Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Maybe my last AI post--AI is using up too much electricity and water.
Yes, the city of Troy was real, located at Hisarlik in modern Turkey, with archaeological evidence showing it was a significant Bronze Age city that was destroyed by fire around 1200 BCE, aligning with the Trojan War's timeframe, though the epic war as described by Homer blends historical events with myth, likely a fusion of conflicts and poetic storytelling.
Evidence for Troy's existence
Archaeological Site: Excavations at Hisarlik reveal layers of cities, with "Troy VIIa" showing signs of sudden, violent destruction by fire and battle, dating to the right period (around 1200 BCE).
Hittite Records: Inscriptions from the Hittites, contemporaries of the era, mention a city called "Wilusa" in the same region, believed to be Troy.
Myth vs. History
The City: The city Homer described, with its strong walls and strategic location, matches the archaeological findings at Hisarlik.
The War: While a major conflict likely occurred, the ten-year siege, heroes like Achilles, and the Trojan Horse are seen as mythological embellishments or poetic devices.
The Trojan Horse: This is widely considered a myth, possibly a metaphor for a siege engine, a ship, or a secret attack that led to the city's downfall.
The consensus
Most scholars agree that a real city named Troy existed and faced destruction, providing a historical kernel for Homer's epic, but the stories of the Trojan War are a blend of historical memory, folklore, and literary invention.
Historical Fact or Fiction: Did Trojan War Actually Happen?
Many of those artifacts currently reside in the British Museum. Schliemann was under the impression that these artifacts were from...
Made in Turkey Tours The Real Story of the Trojan War - Museum Hack Was Troy, famed participant in the Trojan War, real? In extremely old stories like the Iliad, you can't take any of the informatio... Museum Hack Trojan War - Wikipedia By the mid-nineteenth century AD, both the war and the city were widely seen as non-historical, but in 1868, the German archaeolog... Wikipedia
Me with my parents and siblings in 1950--when we all returned to Burma--based on a photo by my uncle
Thiri Pyanchi U Shwe Shane, Chief Engineer at Burma Railways, who later worked on the Asian Railway Project with ECAFE/ESCAP, based in Bangkok, Thailand. He said, the greatest sadness of his life was that the railway did not link up through Burma.
My brother found this photo.
My painting is impressionistic, not realistic.
But I like this painting.
Painting--Kaung.
In honor of all my mentors in English, some also life mentors--I am going to dedicate my still unpublished play
Shaman to--Dedication, contd.
Mr. Raymond Adlam, who was content to mentor others,
and my brother Dr. U Thaw Kaung who was also content to help others as a librarian.
and I must not forget my father, Sithu U Kaung, who loved his family, his friends,people in general,music, plays, poetry, art and died too young at age 52.
I hope you are all proud of me--I would not be who I am today without all of you.
I don't know what to say except a big Thank You.
Kyi May Kaung
12-23-2025
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Arms and the Man--by George Bernard Shaw
My brother did English Honors at Rangoon Univ, so he often mentioned plays like this one.
On the other hand I did Economics General Honors, a B.A., and then an M.A.so as I told Saya Myo Min once
"I can read English on my own," I am now having to educate myself.
But in honor of our mutual mentor, Raymond Aldam of the British Council, I continue to read avidly now.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3618/3618-h/3618-h.htm#:~:text=Crampton%2C%20the%20father%2C%20typifies%20the,M.
A play that Raymond Adlam as well as Miss Quayle, also on the British Council acted in c. 1958 after my father had passed away,T.S. Eliot's Murder in the cathedral, was staged in the small church near Prof.Luce's Home for Waifs and Strays, near the Inya Road entrance of Rangoon Univ. I think Daw Tee Tee Luce's brother U Pe Maung Tin also lived on that short wooded lane.
In honor of all of them, I am going to dedicate my still unpublished play Shaman,which is also about Identity and was a Pew Finalist Script, won a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Award and was also praised by Edward Albee, to them. I did not know Miss Quayle nor U Myo Min that well.
So this is how my play and maybe also another novel may be dedicated.
In Honor of my Excellent Mentors, especially in English.
Professor Gordon H. Luce--founder of modern study of Burmese History, once also taught English Literature at Rangoon Univ. Member of the Bloomsbury Group and friend of among others, the economist John Maynard Keynes.
Daw Tee Tee Luce (Mrs.Luce), early pioneer social worker in Burma, winner of a Magsaysay Award. Set up Home for Waifs and Strays.
Saya U Myo Min, Prof. and Head of the Rangoon Univ. English Department.
Saya, I still regret that I did not do English Honors--
But as compensation, I will have my alter ego (like Hemingway's alter ego Nick Adams) Nway Chtisone do a joint English-Economics BA.
George Bernard Shaw--Arms and the Man--complete play--Gutenberg Project
My brother did English Honors at Rangoon Univ, so he often mentioned plays like this one.
On the other hand I did Economics General Honors, a B.A., and then an M.A.soas I told Saya Myo Min once
"I can read English on my own," I am now having to educate myself.
But in honor of our mutual mentor, Raymond Aldam of the British Council, I continue to read avidly now.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3618/3618-h/3618-h.htm#:~:text=Crampton%2C%20the%20father%2C%20typifies%20the,M.
A play that Raymond Adlam as well as Miss Quayle, also on the British Council acted in c. 1958 after my father had passed away,was staged in the small church near Prof.Luce's Home for Waifs and Strays near the Inya Road entrance of Rangoon Univ. I think Daw Tee Tee Luce's brother U Pe Maung Tin also lived on that short wooded lane.
In honor of all of them, I am going to dedicate my still unpublished play Shaman,which is also about Identity and was a Pew Finalist Sc
Modern retellings of The Aeniad--AI
Modern retellings of Virgil's Aeneid range from fresh prose translations (like Sarah Ruden's) to novels focusing on specific characters (like Caroline Lawrence's The Night Raid) or themes (like Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials), and even plays recontextualizing it for contemporary issues like refugee crises (e.g., Dido's Bar). These adaptations explore themes of nationhood, exile, fate, and identity through diverse lenses, including YA fiction, political commentary, and focus on marginalized figures like Dido and Lavinia.
Novels & Literature
The Night Raid by Caroline Lawrence: A YA novel focusing on the tragic night raid of Euryalus and Nisus, capturing the doomed loyalty and choices of Aeneas's followers.
The Way Home (Ashes of Olympus #1) by Julian Barr: A fantasy retelling of Aeneas's journey, emphasizing divine politics and the struggle for a new homeland.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman: Lyra is seen as an "anti-Aeneas," subverting the traditional hero's destiny.
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston: Explores Vergilian themes of wandering and searching for home through a different cultural lens.
Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin: A later-story focus on the Trojan princess. Theater & Performance Dido's Bar by Dash Arts: An immersive play set in rival music clubs, featuring world music and telling the story from the perspective of refugees, giving voice to Dido and Amata. Academic & Thematic Studies The Aeneid and the Modern World (Edited by O'Neill & Rigoni): A collection of essays connecting the epic to modern fiction, politics, and trauma, examining its resonance with themes like refugee crises. Madeline Miller: While not directly retelling the Aeneid, her works (Circe, The Song of Achilles) reimagine Greek myth, influencing modern interpretations of classical epics. Modern Translations & Versions Sarah Ruden's Translation: A modern, line-for-line translation praised for its accuracy, emotional power, and resonance with themes of national destiny. PJ Goddard's Prose Version: A modern prose retelling designed as an accessible introduction to the epic. These modern takes highlight the Aeneid's enduring relevance, exploring its core themes of war, displacement, founding nations, and the individual's role in history through contemporary contexts. The Aeneid and the Modern World - Barnes & Noble Table of Contents. Introduction: The Aeneid and the Modern World (J.R. O'Neill and Adam Rigoni); Part I: The Aeneid and Modern Fic... Barnes & Noble Our Favourite Myth Retelling Recommendations — DASH ARTS Oct 5, 2022 — Dash Arts has a production of *Dido's Bar*, which reimagines the ancient myth of *The Aeneid*. The show is set in two r... DASH ARTS Virgil Retellings – Caroline Lawrence Here are some retellings of Virgil's *Aeneid*: * **The Night Raid** By Caroline Lawrence, this novel is inspired by Virgil's story... carolinelawrence.com Show all
AI answer to Q--how many times and by whom was Cassandra raped??
This virgin priestess who prized her chastity amongst her dearest possessions was twice violated by Greek “heroes” after the sack of Troy. During the pillage, Cassandra had taken refuge in the Temple of Athena, where the appropriately named Ajax “the Lesser” dragged her from the temple and savagely raped her.
Classical Wisdom - Substack
https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/the-curse-of-cassandra
The Curse of Cassandra - Classical Wisdom - Substack
Cassandra
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Cassandra
There, she embraced the wooden statue of Athena in supplication for her protection, but was abducted and brutally raped by Ajax the Lesser.
Ajax and Cassandra
Cassandra (disambiguation)
Pallake
Apollo archetype
People also ask
Our Own Heros: Workers' Special--Kaung-WS 1
Kaung--We have the right to choose our own heros: # 2 These are in no particular order.
Photo Essay--Kaung: WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE OUR HEROS. # 1
I've made Longevity Noodles--These are home-made? Udon noodles--
My late sister in law--only one of 3 I was fond of, Daisy, who delivered all 3 of my children bc the big name gyanae's never showed up
used to make wonton skins effortly on a little hand cranked machine she had as her husband brought it back from Canada--but I never could master it.
I saw wonton skins made by hand in Rangoon, Chinatown on a big table with a 6 foot long wood rolling pin.
In Seoul I saw them expertly pulled by hand in Insadon, the antique quarter--but I only got still photos.
https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/homemade-udon-noodles?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
From Budanov--from Budanov wiki--b. 1986--head of Zelenksy's intel.
In 2016, while still a lieutenant colonel, he reportedly led a special forces unit in an amphibious raid on Russian-occupied Crimea to plant explosives at an airfield. Budanov's unit was ambushed by a Russian commando unit after landing; the Ukrainian force killed several Russian soldiers before retreating to Ukrainian-controlled territory. According to The New York Times, Budanov was brought to the United States for treatment at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after being wounded in fighting in the Donbas.[5]
Tit for tat assassinations--Ukraine vs Russia--according to the figures here--successful attacks by Ukraine--see map- are deep in Russian territory and the majority are successful.
Text excerpt:
The number of assassination attempts in Russia in the first three quarters of 2025 has already exceeded the annual figures for the previous three years. Russian forces went into overdrive in their quest to conquer Ukraine by doubling down on their offensive in the Donetsk region and relentlessly bombarding the entire country and especially its capital, Kyiv. This likely incentivised the hunt for senior Russian military figures. In April 2025, car bombs killed a senior defense engineer in charge of drone jamming devices and another lieutenant general, Yaroslav Moskalik, who was deputy chief of operations in Russia’s General Staff and was involved in the Normandy talks that secured ceasefires in Donbas in 2014 and 2015.
Most assassination attempts have been carried out with explosives, including mail bombs. These often involve unwitting accomplices recruited online within the country — a tactic that does not require infiltration and subsequent extraction of Ukrainian operatives and that Russia itself uses in its covert sabotage campaign in Europe. In 2025, ACLED also records at least two apparent suicide bombings: one that killed Armen Sarkisian, the founder of the Arbat battalion of ethnic Armenians operating in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, and another killing Zaur Gurtsiev, a former officer who led Russia’s aerial bombardment of Mariupol in 2022. In the latter case, the man who lured Gurtsiev on a date may have been unaware he was carrying a remote-triggered explosive.12 The string of assassinations may have prompted replication by local Russian groups such as ChVK Vengeance, whose members gunned down at least two lower-ranking military officials they believed to be responsible for war crimes in Ukraine. It is unclear whether these domestic groups are coordinating their activities with the Ukrainian special services, nor is the extent of such collaboration.
The evolution of the assassination campaign within Russia — from propaganda mouthpieces to those prosecuting and masterminding the invasion — points to Ukraine’s willingness to go to great lengths to disrupt Russia’s war machine. Not only striking military and oil sites, Ukraine is also hunting down individuals directly involved in the ongoing attempt to conquer Ukraine. As in the case of attacking physical objects within Russia, the targeting of individuals directly or indirectly involved in the war may not significantly disrupt Moscow’s ability to wage it, but the possibility of an extrajudicial execution far from the frontlines puts extra pressure on potential targets.
Also 5 months ago-Ukraine Secret Service SBU says it has killed 2 FSB (Russian former KGB) agents who killed Col. V.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/14/ukraine-secret-service-says-it-killed-russian-agents-suspected-of-kyiv-assassination
Like out of Nelson Demille's poltical thriller The Lion or what happned in Myanmar--Rangoon and Sagaing.
Targetted assassinations.
BBC: What the underwhelming Epstein files release means--
"At the beginning of the year, Maga was a triumphant intimidating cultural force, now the train is falling off the tracks and there's no clear sign that it will be stabalising or rebounding anytime soon," he says.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy95w0x9889o
500 whole pages redacted.
Monday, December 22, 2025
Rising incidence of colon cancer in young--
AI Overview
Yes, a young woman, even around age 18, can get colon cancer
, as rates are rising in young adults (under 50), though it's less common than in older adults; early symptoms like rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits, or abdominal pain should be taken seriously as diagnosis in youth often occurs later, according to Yale Medicine and the National Cancer Institute. While genetics play a role, lifestyle factors and a general lack of screening in this age group contribute to the trend, highlighting the need for awareness of warning signs, notes MD Anderson Cancer Center and City of Hope.
