Thursday, November 13, 2025
C-drama--This movie is a handsome prince and a girl disguised as his eunuch--
However, I think the discovery is too sudden and the movie should have started much earlier--
and then the transition is too swift also.
It should be maybe like Yentl or Love? in the Military Academy.
Also, eunuchs smell because they no longer have the organ to urinate with and at least in the movies, they develop a servile way of talking and walking.
That's my opinion as a writer--either the pain or the pleasure, the conflicts, should be drawn out and there should be many setbacks and the story or plot should alternate between hope and despair.
She shouldn't suddenly start wearing woman's clothes and become a woman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsmL93tIa6I
You may believe it or not, but I have worked alongside many difft people--
recovering mental health patients,gays,lesbians,bisexual people--
Some of them are out-patients--most of them are not dangerous, and I only saw them a few hours at a time, sometimes at part-time jobs.
Writers, actors and directors should study human behavior before they write something or attempt a play or movie.
Very few people can produce a masterpiece in one go--but some are "born writers" or "born artists" with very keen perception--but they may not write very much for some reason or the other--
For instance one woman told me her grandfather lied to her when she was a child, and told her the guava was not yet ripe--
she also told me she suspected her friend in London? was having an affair bc she was away from her husband who was in Burma.
This woman was very judgemental--in fact, my sister and my mother and some women friends are like that.
Westerners on the whole are less so,but they get jealous too.
Or they tell me what they saw or did in the 1960s when I was still in Burma--
One woman shocked me by saying she could not remember the number of men she had slept with.
I've been invited to teas and Thanksgiving, where the ex-husband or the current partner sat at the head of the table.
Maybe it's a cultural thing.
Anyway, I just take mental notes.
John Gardner or maybe someone else--suggested eaves-dropping.
Which reminds me--of a free movie I went to see at the Univ Museum at Penn.
I and an elderly couple sitting in the back were the only ones in the dark theater when I arrived.
The man was somewhat deaf so he spoke too loud.
I didn't hear her voice at all--she was maybe crying.
The man was saying, "I don't understand what the problem is, I come in Friday evening, we have dinner together--then breakfast on Saturday--"
Shortly after my female friend from Egypyt arrived and the movie started.
It was Franco Zefferelli's Don Giovani.
Egyptian did not like it at all.
I should have stayed on,but we left.
All I remember was Don Juan unfurling a long script or scroll of his sexual conqests.
There's another story or two witnessed in cafes on Dupont Circle. One the man in the blue shirt.
My ecos. mentor Dr.Findlay and Mrs. Findlay once said,"In future we'd better be careful what we say in front of KM. She's a writer."
Kyi May Kaung
11-13-2025.
My artwork--Kyi May Kaung.
Trying to understand the 43 day govt shutdown.
In a concession to Democrats, the bill reverses Trump's recent layoffs of federal government that he made during the shutdown.
The six Democrats who voted for the bill are:
Advertisement
Henry Cuellar, D-Texas
https://www.aol.com/articles/6-house-democrats-voted-republicans-023809142.html
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Wow--gem mining on the Mogok Golf Course--in all truth, the junta started it decades ago--
golf course is where the junta v i ps played golf--all the other places were mined out long ago by junta using forced labor, porn flicks shown at night.
A labor activist told me as early as 2004.
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/mining-frenzy-devastates-mogoke-as-tnla-prepares-to-hand-town-back-to-junta.html
Make sure you read the Introduction--from which this excerpt is taken:
The volume is rich in significant detail, both as regards the master's peculiar powers and his views as expressed in other words. Once again we meet the author's determination to be just to all concerned. Through Dr. Ruiz, for example, a medical enthusiast over tauromachy, we receive what amounts to a lecture upon the evolution of the brutal sport. He looks upon bull-fighting as the historical substitute for the Inquisition, which was in itself a great national festival. He is ready to admit, too, that the bull fight is a barbarous institution, but calls[Pg x] to your attention that it is by no means the only one in the world. In the turning of the people to violent, savage forms of amusement he beholds a universal ailment. And when Dr. Ruiz expresses his disgust at seeing foreigners turn eyes of contempt upon Spain because of the bull-fight, he no doubt speaks for Blasco Ibáñez. The enthusiastic physician points out that horse-racing is more cruel than bull-fighting, and kills many more men; that the spectacle of fox-hunting with trained dogs is hardly a sight for civilized onlookers; that there is more than one modern game out of which the participants emerge with broken legs, fractured skulls, flattened noses and what not; and how about the duel, often fought with only an unhealthy desire for publicity as the genuine cause?
Bullfighting books and movies.
AI Overview
Novels featuring bullfighting include
Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises and his non-fiction book Death in the Afternoon, and Tom Lea's novel The Brave Bulls. Movies that feature bullfighting include the classic silent film Blood and Sand (1922), the 1951 film Bullfighter and the Lady, and documentaries like Afternoons of Solitude (2024).
Novels
The Sun Also Rises (Ernest Hemingway): A novel about the "Lost Generation" in Europe, which features the Pamplona bullfights prominently.
Death in the Afternoon (Ernest Hemingway): A non-fiction work that explores the history, ceremony, and traditions of Spanish bullfighting.
The Brave Bulls (Tom Lea): A 1949 novel about the raising of bulls for bullfighting in Mexico, which includes Lea's own illustrations.
