Kneel and pray, Edna: the more suitors the merrier

Artwork © Jaspret Oltmans

“范爷” (“Master Fàn”)

Diplomacy at its zenith: Dolce & Gabbana (alias Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana) play mahjong by the grace of “范爷” (“Fàn Yé”) 范冰冰 (Fàn Bīngbīng). Photo © 陈漫 (Chén Màn). Courtesy of SENATUS.

Because, Edna, as Andrei Arsenyevich Tarkovsky said, “I have a horror of tags and labels”

Artwork © Muse10

Pas de Deux

Once Upon Another Time

陈丹青 (Chén Dānqīng), The 上海 (Shànghǎi) girl, 2007. Courtesy of Artnet.

Hi, Edna, always happy to see you again, and how’s your diet going?

Artwork © SimplyFanartist

Once Upon a Birthday

At the birthday party of Letizia, a table of pizzas was set out in the dining room of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” yesterday evening, with Viola’s sumptuous cheesecake to crown the setting. The party was even graced by the presence of the worldwide renowned “sisters-in-law”, Aurora and Matilde, who did not fail to recall their glorious past as dancers and archers. Alas, my camera broke at that very moment!

Well, Edna, as Jorge Luis Borges said, “Time forks perpetually toward innumerable futures”

Courtesy of Artstrings

Stage-Play and Screen-Play

陈丹青 (Chén Dānqīng), Ballet Dancers, ca. 1980–1985. Courtesy of Artnet.

You know, Edna, things can be easier if you play games alone with yourself

Courtesy of Craiyon LLC

Lullaby

陈丹青 (Chén Dānqīng), Bautiful 保玉 (Bǎoyù), 1996. Courtesy of Artnet.

Thank you and good night, Edna

Artwork © Julio Carvalho (@julioartworks)

Zooja

陈丹青 (Chén Dānqīng), Stockings and Party Standing, 2009. Courtesy of 何香凝美术馆 (Hé Xiāngníng Art Museum).

Yes, Edna, sometimes people look far away for things right under their nose

Artwork © A-Tony envy/nxv lover (@Anthony1875079)

Near and Far

陈丹青 (Chén Dānqīng), Smartphones, 2016. Courtesy of 當代唐人藝術中心 (Táng Contemporary Art).

Wow, Edna, what else can one say but that your makeup is perfect?

Artwork © Tinsnow

One Hundred Years of Solitude

The Eyes of the Skin

Yet, Edna, if you think well about it, tenuous is the thread that binds or separates mankind from one another

Artwork © Violet Lethu (@violet_lethu)

👁️

Le Repos du guerrier

On Saturday, May 10, 2025, 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov, in his capacity as Honorary President of the Soviet Peace Foundation, conceded an interview to the French TV channel GPTV. The channel is popular not only in France, but also in Africa and Middle East.
The interview took place in Moscow, Russia — where the day before the GPTV crew had followed the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day Parade on Red Square.

Pictured seated, wearing glasses, is Karpov, on his reappearance in public after a long absence through convalescence and regeneration. Photos: Soviet Peace Foundation.

Be confident, Edna, that somehow life will find a way to root your high ideals of education and culture in their Darwinian jungle

Artwork © SadPerformance7793

Almond & Cinnamon

And yet, Edna, she’d give anything to look like you

Courtesy of BookLoverCentral

Peach Silk

In Rehearsal

Geishas rehearse at the Shinbashi Enbujō theatre before the 100th Azuma Odori festival in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images.

In other words, Edna, as Alda Merini said, “Paradise does not please me because so far as I can see it has no obsessions”

Courtesy of cafebazaar.ir

Second Skin

You know, Edna, heaven is paved with voluptuous gluttony

Courtesy of Zainreborn II

Dominoes

Containers stacked at a port in 太仓 (Tàicāng), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.

Well, Edna, there is no need to ask him who he would root for

Courtesy of Aaron T (@aaron1t)

Zigzagoon

Come on, Edna, someone will come for you too, for sure!

Artwork © UltimateSaiyanEddy

Tutti Frutti

Yes, Edna, as they say, the morning has gold in its mouth

Courtesy of PerBlue

Venus Alone

Paloma Tendero, Venus I, 2024. Photo © Paloma Tendero. Courtesy of Sarabande Foundation.

As a matter of taste, Edna, velvety pistachio cream is a delicious and creamy tiramisu variation that, if on one hand it is not low in calories, on the other hand is at least high in proteins

Courtesy of 皮克斯教你講幹話 (@pixar.dry.88)

Venus without Adonis

Paloma Tendero, Venus II, 2024. Photo © Paloma Tendero. Courtesy of Sarabande Foundation.

