Saturday, October 25, 2025
This C-drama should be called The Gilded Cage--however--the first C-drama I watched
Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace,is both better and sadder.
Also it's a series, look for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__gAHMKe3AU&t=3001s
Friday, October 24, 2025
Been there, seen that. Court house in Bali.
AI Overview
Kerta Gosa: Bali's Palace of Justice | What an Amazing World!
The "court house in Bali" is the Kerta Gosa in Klungkung, which features ceiling paintings depicting Hindu hells and punishments based on the Mahabharata epic. While not a literal court of hell, it served as a royal court of justice and was historically a place where those awaiting judgment could see murals illustrating the consequences of their actions in the afterlife, with a floating pavilion called the Taman Gili in a moat nearby.
Kerta Gosa: A historical court with a view of hell
Historical function:
Originally a venue for royal family rituals, it was used as a court of justice during the Dutch occupation and was designed to discuss matters of justice.
Ceiling paintings:
The main structure is a hall with Kamasan-style paintings on its ceiling. These paintings vividly illustrate punishments for different sins, a visual reminder of the consequences in the Hindu afterlife (Naraka).
Bhima Swarga:
The artwork is heavily inspired by Hindu epics like the Mahabharata, specifically the Bhima Swarga section, which tells the story of the hero Bhima in the underworld.
Floating pavilion:
The court is adjacent to the Taman Gili, a floating pavilion surrounded by a moat, adding to the unique architectural style.
Balinese Hinduism:
The concept of Naraka, the realm of hell in Indian religions, is central to the imagery, where individuals are tormented for their bad deeds before being reborn. The Kerta Gosa's paintings serve as a powerful, educational depiction of this belief system.
This one is rather funny. Elements of magical realism--but rather long.
Count how many times they say "Infinite Divine Physcian."
Like the many times the driver says "Mrs. Durrells", in the movie about the Durells in Corfu.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Durrells
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GruLIivxVE
BTW--I like his shirts.
Like shirts worn by "Nelson Mandela" played by Morgan Freeman in Invictus, 2009.
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Today on Irrawaddy--"peace accords" interview of U Kyaw Zan Tha --formerly of VOA+ scam centers, Starlink etc.
https://www.irrawaddy.com/
Too many to post links individually--just read everything--all the time.
From Edinburgh Castle wiki--Slighting--means deliberately destroyed. Some of the Ayuthia kings did this to some towns to prevent the Burmese conquests.
In March 1296, Edward I invaded Scotland, unleashing the First War of Scottish Independence. Edinburgh Castle soon came under English control, surrendering after a three-day-long bombardment.[47] Following the siege, Edward had many Scottish legal records and royal treasures moved from the castle to England.[46] A large garrison numbering 325 men was installed in 1300.[48] Edward also brought to Scotland his master builders of the Welsh castles, including Thomas de Houghton and Master Walter of Hereford, both of whom travelled from Wales to Edinburgh.[49] After the death of Edward I in 1307, however, England's control over Scotland weakened. On 14 March 1314, a surprise night attack by Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray recaptured the castle. John Barbour's narrative poem The Brus relates how a party of thirty hand-picked men was guided by one William Francis, a member of the garrison who knew of a route along the north face of the Castle Rock and a place where the wall might be scaled. Making the difficult ascent, Randolph's men scaled the wall, surprised the garrison and took control.[50] Robert the Bruce immediately ordered the slighting of the castle to prevent its re-occupation by the English.[51] Four months later, his army secured victory at the Battle of Bannockburn.[52][53]
Bingham married Tiffany heiress--
AI Overview
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Hiram_Bingham_III_and_Alfreda_Mitchell_at_Harvard.jpg/640px-Hiram_Bingham_III_and_Alfreda_Mitchell_at_Harvard.jpg
Hiram Bingham III's wife was Alfreda Mitchell, the granddaughter of Charles L. Tiffany and an heiress to the Tiffany fortune. They married in 1900, had seven sons, and were divorced in 1937. After their divorce, Alfreda Mitchell married Henry Gregor, while Hiram Bingham married Suzanne Carroll Hill.
Marriage: Alfreda Mitchell and Hiram Bingham III married on November 20, 1900.
Children: The couple had seven sons: Woodbridge, Hiram IV, Alfred Mitchell, Charles Tiffany, Brewster, Mitchell, and Jonathan Brewster.
Divorce: They were divorced on March 27, 1937.