Key Points:
Rising Incidence: Colorectal cancer cases are increasing in people under 50, with some studies showing double the risk for young adults compared to previous generations at the same age.
Youngest Patients: While rare, cases of colon cancer in teenagers and young adults in their late teens or early twenties have been reported.
Symptoms to Watch For: Don't dismiss symptoms like persistent constipation, blood in the stool (even if from hemorrhoids), unexplained weight loss, or abdominal pain; these warrant a doctor visit.
Diagnosis Delays: Because it's unexpected in young people, doctors often delay colonoscopies, leading to later-stage diagnoses, which impacts treatment outcomes, note American Cancer Society and Premier Family Medical.
Risk Factors: While genetics (inherited mutations) are significant, diet, inactivity, tobacco, and alcohol use are also considered contributing factors, according to Loma Linda University.
In summary, while still uncommon at 18, the trend of rising colorectal cancer in young adults means awareness of symptoms is crucial, says City of Hope.
Colon cancer in young adults: What you need to know
Jul 8, 2024 — Why is colorectal cancer on the rise among young adults? We don't know exactly why so many people under age 50 are bein...
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Colorectal Cancer: What Millennials and Gen Zers Need to ...
Jan 16, 2024 — Colorectal Cancer: What Millennials and Gen Zers Need to Know. BY KATHY KATELLA January 17, 2024. Yale Medicine doctor...
Yale Medicine
Metastatic Colon Cancer in an 18-Year-Old without ... - NIH
Other studies signify that CRC is frequently overlooked in the differential diagnosis when children and adolescents present with s...
National Institutes of Health (NIH) | (.gov)
For all of us--from Poetry Foundation site.
Song: “Fear no more the heat o’ the sun”
By William Shakespeare
(from Cymbeline)
Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,
Nor the furious winter’s rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages:
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.
Fear no more the frown o’ the great;
Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke;
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak:
The scepter, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.
Fear no more the lightning flash,
Nor the all-dreaded thunder stone;
Fear not slander, censure rash;
Thou hast finished joy and moan:
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee, and come to dust.
No exorciser harm thee!
Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
Ghost unlaid forbear thee!
Nothing ill come near thee!
Quiet consummation have;
And renownèd be thy grave!
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50428/song-fear-no-more-the-heat-o-the-sun-
But it all fell apart after he died in Babylon (Bagdhad)--modern scholars sale of West Nile Fever
He basically fell apart after his homosexual lover Haphaesteon died--Renault writes probably of typhoid.
His child by Roxana was very young--
You should also read Renault's The Persian Boy--
Alexander's other favorite.
Alexander's companions The Diodachi--AI
AI Overview
Alexander the Great's key comrades included his closest friend and general
Hephaestion, loyal generals like Parmenion (executed), Craterus, Ptolemy (founder of Egypt's Ptolemaic dynasty), and Seleucus (founder of the Seleucid Empire), plus bodyguards like Lysimachus, all pivotal figures who became major players, known as the Diadochi, after his death, carving up his vast empire.
Close Friends & Key Commanders:
Hephaestion: Alexander's most beloved companion, comparable to Achilles and Patroclus, a vital officer and diplomat.
Parmenion: A veteran general, father of Philotas, who served Philip II and Alexander but was later executed.
Craterus: A popular general, loyal to Alexander, later allied with Antipater.
Hephaestion: Alexander's closest friend, fellow cavalry commander (hipparchus).
Generals & Bodyguards (Diadochi):
Ptolemy I Soter: A bodyguard and general who secured Egypt, establishing the long-lasting Ptolemaic Kingdom. Seleucus I Nicator: A prominent general who gained control of the eastern territories, forming the Seleucid Empire. Lysimachus: A bodyguard who ruled Thrace and later parts of Asia Minor. Antipater: A trusted general left to rule Macedonia during Alexander's absence. Perdiccas: Initially took control of the empire after Alexander's death but failed to hold it. Eumenes: A brilliant strategist and commander. Nearchus: A naval commander and friend. These men, the Diadochi (Successors), were instrumental in Alexander's campaigns and later fought amongst themselves to claim parts of his conquered world. Wars of Alexander's Successors (Diadochi) - Heritage History Eumenes, the most faithful ally of Perdiccas, won a great victory in Asia minor, but at the same time, Perdiccas himself was murde...
Heritage History Wars of Alexander the Great - Wikipedia * Alexander the Great ( WIA ) * Parmenion X. * Antipater. * Craterus ( WIA ) * Cleitus X. * Coenus # * Seleucus. * Nearchus. * Hep... Wikipedia Who Are the Diadochi of Alexander the Great? - TheCollector Feb 13, 2023 — Ptolemy I, also known as Ptolemy Soter, was a close friend and general of Alexander the Great and one of the most powe... TheCollector
You have to read ALL of Mary Renault's Alexander novels--up to Funeral Games--
and her non-fiction book (which I haven't read yet) and Michael Wood's In the Footsteps of Alexander--book and documentary and all these real people will come back to life--including Black Klietus whom he killed with his spear while drunk--
the massacre of a whole village of Grco-Indians
his quarrels with his father
his snake cult mother--
Aristotle's nephew accompanied them--to recorde very thing--
The Mind of Aristotle--
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle#:~:text=Aristotle%20left%20his%20works%20to%20Theophrastus%2C%20his,of%20Athens%2C%20Alexandria%2C%20and%20later%20in%20Rome.
Including his identification of the sex organ of an octopus, his observations of smoke and fire, the ground level before a volcanic eruption etc,
He also told Alexander about the "Palisades" --the Himalayas--and his pupil reach the Indus Valley before his soldiers refused to go any further.
I rest my case today--It's been a trying day with a lot of blame the victim from family members--
I wish I could go to Aristotle's School where Alexander the Great and all his childhood friends went.
What does the "razor" in Ockham's Razor mean?
AI Overview
The "razor" in Occam's Razor refers to
a tool for "shaving away" unnecessary complexities, assumptions, or entities from competing explanations, leaving the simplest, most plausible one as the preferred hypothesis, much like a razor shaves hair. It's a philosophical principle (law of parsimony) that says entities shouldn't be multiplied beyond necessity, meaning if two theories explain something equally well, the one with fewer assumptions is better.
Key Meanings of the "Razor":
Shaving off Assumptions: The core idea is to cut away extra, unsupported elements from a theory, like shaving unwanted hair.
Simplification: It's a heuristic (rule of thumb) to prefer simpler explanations over complex ones, not because simple is always true, but because it's a better starting point for investigation.
Elimination: Think of it as a logical instrument that helps eliminate unlikely possibilities or superfluous details in a given scenario.
Example: If you hear hoofbeats, Occam's Razor suggests thinking "horses" (simpler, more common) before "zebras" (more complex, less likely), unless you have evidence otherwise.