Blood and Sand (Vicente Blasco Ibáñez): The original novel that the classic 1922 film was based on.
Shadow of a Bull (Maia Wojciechowska): A young adult novel about a boy growing up in the shadow of his famous bullfighter father.
Death in the Afternoon - Wikipedia
Death in the Afternoon is a non-fiction book written by Ernest Hemingway about the history, ceremony and traditions of Spanish bul...
Wikipedia
Category:Bullfighting books - Wikipedia
S * Shadow of a Bull. * The Story of Ferdinand. * The Sun Also Rises.
Wikipedia
Popular Bullfighting Books - Goodreads
The Sun Also Rises Ernest Hemingway. Death in the Afternoon Ernest Hemingway. The Story of Ferdinand Munro Leaf. Or the Bull Kills...
Goodreads
AI answer to Q--is bullfighting still legal in Spain.
AI Overview
Yes, bullfighting is still legal in Spain, but not nationally
; it is a controversial tradition that is banned in some regions like the Canary Islands and is not practiced in Catalonia, though it remains legal in most of Spain and is considered by supporters to be a cultural heritage. Recent Spanish laws have strengthened animal welfare in other areas, such as banning the recreational use of wild animals in circuses, but explicitly exempted bullfighting.
Legality: Bullfighting is legal in most of Spain, but some regional governments have bans or have opted out.
Regional bans: The Canary Islands have a ban, and while Catalonia banned bullfighting, a higher court later overturned the ban, allowing it to continue, though it is not a major sport there anymore.
Cultural heritage: Supporters view bullfighting as an important cultural and artistic tradition, which is a key reason for its exemption from recent animal welfare laws.
Animal welfare laws: A 2023 Spanish animal welfare law banned the use of animals in recreational activities that cause pain or suffering, but it included an exemption for bullfighting and hunting with dogs, which was later reinstated after initial protests.
Public opinion: Support for bullfighting has declined, with younger generations reportedly viewing it as cruel and old-fashioned, but it remains a divisive issue with strong cultural proponents.
This one is good--the girl from the North and the eunuch. Can't say more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4a7UY3_8rI
There have been Dowager Empresses who fell in love with eunuchs, for e.g
Dowager Empress CiXi (Su zi spelling?) with truly tragic consequences.
Qing Dynasty--not Qin Dynasty.
Read Anchee Min--Empress Orchid+ non fiction--CiXi by Jung Chang.
I saw both these authors at Politics and Prose--guess whose writing I liked better.
Hint: It depends on what I think more important and what I write most often.
K.M.Kaung.
11-11-2025
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Sonnet 116. My father would often read this out aloud to me--when he was home from work and frustrated with his "education minister."
Sonnet 116: Let me not to the marriage of true minds
By William Shakespeare
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45106/sonnet-116-let-me-not-to-the-marriage-of-true-minds
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments; love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O no, it is an ever-fixèd mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand'ring bark
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come.
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom:
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved. Copyright Credit: William Shakespeare. "Sonnet 116: Let me not to the marriage of true minds" from SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS. London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609.
Please call me by my true names--by Rev. Thich Nhat Hanh
https://www.upaya.org/2022/02/please-call-me-by-my-true-names-a-poem-by-thich-nhat-hanh/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22801614620&gclid=CjwKCAiA2svIBhB-EiwARWDPjucoe8T8LE2AE8i24OmaFx2PfESixdREcPNaF0gQau4EH4qpauKWLhoCQe4QAvD_BwE
Don’t say that I will depart tomorrow —
even today I am still arriving.
Look deeply: every second I am arriving
to be a bud on a Spring branch,
to be a tiny bird, with still-fragile wings,
learning to sing in my new nest,
to be a caterpillar in the heart of a flower,
to be a jewel hiding itself in a stone.
I still arrive, in order to laugh and to cry,
to fear and to hope.
The rhythm of my heart is the birth and death
of all that is alive.
I am the mayfly metamorphosing
on the surface of the river.
And I am the bird
that swoops down to swallow the mayfly.
I am the frog swimming happily
in the clear water of a pond.
And I am the grass-snake
that silently feeds itself on the frog.
I am the child in Uganda, all skin and bones,
my legs as thin as bamboo sticks.
And I am the arms merchant,
selling deadly weapons to Uganda.
I am the twelve-year-old girl,
refugee on a small boat,
who throws herself into the ocean
after being raped by a sea pirate.
And I am the pirate,
my heart not yet capable
of seeing and loving.
I am a member of the politburo,
with plenty of power in my hands.
And I am the man who has to pay
his “debt of blood” to my people
dying slowly in a forced-labor camp.
My joy is like Spring, so warm
it makes flowers bloom all over the Earth.
My pain is like a river of tears,
so vast it fills the four oceans.
Please call me by my true names,
so I can hear all my cries and my laughter at once,
so I can see that my joy and pain are one.
Please call me by my true names,
so I can wake up,
and so the door of my heart
can be left open,
the door of compassion.
Thich Nhat Hanh tells the story of the poem on the Plum Village Website:
I don't have a wiki--one is not supposed to put up one's own wiki. However, you may do so if you wish, following Wikipedia rules and using citations.
BTW my Name is KYI MAY KAUNG.