Later life: After the divorce, Alfreda Mitchell married Henry Gregor. Hiram Bingham III married Suzanne Carroll Hill
Who were the Xiongnu--from wikipedia:
Significance
The Xiongnu confederation was unusually long-lived for a steppe empire. The purpose of raiding the Central Plain was not simply for goods, but to force the Central Plain polity to pay regular tribute. The power of the Xiongnu ruler was based on his control of Han tribute which he used to reward his supporters. The Han and Xiongnu empires rose at the same time because the Xiongnu state depended on Han tribute. A major Xiongnu weakness was the custom of lateral succession. If a dead ruler's son was not old enough to take command, power passed to the late ruler's brother. This worked in the first generation but could lead to civil war in the second generation. The first time this happened, in 60 BC, the weaker party adopted what Barfield calls the 'inner frontier strategy.' They moved south and submitted to the dominant Central Plain regime and then used the resources obtained from their overlord to defeat the Northern Xiongnu and re-establish the empire. The second time this happened, around 47 AD, the strategy failed. The southern ruler was unable to defeat the northern ruler and the Xiongnu remained divided.[149]
The historic Hua Qubing--and the Gansu Corridor--those are vast mileages--
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huo_Qubing
But still only about 1/3 of places/routes conquered by Genghis Khan and his sons--and all they had were horses.
Wow--wow--this site is special special--Master Tonh Hua site--complete translations--keep this link well.
https://www.novelupdates.com/nauthor/tong-hua/
I'm going to try and work my way through almost all of these.
Vance the ultimate c-sucker--copied and pasted fr AP. It's already occupied!
JERUSALEM (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday criticized a symbolic vote in Israel’s parliament the previous day about annexing the occupied West Bank, saying that it amounted to an “insult” and went against the Trump administration policies.
Hard-liners in the Israeli parliament had narrowly passed a preliminary vote in support of annexing parts of the West Bank — an apparent attempt to embarrass Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while Vance was still in the country.
This is not just a "fat girl gets revenge"movie--it comes to a satisfying ending.
I place it on a par with the time travel story, The Romance of Tiger and Rose, I like the best.
It's a C-drama.
Time travel is hard to do.
These 2 stories are both "time travel" but completely different.
In all stories, the internal logic needs to hold together. It does so very well here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFGrSkzSn7E
The third Dr.Kaung's Excellent Prize goes to Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka's play--Death and the King's Horseman.
Like Tiger in Romance above--
the epnymous Horseman, misses "the opening in the Heavens" because he wanted to"dip his toe," in a last sexual encounter--and therefore does not get an honorable death.
I am so so glad I saw a stage production of Death and the King's Horseman
and I also saw Wole Soyinka at Politics and Prose. I only stood that long (against a bookshelf) to see Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in 2012 in the Congressional building.
I asked Wole Soyinka what I should do about Burma.
He said, "Be wise."
At this event, he was going to Nigeria the next day, some fool VOA smarty pants tried to run circles around Soyinka.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wole_Soyinka
I'm sad to say that this is typical of quite a few VOA, RFA employees I have run into. Little people who think they own the airwaves. One was the woman who interviewed Mullah Omar the day after 9/11, and was criticized by William Safire for doing so.
https://www.rcfp.org/state-department-upset-over-interview-taliban-leader/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Safire
I recognized her at an NED event when another Iran/Pashtun expert was talking to her and I overheard their conversation.
This stupid man tried to accuse Soyinka of things he did not say.
The great playwright just looked at him and said, "I didn't say any of that." and went on to the next question.
Even I in my modest little literary salon in Silver Spring had 3 people from Turkish Embassy come in to try and disturb things when I was talking about Orhan Pamuk's My Name is Red, when Pamuk won the Nobel.
I don't see how shallow little people can try these things.
Life lesson: Don't try trapping Nobel Laureates verbally.
Amazing. The Burmese department head at RFA was like that, helped along by his 2 female deputies.
I also wonder if the whole of RFA fired by Trump got the health insurance benifits they were supposed to get for those who had been there more than 10years.
Anyone know?
Of course, there were many good people working at these places,but there were also fishy characters.
Kyi May Kaung
10-23-2025
Meta--copied and pasted from wiki. (Well, I don't use FB--all "KMK" there are fakes, and really I don't like--)
Platforms, Inc., doing business as Meta, is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Menlo Park, California. Meta owns and operates several prominent social media platforms and communication services, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads. The company also operates an advertising network for its own sites and third parties; as of 2023, advertising accounted for 97.8 percent of its total revenue.[9] Meta is considered part of the Big Tech group, alongside Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, and Amazon.
The company was originally established in 2004 as TheFacebook, Inc.,[10] and was renamed Facebook, Inc. in 2005.[11] In 2021, it rebranded as Meta Platforms, Inc. to reflect a strategic shift toward developing the metaverse—an interconnected digital ecosystem spanning virtual and augmented reality technologies.[12][13][14][15]
In 2023, Meta was ranked 31st on the Forbes Global 2000 list of the world's largest public companies.[16] As of 2022, it was the world's third-largest spender on research and development, with R&D expenses totaling US$35.3 billion.[17]
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Monday, October 20, 2025
Low impact weight bearing exercises for seniors.
AI Overview
How to Do Weight Bearing Exercises for Osteoporosis: A ...
