Mina Alaray, the editor-in-chief of The National, based here in the UAE, and it's my pleasure to be moderating this plenary session with you today. So the question being asked, is AI a force for good? Well, it depends. And we have the next 30 minutes to look at the elements that will either make it a force for good or one which we should be worried about. It has touched the life of everybody one way or the other in advanced economies, and of course, more is to come. From chat GPT to the future of work, large language models, supercomputers, and the intelligence of machines will touch our lives and usher in a new era increasingly. And yet threats exist. Those threats are not only impact on society and work, but also cyber attacks that we see increasing. So we have Azim Azhar, who will do a much better job than I, to tell us about AI and how it can be a force for good. Azim is the CEO of Exponential, based in the UK, and then we will be in conversation with Azim and his Excellency Khalfan Belhol, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, and we will want you to be part of that conversation and present us with your questions. So in the meantime, it is my pleasure to introduce Azim, please. Salam alaikum and good morning. Your Excellency's distinguished guests. This is a very big question when our host at the World Economic Forum asked me, is AI a force for good? I thought this is a very, very large question to tackle. We've heard many warnings about artificial intelligence and Mina mentioned some of them, the risks of disinformation, the risks of lethal weapons. But I would like to be clear in my short discussion today that even when we talk about artificial intelligence and just through the lens of its benefits, this is a very, very tricky question, whether AI is a force for good or not. But to get there, let's start with an even broader question, which might illuminate where we go in my discussion, which is, has technology generally been a force for good? And to that question, what is technology? What do we mean by it? At its core, technology is the compounding of human knowledge, generation after generation, each technology building on the knowledge of the previous years. So the tree of knowledge that we see is a tree where the more advanced technologies sit on the layers above us. Ten millennia ago, our ancestors started down the process of cultivation. And that cultivation turned into agriculture and farming and intensive farming. We started to be able to feed populations. And as a result, our species has done reasonably well. The Babylonians a few thousand years ago developed chain pumps and sophisticated irrigation systems. They managed to transform their arid environment into a sophisticated and complex society, featuring societal growth and political stability. Now, thousands of years later and countless technologies later, the steam engine in the 18th century in England was designed initially to address the practical issue of floods in coal mines. But from the steam engine came the railway system and mechanization. And with that, the industrial revolution, which really gave power to England and it brought us and heralded the modern world that many of us that we have all experienced over the last few hundred years. So in some sense, technology is essential. Perhaps it's the essence of what it is for humans to be humans. But now let's think about artificial intelligence because, of course, artificial intelligence does not exist as a set of technologies independent of other technologies. It's not here in isolation. It builds on the millennia of work that went before it, whether it's advances in mathematics or computing or chip manufacturing. It's dependent on that layer of technology. So in some sense, when we ask the question, is AI a force for good? We're also asking the question, is technology in general a force for good? But there is something that is quite distinct, I believe, in artificial intelligence that makes it a different beast, a different fish to the technologies that came out before it. And that is that the AI systems that we see today compact and combine all of the previous knowledge of humanity in their models. If you look at something like GPT-4, which is a very, very early AI system, it's trained on three trillion words of text, which is if you have teenage kids, you probably see them on Instagram messaging the whole time. That's more than what a teenage kid can produce even in a week. These large language models encapsulate all of our previous knowledge, and they make that wealth of information accessible in mere seconds, millennia of information in the palm of my hand. So AI is not merely another technology. It's also a meta technology that encompasses and utilizes the full spectrum of our knowledge to the extent that it just sits in this device here. And it's a reflection of all of that advancement, and it allows us to query and generate that knowledge in new and rapid ways. That speed is a really critical aspect. The speed is distinctive. When the American president Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, it took 13 days for the news to reach the prime minister in London. And today, of course, those delays have been eliminated, and as AI systems become more sophisticated, they will be able to process that type of news much, much more rapidly in that millisecond scale. And we're seeing with these very early technologies, these early AI technologies, just how much impact they can have. In the past month or two, there's been a survey, a study from Harvard University, Harvard Business School, and the American consulting firm BCG. And what they did was they took several hundred of their consultants, and they gave some of them access to chat GPT, and others did not get access to chat GPT. Now, you have to understand that BCG consultant is amongst the most sought after employee in the world. They have to graduate the best schools right at the top of their class. And what they discovered in this study was that the bottom 50% of BCG consultants, who by any measure are excellent employees, improved their performance on strategy consulting tasks by about 40%, which is remarkable, using a free piece of software, chat GPT. The top 50% incidentally also improved their performance, but not as much. So I know that within the members of the Global Future Councils, you're all in the top 10% of performance. And just the bad news for you is that chat GPT is going to give you some new competition. This technology, of course, can also catapult our decision making, our ability to do fundamental science. Now, while it's not a large language model, DeepMind's AlphaFold is a technology that allows us to explore the structure of proteins. And in just a short couple of years, AlphaFold has been able to map out the structure of all of the millions of proteins that science knows about. A scientist using AlphaFold works about a million times faster than a scientist who is not using AlphaFold. And the speed with which this information processing can happen, we see in more and more domains. There's a particular type of research called a meta-analysis, which is common in medical and healthcare research. It's extremely powerful because medical research, when you have to test things on patients, is slow, it's time consuming, it's expensive. And so what meta-studies allow you to do is they allow you to look at all of the different studies that have been done on a particular condition with a particular drug and aggregate the results and deliver new insights from the existing body of knowledge. Trouble is, meta-studies are time consuming and expensive, so we don't get to benefit from them. Now, there's a new AI tool called Illicit, which is built on a large language model which dramatically shrinks the time it takes to undertake a meta-study. And so what you see is this time compression and these silicon-based systems fundamentally outpace our ability to work. At any point that we as humans are slow at making decisions, slow at conducting the structural analysis of a protein, slow at gathering the information for a meta-analysis, slow at analyzing the market prospects for a company wanting to launch a credit card in the GCC, an LLM or another AI tool can speed up that process. And so these tools end up being very, very general purpose and finding their way right across our economies. And that's why I say they're disruptive by nature because they're disruptive as sure as if a soccer team hires a brand new talent that hasn't been seen before and starts to win match after match after match. And I'm sure Hurt Harland is a great example of that with Manchester City. So when I think about artificial intelligence and its context within our economies, I think it is ultimately the underpinning of the modern 21st century economy. And it's going to have two components. It's going to have an infrastructural component that is the layer upon which other services are going to be built. And it's going to have an interface element that is the lens through which we access all of our digital services, whether they are public governmental services or private services. Because they're so vital, it turns out that those are positions of power because if you control the infrastructure and you control the interface, you really control what can be delivered and how people can access it. And so AI ends up being a question of power. So when I look at the question, is AI a force for good? I think it's maybe not the right question. Maybe the right question is this. If control of infrastructure is power and control of the interface is power, those who control artificial intelligence will be powerful. So we should ask questions like, should the decisions about where power lies in a world with artificial intelligence be taken here or there? What are the architectures of power that foster greater or lesser shared prosperity? And what arrangements will make sure that the economy delivers on what it should do, which is deliver human needs? Now, there is history to guide us on this. In the field of the economy, what we know is that competition is what drives this. Free market entry, the absence of oligopolistic power, the reining into the scale of firms are tried and tested strategies. In the field of politics, what matters is the separation of power, the ability to keep a check on bureaucracy, on government, on regulatory capture, and ultimately the participation through whatever mechanism is politically and culturally appropriate of the people for whom this affects. But when we look at the technology, it's not just about a question of power. It's also about a question of the speed. And one of the questions that we have to tackle is how do we think about our culture and values in a world where the speed with which these systems are going to change is going to increase and continue to increase? Because many of our cultural norms and our values are based upon the world that we've come from, which is that things change but not as fast as they are about to. And I think one of the challenges we have to address is what are the languages that we start to use in order to stay comfortable in a world that has a sky that will be even busier than the skies above Dubai International Airport? Because when all is said and done, these are all questions before which we don't have answers. Open AI didn't realize that chat GPT was going to be as successful as it was. No one would have realized that there would have been a generative AI boom in 2023. Had you asked the question in July 2022? And yet despite all the drawbacks of these systems, the hallucinations, the errors, they're proving themselves to be very, very useful. And so that's why I'm asking lots of questions because we don't really have answers. But what I do feel comfortable about is that even in some picture of the future where we have a modern, beautiful city, I'm sure we're all familiar with one of these, with futuristic infrastructure, when the day comes to a close, what we'll want to do is gather with our friends and live at a pace and a speed of humanity and human connection all of us together. Thank you. Thank you very much for those thought-provoking remarks and this idea of going back millennia to the Babylonians and yet thinking about speed with which now everything is being compounded together. And this idea also that technology is not just AI, it's everything that humans have done and put together. So we'll talk about some of these particular topics. We'd like to take a seat and I'd like to introduce also his Excellency Khalfan Bilhul to please join us. Okay, so Khalfan, I'd like to ask you first to reflect on what we just heard as in present, but also think about what we heard about the benefits and the productivity benefits. There's also the risk. How do you balance the two, especially from your vantage point? Thank you very much. First of all, I'm honored to be here and honored to be with my fellow panelists. We had good to see you again, Mina and Azim. Your job, what you've done is amazing and looking forward to continuing our conversations that we had. Of course, I'm reflecting on your presentation which obviously covered many aspects on AI. I really appreciated the speed factor and what you've mentioned and I want to elaborate on this a bit more because even as someone working in the government and working in an agile government, I cannot agree more with the fact that no matter how fast you are as a government and how agile this delta between how the policies and how innovation is advancing will always be on top. It's just how much you actually mitigate and shrink that gap. That's how agile you are. Because to your point, whatever you have adapted to or tried to come up with policies today, come two weeks, three weeks from now, there's something else coming up. And the best example I can give is GDPR and the efforts that they are coming up when it comes to data. And suddenly a beast of an gen AI comes up to us and