:20
no, no. 
Speaker 1 00:39:37
no, no, no.
Speaker 4 00:41:20
Wait, no, no.
Speaker 6 00:44:27
And then I look over at Seraphina, ready to console her on the loss of her cousin, only to see implacable Dido's face unchanged, her hand in the air, her fingers snapping together. For there, as she walks, my hope sinks, and Cassius, a young, hawkish woman, gets a razor and jumps from the second row over the head-sposed city. She lands on the edge of the white marble and paces toward Cassius, her long razor rigid. She spits on the floor and enters the circle, where she crows her challenge to Cassius, her name and her writer's cousin, to open his veins. It's over, I say in protest to Dido. The feud was settled with Bellerophon. His feud is with the House of Ra, she replies. There is a part of me that wants to rail against her and to cry her hypocrisy, but the look she gives me is so reptilian that it activates the colder part of my own blood.
Speaker 6 00:45:01
The shock disappears, and I work to understand. Do you support this? I ask Seraphina. Though surprised at her mother's actions, Seraphina says nothing. Don't look to her, Dido snarls. I preside here. That creature murdered my daughter. He killed Rebus. The room cries for blood. Then, very softly, Dido leans toward me. But I can forget. I can forgive. And you can end this. Open the safe. Dangerous woman. I look down at Cassius and let my silence answer. Dido sighs. For Bellerophon, a House of Ra. She is not a shade, but she is fast and knows this gravity. She lunges at him with her razor, roving and probing like she's hunting boar. Knowing he's losing too much blood, she tries to draw out the duel, but Cassius continues to charge in close.
Speaker 6 00:45:35
She's more agile than Bellerophon, but not so powerful. Cassius manages to pin her against the rim of the circle, where they exchange a dangerous series of slashing parries. She scores two cuts on his right leg, but has no time to save at the moment. I see her die two seconds before it happens. Cassius flows into the autumn wind movement as easily as if he were sparring together with blunted weapons on the archie. He strikes three times at head level, locks blades, pushes against her so she counters his force, then he pivots right and slides his blade over top hers in a leveraged position so the tip enters her forehead and pushes through her brain before coming out her throat and through her jaw. She dies before she hits the ground. He slides his blade from her skull, flicks off the grey bristle coating it, and limps to turn and face Dido.
Speaker 6 00:46:07
I am Cassius Albalona, son of Tiberius, son of Julia, morning knight, and my honour remains. Dido snaps her fingers. Belagra. Another knight jumps down. Seraphina, you're going to lose another cousin, I say. No. The execution wears unheard. Diomedes does not retain his composure. Mother, enough! Belagra, honor haus Ra! The knights surges toward Acacius. This one was not the same quality as the first two, and dies quickly to Verum. Acacius parries a weak blow and splits the man in the other middle. His halves twitch on the floor and flee with his life's blood into the gold scissor. But something strange has happened. Despite the condemnation of the Olympic knights, the room broils with wild tears.
Speaker 6 00:46:37
Each death decays their manners in resolve and reaches into the crowd with forked, root-like fingers to enrage and poison another soul. A lover there, a cousin, a friend, a drinking companion, a brother in arms. From Dido's allies to Romulus's, the anger boils. It dawns on me, then, the cruel stratagem the woman has devised. I don't doubt that her hatred of Acacius is real, but they do not waste in the rim. Each death is a down payment for her war. Absent her holodrop evidence, she uses my friends to boil the blood, to distract, to divide her allies and foes together in anger. And the more Ra that fall, the more her position solidifies, the more the blood of the rim is raised against the interior, and not against her coup. This is the depth of her conviction, a willing sacrifice of her own kin to reveal whatever truth hides within our safe.
Speaker 6 00:47:10
I witness Dido at long last, the immensity of her resolve, the cruelness of her intellect, and I am terrified to think that I ever was so arrogant as to presume that Romulus is inferior simply because I heard it. I am terrified to think that I ever was so arrogant as to presume that Romulus is inferior simply because I heard it. She reminds me of the woman who taught me all I know, the compassion of her son, and the shame of my grandmother. At her side, Seraphina sits with a weary expression that seems to say she understands all the suffering that she must. But I cannot watch my brother suffer at all. There will be no angel, no mercy, just death, and for what? Cassius limps to his feet again, and standing over the body of his foe, the floor is littered. I am Cassius Albalona, the parents of Breath, the early good man, the son of Tiberius, the son of Julia.
