Sunday, June 28, 2026
China defies US and builds the world's fasted superconducter in Shenzhen--
https://www.wired.com/story/china-defies-us-restrictions-and-builds-the-worlds-fastest-supercomputer/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
Called LineShine--faster than US El Capitan.
La Boheme--complete opera--Musetta's Waltz is at about 50: 27.
Withe Pavarotti and Mirella Freni.
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=La+Boheme+complete+opera+yoy+tube&mid=F663F3F48FE46B428EDEF663F3F48FE46B428EDE&churl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fchannel%2fUCtN-gfLdoDYUlnNiiAt6sZw&FORM=VIRE
Colline's aria (basso profundo) from La Boheme--this is a modern
rendition--the Bohemians as homeless persons.
I think Colline is unable to part with his TV Camera and so has to say goodbye to his coat.
The coat or jacket in this version is a nice touch.
I bought one like this from an Army Surplus truck in West Philadelphia about 25 years ago. Now it's in another state,
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=bWZQKk%2F1&id=8D471B86FA2F7EC1EDA80B1A57887191EA8353ED&thid=OIP.bWZQKk_14bn09ogIuzXaGwHaEK&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fx1iVhQbn68Q%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&cdnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fth.bing.com%2Fth%2Fid%2FR.6d66502a4ff5e1b9f4f68808bb35da1b%3Frik%3D7VOD6pFxiFcaCw%26pid%3DImgRaw%26r%3D0&exph=720&expw=1280&q=Colline%27s+arai+from+La+Boheme&form=IQFRBA&ck=BDCA055D8DCD947B02BFF2EA118A3232&selectedindex=1&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0&vt=0&sim=11&mid=8D471B86FA2F7EC1EDA88D471B86FA2F7EC1EDA8
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Movies about Tiananmen--
Copilot Search Branding
Movies Set During the Tiananmen Square Protests
Several films and documentaries have addressed the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, ranging from fictional dramas to historical documentaries. These works often reflect the political sensitivity of the subject, with some banned or restricted in China.
Documentaries and Historical Films
The Gate of Heavenly Peace (1995) – A three-hour documentary by Richard Gordon and Carma Hinton, using archival footage and interviews with participants and officials to chronicle the six weeks of protests from April to June 1989 Wikipedia.
Tiananmen: The People Versus the Party (PBS Frontline, 2019) – A two-hour documentary examining the events, participants, and aftermath of the protests www.factualamerica.com.
Tiananmen Tonight (2025) – A documentary blending student protest footage with CBS News journalists’ coverage, focusing on the hunger strike, crackdown, and the iconic “Tank Man” image Alexandria Times.
The Man Who Defied Beijing (2019) – A portrait of Liu Xiaobo, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and witness to the 1989 protests The Movie Database (TMDB).
Dissidents (2025) – Explores the lives of Chinese dissidents and their activism The Movie Database (TMDB).
Tiananmen Square Massacre – Black Night in June (2019) – A short documentary recounting the June 4 assault on demonstrators The Movie Database (TMDB).
Fictional Films with Tiananmen Context
颐和园 (Yihe Yuan, 2006) – Directed by Lou Ye, this drama uses the 1989 protests as a psychological turning point for its characters, banned in China for five years cinenoir.net.
Rapid Fire (1992) – An action film with an opening sequence depicting the Tiananmen protests, filmed in Mexico to avoid Chinese restrictions cinenoir.net.
千言萬語 (Qianyanwanyu, 1999) – A Hong Kong drama linking the 1989 movement to earlier activism, focusing on ordinary people cinenoir.net.
These films vary in tone and approach, from politically charged documentaries to fictionalized narratives. Many were produced outside China or in exile, reflecting the difficulty of openly depicting the events within mainland China.
Novels set during Tiananmen--
Copilot Search Branding
Novels and Fiction Set During Tiananmen
Several novels and literary works have been written about or set during the Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown of 1989, often using the events as a backdrop to explore personal, political, and historical themes.
Notable Fictional Works
Looking for Tank Man by Ha Jin (2025)
This new novel follows Lulu, a young Chinese woman at Harvard, who encounters a protester holding a sign about the “Tiananmen Square Massacre.” The encounter forces her to confront a buried family secret — her parents were Tiananmen protesters — and to breach a sealed chapter in the national record chinabooksreview.com.
The Crazed by Ha Jin (2002)
A later work in Ha Jin’s oeuvre, it continues to engage with the aftermath of the 1989 events, blending personal narrative with political commentary chinabooksreview.com.