now everything needs to shift to adapt to something like this. And many of those rules that were in place which were relevant to maybe data protection laws in many ways and forms now need to be completely reconsidered. So this shows you that an entity like this really needs to adapt. So we're blessed here in this country to be honest because leaders are literally a phone call away. And policies are a phone call away and sometimes a WhatsApp away from a conversation. And I'm being realistic. Sometimes you have those conversations and you need to adapt policy. And I'm also blessed. I feel very lucky to be in an entity that really tests for future ideas and has a top board chaired by the Crown Prince and ministers in DG that help us change policies as fast as we can. And yet that gap will always be there. It's just a message from us and no matter how, I mean, you just need to shrink that gap and ensure that basically you are there in the right time to change your policies. And when it comes to, of course, gen AI, and I'll follow the lead of someone I work very closely with and is dear to me is Excellency Umar Al-Ulamma who is our champion in artificial intelligence. And he came up with, I mean, two weeks ago we had a gathering called the Genitive AI Assembly. It's one of the products of Dubai Future Foundation where we convene with people on the most important topic. And clearly Gen AI was the topic this year. Metaverse was last year. And now I'm all confused. You know why? Because I'm in a council for the Metaverse today. And I'm discussing Gen AI right now. And my mind is all over the place. They're completely two important topics. And the first thing we said today for those members that are with me in the council today, the first thing we said is today in the morning. So Metaverse is important. But what if it was a Gen AI enabled Metaverse, which obviously will be the case going forward. So we need to, it's a sign of connecting the dots between different efforts. And it's a sign of alignment and unity that we need to cross collaborate and unite and work together. So we're going to open the floor. If you have a question, please just raise your hand so we get a mic to you and introduce yourself, your name and affiliation. So I am on the lookout for anybody that raises their hand. But before we go to the audience, I want to ask you about the near term benefits that you see of AI. Because it's really hard as we're talking about speed and how we're making leapfrogs every 12 months or so. In the short to medium term, what do you see are the benefits of AI? As I'm going to start with you. Thank you. And just a brief comment on how funds are observational. I mean, I think it is an incredible strategic strength to be able to respond very quickly to these changes. The only other organizations that are able to respond that quickly are the big tech companies. And the big tech companies will deliver the early economic benefits of Gen AI. So the obvious place is in increasing productivity within white collar work, which is 50, 60, 70% of different economies, whether it's working in insurance claims underwriting or business planning or marketing, these tools are sufficiently good because you can improve productivity in areas where you can allow for the occasional mistake because there are other humans. Ultimately, I'm sorry if there are any marketing directors here. It doesn't matter if there's a mistake in a marketing plan, but it does matter if there's a mistake in a healthcare treatment plan. And so I think that that's where we will start to see really, really rapid uptake. And in particular, while I don't think it's showing up in top down statistics yet, when I talk to execs in companies, everything from small startups to firms with hundreds of thousands of employees, they already have these tools in use in these non-mission critical areas to improve productivity. Can I just jump in here? And I think, I mean, I absolutely agree with this comment and going back to our example in the United Arab Emirates, I'm maybe referring back to Zexensee Amar again, because he's a perfect example on how he became a leader in a space that we had no clue about. And now he's, and this shows you the DNA and the setup of the United Arab Emirates. We just jump into things early, and an individual that's hungry enough is identified to be the expert for this space. This is a space that we don't know, but it's a question of when do you jump in? And I remember him speaking in this session being, I think that there's a Spanish AI minister now, a woman, which is great also for diversity. So it's being picked up at the moment. But the idea here in the DNA of the UAE, something important from humanity, something that will add value, not for Dubai D, but for the whole world, let's convene and convene early. And that's what happened back in the then in the cabinet when Zexensee Amar was appointed. If you look at the blockchain, we had no clue in 2016, and we had a conversation what blockchain was. We convened, we had a discussion with understanding it a bit more. I won't say we're experts in it, but we had, we created setups and now you see the big companies setting up shop here. So the idea is really to create a platform for hope, create an environment that's inclusive. We have more than 200 nationalities living here, 90% of the population are the expat community. So we intermingle and understand the different concerns on a global basis. And then we jump on that space on it early. We can make mistakes along the way and that's fine as long as there are risk-mitigated mistakes, putting safety and health as a priority. You cannot launch, I know I'm going a bit off-topic me now, sorry, but it's the concept of embracing technologies. You cannot adopt artificial or autonomous cars on the streets before understanding, but those are the more tangible tests or last mile drone delivery. Then same thing when it comes to blockchain application or gen AI and artificial intelligence. Why am I focusing on AI now? Because the impact of AI is astronomical and we haven't even scratched the surface. They're talking the trillions and trillions of dollars and the growth that takes place. You need to make sure you create a safe environment, be more inclusive and have the right conversations. And part of creating that safe environment is of course the big question about regulation and you're right. When you're still thinking about privacy and data, privacy, then you have generative AI jump in and it changes the dynamics. How do you regulate at a time when the speed, but also even the knowledge, is not necessarily there amongst the regulatory bodies? So I'll start with you and then I'll turn to you. So I think the best way and referring to, and I know there's a question over there, so Mina if we can take that maybe after that, but I think the best way to do it, and again referring to our leadership and the expertise in AI, is to ensure that one, and I'm referring also to the professor that was one of the panelists yesterday. I apologize, I can't remember the name, but it was an amazing conversation. And he said AI is not a technology, it's an enablement. And then he also said that whoever thinks about governing and it was controversial when he said it, but now I'm connecting the door. He said whoever thinks that you can govern AI is out of his mind. And he said it in the session and I see where he's coming from because again the professor said it's a solution and it's an enablement. The best way to regulate it is to put it into buckets and buckets of industry. So how can you regulate gen AI when it comes to its involvement in mobility? How can you regulate, so you really actually focus and look at the solution as a sector rather than the word AI, because AI is going to touch us left and right and top and down. So you cannot just say I'm going to regulate AI period. You just take it bucket by bucket, create the right environment, include the right people, bring innovators, bring academia, bring the researchers, bring the right capital, whether it's equity or whether so they need, you need to create this hope for them and the right ecosystem. And like I said, the speed in the regulation needs to be there because no matter how much money you spend, how much you aggregate people, if you don't have that speed, it's game over. I mean one minor observation is that the gains from this technology as they happen in previous technologies are so significant that there's a big risk that there will be what's called regulatory capture driven by the leading firms, the big tech companies. And the UAE with its unique setup may not be at the same risk to say European countries of facing that capture, but that capture risk does exist, it's one I'm concerned with. One of the ways to counterbalance that is to create realistic alternatives, which is why things like Falcon, which is the UAE's large language model, it's open source, it's one of the most powerful and performant in the world, is really, really valuable because it creates viable alternatives to closed systems. And so when I think about this, what this means sort of more broadly, it is about ensuring there is a minimum risk of regulatory capture and there's sufficient competitive dynamics out there to keep all the participants developing this stuff honest. Okay, there's a question here if you could please identify yourself. I think this is on. Hi, my name is Rashma Sajani. I'm the founder of Girls Who Code and the CEO of Moms First. I wanted to talk and thank you, Your Excellency, this is a wonderful conversation. I wanted to talk about the importance of access and education. One of the things I learned at Girls Who Code, over a decade we taught over 600,000 girls to code, half of which were under the poverty line, half of which were girls of color. We've reached millions of girls across the world. But the problem that we were facing was that Wi-Fi for many children was not available. And so thinking about how fast AI is moving, how expensive it is to get one of these licenses to even practice with chat GPT, you know, what are we doing from what we learned in terms of coding in Wi-Fi access? And we left so many children, especially so many children in the region have been left behind. What are we doing to make sure the same thing doesn't happen with AI? That's a great question if you allow me to start. I mean, thank you so much for this question. It reminds me of an actual story that we've gone through through a program that we've launched around four years ago. It's called the One Million Arab Coders. We started with the Arab region and we said, let's come up with a program. And part of our efforts at DFF to really to raise awareness on the importance of this language of the future, if you will. So we said, okay, how about we spread the word, promote coding, then think of a way of infusing it with entrepreneurs? Because coding is not enough to build a tech company. You need the coders, and you need the developers, you need the speakers, and you need to connect everything. And you need, of course, capital. So we said, okay, we get the coders, we get the capital, and we get the academia, we get the private sector, and with the government, we can connect the dots then. So we launched that program. And to your point, I mean, it was heartbreaking when we traveled around the world. I personally went with the team to a Zaatariah refugee camp. And many of the applicants were actually from the refugee camp. And to see the skill and talent that we had, honestly, in that moment was probably one of the dearest moments for me across all my experience at DFF, just going to the camp and seeing their passion and their abilities and then thinking, okay, those are maybe 10 or 20 skillful people. Imagine the ones that we had a few examples of people actually to apply to the program, they had to actually switch locations just to get access to internet. So it shows you the importance. I know you want me to wrap up, but what we did is we got them, we flew them in, we connected them with startups as part of our efforts. And some of them right now are part of some of them are working remotely and have created successful companies hoping to push for unicorns. They're not there yet. But the idea is to really push for more of this. And I'll wrap up because I know you're not going to give me a chance to speak anymore. So I'll wrap up my side by saying the biggest message, the biggest message for AI to work is really global collaboration and understanding. And unfortunately, had to learn it the hardest way through the pandemic. It was a message that we need to unite, we need to work together. Some countries did better than others when it comes to the lockdown early, and then the vaccine rollout. And some didn't. And that size didn't matter. It was just about the mindset and how you do things. So, and you've heard that maybe in the opening remarks of his ex is Muhammad Al-Gurgawi, he sent a few major bullet points, but they were all driven by us to really collaborate and work together to create a better future. Generize the same. On the issue of inclusion. Absolutely. Well, you've brought the passion and the heart. So I'm going to bring the code in the head to the answer. If we think about where open source large language models will be within a couple of years, they're getting more and more efficient resource light. And so it's not within the bounds of probability that within two or three years, they'll have a GPT for capable large language model that will run on a medium end Android phone, even when it's not connected to the internet. And that will that will tackle this from a technical perspective. But of course, there are so many other dimensions that you need to address, which I know girls who code knows how to address, but the technology I think will work in your favor over the next couple of years. Is AI a force for good? Yes or no? Well, yes. Absolutely. Okay, great. Thank you so much for joining us.


