Thursday, August 13, 2026
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Metamorphoses--By Ovid--Book IV--Venus and Mars
Also Piramus and Thisbe--that I had almost forgotten.
https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/Metamorph4.php
Novels--Venus and Mars--some sci fi--
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Novels Inspired by the Love Story of Venus and Mars
Several novels and works draw on the mythological romance of Venus and Mars, including Venus on Mars by Jan Millsapps, and adaptations of Ovid’s Metamorphoses that feature their affair.
Fictional Novels
1. Venus on Mars by Jan Millsapps
This contemporary novel blends romance, science fiction, and feminist themes. It follows Venus Dawson, a woman at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who inherits a journal from her great-aunt, a pioneering female astronomer. The story intertwines her personal life with the search for life on Mars, exploring gender equality, workplace dynamics, and the enduring human desire for connection Amazon.
Mythological and Literary Adaptations
2. Metamorphoses by Ovid (Book 4: “Mars and Venus”)
While not a standalone novel, Ovid’s Metamorphoses contains a short but vivid retelling of Venus and Mars’ affair. In this myth, the Sun god discovers Venus with Mars, and Vulcan traps them in a net, exposing their infidelity to the other gods. This passage is often studied for its portrayal of love, betrayal, and the human-like flaws of even the most powerful deities LitCharts.
Related Works and Themes
John Gray’s “Mars and Venus” series — While not novels in the traditional sense, these relationship guides and stories use the metaphor of “Mars” and “Venus” to explore gender differences in love, dating, and marriage. They are more practical guides than narrative fiction, but they are popular in the same thematic space Goodreads.
Where to Find Them
Venus on Mars is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from major retailers like Amazon.
Metamorphoses is widely available in translation, and Book 4’s “Mars and Venus” section is a key reading for those interested in the myth.
John Gray’s works can be found in bookstores and online, often in collections under the “Mars and Venus” shelf.
Tip: If you’re looking for a narrative that merges romance with a sci-fi setting, Venus on Mars is the most direct modern novel. If you want the mythological roots, Ovid’s Metamorphoses offers the original classical account.
Mars and Thor are not the same--
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Is Mars the Same as Thor?
No — Mars and Thor are not the same. Mars is the Roman god of war, while Thor is the Norse god of thunder, lightning, and storms.
Mars in Roman Mythology
In Roman mythology, Mars is the god of war and also a guardian of agriculture, reflecting early Roman traditions where military and farming were closely linked Wikipedia. He is the son of Jupiter and Juno, and his cult was central to Roman military life. Mars is often compared to the Greek god Ares, but in Roman culture he was seen more as a protector of peace through strength rather than a purely destructive force Wikipedia.
Thor in Norse Mythology
In Norse mythology, Thor is the god of thunder, lightning, and storms, and a protector of the gods and humanity WikiHow. He wields the magical hammer Mjölnir and is the son of Odin and Frigg. Thor’s domain is the sky and weather, not war in the same sense as Mars. His role is to defend Asgard and the world from chaos, often battling giants and monsters WikiHow.
Key Differences
Domain: Mars = war and agriculture; Thor = thunder, lightning, and storms.
Cultural origin: Mars is from Roman religion; Thor is from Norse (Scandinavian) mythology.
Family: Mars is the son of Jupiter and Juno; Thor is the son of Odin and Frigg.
Symbols: Mars is associated with the spear and shield; Thor with the hammer Mjölnir and lightning.
Possible Confusion
The similarity in name may cause confusion, but they are unrelated deities from different mythological traditions. In fact, Mars’s Roman equivalent in Greek mythology is Ares, not Thor Wikipedia.
In short: Mars and Thor are distinct gods from different cultures and mythologies, with no direct equivalence.
Search results--knife attack on Salman Rushdie--
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Attack on Salman Rushdie — 2022 Stabbing and Legal Outcome
In August 2022, Salman Rushdie was stabbed 15 times on stage at the Chautauqua Institution in New York by Hadi Matar, leaving him blind in one eye and with nerve damage. Matar was later convicted of federal terrorism charges and is facing a potential life sentence.
The Attack
On August 12, 2022, as Rushdie was about to speak at a literary festival in Chautauqua, New York, Hadi Matar rushed the stage and stabbed him multiple times Wikipedia. Rushdie was hospitalized for 17 days and suffered permanent blindness in his right eye and nerve damage Yahoo+1. The attack also injured the event’s moderator, Henry Reese Wikipedia.