Speaker 6 00:47:41
His verse is short, but his son is as bright as his voice. Morning night, and my honor remains. Mother, stop this madness, Tiberius cries out. He is one. How many of our blood will you throw away? As many as I want to demand, she says. Save your kid. No, he does not want us. I feel the words coming before me in her lips, because I saw Seraphina's legs bouncing, her fingers tightening the laces of her boots, and I saw Dino notice the glance of Cher. Now the woman turns to me, only one card left in her, and she pays it well. Seraphina, honor has arrived. Chapter Forty-Four, Lysander, Haan.
Speaker 6 00:48:15
Seraphina bolts upward like a coon released from its leash. She leaps, clearing the heads of those seated beneath us. Paul's feet are razor-thin. Diomedes watches in fear. Dolls clamoring for their chance to face Cassius now sit back down in disappointed silence. They think the matter's settled. Seraphina is the executioner. Cassius bleeds and sweats, his golden curls matted to his forehead, his knuckles sliced and savaged by metal. Blood soaks his shoes. His body is shaking from pain as steam trails up his flayed skin and open meat, but still he stands using one of the discarded harster for a crutch, watching neutrally as tall Seraphina lopes into the circle. This is his end, but there's nothing glorious about it. All I feel now is dread. The same dread from that day when I watched my grandmother die and did nothing to stop it.
Speaker 6 00:48:50
Not even when I saw Cassius and the Reaper's pack finish Aja. I cannot hate him for his part. It was I who did nothing to protect those I love. And I do love him. At this moment, he is true and pure and, in a way, everything I wanted to be as a child. Tears, unwelcome and unfamiliar, leak out my eyes as Cassius looks at me and shakes his head. Let me die, he'll say. That is all he wants, absolution and death. But it is the wrong absolution, the wrong death. Seraphina steps past the corpses of her cousins and nods to Cassius. Bellona, would that we had met as equals. You deserve better. We all deserve the word from Savar. Cassius replies. He wipes blood from his paling face. Shall we meet them together? In reply, Seraphina draws up into the shadow fall,
Speaker 6 00:49:23
the shade herself, and Cassius sinks into the willow way. Hoping to surprise her, and knowing he can't last for long, Cassius lunges forward with his remaining strength. It is not enough. She ripples into motion. Not as fast as Darrow, not as strong as Arja, but smoother than either could ever hope to be, sliding sideways easy as a bird's shadow over the sea. She blocks his blade with her harster, and spins her qatari from her belt, and hammers the blunted handle into his knuckles. Cassius's razor slips out of his hand and skitters over the bloody marble. He hunches without a weapon, panting. Sluggishly, he lunges for another discarded razor, but Seraphina cracks her whip and sends the weapon Cassius seeks flying into one of the walls. She stands over Cassius and allows him one last honor. My friend crawls to his knees,
Speaker 6 00:49:55
pauses there, gathering his breath, and with a groan manages to gain his feet. Dazed, he looks around Eurina, lost until his eyes desperately fight me. He gives me one last smile. One of thanks, because he thinks that I have let him die for his cause. But I watched Arja die, I watched Grandmother die, and I did nothing but huddle in fear. I stayed silent and obeyed when Cassius said, follow, because I was afraid by crossing him I would lose him and be alone. Here at the end of the world, in the belly of a mountain surrounded by enemies, what is left to fear? I will not watch any longer. I launch myself from my seat, sailing in the low gravity over the heads of the golds beneath me, to land on the white stone of the killing floor just outside the circle. Serafina turns around at the sound, stunned. I hold out my hands to the guards, showing I have no weapons.
Speaker 6 00:50:28
Don't, Cassius slurs. I will let them kill you. Do not step into the circle, Seraphina Giles. You have no right to this fight. His crimes are his alone. I turn to face Dido and the host of Ra. I have every right. I let the Martian draw and molt away from my voice like a tattered cloak to reveal my Hyperion heart beneath. And for a moment, I feel proud to represent the city of Light here, so far from home. Luna may never have been perfect, may never have been as noble as I thought it was as a boy, but it gave peace for 700 years. I tire of apologising for it, of being afraid of my own heritage. My days of running and hiding behind others are finished. I will no longer fear my name. My name is Lysander Alun, I bellow into the cold room. I did not know what weight my name still had, but the seismic tremors that now shape the room bring chills to my flesh in deep and powerful pride.
