Category Archives: Views

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

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Deadly Strike on Russians in Ukraine Exposes Moscow’s Military Failings

A Ukrainian attack with U.S.-made rockets may have left hundreds of casualties, and pro-war Russians accused their military commanders of repeating fatal errors.

McCarthy’s Bid for Speaker Remains in Peril Even After Key Concessions

Representative Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California, is struggling to break through a wall of entrenched opposition from hard-right lawmakers even after agreeing to weaken his leadership power.

How Russia’s War on Ukraine Is Worsening Global Starvation

Moscow blocks most shipments from Ukraine, one of the world’s largest wheat producers, and its attacks on the country’s energy grid also disrupt the flow of food.

Why China’s Economy Faces a Perilous Road to Recovery

Years of lockdowns took a brutal toll on businesses. Now, the rapid spread of Covid after a chaotic reopening has deprived them of workers and customers.

Holiday Walking Tour: The ‘Montmartre’ In Paris (4K)

ART VISION TV – Montmartre is a hill in the north of Paris, famous for its artists and Bohemian culture. The hill is topped by the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, which offers stunning views over the city. The streets around the basilica are lined with art galleries and cafés, and there are often buskers and performers in the square. In fact, Montmartre is one of the neighborhoods that Paris is most famous for

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

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U.S. Pours Money Into Chips, but Even Soaring Spending Has Limits

Amid a tech cold war with China, U.S. companies have pledged nearly $200 billion for chip manufacturing projects since early 2020. But the investments are not a silver bullet.

Lula Becomes Brazil’s President, With Bolsonaro in Florida

Brazil inaugurates its new president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, on Sunday. Facing investigations, former President Jair Bolsonaro has taken refuge in Orlando.

Idaho Murder Suspect Had Been a Student of the Criminal Mind

The arrest of a graduate student in the murder of four University of Idaho students eased fears but raised a troubling new question: What was the motive?

The Invention of Elise Stefanik

To rise through the Trump-era G.O.P., a young congresswoman gave up her friends, her mentors and her ideals. Will it be enough?

Views: Ausable Canyon – ‘The Grand Canyon Of The Adirondacks’ In New York

CBS Sunday Morning – We leave you this first Sunday of 2023 at Ausable Chasm (known as the “Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks”), near Lake Champlain in New York state. Videographer: Jaime McDonald.

Ausable Chasm, open since 1870, is the oldest and largest natural attraction in the Adirondacks. More than 10 million visitors have explored the chasm on the well-maintained scenic nature trails.

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

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Strife in the Schools: Education Dept. Logs Record Number of Discrimination Complaints

Some of the highest-profile complaints show how America’s culture wars are affecting the nation’s children.

Benedict XVI, First Modern Pope to Resign, Dies at 95

He defined a conservative course for the Roman Catholic Church, but his papacy was noted for his struggle with the clergy sexual abuse scandal and for his unexpected resignation.

Their Mothers Were Teenagers. They Didn’t Want That for Themselves.

Teen pregnancies have plummeted, as has child poverty. The result is a profound change in the forces that bring opportunity between generations.

‘OK, Mexico, Save Me’: After China, This Is Where Globalization May Lead

As American companies seek to limit their exposure to the pitfalls of making goods in China, some are moving production to Mexico.

Japan Views: A Snowfall Walk In Ginzan Onsen (4K)

December 29, 2022 – Ginzan Onsen (銀山温泉, lit. “Silver Mountain Hot Spring”) is a secluded hot spring town nestled in the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture. The area originally developed around a silver mine; however, these days it is better known as one of Japan’s prettiest onsen towns with historic ryokan lined up along the river.

Ginzan Onsen’s traditionally styled ryokan occupy beautiful three and four story wooden buildings that, with their exposed woodwork and white plaster walls, evoke nostalgic feelings of a bygone era. There is one exception, however, in the Fujiya ryokan at the center of town, which was recently rebuilt by famous modern architect Kuma Kengo. Although purists may find it out of place, its unique modern design incorporates many of the traditional design elements of the surrounding buildings, such as the same exposed wood and white plaster.

Filmed by Japan BackpackersXpress

Front Page: The New York Times – December 31, 2022

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The Year the Long Stock Market Rally Ended

How fast inflation and high interest rates upended markets across the globe.

Trump Tax Returns Undermine His Image as a Successful Entrepreneur

The release of former President Donald J. Trump’s private tax documents by the House Ways and Means Committee shows heavy losses from his own ventures as he continued to cash in on inherited assets.