What's up everyone takedown here welcome back to another video today I'm going to be showing you guys how you can upgrade your SSD in your PlayStation 5 To one or two terabytes of additional storage PlayStation 5 actually made it super easy to do and there's actually a slot where you can insert an SSD for additional storage So let's get into this so the one I went with is the one that is an Official license product from PlayStation and that is the WD black SN850 the PlayStation 1 that this one here is $355 and the reason I got it is because it includes the heat sink now You can get cheaper options for the SSD and get a heat sink off of Amazon But I just wanted one where it's all together which was easier to do and it's actually easier to formats the best part about this it includes a five-year warranty through Western digital, so let's get into the install So to do this with your PlayStation 4 console, you're gonna flip it over So the PlayStation logo here is Facing the bottom you're gonna want to come on this side here opposite from the disk drive And you're going to pull upwards and also towards you at the same time And it will come off just like that. It's super easy. I'm gonna push this to the side here and now the spot Where the SSD goes is right here very convenient for the PlayStation 5 I'm gonna take a Philips head and we're gonna remove this screw here and We're gonna take out the cover Now you will see in here that There is a screw off to the side here with a spacer and You will see all the different spots depending on the size that you did it purchase So I'm going to first take this screw out because we are going to be using it just like that We have the spacer out and we do have the screw I'm gonna push those off to the side and now I'm gonna open up the drive here, which looks Just like this Now we're gonna install this so as you can see it's pretty easy concept here What you're gonna do is you're gonna push this in with the chip part here these little prongs Facing towards the disc drive and you're going to push it in and secure it and then one of the holes Will be free where you can secure it on the back. So you will put in The spacer and then you will screw it down. So first what I'm gonna do is just line it up here and see that it is The longest hole so I'm going to take this spacer here. I'm going to put it in that one there Then we're going to put in the SSD here. So there is a little slot here Which it's hard to see But also hard to miss and you're going to put it in just like that And then you're gonna push it towards the disc drive there as far as it will go and that will lock it in So now whenever it's rest on the spacer here It is going to be even if you forget the spacer There is going to be a gap there whenever you screw it down You're actually going to be pushing the hard drive down like that and you'll damage the end here So make sure you if you're going to install it put the spacer in and again I chose one that includes the heat sink you can do it separately where you just have to install The SSD onto the heat sink and then put it in the same way as I'm showing you now But with the spacer and the SSD already in the only thing left is to put this screw in and you're going to tighten it You're gonna make sure that the screw is tight But do not over tighten it because that could damage the SSD now with that in it You're going to put the cover back on Just literally slides on like that and you're gonna put this Screw right back in just like that's then you're gonna put the cover back on here And you can actually see how it is designed here where you have to Kind of put it on like that and then opposite from what you did instead of pushing this way You're gonna push this way while pushing down Just let me get this stuff out of my way here And just like that it is on solid You're gonna want to make sure just double check make sure you have all the parts in and nothing is out And then now you're going to want to connect this all back up turn it on and with this SSD It should automatically start formatting for your PlayStation 5 It'll tell you the speeds and then you can start transferring games over which will not take too long So let's do that. So here we go I plugged everything back in turned on the PlayStation 5 and it does take a minute to load once it does load it will say that it recognizes The M2 SSD and that you need it to format it So you're going to hit it will be on do not format You're gonna move it over to format and you're going to hit X and it will format which as you can see This is real time it look really really fast and it's actually gonna tell you the speed so on the box It does say seven thousand but right here. You can see it says 6546 Which is really really fast. That's actually faster than PlayStation recommends. So it's a really fast speed So you're gonna hit okay now this format it so to change the settings to have games get saved to that You're going to want to go into settings storage and then install location. So we're gonna do that Once it finishes rebuilding the database Turn on the PlayStation 5 Gonna log in here settings Storage and then location and we're gonna do PlayStation 5 games and apps We're gonna change it to the M2 SSD storage and This one right here.  Usually a percentage is used up by installs and stuff like that or Updates and stuff this here you get a full two terabytes To use of free storage, which is awesome. And then you see here. I have three terabytes of my Western digital external hard drive that's just gonna be for ps4 and then I have my 600 gigabytes on the console. So this is how you upgrade your PlayStation 5 SSD for additional storage It's really easy to you do but it does cost a little bit of money Hopefully you guys now have your ps5 upgraded with a couple extra terabytes on your SSD. I'll see you guys in the next video Please take care. Peace


ommon that is yeah most products actually don't have like a traditional case hit type thing not like a color blast or something like that or a downtown or kabooms that kind of train case that is not trained redemption on the back Zach Wilson Breece Hall Garrett Wilson to 99 that will be for William the AFC East will be for William we got Amon Ross St. Brown the NFC North that's going to be for William and the Lions I need some more top load Isaiah likely four out of 49 that's going to be for the AFC North that's for Nathan the purple birds my light is perfectly covers up the score of the game perfectly it's still 3-3 but the Blue Jays have bass loaded because Phil Bigford is pitching let's see what we got here good luck everybody we got rookie signature locker prime what's that number 10 25 something like that T A V O N Travon Walker for the Jaguars AFC South William nice William what's happening in the outfield out there guys what's going on alright last box Janssen prime 25 or less final box good luck everybody alright we got Tyler Boyd down in dirty 38 out of 149 AFC North Nathan with the bangles the autograph is C.D. Lamb C.D. Lamb that's going to be NFC East hi there with the boys not number I don't think nice thanks Chad looked it up Travon's a 10 thank you Chad alright final book and then we'll do the randomizer for those 400 points final book is for the Titans Hassan Haskins AFC South this one's a 299 that's for the AFC South that's for William there you go everybody I'm Joe for jaskiescasebreaks.com thanks for making this happen alright 400 points winner take all on the points only one so let's flip back over here let's gather everybody's names one through eight new dice new list name on top after three and a five eight times we'll get the 400 points a little consolation prize that does probably replace a relic or an auto or something like that alright three to five eight times name on top after eight one two three four five six seven and eight after eight Nathan 400 points going your way thanks everybody for watching and for breaking with us I'm Joe for jaskiescasebreaks.com and I'll see you next time for the next football break and join us for football breaks all football season long right around the corner right around the corner believe it or not I know I wanted that to be a live card they do look good alright hey William thank you I know I know you were waiting since the beginning of the stream for that break to happen but it finally happened I feel like that's pretty common Chad yeah I mean after their rookie years especially if they're if they're a higher caliber player obviously like Joe Burrow after that those guys those guys typically don't sign too often after that because I mean and at that point yeah you see it's personal preference I mean maybe Joe Burrow is like I don't feel like signing cards after my obligations I think they're rookier they are obligated there's like some sort of agreement there's some sort of obligation there so I think that's why they do it and then but yeah it's just a personal choice or that dies with most things a lot of times it's about money so maybe they're like Panini's like hey Joe Burrow we'd love to have you in set XYZ and then Joe Burrow and his business management team comes back with alright well X dollars per autograph and they're like you know there's certain budgets for certain set so I think at that point maybe maybe that just doesn't work so that's a good question I mean just from classic supply demand it should right like the value of non-rookie auto Joe Burrow should be a little more higher than other second year or future year counterparts my guess is probably yes just based on mathematically but I don't know actually how the market responds to that alright playbooks 16 bucks division number one not those labels yeah I don't know but I guess because each individual player has their own individual value I suppose it's really hard to say that to actually figure out a proper number for that but but for most players obviously like after their rookie year you know the the price for their future year autographs are significantly less if you're paying top dollar more people are like well I'll just pay a little extra top dollar for rookie stuff I think is eventually how that logic goes but every once in a while so I mean players do that so that's why like when like NT or like flawless and stuff like that comes around I guess it gets pretty important to see you know who's on the checklist for the bangles or whatever because I never know when it's like that's the special year where Joe they finally got an agreement with Joe Burrow to to sign for like a high-end set or something like that a lot of times you see those kinds of names like an impeccable as well so that's done that's uploading that's done do we have any more playbook I don't think so let me check I don't know for Chad also Chad if I'm a winner in this powerball can you refer me to some financial advisors alright let's see Monday let's view results hmm hmm just kidding I didn't get a single number 78% 78,000 afterifiers when is it then my power number was 26 that's 25 could have at least gotten a couple bucks back but no Wednesday at 7pm try to keep an eye on that alright I did check the back no more we don't have any more playbook to post so I shall take that off the site