NOT May Kyi Win,librarian, d. 2004
Not "Kyi Kyi May"--Former BBC--Burmese--bad reputation,
and Not Tee May Thein--who is former colleague from Inst of Ecos,Rangoon.
None of them are related to me.
PlEASE CALL ME BY MY TRUE NAME--Thich Nhat Hanh
The writer and journalist is U Tin Maung Than.
AI Overview
"U Tin Maung Maung Than" likely refers to
Dr. Tin Maung Maung Than, a Burmese researcher and academic known for his work on Southeast Asian politics, religion, and development. He is a visiting senior research fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, holds a PhD in Politics from SOAS, and has researched contemporary Burma extensively. There are other individuals with similar names, including a 20th-century Burmese writer and editor and multiple people listed on professional networks like LinkedIn.
Dr. Tin Maung Maung Than
Academic and Researcher: A fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute and formerly at Devex, he has a PhD in Politics from SOAS and an MSc in Nuclear Physics from Rangoon Arts & Science University.
Area of Expertise: His research interests include the politics and development of Myanmar, political culture, and religion, state, and society.
Public Figure: He has been featured in media commenting on Myanmar's political situation, for example, at the 26th Asia-Pacific Roundtable in 2012.
Other individuals with the name Tin Maung Maung Than
Writer and Editor: A Burmese writer and editor who tired of government censors, as described in this 2001 New York Times article.
Multiple professionals: LinkedIn searches show various professionals with this name, including project managers, network engineers, and researchers.
Oh--Mahn Thet San passed away in 2008.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahn_Thet_San
He was a close friend of one of my brothers in law--
I used to tease him when he had nothing to do at the Burma Research Inst? but boil glue from water buffalo horn--
As in --ah kyan kone, galone sar chett.
Out of ideas, the garuda boils salt.
I'm sad to find out he passed away.
kmk
10-11-2025
I would like, someone out there,preferably a trained Physics Ph.D to write me a paper on why countries like Myanmar don't need an atom bomb.
You can't contact me--but you can publish your finished piece somewhere and if it's good, I will find it.
You can use a pseudonym of your choice.
U Tin Maung Maung Than,in 1970s,wrote a paper while he was working for Burma Research Institute? and submitted it for a Diploma in Eco.Planning paper at Inst of Ecos,Rangoon, when I worked there.
But it wasn't that interesting.
He told me General Ne Win wanted such a study.
AI--answer to my Q.
AI Overview
The main difference is that
Chernobyl was a nuclear power plant accident, while a nuclear bomb is a weapon. Chernobyl released a massive amount of long-lived radioactive material from a reactor core over a period of days, causing widespread, long-term contamination. A nuclear bomb detonates instantaneously, producing a blast and a prompt radiation release with more short-lived isotopes that are less dangerous over the long term compared to Chernobyl's isotopes.
Feature
Chernobyl disaster Nuclear bomb
Cause A flawed reactor design and human error led to a runaway nuclear reaction and steam explosions. A deliberately designed and triggered fission reaction for weapon purposes.
Type of release An explosion ejected the reactor core, followed by fires that released radioactive particles and gases over several days. An instantaneous airburst detonation releases a massive amount of energy and radiation at once.
Radioactive materials Released a wide range of isotopes, including long-lived ones like cesium-137 and strontium-90, which are still present in the environment today. Primarily releases isotopes with very short half-lives, which decay rapidly.
Contamination Caused extensive, long-term ground and atmospheric contamination, creating a large exclusion zone. Contamination is more localized and less persistent over time than with Chernobyl, though the immediate effects are far more destructive.
Immediate impact Direct fatalities were fewer, but a large number of people developed acute radiation sickness in the weeks and months following the accident. Caused immediate mass casualties from the blast, heat, and radiation.
Comparison of Chernobyl and other radioactivity releases
"Compared with other nuclear events: The Chernobyl explosion put 400 times more radioactive material into the Earth's atmosphere t...
Wikipedia
Counterintuitive--why AI was telling me Burmese pythons won't survive a nuclear blast--
Chernobyl-style event releases more long term isotopes--which last longer, while bomb effects dissipate. See complete AI above.
Amazing--
AI Overview
Chincoteague and Assateague are
two coastal islands in Virginia, with Chincoteague being a town on its own island and Assateague being the larger, largely undeveloped island next to it. The two are famous for their wild ponies, particularly the "saltwater cowboys" who swim the herd from Assateague to Chincoteague during the annual pony penning and auction. Visitors can enjoy a range of activities, including visiting the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Assateague Island National Seashore, bird watching, and exploring the local maritime history at the Museum of Chincoteague Island.
Key differences and relationship
Chincoteague Island: A resort town on its own island, connected to the mainland by a bridge. It serves as a gateway to Assateague Island and is known for its lively atmosphere.
Assateague Island: A larger, barrier island that is mostly a national seashore or wildlife refuge. It is home to the wild ponies and has more undeveloped beaches and natural areas.
Connection: The two islands are separated by the Assateague Channel, and a bridge connects the town of Chincoteague to the mainland. Visitors can access Assateague via the bridge from Chincoteague Island.