Mild weight-bearing exercises for seniors include walking, seated or standing heel raises, and chair squats to improve strength and balance. Other options are wall push-ups, arm curls with light weights or resistance bands, and simple marching with high knee lifts. Always hold onto a sturdy chair or counter for support, and remember to listen to your body.
Lower body and balance
Chair squats: Stand in front of a chair with your feet hip-width apart. Slowly bend your knees to lower your hips as if to sit down, but stop before you do. Hold for a moment and then stand back up. Use the chair for support if needed.
Heel raises: While holding onto a counter or the back of a chair, lift your heels off the floor, balancing on your toes. Hold for a few seconds and then lower your heels slowly. You can also try toe raises, lifting your toes off the floor while keeping your heels down.
Marching: Stand and lift one knee up as high as is comfortable, then lower it. Alternate legs as if marching in place. Use a chair for support if needed.
Upper body and core
Wall push-ups: Stand facing a wall, place your hands flat on the wall slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, and bend your elbows to lean your body closer to the wall. Push back to the starting position.
Arm curls: You can do this with no weights or by holding light objects like cans of soup. Bend your elbows to curl your hands toward your shoulders.
Shoulder shrugs: While sitting or standing, slowly lift your shoulders up toward your ears, then relax them back down.
This can help with posture. Important considerations Start slow and be safe: Always have a sturdy chair or counter nearby for support to prevent falls. Consult a doctor: Before starting any new exercise program, it is important to talk to your doctor to ensure the exercises are appropriate for your individual health needs. Focus on your breath: Pay attention to your breathing throughout the exercises. Listen to your body: Choose a range of motion that is comfortable for you and take breaks as needed. Low-Impact Workouts for Seniors | Gateway Region YMCA Oct 10, 2019 — Squats are one of the best low-impact workouts for seniors since your feet never leave the ground over the duration of... favicon Gateway Region YMCA
Sunday, October 19, 2025
How to sanitize thrift store and other items. I ALWAYS
wash vegetables and fruits from supermarts or home-delivered in warm water and drain.
Bagged salad ingredients and other items sealed in plastic,I wipe the items with a hand towel soaked in hand sanitizer.
Bagged big bags of chicken I remove fat, wash and bag again in one time cooking size, e.g. 2 or three chicken legs at a time, and store in freezer.
Pork, I remove sinews, wash, cut and marinade to average cooking size--e.g.for roast pork char sui,store in freezer till ready to cook.
I eat perishable items first.
Bottles of milk, salad dressing etc I wipe all outside surfaces with hand sanitizer.
Tofu and cheese packs I wipe with hand sanitizer.
Books --ditto--
My regimen was designed for me by a science Ph.D.
I stick to it.
https://www.realsimple.com/thrifted-items-you-should-sanitize-immediately-11831624?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
Scary, horrible, little horror story--C-drama--Ultimate Chinese revenge story--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZyBKid_Kj8&t=3213s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZyBKid_Kj8&t=3213s
But still the story-line is not as great or as clear as Ju Dou.
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ju-dou-1991
Ravenant, about a bear attack,is another revenge story. Look them up online. For the bear attack, footage of a real bear attack was used as reference.
I tried to get the former event manager at our Village invite the author of Ravenant, whom she said she knew. However, it never happened.
I think to be an unforgettable tragedy,it needs epic proportions like Medea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medea
or Romeo and Juliet.
As for this one--I still can't see why they have to give Chinese characters Western names.
K M Kaung
10-19-2025
Isreal strikes Gaza--I knew it--they were openly talking about it last week--just waiting for all hostages to be out.
They have also been tormenting Greta Thunberg whose aid ship was stopped and probably confiscated. So much for DJT's much desired Nobel Peace Prize.
https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-10-19-2025-f3d95cf76018541ff824853d1bcd3356?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
Trump admin authorizes covert CIA action in Venezuela.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/us/politics/trump-covert-cia-action-venezuela.html
Saturday, October 18, 2025
From CNN--Marines plan to fire artillery shells over CA Freeway--just to provoke No Kings protestors,I'm sure.
Oct. 18, 2025Updated 12:27 p.m. ET
The Marines plan to fire 155-millimeter artillery shells over a major freeway in Southern California on Saturday as part of a demonstration at Camp Pendleton to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary.
The plans to fire over the freeway triggered outrage by Gov. Gavin Newsom late Friday night after his office had been informed days earlier that the celebration would not involve firing munitions across Interstate 5, a heavily traveled corridor between Los Angeles and San Diego.
Friday, October 17, 2025
Don't know if I got the right one--but it's Stella Reed and Ethan Stone--though I don't understand
why they give Asians --Western names--???
And so much torment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKEsIgiRYa4
Thursday, October 16, 2025
I would expect this is a good thing--SE Asia caught between Trump and Xi.
https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/guest-column/southeast-asia-caught-in-the-us-china-rift.html
Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman of Columbia Univ has already predicted in the tariff wars China, having a bigger economy, will win.