and then I will take this out of inventory I don't think I did that before the break no not in the system what about 2022 playbook not in the system alright well that works out because now we don't have to take it out of inventory cannot roll with Phil Bigford in the playoffs doggers it is definitely a misappropriation of assets it says if it never existed alright I don't know what else we're going to do I'll give it another 15 minutes I'll give it to the 45 minute mark now I haven't seen an order since our friend Chad got that the unsuccessful last pod mojo over an hour ago so maybe the writing is on the wall I'll give it to the 45 minute mark if you want to try to get something else going we can at least finish off the filler that would be nice to do then we could post another one before I call it a night so people can work on it in the morning you know maybe another filler right there or a quick one box break that impeccable Premier League soccer they may not intentionally we'll yell at some people so let me know otherwise tomorrow night no youtube but we will have fanatics live starting at three o'clock pacific we will have giveaways we're going to give away some hobby boxes break and baseball cases so click that link to the Apple app store you can download that if you need an access code it's jaspie's invite is the access code so we'll be doing another night there I know like Chad was bringing this up I know it sucks the it's only for iOS it's only for Apple mobile devices we don't want to talk to Chad I mean Jimmy doesn't have an extra you don't have an iPad Chad no iPad for you I know a lot of android phone users galaxy users like myself who prefer the iPad tablet I do prefer the galaxy phone but the iPad tablet so there's oh two of these in the Vegas I don't know someone co-worker does have an old iPhone that you can just use as a life you can just use with wifi jaspie's there something that still has that uses the latest version of iOS according to jan is 16 the latest version we are Samsung how no Apple products in this house wow it's just deep in that Samsung environment well some of my family members are happy about that Chad as they are Samsung employees I think still maybe they are retired now some sort of management level executive level but they'll be happy to hear that as it should be in Korea I think there's actually Samsung cars too or there used to be they are a lot of Asian companies are like that where they'll be like a few like giant you know corporations and like Hyundai will have cars like construction equipment they are involved in shipping they have electronics everything from toasters to rice cookers to laundry to washer dryers refrigerators you can go down the whole line so it's like LG Samsung Hyundai Samsung has all these electronics LG too all sorts of electronics, mobile devices all that sort of stuff, it's kind of crazy I think Samsung and LG probably do more I think Samsung does more home appliance type stuff and LG as well whereas Hyundai's side stuff generally there's like shipping trucking obviously motor vehicles but like equipment too like bulldozers and earth movers and what not I think we can break anything on Fnatic's live we're not restricted on what we can do like hip raid on Fnatic's live we can do tops products knee products although eventually it'll be all tops Fnatic's right so I guess that question will be answered for us many years down the road I think in terms of anything new so like I said tomorrow is only tomorrow is only Fnatic's live night so yeah like chat I know it kind of sucks that Android viewers they're working on it and they're working on a desktop version too they can just punch in a link and you can just go watch the stream from a browser so they're working on that we do know they're working on that but I don't know try to beg or borrow maybe someone who upgraded an iPhone recently you know and maybe that's just on a wifi that you can just use for wifi you can download that there maybe Jimmy has an extra iPhone or something like that you can pop over to his place and watch together or an iPad or something so that might be that might be something to explore for the time being but for now it's iOS only let's start tidying up a little bit here might be at the end of the night sunflower seeds here and the stack on those tomorrow Monday breaks there you go Jimmy there you go Chad there's your work around yeah make sure that waiver is signed feel like Chad could get litigious Jimmy you gotta make sure I will not and remember it's not Jimmy it's not your fault if Chad accidentally leaves himself logged into Fnatic's life with his payment information in that app and if you accidentally buy you know if you accidentally buy the massive 15 box high-end baseball mixer spot with his account that's on Chad not you Jimmy you know depends on where she cut herself Chad cut can be freak out worthy sometimes paper cuts in certain places it makes me squirm to even think about it now but a paper cut in the webbing of your fingers gross this is not freak out worthy she will she'll decide that Chad where was it I don't know it's like a a face cut that's not good you can't damage the money maker here especially I can't cut my face I'd freak out oh no blood as my pop would always say if you're not bleeding you're okay that's until the that's until the internal bleeding I'm not kidding um I did ask about internal bleeding alright that's I suppose that that counts the corn is not good little heat ledger joker situation don't want to see that the tip of the ring that could be that could be annoying it's like one of those things where like until you like stub your your pinky toe you don't realize how valuable your pinky toe is until you stub it you know or if uh I don't know what else have I I've had like a weird I've gotten cuts on my fingers you forget that like you even use that part of the finger until you get like a paper cut there or you get like a blade cut there for all the cut and open stuff all the time you know so it's all it's I don't know especially when you're like texting or like you're swiping through your phone or something like oh yeah I use that part of my finger a lot it's annoying it's obnoxious toe thing is the worst if you stub your toe or something like that it's a lot jimmy it's I think it's over a thousand bucks in this spot but for a thousand bucks a one in thirty chance to win a fifteen thousand dollar card that'll work for some people I feel like it's the same sort of people who join a thousand dollar draft king's entries I go to jobs doing a little bit of the golf draft king's I'm like what are people really paying like you know thousand dollars or five hundred bucks sort of tournament play that's ridiculous I don't need to be mean jimmy chat's just jealous chat's just jealous that his household lacks technology diversity it's just like having just only one thing in your retirement portfolio you know what I love the iPad mini I'm a fan of it am I a shill for Apple now they're not paying us money for this but I got I have friends who have an iPad pro that's just that's just gigantic I like the same I have a galaxy I have a galaxy I gotta upgrade my phone I'm still on an old version of it it's been about four years now it's time to upgrade but I like the galaxy setup but tablet wise I do think that the iPad is pretty great I have to admit I've seen friends with the pro version that's just too much I feel like I don't think I do enough with that to warrant you know even the iPad Air or the whatever the 12 or 13 5th generation ones or whatever the case maybe or the 10 inch versions or whatever or the iPad standard so I guess is it iPad Air or the standard version or maybe iPad 10th generation or whatever doesn't do it for me and I like carrying a smaller phone so the upgrade to having an iPad mini is actually a perfect size for me and it's like I'm a big fan of the mini it's easier to watch like in bed when you're like falling asleep to episodes of The Wire which I've started rewatching so it's a good size I've got a kindle app on this so it's like a paperback size so it's good to read off of here the pen I end up using a lot more than I thought I would good sketch apps there so they are kind of pricey some people just go well why not just get this size for 50 bucks less you could but just the portability of that pop it in a backpack or something like that so I do like I do like the mini iPad that could be an option for people who don't want to who don't want to commit to the super pricey phone but listen I think Fanatics Live is working on not only a desktop version but a not only a desktop version but a an Android version I don't know how long it's going to take but I am going to the national this week with Nick and we I'm sure will be rubbing elbows and glad handing with Fanatics and I'm sure if we have an opportunity to ask we'll let them know alright there you go Jimmy nice Costco has a deal on iPad mini or something like that it is a nice tablet just for other stuff too but that could be a good excuse like well I got to watch Jaspie's on Fanatics Live go to the Costco get it for 250 and just get the Wi-Fi version only if you don't have to attach any kind of cell plant to it easy and then I think the Fanatics Live app is also just for iPhones but it will there is a feature where you can expand the size of it a little bit on an iPad screen so it's not perfect but it is a work around had not sure if it's still available check your local Costco's check your local Walmart your targets best buys maybe the secondary market there you go that could have been an iPad where you can be losing more money in Fanatics Live now but it's on all seriousness it's worth it or listen be patient by the time an Android version comes around that might be out of a beta version all the wrinkles that everyone else is dealing with might be solved already so it could even be less headaches for you going forward I think they're getting close to all of that sort of stuff they've been putting a lot of money into this and it shows you know the people that there's a lot of people we're communicating with on the back end of stuff and they're super helpful and super knowledgeable and I think they're definitely committed to making this work right or the easiest way to borrow your neighbors kids busted iPad screen busted screen iPad and you can watch you can watch that way much cheaper don't rob your neighbors that is not recommended Chad yeah we've I've met Chad he would not survive in prison I can guarantee you that that's a guarantee oh unless it's not Jimmy your neighbor oh if it's neighbor you don't like but still don't get caught then don't get caught then Chad will not not scrappy only gets you gets you so far in the clink in the slammer Chad alright so no other orders oh boy we're just chit chatting with our friends here and look at that we're almost close to the top of the hours trying to get out of here a little bit on the earlier side I'm going to get out of here now but everyone thank you like I said tomorrow is a fanatics live day listen going forward when we have all this stuff figured out and we got our fanatics live scheduling it's going to be YouTube and fanatics