Category Archives: Views

Nature: 2022 UK Landscape Photographer Of The Year

Country Life Magazine – 2022 Landscape Photographer of the Year winners:

The overall winner, by William Davies: ‘Brecon in Winter’, Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales. Dawn sunlight warms up a winter’s morning in the Brecon Beacons. 

‘Rough and Tumble’ Photo by Lloyd Lane Photography (www.lloydlane.uk), runner-up in the 2022 Landscape Photographer of the Year. 

Tryfan by Aled Lewis. A photo of the iconic Tryfan in Snowdonia National Park. 

‘Sycamore Gap Sun and Moon’, by Brian Eyler. Sycamore Gap Sun and Moon. Northumberland, England. 

Politics: Trump Special Counsel, Congress In 2023

Washington Post columnists Jonathan Capehart and Gary Abernathy join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including a special counsel appointed to investigate former President Trump, the balance of power in Washington and the battle for leadership on Capitol Hill.

Front Page: The New York Times – November 19, 2022

Front Page: The New York Times – November 19, 2022 | Boomers Daily

Garland Names Special Counsel for Trump Inquiries

Even before Mr. Garland’s announcement, there were signs that prosecutorial activity in both cases was accelerating after a brief slowdown in the run-up to the midterm elections.

Elon Musk’s Twitter Teeters on the Edge After Another 1,200 Leave

Mr. Musk sent emails on Friday asking to learn about Twitter’s underlying technology as key infrastructure teams have been decimated.

Former Anti-Abortion Leader Alleges Another Supreme Court Breach

Years before the leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, a landmark contraception ruling was disclosed, according to a minister who led a secretive effort to influence justices.

Village Walks: Calascio In Abruzzo, Eastern Italy (4K)

In the heart of Italy’s mountainous region of Abruzzo rests the small, ancient village of Calascio. Its picturesque streets with arched passages and stone houses convey its traditional Apennine setting while its centuries-old anchor, the fortification of La Rocca, adds historical significance to its location. Bathed by the Mediterranean sun in summer and blanketed by snow in the winter, Calascio is a welcoming tourist destination anytime of the year.

Aerial Views: Étretat, The North Coast Of France

Étretat is a town on the north coast of France. It’s known for the striking rock formations carved out of its white cliffs, including the Porte d’Aval arch and L’Aiguille (the Needle), a pillar rising up from the sea. To the north, the cliffside Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Garde has dramatic views. Le Vieux Marché is a market hall in town. Nearby, Le Clos Lupin villa was once home to French author Maurice Leblanc. 

Top Hikes: Groppenstein Waterfall In Austria (8K)

The Flying Dutchman – A scenic gorge walk over trails and bridges, past rapids and Groppenstein waterfall (30 m), followed by the newly erected part of the gorge’s trail that develops Zechnerfall waterfall. Hike on a wooden trail system to the gorge’s exit. Then possibility to continue the hike to the romantic tavern “Zur Guten Quelle” or to “Almgasthof Himmelbauer” (1240 m).

The Groppensteinschlucht is located in the Hohentauern national park near Obervellach in the region Kärnten, Austria.

Architectural Tours: Off-Grid ‘Limestone House’ In Melbourne, Australia

The Local Project – Crafted by John Wardle Architects, this sustainable off-grid house is best explored by means of a house tour. Combining seamless interior design and architecture with a minimal environmental impact, Limestone House forms a cohesive celebration of functionality.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Sustainable Off-Grid House 00:41 – The Location and The Vacant Lot 01:22 – Architects Declare 01:39 – The Living Building Challenge 02:06 – Passive House Standards 02:40 – The Shading Systems 03:04 – What’s Behind the Walls 03:19 – The Energy Supply 03:35 – Requirements of the Living Building Challenge 03:50 – The Two Main Materials Used 04:12 – An Interesting History Behind the Timber 04:42 – The Handmade Aspects 05:01 – Floating on a Sea of Native Grasses

Located in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak, Limestone House rests on the Wurundjeri Land of the Kulin Nation. Initially vacant, the project site excited the clients with the possibility of building a sustainable off-grid house. Paying homage to the environmental agenda, the landscape design of Limestone House sees the building float above a sea of native grass. Guiding the design of Limestone House is the Living Building Challenge and Passivehaus, two rigorous standards of sustainability.

