Andrew Jones- Noah's Ark

A Voice for Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens is much more than a memoir; it is a humanizing tribute to Chris Stevens the man, by the woman who loved him. Lydie M. Denier, former fiancée and the love of Chris Stevens’ life, paints an intimate portrait of the brilliant and mercurial diplomat, teacher and Arabist that was Chris Stevens.Murdered in Benghazi on September 11, 2012, along with Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty, Chris’ voice has been silenced, his personality buried beneath an avalanche of sordid headlines, political agendas and lies. In her book, Ms. Denier gives Chris a voice, finally setting the record straight about their passionate and turbulent love affair, his commitment to the people of the Middle East, and her dedicated quest to uncover the truth about what really happened the day Chris Stevens was killed and more importantly, why he was not protected. From Hollywood to Cairo, Washington D.C. to Libya, Ms. Denier shares the joy and pain of love, loss, tragedy and healing.https://amzn.to/4kn4fliBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

In a remote corner of Turkey, a unique geological formation, unearthed on September 11, 1959, by Turkish Army Captain Ilhan Durupinar, is raising eyebrows and piquing the interest of biblical scholars and geologists alike. This boat-shaped geological curiosity, commonly referred to as the Durupinar formation, is considered by some to be the final resting place of Noah’s Ark.The narrative of Noah’s Ark is deeply ingrained in the religious texts of both Christianity and Islam, with references found in Genesis 8:4 of the Bible and Surah 11:44 of the Qur’an. In both texts, the story recounts a great deluge, a boat, and a landing in a mountainous region. Locals in the nearby village point to the Durupinar site, which they call Al-Judi, as a possible landing point of the ark.Ed Opperman talks to Andrew Jones about the discovery which, if true, will rewrite history.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

The Killing of Tupac ShakurWho did it and why? Poet, movie star, revolutionary -- Tupac Amaru Shakur was the most popular rapper in the world. No one symbolized the violence at the heart of gangsta rap more than Tupac, and he ultimately fell victim to that violence, gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas at the age of 25. This raw, no-holds-barred account discloses new information, including exclusive photo evidence, about the unsolved murder of Tupac: the failed investigation, the rap wars, the killing of Biggie Smalls, the Bloods-Crips connection, and the many possible motives leading to the murder that rocked the music world.The Murder of Biggie SmallsThe Notorious B.I.G. exploded onto the hip-hop scene with his platinum-selling album Ready to Die in 1995. The life of B.I.G. a.k.a. Biggie Smalls--born Christopher Wallace--had come a long way from the years spent in his Bed-Sty neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, where he dropped out of school at age seventeen to pursue the culture of the street and master his rapping style. It was on the street that Smalls began emceeing his original raps and was discovered by Sean "Puffy" Combs, who recognized Smalls's potential and took his gangsta image to the next level.Within a few years he moved from the street to two successful rap albums, several million dollars in earnings, a Billboard Music Award in 1996 for Rapper of the Year, a marriage to R&B singer Faith Evans, a very public affair with L'il Kim, and hanging with Tupac Shakur, Marion "Surge" Knight, Puff Daddy, and Mary J. Blige. Despite becoming king of his world, Smalls didn't leave the life he rapped about behind. During his two-year rise up the charts he had several run-ins with the law, on charges ranging from assault to drugs and weapons possession. In 1994, both he and Combs were accused publicly by Suge Knight and Tupac's camp of setting up the shooting of Tupac Shakur, a charge they both vehemently denied.The high life was brought to an end on March 9, 1997, after Biggie attended the Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles. Smalls was gunned down in his car much like friend-turned-enemy Shakur had been six months earlier.Three years after Smalls's death, the police still have not made an arrest, and despite their early confidence that the case would be solved quickly, his murder continues to raise more questions than it answers.Respected journalist Cathy Scott has traveled from Las Vegas to New York and Los Angeles, interviewing those involved with Smalls and reviewing court documents and police reports surrounding the case in order to tell the real story of the murder of Biggie Smalls.The Murder of Biggie Smalls uncovers what those around Smalls and Shakur don't want to be revealed, including:The possibility that Smalls may have owed a gang money and was killed to collect on the debt.That Puffy Combs, Smalls's record producer, may have hired Crips members as bodyguards, who in turn killed Smalls over a financial beef.That Combs may have been the intended victim instead of Smalls.The investigation into Suge Knight, Tupac Shakur's record producer, and the suspicion that he may have masterminded Smalls's murder from his California prison cell.Smalls's mother's belief that the federal government was involved in the mruder and that police have conspired not to solve the crime.Why many surrounding Smalls feel the police have neglected the case to the point of letting the murderer get away--while being unwilling to offer any information themselves or assist the police in their efforts.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

The Killing of Tupac ShakurWho did it and why? Poet, movie star, revolutionary -- Tupac Amaru Shakur was the most popular rapper in the world. No one symbolized the violence at the heart of gangsta rap more than Tupac, and he ultimately fell victim to that violence, gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas at the age of 25. This raw, no-holds-barred account discloses new information, including exclusive photo evidence, about the unsolved murder of Tupac: the failed investigation, the rap wars, the killing of Biggie Smalls, the Bloods-Crips connection, and the many possible motives leading to the murder that rocked the music world.The Murder of Biggie SmallsThe Notorious B.I.G. exploded onto the hip-hop scene with his platinum-selling album Ready to Die in 1995. The life of B.I.G. a.k.a. Biggie Smalls--born Christopher Wallace--had come a long way from the years spent in his Bed-Sty neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, where he dropped out of school at age seventeen to pursue the culture of the street and master his rapping style. It was on the street that Smalls began emceeing his original raps and was discovered by Sean "Puffy" Combs, who recognized Smalls's potential and took his gangsta image to the next level.Within a few years he moved from the street to two successful rap albums, several million dollars in earnings, a Billboard Music Award in 1996 for Rapper of the Year, a marriage to R&B singer Faith Evans, a very public affair with L'il Kim, and hanging with Tupac Shakur, Marion "Surge" Knight, Puff Daddy, and Mary J. Blige. Despite becoming king of his world, Smalls didn't leave the life he rapped about behind. During his two-year rise up the charts he had several run-ins with the law, on charges ranging from assault to drugs and weapons possession. In 1994, both he and Combs were accused publicly by Suge Knight and Tupac's camp of setting up the shooting of Tupac Shakur, a charge they both vehemently denied.The high life was brought to an end on March 9, 1997, after Biggie attended the Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles. Smalls was gunned down in his car much like friend-turned-enemy Shakur had been six months earlier.Three years after Smalls's death, the police still have not made an arrest, and despite their early confidence that the case would be solved quickly, his murder continues to raise more questions than it answers.Respected journalist Cathy Scott has traveled from Las Vegas to New York and Los Angeles, interviewing those involved with Smalls and reviewing court documents and police reports surrounding the case in order to tell the real story of the murder of Biggie Smalls.The Murder of Biggie Smalls uncovers what those around Smalls and Shakur don't want to be revealed, including:The possibility that Smalls may have owed a gang money and was killed to collect on the debt.That Puffy Combs, Smalls's record producer, may have hired Crips members as bodyguards, who in turn killed Smalls over a financial beef.That Combs may have been the intended victim instead of Smalls.The investigation into Suge Knight, Tupac Shakur's record producer, and the suspicion that he may have masterminded Smalls's murder from his California prison cell.Smalls's mother's belief that the federal government was involved in the mruder and that police have conspired not to solve the crime.Why many surrounding Smalls feel the police have neglected the case to the point of letting the murderer get away--while being unwilling to offer any information themselves or assist the police in their efforts.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.