Yes, Edna, as Giacomo Leopardi said, “Pleasure is always in the past or in the future, never in the present”

Courtesy of gameloftJapan (@gameloftJapan)

The Rainbow Trail

A textile factory producing chemical fibre nets and ropes in 滨州 (Bīnzhōu), 山东省 (Shāndōng province), China. Photo: AFP/Getty Images.

If not for you, Edna, they would spend the whole summer in the paddy field counting the grains of rice

Courtesy of Disney Magic Kingdoms

Queen of Two Worlds

Once again, for the third year in a row, and in spite of threats of excommunication, the “material girl” of Eurasia, none other than four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), will be back on stage performing as the fairy queen of the WR’s “dream team” in the 3rd FIDE World Rapid Team Championship (and 2nd FIDE World Blitz Team Championship) which are scheduled to take place on June 10–16, 2025, in London, United Kingdom. For further details and information, click here.

To talk or not to talk, Edna — that is the question now

Artwork © Jose-Ramiro

Four Leaves of Autumn

The following fragment of a game between International Masters Georg Danner and Alberto Mario Giustolisi was cited and lightly annotated by Danner himself in his column in Burgenländischen Freiheit on Wednesday, June 9, 1982 (p. 69). The background is the International Open in Venice (October 31–November 7, 1971), from which Giustolisi, already adrift in his sea of desperation, withdrew after 4 rounds.

Georg Danner – Alberto Mario Giustolisi
International Open; Venice, November 1971
Nimzo-Indian Defence E58

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 0-0 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Qc7 10. cxd5(a) exd5 11. Nh4 Re8 12. Ra2 Ng4 13. g3 Bd7 14. Re1 Rad8 [...](b) ½–½.

NOTES
(a) 10. Qc2 Na5 11. cxd5 c4 12. Be2 exd5 13. Nd2 Re8 with advantage for Black, Danner – Parma, Interliga 1970.
(b) With a draw soon.

Through a New Lens

Only you, Edna, and no other, can make them stay up all night watching films with audio in their original language of which they do not understand a word

Artwork © Awkward Marina 🏳️‍🌈 (@awkwardmarina)

In a Flash

张海儿 (Zhāng Hǎi’er), 曾艳 (Zéng Yàn) modeling fashion, 广州 (Guǎngzhōu), 1987. Photo © 张海儿 (Zhāng Hǎi’er). Courtesy of Photography of China.

Oh, Edna, you should appreciate that he said it without saying it, because that was the only way he could leak it without embarrassing his fellow freestylists

Courtesy of DisneyHeroesMobile

Freestyling

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (pictured right) is announced to participate in the 5th International Blitz & Rapid “Tournament of Stars” which is to be held at the VDNKh (Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy) Azerbaijan Pavilion (No. 14) in Moscow, Russia, from June 25–30, 2025. Among the other participants are to be (in alphabetical order): Vladislav Mikhailovich Artemiev, Bibisara Erkhanovna Assaubayeva, Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina, Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina, Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin, Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno, Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov, Raunak Sadhwani, and Evgeny Yuryevich Tomashevsky. For further details and information, click here.

To Be an Actress

You know, Edna, one can be cold and hard, but also tender and delicate

Artwork © Imagine art

Oh! Darling

No, Edna, a self-portrait does not necessarily have to be a literal mirror of oneself

Courtesy of Craiyon LLC

Queen to King’s square

From Self to Selfie

Tania Franco Klein, Bag (Self-Portrait), 2017. Photograph: Tania Franco Klein/Rose Gallery (Santa Monica).

Of course, Edna, AI cannot solve all of human problems, questions and marriage crisis

Artwork © AFADAEast

Blowin’ in the Wind

It may seem a paradox, Edna, but they can’t help falling for each other as they fear culture infinitely more than they love ignorance

Artwork © TONY Tony

Water and Fire

Well said, Edna! No one then will dare deny you’re on the tip of each one’s tongue!

Artwork © LizzyPictures

Waiting for the May

“A chess game on the board is like a microcosm of life — every decision is crucial. We have to bring the lofty ideals down to earth. Our thoughts, actions, and choices are silently affecting the times in which we live”. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion Professor in the PKU Physical Education and Research Departmen

Well, Edna, to say it with Petrarch, “For style beyond the genius never dares”

Artwork © Jose-Ramiro