Beijing Coma by Ma Jian (2008)
Ma Jian’s novel is set against the backdrop of the protests and their aftermath, portraying the psychological and social impact on individuals and society chinabooksreview.com.
The People’s Republic of Amnesia: Tiananmen Revisited by Louisa Lim
While primarily nonfiction, this work is often included in literary discussions of Tiananmen because of its deep engagement with suppressed memories and silenced voices Goodreads+1.
Bullets and Opium: Real-Life Stories of China After the Tiananmen Square Massacre by Liao Yiwu
A collection of short stories and essays documenting the years following the crackdown, blending fiction and memoir Goodreads.
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang
Though not set directly in 1989, this sweeping family saga spans much of 20th-century China, including the late 1980s, and reflects on the political climate of the time Goodreads.
Context and Themes
These works often explore themes of political awakening, memory, censorship, and the personal cost of dissent. Many protagonists are young or middle-aged, born after 1989, and discover the events only later in life, mirroring the delayed awareness of many Chinese citizens chinabooksreview.com.
Where to Find Them
Looking for Tank Man and The Crazed are available through publishers like Other Press and Vintage.
Beijing Coma is published by Picador.
Bullets and Opium and Wild Swans are available in English editions.
The People’s Republic of Amnesia is widely available in literary and academic circles. If you are interested in reading these, start with Ha Jin’s Looking for Tank Man for a contemporary, personal lens, and Beijing Coma for a more literary, introspective take. For broader context, Louisa Lim’s The People’s Republic of Amnesia offers a critical, nonfictional framework for understanding the events and their portrayal in fiction.
co-pilot search results--operas that include both basso profundo and soprano roles-List.
Copilot Search Branding
Operas Featuring Both Bass and Soprano Roles
If you’re looking for operas that include both a bass and a soprano role, there are many examples across the operatic repertoire. Below is a selection of notable works and their lead roles, along with brief descriptions.
1. The Magic Flute (Mozart)
Soprano role: Queen of the Night (Die Königin der Nacht) – a dramatic soprano with a wide range and powerful coloratura.
Bass role: Papageno (Papagena) – a comic bass role, though sometimes cast as a baritone.
Why it works: The Queen of the Night’s Act II aria “Der Hölle Rache” is one of the most famous soprano arias in opera Muskegvalleyrabbitry.
2. La Traviata (Verdi)
Soprano role: Violetta Valéry – a dramatic soprano portraying a courtesan.
Bass role: Giorgio Germont – a bass-baritone, but often cast in the bass range.
Why it works: Violetta’s Act II aria “Sempre libera” is a staple of the soprano repertoire Opera-Arias.com.
3. Otello (Verdi)
Soprano role: Desdemona – a lyric soprano portraying Otello’s wife.
Bass role: Otello – a bass-baritone, but often sung in the bass range.
Why it works: Desdemona’s Act II aria “Dio, che m’hai” is a lyrical soprano highlight Opera-Arias.com.
4. Don Giovanni (Mozart)
Soprano role: Donna Anna – a dramatic soprano.
Bass role: Don Giovanni – a bass-baritone, but often sung in the bass range.
Why it works: Donna Anna’s Act II aria “Là ci darem la mano” is a famous soprano aria Opera-Arias.com.
5. Carmen (Bizet)
Soprano role: Carmen – a dramatic soprano.
Bass role: Escamillo – a bass-baritone, but often sung in the bass range. Why it works: Carmen’s Act I aria “Habanera” is one of the most famous soprano arias Opera-Arias.com. 6. Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Soprano role: Cio-Cio San – a dramatic soprano. Bass role: Sharpless – a bass-baritone, but often sung in the bass range. Why it works: Cio-Cio San’s Act II aria “Un bel di vedremo” is a soprano highlight Opera-Arias.com. 7. Aida (Verdi) Soprano role: Aida – a dramatic soprano. Bass role: Radamès – a bass-baritone, but often sung in the bass range. Why it works: Aida’s Act II aria “O patria mia” is a soprano showcase Opera-Arias.com. 8. La Bohème (Puccini)
Soprano role: Mimi – a lyric soprano. Bass role: Colline – a bass-baritone, but often sung in the bass range. Why it works: Mimi’s Act II aria “O soave fanciulla” is a lyrical soprano aria Opera-Arias.com. 9. The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart) Soprano role: Susanna – a lyric soprano. Bass role: Figaro – a bass-baritone, but often sung in the bass range. Why it works: Susanna’s Act II aria “Non soffermarmi” is a soprano highlight Opera-Arias.com. 10. The Barber of Seville (Rossini) Soprano role: Rosina – a lyric soprano. Bass role: Figaro – a bass-baritone, but often sung in the bass range. Why it works: Rosina’s Act II aria “O, mio fido” is a famous soprano aria Opera-Arias.com. These operas span the classical to the verismo repertoire and offer a mix of dramatic and lyrical soprano roles alongside bass-baritone or bass roles, making them ideal for exploring both voice types in performance.