Speaker 6 00:51:03
Hate my grandmother all they like, the blood in my veins comes from Selenius the Lightbringer, greatest of our kind. It is the myth of my ancestors these people wrapped themselves in. The first Ra elected Selenius sovereign. They bowed to him, as did all Ra thereafter until this generation. Seraphina almost drops her razor. Her jaw hangs open. Dido curses under her breath and leans back in her seat, unable to comprehend it. Diomedes stands, a look of childish awe on his grave face. Cassius watches in silence, his heart breaking in his chest. I am the blood of Selenius the Lightbringer, son of Anastasia, son of Brutus, grandson. son of Lorne, now Archus the Stonesight, and Octavia the Sovereign of Man. Upon the Palatine, west of Hyperion, at the heart of Luna and the City of Light.
Speaker 6 00:51:33
I may know little of the Rim, but even in the heart of Empire they spoke of the honour of House Ra, of the Moon Lords, chief among them the Ionian Golds. Where has it gone? Has it deserted you? Has it fled after the tremors of war? You may have lost it, forgotten it, but I have not forgotten mine, and my honour will not let me sit idly as this travesty unfolds. I feel Cassius's agony, but I cannot look at him. Your blood feud is sated by any measure. The Bologna have been wiped from the face of the world. Do not fall prey to the very cannibalism that allowed the Rising to flourish. This man, this Gold, is not your enemy. I am not your enemy. The Slave King is. I turn in the Cold Fury to Dido. Bring me the safe.
Speaker 7 00:52:05
Chapter 42. Ephraim. Lucky you. We pull out of the rain onto the spikiest floor of an abandoned building on the outskirts...
Speaker 7 00:53:25
and look out through the windshield lights glare down from the level of both exposed electrical lines and ventilation tubes snake through the building in his chrome suit and black high collared duster gorgo waits in a grand old dilapidated green armchair beside an industrial lift smoking burners purple smoke slithers in a halo around his gigantic head never thought i'd be happy to see him i say to folger but i don't get out of the car will they honor the contract volker has i checked the account 25 million sits in the balance up there and the operators.
Speaker 7 00:53:56
is confirmed we have the prize we get the rest on delivery don't know you told the others they wouldn't it's not here what else would i say i look back into the passenger the prizes are twitching under the plastic tarp the aniseed is wearing off, Hyperion is about to be thrown off his axis. The Syndicate is making a play. They don't even begin to guess what they want, but I wish I could see Lionheart's face when she finds out. She pardoned gold rapists, slavers, murderers. Now comes the bill for stabbing the rest of us in the back. And she'll find, as the rest of us have, that she can be touched by this war.
Speaker 7 00:54:28
I should feel driven by righteousness, but instead I feel dirty sitting here with my human cargo. A man has to have a code. When did I begin to include kidnapping children? They can't very well break their own rules, I say, trying to convince myself. Are they broken if no one knows? Volga asks. When did you become a philosopher? I am wise. You are smart. This has always been our way. She sets a comforting hand on my shoulder. You stay here, wise one. I can carry them myself. I get out of the car. Volga follows. I look at her as she looks back willfully.
Speaker 7 00:54:60
All right. Together, then. Yes, together. We haul the prizes out of the car. I lean in and lift the bag off Lyria's head, positioning myself so that Gorgo can't see her hidden in the back. Remember that silence is golden. I set the bag back and leave her in the car. I let Volga carry both the prizes over her shoulders to Gorgo. He stands as we approach, eclipsing me by more than a foot and a hundred kilos. His black shark eyes drift back and forth between us and the prizes. Right on schedule, the Duke awaits. He puts out his burner and motions for us to stop. No weapons. I put my.
Speaker 7 00:55:35
pistol on the chair and Volga sets her plasma rifle down. Gorgo pats my arms, torso, balls, and legs with his huge hands. You enjoying that? I ask. Wordless, he flies the stiletto out of my boot and takes four more knives out of Volga's jacket. Really? I ask her. He shrugs. Gorgo finds two more knives in her boots and an acid shooter strapped to her calf. He stacks these with our other weapons and seems amused by the collection. Little Corollites toys? Would you like to be one of mine? she ignores his predatory smile with the children in tow we take a lonely lift up to the 52nd floor.