OCCAM'S RAZOR Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
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Occam's Razor - Definition and examples - Conceptually
Definition and explanation. If Occam's razor brings to mind images of stubbled gentlemen and shaving cream, you're not actually th...
conceptually.org
The origin and popular use of Occam's razor - AAAS
Occam's razor is used as a heuristic, or "rule of thumb" to guide scientists in developing theoretical models. The term "razor" re...
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
From William of Ockham wiki:
Political theory
William of Ockham is also increasingly being recognized as an important contributor to the development of Western constitutional ideas, especially those of government with limited responsibility.[35] He was one of the first medieval authors to advocate a form of church/state separation,[35] and was important for the early development of the notion of property rights. His political ideas are regarded as "natural" or "secular", holding for a secular absolutism.[35] The views on monarchical accountability espoused in his Dialogus (written between 1332 and 1347)[36] greatly influenced the Conciliar movement.[37] This tract on heresy had the ultimate purpose to establish the possibility of papal heresy and to consider what action should be taken against a pope who had become a heretic.[38]
Ockham argued for complete separation of spiritual rule and earthly rule.[39] He thought that the pope and churchmen have no right or grounds at all for secular rule like having property, citing 2 Timothy 2:4. That belongs solely to earthly rulers, who may also accuse the pope of crimes, if need be.[40]
After the Fall he believed God had given humanity, including non-Christians, two powers: private ownership and the right to set their rulers, who should serve the interest of the people, not some special interests. Thus he preceded Thomas Hobbes in formulating social contract theory along with earlier scholars.[40]
William of Ockham said that the Franciscans avoided both private and common ownership by using commodities, including food and clothes, without any rights, with mere usus facti, the ownership still belonging to the donor of the item or to the pope. Their opponents such as Pope John XXII wrote that use without any ownership cannot be justified: "It is impossible that an external deed could be just if the person has no right to do it."[40]
Thus the disputes on the heresy of Franciscans led Ockham and others to formulate some fundamentals of economic theory and the theory of ownership.[40]
According to John Kilcullen, "Ockham's Utilitarian theory of property, his defence of civil and (within limits) religious liberty, and his emphasis on the inevitability of exceptions to rules and the need to adapt institutions to changing circumstances, anticipate J.S. Mill" (via Aristotle).[41]
Ockam's Razor--simplicity is best--parsimony.
Occam's razor
For other uses, see Occam's Razor (disambiguation).
In philosophy, Occam's razor (also spelled Ockham's razor or Ocham's razor; Latin: novacula Occami) is the problem-solving principle that recommends searching for explanations constructed with the smallest possible set of elements. It is also known as the principle of parsimony or the law of parsimony (Latin: lex parsimoniae). Attributed to William of Ockham, a 14th-century English philosopher and theologian, it is frequently cited as Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem, which translates as "Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity",[1][2] although Occam never used these exact words. Popularly, the principle is sometimes paraphrased as "of two competing theories, the simpler explanation of an entity is to be preferred."[3]
This philosophical razor advocates that when presented with competing hypotheses about the same prediction and both hypotheses have equal explanatory power, one should prefer the hypothesis that requires the fewest assumptions,[4] and that this is not meant to be a way of choosing between hypotheses that make different predictions. Similarly, in science, Occam's razor is used as an abductive heuristic in the development of theoretical models rather than as a rigorous arbiter between candidate models.[5][6]
Duns Scotus--today we could call him cosmopolitan--
Scotia me genuit.
Anglia me suscepit.
Gallia me docuit.
Colonia me tenet.
(Scotland brought me forth.
England sustained me.
France taught me.
Cologne holds me.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duns_Scotus
Stephen King's Dark Tower series--AI. So much material--how could it go into one movie??
The Dark Tower is a fantasy/sci-fi/horror series by Stephen King, following Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, on his quest for the titular Dark Tower, the nexus of all worlds. The main series consists of eight books, starting with The Gunslinger, and blends elements of Westerns, fantasy, and horror, with connections to many of King's other works.
Main series books in order:
The Gunslinger (1982)
The Drawing of the Three (1987)
The Waste Lands (1991)
Wizard and Glass (1997)
Wolves of the Calla (2003)
Song of Susannah (2004)
The Dark Tower (2004)
Related books:
The Little Sisters of Eluria (1998) - A novella that fits between Wizard and Glass and Wolves of the Calla.
The Wind Through the Keyhole (2012) - A story set within the series, placed between Wizard and Glass and Wolves of the Calla.
Key elements:
Protagonist:
Roland Deschain, a knight-like figure from a world that is "moving on".
Goal:
To reach the Dark Tower, which is the center of all universes, before it collapses.
Genre:
A blend of Western, fantasy, science fiction, and horror, often called a "dark fantasy epic".
Connections:
Features characters and places from other Stephen King novels, such as The Stand, It, and Salem's Lot.
The Dark Tower (series) - Wikipedia The Dark Tower (series) * The Gunslinger (1982) * The Drawing of the Three (1987) * The Waste Lands (1991) * Wizard and Glass (19... Wikipedia
The Dark Tower with Idris Alba--based on Stephen King's novels--
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Tower_(2017_film)
It's scary enough for me. Only watched the front part.
Certainly a place to visit--someday--I'll send the couples I create there--
From wiki below:
In 1804, the Père Lachaise contained only 13 graves. The next year there were 44 burials, with 49 during 1806, 62 during 1807 and 833 during 1812. Consequently, the administrators devised a marketing strategy to improve the cemetery's stature: in 1817, with great fanfare, they organized the transfer of the remains of Jean de La Fontaine and Molière to the new resting place. Then, in another great spectacle, the purported remains of Pierre Abélard and Héloïse d'Argenteuil were also transferred to the cemetery along with their monument's canopy made from fragments of the abbey of Nogent-sur-Seine. By tradition, lovers or lovelorn singles leave letters at the crypt in tribute to the couple or in hope of finding true love.[citation needed]
This strategy achieved its desired effect: people began clamoring to be buried among the famous citizens. Records show that the Père Lachaise contained more than 33,000 graves in 1830. Père Lachaise was expanded five times: in 1824, 1829, 1832, 1842 and 1850. At present, there are more than 1 million bodies buried there, and many more represented in the columbarium, which holds the remains of those who had requested cremation.[6]
The Communards' Wall (Mur des Fédérés), located within the cemetery, was the site where 147 Communards were executed by the French Army during the Semaine sanglante, "The Bloody Week", following the final battles between the Army and the Paris Commune.[7][8]
The Commune soldiers, who had been captured in earlier battles by the French Army, were taken to the prisons of Mazas and la Roquette, where they were quickly tried by military courts and sentenced to death. They were then taken to Pere Lachaise, where they were lined up against the wall and shot, and buried in common graves.[9]
The site is a traditional rallying point for members of the French political Left.[citation needed]
Adolphe Thiers, the second elected President of France, and the first President of the French Third Republic, who led the suppression of the Commune, is also interred in the cemetery.[citation needed]
Hmm--reminiscent of Heloise and Eberhard. Eberhard was castrated and she was forced into a nunnery.