Watch closely.
From US Defamation Law--wiki--
The origins of the United States' defamation laws pre-date the American Revolution; one influential case in 1734 involved John Peter Zenger and established precedent that "The Truth" is an absolute defense against charges of libel.
IF IT'S TRUE IT'S Not Libel.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Peanut butter bars--I don't like marshmallows, however,too sweet. You can try with honey as sticking agent--and add a bit of
Smart Balance (non-butter--margarine) and use dry coconut flakes or other kinds of nuts.
Good luck.
https://www.seriouseats.com/no-bake-peanut-butter-bars-recipe-11828880?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
My carrot bread, BTW--worked out fine.
I've decided to write a biography of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi--If you have relevant FIRST PERSON info --meetings with her etc.
Please contact me or send through my friends San San Tin or Khin Myo Myint on Facebook.
One of at least 3 major attacks or near misses--the first one portrayed in movie Beyond Rangoon.
Since I was at RFA then, I heard about this in detail.
Wiedemann(see below) said that"A person needs water for sanitary purposes." He went to see her. Photos of U Tin Oo wearing white underpants taking a wash as a pond where circulated on line--maybe to embarass him.
The Wiedemanns came to RFA before this incident--see below.
Here follows copy and paste from Suu Kyi wiki.
1996 attack
On 9 November 1996, the motorcade that Aung San Suu Kyi was traveling in with other NLD leaders Tin Oo and Kyi Maung was attacked in Yangon. About 200 men swooped down on the motorcade, wielding metal chains, metal batons, stones, and other weapons. The car that Aung San Suu Kyi was in had its rear window smashed, and the car with Tin Oo and Kyi Maung had its rear window and two backdoor windows shattered. It is believed the offenders were members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) who were allegedly paid Ks.500/- (@ USD $0.50) each to participate.[61] The NLD lodged an official complaint with the police, and the government reportedly launched an investigation, but no action was taken.[62][63]
Kent Wiedemann and his wife came to RFA, DC some time in 1998. His wife was very civil and wanted me to come to lunch with them, but junta-inclined Soe Thinn prevented me from attending.
During this time Daw Suu was stranded in the paddy fields--see wiki above.
Great Seal
Biography
https://1997-2001.state.gov/www/about_state/biography/wiedemann_k_cambodia.html
Blue Bar
Kent Wiedemann
Ambassador to Cambodia
Newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia, Kent M. Wiedemann, arrived in Phnom Penh on August 1, 1999. Prior to this assignment, he was appointed as Charge d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon, Burma, where he served as the Chief of Mission. The United States has not had an Ambassador in Rangoon since 1990.
Prior to assuming his posting in Burma, Ambassador Wiedemann was Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State. Previously he served in that same Bureau as Director of the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs. He has also served on the National Security Council staff at the White House and on detail to the Bureau of International Security Affairs at the Department of Defense. Ambassador Wiedemann's overseas assignments include Poznan, Poland; Shanghai and two tours in Beijing, People's Republic of China; Singapore; and Tel Aviv, Israel. He was Deputy Chief of Mission in Singapore and Tel Aviv. He joined the Department of State in 1974.
Ambassador Wiedemann is a graduate of San Jose State University in California (B.A., 1967), and earned his M.A. at the University of Oregon in 1973. He served in the Peace Corps in what is now Micronesia. Ambassador Wiedemann is married to an elementary school teacher, and they have one son. Ambassador Wiedemann's languages are Polish and Mandarin Chinese.
Released by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs January 2000.
[end of document]
Blue Bar
List of famous Russian poets.
https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-poets-from-russia/reference
I met Yevgeny Yevtushenko at a poetry reading at Penn, my university in the late 1990s.
He asked after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
I'm sad to read he passed away in 2017.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
This rom com moves slowly, but nicely. Love's Ambition with apostrophe--"Love Ambition" is a different one.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9r700g
As for the probably illegal clips,the English or Chinglish is awful.
The buses in Singapore say "Don't quack like a duck."
Found it--Love's Ambition--ep. 1 Eng Sub--this is like the high end edition of all the beautiful poor woman, rich handsome CEO el cheapo
clips I have been watching. ENJOY. And don't come asking me for freebies.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9rfgu6
Monday, October 13, 2025
Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau on a yacht.
https://www.aol.com/articles/katy-perry-justin-trudeau-spotted-121232873.html
I thought Melania liked him.
Ad--Dr Paul Krugman's Master Class in Economics. On Substack.
https://www.masterclass.com/classes/paul-krugman-teaches-economics-and-society?utm_source=instructor&utm_term=Aq-Prospecting&utm_content=VanityLink_Referral&utm_campaign=pk&utm_medium=substack
No, I don't know Paul Krugman--I just read his Substack.
But I think it is great value at $10 per pop.
Everyone benefits from a basic understanding of Ecos.
Think how much you would spend in tuition alone at an Ivy League Univ --in NY City.