Motive and Background
Prosecutors allege Matar’s motive was to carry out a fatwa — a death order — issued by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989 after Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses was published. The book was deemed blasphemous by some Muslims, and the fatwa set a $3 million bounty on Rushdie’s life Wikipedia+1. Although Iran’s government denied involvement, Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah had endorsed the fatwa in 2006 AOL+1.
Legal Proceedings
State court (May 2025): Matar was convicted of attempted murder and assault, sentenced to 25 years in prison Wikipedia.
Federal court (July 30, 2026): A jury in Buffalo, New York, convicted Matar of attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah, committing an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries, and providing material support to terrorists Yahoo+1. He now faces a maximum life sentence when sentenced on November 3, 2026 Yahoo+1.
Rushdie’s Reflections
In his memoir Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder and interviews, Rushdie described the attack as “the cruelest blow” but emphasized that language was his “knife” to fight back, underscoring the power of truth-telling in the face of violence Yahoo+1.
In summary: The 2022 stabbing of Salman Rushdie was a high-profile act of terrorism linked to a decades-old fatwa. The attacker, Hadi Matar, has been convicted on both state and federal charges, with a potential life sentence pending.
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Monday, August 10, 2026
Sunday, August 09, 2026
Saturday, August 08, 2026
Books about Siberian Huskies--dogs--Iditarod.
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Novels and Books About Siberian Huskies
If you’re looking for stories featuring Siberian Huskies, there’s a rich mix of fiction, memoirs, and adventure tales that celebrate their loyalty, endurance, and Arctic heritage.
1. Adventure & Sled Dog Fiction
The Iditarod by Robert J. Blake — A children’s tale from the Iditarod trail, introducing young readers to husky mushing Amazon.
Akiak: A Tale From the Iditarod — A fictionalized account of a husky’s journey in the Iditarod race Amazon.
Winterdance: Fine Madness of Alaskan Dog-Racing by Gary Paulsen — A novel blending sled dog racing with adventure Goodreads.
The Cruelest Miles by Gay Salisbury — A gripping story of dogs and men racing against an epidemic, with huskies as central characters Goodreads.
2. Classic & Literary Works
The Call of the Wild and White Fang by Jack London — While not exclusively about Siberian Huskies, these classics explore the bond between humans and working dogs, including sled dogs Goodreads.
Murder on the Iditarod Trail by Sue Henry — A mystery set against the Iditarod, featuring huskies in the plot Goodreads.
3. Children’s & Picture Books
Luna the Howling Husky Finds Her Howl by Samantha Shannon and Lei Yang — A heartwarming children’s story about friendship and self-discovery Amazon.
How the Husky Got Its Mask by Levi Homstad — An Alaska tall tale for young readers Amazon.
The Lucky Husky by Bethany O’Brien and Anastasiya Halionka — A young reader’s adventure with a husky protagonist Amazon.
4. Nonfiction & Breed Guides
Siberian Huskies for Dummies by Diane Morgan — A practical guide to training, care, and understanding huskies Amazon+1.
The Complete Guide to Siberian Huskies by Mary Meisenzahl — Covers finding, training, and caring for huskies Amazon.
Siberian Husky: A Look Inside the Mind of the Husky by TJ Wolf — Explores husky behavior and personality Amazon.
5. Broader Husky-Themed Fiction
Husky Galore (Goodreads list) — Includes works like Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites by Evan Dorkin and The Husky That Can't Howl by R.A. Ostel, which feature huskies in imaginative or anthropomorphic contexts Goodreads.
Where to Explore Further
Pet Reader’s Top 100 Books About Siberian Huskies — A curated list of novels, memoirs, and guides celebrating huskies’ history, training, and companionship Pet Reader.
The Greatest Books of All Time on Siberian Huskies — A comprehensive compilation of acclaimed works across fiction and nonfiction The Greatest Books.
Tip: If you want a mix of adventure and heart, start with Akiak, Winterdance, or The Cruelest Miles. For children, Luna the Howling Husky and The Lucky Husky are engaging and age-appropriate. For deeper insight, Siberian Huskies for Dummies and The Compl
Chukchi names--
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Chukchi names often reflect natural elements, animals, and desirable qualities, embodying the cultural heritage of the Chukchi people of northeastern Siberia.