I read a modern book on their story, but I can't remember it now.
They have a fake memorial in the famous Paris cemetery.
Wow--quite a story--for something similar and easier to read--Read Abraham Verghes' Cutting for Stone and the Covenant of Water.
AI Overview
The Missionary - Broadview Press
Sydney Owenson's The Missionary: An Indian Tale (1811) is a tragic, sentimental romance about forbidden love between a Portuguese Franciscan missionary, Hilarion, and Luxima, a beautiful Indian prophetess, in 17th-century Kashmir, exploring themes of religious intolerance, cultural clashes, colonialism, and the limitations of Western perspectives on the East. Despite vows of chastity, they fall in love, leading to Hilarion's condemnation for heresy by the Inquisition and Luxima's attempted sati, highlighting the conflict between duty, passion, and imperialistic religious zeal.
Key Plot Points:
The Mission: Hilarion arrives in India to convert locals, finding resistance and discovering the powerful, spiritual Indian prophetess Luxima.
Forbidden Attraction: They feel an immediate, powerful bond despite being celibate religious figures from opposing cultures, finding common ground in their spirituality but struggling with their burgeoning passion.
Cultural Clash: The novel uses their romance to critique religious and cultural intolerance, showing how Hilarion's Western lens, even when seeking commonality (like equating Indian gods to Greek ones), often misunderstands and imposes his own framework.
Tragic End: Their love is discovered, leading to Hilarion's execution by the Inquisition, and Luxima, facing disgrace, attempts sati (widow-burning) in a defiant act of spiritual and cultural purity, tying her fate to Hilarion's.
Major Themes:
Colonialism & Orientalism: A critique of European imperial attitudes and the power dynamics between colonizer and colonized, examining how Western views often fail to grasp Eastern cultures authentically.
Religious Intolerance: A commentary on the conflict between Christianity and Hinduism, and the coercive nature of forced conversion.
Gender & Sensibility: Explores female agency, chastity, and passion, contrasting rational Christianity with feminine emotion, influencing later Romantic writers like Shelley.
In essence, The Missionary uses a passionate but doomed interracial romance to examine the complexities, hypocrisies, and devastating consequences of cultural encounter and religious imperialism in colonial settings.
Missionary, an Indian Tale, The by Sydney Owenson, Lady ... Nov 4, 2025 — Far from being a traditional Oriental tale, a subgenre of the sentimental romance revolving around the love of a Europe... Springer Nature Link
Sati and the Lucretia Story in Sydney Owenson's The Missionary Aug 6, 2025 — Abstract. As Britain expanded its global interests at the turn of the 19th century, reports of ritual suicide such as s... ResearchGate
Many things here that Dr. Maung Shein--who somehow disappeared from view--
taught us about Jeremy Bentham in Economics Gen.Honors class that he did not mention. Insein prison is based on his design.
My brother who studied in London told me about Bentham's preserved body.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Bentham
Jeremy Bentham--Utilitarianism. AI overview.
AI Overview
Jeremy Bentham | Utilitarianism.net
Jeremy Bentham's utilitarianism is a consequentialist ethical theory defining morality by the "greatest happiness principle," aiming for the most pleasure and least pain for the greatest number; it's a quantitative, hedonistic system using the Felicific Calculus to measure pleasure's intensity, duration, etc., applying to law, government, and personal action to maximize overall well-being.
Core Principles
Principle of Utility: Actions are right if they promote happiness (pleasure) and wrong if they cause pain; the goal is the greatest good for the greatest number.
Hedonism: Pleasure is the only intrinsic good, and pain the only intrinsic bad, forming the basis of human motivation.
Consequentialism: The morality of an act is judged solely by its outcomes (consequences).
Impartiality: Everyone's happiness counts equally; it's a democratic, impartial system.
The Felicific Calculus (Utility Calculus)
Bentham proposed a method to quantify pleasure and pain, assessing actions by considering:
Intensity: How strong is the feeling?
Duration: How long does it last?
Certainty/Uncertainty: How likely is it to happen?
Propinquity/Remoteness: How soon will it occur?
Fecundity: Will it lead to more pleasure (or pain)?
Purity: Is it free from pain (or vice versa)?
Extent: How many people does it affect? Application & Impact Law & Reform: Bentham applied utilitarianism to create laws and advocate for prison reform, women's suffrage, and abolition, aiming for societal happiness. Influence: He founded classical utilitarianism, later expanded by John Stuart Mill, impacting moral theory and policy. Criticisms Quality of Pleasure: Critics, especially J.S. Mill, found Bentham's focus on simple pleasure (hedonism) lacking, as it didn't differentiate between higher (intellectual) and lower (physical) pleasures. Justice: Critics argue it could justify harming individuals for the greater good, undermining rights and justice. Jeremy Bentham | Utilitarianism.net Bentham's principle of utility states that any action is right if it increases happiness and wrong if it increases pain. Bentham b... Utilitarianism.net Bentham's Act Utilitarianism Utilitarianism, as formulated by Jeremy Bentham in 1789, is a moral theory asserting that actions should maximize utility, which B... YouTube Big Thinker: Who was Jeremy Bentham? - The Ethics Centre Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) was the father of utilitarianism, a moral theory that judges actions based on their impact on human wel... The Ethics Centre
Sunday, December 21, 2025
From personal account of Soraya Ali--Save the Children's media head--
Of course, our Palestinian colleagues, like Hawa, have long been tirelessly serving their communities, even amidst personal tragedy.
Most of our staff have been forcibly displaced, many have lost close relatives, and all have been impacted by the war. Sameh Ewida, a longstanding member of the Gaza office, was killed along with his entire family by an Israeli airstrike in December.
The brutal war in Gaza has killed over 33,000 people including at least 13,900 children, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
Israeli airstrikes have killed doctors, nurses, teachers and humanitarian workers.
All at a time when needs have never been higher.
We stopped at either Port Said, or Gibraltor--I am uncertain which, and took a spin around the place in a taxi--but didn't get down and walk. My mother was very scared.
Later on the ship, a magician came on board to entertain us. I was 7--and as I still do now, I sat in the front row. It's always important to me not to miss a thing.
My father said,"They are tricks. If you go behind them, you will see how their tricks are set up."
The magician wore a red fez and sat on a small carpet on the floor.
He said Ram Guli Guli all the time.
Ram Guli Guli--Ram Guli Gali--it sounded like an invocation to the god Ram?
In Water of India he poured a never ending stream of water from a silver jug and it went on and on and he never ran out of water and the cup never overflowed.