live separate operations so there won't be too many disruptions in terms of that but for now no YouTube Tuesday night only on fanatics live starting at our normal time going to either whenever we fill breaks or fill up all the breaks or whenever I have to leave for the airport to go to Chicago um so yeah but I'll be teaming back up with Jason like we did last Friday I think that was a nice little thing we're going to experiment with that too two man crew so hopefully and we'll see how that works out for everybody so that's that so everybody sorry Chad but I'll see you next time I'm on air but Chad have a good one man thanks for hanging as always Jimmy we'll see you on fanatics live Jan I think did we see Jan on fanatics live maybe Jan we'll see on fanatics live or no well maybe night Chad everyone else we'll see you on fanatics live and we got baseball breaks on there which you can pre-order now let's hit the ground running tomorrow should be a lot of fun so thanks for getting in on and everybody we appreciate all of you um so quick little scheduling we'll talk about this tomorrow too but fanatics live tomorrow I'm going to the national that night after the stream we'll get there Wednesday morning I'll be there Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday and I'm coming back Sunday night saying one extra night to go to the art institute in Chicago where they filmed that scene in Ferris Bieler's that's not the reason why I'm going but it's a bonus um so yeah but I'll be back on the YouTube stream next Monday someone else will be covering for me throughout the week so don't worry about that we'll still while Nick and I are at the national the home team here will be business as usual but for me specifically you won't see me until next week we'll see you on fanatics live tomorrow and fanatics live on Friday maybe from the PWCC booth not a live streaming thing we'll figure it all out there's also we haven't really did a hard launch for this but I think I'll be blogging from the national I intend to so keep an eye on that space too right there so that's it Jan, Jimmy, Chad and anyone else who's lurking and listening in the background thank you very much for hanging out for Chad and with us we have fun here folks you know Chad's obviously one of our long time customers and friends we have a good laugh Jimmy as well thank you Jan as always we'll see you tomorrow have a great night everyone


Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and is intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised. Located near Siler City, in the forest of Chatham County, North Carolina, the notorious Devil's Tramping Ground is a circle of barren earth that has inspired fearful myths and frightening legends spanning generations. Believed to be the preferred place for the Lord of Darkness to walk alone and contemplate humanity's demise, stories of the evil energies surrounding the lifeless clearing reach back hundreds of years. While rumors of the Devil's role in the location's origin have persisted for generations, modern times have brought more modern theories to the table. Some believe the ground was cursed by the bloodshed of a Native American conflict. Others think the patch is the result of extraterrestrial UFO radiation. More grounded theories propose the earth remains barren as the result of unusually high levels of salt in the soil. Whatever the theory, plenty of people have added to the area's mythology in recent years. We'll take a look at some creepy stories and legends about the Devil's Tramping Ground that might have you rethinking your late summer camping plans. I'm Darren Marlar and this is Weird Darkness. Welcome, Weirdos. This is Weird Darkness. Here you'll find stories of the paranormal, supernatural, legends, lore, crime, conspiracy, mysterious, macabre, unsolved, and unexplained. Coming up in this episode. John George Hague took the plunge into murder when he knocked out his old boss and dumped the body into acid, then set out to kill again. Only 2% of the population can hear it, a persistent, maddening sound that science has no explanation for and the hearers have dubbed it the hum. The Trump family fled their farm in 2016. There is still no explanation as to why, and one police officer calls it the most bizarre case he has ever seen. But first, in Chatham County, North Carolina, there is a 40-foot wide circle in the wilderness where absolutely nothing grows. Not only can scientists not explain it, but some believe Satan himself is responsible. We'll begin with that story. While listening, be sure to check out the Weird Darkness website. At WeirdDarkness.com you can sign up for the newsletter to win monthly prizes. Find paranormal and horror audiobooks I've narrated. Watch old horror movies for free. Listen to my other podcast, The Church of the Yandere. Plus, you can visit the Hope in the Darkness page if you're struggling with depression or dark thoughts. You can find all of that and more at WeirdDarkness.com.  The first letter seemed harmless enough, possibly even just a result of a mistaken delivery. The second one drew concern. And paired with the unexplained visions of something darkly unsettling, Sam Morris finally caves. The everyman, safe world he lives in is about to take a drastic and dark turn. He quickly falls into a world of insanity, the morbid and the macabre. He's drawn into a darkness that is just as deadly as it is mysterious. A darkness that dwells in a house that could only be conjured up by a mad brain. It is a house that calls you, a house that haunts you with its ghosts. They'll scratch and claw through your fragile hide, bringing madness bubbling to the surface. Come see the ghosts for yourself, if you dare. Weird Darkness Publishing presents of A Mad Brain by Scott Donnelly. Now available on paperback, ebook, and audiobook versions through Amazon and WeirdDarkness.com. The Devil's Tramping Ground got its name from its lack of living vegetation within a clearly defined circle. According to the Encyclopedia of North Carolina, normal vegetation surrounds the circle but only a wiry grass grows inside it and no plant life of any kind can be found on the path itself. Additionally, locals have been unsuccessful in trying to transplant that wiry grass to other soils and any living vegetation intentionally planted within the Devil's Tramping Ground withers soon after. As dictated by local legend, any foreign object placed inside the circle and especially within the barren, foot-wide path that encompasses it will disappear from the area by the next day. A similar claim is presented by the website North Carolina Ghosts. If an object is left in the circle before dusk, it will be aggressively moved outside of the circle by dawn. Even people are allegedly ejected from the clearing in the night. According to a legend shared by Tumblr user AllTheStuffILike, Boy Scout troops have tried camping in the circle and have woken up in their tents a few miles away.  The barren circle and the desolate path that surround it are often attributed to the Devil himself who allegedly walks the circle at night, plotting and scheming. The Coloradan interviewed locals for insight into the infamous area, explaining legend has it the circle is the Devil's playground. Believers say every night when the clock strikes twelve, he comes up one path and stomps around in a circle, eliminating all growth and life before going back down a second path. NorthCarolinaGhosts.com, a website devoted to all the local legends of the Tarheel state, shares, In his tramping ground, the Devil spends his nights pacing around and around in a circle and turning his bitter mind towards ways to bring human souls to damnation. It's the scorching heat of his cloven hoof prints that wither the vegetation and has rendered the soil barren. He angrily brushes aside anything left in his path, his great strength easily able to toss aside even the heaviest objects. According to locals, hunting dogs and pets refused to cross the circle's path and many reportedly bark, growl, snarl and bear their teeth in the direction of the clearing. According to NorthCarolinaGhosts, dogs whimper when they near the circle. Other animals will dig their heels into the sand and refuse to be brought into the circle's bounds. Many supernatural explanations for the tramping ground have been suggested and many of them involve the land's rumored importance to Native American tribes in the area. In Kayla Ambrose's book, Ghost Hunting North Carolina, she recounts local legends claiming that early settlers believed the barren circle was a sacred area belonging to the local tribes. These tribes allegedly use the site for ceremonies and rituals. Local lore collected by the website NorthCarolinaGhosts presents a similar yet more unfortunate tale claiming that the place was the site of a battle between two rival tribes and the blood of the victims soaked the ground so thoroughly that nothing would ever grow there again. The lost colony of Roanoke has sparked some of the most famous outlandish and frightening supernatural theories in the history of the U.S. and some believe that all of these can be tied to the devil's tramping ground. The entire colony of Roanoke Island seemingly disappeared from what is now North Carolina when the colony's leader John White returned to England for supplies. The only remaining clue was the word croa or possibly croatoan carved into a tree. Some local legends suggest that a battle fought by two Native American tribes at the site of the devil's tramping ground scarred the land and the losing tribe eventually fled to the outer banks. There they formed the croatoan tribe and befriended the Roanoke Island colonists who intermarried into the croaton tribe to avoid total starvation. In essence, the legend claims the tramping ground is cursed by the blood of the tribe's fallen warriors. Given the perfectly circular and lifeless patch of earth that makes up the devil's tramping ground and the clearing's supposed similarity to crop circles, modern local legends have begun suggesting the site could be the result of visitors from another world. One of the most prominent theories linking the locale to extraterrestrials addresses the unusual circular pattern of the barren patch. According to more recent lore, the location was possibly the site of a super-advanced UFO which radiated the land and exterminated the grass. One of the most remarkable and unusual aspects of the devil's tramping ground is its unusual geometric shape. The area isn't just a broad path of barren earth, it's nearly a perfect circle measuring between 30 and 40 feet in diameter. Perfect circles, rarely seen in natural formations, are often folklorically connected to supernatural occurrences. For example, circles of mushrooms are widely known as fairy rings. Perhaps stranger than the desolate circle itself is the utterly barren footpath, the one supposedly paced by the devil himself, that surrounds a slightly less scorched central circle. One geometrically perfect circle in the middle of the forest, it is uncommon, but two occurring naturally is extremely rare. Those who originally settled in Chatham County were largely of Scottish, Irish and German descent. They came from an age in Europe in which beliefs in the devil and other supernatural phenomena were very popular. In general, these entities were widely feared. King James IV, also known as King James I, even wrote a book in 1603 about black magic, witches, demons and the Prince of Darkness entitled Daemonology. When the devil-fearing Scotch Irish immigrants began settling in the US, especially in North Carolina, they brought their devout old world beliefs with them. This may be one reason why many geographical oddities and unusual locales, including the Tramping Ground, soon became associated with the Dark Lord.  