The costs of living.
The crime in Harlem.
The tests to get into schools like Columbia U.
Plus, the probably long waiting list to get into Krugman's class.
Plus DJT is cutting back on funding--so you are not very likely to get a scholarship.
Plus you don'thave to go live in New York.
Plus the difficulty of getting a passport if you are from a country like Burma.
Plus you can cancel your subscription any time.
Think about it.
Sunday, October 12, 2025
New C-drama--Love's Ambition--long description--but I don't feel like opening another account.
https://www.soompi.com/article/1788918wpp/4-reasons-to-watch-intriguing-romance-c-drama-loves-ambition
Zhao Lu Si has grown more beautiful and refined.
At one point I got tired of seeing her in everything.
Highly recommended--I had a friend, young woman who said "Aunty, so you believe people evolved from monkeys?"
I was so shocked I was speechless. I didn't even bother explaining. This woman did not even recognize the tree of the flower from which she got her name.
They're ignorant. Partly because they don't read. Partly because they stay in groups. Partly because they are stuck in their native language. Partly because the dictator closed off the country and attacked education and educated people.
This sounds like Billy Pink's writing. But maybe it isn't.
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+did+humans+evolve&sca_esv=bb558130a597fb8c&sxsrf=AE3TifPP2fhOeMku8F2rE1EzwgHwTq469Q%3A1760319249469&source=hp&ei=EVfsaPCNGvLk5NoP4fTI4Aw&iflsig=AOw8s4IAAAAAaOxlIRJqZHWWZqXZ0-6ySRDEQF2Truu_&oq=how+did+humans+&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6Ig9ob3cgZGlkIGh1bWFucyAqAggAMgsQABiABBiRAhiKBTILEAAYgAQYkQIYigUyCxAAGIAEGJECGIoFMgsQABiABBiRAhiKBTIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgsQABiABBiRAhiKBTIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABEinUlAAWKA5cAN4AJABAJgBhAKgAZUNqgEGMTMuNC4xuAEByAEA-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&sclient=gws-wiz#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:a7b72023,vid:OM28E1-XH-s,st:0
AI--the difference between humanoids and primates.
AI Overview
Ocular pigmentation in humans, great apes, and gibbons is ...
Primates – Biological Anthropology
Hominidae - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Chapter 5: Primates – Introduction to Anthropology: A Four ...
Mammals, Primates, Hominoids and Hominins - Student Academic ...
Chapter 5: Primates – Introduction to Anthropology: A Four ... View all The absence of a tail is the primary trait that differentiates hominoids from other primates. Other differentiating features include a larger brain size relative to body size, a more flexible shoulder joint, and a broad chest. Absence of a tail: All hominoids, including apes and humans, lack a tail. This is a key distinction from many other primate groups, which have tails. Larger brain size: Hominoids generally have larger, more complex brains compared to other primates, which supports more advanced cognitive abilities. Broader chest and flexible shoulder: Hominoids possess a broader, flatter chest and a more flexible shoulder joint, adaptations for their types of locomotion and arm movement, like brachiation (swinging through trees). Different locomotion: Unlike many other primates that are quadrupedal, hominoids like humans have adapted for bipedalism, while other hominoids use their arms for brachiation or knuckle-walking. More complex hands: Hominoids have hands with more developed dexterity, allowing for complex manipulation and tool use, which is more advanced in humans.
Old saying--"The monkey you yourself put on a pedestal, is making monkey faces at you."
AI Overview
Novels set during the Tokugawa Shogunate include James Clavell's epic historical fiction Shōgun, David Mitchell's The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, Ryōtarō Shiba's historical account The Last Shogun, and Laura Joh Rowland's detective series featuring Sano Ichiro, beginning with Shinjū. Other notable works are Eiji Yoshikawa's samurai novel Musashi and Takashi Matsuoka's Cloud of Sparrows.
Here is a list of novels set during the Tokugawa Shogunate:
Shōgun
by James Clavell**: A massive historical novel about an English pilot who becomes entangled in a power struggle in 17th-century Japan, leading to the founding of the Tokugawa shogunate.
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet
by David Mitchell: A historical novel focusing on the Dutch trading post in Dejima during the late Edo period of the Tokugawa shogunate, according to Wikipedia.
The Last Shogun: The Life of Tokugawa Yoshinobu
by Ryōtarō Shiba: A historical work focusing on the life of the last Tokugawa shogun.
The Inspector Sano Series
by Laura Joh Rowland: A series of detective novels set in Edo-period Japan, including titles like Shinjū and The Incense Game, featuring the investigator Sano Ichiro.
Musashi
by Eiji Yoshikawa: An epic historical novel following the life of the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi during the tumultuous early years of the Tokugawa Shogunate, according to Reddit users.
Cloud of Sparrows
by Takashi Matsuoka: A novel set in the samurai era of Japan, which would be around the beginning of the Tokugawa period.