Activities and attractions
Wild ponies: The islands are famous for their wild pony herds. The Chincoteague Pony Penning is a major annual event where the ponies are rounded up, swum across the channel, and auctioned off. Nature and wildlife: Visitors can enjoy bird watching, nature cruises, and exploring the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, which is located on Assateague Island. The refuge is a haven for many species of birds and other wildlife. Beaches: Assateague Island offers undeveloped beaches, while Chincoteague Island offers a more resort-like beach experience. History: The Museum of Chincoteague Island displays oyster industry artifacts and model boats. The Assateague Light, a historic lighthouse, is located on Assateague Island and is open to the public. Outdoor activities: Beyond the main attractions, visitors can also go kayaking, hiking, and biking. How to visit Driving: You can drive to Chincoteague Island and park your car there. Bridge: A bridge connects Chincoteague Island to the mainland. Access to Assateague: You can access Assateague Island from Chincoteague by crossing a bridge. Visitor center: The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge has a visitor center where you can purchase passes and permits. Overall, Chincoteague and Assateague offer a mix of a classic resort town and a wild, natural barrier island experience, with the wild ponies being the main draw for many visitors. Assateague Island National Seashore - Wikitravel Many tourist love to watch the auctions as well as see the "salt water cowboys" swim the herd from Assateague to Chincoteague. ... Wikitravel Assateague Light - Wikipedia Assateague Light is the 142-foot-tall (43 m) lighthouse located on the southern end of Assateague Island off the coast of the Virg... Wikipedia Pony Penning - Wikipedia Prior to 1924. By the 1700s, the pony penning was an annual event and unclaimed animals were branded or marked for ownership by gr... Wikipedia
Chincoteague and Assateague novels + non-fiction.
AI Overview
+6
The most famous novel about Chincoteague and Assateague is
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, which tells the story of a wild pony and the children who befriend her. Other books in the series include Stormy, Misty's Foal and Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague. For historical context, Kirk Mariner's Once Upon an Island: The History of Chincoteague covers the islands' history.
Fiction:
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry: The classic children's novel based on the real-life Misty pony, telling the story of siblings Paul and Maureen Beebe and their quest to capture the elusive Phantom mare during Pony Penning Day.
Stormy, Misty's Foal by Marguerite Henry: The sequel to Misty of Chincoteague, which focuses on Misty's colt, Stormy, who is born during a major storm.
Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry: A follow-up that continues the story after the events of the first two books.
Marguerite Henry's Misty Inn (series): A later chapter book series inspired by the original stories, following new siblings on Chincoteague.
Sea Feather by Lois K. Szymanski: Another novel set in the region.
Non-fiction/History:
Once Upon an Island: The History of Chincoteague by Kirk Mariner: A non-fiction book that details the history of Chincoteague Island and its relationship with Assateague and Wallops Islands.
Wild Ponies of Chincoteague by Joseph R. Spies: A book focusing on the history and plight of the wild ponies.
A Pictorial Life Story of Misty by Marguerite Henry: A photo-biography of the real Misty pony.
Chincoteague Island Books - Alibris
Chincoteague and Assateague... Dr. Devincent-Hayes, Bo Bennett. Buy from $18.34. Stormy: Misty's Foal. Marguerite Henry. Buy from ...
Alibris
Kaung: Words with "dis"
dissent
dissemble
disarray
discourage
dissenting (opinion)
plain --to diss. (slang)
to do a disservice.
discharge
dissolve
Kyi May Kaung
10-11-2025
Thesaurus --synonyms for deflect.
AI Overview
Synonyms for "deflect" include
turn, divert, swerve, and avert, which describe changing a course, while words like parry, repel, and ward off relate to blocking or defending against something. Other related terms include redirect, deviate, bend, and ricochet.
Synonyms for "deflect"
Category
Words
Changing direction turn, swing, divert, redirect, veer, shift, swerve, bend, curve, pivot, deviate, zigzag, whisk, whip
Blocking or defending parry, repel, ward off, fend off, block, thwart, prevent, avoid, guard against
Bouncing off ricochet, bounce, carom, glance off
Avoiding or sidestepping sidestep, evade, dodge, bypass, head off, side track
Overthrowing or defeating repel, repulse, drive back, beat back, frustrate, foil
Burmese pythons AI search
AI Overview
Burmese pythons, like most complex animals,
would not be expected to survive a major nuclear event in heavily impacted areas. The primary threat would stem from the environmental collapse following a nuclear winter, including loss of food sources and extreme climate shifts, rather than just the initial radiation.
Immediate and Short-Term Effects
Direct Blast and Thermal Effects: Pythons in areas near a nuclear detonation would be killed instantly by the blast wave and intense heat.
Radiation: While some animals might tolerate slightly higher radiation levels than humans, lethal doses would still cause acute radiation poisoning, cancer, and death, just on a slightly different scale. Most mutations caused by radiation are detrimental and would not help a creature survive; they often result in birth defects or death before maturity.
Environmental Collapse: The most significant long-term threat would be the "nuclear winter," where soot and dust block the sun, leading to a massive loss of plant life and a subsequent collapse of the food chain. As large carnivores, Burmese pythons require significant food resources and would face high extinction risks as their prey populations (mammals and birds) die off.
Long-Term Survival and Adaptation
Habitat and Food Scarcity: Pythons are well-adapted to the subtropical environments where they currently thrive in Florida but are sensitive to cold temperatures, which can be lethal. A nuclear winter scenario would introduce harsh, cold conditions and extreme scarcity of food and water, which would severely challenge their survival.