The ‘Red Wave’ Washout: How Skewed Polls Fed a False Election Narrative

The errant surveys spooked some candidates into spending more money than necessary, and diverted help from others who otherwise had a fighting chance of winning.

Barbara Walters, a First Among TV Newswomen, Is Dead at 93

She broke barriers for women as a co-host of the “Today” show, a network evening news anchor and a creator of “The View,” all while gaining her own kind of celebrity.

The Swiss Alps: A Winter Walk In Village Of Wengen

Wengen, the car-free village at the foot of the Jungfrau, is located on a sunny plateau and presents you with a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding peaks. A train trip to the Jungfraujoch -Top of Europe is the top! The Lauberhorn Race and the Jungfrau Marathon are two of the many big events on the calendar in Wengen.

The village is located on a sunny, wind-protected terrace at the foot of the Jungfrau, 400 meters above the Lauterbrunnen valley at 1274 m above sea level. The car-free village, steeped in tradition, offers a family-friendly skiing and hiking area all around the Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg.

Tourist Channel – Filmed in November 2022

Tours: Waiheke House In Auckland, New Zealand

The Local Project – Through natural material selections, Cheshire Architects has unveiled Waiheke House, a home that embraces its surrounds to become the best modern house in the world. Operating under the rule that grandeur does not need to be shown through scale but rather quality, Waiheke House is a place of respite for its owners with only one and a half bedrooms and a focus on entertaining areas.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Best Modern House in the World 00:45 – An Island Location 01:05 – The Aspect of the House 01:35 – Tasked with Entertaining 02:01 – The House Plan and its Materials 03:39 – Hidden Openings and Passages 04:22 – Bathing Rituals 05:27 – The Goal Behind the Home 05:43 – Creating a Centred Feeling 06:09 – Becoming One with the Environment 06:33 – A Vessel for Experience 06:53 – A Home Made with Real Materials 07:20 – A Love for the Layered Experience

While the views of Waiheke House are only part of what establishes it as the best modern house in the world, it is how the structure inserts itself into the landscape that is awe-inspiring. Focused on evoking the numerous meanings of ‘shelter,’ Waiheke House acts as a platform that can open or close for the watching of the weather as it changes. Comprised of two pavilions, which are slightly offset from one another,

Cheshire Architects have separated the living spaces to designate a place of reprieve and a place to entertain. The larger of the two pavilions, known as the seaward pavilion, is framed by landscaping. Shaped by the stone wall that curves around and holds the home, the idea of anchoring the seaward pavilion is seen through the home’s distinct architectural theme. To make the best modern house in the world feel warm and comfortable, the use of stone, wood and brass help the house insert itself into the surrounding nature. Created for entertaining, the seaward pavilion is intentionally designed to be small, with only a kitchen, large dining section and lounge.

Framed by glass on three sides, doors butterfly open so that the living areas can connect seamlessly with the lawn. Conceptually thought of as a canopy atop a mouth of a cave, Cheshire Architects has formed the best modern house in the world to navigate a spatial dialect that speaks to both broad ocean views and small, contained spaces. Throughout the house tour, it is evident that the selected surfaces and materials are chosen to act as a vessel for experience – an idea that Cheshire Architects hopes will still be embodied in 100 years as the home ages in place.

Seen in the stacked stone of the wall to the layered floor, Cheshire Architects avoids using crisp whites or laminates and instead imbues the home with richness from natural materials. Throughout the second pavilion, the adaption of narrower halls, lower ceilings and darker tones have been employed to create a dynamic internal contrast. Intended as a retreat for the owners, Waiheke House is a place to align and connect with the natural surroundings. By focusing on simple, high-quality design choices over scale, Cheshire Architects has created the best modern house in the world so that it may amplify what already exists.

Front Page: The New York Times – December 30, 2022

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Russian Missile Barrage Staggers Ukraine’s Air Defenses

Cruise missiles and exploding drones from Iran swept across the skies of Ukraine, wreaking havoc and once again knocking out power.

How Bad Is China’s Covid Outbreak? It’s a Scientific Guessing Game.

In the absence of credible information from the Chinese government, researchers around the world are looking for any clues to determine the size and severity of the surge.

Israel’s Hard-Line Government Takes Office, Testing Bonds With Allies

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition will likely test ties with the United States and Europe, amid fears that it will undermine the country’s democracy and stability.

Pelé, the Global Face of Soccer, Dies at 82

Pelé, who was declared a national treasure in his native Brazil, achieved worldwide celebrity and helped popularize the sport in the United States.