Speaker 7 00:56:09
where the duke waits for us amongst a host of syndicate thorns they stand in the shadows of the half-constructed high-rise light from their burners catching on jewelry platinum smiles and chrome job eye implants at the far side of the floor a sleek luxury yacht rests outside on one of the high-rise landing pads the duke applauds as we approach a debt was old a debt is paid he wears a jet black asp skin jacket with long calf-length tails his lipstick is violet tonight and he sits behind a plastic table with a steaming pile of half-eaten crab claws and two.
Speaker 7 00:56:41
bottles of wine punctual well-dressed and devastatingly handsome my dear you are a pleasure the three obsidian men behind his stare. Probably ex-legion, and wear dusters and their bright white hair long. The biggest is a head taller than the one that had emerald piercings. He drives a hat.
Speaker 7 00:57:15
The privates have agreed upon it. The knight is in a suit. Dano's dead, robbing the American. Mulder hands over the prizes to two forwards, who lay them down on the deck. The duke pulls the hoods off the children's faces. My, my, my. The queen will be green. See, I told you, Gorgo. He's pure quality. Syndicate of the dearest. Gorgo's right. Gorgo here did not think. He thought he was not like us.
Speaker 7 00:57:48
A man's reputation. You have to look.
Speaker 4 00:57:56
The landlady looks down on you. Oops.
Speaker 7 00:58:05
hello he rears back and slaps the boy across the face gordon twitches a red well falls on fax's cheek. weed that stares on trying to be brave we, duke's voice loses the effective polish bit by bit till he sounds like an animal inside he's trying to escape we weep the sight of it disgusts me, but i stay rigidly still afraid my duke gorgo says the duke looks up at him.
Speaker 7 00:58:40
murder in his eyes gorgo stares back evenly but says nothing more the duke slaps packs again and tears finally leak out of the boy's eyes the duke shudders with pleasure and tucks back a pink box of hair and a form of his eyes, he takes a teardrop on the tip of his finger and licks it off with his eyes closed gates make a justice, his men laughed vulgar's trembling with anger poor girl looks like she's going to lurch forward and strangle the man i shake my head at her but her eyes are fixed on the view the man's voice softens to approve.
Speaker 7 00:59:12
that he bends to stroke packs his face there then do not we, consider me an ambassador welcoming you to the real world, the rest of us have been here for some time but do not worry, you'll soon learn he turns to his form put them in my yacht no broth fled he wasn't damaged the queen's merchandise died she had quite a plan for them the men hauled the children up and take them away vulgar's eyes follow them so they disappear into the ship.
Speaker 7 00:59:44
apologies he says the polished back at the root i am a creature of severe passion i expect the rest of my payment now i say eyeing the thorns behind me they crept closer my voice sounds dead even to my ears, yes yes he makes a dismissive gesture to a thorn my data pad vibrates as the funds transfer thank you i say checking the number it's been a pleasure doing business that's it the ducas raising his plucked eyebrow am i a payday soul from maryland disney i thought our fraternity.
Speaker 7 01:00:15
ran deeper i even saved you a bottle of la dame chanceuse i was hoping we could drink it together, now yes now a toast to a success for the ages a triumph for the legal magic it's been a long night i'm not thirsty my darling effron where did the rogue go where is the bluster the charisma, dirty d is deserved.
Speaker 2 01:02:32
Hey guys, who, uh, who rode the Razor to Greenwood? It's still out in the street. There's a Razor out in the street, I should say that. It's been here since I got home originally. Sure. 
Speaker 1 01:02:58
If it's Matty's razor, it better be taken inside.
Speaker 2 01:03:03
Matty, how's it working for you? Everything working? Minecraft. Minecraft isn't? It's doing okay. Okay. You're back on the throwing? Yeah? Cool.
Speaker 4 01:03:19
Oh, really? Why wouldn't I?
Speaker 4 01:04:08
Thank you.
Speaker 4 01:04:45
How did you get up there? Oh my God, are you serious, dude? How?
Speaker 4 01:05:21
Hey, yo! Yes? Shut up. No! Yeah! Yes, Bailey! Bailey's the best hider. Because he ran from me so much. I survived more. It's whoever. Okay, Bailey's the best hider. What?
Speaker 4 01:06:05
Do you need. 