In order to satisfy the standards, John Wardle Architects ensures that the home operates as a sustainable off-grid house, harvesting its own water and disposing of all of its waste water. Externally, a set of edible plantings on the terrace meets the requirement for food production on site. The Passivehaus standard sees a tightly-sealed, sustainable off-grid house emerge. While a passive ventilation system consistently delivers fresh air into the home at a slow speed, an airtight barrier seals heat into the dwelling, maximising energy efficiency.

Similarly, high-performance insulation is applied to the walls, roof and floor and the home features triple-glazed windows. Shading systems take the form of motorised venetian blinds to the northeast and west, as well as operable timber louvres at roof level over the courtyard. Internally, the material palette of Limestone House consists primarily of stone and timber. Concrete benchtops and Queensland siltstone complement the calming tonal character of the scheme alongside hydrowood oak. Many of the trees used for the oak come from a valley that was flooded during a 1940s hydroproject – now the timber comprises a bespoke dining room table.

A sustainable off-grid house, Limestone House produces its own energy and a surplus of five per cent that is exported to the grid. While meeting the design brief, John Wardle Architects ensures that the residence forms a unique embracement of natural serenity, in distinction from other sustainable dwellings of the past.

360° Views: Lena Pillars National Park, Siberia

Lena Pillars is the name given to a natural rock formation along the banks of the Lena River in far eastern Siberia. The pillars are 150–300 metres high, and were formed in some of the Cambrian period sea-basins. The highest density of pillars is reached between the villages of Petrovskoye and Tit-Ary.

Yakutia (Russian: Яку́тия, yah-KOO-tee-yuh), also known as the Republic of Sakha, is located in the Russian Far East, and is notable for being the world’s largest subnational governing body by area. Yakutia covers an area of more than 3 million km², representing about 18 percent of the Russian Federation, and making it roughly the size of India, despite having a population smaller than that of Rhode Island. The republic’s capital is Yakutsk.

Yakutia borders Chukotka to the northeast, Magadan Oblast and Khabarovsk Krai to the southeast, Amur Oblast to the south, Zabaykalsky Krai and Irkutsk Oblast to the southwest, Evenkia to the west and Taymyria to the northwest. In the north it has a long coastline with the Arctic Ocean.

Front Page: The New York Times – November 18, 2022

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Pelosi Steps Aside, Signaling End to Historic Run as Top House Democrat

“For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus that I so deeply respect,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. She has led her party in the House for two decades.

N.Y. Democrats Blame Eric Adams for Election Losses. He Doesn’t Care.

The New York City mayor focuses relentlessly on crime, and critics say he lent legitimacy to Republicans who played up the issue in their midterms campaigns.

Police Expected the Halloween Crowd. Why Couldn’t They Stop the Disaster?

An analysis, based on official documents and parliamentary testimony, reveals that authorities in South Korea missed crucial chances to prevent a crowd crush that would kill 158 people.

Views: The Culture And Castles Of Slovakia (4K)

I traveled around Slovakia September 2022 for a week, Here is my experience. It’s a small country so I was able to see many places & was really happy to create a travel video from my fathers country.

The places you will find in the film were mainly regional which included: The Tatra Mountains, Spiš Castle at the village of Žehram, Oravam Castle at the village of Oravský, Podzámok, Banská Štiavnica, Trnava (Folk singing & dancing), The Trenčín Castle, The Strečno Castle, Čičmany village, The Likava Castle.

Filmed and Edited by: Max Harach