Architecture: The ‘Desert Palisades’ In Palm Springs

The Local Project (July 14, 2023) – Floating above the landscape is the best modernist home. Desert Palisades by Woods + Dangaran is a family home that was built from a goal to introduce a more international style of modernism to the desert.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Best Modernist Home 01:06 – Creating A Family Refuge and Paying Homage to the Mountains 01:39 – The Approach of the Home 02:04 – Ensuring the Home is Timeless and Fitting 02:34 – A Climate Focused Material Palette 03:50 – The Tonal Nature of the Home 04:33 – A Fine Curation of the Details 05:28 – Taking A Backseat to the Surroundings

Though focused on creating a desert oasis home in which the family could escape to and decompress, the architects have also paid homage to the mountain and enabled the owners to experience its form completely. In line with the basin of the San Jacinto Mountain, the home encompasses views across Palm Springs and the surrounding rocky landscape that further encourages the owners to not only appreciate it but to connect with it.

Approaching the desert oasis home as if it is a beacon on the hillside, the house tour unfolds in a natural procession, guiding viewers past the pool area and then into the pavilions that showcase the home’s sweeping views. Recognising the presence that the structure holds, Woods + Dangaran worked with a responsibility to make sure the best modernist home feels timeless and fits into the desert landscape. From its base, the architecture of the house is made up of a concrete masonry unit, while the support walls and ends of the pavilion are created with burnished CMU blocks that appear to come from the soil.

Preview: New York Times Magazine – July 16, 2023

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THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE (July 16, 2023) – In this week’s cover story, Greta Gerwig takes us deep inside her vision for the “Barbie” movie. Plus, the former World Cup-winner with the hardest job in soccer, the war for semiconductor chips and Robert Downey Jr. on his post-Marvel career.

Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ Dream Job

Mattel wanted a summer blockbuster to kick off its new wave of brand-extension movies. She wanted it to be a work of art.

The moment Greta Gerwig knew for certain that she could make a movie about Barbie, the most famous and controversial doll in history, she was thinking about death. She had been reading about Ruth Handler, the brash Jewish businesswoman who created the doll — and who, decades later, had two mastectomies. Handler birthed this toy with its infamous breasts, the figurine who became an enduring avatar of plastic perfection, while being stuck, like all of us, in a fragile and failing human body. 

‘An Act of War’: Inside America’s Silicon Blockade Against China

The Nvidia H100 Tensor Core GPU is used for large-scale A.I., high-performance computing and data-analytics workloads.
The Nvidia H100 Tensor Core GPU is used for large-scale A.I., high-performance computing and data-analytics workloads.Credit… Photo illustration by Grant Cornett for The New York Times

The Biden administration thinks it can preserve America’s technological primacy by cutting China off from advanced computer chips. Could the plan backfire?

Last October, the United States Bureau of Industry and Security issued a document that — underneath its 139 pages of dense bureaucratic jargon and minute technical detail — amounted to a declaration of economic war on China. The magnitude of the act was made all the more remarkable by the relative obscurity of its source. One of 13 bureaus within the Department of Commerce, the smallest federal department by funding, B.I.S. is tiny: Its budget for 2022 was just over $140 million, about one-eighth the cost of a single Patriot air-defense missile battery. 

#FIFAWWC #BarbieTheMovie

Interviews: ‘Under The Eye Of Power’ Author Colin Dickey – ‘Panic & Paranoia’

The American Scholar (July 14, 2023): In his new book, ‘Under the Eye of Power’, Colin Dickey asks, “What if paranoia, particularly a paranoia of secret, subversive societies, is not just peripheral to the functioning of democracy, but at its very heart?”

Under the Eye of Power by Colin Dickey: 9780593299456 |  PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

The litany of contemporary conspiracy theories runs long: Pizzagate, QAnon, chemtrails, “jet fuel can’t melt steel beams,” “birds aren’t real.”

Some of these are funny—the rumor that Avril Lavigne and/or Paul McCartney have been replaced by doppelgängers—and some have deadly consequences, like the mass murders motivated by replacement theory or the Chronicles of the Elders of Zion.

We might like to think this is a recent phenomenon, but the first American president to espouse a conspiracy theory was actually George Washington, a freemason who believed that the Illuminati caused the French Revolution.

Travel: A Tour Of Karlovy Vary In The Czech Republic

LADmob Films (July 14, 2023) – Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) is a spa town in the west Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Its numerous thermal springs have made it a popular resort since the 19th century.