Common Chukchi Names and Their Meanings
Tynga-gyrgyn - Means "sunrise" (male).
Gyrongav - Means "spring" (female).
Umqy - Means "polar bear" (male).
Galgan-nga - Means "duck" (female).
Omryn - Means "robust fellow" (male).
Gitingev - Means "beautiful woman" (female).
These names often reflect significant aspects of nature or qualities that parents hope their children will embody Behind the NameBehind the Name+1.
More vegetation--more species--Beringia--
In the Late Pleistocene, Beringia was a mosaic of biological communities.[30][26][31] Commencing from c. 57,000 YBP (marine isotope stage [MIS] 3), steppe–tundra vegetation dominated large parts of Beringia with a rich diversity of grasses and herbs.[30][26][32] There were patches of shrub tundra with isolated refugia of larch (Larix) and spruce (Picea) forests with birch (Betula) and alder (Alnus) trees.[30][31][32][33] It has been proposed that the largest and most diverse megafaunal community residing in Beringia at this time could only have been sustained in a highly diverse and productive environment.[34]
Duration of snow cover in days, East Beringia, 20000 years ago. Chelsa Trace 21ka variable bio/scd 200.
Analysis at Chukotka on the Siberian edge of the land bridge indicated that from c. 57,000 – c. 15,000 YBP (MIS 3 to MIS 2) the environment was wetter and colder than the steppe–tundra to the east and west, with warming in parts of Beringia from c. 15,000 YBP.[35] These changes provided the most likely explanation for mammal migrations after c. 15,000 YBP, as the warming provided increased forage for browsers and mixed feeders.[36] At the beginning of the Holocene, some mesic habitat-adapted species left the refugium and spread westward into what had become tundra-vegetated northern Asia and eastward into northern North America.[27]
Wow--Beringia--from Wikipedia--
Geography
Bering land bridge – Wisconsin glaciation
The remains of Late Pleistocene mammals that had been discovered on the Aleutians and islands in the Bering Sea at the close of the 19th century indicated that a past land connection might lie beneath the shallow waters between Alaska and Chukotka. The underlying mechanism was first thought to be plate tectonics, but by 1930 changes in the ice mass balance which led to global sea-level fluctuations were viewed as the cause of the Bering land bridge.[11][12] In 1937, Eric Hultén proposed that around the Aleutians and the Bering Strait region were tundra plants that had originally dispersed from a now-submerged plain between Alaska and Chukotka, which he named Beringia after Vitus Bering who had sailed into the strait in 1728.[13][12][14] The distribution of plants in the genera Erythranthe and Pinus are good examples of this, as very similar genera members are found in Asia and the Americas.[15][16]
American arctic geologist David Hopkins[17] redefined Beringia to include portions of Alaska and Northeast Asia. Beringia was later regarded as extending from the Verkhoyansk Mountains in the west to the Mackenzie River in the east.[12] During the Pleistocene epoch, global cooling led periodically to the expansion of glaciers and the lowering of sea levels; these processes created land connections in various regions around the globe.[18] Today, the average water depth of the Bering Strait is 40–50 m (130–160 ft); therefore the land bridge opened when the sea level was more than 50 m (160 ft) below the current level.[19][20] A reconstruction of the sea level history of the region indicated that a seaway existed from c. 135,000 – c. 70,000 YBP, a land bridge from c. 70,000 – c. 60,000 YBP, an intermittent connection from c. 60,000 – c. 30,000 YBP, and a land bridge from c. 30,000 – c. 11,000 YBP, followed by a Holocene sea level rise that reopened the strait.[21][22] Post-glacial rebound has continued to raise some sections of the coast.[citation needed]
The Last Glacial Period caused a much lower global sea level
During the last glacial period, enough of the Earth's water became frozen in the great ice sheets covering North America and Europe to cause a drop in sea levels. For thousands of years the sea floors of many interglacial shallow seas were exposed, including those of the Bering Strait, the Chukchi Sea to the north, and the Bering Sea to the south.
Israel-Gaza issue--Dr Raz Segal's job offer was rescinded by Univ of Minnesota.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/aug/06/professor-israel-gaza-university-of-minnesota
Now a settlement means UMN must pay him $250,000.
Copilot Search results--Prospects for American Democracy--
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American democracy faces significant challenges, and while its survival is uncertain, its resilience depends on institutional strength, civic engagement, and responses to authoritarian pressures.
