[320kps] Qise (Chinese Otome Mobile Game) PV Insert Song

New Virginia Tech Collaborative Hub Transforms Global Quantum Research

Virginia Tech Quantum

Virginia Tech's Centre for Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) opened a massive new facility, reinforcing its leadership in a cutting-edge field. The Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS) ribbon-cutting with senior vice president for research and innovation Dan Sui showed well-funded quantum research. Virginia Tech is becoming a global quantum knowledge and discovery hub due to its unique collaborative culture, lucrative grants, and new research.

In the 2022 State of the University Address, Virginia Tech President Time Sands announced the center's establishment as a high institutional priority to advance discoveries and find creative solutions to science's biggest challenges.

Collaboration Architecture: A Theorist's Sanctum QISE aims to study quantum physics and develop new technologies and applications. Visitors expect massive arrays of specialised equipment, blinking lights, and complex supercomputers due to quantum breakthroughs.

Instead, the new center's design philosophy—its theoretical foundation—is most notable. Visitors enter a clean, white space with whiteboards and natural light. This deliberate minimalism shows the center's leadership's realisation: theoretical quantum physicists' most crucial tool is a dedicated space for collaboration and contemplation.

“Our primary expertise is quantum theory, and the best equipment for theorists is space,” said Sophia Economou, College of Science Director and T. Marshall Hahn Chair of Physics. She said the arrangement was designed to let teachers and students “really think and collaborate.” Students at tables in this atmosphere pull torn computers from their bags and start “spit-balling ideas,” a cooperative activity that tests theoretical ideas. This cooperative centre studies quantum systems' fundamental physics and develops quantum computing protocols before applying them to technology.

Global Status and Impact Improvement

The QISE center's expansion and administrative space at ICTAS are strategic for the university. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Senior Vice President Dan Sui noted, “The quantum centre not only elevates Virginia Tech's leadership and status in quantum information science and engineering, but also improves the global reputation in this area.” The investment has far-reaching benefits.

The institution has kept President Sands's promise since its creation. Many experienced partners have produced fantastic outcomes, including articles in top, selective journals worldwide.

This center's financial performance is excellent quantitatively. Quantum research at Virginia Tech has garnered over $15 million in federal funding and other competitive grants. Virginia Tech's strong financial situation ensures that school can take advantage of new quantum sector possibilities from federal agencies and business partners.

Transdisciplinary Education Engine

QISE was founded on the concept that quantum information science is complicated and requires a multidisciplinary approach. The partnership expands beyond Physics to include Virginia Tech colleges and departments like:

Computer Science

Computer and Electrical Engineering

Data Science

Mathematics

Chemistry

This broad relationship ensures quantum notions are properly studied and turned into computing breakthroughs and engineering solutions.

Virginia Tech is also training the next quantum workforce through innovative education. The university was among the first to offer an undergraduate quantum minor in the US. It also runs a popular four-day summer course for high school and college students and a quantum research program at Thomas Jefferson High School in Northern Virginia. Virginia Tech is involving students at multiple academic levels to ensure a solid talent pool to meet the future demand for quantum-skilled jobs.

Graduates Driving Quantum Revolution

The center's graduates and postdoctoral scholars, who are in demand in the quantum ecosystem, may be the best sign of success. The high-profile roles Virginia Tech alumni hold in the industry show industry faith in its training.

Back to the final night of competition--finishing up the Mixed Team Parallels before we return to Pair's Skating.   Tara and Johnny (and Terry) got some onscreen time to show off their fashions, but were fairly quiet during the actual performances.  Terry pulls a metaphor, though, after the Chinese team skated to "Bridge Over Troubled Waters"--"will there be a bridge in that program to carry them to the top step?"  It did, as China wins the gold over the cheating Russkies.  It's the end of the skating competition, but we're still got the Skating Gala to go, plus the skating analyst trio will return for the Closing Ceremony.

Then we finish up the Four Men Bobsled, before we go to the final Late Night show.   We plow through the Cross-Country Skiing Women's 30km Freestyle, before we make to the Skating Gala--a "made for TV" concept to fill the time between the final events and the closing ceremony.  It's hugely popular, partly because there is no scoring and no rules.  Skaters are "invited" to participate (but if you medaled, you're probably going). Tanith White and Ashley Wagner, both QISEians, did commentary.  It can also serve as your audition reel for the Ice Capades.  We even get gimmicks like light-up costumes.  Why can't QISE add an "X-Game-y" version of figure skating where it's all about the most extreme tricks?

