Category Archives: Views

Front Page: The New York Times – February 3, 2023

February 3, 2023 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

Biden Aims to Deter China With Greater U.S. Military Presence in Philippines

U.S. officials say they are preparing to surge forces in the event of conflict with China, including over Taiwan, but do not intend to build up permanent bases.

As Russia Strikes Ukrainian Civilians, Putin Tells His People the War Is Just

Invoking World War II on the 80th anniversary of victory at Stalingrad, Mr. Putin repeated his false justifications for an invasion that has taken a staggering toll.

Nebraskans Are Sitting on Strategic Metals. Is Mining a Patriotic Duty?

One county has a wealth of minerals essential to defense and the green economy. Mining would transform the community, yet many say they feel a patriotic obligation to dig.

In Congo, a Pope and a Nation Revitalize Each Other

Francis has been slowed by age. But his enthusiastic welcome in Africa has proved a shot in the arm and provided a reminder of the papacy’s global reach.

News, Newspapers, Views

Front Page: The New York Times – February 2, 2023

February 2, 2023 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

The Fed Raises Rates a Quarter Point and Signals More Ahead

America’s central bank has shifted into a new phase, raising rates more slowly as inflation shows signs of moderating.

Ukraine Fears New Offensive Is Underway as Russia Masses Troops

Russia is massing hundreds of thousands of troops and stepping up its bombardment, perhaps signaling the biggest assault since the start of the war. “I think it has started,” Ukraine’s leader says.

Memphis Gathers in Grief at Tyre Nichols’s Funeral

His death after he was beaten by the police inspired anger and sorrow across the country. His family remembers him as a “beautiful soul.”

The College Board Strips Down Its A.P. Curriculum for African American Studies

The official course looks different from a previous draft: No more critical race theory, and the study of contemporary topics — like Black Lives Matter — is optional.

Cities, Travel, Videos, Views

Walking Tour: Island Of Murano In Venice, Italy

Video February 1, 2023 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

January 30, 2023: Murano Island – a Glassmaker’s Paradise since 1291, is a tiny Venetian island and home to Venice’s glassmaking industry. Murano glass production was moved to this Island from the main island of Venice because its production posed quite a fire hazard (Note: the buildings in Venice were constructed mostly of wood at that time and the extreme heat that is required to make glass liquid so as to mold and shape it obviously caused the Venetians some concern).

Video timeline: 0:00:00 – Intro 0:01:06 – MURANO MUSEO 0:01:52 – RIVA LONGA 0:04:25 – PONTE LONGO LINO TOFFOLO 0:05:46 – FONDAMENTA DA MULA 0:07:04 – PONTE SAN PIETRO MARTIRE 0:07:58 – FONDAMENTA MANIN 0:09:40 – CALLE BRESSAGIO 0:10:09 – CALLE BRIATI 0:12:15 – FONDAMENTA PIAVE F. M. 0:13:15 – FARO DI MURANO 0:13:49 – CALLE BRESSAGIO 0:15:05 – FONDAMENTA MANIN 0:15:42 – PONTE DI MEZO 0:16:04 – FONDAMENTA DEI VETRAI 0:17:11 – PONTE S.CHIARA 0:18:03 – PIAZZALE CALLE COLONNA

Soon enough, Murano Island became quite a hot spot for Venetian glass production indeed. Glassmaking has quite an exalted tradition in Venice. It is an art form, after all. In the 14th century, the daughters of Murano’s biggest glassmaking families were allowed to marry Venetian noblemen.

Filmed and edited by: EpicCityWalk

News, Newspapers, Views

Front Page: The New York Times – February 1, 2023

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Russia Sidesteps Western Punishments, With Help From Friends

A surge in trade by Russia’s neighbors and allies hints at one reason its economy remains so resilient after sweeping sanctions.

DeSantis Takes On the Education Establishment, and Builds His Brand

A proposal by Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida to overhaul higher education would mandate courses in Western civilization, eliminate diversity programs and reduce the protections of tenure.

Why Black Families Are Leaving New York, and What It Means for the City

Black children in particular are disappearing from the city, and many families point to one reason: Raising children here has become too expensive.

‘Terrorism Has Returned’: Pakistan Grapples With Attack That Left 101 Dead

The attack raised fears of a new wave of militancy from the Pakistani Taliban and sparked a heated debate over the government’s ability to meet that threat amid an economic and political crisis.