The devil's Tramping Ground is said to be as old as Chatham County itself, which was founded in 1771. The legend of the devil himself pacing Chatham County's forests was allegedly brought over by the Scotch Irish settlers in the 18th century when fear of the devil was extremely widespread. Stories, urban legends and local lore surrounding the strange appearance and unsettling energy of the devil's Tramping Ground have been recorded for nearly three centuries and have been reported by Chatham locals, visitors and passersby. The mystery of the devil's Tramping Ground has been known since Chatham County was founded shortly before the War for Independence, according to North Carolina ghosts. From generation to generation, the story has been passed down. When the location is linked to the actual devil, one recurring suggestion claims that no one can ever spend the night without losing their sanity. This is perhaps due to the rumor that the devil, when pacing the circle, drops the illusions with which he disguises himself when he appears to men.  The lore surrounding the area stresses that when people have tried to spend the night in the circle, possibly to disprove the rumor of the devil's pacing or, alternatively, to meet the devil himself, something they see on their vigils drives them out of their wits never to recover. Reporter Ethan Fine Silver took two dogs and a brave female companion along for a camping trip to the devil's Tramping Ground. They set up their tent in the middle of the circle and spent the night there. None of us woke up outside the circle, Fine Silver wrote. My 1988 Nissan Sentra didn't stall when I drove it over the circle. The dogs roamed happily, no cowering. However, Fine Silver admitted that, likely due to power of suggestion and the prominence of the legend, his adventure wasn't entirely uneventful. I thought I heard footfalls, he said.  They were muffled, sort of ghostly. One of the dogs was staring out the screen window with a dreamy look. North Carolina soil scientist Richard Hayes told the Colorado one that he began testing the soil of the devil's Tramping Ground in the mid-2000s. He studied the area under the hypothesis that there was something inhibiting plant growth. One of the natural things we find in Chatham County is copper. According to the report, the results didn't show any copper, and they didn't prove another of Hayes theories about high salt concentration either. Hayes concluded that he couldn't explain what was happening at the site scientifically. Hayes later said that despite higher concentrations of certain minerals inside the circle than outside of it, none of the readings, none of the data, showed that plants couldn't live there. According to a sign posted along the path leading up to the circle, the area is now additionally known as the Chatham County Vortex, and it's described as a famous energy vortex. A Magdalen crystal column of energy is anchored to this site, the sign declares. This very high vibrating energy helps to balance feminine and masculine energies, strengthens harmony and expands human consciousness. The philosophy of Magdalen crystal columns is rooted in the New Age belief of an invisible network of divine feminine, Maure energy surrounding the planet based on the spiritual power of Mary Magdalene. Personally, I think there's a better chance of the devil doing it than some weird energy force. Up next, John George Haig took the plunge into murder when he knocked out his old boss and dumped the body into acid, and then set out to kill again. But first, only 2% of the population can hear it, a persistent maddening sound that science has no explanation for, and the hearers have dubbed it the hum. That story is up next on Weird Darkness. Are you a member of the Darkness Syndicate? The Darkness Syndicate is a private membership where you receive commercial free episodes of the Weird Darkness podcast and radio show. Behind the scenes video updates about future projects and events I'm working on. You can share your own opinions on ideas to help me decide upon Weird Darkness contests, events, and merchandise. You can download word search puzzles based on episodes of the podcast. You can hear audiobooks I'm narrating before even the publishers or authors get to hear them. You can also hear auditions I've submitted for other voiceover projects and get updates on the progress of those I've been cast in, such as my voice acting roles as Wolverine and J. Jonah Jameson in a couple of Marvel fan series, or as Green Lantern, Hal Jordan in a DC fan project. You get all of these benefits and more Starting at only $5 per month, join the Darkness Syndicate at WeirdDarkness.com slash Syndicate. Some describe it as sounding like an engine idling just outside the house. Others report hearing a low-frequency rumble, but almost everyone who can hear it, 2% of the population by some estimates, agrees on one thing. The hum, as it has been called, is a persistent maddening noise for which the scientific world has no known explanation. Since it was first reported in Bristol, England in 1970, the solusive phenomenon has plagued thousands of people across the globe, slowly eroding their sanity. One of them is Steve Colhase, an industrial facility's mechanical engineer living in Brookfield, Connecticut. In Garrett Harckowick's short documentary, Doom Vibrations, Colhase describes the noise as, Your ears are ringing real bad.  Colhase says his dog, too, seems to suffer from the noise. Once he started hearing it, the canine became lethargic and has never recovered. In the film, Colhase lays out the extensive evidence he has collected on the unexplained noise pollution. The quest for answers has consumed him. He estimates that he has spent $30,000 on legal fees and equipment related to his independent investigation. The single through-line in all reported cases Colhase has studied is that the locations are along high-pressure gas pipelines, or at least in close proximity to them. The phenomenon has spawned many conspiracy theories. Sufferers known as Hummers have pointed fingers at sources such as electrical power lines, wireless communication devices and low-frequency electromagnetic radiation. For decades, doctors dismissed patients' complaints as tinnitus, an auditory problem that affects 15% of people. But the latest research suggests that the noise is not a hallucination and that many Hummers do not suffer from impaired hearing. Dr. David Boggley, an audiologist at Adwin Brooks Hospital in Cambridge, estimates that about a third of cases can be attributed to environmental causes such as industrial machinery and a nearby factory. But the majority of the cases still remain unexplained. Boggley himself believes that many of his patients suffer from extreme sensitivity to signals outside the normal range of human hearing. I think most people view the hum as a fringe belief, Harkowicz says, because it is so subjective. People say they hear something that most people can't hear. But when you look at the vast number of people who say they hear it, it is obvious that there is something going on. So does the filmmaker subscribe to Colhase's gas pipeline theory? Some parts are definitely believable, others less so, Harkowicz said. He admits that some of Colhase's wilder extrapolations veer into conspiracy theory territory. I don't think we'll ever know for sure though, he says, since it would require an extraordinary amount of coordination and work to prove it. But Harkowicz was drawn to Colhase's story regardless of the relative plausibility of his claims. When I make something about a person with unusual beliefs, I no longer go into it thinking, what will it be like if they realize they're wrong, he says. I spend more time on how they arrived at their beliefs and what of myself I see in them. In this case, the filmmaker identified with Colhase's obsessive devotion to his project, despite the fact that it had very little broad appeal. The response to his research was underwhelming to him, but the people he has positively impacted keeps him going. Harkowicz said, I often feel the same way about documentary film. I spend years on a project, inevitably feel underwhelmed by the response, but ultimately keep working because one or two people email me to say it meant something to them. I think most creative people would identify with Steve's story. Red wine, ice cream, a warm bath. These are wonderful ways to unwind after a long day at work, but as we've seen time and time again, even the most soothing of activities can be twisted into terror by a madman's dark imagination. Such is the grisly case of John George Hay, a serial killer from England who used bubble baths of acid to dispose of his victims. Born in 1909 to an ultra-religious Plymouth Brethren family, John George Hay was raised in Yorkshire, England. His upbringing was strict, to say the least. His father reportedly constructed a 10-foot fence around their yard as a means of blocking out the neighbors. With no playmates, young John grew up alone. At night, he was haunted by nightmares. The first signs of trouble appeared in his early 20s. After a series of odd office jobs, John was canned on a suspicion that he had stolen company money. His life took a brief turn for the better in 1934 when he married a woman named Betty Hamer, but the marriage fell apart. Soon after, John landed himself in jail for fraud. While behind bars, Betty gave birth to a baby girl whom she put up for adoption. John's conservative parents refused to accept the decision and forever shunned their son from the family. Alone, when released from prison, John moved south to London where he picked up work as a chauffeur for a wealthy businessman named William McSwann in 1936. Yet his criminal ways bubbled back up. For the next seven years, John was in and out of jail for various crimes. It was during this time that he dreamed up the perfect murder. How can one kill and then truly get rid of the body? Sulfuric acid. Of course. To test his plan, John caught mice and submerged their helpless bodies in acid. There, he saw it. The critters were gone within 30 minutes. In 1943, John was freshly released from prison and reconnected with his old boss William McSwann. William invited the freed convict to dinner at his parents' home in celebration. Shortly thereafter, William disappeared. John told William's parents that he'd gone into hiding to avoid being drafted into World War II, but the truth was far grizzlier. John had lured William into his basement where he cracked him on the head, then dumped him into a 40-gallon barrel of sulfuric acid. Within a couple of days, William went from