Taiko: An Epic Novel of War and Glory in Feudal Japan
by Eiji Yoshikawa: Another epic historical novel by Yoshikawa that covers the period just before and leading into the Tokugawa era, according to Amazon.com users.
The Tokaido Road
by Lucia St. Clair Robson: A historical novel set in Japan during the era of samurai, with significant details about the period.
Silence
by Shusaku Endo: A historical novel that explores the persecution of Christians during the Tokugawa period, as mentioned on Wikipedia.
Yesterday--Crypto market plummets due toTrump tariff increase, shrinking his own portfolio.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/finance-and-economy/3846846/crypto-market-plummets-china-tariff-shrinking-trump-portfolio/
That come of being "the worst (undergrad) student" his prof. ever taught at Wharton School.
He has no graduate degree.
From Bondi wiki--copied and pasted.
Trump donation to Bondi PAC
In 2013, Bondi received scrutiny following a campaign donation from Donald Trump.[31] Prior to the donation, Bondi had received at least 22 fraud complaints regarding Trump University. A spokesperson for Bondi announced that her office was considering joining a lawsuit initiated by Eric Schneiderman, the attorney general of New York, regarding potential tax fraud charges against Trump.[32][33] Four days later, And Justice for All, a political action committee established by Bondi to support her re-election, received a $25,000 donation from the Donald J. Trump Foundation. Bondi subsequently declined to join the lawsuit against Trump University. Both Bondi and Trump have defended the propriety of the donation.[34][35]
Welsh heroes--
AI Overview
History of Wales – She Reads Novels
Novels about Welsh heroes include Sharon Kay Penman's "The Welsh Princes Trilogy" (Here Be Dragons, Falls the Shadow, The Reckoning), which features historical figures like Llywelyn the Great. For a fantasy take, Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain draws on Welsh myths and legends. Other books include historical accounts such as those based on Owain Glyndŵr, a major Welsh leader who led a revolt against English rule, and interpretations of figures from the Mabinogion, a collection of early Welsh prose tales.
Historical fiction
The Welsh Princes Trilogy
by Sharon Kay Penman: A series that dramatizes the lives of historical figures during a tumultuous period in 13th-century Wales.
Here Be Dragons: (Book 1): Focuses on the marriage of a Welsh princess and an English king.
Falls the Shadow: (Book 2): Continues the story into the 13th century.
The Reckoning: (Book 3): Concludes the trilogy.
Novels about Owain Glyndŵr:
While specific novels are not listed, Glyndŵr is a prominent figure in Welsh history, often the subject of historical fiction, as he led a major revolt against English rule in the 15th century.
Fantasy inspired by Welsh mythology
The Chronicles of Prydain
by Lloyd Alexander: A five-book fantasy series inspired by Welsh mythology, with titles like The Book of Three and The High King.
Works based on the Mabinogion:
This ancient collection of Welsh tales serves as a source for many modern stories.
The Mabinogion: by various authors: A direct retelling of the original tales, which feature heroes and magical elements.
Other fantasy novels:
The Tides Between
The Raven Boys: by Maggie Stiefvater: A more modern fantasy that draws on Welsh lore.
Other genres
Romance: Some romance novels feature Welsh heroes, but the focus is often on the romantic plot rather than historical or mythological figures.
Children's books: Roald Dahl, a prominent Welsh writer, wrote many famous children's books.
Poetry and prose: Poetry and prose written in Welsh are a significant part of the country's literary tradition and often deal with heroic themes.
Movie The Fly and Kafka's Metamorphosis.
AI Overview
CRONENBERG + GOLDBLUM: THE 1987 INTERVIEWS | MULTIGLOM
The 1986 movie The Fly is a remake of a 1958 film and is not a direct adaptation of a work by Franz Kafka, but rather director David Cronenberg stated that his film is his version of Kafka's novella, The Metamorphosis. While Kafka's story features a man who turns into an insect, Cronenberg's film adds the elements of scientific ambition, a romantic relationship, and a more graphic, body-horror style of transformation.
Kafka's The Metamorphosis
Protagonist: Gregor Samsa wakes up one day transformed into a giant insect.
Plot: The story focuses on his family's difficult reaction to his transformation and his own struggle to adapt.
Themes: It's often interpreted as a tragic commentary on alienation, family duty, and the burden of the body.
Cronenberg's The Fly
Protagonist:
Scientist Seth Brundle accidentally merges his DNA with a housefly during a teleportation experiment.
Plot:
The film tracks Brundle's horrifying, accelerated physical degradation into a "Brundlefly" and his relationship with his girlfriend, Veronica Quaife.
Themes:
Cronenberg's version explores themes of identity, love, and the terrifying physical and emotional consequences of scientific hubris.
Connection to Kafka:
Cronenberg viewed his film as a modern retelling of Kafka's themes, focusing on the horror of the body betraying the mind and the tragedy of a loved one's transformation.
