A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week: the shame and the opportunity of Trump’s legacy, how to deal with China (8:50), and why the crazy upward march in stock prices might just continue (15:45).
Daily Archives: January 10, 2021
Urban Design: ‘One-Minute City’ Pursued In Sweden
…Sweden is pursuing a hyperlocal variation, on a national scale. A plan piloted by Swedish national innovation body Vinnova and design think tank ArkDes focuses attention on what Dan Hill, Vinnova’s director of strategic design, calls the “one-minute city.”
A vision for a decentralized urban area that allows residents to meet their daily needs within a quarter-hour walk or bike from their homes, the concept has been pursued as a means of cutting greenhouse emissions and boosting livability in a host of global cities — especially Paris, where Mayor Anne Hidalgo has embraced the model as a blueprint for the French capital’s post-Covid recovery.
Called Street Moves, the initiative allows local communities to become co-architects of their own streets’ layouts. Via workshops and consultations, residents can control how much street space is used for parking, or for other public uses. It’s already rolled out experimentally at four sites in Stockholm, with three more cities about to join up. The ultimate goal is hugely ambitious: a rethink and makeover of every street in the country over this decade, so that “every street in Sweden is healthy, sustainable and vibrant by 2030,” according to Street Moves’ own materials.
Cell Phones: ‘Why Plans & Bills Are So Costly’ (Video)
The average American spent $1,218 for cell phone service in 2019. That comes out to just over $100 per month. Check out the video to find out why you may be paying so much for your phone service and what you can do to save some money.
Walking Tours: ‘Hanoi City – Vietnam’ (4K UHD Video)
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is known for its centuries-old architecture and a rich culture with Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences. At its heart is the chaotic Old Quarter, where the narrow streets are roughly arranged by trade. There are many little temples, including Bach Ma, honoring a legendary horse, plus Đồng Xuân Market, selling household goods and street food.
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Wine Regions: Origins Of Barolo In Northern Italy
Fri, 01/08/2021
Barolo is made from the Nebbiolo grape, or more precisely, from three sub-varieties of Nebbiolo, whose name recalls the fog (‘nebbia’ in Italian) that often envelopes the hills and valleys where it’s made at the time of the vendemmia.
Just eleven comuni (towns) are allowed to produce Barolo, all comprised within a small area in the province of Cuneo, to the east of the regional capital of Turin: La Morra, Barolo, Verduno, Castiglione Falletto, Monforte d’Alba, Serralunga, Novello, Roddi, Grinzano Cavour, Diano d’Alba and Cherasco.
Among Italy’s Unesco World Heritage Sites aren’t just artworks, castles, cities and monuments; there are also entire areas, such as the vineyard landscape of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato in the north-western region of Piedmont; this landscape constitute, according to Unesco, “an outstanding example of man’s interaction with his natural environment,” and an “outstanding living testimony to winegrowing and winemaking traditions that stem from a long history, and that have been continuously improved and adapted up to the present day.”
It is precisely in this area that one of the world’s greatest wines originated: Barolo.
Walking Tours: ‘Gardens By The Bay And Light Show’ In Singapore (HD Video)
A daytime walking tour of the Singapore Gardens By The Bay – and the evening lightshow featuring the amazing sculpted Supertrees. These light up at night as part of the light and sound display known as the Gardens By The Bay light show or Garden Rhapsody. We’ll also see the majestic Marina Bay Sands – rising into the air with its distinctive three towers, bridged by a floating garden – the Sands Skypark. We’ll wander through the shopping centre “Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands,” see the Whale sculpted from plastic waste in front of the ArtScience Museum and finish with a view of the bay from the Helix Bridge.
Marine Wildlife: ‘Elephant Seals’ On Beaches In San Simeon, California (Video)
“Sunday Morning” takes us to the beach at San Simeon, Calif., a home for elephant seals. Videographer: Lance Milbrand.
The northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the southern elephant seal). It is a member of the family Phocidae (true seals). Elephant seals derive their name from their great size and from the male’s large proboscis, which is used in making extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating competition. Sexual dimorphism in size is great. Correspondingly, the mating system is highly polygynous; a successful male is able to impregnate up to 50 females in one season.
San Simeon is a town and census-designated place on the Pacific coast of San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Its position along State Route 1 is about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, each of those cities being roughly 230 miles away.
Home Tours: Mountain Ski Retreat In Deer Valley, Park City, Utah (Video)
Just steps to the Northside lift, this magnificent Deer Valley slope-side residence is exquisitely designed and beautifully furnished to the highest standards with mountain modern comfort in mind. Looking directly onto the Woodside ski run and featuring breathtaking views of Lady Morgan, the valley and beyond, this custom remodeled two story home has it all; an open chef’s kitchen with top of the line appliances and a gracious built-in banquet, a great room with dramatic vaulted ceilings, a stone fireplace and big picture windows, plus main level and upper level master suites, custom bunk room that sleeps 6 peacefully, an additional guest suite with bunk, 3 ensuite baths plus powder and a view filled balcony with gas grill.
Road Trips In Scotland: ‘Inverness To Rogie Falls, Outer Hebrides’ (Video)
Today, we give ourselves a lift from the Lockdown Blues with a trip I did in November from my home in North Uist to Inverness, and back again via the Rogie Falls. The Rogie Falls are about 20 miles to the West of Inverness, and at certain times of the year you can see salmon leaping. No leaping salmon today though, just some enjoyable flying of my DJI Mavic Pro Drone (1st Generation.)
The contents of the video are: 00:00 – Introduction 01:02 – CalMac Ferry mv Hebrides Lochmaddy to Uig, then on to Inverness 03:15 – Inverness to the Rogie Falls 05:46 – The Rogie Falls 08:42 – Garve to Lochmaddy via Strathcarron and CalMac ferry from Uig 13:24 – Wrap up – He never smiles!
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