grown man to goop. Afterward, John moved into William's estate, claiming the businessman had asked him to do so. But with World War II drawing to a close, William's parents wondered why their son remained in hiding. They soon voiced their suspicions to John. He knew of one way to quiet the fussy couple, though. Give them an acid bath. With the entire McSwann family now out of the picture, John began cashing William's pension checks. He sold off their belongings for around £8,000 or £300,000 in today's pounds. With money in hand, the killer moved into the Oslo Court Hotel in London's Posh Kensington District. Eventually, however, the funds ran out, especially after John gambled much of it away. While on the hunt for more cash, the killer spotted a promising real estate add in the local paper. He traveled to the home of Dr. Archibald Henderson and his wife Rose. Pretending to be an interested buyer, John soon struck up a relationship with the affluent couple. In February of 1948, John convinced his newfound friends to take a drive into the country and visit his new workshop in West Sussex. Upon arrival, John gunned down the Henderson's and dumped their bodies in the baths. He then collected their belongings and pawned it off for money. Yes, the acid bath murderer had cooked up quite the chilling racket. Lure wealthy acquaintances out to his workshop of horrors, send them to the vats, then sell off their possessions for cold hard cash. John's next and final victim was Olive Duran Deacon, a wealthy widow living at the Oslo Court Hotel. Of all possible things, Ms. Duran Deacon wanted to meet with John to discuss a brilliant new idea, artificial fingernails. John happily invited her to his West Sussex workshop where he shot her dead and then submerged her body into the acid. This time, however, the acid bath murderer failed to cover his tracks. Detectives soon connected the missing woman to John and began looking into his lengthy record of prior arrests. When authorities searched his West Sussex workshop, they found evidence of Ms. Duran's deacon, plus some papers referring to his earlier victims. As for the body-erasing acid baths, the plan was not as foolproof as John thought. A pathologist identified three gallstones and a piece of a denture amongst the remaining sludge, objects that could withstand a slathering of sulfuric acid. Authorities arrested John and charged him with murder. He soon confessed to the killings. The man pled insanity, claiming he'd been driven mad by a childhood nightmare that returned to him as an adult. I saw before me a forest of crucifixes which gradually turned into trees, he recounted of the dream. At first, there appeared to be dew or rain dripping from the branches, but as I approached, I realized it was blood. The whole forest began to writhe in the trees dark and erect to ooze blood. A man went from each tree catching the blood. When the cup was full, he approached me. Drink, he said, but I was unable to move. The courtroom had little interest in John's strange vision. A guilty verdict was handed down on all counts. In August 1949, John George Hay was put to death by one of England's longest serving executioners, Albert Pierpont. Up next, the Trump family fled their farm in 2016. There's still no explanation as to why, and one police officer calls it the most bizarre case he has ever seen. That story when Weird Darkness returns. In 2019, six teenagers tried to rob a Chicago home and it ended with one dead shot by the homeowner. A Minnesota man is confronted by burglars at his home in 2012 and ends up being charged with murder for killing the intruders. In 2023, a man was killed after he broke into a home and the homeowner is charged with murder. As a listener to Weird Darkness, you know how bad things can go in a crime and even when defending yourself against the criminals. Sometimes, you are the one facing legal problems. That's why you never let the criminals get access to your home to begin with. Home security is no longer recommended. It is essential, and with ADT, it's no longer for the elite. It's for everyone. Right now, you can get a free home security system from ADT to keep burglars from entering your home in the first place. Just visit WeirdDarkness.com slash ADT. ADT is the biggest and most trusted name in home security and has been since 1874. And they are still equipping people like you and me with the newest and best home security technology with 24x7 monitoring and 24x7 customer service. Whether your home is basic or ultra smart, ADT is the best option for your home security. And again, you can get a free custom-built home security system with the latest technology by visiting WeirdDarkness.com slash ADT. In late August of 2016, the Trump family of Sylvan Australia abandoned the family berry farm and successful earth-moving business and went off the grid, albeit briefly. The members of the family left their cell phones, passports and credit cards behind with no explanation or warning that they were leaving town. The family, Mark and Jacoba and their adult children, Rihanna, Mitchell and Ella, drove north. Why did the Trump family leave behind all their possessions? And why would they put on such a bizarre act with everyone they came across? Even after the family returned home after nearly a week, there were no answers. The media and amateur sleuths have speculated about possible reasons, but the speculation remains just that and the family's temporary exodus remains an enigma. On August 29, 2016, members of the Trump family piled into the family car and drove away from their berry farm and their successful business, without so much as a word to their friends or extended family. The family drove nearly a thousand miles across Australia. No one realized the family was missing at first, but it wasn't long before the family of five splintered into individual groups, their erratic behavior finally drawing attention to the situation at hand. When the police were alerted to the family's bizarre disappearance by Rihanna and Ella, the first thing they did was pay a visit to the Trump's abandoned berry farm. Inside the house, the doors were unlocked. Authorities discovered personal possessions left conspicuously out in the open. Passports, cell phones and credit cards, the kinds of items most people in the modern world would take with them on a road trip, they were all left sitting on the table. The abandoned items suggested the Trumps didn't want to be followed. The one member of the family who realized something was off about his parents was their son, Mitchell, who brought along his phone on this impromptu excursion. He realized the family was being delusional and that his phone would be the one lifeline to civilization if things were to go south. When his parents found out about the phone, they made Mitchell throw it out the car window to keep them from being electronically tracked. Once that was out of the equation, the family was truly cut off from civilization. Five hundred miles into the family's thousand mile road trip, Mitchell-Trump had had enough of the family's shenanigans and left them to their own devices. At 7am in Bathurst, west of Sydney, he left the group and took a series of trains back home. After everyone returned home safe and sound, Mitchell expressed regret at leaving his family when he did. He told the press he should have helped his family as things spiraled out of control, but at the time his decision made sense. I thought getting out was the best idea for me at the time. In hindsight, I should have tried to stay with them and try to help them bring them back around and talk to them more, but I got out of the car. No one knew the family was missing until Rihanna and Ella-Trump cut away from their parents while at the General and Caves, a popular tourist destination. The two sisters took possession of a car and drove to Gulburn about two hours south of their departure point. Once they arrived, the girls reported their parents missing, a call that sent the county's authorities on a scramble to find the couple. After regrouping at home, Mitchell and Ella spoke to the press about their parents' odd behavior, saying that they had never acted this way before but insisting that they weren't dangerous. After Ella and Rihanna escaped to Gulburn, they went their separate ways. Ella drove the rest of the way home, while Rihanna, still apparently suffering from some form of psychosis, slipped into the back of a truck. The driver didn't realize Rihanna was hiding in his truck bed until he'd been on the road for about an hour. When he tried to speak to her, she was in a catatonic state and claimed she didn't know who or where she was. It was only after she was taken to a psychiatric hospital that she was identified as Rihanna-Trump. After taking a car in Gulburn, Ella had the wheels to make it back home before the rest of her siblings. After her arrival, Mitchell got back as well, having hopped a few trains in order to make it back to the family farm. The police were already waiting for the siblings. Ella was charged with taking the vehicle while the police continued their search for the parents. However, under Section 33 of the Mental Health Act of New South Wales, the charges were later dropped. Once their children parted ways, the parents didn't stick together for long either. While Jacoba tried to take a bus back home, Mark continued his streak of unsettling behavior. He began tailgating a young couple who eventually stopped their car. Mark responded by getting out of his vehicle, but after standing in the middle of the road and staring at the couple for a brief time, he suddenly ran into the woods. Following his disappearance, Mark was connected with break-ins at Miller's Cottage, a hotel in Wongaratta and the Millawa General Store. Nothing was taken or damaged, so the Wongaratta authorities didn't press charges. As Mark Trump was causing small-scale havoc across the Wongaratta area, his wife was attempting to travel home. However, she was in too much of a state of shock to get further than yes, a little over three hours away from Wongaratta. Once she arrived in yes, she tried to book a hotel room, but didn't have any way of paying. After exhibiting various signs of confusion, she was transported to a hospital by one of the locals. The staff immediately recognized who she was and called the police. She was checked into a psychiatric hospital and placed under observation. One of the strangest details about the Trump's family's disappearance and one that lends itself to many conspiracy theories is the surplus of financial documents the police found when they searched the family's home. In addition to the credit cards, cell phones, and passports found lying around, authorities discovered stacks of the Trump's financial records. From the looks of it, the family had gone through their personal records and placed them all around the house before taking off. When asked to explain the odd behavior, including but not limited to their sudden departure, the Trump family didn't have an answer. The family wasn't on drugs, and nobody was diagnosed with any mental health issues. The police officer who knows the family personally said the Trumps weren't in debt, nor were they