Adaptability: In general, small, adaptable omnivores and generalists (like rats or coyotes) are the animals most likely to survive a mass extinction event because of their varied diet and ability to cope with a wide range of conditions. As large, specialized predators, pythons are less likely to adapt quickly to the extreme changes.
Evolutionary Timeline: "Monstrous" mutations as depicted in fiction are not a realistic outcome of radiation exposure in the short term. Evolution occurs over many generations and while environmental pressures would change after such an event, beneficial mutations would take centuries or millennia to become common within a population.
In essence, individual pythons might survive the initial blast if they were in a protected area far from the epicenter, but the subsequent environmental devastation would make long-term species survival highly unlikely.
Search results--futuristic USA where wild boar run rampant.
AI Overview
While there appear to be no major best-selling science fiction novels where wild boars are the central, rampant threat across a
futuristic USA specifically, several books touch on themes of feral animals, environmental change, or a post-apocalyptic United States.
Here are some works related to these themes:
Wild Boar by Hannah Lutz: This poetic, allegorical novel is an example of "eco-literature" that explores the interaction between humans, nature, and a growing wild boar population in remote Sweden. While the setting is not the futuristic USA, it directly deals with the core theme of the user request regarding the impact of rampant wild boars.
The Boar by Joe R. Lansdale: This is a novel about a young man and his family terrorized by an "extremely large wild boar" in East Texas during the Great Depression (1933). The setting is not futuristic, but it deals with the specific animal and location.
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood: This novel, the first in the MaddAddam trilogy, features genetically modified "Crakers" and various altered lifeforms in a post-apocalyptic world. It touches on themes of rampant species and ecological disaster, though not specifically wild boars.
The Wild Shore by Kim Stanley Robinson: The first book in the "Three Californias" trilogy, this novel is set in a post-nuclear war California (2047) and focuses on the struggles of a small, isolated community. It is an example of a novel about a fragmented, altered future America, though without the specific boar element.
While no single novel perfectly matches the exact specifications of "futuristic USA where wild boar run rampant," these books explore related concepts such as ecological change, post-apocalyptic life, and conflicts with aggressive animals.
Wild Boar - The Emma Press
Apr 23, 2025 — Praise for Wild Boar. 'Hypnotic, spare and poetic, this little award-winning book transports us to the forests of Swed...
The Emma Press
Wild Boar (The Emma Press Novels): Hannah Lutz, Andy Turner
Book overview. To witness. To contain. To hunt. People in Småland are being provoked into action by a destructive species. It move...
Amazon.com
Feral pigs--from wiki--
Feral pigs are a growing problem in the United States and also on the southern prairies in Canada.[10] As of 2013, the estimated population of 6 million[11] feral pigs causes billions of dollars in property and agricultural damage every year in the United States,[citation needed] both in wild and agricultural lands. Their ecological damage may be equally problematic with 26% lower vertebrate species richness in forest fragments they have invaded.[12] Because pigs forage by rooting for their food under the ground with their snouts and tusks, a group of feral pigs can damage acres of planted fields in just a few nights.[11] As an omnivore, it is a danger to both plants and animals endemic to the area it is invading. Game animals such as deer and turkeys, and more specifically, flora such as the Opuntia plant have been especially affected by the feral hog's aggressive competition for resources.[13] Feral pigs have been determined to be potential hosts for at least 34 pathogens that can be transmitted to livestock, wildlife, and humans.[14] For commercial pig farmers, great concern exists that some of the hogs could be a vector for swine fever to return to the U.S., which has been extinct in America since 1978. Feral pigs could also present an immediate threat to "nonbiosecure" domestic pig facilities because of their likeliness to harbor and spread pathogens, particularly the protozoan Sarcocystis.[15]
The population of feral pigs has increased from 2 million pigs ranging over 20 states in 1990, to triple that number 25 years later, ranging over 38 states with new territories expanding north into Oregon, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Hampshire. Some of these feral pigs have mixed with escaped Russian boars that have been introduced for hunters since the early 1990s.[16]
Monday, November 10, 2025
Alexander Hamilton--born in St. Croix, Founding Father, very brilliiant.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton
I've read The Federalist Papers and right now reading Ron Chernow's book again--that is continuing to read--I bought a used copy in 2015.
Ending is very sad.
Have not seen Broadway show.
Will look for movie version.
I'm not sure I will like the music and also I don't travel to NY or anywhere now, even though a friend offered to take me to see Hamilton the Broadway play and even to stay at anyone of her 2 homes--
Sorry about that.
kmk
11-10-2025
Occupy Wall Street.
AI Overview
Occupy Wall Street was a 2011 protest movement against economic inequality, corporate greed, and the political influence of corporations, with its main slogan being "We are the 99%"
.