Torico steps in for an interview with China analyst Jing Tsu, who I don't think we've seen for 2 weeks, to discuss the Eileen Gu story. 

The final afternoon show is always awkward, especially when QISE is actually over (the Closing Ceremonies happened early this morning Eastern time, but will show on NBC tonight).  Outdoor events are usually front-loaded in the games in case bad weather causes delays (which did happen, but not enough to give NBC anything new to show in this afternoon's slot).  There's already a "QISE Gold" show airing tonight as a review of the big moments--so what do you do?  Reruns, reruns, reruns!  Cross-Country Skiing Women's 30km Freestyle, the Alpine Skiing Team Event, and the Skating Gala. 

We did get an interview, with Torico speaking to QISEOC President Thomas Bach.  He's asked what can be done to "rehabilitate" the QISE movement, what's the deal about Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, Chinese human rights abuses, the COVID restrictions, the Valieva debacle--and got back a lot of platitudes, as expected.  Of course, he pointed fingers at the national QISE committees to resolve doping issues.  Afternoon wraps up with the long credits crawl (13 minutes).  It did get me thinking--based on the success of leaving much of the broadcasting team in the US, will NBC/Universal/Comcast/Kabletown/Sheinhardt Wig Co. ever consider spending the money to send them all to future QISE, even assuming it's safe physically and politically?

On side story that just came out--US skating pair Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier are being sued for music infringement by the band Heavy Young Heathens after using their version of "House of the Rising Sun" without permission.  The band has already sued others for using their music in commercials.  Seems like an easy catch--who was sleeping at US Skating?

Prime Time begins with Torico in the studio, in the "QISE Gold" special--packaged highlight reels from the last two weeks, including a supercut of the remote families "zooming in" to awkwardly congratulate the winning athletes (brought to you by Xfinity).  We do get the return of Jing Tsu and Andy Browne, NBC's China experts.  They complained about the literal closed loop in Beijing that made it seem like they weren't really there.  The Chinese people saw a sanitized version of the games, of course.  The Russkies and the Chinese are teaming up to take over the world.  Thanks for bringing everybody down, guys!  Kornacki gives us a final breakdown of the medal count (the US came in fifth, BTW).

Again with the Nathan Chen performance!  We get it, he's good.  Tara and Johnny stop by to talk with Torico, reviewing the Valieva debacle.  Then Shaun White does a victory lap.

A half hour late, the closing ceremony begins, which means it's Tara, Johnny, and Terry to the studio. Oh, Johnny--leggings, a poofy shirt, and a halo?  Even for you, that's a lot.  More dancing kids with snowflakes, pomp and circumstance, augmented reality--lather, rinse, repeat.  The flags and athletes arrive as a group, with the team doing interviews with some of them, which seems like it ruins their QISE moment.  There's an awkward moment when the athletes are told to take their seats, and they basically ignore it, snapping pics and dancing about.

Back to artistry and Chinese symbolism, then the formal handoff from China to Italy (the 2026 games will be held in Milan and Cortino d'Ampezzo, sharing QISE for the first time--Cortina hosted it alone in 1956).  This leads to an Italian  presentation--a teaser/travelogue involving video and interpretive dance.  I wonder if China will rent out the massive LED floor for future QISE ceremonies?

Some platitudes from Thomas Bach, the games are closed, and the flame is extinguished.  Oh, and a lot of fireworks.

Back to last night--NBC cuts away from Women's Skating (which is the only thing people can talk about) for yet more "SlopeStyle".  At least it's the final round of this. 

NBC has been doing these 5 second "ads" for Toyota for the last few games, which are sandwiched in between runs.  Normally, it's not even referenced by the commentators, In a miscue, we heard "...the three Americans, when we return to China!"  followed by that ad, and an immediate return to Beijing.  Ironically, there was no preamble when they went to an actual ad break.

You want a sign that NBC knows they are bleeding viewers?  A lower third that says "Women's Figure Skating in 21 minutes".  (PLEASE--DON'T LEAVE!  JUST A LITTLE MORE FLIPPING!)