part of any fringe religious groups. After leaving the hospital, Rihanna Trump said stress had been building up in the family for years and suggested the incident was simply how the tension finally let itself out. While the Trumps chalk up their inexplicable, if temporary behavior to a build-up of stress, online observers and other amateur sleuths have come up with other theories to explain the family's disappearance. Some people believe the mob was in pursuit, primarily owing to the financial statements stacked up in the Trump's home, but there's no evidence of any involvement with organized crime. Among other suggested possibilities are environmental toxins from the family's farm, although once again the details about what those toxins are and what effect they may have had remain vague. The Australian media has questioned whether carbon monoxide might have been the culprit. The BBC reports Mark was increasingly stressed out and growing paranoid that someone was after his money. The report went on to suggest that his paranoia may have inflicted members of his family, leading to a psychiatric condition known as the folia do, or the madness of two. After six days, the family was finally brought back together when Mark Trump was found walking near the Juan Garada Airport. Police determined he was not a threat and released him into the care of his brother, a police officer. Mark's strange behavior initially continued on the drive home, but he later settled down and even released a statement thanking the authorities who found him and apologized for his actions. An officer in the Sylvan District of Victoria called the Trump disappearance the most bizarre case I've seen in 30 years. After being reunited, the family said they wanted time to process what they had been through and the inherent weirdness of their disappearance. The family members who spoke to the media, especially Mark and his son Mitchell, were quick to apologize for the money spent on the search and the panic they caused. Mark Trump told the Sydney Morning Herald, I'm conscious of the burden these events have placed upon our extended family, friends and the community resources devoted to our aid. Without reservation, I apologize for the hurt and concern caused by these events. But he never did explain what on earth actually happened. Thanks for listening. If you like the podcast, please tell someone about it. Recommend weird darkness to your friends, family and co-workers who love the paranormal, horror stories or true crime like you do. Every time you share the podcast with someone new, it helps spread the word about the show and a growing audience makes it possible for me to keep doing the podcast. Plus, telling others about weird darkness also helps get the word out about resources that are available for those who suffer from depression. So please, share the podcast with someone today. Be sure to join me for a new episode every Sunday at my other podcast, The Church of the Undead, also found at WeirdDarkness.com. Do you have a dark tale to tell of your own? Fact or fiction, click on Tell Your Story on the website and I might use it in a future episode. All stories in Weird Darkness are purported to be true unless stated otherwise, and you can find source links or links to the authors in the show notes. Acid Bath Murderer was written by Stephen Cassell. The Hum was written by Garrett Harkowick. The Devil's Tramping Ground is by Zach Seymire. And The Fleeing of the Trump Family was written by Jacob Sheldon. Weird Darkness Theme by Alibi Music. And now that we are coming out of the dark, I will leave you with a little light. Isaiah 40 verse 31, But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint. And a final thought from Denzel Washington. At the end of the day, it's not about what you have or even what you've accomplished. It's about who you've lifted up, who you've made better. It's about what you've given back. You tell them, Denzel. I'm Darren Marlar. Thanks for joining me in the Weird Darkness. In the film, Legosi plays a scientist who, aided by an old hag and her two sons, kills virginal brides, steals their bodies and extracts fluid to inject into his ancient wife in order to keep her alive and young. Gee, almost like a vampire, Bella. Nice typecasting. From the movie poster it says, kidnapped brides are the victims of his terror. Prepare to shudder when you see the strange practices of this doctor who sacrificed beautiful women for the sake of a mad love. Until death do you part. I do. Shall I telephone for the ambulance? No. The undertaker. She's dead. The Weirdo Watch Party is always free to watch online with everybody, so grab your popcorn, candy and soda and jump into the fun and even get involved in the live chat as we watch the movie. It's The Corpse Vanishes starring Bella Legosi Friday, July 14th. The movie starts at 5.30pm Pacific, 6.30pm Mountain, 7.30pm Central, 8.30pm Eastern. See a trailer for the film and invite your friends to watch along with you on the Weirdo Watch Party page at WeirdDarkness.com. And we'll see you on Friday, July 14th for The Corpse Vanishes. When Salem Roanoke took a job near his family's new home as a hired hand in the Texas Hill Country, he anticipated learning the rancher's trade, but a series of strange events, shocking murders and unholy revelations divert him down another path. This terrifying trajectory puts him directly into the middle of a struggle between monsters, magic and men, armed and backed by a militia of ranchers. Salem attempts to combat the creeping tide of evil that threatens to engulf his new home and destroy the people most important to him. Will Salem manage to save his home or have his actions condemn everyone he hopes to save? The Witch Trials, A Summer of Wolves and Season of the Witch by SR Roanoke, available in paperback, Kindle and audiobook versions. Look for The Witch Trials by SR Roanoke on Amazon or find it on the audiobooks page at WeirdDarkness.com. That's WeirdDarkness.com slash audiobooks. Hey Weirdos, be sure to click the like button and subscribe to this channel, and click the notification bell so you don't miss future videos. I post videos 7 days a week, and while you're at it, spread the darkness by sharing this video with someone you know who loves all things strange and macabre. If you want to listen to the podcast, you can find it at WeirdDarkness.com slash listen.


You can't become a good wife based on how your mother became a good wife. Situations have changed, expectations have changed. The biggest mistake humanity made was, they started saying, marriages are made in heaven, that's why it's such a mess. You made this relationship because you need it badly, isn't it? If you understand and you're always grateful for this, you would handle it well. Our mothers have set amazing benchmark. In the moment you say mothers, they're giving a sound ambience of babies crying. That's the halo effect I think. Yeah, so they've set a quite a big benchmark of being an ideal wife. However, I, or girls of my generation, feel that we cannot be as good as wife as my mother has been, or our mothers have been. So should I feel that I am falling short of in my personal life, or should I feel that I'm not giving enough justice to my marriage once I'm married? How should I feel about this? You know, our center in the United States is in Tennessee. Tennessee is a little one kind of state, okay? Mary Makowski, that's not Romanian, right? Mary Makowski got married and after that honeymoon they came home and she threatened him that she's going to make a dinner all by herself. I'm sorry, she said she'll make dinner for the new husband. And husband came home from work and she served the dinner and he put it in his mouth and slowly he was chewing on it and went into profound thought. Then she was very excited about this dinner and she said, the only two things my mother taught me how to cook, the meatloaf and the apple pie. Then he looked at her and said, darling, which one is this? So your mother, your grandmother, how they made good wives. Largely it was believed the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Today your husband will call Uber Eats and whatever, Quick Picks and this and that and Swiggy's and whatever, all right? So you can't make a good wife based on how your grandmother became a good wife. You can't become a good wife based on how your mother became a good wife. Situations have changed, expectations have changed. Hmm? It's not in the stomach anymore. For some it's gone up into the head, for some it's gone further south. Yes? So you don't do that.  Very few people in this world are geared to make this journey in life all by themselves. They're organized enough within themselves totally. They never feel anything missing in their life because they've made themselves like that. But most people need somebody else to lean on, either emotionally, psychologically. There are needs in a human being, physical needs, psychological needs, emotional needs, maybe social needs, economic needs, variety of needs. To fulfill these needs, you want to find one person that you can depend on. Because it's very difficult even to find one person who… with whom you can share everything that you have, your body, mind, emotion and what works. So this is the idea.  Nothing else. The biggest mistake humanity made was, they started saying marriages are made in heaven, that's why it's such a mess. What's done here? If you see marriages are made between us and we took responsibility for who we are, oh, we could have made it work.  Not suitable here, it's because it's alien stuff. Everything is a mess because you think it's made elsewhere by somebody else. If you understand it's made by you for your well-being to fulfill your needs and your purposes so that you can go through this journey of life with least amount of trouble and friction, then you would handle it more responsibly, isn't it? And according to contemporary needs, not how your grandmother did her marriage, you can't do it that way because expectations and situations have completely altered themselves. So if you hold somebody, who is your friend and who is your need? You must understand. You are in this relationship because you need. Maybe the other person also needs but that's from their side. As far as you are concerned, you made this relationship because you need it badly, isn't it? If you understand and you're always grateful for this, that somebody is fulfilling all your need, you would handle it well. You wouldn't make a misery out of it, but now you think somebody else needs you, then you will make a mess out of it. You understand, you need it. Well, the other person also needs to understand he needs it. Now there is a cohesion.  This is not about you squeezing happiness out of somebody or they squeezing happiness out of you. If two happy people meet, then there can be something wonderful happening between them.


We are so excited, our son is returning and we're just so thankful and happy and praying that everybody returns safely and will continue to wear red on Fridays for everybody to deploy it and we missed him so much and we're just so thankful that they're returning here in a few minutes. Welcome back! Come on, come on!