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Which is the best movie based on Shakespeare's plays.
AI Overview
There is no single "best" Shakespeare movie, as it depends on personal preference, but highly acclaimed options include Henry V (1989), Ran (1985), and Hamlet (1996). Other critically praised adaptations are Throne of Blood (1957), Richard III (1995), and Much Ado About Nothing (1993). For a more non-traditional take, consider the modernized 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) or West Side Story (1961).
Highly acclaimed traditional adaptations
Henry V (1989):
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, this adaptation holds a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Ran (1985):
A masterful adaptation of King Lear by director Akira Kurosawa, set in feudal Japan.
Hamlet (1996):
Kenneth Branagh also directed this version, which is noted for its epic scale and visual style.
Throne of Blood (1957):
Another Kurosawa film, this is a powerful adaptation of Macbeth set in Japan.
You can watch this video to learn about some of the best movies based on Shakespeare's plays:
58s
Collider
YouTube · Mar 25, 2024
Other notable adaptations
Much Ado About Nothing (1993): A vibrant adaptation also directed by Kenneth Branagh, with a star-studded cast including Denzel Washington and Keanu Reeves.
Richard III (1995): Features Ian McKellen in the lead role and is set in an alternative 1930s England.
Macbeth (2015): A visually striking adaptation starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard.
West Side Story (1961): A musical retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in New York City.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999): A popular teen comedy adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew.
From George Bernard Shaw wiki
Since Shaw's death scholarly and critical opinion about his works has varied, but he has regularly been rated among British dramatists as second only to Shakespeare; analysts recognise his extensive influence on generations of English-language playwrights. The word Shavian has entered the language as encapsulating Shaw's ideas and his means of expressing them.
Re-posting link--Shakespeare's Julius Caesar--I suggest you watch till 49 minutes in--then watch the 2nd part post-assassination.
https://www.google.com/search?q=shakespeare%27s+play+caesar--full+play+youtube&sca_esv=611c10147d17a93d&sxsrf=AE3TifONpDRrsXmhhjOV9DlOFWrHk9Zguw%3A1759573309872&source=hp&ei=PfXgaLC6M6_l5NoPl-SD6As&iflsig=AOw8s4IAAAAAaOEDTa2gStUVSK9Kp4LP50sxpIRnHemt&oq=Shakespeare%27s+play+Caesar--full+play+&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IiVTaGFrZXNwZWFyZSdzIHBsYXkgQ2Flc2FyLS1mdWxsIHBsYXkgKgIIADIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABSJCUAVCjCViuigFwAXgAkAEAmAGBAaABnxyqAQUyMC4xN7gBAcgBAPgBAZgCJqACuh-oAgrCAgcQIxgnGOoCwgIKECMYgAQYJxiKBcICBBAjGCfCAgsQLhiABBiRAhiKBcICChAuGIAEGEMYigXCAgoQABiABBhDGIoFwgIREC4YgAQYsQMY0QMYgwEYxwHCAgsQABiABBixAxiDAcICChAuGIAEGCcYigXCAhAQABiABBixAxhDGIMBGIoFwgIOEC4YgAQYsQMY0QMYxwHCAhAQLhiABBixAxhDGIMBGIoFwgIQEC4YgAQY0QMYFBiHAhjHAcICCBAAGIAEGLEDwgIIEC4YgAQYsQPCAgUQABiABMICCxAuGIAEGNEDGMcBwgIOEC4YgAQYxwEYjgUYrwHCAhMQLhiABBixAxjRAxiDARjHARgKwgIXEC4YgAQYkQIYsQMY0QMYgwEYxwEYigXCAg4QLhiABBixAxiDARiKBcICCxAAGIAEGJECGIoFwgINEAAYgAQYsQMYQxiKBcICEBAuGIAEGEMYxwEYigUYrwHCAgoQABiABBgUGIcCwgIFEC4YgATCAgoQLhiABBgUGIcCwgIGEAAYFhgewgIIEAAYFhgKGB7CAgsQABiABBiGAxiKBcICCBAAGIAEGKIEwgIFEAAY7wXCAggQABiiBBiJBcICBRAhGKsCmAMn4gMFEgExIEDxBfWzKxX-nqAvkgcFMTEuMjegB_3FA7IHBTEwLjI3uAeTH8IHCjAuMi4yNi45LjHIB5gC&sclient=gws-wiz#fpstate=ive&vdild=cid:71b36019,vid:qjG_Huf7tZw,st:0
Shakespeare is Shakespeare and can never be matched.
You will come across many words and phrases, that have worked their way into our everyday speech--such as "The most unkindest cut of all," (even worked its way subconsciously into one of my poems)
and
the last three words of this truly magnificent play--uttered by Mark Anthony "This was a man," of Brutus, here played by Jason Robards.