Speaker 3 01:07:09
you know for april 4th the download should be able to go to like 200 miles per hour. Rowan, I made up a new name for you. Rowan's Going Home.
Speaker 4 01:08:25
No. 
Speaker 1 01:08:31
You want to stand here with me. 
Speaker 3 01:08:39
Hi. 
Speaker 4 01:08:46
Shoot him! Wait. Be careful.
Speaker 4 01:23:07
Oh.
Speaker 4 01:30:04
Thank you.
Speaker 2 01:32:58
No, he's the one that unplugged it and everything. What did he do with the charger that was plugged into his...
Speaker 4 01:33:43
are you okay there's already one that one for me it's hard for me.
Speaker 1 01:34:47
I think that's a part of, it was like a Christmas light necklace that I just threw away.
Speaker 8 01:39:13
Hey, John. An ADHD person says, hey, mate, because naturally, we've completely forgotten what your name is. When a normal person says, I'll be there in 20 minutes, the ADHD person says, I'll be there in five minutes. Because once again, we have no recollection of what time it is or how long things take. Can you pass my keys? An ADHD person will say, have you seen my keys? Because naturally, we've completely lost them. Happy birthday. The ADHD person will say, absolutely nothing, because we have no idea that it's even your birthday. And when a normal person says, good night, this is when the ADHD person says, do you think you could wrestle 100 baby girls?
Speaker 8 01:39:51
Because naturally, this is the perfect time to ask that type of question. I'm going to teach you how to...
Speaker 9 01:40:09
Anybody struggling with bulging dicks, this... Anybody struggling with bulging dicks, discs, you're struggling with a disc, anybody struggling. 
Speaker 5 01:40:39
No problem, ain't seven! 2020, John Mark Comer wrote, you know, Ruthless Elimination, Hurry. I had a dollar for every 22-year-old intern who asked me about this. I wish I could slap him with John Mark Comer's book. You ain't got no husband, you ain't got no wife, you ain't got no, why are you in a three-week vacation? What are you talking about? You are two years old, you are an indentured, you ain't...
Speaker 5 01:41:16
Yes. Doing three jobs in 55. Trolls got the up. Not holy. Not celibate. Not. As you turn years old.
Speaker 5 01:41:55
Try to negotiate a salary that you'll pass.
Speaker 10 01:43:59
why are there so many different alberto if you've ever driven through southern california you've seen them alberto's alberto albedo's alberto this is not brand cons this is what happens when tacos meet unresolved family drama and no this is not a franchise back in 1960s one of the originals day old rice cook it fresh the cousins they didn't change the menu.
Speaker 10 01:44:43
they just painted over two letters same shop same food the family was 13 kids. For decades, it was the wild way. The name ended in, you could open a taco shop. No rules, no franchise, just burritos the size of newborns. Three in the morning. In the late 90s, a family trademarked Alberto's and the logo.
Speaker 10 01:45:19
Then they told everyone else, pay about $1,500 a month. Suddenly, tacos came with paperwork. So the spelling got creative, very creative. Alberto's, Albert's, Albeto's, Alberto's, Aliberto's, Alberto's. So it's different enough for lawyers.
Speaker 10 01:45:50
This wasn't a joke. In 2015... The trademark. allegedly kept those anyway a judge issued a restaurant yes nearly went to jail for burrito branding so when you see in alberto something suspiciously close you're not seeing a franchise you're seeing survival the rice might be fresh the salsa but that sign out front if you enjoyed.
Speaker 10 01:46:32
it and want more don't forget to like and follow but also share and repost.
Speaker 4 01:46:55
Thank you.
Speaker 11 01:48:45
geniuses the leader smashes the door instantly knocking with a brick genius move a guard shows up our hero runs the getaway drive he just leaves her guy throws that immediately has a mind of its own quick getaway the final third guy has learned.
Speaker 2 01:54:02
Kendra, your mother would like you to come. No! Sorry. We'll be here tomorrow.
Speaker 4 01:54:09
I just wanted to let you guys know that we're going to find Gary and help.
Speaker 3 01:54:13
Until... Can you right now see me uploading this. 
Speaker 4 01:54:18
What are you going to say. 
Speaker 1 01:54:24
So, five family family, see you guys soon. So I got on a phone call with MZG during the surgery. Who? MZG during the surgery. Yeah. Because I told you that she was going to have a parent. She... Sarah finally got ahold of her in front of us all on Facebook. But she unfriended everybody other than 33 people. Um... She called Gary and Gary picked up. She said like about...
