President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen heads to the Middle East. Plus: Boris Johnson’s plan to alter the Northern Ireland protocol, Wikipedia fights a Russian order to remove information on the conflict in Ukraine and are Vienna’s famous horse-drawn carriages under threat?
Monthly Archives: June 2022
Front Page: Wall Street Journal – June 14, 2022
Stock Futures Edge Higher After Slide Into Bear Market
U.S. stock markets were poised for a modest recovery after a rout that sent the S&P 500 into a bear market, while bitcoin remained under pressure after selling off sharply in recent days.
Bond Slide Continues, With No End in Sight
U.S. Treasury yields have surged to new multiyear highs, reflecting uncertainty over how high the Fed will have to raise interest rates to tame inflation.14 min read
Fed Likely to Consider 0.75-Percentage-Point Rate Increase
A string of troubling inflation reports is likely to lead Federal Reserve officials to consider surprising markets with a larger-than-expected interest-rate increase at their meeting this week.
National Geographic: ‘America The Beautiful’
Witness the wildlife of North America as you’ve never seen it before on #AmericaTheBeautifulSeries, narrated by Michael B. Jordan.
Thailand Landmarks: Wat Chalong Temple In Phuket
Wat Chalong is a historical landmark and Buddhist temple in Phuket’s Chalong Bay. For centuries, locals come to pray almost every day while westerners learn about Buddhism during their vacation. It’s officially called Wat Chaitararam, but most people refer to it by Wat Chalong. The temple is located on Chao Fa West Road in the northern part of Tambol Chalong.
Many locals claim that the temple often experiences many miracles. It’s also known for its pivotal and healing role in the fighting between Chinese secret societies (Angyee) in 1876.
Previews: The New Yorker Magazine – June 20, 2022
Medieval Views: Guédelon Castle – Burgundy, France
More than 20 years ago, a community of men and women in the French region of Burgundy set themselves a massive challenge: to build a castle using the techniques of the Middle Ages. The site in the town of Guédelon is open to visitors, offering them an immersion into the 13th century. Today, nearly 40 people work every day on this medieval construction site. Stone quarrying is the first step in building a castle. And to transport the stones to the site, modern machines are banned: everything is done like in the 13th century, with horsepower.
Opinions: New Frontier For AI, British Stagnation, Story Scene Imagination
A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, why foundation models are artificial intelligence’s new frontier, the stagnation nation: a chronic British disease (10:30), and why visiting the scenes of stories is an act of imagination (18:20).
Front Page View: The New York Times – June 13, 2022
Senators Reach Bipartisan Deal on Gun Safety
The agreement, which falls short of the sprawling changes championed by Democrats, is a significant step toward ending a yearslong impasse over gun reform legislation.
North Carolina: The Wild Ponies Of The Outer Banks
“Sunday Morning” leaves us with wild horses along the Outer Banks near Corolla, North Carolina. Videographer: Carl Mrozek.
The Corolla Wild Horses are located in the northernmost beaches of the Outer Banks, in the 4WD area that’s just north of Corolla. Wild horses, also known as Wild Ponies, are also found on Ocracoke Island, and can be viewed at the Ocracoke Pony Pen just south of the Hatteras / Ocracoke ferry docks.
Views: 2022 Vogalonga Festival In Venice, Italy
The Vogalonga is a non-competitive celebration for all rowers. This peaceful protest against wave damage caused by motor boats, and lagoon degeneration, brings together Venetians and enthusiasts from around the world.
The naval review Vogalonga is held, yearly, in Venice on the Pentecost Day. The Vogalonga which started in 1975 by the local rowing clubs as a protest against the wash and the waves created by the ever increasing number of motor boats in the city and the lagoon. More than 400 boats in various kinds and sizes from 50 Venice’s clubs and private boats from all over the world participate in this wonderful event.
Boomers Daily 