On another note, I was thinking of going to see Verdi's opera Aida--tickets in front at about $123-125--going fast--but decided not to as I could not hear very well--and have to factor in taxi fare
whereas I can watch this wonderful play as many times as I wish, and I can hear well and on my own time--
It's worth going slowly and studying how Shakespeare did it,based I am sure, on Plutarch.
He was very good with psychology, before psychology was even invented, as were the Greek plays,like Oedipus.
In King Lear (I saw a stage production of it at Annenberg Center in Philadelphia, where I lived 13 years), the most chilling part is when Iago comes up to the footlights and tells his schemes straight off to the audience.
He doesn't have a precise motive; he just did it for his own amusement. What we call today,"A power trip"
Hannah Arendt coined the term "the banality of evil."
I think bad people do bad things because they get some kind of thrill from it.
To go back to this movie, apart from the automatically-generated subtitles, everything else is perfect--the actors' diction,the weapons, the action sequences, The Battle of Philippi, the costumes and armor, even at one point the props--Mark Anthony played by Charlton Heston drinking water out of a piglet skin water "bottle"--and the scenery-- and the color palette to suit the Philippi landscape.
I think we should all watch more serious stuff sometimes,pacing it out with all the useless stuff.
That said, I often watch stereotypical "brain dead" pirated clips when I am tired. Can't tell one clip from the other.
But the greats are like your good and best friends who tell you important things, even if you only saw them a few times, or only once.
Try to make others remember you that way, instead of dishing out drivel and pulling the wool over people's eyes.
I particularly hate whiny, sugary females and puffed up males.
I once amused my mentor Josef Silverstein by telling him about the nature movie about a real bird called Cock of the Rock.
Well, good night.
See you tomorrow, I hope.
KMK
10-11-2025
CBS: Epstein cell in disarray.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeffrey-epstein-cell-where-he-died-disarray-no-thorough-inspection/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
Even a child like I was at age 7-13 in an underdeveloped country could have said this is not credible--the crime scene has been tampered with.
The problem with this admin is they think they are so smart--and everyone else is dumb.
But it will all come out.
Wait for the other shoe or shoes to drop.
k
10-11-2025
Jim Acosta interviewed Art Cullen author of We Crapped on Our Own Nest--about farmers in Iowa--
about how big corporations like Tyson's Chicken rule Midwest farming.
I have to check the chicken in my frig.
How immigrant workers, about 3000 in Tyson's plant alone are living in "abject terror" of being deported.
To quote Cullen "It's not these workers who are getting the bailouts. It's the big corporations."
If you can, buy your chicken at a local market.
I know it's difficult.
I've only seen cheeses,bread and vegetables and fruit at our local market, which stops at Thanksgiving.
I also try to eat as much beans and bean products like cellophane noodles and tofu.
Stay centered, stay strong, above all do no wrong.
Stay alive,choose your battles.
km
10-10-2025
Friday, October 10, 2025
You should definitely get on Substack and watch AT LEAST The Jim Acosta Show--any time he posts something--
today he talked with Adam Kinzinger about Qataries building jet factory inside US military factory in Idaho, Pam Bondi being caught by surprise about Letitia James indictment--straight on heels of James Comey's indictment.
You don't follow the news at your own peril.
That's why I hate so called "Vipassana Meditation" or Ostrich Meditation.
The Buddha said you should not meditate while there's a war going on or you are sick.
You are just in denial--denial is dangerous. So is superstition.
Collage in process--KMK.
Nobel Peace Prize citation: Maria Corina Machado! Currently in hiding.
https://www.reuters.com/world/nobel-peace-prize-winner-be-announced-year-overshadowed-by-trump-2025-10-10/
A venezuelan family were among my best friends in Poland.
CONGRATULATIONS MARIA CORINA MACHADO.
Photo copyright KMK
The Nobel Peace Prize is the same Prize Burma's Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won--note--It is Nobel not "noble"
Lies, damn lies and bloody lies--BBC: WH blasts Nobel Committee for not giving trump Nobel Peace Prize--
The White House has accused the Nobel Committee of placing "politics over peace" for awarding its most coveted prize to a Venezuelan pro-democracy activist over US President Donald Trump.
On Friday, the Committee announced María Corina Machado would receive the Peace Prize for her "tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela".
Trump has been outspoken about his desire for the award, taking credit for ending several global conflicts. He regularly brought it up, including during his address to the UN General Assembly in September.
He called Machado to congratulate her and say she deserved the award, a senior White House official told CBS, the BBC's US media partner.
"The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace," White House communications director Steven Cheung said after the announcement on Friday morning.
"President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives," Cheung wrote on X. "He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will."
Trump has played a significant role in forcing a multi-stage deal for a ceasefire in Gaza, which was announced two days before the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded.
The president has also asserted that he ended numerous global conflicts during his nine months in office, and in his previous term.
Following the announcement of the ceasefire deal in Gaza, Trump declared: "BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS." The White House called him "the peace president".
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