The riverside spa district is home to several colonnades with columned walkways. The modern Hot Spring Colonnade houses the Pramen Vřídlo geyser, which spouts up to 12 meters high.

News: Ukraine F-16 Fighter Jet Training, Guatemala Election Interference

The Globalist Podcast, Friday, July 14, 2023: Russia analyst Stephen Dalziel on the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets in Romania.

Plus: international concern over threats to the electoral process in Guatemala, aviation news and Andrew Mueller’s weekly round-up.

The New York Times – Friday, July 14, 2023

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F.D.A. Approves First U.S. Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill

The birth control medication Opill in its box, which is light green with blue, purple, pink and white markings.

The move could significantly expand access to contraception. The pill is expected to be available in early 2024

Prosecutors Ask Witnesses Whether Trump Acknowledged He Lost 2020 Race

Jared Kushner, former President Donald J. Trump’s son-in-law, is among people close to Mr. Trump who have been questioned by prosecutors in recent weeks.

Jared Kushner was questioned before a federal grand jury as prosecutors appeared to be trying to establish if the former president knew his efforts to stay in power were built on a lie.

This Agency Was Created With a Terrorism Focus. Now It Also Has to Care for Migrants

Customs and Border Protection was set up after 9/11 amid the fight against terrorism. Its responsibilities have ballooned with the influx of asylum-seeking migrants crossing the southern border.

Actors Join Writers on Strike, Bringing Hollywood to a Standstill

The dual walkouts pit more than 170,000 workers against old-line studios like Disney and Sony, as well as tech juggernauts like Netflix and Amazon.

Travel: Landmarks, Cities And Landscapes Of India

8K World Films (July 13, 2023) – India is a country that occupies the greater part of South Asia. Its capital is New Delhi, built in the 20th century just south of the historic hub of Old Delhi to serve as India’s administrative centre. Its government is a constitutional republic that represents a highly diverse population consisting of thousands of ethnic groups and likely hundreds of languages.