Then he pulled yards and yards of string with little colored flags on them out of his mouth (that was real easy to figure out) and as a finale, he passed his hand near my knee and the hem of my yellow dress, and pulled a little live chicken out from under my skirt.
However, he did not give me the chicken.
More later--just thinking of the men/waiters--and also waitresses who are nice to me--
and all my mentors, all my life, who are fond of me, and our Tamil doctor--
So the world is a good place--for the most part.
Kyi May Kaung 12-21-2025
The port city of Al Arish--I have actually been through the Suez Canal as a 7 year old on my way home to Rangoon with my parents and siblings.
AI Overview
+9
Al Arish port – SCZONE
Al Arish Port is a strategically located Egyptian seaport on the Mediterranean, part of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), undergoing significant development for handling dry bulk and general cargo, aiming to boost trade and logistics for North Sinai and Egypt, while historically, the city of Al Arish (capital of North Sinai) has seen battles and shifts in control, notably during Napoleonic, World War I, and Israeli-Egyptian conflicts.
Key Aspects of Al Arish Port (Modern Development):
Location: Northeast Sinai, on the Mediterranean Sea, near Port Said.
Operator: Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE).
Features: Includes dry bulk and general cargo terminals, service berths, and mooring for fishing vessels, with ongoing expansion including larger berths and new infrastructure.
Purpose: Facilitates trade, cargo handling (dry bulk, general cargo), and serves as an important logistics hub for the region.
Historical Context (City of Al Arish):
Name Origin: "Arish" means "shiels of palm" in Arabic, referencing the palm trees that once shaded the area.
Napoleonic Era: Site of the Siege of El Arish (1799), where French forces captured the Ottoman fort.
Conflicts: Involved in conflicts like the 1956 Suez Crisis, the Six-Day War (1967-1979 occupation by Israel), and returned to Egypt with the 1979 peace treaty.
Significance:
The port's development aims to transform it into a major maritime gateway for North Sinai, enhancing Egypt's trade and economic reach.
Al Arish port – SCZONE
Al Arish Port is located on the Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Sinai. It's about 150 km from East Port-Said. The port covers an a...
Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE)
Arish - Wikipedia
History. ... The city growed around a Bedouin dounpit naur the ancient Ptolemaic Dynasty outpost o Rhinocolura. In the Middle Ages...
Wikipedia
Egypt to finalize Arish Port development plan in 2024 - Dredging Today
Jan 15, 2023 — The Port of Arish is being developed in Egypt. The port is being developed in cooperation with: * The Armed Forces' En...
Dredging Today
Al-Arish port receives first “RO-RO” ship at the new commercial berth – SCZONE
Feb 26, 2023 — The Al-Arish Sea Port is undergoing development. The port is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024. Th...
Suez Canal Economic Zone
Arish - Wikipedia
Arish or El-Arish is the capital and largest city of the North Sinai Governorate of Egypt, as well as the largest city on the Sina...
Wikipedia
Six-Day War - Wikipedia
Advance on Arish ... In fierce fighting, which saw the pass change hands several times, the Israelis charged through the position.
Wikipedia
North Sinai Governorate - Wikipedia
It is bordered in the north by the Mediterranean Sea, in the south by South Sinai Governorate, in the west by Port ... Al-Arish, a...
Wikipedia
Siege of El Arish - Wikipedia On 12 February 1799, Kléber's division reached El Arish, and his forces began a siege of the Ottoman fort. Reynier's division move... Wikipedia Al-ʽArish, Qatar - Wikipedia * Etymology. Arish is an Arabic term that refers to "palm trees"; it was named so after palm trees growing in the area which shade... Wikipedia Northern coast of Egypt - Wikipedia Eastern North Coast: It has the least precipitation, yet its cities and towns are of great geopolitical and economic importance. I... Wikipedia Trading Ports in Egypt May 10, 2025 — This port plays a crucial role in facilitating the movement of containerized cargo, general cargo, and dry bulk traffi... Sameh Marine Egypt Trade Maritime Services | News
The project aims to enhance port capacity, streamline logistics, and strengthen Egypt's position as a regional trade hub. Official... Egypt Trade Maritime Service
The port where they unload--
AI Overview
Libyan ship carrying aid for Gaza docks in Egyptian port
Humanitarian aid ships for Gaza primarily unload at Al Arish Port (or El-Arish Port) in Egypt, the closest port to Gaza, where supplies are then trucked to the Rafah crossing for entry into the Strip. While Al Arish is the main port for these sea deliveries, other Egyptian ports like Alexandria have also received aid vessels for onward transfer to Gaza, but Al Arish is the key hub for immediate relief shipments.
Key Details:
Al Arish Port: The primary port for receiving large aid shipments from countries like Turkey and the UAE, with coordination from the Egyptian Red Crescent.
Logistics: Aid is unloaded from ships onto trucks and transported to the Rafah crossing for distribution into Gaza.
Other Ports: Ships sometimes dock at other locations like Alexandria for various reasons, but Al Arish is the dedicated entry point for direct Gaza aid via sea.
Unloading of Türkiye's 17th 'Goodness Ship' for Gaza completed
Oct 18, 2025 — AL ARISH, Egypt/ISTANBUL. The unloading of 900 tons of humanitarian aid for Gaza from Türkiye's 17th “Goodness Ship” h...
Anadolu Ajansı
Egypt denies assisting Israel's military operations amid reports about ...
Oct 30, 2024 — Human rights lawyers on Wednesday filed a court appeal in Berlin seeking to block a 150-metric-ton shipment of militar...
Reuters
Türkiye's 17th “Goodness Ship,” carrying humanitarian aid for ...
Oct 16, 2025 — 17, 2025: Türkiye's 17th “Goodness Ship,” carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza, began offloading its cargo Friday after ...
Getty Images·Anadolu/Footage
3:05
List--names/flag IDs of ships in Gaza flotillas--of course I will not use the real names--and the characters will be entirely fictitious--
AI Overview
The names of the activist ships in the various Gaza-bound flotillas over the years include the
MV Mavi Marmara, the MV Rachel Corrie, the Madleen, the Al Awda, the Freedom, and many others, including a recent large fleet in late 2025.
Key vessels from significant flotillas include:
2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla
This was the most prominent and contained a main group and two delayed vessels.