Speaker 1 01:54:55
Like three... It started like about seven minutes or so. But in the last, like, three years, like, Karen has, like, pretty much stopped having, like, we're, like, living in the city now, so she will, like, really, like, avoid that. And, like, she went to counseling, and she wouldn't apply. She wouldn't talk about it. She started, like, kind of cutting up all their friends. And, like, she even, like, she said that she even started kind of, like, disassociating.
Speaker 1 01:55:31
herself with their friends at their church. Like, I guess, like, at one point, like, she didn't say that Jerry was abusive or whatever. But, like, he said that that, like, didn't go anywhere because it wasn't true. Weird how it all happened and how it all came out. She was, like, he goes, I still love my wife. I still want to go with my wife. I don't know. i did tell the three of them i said look there's something we said about a police officer.
Speaker 1 01:56:08
but the weird part is so he said she said they didn't want to she didn't want to do anything, for like for their anniversary this last year so he didn't because he didn't that's what she wanted. and uh and um he came home and she had booked like a jamaican cruise ship when we went on.
Speaker 1 01:56:41
the cruise everything was good he goes everything was back to normal it wasn't nice but as soon as we got home back to how it was and then six months ago he came home to her filing divorce papers. Not surprised, but like, kind of caught off guard by it all. So, because they were separated for a little bit, but then he said in their mediation,
Speaker 1 01:57:13
he won't, she won't meet with them in mediation at all, and won't talk about it. And the only, like they have a, they have one who's in college, one who's a senior this year, and then one who's like 11 years old. And she was like, I don't care what you do with this kid who's a senior, you can have him, I don't care about him, I just want the 11-year-old. Right, and he goes, she moved out as of last week, because they were still in the same.
Speaker 1 01:57:44
house. So Jerry's in the house, and she moved out, and she's like couch surfing, he has no idea where she is. He can't even get a hold of her, because he's supposed to get custody of her, like on Christmas, Eve, and he can't get a hold of her. She won't respond. When we were all kids, like, I know, we knew that, like, we knew that, like, she was, that her mom had, like, like, I said to the girls, like, do you guys remember, like, she would, I mean, not really talk about it, but she did a little bit, she said that her mom had, like, some mental issues or whatever.
Speaker 1 01:58:23
My mom was kind of, like, abusive and kind of, like, mentally, like, was going through some, like, stuff. I'm like, oh, yeah, I'm like, maybe this is, maybe, you know, she's kind of. I don't know, it could be, it could be, like I mean like, it could be, I honestly, their hormones completely change, I brought this up as an exact, Tim's wife, as an exact example, I said, we had dinner with them, like we were talking about all these plants, they were going hungry, to, you know, adopt kids, and Tim would describe it as like, all of a sudden, she just, you know,
Speaker 1 01:59:19
she just, you know, she just, you know, she just, you know, The challenging part is that.
Speaker 1 01:59:55
there's two frames of thought, you know, I've known police officers who put havoc into their homes, and they like to kind of not take them and just kind of manipulate them. I don't know if Gary's that guy. He's always been a pretty honorable guy.
Speaker 3 02:00:12
But that's coming up there. That's what we're eating.
Speaker 2 02:00:20
I think we should have dinner together, okay? I know you're excited to play with him. Bye. Huh. 
Speaker 1 02:00:36
No, what I need is a family. I said, but there's also another rule of thought where it says, you know, when people get, when people split up, what's the person who has to blow up? And you could almost tell that they were the person who was being oppressed. And that's more gendered and not so much human, you know, writing, you know, like, versus Karen who's kind of hiding out.
Speaker 1 02:01:18
And anyway, we were all kind of set, the boys were just kind of like, who are you?

[AI_SUMMARY]
The transcript captures a blend of family conversations about daily life, including setting up a new iPad and workout routines, alongside a narrative about a friend's marital issues. It details the emotional withdrawal of a woman named Karen from her husband Gary, leading to a contentious divorce and custody battle. The document also features excerpts from a science-fiction audiobook involving political intrigue and mercenary operations, humorous short clips on ADHD and young interns, and an analysis of the history behind taco shops in Southern California, highlighting family drama rather than franchise operations.