India

Video timeline: 0:00 – Beautiful view of Himalayan mountains in clouds, India 0:11 – A beautiful little fountain, named is uma ceking 0:13 – A car is running in the middle of the deep forest in India 0:17 – Indian Peacock looking at camera with spread wings 0:21 – Beautiful seen of Camel ride at sunset in Rajasthan desert 0:26 – Blue sky with white snow covered mountains 0:28 – Cinematic view of India’s Taj Mahal in the afternoon 0:33 – Drone view of Mumbai city at night 0:38 – Amazing view of mountains with clouds in Himachal Pradesh, india 0:40 – Aerial view of mumbai city with cloudy sky 0:51 – A big temple of in india with buddha statue 0:55 – Beautiful view of sunset in Goa, India 1:02 – Cinematic view of India’s Taj Mahal in the afternoon (part 2) 1:08 – A river flows between rocky hills in Ladakh, India 1:16 – View of high rise buildings in Mumbai during the sunny day 1:28 – Aerial view of a suspension bridge in fog 1:32 – Beautiful view of Mount Everest with blue sky 1:36 – Night view of big buildings of Mumbai city 1:40 – Amazing view of mountains with clouds in Himachal Pradesh, india (part 2) 1:44 – Snow covered mountains in Himalayas 1:53 – A jaguar in a zoo in India 1:59 – A wonderful view of a village in Maharashtra, India 2:20 – A beautiful little fountain, named is uma ceking (part 2) 2:25 – A beautiful tea garden in Kerala, India 2:32 – Close-up of monkeys and tigers in Indian zoos 2:48 – Beautiful view of the waterfall from the rocky hill 2:52 – A variety of Indian food arranged on the table 3:08 – Beautiful view of the waterfall from the green hills 3:23 – Amazing drone view of Maharashtra hills 3:27 – Metro Rail in India 3:30 – Green field with herd of cows in Kashmir 3:34 – The snow-covered Himalayas are extraordinary mountains 3:38 – Amazing drone view of Maharashtra hills (part 2) 3:47 – A wonderful view of a fountain in the cinema view 3:57 – Super high-rise building with Mumbai with Metrorail 4:07 – Taj Mahal during the sunny day 4:12 – Super high-rise building with Mumbai 4:32 – Sunset during twilight 4:35 – Dense fog with Himalayan mountains 4:39 – Amazing drone view of Maharashtra hills (part 3) 4:43 – Sea of Goa with green hills 5:15 – A wonderful spring in the mountains 5:25 – A quiet road in the middle of the forest 5:48 – Himalayan small hill houses with amazing mountains 6:06 – Sea of Goa with green hills 6:32 – Beautiful green meadow in kashmir, india 6:50 – A quiet road in the middle of the forest 7:07 – India’s famous Hawa Mahal in sunny day 7:22 – Kerala green tea garden on foggy day 7:32 – Small houses covered in Himalayan snow 7:43 – Traditional festival and food of Indian people 8:02 – Amazing view on the sea during sunset 8:15 – Time-lapse view of blue clouds with Himalayas 8:50 – Indian Peacock looking at camera with spread wings (Part 2) 12 8:58 – indian girl dancing in holly tradition 9:07 – Amazing village scene in Maharashtra hills and village mail bond 9:16 – Goa’s amazing beaches with coconut trees 9:49 – Amazing view of Taj Mahal in Agra during the day 10:01 – Spectacular views of Ladakh’s rivers and mountains 10:11 – Amazing view of Taj Mahal in Agra during sunset 10:20 – Himachal Pradesh has amazing scenery with hills and green forests 11:06 – Mumbai’s high-rise buildings are a spectacular sight 11:30 – City Lake in Popular Place in Rajasthan, India 11:50 – Spiral road with snow covered mountains and white clouds, Himachal Pradesh, India 13:12 – A view near the Taj Mahal in Agra during the sunny day 13:24 – A magnificent palace of Indian old architecture 13:40 – India’s national animal is the Royal Tiger 13:47 – Multi-storied colorful building in Delhi 14:02 – A narrow road through the dense forest 14:31 – Time-lapse view of the Taj Mahal in the afternoon 14:37 – Mesmerizing springs flowing from rocky hills 15:37 – Jaguar and monkey sightings in Indian zoos 15:56 – Aerial view of Mumbai city at night 16:15 – Beautiful view of Himalayan mountains in clouds, India (part 2) 16:24 – Beautiful seen of Camel ride at sunset in Rajasthan desert (part 2) 16:44 – Wonderful sunset view with green fields and mountains 17:33 – Amazing view of Taj Mahal at dusk 17:42 – Natural beauty of Ladakh’s rivers and mountains 17:53 – Worship of Hinduism, the oldest religion in the world 18:07 – Humayun’s tourist attraction in Delhi 18:18 – Amazing agriculture of the hills in the middle of the hills 18:31 – Time-lapse view of an extraordinary mosque in Delhi 18:42 – Aerial view of amazing mountains in India, with blue sky and clouds 19:32 – Stunning view of the lake in Rajasthan in the evening 19:41 – Landscape of narrow road in Indian village 19:53 – Aerial view of amazing mountains in India, with blue sky and clouds (part 2) 19:57 – Camel ride at sunset in Rajasthan desert (part 3) 20:10 – End title of the video

Research Preview: Science Magazine – July 14, 2023

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Science Magazine – July 14, 2023 issue: There have been huge strides in the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) to science and society. But will AI eclipse humans, or will we find a way to safely and fairly collaborate, allowing us to reach further? 

A machine-intelligent world

Huge strides have been made in the development of machine-learning algorithms to generate what is commonly called artifi cial intelligence (AI). Looking to the forefront of how AI is being used in science and society reveals many benefi ts, as well as grand challenges, that must be addressed.

Leveraging artificial intelligence in the fight against infectious diseases

Despite advances in molecular biology, genetics, computation, and medicinal chemistry, infectious disease remains an ominous threat to public health. Addressing the challenges posed by pathogen outbreaks, pandemics, and antimicrobial resistance will require concerted interdisciplinary efforts.

Travel Tours: Dubrovnik In Southwestern Croatia

Massimo Nalli Films (July 13, 2023) – Dubrovnik, historically known as Ragusa, is a city in southern Dalmatia and is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in recognition of its outstanding medieval architecture and fortified old town.

The history of the city probably dates back to the 7th century, when the town known as Ragusa was founded by refugees from Epidaurum (Ragusa Vecchia). It was under the protection of the Byzantine Empire and later under the sovereignty of the Republic of Venice.

News: NATO Summit Ends, Ukraine’s Security, Iran President Tours Africa

The Globalist Podcast, Thursday, July 13, 2023: Journalist Lili Bayer brings us the latest from the Nato summit in Vilnius and Petri Burstoff is in Helsinki ahead of the US-Nordic Leaders’ Summit.

Andrew Walker flicks through the day’s papers and Monocle’s Natalie Theodosi tells us about a new sustainable fashion scheme in France.