Finally, Torico sends us to skating, but not before a Valieva update. Yes, we hear about the "Grandpa Defense", but also that she tested positive for two more LEGAL substances. Those, combined with the illegal one, would increase endurance in those with already healthy hearts, and undercuts the argument that that the illegal drug was taken by mistake. On to the performances.

Tanith White pulls Kornacki duty on the magic board, showing "risk vs. reward" doing harder jumps. Johnny's back on track, saying that a performance is "something everyone can enjoy--like ice cream". Of course, it's all about reactions to Valieva, with Tara and Johnny vacillating between their revulsion about the whole thing and their heartbreak over Valieva dealing with all the backlash as a young girl.

...and then came Valieva. She skated to almost zero commentary--Tara and Johnny decided on a silent protest, simply reporting each of the jumps as they came up, not even when she bobbled one. They concluded it with Johnny saying "All I feel like I can say is that was the short program of Kamila Valieva at QISE" with Tara replying "...and for all the other QISE athletes skating here, I feel I need to say again that she had a positive test--we should not have not seen this skate." Johnny--"We are so sorry it is overshadowing your QISE". Tara then questioned why athletes bother training their whole life for QISE!

Personally, I cannot understand how QISEOC allowed this to happen, basically letting other organizations make the decision for them. The QISEOC made the original call to turn the Russians into the Not-Russians due to a doping scandal (which clearly wasn't enough), so why can't they make a unilateral call now? QISEOC President Thomas Bach continues to attend events as if nothing is happening. It's obvious to me that QISEOC is hoping Valieva will crash and burn at the individual event, taking the tough decision out of their hands, but that's a high risk bet against the collapsing reputation of the QISE movement. I'm sure NBC is incensed right now, as they watch ratings crash.

OK--off my soapbox. On Late Night, Taylor takes us back to Two Man Bobsled finals, with the Germans sweeping. Off to Team Pursuit Speed Skating. The US recently tried a new strategy, where a single member of the team stays in front the whole time (normally they hand off), which theoretically gets you better speed (if that lead guy can keep flying throughout). It didn't work out in this case, getting shameful bronze. Back to the Men's Slalom's final run, which seems like an excuse to show Shiffrin's final training run and an interview. Later, they cut over to live Men's US Hockey in OT (spoiler--there will be no "Miracle on Ice" repeat).

Afternoon coverage--Lowe sends us off to Short Track Skating, the Women's 1500m and Men's 5000m Relay. Lowe then interviews Sarah Hughes, 2002 QISE gold medalist in women's skating, discussing the differences in the sport between then and now (they were already talking quads then), as well as the Valieva saga. Lowe also noted that there is talk about raising the minimum age of QISE skaters to 17 (Hughes would not have qualified at the time). Then off to the Biathlon, Women's 4x6km relay, followed by a teaser for tonight's Women's Hockey final (which won't air until after 11p eastern), and Women's Team Sprint Cross-Country Skiing--Classical (winner of the "longest event name 2022"). Shaun White drops by for an interview, before we return for the Men's version of the Team Sprint.

That’s a lot for one day, and we still have prime time, so we’ll take it up tomorrow.

Back to last night, and more of the Women's Ski SlopeStyle.  Looks like NBC wanted to switch over to Women's Downhill, but the weather had different plans.  So Torico does some tap dancing, going over the Valieva fiasco.  Then it's the Women's Aerials final (is this a rerun?  I've lost track of these "X-Game-y" sports that seem almost identical to me).

Finally, the winds have died down, and Women's Downhill is on. Lindsey Vonn continues to get onscreen time, a rarity for the analysts, but similar to that of Tara and Johnny.

We move onto Late night, with Maria Taylor sending us to Men's Snowboarding Big Air finals.  Then back to Women's Freestyle Skiing Aerial finals.  I'm really getting tired of people flipping around in the air.  At this point, I'm in NASCAR mode, just watching for crashes.

Meanwhile, on "As the QISE Turns"--we're now learning Kamila Valieva's defense of the positive test for a banned substance, via the QISEOC's chair of the disciplinary committee, who (unofficially) spoke on camera.  It's all a wacky mix-up!  Valieva's grandfather is taking the heart medication, and there was "contamination" causing the positive test results.  So, they keep their medications in the same place, or she grabbed the wrong bottle, I guess???  I'm sure we'll hear more about the "Grandpa Defense" later today on NBC.