Initiated on September 17, 2011, in New York City's financial district, it involved occupying public spaces and lasted for 59 days, but its focus on economic and social injustice has had a lasting impact on public discourse and activism. Purpose and goals Protest economic inequality: A primary goal was to draw attention to the growing gap between the wealthiest 1% and the remaining 99% of the population, a disparity exacerbated by the 2008 financial crisis and recession. Limit corporate influence: The movement sought to reduce the power of large corporations, particularly banks, in the political process. Advocate for a fairer economy: Participants called for a more equitable economic system that included debt relief, a more balanced distribution of income, and a better response to the housing foreclosure crisis. Key aspects of the movement "We are the 99%": This slogan was central to the movement, highlighting the concentration of wealth and income among the top 1%. Decentralized structure: Occupy Wall Street did not have a single set of demands or a formal leadership structure, which made it a challenge to define concrete goals or a single heir to the movement. Human microphone: Due to city ordinances against amplified sound, protesters developed a "human microphone" where a speaker would say a phrase and the crowd would repeat it in unison to be heard. Grassroots organization: The movement emphasized participatory democracy, with protesters creating their own committees and systems to care for their needs while organized in a collaborative manner. Legacy and impact
Brought inequality into public discourse: Occupy Wall Street is credited with re-inserting the issue of economic inequality into mainstream political conversation, a topic that had been largely sidelined since the Great Depression. Influenced politics: The movement's focus on inequality was later adopted by politicians like Bernie Sanders and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who saw increased support in the years following. Inspired activism: It is seen as a catalyst for other forms of activism, including the increase in low-wage worker strikes and other labor movements that gained momentum in the years after. Occupy Wall Street | 2011, Definition, Movement, & Purpose | Britannica In the United States the Occupy Wall Street movement from 2011 drew attention to long-standing, ever-increasing economic inequalit... Britannica Occupied Wall Street Journal - Museum of the City of New York Occupy Wall Street also marked the return of collective direct action and a turning point in the use of social media in political ... Museum of the City of New York
Good news--Dr.Mark Bray and family able to leave--now in Spain.
AI Overview
Rutgers professor
Mark Bray, an expert on anti-fascism, was not permanently stopped at an airport; his flight to Spain was canceled at the last minute, but he and his family later successfully left the U.S. for safety. The cancellation occurred after he received death threats following a presidential executive order and a public campaign against him by conservative activists. He and his family left for Spain on October 8, 2025, and his courses have moved online.
Flight cancellation: On October 7, 2025, Bray and his family were informed at the boarding gate that their reservations were canceled, even though they had checked in and gone through security.
Reason for leaving: Bray had been receiving death threats after publicizing his views on anti-fascism, particularly following President Trump's executive order designating Antifa as a terrorist organization. Conservative groups had also campaigned against him, and his home address was published online.
Family's safety: Believing his family was at risk, Bray decided to leave the U.S. to protect them. The university had offered security, but he felt it was not enough.
Departure: Bray and his family successfully departed for Spain on October 8, 2025.
Current situation: His courses at Rutgers University have moved to an online format, and other faculty members have shown support for Bray, citing concerns for academic freedom.
US anti-fascism expert leaves country day after being blocked ...
Oct 8, 2025 — US anti-fascism expert leaves country day after being blocked from flying to Spain. This article is more than 1 month o...
The Guardian
Rutgers Expert on Antifa Flees to Spain After Death Threats
Oct 8, 2025 — Dr. Bray said that the university had offered to provide security for his classes, but that he still felt his family wo...
The New York Times
Rutgers professor leaving US after threats over Antifa book
Oct 7, 2025 — a Rutgers University history professor who's written multiple books about Antifa says he's moving out of the country. af...
YouTube·NJ Spotlight News
Sunday, November 09, 2025
Impt--First Mongol Invasion of Hungary--Genghis's grandsons under the brilliant general Tsubodai--
So brilliant in the days before trains, wireless,telephones, internet, GPS,
Tsubodia planned and executed 5 difft raids of Hungary
and raids of Moscow--so the battles were all on specific days.
Before that in another war (against Arabs--by Genghis)--Tsobodai scouted out the area N of present day Iran, Caspian Sea etc.
Hungarian, Russian invasion was after Genghis had died.
Read all about it in Conn Iggulden's Genghis novels.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Mongol_invasion_of_Hungary
Veretskyi Pass (Russia Gate) from wiki.
Location
The pass is located in the Carpathian Mountains just where the oblasts of Lviv and Transcarpathia meet, on the spine of the Northeastern Carpathians, between the Latorica (or Latorytsia) and Opir river valleys and at the river divide or watershed between the Latorytsia and the Stryi. It has an elevation of 841 meters.
History
The pass has been well-traveled for more than a millennium. In 895 the Hungarian tribes entered the Carpathian Basin and during the next century established the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1241 the main army of the Mongols crossed the pass into the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1703, when Francis Rákóczi II came back from exile at Berezhany Castle in present-day Ukraine, he traveled across Veretskyi Pass into the Hungarian Plain to assume leadership in an anti-Habsburg uprising which became known as Rákóczi's War of Independence.[1] In 1914 during the First World War the pass saw heavy fighting between Austrian-Hungarian troops and those of Tsarist Russia. During World War II the pass was the scene of further battles; the remains of the defensive fortifications of the Árpád Line can still be seen today. Since 1980 the pass has been bypassed by major highways.
In 2008, the Hungarian government received permission from the Ukrainian government to install a monument to the passing of the Hungarian peoples into the future Hungary (in 895). The monument was designed by Hungarian sculptor Péter Matl (Петро Матл) who was born in Mukachevo.
Fascinating--Koten of the Kipchak-Cumans--First Mongol invasion of Hungary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6ten
This wiki fails to mention Conn Iggulden's Genghis novels--
One, Bones of the Hills which I read first, mentions the start of the Mongol invasion--
While the last? in the Genghis series, on Ogedai--Tree of Silver talks about the Battle of the Kalka River.