Current State and Challenges
Recent analyses indicate that U.S. democracy has experienced measurable backsliding. The United States Democracy Meter reported a nearly 28% decline in democratic health between 2024 and 2025, highlighting consolidation of executive power and threats to civil rights, particularly for immigrants and political opponents, though elections remain partially free tcf.orgtcf.org. Public trust in government is low, with about four-fifths of Americans expressing skepticism about the system’s competence The HillThe Hill. Historical events, such as the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, underscore vulnerabilities in democratic norms Science NewsScience News.
Institutional Resilience
The survival of democracy relies heavily on the strength of institutions like the judiciary, Congress, and federal agencies. Judicial capture and partisan shifts in the Supreme Court have weakened checks on executive power, while gerrymandering and structural barriers limit political competition gtnm.orggtnm.org. However, nonstate sectors such as media and civil society remain relatively resilient, providing potential counterbalances to authoritarian trends tcf.orgtcf.org.
Authoritarian Threats
Authoritarian pressures in the U.S. include executive overreach, manipulation of electoral processes, and erosion of voting rights. Some analyses suggest that if current trends continue, the U.S. could face full authoritarian consolidation by 2030-2032, though this outcome is not inevitable gtnm.orggtnm.org. Historical precedents show that democracies can recover from backsliding if corrective measures are implemented early Science NewsScience News.
Public Engagement and Resistance
Civic participation is a critical factor in sustaining democracy. Public engagement, peaceful resistance, and advocacy for institutional reforms can slow or reverse democratic erosion. Polls indicate that a majority of Americans recognize the risks to democracy and are concerned about the impact of elections on its stability Science NewsScience News. Active citizen involvement remains a key determinant of democratic survival.
Historical Perspective While full democratic collapse is rare, subtle erosion of democratic norms is more common. Studies of global democratic trends show that early detection of democratic decline is essential for recovery Science NewsScience News. The U.S. has unique structural advantages, including a strong civil society and entrenched legal frameworks, which may enhance its resilience compared to other nations POLITICOPOLITICO. Outlook The future of American democracy is uncertain. In the short term, the next few years are critical, as institutional responses and civic engagement will shape whether democratic norms are preserved or further eroded gtnm.orggtnm.org. While pessimistic scenarios suggest potential authoritarian consolidation, optimistic perspectives emphasize the country’s capacity for resilience and reform POLITICOPOLITICO. Ultimately, the longevity of U.S. democracy will depend on the interplay between institutional strength, public vigilance, and the ability to address systemic vulnerabilities.
Friday, August 07, 2026
Qs--concerning Daw Suu--which I posted onJames Shwe's Linked in site.
Why do you think they are doing this? Of course junta is never kind to anyone.
What do they want from Thailand? Who is doing the negotiating?
Why was ICRC rep not allowed to bring in its own medical doctor to examine Daw Suu?
Was the rep himself a doctor--lots of ??????????????--couldn't he even use a stethoscope, take her pulse or blood pressure and feel her for head?
What is the white thing on her head? Is it a bandage?
What conditions did he sign on to?
For once junta should show it is humane, drop the charges. Deport her back to UK?
How much is the country in debt already due to massive arms and hardware purchases?
To which countries? Russia? China? Belarus?
What is the US $ to kyat exchange rate right now?
From 27year sentence, can time she served already--2021 to 2026=5 years be deducted?
That will still mean 22 years left.
Since she's now 81+22=103--age she will be till sentence ends?
They meant her to die--
why sudden change--which countries are pressuring?
End of Qs for now.
****
Bad news-this poor man, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a renowned scientist, is being hounded--
From the Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/06/fauci-senate-contempt-vote-covid?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
Fauci’s lawyers have argued that he is on unassailable legal grounds by pleading the amendment.
“For years, Senator Paul has proclaimed to anyone who would listen that Dr Fauci should be prosecuted and put in prison,” Schertler, Fauci’s legal counsel, said on Thursday. “Dr Fauci has committed no crime – and Senator Paul knows it.
“Today’s resolution is a continuation of Senator Paul’s personal vendetta against Dr Fauci, who spent 50 years in public health and has saved countless lives. It is shameful and wrong that Senator Paul is abusing his power by trying to weaponize the justice department against an honorable public servant.”
Robert Mackey contributed reporting
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