2 arias from Mozart's The Magic Flute--Rene Pape sings--
Oh Isis and Osiris--guide them--
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Rene+Pape+Oh+Isis+and+osiris&view=detail&mid=0A0E4810DE92FAAB60EA0A0E4810DE92FAAB60EA&churl=&ru=%2fsearch%3fPC%3dA1AM%26PTAG%3d20231227%26q%3dRene%2bPape%2bOh%2bIsis%2band%2bosiris%26FORM%3dA1AMMC&mmscn=vwrc&FORM=WRVORC
and Within these Sacred Halls--
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Rene+Pape+wihin+these+scared+halls&view=detail&mid=915D5E8ACC910DF28596915D5E8ACC910DF28596&churl=&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dRene%2bPape%2bwihin%2bthese%2bscared%2bhalls%26qs%3dn%26form%3dQBRE%26sp%3d-1%26ghc%3d1%26lq%3d0%26pq%3drene%2bpape%2bwihin%2bthese%2bscared%2bhalls%26sc%3d12-34%26sk%3d%26cvid%3d3911098780E448F98FF7E2E142AB35AC&mmscn=vwrc&FORM=WRVORC
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Lovely Indian epic movie--but failed at the box office--Samrat Prithviraj.
Based on a real king and a real poet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samrat_Prithviraj
The Princess is lovely, the king of another kingdom comes for her on a white horse, but like all great love stories, it ends in tragedy.
I just love the war chants,the dialog (probably modernized for woman's rights) excellent casting,costumes,epic battle scenes--masterly editing--placing Chand the poet's premonitions and the wedding for instance--back to back.
AI manipulated vast battle scenes not too stiff and clunky,
villains look vile and the heroes and heroines are martyrs--
and no animals were harmed during the filming.
You can watch free on Amazon Prime if you are a member--
here are the relevant wikis of the historicalc characters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prithviraj_Chauhan
Court poet Chand was his hpwar bet taw--born on the same day at the same hour.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chand_Bardai
The dances and the choreograpy are excellent, especially the sati dance.
Practice of sati--widows'self sacrifice (Hindu)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sati_(practice)
I give it 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars on my KMK index.
Highly recommended--New Yorker interview of Colson Whitehead.
Highly recommended--New Yorker interview of writer Colson Whitehead.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/06/29/colson-whitehead-profile
I really must read Underground Railroad.
The is a good e.g. of how real writers fictionalize their family and themselves.
Incidentally, 2 writerly friends of mine
1. a poet--is writing about his father
and 2. a village expert--is attempting to write about her mother.
Also,oddly enough, 2 sightings of 1987 stock market crash--
1. in Alan Greenspan obit
2, in this article--where interviewer learns Colson's father was affected by stock market crash and "never recovered.
--about alcoholism, my novella Black Rice touches on my Kamayut extended family, "drunkard father and over-eating mother"
--about stock market crashes, I never had any stock and so was not affected.
affected by other things, --
--about Harlem Renaissance--my Boulder Friend knew Langston Hughes.
Kaung
6-23-2026
Monday, June 22, 2026
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Neil Diamond--
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=NeilDiamond+Be+you+tube&&mid=1415F82E2946AAA9D18E1415F82E2946AAA9D18E&churl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fchannel%2fUCQh2Gh5NaHaiZvHnf58ZYhg&FORM=VAMGZC
Video by Jan Hammer. Neil Diamond—Be!
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Be%20Neil%20Dimaond&mid=4450681557B5F14BA91D4450681557B5F14BA91D&ajaxhist=0
lyrics:
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Be+Neil+DimaondLyrics--I+amI+sadi&&mid=0E2A34C00AA169013D8B0E2A34C00AA169013D8B&churl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fchannel%2fUC7dcQTNxkYteKOax3iLIobA&FORM=VRDGAR
Neil Diamond—I am I said.
Saturday, June 20, 2026
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