Culture, Traditions, Travel, Videos, Views

West Africa Views: The Cliff Of Bandiagara, Mali

Video January 31, 2023 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

UNESCO – The Bandiagara site is an outstanding landscape of cliffs and sandy plateaux with some beautiful architecture (houses, granaries, altars, sanctuaries and Togu Na, or communal meeting-places).

Several age-old social traditions live on in the region (masks, feasts, rituals, and ceremonies involving ancestor worship). The geological, archaeological and ethnological interest, together with the landscape, make the Bandiagara plateau one of West Africa’s most impressive sites.

News, Newspapers, Views

Front Page: The New York Times – January 31, 2023

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Blinken Meets Netanyahu at Turbulent Moment for Israel

The secretary of state and the Israeli leader had a ‘candid’ conversation amid deepening rifts over the Palestinians, Ukraine and a rightward shift by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Initial Police Report on Tyre Nichols Arrest Is Contradicted by Videos

The police report was the latest instance in which video evidence offered a starkly different account of police violence than what officers had reported themselves.

Wall St. Is Counting on a Debt Limit Trick That Could Entail Trouble

If the debt limit is breached, investors expect Treasury to put bond payments first. It’d be politically and practically fraught.

For Giffords, Progress on Gun Safety Is Like Her Recovery: ‘Inch by Inch’

A 2011 mass shooting left Gabrielle Giffords, then a Democratic congresswoman, partly paralyzed and unable to speak fluently. She has since built a powerful advocacy group.

News, Newspapers, Views

Front Page: The New York Times – January 30, 2023

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‘Very Dangerous People’: Russia’s Convict Fighters Are Heading Home

Tens of thousands of inmates have joined a mercenary group fighting with the Kremlin’s decimated forces in Ukraine. Some of them are returning to civilian life with military training and, in many cases, battlefield traumas.

Scorpion Unit Emerged as Memphis Pursued Get-Tough Strategy

City leaders had praised the new group as a key strategy for fighting crime. Now they are trying to assess whether it was flawed from the start.

Hamlin’s Injury Highlights Precarious Position of Many Young N.F.L. Players

The injury to Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills, who collapsed on the field in cardiac arrest, has drawn attention to players who have been hurt early in their careers and now struggle to get help.

California Has More Than 100 Gun Laws. Why Don’t They Stop More Mass Shootings?

The state is still reeling from back-to-back attacks that left at least 19 people dead. The killings have spurred lawmakers to call for more regulations.

Nature, Travel, Videos, Views, Wilderness

Nature: White Mountains Of New Hampshire (2023)

Video January 29, 2023 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

January 29, 2023: We leave you this Sunday morning in a snowstorm, in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Videographer: Scot Miller.

There are 733 named mountains in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The highest and most prominent of these mountains is Mount Washington, which stands at a respectable 6,288 feet (1,917 meters), making it the tallest peak in the Northeastern United States.

While the peaks of the White Mountains don’t manage to break the 6,500 ft (1,981m) barrier, they are home to some of the most difficult hiking terrain and worst weather in the continental United States.

News, Newspapers, Views

Front Page: The New York Times – January 29, 2023

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After Tyre Nichols Death, Officials’ Moves Reflect a Shift in Handling Police Violence

With cameras nearly everywhere, and residents wary, the authorities are moving faster and speaking critically when officers are accused of beatings.

Tyre Nichols Beating Opens a Complex Conversation on Race and Policing

The five officers charged with the murder of the young Black man are also Black, complicating the anguish and efforts at police reform.

How a Drug Company Made $114 Billion by Gaming the U.S. Patent System

AbbVie for years delayed competition for its blockbuster drug Humira, at the expense of patients and taxpayers. The monopoly is about to end.

Do Abortion Rights Hang On State Constitutions?

Many of the legal arguments seeking to overturn abortion bans rely on rights provided by the states, and how they are interpreted by state supreme courts.

Animals, Travel, Videos, Views, Wilderness, Wildlife

BBC Wilderness Views: The Wetlands Of Argentina

Video January 28, 2023 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

BBC Earth – It is one of the largest freshwater reservoirs on the South American continent. It is the largest protected area in Argentina, with 1.3 million hectares of pristine wilderness. Also referred to as Esteros del Iberá, the Iberá Wetlands stays true to its name with a spectacular offering of streams, marshes, lagoons and swamps that cover approximately 14 % of the Corrientes Province.

The wetlands are home to a staggering 4,000 plant and animal species, which make up 30 % of Argentina’s biodiversity. The indigenous communities of the wetlands inhabited the area as early as in the 9th century.