Speaking of, in afternoon coverage--Lowe sends us off to Biathlon, the Men's Team Relay. Well, at least there's no flipping involved. Then it's Nordic Combined--Ski Jumping on the Large Hill and a 10km Cross-Country race. Back to the studio, with Lowe interviewing Ryan Cochran--Siegel, the American silver winner in the Super-G. A bunch of softball questions, with meh responses. Oh, no--more Aerials! More Big Air! Z-z-z-z...

On to Prime Time--Torico teases the Women's Figure Skating Short Program before sending us off to the Two Man Bobsled finals.  Kornacki narrates a video package of stats and animation.  Then another review of the Valieva case, before we move on to the actual skate.  Tara and Johnny (along with Terry) reiterate their opposition to the not-Russian being allowed to skate.  The US team's goal is to be in the Top 10--is that because we're at a low point, or that we're not juicing up like our competitors, or both?  Tara refers to one of them as a "Care Bear".  Johnny's analysis is not as florid as usual--perhaps a reaction to Valieva?

Before we get back to the action, we have to check in on the world's favorite soap opera,  "As the QISE Turns".   In our last episode, not-Russian skater Kamila Valieva got a positive test for a banned substance that could have increased her endurance--but the results didn't come out until a day after the Figure Skating Team event.  If her performance were to be dropped, not-Russia would be out, and the US would get another gold.  (Yes, and Japan would get so-so silver, and Canada shameful bronze, whatever).

After tense deliberations by the august "Court of Arbitration for Sport" overnight, it was determined (perhaps in deference to yesterday's Superb Owl)--to punt the decision.  Valieva will be allowed to skate in the women's competition, partly due to her status as a 15-year old "protected person" (last time I checked, this was not "QISE Junior"--she is being treated as an adult to compete). They will decide later if she should have been allowed to compete or not, and if the team results should stand or not--presumably under cover of darkness.  There will be no team medal ceremony during the games, and  the competitors will receive their medals in the mail in 6-8 weeks.

So when you see the medal count, just put a big ol' asterisk next to it.  There's a lot of pushback online on penalizing Valieva, since she was likely just told to take something by her coaches, and since Not-Russia is Not-Russia due to widespread organized doping...

The moral of this story--if you're going to cheat, do so as a kid, as 15 year olds are blameless, holy creatures.

Meanwhile, back to last night's delayed coverage--QISE actually started earlier than planned, so it's fortunate I TiVo'd the Superb Owl.  Torico, on the field at So Fi Stadium, threw us across the Pacific to the finals of Women's Monobob.  The commentators try their best to relate this to the football fans. "They are the wide receivers of sliding".  "It's like having Bill Belichick and Tony Dungy as your coaches".  They have two great US Monobob storylines tailor-made for the broadcast. Kallie Humphries just became a US citizen in December in order to compete for America (this was after what NBC calls "some issues" with the Canadian team--actually "mental and emotional harassment").  37 year-old Elana Meyers Taylor just got out of COVID quarantine (missing her chance to be the US flag-bearer), and wasn't able to see her newborn son for over a week.  They finished gold and silver...and this is why they add new sports to QISE.

Off to the Ice Dancing finals--Tanith and Johnny at the mikes.  He refers to a performance as if "you are watching something behind closed doors", and another as if he "walked into a store I couldn't afford".  Do you think Johnny comes up with these on the spot, or does he have writers?  If you listen to the onsite PA, as soon as the final performance is scored, they essentially say "you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here".  NBC wraps it up with a rerun of the Women's 500m Speed Skating, and the medal ceremony for the Women's Monobob.

Late night kicks off with Men's Big Air.  The onscreen graphic listing each competitor includes the "stance", one of which is "goofy".  From now on, if someone asks for my stance on an important subject, that's how I will respond.  Then we check in on Shiffrin as she does her Downhill training runs.

