Tracy Chapman and Pavarotti sing together. It's surprising how lovely her melody sounds in a very different voice.

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There is no finer instrument than the human voice used to tell a story, imo. In a sense, all other instruments are mute (don't kill me for saying that — it's just a technical thing).

Burton's oratorical voice was indeed a voluptuous one.
Annie, the story you posted got me through my night's insomnia.

I'm fascinated by voices. Someone who can tell a story. Read a poem. Express ideas. Someone whose voice is mesmerizing. Enthralling. Magnetic. Story time is all the time.

Even incidental snippets I sometimes catch as I walk in the park or shop can rivet me. It doesn't always need to be about voice quality. It's that the voice, as an instrument, is how language is used. Even if it be the interior voice of your mind as you read a good poem or book. That's why acting is, to me, a high art.

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Could someone at least tell me what this is? I can’t open it, which isn’t unusual in my part of the world, but I’d still like to know.

Carl, are you able to use a VPN where you are? Something like StrongVPN would allow your computer to pass itself off as being in a different country, allowing you to access blocked content.

Thanks, Roger. In the past I’ve used free VPNs and Tor, but they’re going down one after another, including just recently Tor. I simply haven’t gotten around to exploring what’s still available. StrongVPN seems to have a monthly fee, and anything that requires sending money out of the country is a nonstarter. They’ve got you coming and going. Still, where there’s a computer whiz, there’s a way. I need to ask around.

Can you send money out of the country to private individuals? If so, someone could open up an account for you, you can reimburse them, and then you can have the username and password.

You probably don't need it, but here's an article on VPNs in Russia.

I don’t think that’ll wash either, but I do need to explore the possibilities. If they ever get around to banning Youtube, as some have proposed, I’ll really be up a crick. I’ll check out the article. Thanks again, Roger!

Carl - it's on BBC Sounds - a production of Calvino's "If on a Winter's Night a Traveller". William Weaver's translation but brilliantly adapted and performed here in front of a studio audience.

Thanks, Ann. It goes on my list of things to do in kinder times.

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An opening scene like only Quentin Tarantino can orchestrate: https://youtu.be/K0dAqhxfvlg?si=zJBR5DCYkI5a6sq-

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