It all happened around Kyiv (Then Kievan Rus) and present-day Mariopol.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6ten
Stupid and evil--beef prices due to his tariffs--he's blaming foreign-owned beef PACKERS.
Who pack the imported beef. Amazing level of venality.
https://apnews.com/article/trump-beef-justice-department-c6c57effee6ef1a8c1088d4e5edcc60a?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
Saturday, November 08, 2025
From Atlantic Council--copied and pasted--
Matt, you host a show called “So What’s the Strategy?” What do you think US strategy in the region is right now?
Matt Kroenig:
If there is a strategy, it’s not clear to me. Maybe there is, but it just hasn’t been articulated. A good strategy starts with clear goals. So, what is it that they’re trying to achieve? It seems like there are at least two possibilities—and, of course, it could be both.
One is that this is about removing Maduro from power, and that could make sense. Maduro has obviously been an anti-American dictator, not good for Venezuela or the United States. Option two is that this is about border security and stopping narco-trafficking.
Comparative GDP growth projections.
AI Overview Long-term GDP growth projections for the US, Canada, Europe, and China show a general trend of moderation due to factors like trade barriers and policy uncertainty. For 2026, the United States is projected to grow by about \(1.5\%\). Canada's growth is expected to maintain a similar pace or increase slightly, outperforming the US. The Euro area is projected to grow around \(1.0\%\) to \(1.2\%\) in 2026. China's growth is expected to slow to about \(4.4\%\) in 2026. United States Growth is projected to slow to \(1.5\%\) in 2026, down from \(2.8\%\) in 2024.Recent quarterly data showed a median forecast of \(2.7\%\) for the third quarter of 2025. Canada Growth forecasts are more encouraging than the US, with projections indicating a continued or increased pace in 2026 and 2027.Canada is expected to outperform the US over the next three years. Europe (Euro Area) Growth is projected to be \(1.0\%\) in 2026, slowing from \(1.2\%\) in 2025.Some forecasts suggest modest strengthening, with growth potentially increasing to \(1.2\%\) and \(1.3\%\) in 2026 and 2027, respectively. China Growth is expected to decelerate from \(4.9\%\) in 2025 to \(4.4\%\) in 2026.Downsides risks include a struggling housing market and the impact of tariffs on exports.
From Dick Cheney wiki--
On March 24, 2012, Cheney underwent a seven-hour heart transplant process. Cheney has had several heart attacks.
2024 elections
In 2024, Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz Cheney endorsed Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for president.[12]
Legacy
He was known as the archtecht of the Iraq War.
He was the guy who pushed waterboarding.[13][14][15][16]
He opposed sanctions related to apartheid[17]. In 1983, Cheney joined 337 of his fellow members of the House of the 98th Congress to pass H.R. 3706, which established Martin Luther King Jr's birthday as a federal holiday, 88 of those being Republicans.[18]
Death
Cheney died on the night of November 3, 2025 at his home in McLean, Virginia from problems caused by pneumonia and heart disease, at the age of 84.[19][20]
Economy--US vs Canada
AI Overview
The U.S. economy is larger, growing faster in recent years, and has a higher GDP per capita than Canada
. However, Canada's economy has more controlled inflation, a better fiscal deficit position, and lower university tuition and healthcare costs, though it faces challenges with recent slower per capita GDP growth and higher trade dependency on the U.S.
This video discusses the current state of the U.S. and Canadian economies, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses:
Related video thumbnail
56s
BNN Bloomberg
YouTube • Sep 17, 2025
Feature
United States Canada
Size (2023 GDP) ~$27.7 trillion ~$2.1 trillion
Economic Growth Faster growth, exceeding Canada's since 2022 Slower growth, flirting with recession at times
Inflation Higher and more persistent, putting pressure on the Federal Reserve Lower, within target range, giving the Bank of Canada more flexibility
Fiscal Health Significant budget deficit (around 6.4% of GDP) Smaller deficit (around 1.6% of GDP), making it more manageable
Trade Dependency Less reliant on trade as a % of GDP Highly reliant, with about 75% of merchandise exports going to the U.S.
Quality of Life Lower income taxes and better-doing households, but also higher healthcare and education costs Higher income taxes, but lower university tuition and healthcare expenses. Also has superior social benefits.
Per Capita GDP Higher Lower and has been growing at a slower pace than the U.S.
Key differences
Size and Growth: The U.S. economy is about ten times larger than Canada's and has grown faster in the last few years, widening the gap in GDP per capita.
Fiscal Health: Canada has a much more favorable fiscal position with a significantly smaller budget deficit as a percentage of GDP compared to the U.S.
Trade: Canada is heavily dependent on trade with the U.S., with about three-quarters of its merchandise exports going to its southern neighbor.
Quality of Life: Despite a lower GDP per capita, Canada often scores higher on quality of life metrics, partly due to lower costs for healthcare and university education and superior social benefits.
*
There is a reason why this book and this new movie are being released at this time and the premiere was in Toronto--
It isn't hard to guess the reason.
New Nuremberg movie--previous one was also very good--that one based on book by Joseph Persico--
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_(2025_film)
If this one (book) is too expensive right now, you can start by reading a used copy of the Persico book--the movie stared Alec Baldwin.