MV Mavi Marmara (passenger ship, Comoros-flagged)
Gazze (cargo ship, Turkey-flagged)
MV Defne Y (cargo ship, Kiribati-flagged)
Challenger 1 (small yacht, US-flagged)
MS Eleftheri Mesogeios (also known as the Sofia, cargo ship, Greece-flagged)
Sfendoni (small passenger boat, Greece-flagged)
MV Rachel Corrie (cargo ship, Cambodia-flagged, delayed due to mechanical problems but continued its journey) Challenger 2 (US-flagged, aborted journey due to mechanical problems) Subsequent Flotillas Freedom Flotilla II (2011): Vessels included the Audacity of Hope, the Tahrir, and the French ship Dignité Al Karama. Freedom Flotilla III (2015): Led by the Swedish-flagged vessel Marianne of Gothenburg. Just Future for Palestine Flotilla (2018): Consisted of the ships Al Awda (The Return), Freedom, and two yachts named Mairead and Falestine. 2025 Missions: The Madleen (which hosted activist Greta Thunberg) was intercepted in June 2025. The Global Sumud Flotilla (September-October 2025) was a large convoy originally comprised of over 40 vessels. Specific names mentioned in search results include Spectre, Alma, Sirius, Conscience (damaged before sailing), the Polish-flagged Marinette (the last vessel intercepted), Family, and Handala. A detailed list of participating vessels for the Global Sumud Flotilla is available on the Global Sumud Flotilla website. 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla - Wikipedia Table_title: Ships Table_content: header: | Flag | Name | Organisation | Port | Passengers | Crew | Cargo | row: | Flag: USA | Nam... Wikipedia Gaza Freedom Flotilla - Wikipedia The media reports were disputed by Irish Ship to Gaza, the owner of the vessel. Greece forbade the vessels from leaving its ports, Wikipedia Last boat in Gaza humanitarian flotilla intercepted by Israel Oct 2, 2025 — Israel's Foreign Ministry says it has already deported four Italian citizens who joined the Global Sumud Flotilla and i... Al Jazeera
Aid flotilla-must recent news--I wanted to write a novel of someone on an aid ship--
AI Overview
There is no single "Gaza Aid ship," but rather a number of independent and state-organized efforts. Most recent activist-led vessels have been intercepted and detained by Israeli forces, while one UAE state-sponsored ship is en route to Egypt to offload aid
.
Activist Flotillas
The Global Sumud Flotilla, a coalition of over 40 activist boats that set sail in late 2025, faced repeated interception by the Israeli military.
Status of the Flotilla: All 42 vessels in the main Global Sumud Flotilla mission were intercepted by Israeli naval forces in early October 2025.
Location: The ships and their passengers were detained and led to the port of Ashdod in Israel.
Current Efforts: The organizers, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, state on their website that more boats are in planning stages and have a live tracker for future missions.
State-Sponsored Aid Ship
A separate, state-sponsored aid effort from the United Arab Emirates has a ship currently at sea.
Ship Name: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Humanitarian Ship completed loading over 7,200 tonnes of aid (including 10 million meals) in Abu Dhabi on December 18, 2025.
Destination: The ship has set sail for the port of El Arish in Egypt, where its cargo will be transferred by land into Gaza.
Arrival Timeline: It is scheduled to arrive in El Arish in early January 2026.
Israeli military intercepts final aid boat as new flotilla sails to Gaza
Oct 2, 2025 — The organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said the Marinette was intercepted some 42.5 nautical miles (79 km) from Ga...
Reuters
Mohammed Bin Rashid Humanitarian Ship loaded with over ...
Dec 17, 2025 — Loading of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Humanitarian Ship with over 10 million meals was completed today at the Khalifa Por...
Government of Dubai Media Office
Flotilla Tracker - Global Sumud Flotilla
Flotilla Tracker - Global Sumud Flotilla. WE CONTINUE. All 42 boats in the historic Global Sumud Flotilla mission were illegally i...
Global Sumud Flotilla
AI search results--Genocide in the Bible--
AI Overview
Yes, the Bible contains narratives, primarily in the Old Testament, describing commands from God (Yahweh) for the Israelites to utterly destroy groups like the Canaanites and Amalekites, leading many scholars to characterize these as instances of genocide, particularly in books like Joshua, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, though interpretations vary widely on the intent, nature, and application of these texts. Key examples include the destruction of Jericho and the command to "blot out" Amalek, involving the slaughter of entire populations, including men, women, children, and livestock.
Key Biblical Narratives Cited as Examples:
Canaanites:
In Joshua, the Israelites conquer the Promised Land, often destroying cities and inhabitants completely, as commanded by God to clear the land.
Amalekites:
God commands Israel to remember Amalek's attack and ultimately destroy them entirely, as seen in Exodus and Deuteronomy.
Midianites:
Numbers 31 describes the Israelites killing all Midianite men, including their five kings, as revenge for enticement to sin.
Interpretations and Controversies:
Divine Command:
Some scholars see these as explicit divine commands for genocide, unique to a specific time and purpose.
Contextual Readings:
Others argue these texts reflect ancient warfare, God's judgment on extreme sin (like Canaanite practices), or were meant for specific historical situations, not universal application.
Ethical Challenges:
These passages present significant theological and ethical challenges for modern readers and believers, prompting extensive discussion and varied approaches to interpretation.
In essence, the Bible records instances where God commands actions that align with the definition of genocide—the systematic destruction of a people—though how these narratives are understood and reconciled with concepts of divine justice remains a complex issue.
Genocide in the Hebrew Bible - Wikipedia
In the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament), there are certain narratives describing occurrences of violence and warfare that are consi...
Wikipedia
Destroying Amalek | Center for Jewish Studies
Mar 25, 2024
Duke Center for Jewish Studies
The Bible and violence - Wikipedia
Because of the orders to completely destroy the enemy, several scholars have characterized certain biblical passages as divine com...
Wikipedia
AI research of my Q--Nevermore Genocide.
AI Overview
The phrase "Nevermore Genocide" most likely refers to one of two things, depending on the context:
1. A Key Plot Point in the Maximum Ride Book Series
In the final book of James Patterson's main Maximum Ride series, titled Nevermore: The Final Maximum Ride Adventure, a central conflict is the imminent human genocide orchestrated by the villains.
The Plot: The main character, Max, and her "Flock" of genetically enhanced human-avian hybrids, discover a plan to wipe out 99% of the world's human population using a deadly toxin.
The Climax: The book ends (before the epilogues) with the world experiencing widespread natural disasters and Max realizing she may not have saved everyone from the catastrophic events triggered by the plan.
Comparison: The book's human genocide plot has been compared to real-world genocides like the Holocaust due to the goal of wiping out a specific, large population group.
2. A Poetic/Political Slogan
The phrase combines the word "genocide" with the famous literary phrase "Nevermore" from Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven," which means "never again" or "not ever more".
The slogan "Never again" is internationally recognized and widely used in connection with the Holocaust and subsequent genocides to vow that such atrocities will not be allowed to happen again.
Therefore, "Nevermore Genocide" could be used in a political or artistic context as a potent phrase emphasizing the call to prevent future genocides, or possibly as a critique lamenting that genocide continues to occur despite the international vow of "never again".
Other potential, less likely, interpretations from search results include:
An episode title from the TV show The 100, "Nevermore".
A type of large, raven-like creature in the fictional universe of the animated series RWBY, called a "Nevermore".