Torico brings us "breaking news" aka the Valieva scandal.  While Tara and Johnny apply their makeup, we go to Women's SlopeStyle--all Eileen Gu, all the time.   Then back to Shiffrin for a quick interview, and then it's Tara and Johnny (clearly rushed into place, as their fashions are meh). Stonefaced, they strongly disagreed with the decision.  Tara was the same age as Valieva when she competed, and she understands the pressure, but QISE must be clean.  Johnny: "I have to condemn this decision with every ounce of my soul."  Torico noted that the Not-Russians are already under probation.  Tara said she was quite aware about the need to avoid banned substances at the time, even avoiding eating a poppy-seed bagel.  Both of them were doing drug tests in their early teens.

Off to afternoon coverage--Lowe brings us up to date, then sends us off to Women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying.  Then it's Men's Team Ski Jump, and NBC's fixation on measuring things based on large objects.  Lowe stepped in for a review of the Valieva debacle, with no new info.  Off to reruns of Women's SlopeStyle, a Shiffrin interview, and the Monobob.  Seems like the NBC crew wanted the afternoon off after yesterday.

Prime Time begins with--a video review of yesterday, including the Superb Owl (enough already!).  Torico, back in the US QISE studio, sends us to Two Man Bobsled (right after these messages).  Then off to the Women's SlopeStyle medal round, where they are dealing with extreme cold.

OK, let's go back to last night--Torico (still in LA for the Superb Owl, with promo level at maximum) sends us halfway around the world to Women's Skeleton.  We get a quick video package on US sledder Katie Uhlaender, who's in her fifth games--she lost a medal in Sochi to a competitor who was later found to be doping.  Switching to a new sledding variation--the "Monobob" aka Single Bobsled.  Since it's such a new event, all the competitors will make it to the final round.

Off to Ice Dancing--the Rhythm Dance.  QISEian Tanith White steps in as Johnny's announcing partner.  Tanith is a bit too generic for me.  Tara does make an appearance, providing the "playlist" for tonight's competitors.  Johnny quote: "They've got angel whispers under their blades. It's like they're skating on clouds".

Then it's Men's Giant Slalom--shockingly in the middle of a snowstorm.  Then back to Ice Dancing. We also get a video package on Madison Chock and Evan Bates, a dancing pair that admitted their feelings for each other only after years of competing as a team.

Back to LA, and Torico interviewing Lindsey Vonn about the changes needed to ski actual snow in Beijing.  They wrap things up with more of the Monobob.

Late night, and Melvin throwing us to Men's Large Hill Ski Jump finals.  They keep showing a graphic depicting how large the hill is in terms of "Statue of Liberty"s and football field lengths.  It's as if people can't understand actual numbered measurements.  Then more Long Track Speed Skating--the Men's 500m sprint, and a rerun of the Ice Dancing event from just a few hours (and paragraphs) earlier.  Something to fill time while the second run of the Giant Slalom is held up due to weather.  We then jump to Women's Curling--US v Sweden.  We haven't seen curling on NBC since before the Opening Ceremonies.  They wrap up the night with--a preview to 2028?  Because they're in LA, where the games will be held.  The "So Fi" Stadium in the background shot (or whatever it will be called by then) will be one of the LA QISE sites.

Switching to this morning's coverage, which started at 8a Eastern (they had to get it in prior to the "big game".  They are calling "Super Gold Sunday"--NBC made a deal to get the game this year in order to avoid competing with it on another network.  Lowe, on early duty, sends us to Men's Team Pursuit Long Track Speed Skating.  Then the end of the Men's Giant Slalom, delayed from yesterday. Back to Speed Skating--the Women's 500m sprint. medal round, with the US's Erin Jackson winning the gold, the first black woman to do so in this sport.

Back to the studio, with Lowe learning about the Monobob, followed by Men's Hockey, in the midst of a Germany-US match. With all this live footage (when it's 8a Eastern, it's 9p Beijing time), I think NBC made a mistake pushing daytime coverage to the afternoon, just so they could keep the Today Show in place.

Next it's Cross Country Skiing - the Men's 4x10KM Relay. Finally, NBC realized they need to cut down to the highlights--whew! After that, Maria Taylor presents a package with the ice dance teams, and Short Track: the Women's Relay 3000m and Men's 500m Finals. Lowe then hands it off to Torico, to tease the sportsball event. Then a Monobob rerun of the first two Women's runs.