As far as I can tell from the trailer of the new movie--Dr. Kelley as played and cast with Rami Malek, looks more like author el-Hai than like the real Dr.Kelley who was the average cheerful young white American--
Nevertheless, Malek does an excellent job, his eyes the most amazing.
A fat and portly,old Russell Crowe plays Herman Goering.
For the conclusions Kelly reached, watch the book talk by author El-Hai.
--
AI Overview
Jack el-Hai, author of 'The Nazi and the Psychiatrist ...
Yes, the movie Nuremberg is based on Jack El-Hai's 2013 book, The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, reports MPR News, USA Today, Time Magazine, and Wikipedia. The film dramatizes the true story of Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley's relationship with Hermann Göring as he evaluates the Nazi leaders for their fitness to stand trial after World War II.
The film focuses on the psychological interactions between Kelley (Rami Malek) and Göring (Russell Crowe).
The Nazi and the Psychiatrist explores the relationship between the two men and the psychiatrist's quest to understand the nature of evil.
While based on the book, the movie is a dramatization and makes certain changes for the cinematic medium, notes Time Magazine and ABC News.
Nuremberg (2025 film) - Wikipedia
Nuremberg is a 2025 American historical drama film written, co-produced, and directed by James Vanderbilt. It is based on the 2013...
Wikipedia
W.S. Merwin--I was very fortunate to attend a reading by him at U Penn during the time of my poetry binge-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._S._Merwin
Beautiful beautiful poet, par excellence.
From Toronto wiki--
The 2021 census reported that immigrants (individuals born outside Canada) comprise 1,286,145 persons or 46.6 per cent of the total population of Toronto. Of the total immigrant population, the top countries of origin were Philippines (132,980 persons or 10.3%), China (129,750 persons or 10.1%), India (102,155 persons or 7.9%), Sri Lanka (47,895 persons or 3.7%), Jamaica (42,655 persons or 3.3%), Italy (37,705 persons or 2.9%), Iran (37,185 persons or 2.9%), Hong Kong (36,855 persons or 2.9%), United Kingdom (35,585 persons or 2.8%), and Portugal (34,360 persons or 2.7%).[164]
The city's foreign-born persons comprised 47 per cent of the population,[165] compared to 49.9 per cent in 2006.[166] According to the United Nations Development Programme, Toronto has the second-highest percentage of constant foreign-born population among world cities, after Miami, Florida. While Miami's foreign-born population has traditionally consisted primarily of Cubans and other Latin Americans, no single nationality or culture dominates Toronto's immigrant population, placing it among the most diverse cities in the world.[166] In 2010, it was estimated over 100,000 immigrants arrived in the Greater Toronto Area each year.[167]
Race and ethnicity
In 2016, the three most commonly reported ethnic origins overall were Chinese (332,830 or 12.5 per cent), English (331,890 or 12.3 per cent) and Canadian (323,175 or 12.0 per cent).[165] Common regions of ethnic origin were European (47.9 per cent), Asian (including Middle-Eastern – 40.1 per cent), African (5.5 per cent), Latin/Central/South American (4.2 per cent), and North American aboriginal (1.2 per cent).[165]
Population pyramid of Toronto from the 2021 Canadian census
In 2016, 51.5 per cent of the residents of the city proper belonged to a visible minority group, compared to 49.1 per cent in 2011,[165][168] and 13.6 per cent in 1981.[169] The largest visible minority groups were South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan at 338,960 or 12.6 per cent), East Asian (Chinese at 332,830 or 12.5 per cent), and Black (239,850 or 8.9 per cent).[165] Visible minorities are projected to increase to 63 per cent of the city's population by 2031.[170]
This diversity is reflected in Toronto's ethnic neighbourhoods, which include the Chinatowns, Corso Italia, Greektown, Kensington Market, Koreatown, Little India, Little Italy, Little Jamaica, Little Portugal and Roncesvalles (Polish community).[171]
Friday, November 07, 2025
The Nun's Priest's tale--Chaucer.
AI Overview
The Nun's Priest's Tale is called that
because it is told by the Nun's Priest, a character in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. The priest is traveling with a Prioress and is called upon by the Host to tell a "merry" tale after the preceding one was a tragedy. The tale itself is a fable about a rooster named Chanticleer and is presented as coming from the priest's storytelling talent.
The Narrator: The tale's narrator is the Nun's Priest, a character in The Canterbury Tales who is part of the pilgrimage to Canterbury.
The Context: The Host, the leader of the pilgrimage, demands that the priest tell a tale after another pilgrim tells a series of depressing stories.
The Host's Request: The Host specifically asks the priest, who is described as a "sweete preest," to tell a tale that will lift the spirits of the group, and the priest obliges.
The Tale: The story is a beast fable about a proud rooster, Chanticleer, who is tricked by a fox, and it is presented as if it is coming from the priest's own mind and talent for storytelling.
The quality of mercy is not strained-
https://poets.org/poem/merchant-venice-act-iv-scene-i-quality-mercy-not-strained
I remember reading this play in high school.
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales--in Middle English and Modern English.
https://chaucer.fas.harvard.edu/pages/prologue-tale-and-epilogue-nuns-priest
But I already have my own print copy in Modern English.
He really was a very good writer.
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C-drama--This movie is a handsome prince and a girl disguised as his eunuch--
However, I think the discovery is too sudden and the movie should have started much earlier-- and then the transition is too swift also. I...