References to the current debate among scholars and activists regarding whether actions in the Gaza conflict constitute genocide, often framed around the "never again" principle.
Never again - Wikipedia "Never again" is a phrase or slogan which is associated with the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. The slogan was used...
Wikipedia Nevermore Summary - SuperSummary The island's humans will be protected in underground caves. Horrified by this unimaginable genocide, Fang and Max kiss to forget t... SuperSummary Summary - Nevermore: The Final Maximum Ride Adventure The main conflict in Nevermore is that the "End of the World" is coming by form of human genocide, and it's apparently Max's job t... Weebly
Asian Literary Prizes--list--I didn't know Man Literary Awards is now defunct--but I've read Wolf Totem, which is very good.
AI Overview
Asian literary prizes recognize diverse works, ranging from
major regional awards like the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature (English novels on South Asia) and the Man Asian Literary Prize (defunct but notable for works like Wolf Totem) to national honors such as Japan's prestigious Akutagawa Prize, plus specific awards for Asian American/Pacific Islander stories (APALA Awards) and scholarly works by the AAS. Key prizes focus on fiction, translations, poetry, and scholarly research across various Asian cultures and languages, with some, like The Asian Review's prizes, also including global entries with an Asian focus.
Major & Regional Prizes
DSC Prize for South Asian Literature: For novels (English or translated) about South Asia by any author.
Man Asian Literary Prize: (Defunct but influential) Awarded to Asian writers, often featuring translated works like Wolf Totem.
The Asian Prizes (The Asian Review): Includes fiction, short story, and poetry awards, open to global entries with an Asian focus.
Lotus Prize for Literature: A significant pan-Asian award.
National & Cultural Awards (Examples)
Akutagawa Prize (Japan): Prestigious semi-annual award for emerging Japanese writers.
Naoki Prize (Japan): Awarded alongside the Akutagawa Prize for popular Japanese fiction.
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (APALA): Honors works reflecting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika experiences.
Scholarly & Specialized Prizes (Association for Asian Studies - AAS)
John Whitney Hall Prize: For English-language books on Japan.
James B. Palais Prize: For English-language books on Korea.
Bernard S. Cohn Prize: For first books on South Asia.
Patrick D. Hanan Prize: For Chinese/Inner Asian language translations.
Literature Awards – APALA
The volunteer Literature Award juries of the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) are thrilled to review titles f...
Asian Pacific American Librarians Association
Prizes - The Asian Review
The Asian Prize for Literature. The Asian Prize for Literature is awarded every fifth year to the person who has done the best in ...
The Asian Review
DSC Prize for South Asian Literature - Wikipedia
The DSC Prize for South Asian Literature is an international literary prize awarded annually to writers of any ethnicity or nation...
Wikipedia
Asian--mail order brides--novels
AI Overview
Several novels and a graphic novel explore the topic of mail order brides from Asia, often focusing on the historical and modern complexities of these relationships
.
Novels
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka: This award-winning novel is told in a collective voice, following a group of Japanese mail order brides traveling to America in the early 20th century. It covers their experiences with backbreaking work in California, cultural clashes, and their eventual internment during WWII.
Picture Bride by Yoshiko Uchida: This book focuses on a Japanese woman who arrives in San Francisco as a picture bride to an unknown husband. The narrative delves into her adjustments to a new country and life with a stranger. A critically acclaimed 1997 film of the same name also explores this theme in the context of Hawaiian sugarcane plantations.
Honolulu by Alan Brennert: This historical novel tells the story of a young Korean immigrant bride in early 20th-century Hawaii, showcasing her journey and the challenges she faces in a new land.
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang: For a contemporary take, this novel features a character whose mother arranges for a woman from Vietnam to come to the U.S. to potentially marry her son, who is on the autism spectrum. The story explores modern dating, cultural differences, and neurodiversity.
Graphic Novel
Mail Order Bride by Mark Kalesniko: This graphic novel presents a sharp, affecting look at the prickly relationship between a lonely Canadian comic shop owner and his Korean mail-order bride, Kyung Soo, who defies his stereotypical expectations.
These books offer various perspectives on the mail order bride experience, from historical fiction to contemporary and graphic novels.
I just finished The Buddha in the attic by Julie Ostsuka. It is a ...
Jul 2, 2023 — I just finished The Buddha in the attic by Julie Ostsuka. It is a story about mail order brides from Japan coming to th...
Facebook·Lisa Pryor Oltman
Mail Order Bride - Kalesniko, Mark: Books - Amazon.com
Book details. ... Monty, a lonely comic-shop owner, expects his Asian mail-order bride to fulfill his stereotypical fantasy, but s...
Amazon.com
Mail Order Bride: Kalesniko, Mark: Books - Amazon.com
Book details. ... Monty, a lonely comic-shop owner, expects his Asian mail-order bride to fulfill his stereotypical fantasy, but s...
Amazon.com
How did Nyonyar Brides get to Burma--AI answer.
AI Overview
Nyonya (Peranakan) brides came to British Burma primarily through
overseas migration from southern China (Fujian, Guangdong) during the colonial era (19th-20th centuries) via sea routes, joining Chinese men who'd settled in port cities like Rangoon; they were part of the broader Nanyang Chinese network, marrying into established communities, not usually "smuggled" as brides in recent human trafficking, but as part of large-scale, often family-sponsored, migration for trade and new life.
Key Pathways & Context
Overseas Migration (Maritime Route): This was the main route for Peranakan migration to Southeast Asia. Chinese men, often traders from Fujian and Guangdong, sailed to Southeast Asian ports, including Rangoon (Yangon) in Burma, establishing communities. Women followed, often through family connections or arranged marriages, becoming part of the local Nyonya/Peranakan culture. Colonial Era Boom: British colonial rule spurred mass Chinese migration, creating established networks for arrivals. Integration: Nyonya brides integrated into the vibrant Chinese diaspora in Burma, forming distinct communities with unique cultural blends. Distinction from Modern Trafficking It's important to distinguish this historical migration from modern human trafficking for brides (e.g., women from northern Myanmar smuggled to China for marriage), which is a separate, darker issue happening today. The Nyonya migration was a large-scale, historic demographic movement of Chinese people, including women, to settle and build lives in new lands. Chinese in Colonial Myanmar - Oxford Research Encyclopedias Apr 16, 2024 — Overland and Overseas Migration * The slow yet irrevocable arrival of British colonial forces, over sixty years and th... Oxford Research Encyclopedias Chinese in Colonial Myanmar - Oxford Research Encyclopedias Apr 16, 2024 — Summary. Exchanges of people and goods between Myanmar (formerly Burma) and China have a long history spanning over a ... Oxford Research Encyclopedias Peranakan Chinese - Wikipedia Immigrants from the southern provinces of China arrived in significant numbers in the region between the 14th and 17th centuries, ... Wikipedia
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