Category Archives: Views

The New York Times – Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Image

Israel Launches Biggest Air Attack on West Bank in Nearly Two Decades

Palestinians run for cover during an Israeli raid in a densely populated area of the occupied West Bank.

Israel said it used drone-fired missiles and ground troops against militant targets in the Jenin refugee camp. The assault killed at least eight Palestinians, the Palestinian health ministry said.

American Cities Have a Conversion Problem, and It’s Not Just Offices

Piles of regulations, or “kludge,” and a culture of “no” are limiting the ability to turn building blocks into something new.

It’s Getting Hard to Stage a School Play Without Political Drama

At a time when lawmakers and parents are seeking to restrict what can and cannot be taught in classrooms, many teachers are seeing efforts to limit what can be staged in their auditoriums.

The Mystery That Ended Two Women’s World Cup Dreams

An assault case that rattled one of France’s best soccer teams remains unresolved despite a series of arrests. Its main characters have paid a heavy price.

The New York Times – Monday, July 3, 2023

Image

A Climate Laggard in America’s Industrial Heartland Has a Plan to Change, Fast

The silhouette of a person, back to the camera, with a fishing rod extended toward a river. A second rod is propped up on its own nearby. On the other side of the river is an industrial complex, with smokestacks, buildings and electrical towers.

Lawmakers in Michigan have long fought tough pollution controls. But the toll of flooding, lost crops and damage to the Great Lakes appears to be changing minds.

As 2024 Voting Battles Heat Up, North Carolina G.O.P. Presses Forward

North Carolina has grown increasingly competitive in recent elections. Donald J. Trump won the state by just over a percentage point in 2020.

Republicans, whose edge in the state has narrowed in recent years, have gone on offense politically, leading to clashes over voting access and control over elections.

Cracking Down on Dissent, Russia Seeds a Surveillance Supply Chain

An illustration shows, on the left, an image of Vladimir Putin’s face on a red background and, on the right, a hand holding a mobile phone.

Russia is incubating a cottage industry of new digital surveillance tools to suppress domestic opposition to the war in Ukraine. The tech may also be sold overseas.

A Rubik’s Cube, Thick Socks and Giddy Anticipation: The Last Hours of the Titan

Five voyagers climbed into the Titan submersible in hopes of joining the select few who have seen the wreck of the Titanic up close. But within hours, their text messages stopped coming.

Travel Guides: A Tour Of Edinburgh, Scotland

Attaché Travel Films (July 2, 2023) – Edinburgh is Scotland’s compact, hilly capital. It has a medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Intro 01:49 – Transport 05:25 – Sponsor 06:27 – Food 13:15 – Money

Looming over the city is Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish rulers. Arthur’s Seat is an imposing peak in Holyrood Park with sweeping views, and Calton Hill is topped with monuments and memorials

California Views: John Muir Wilderness Area

CBS Sunday Morning (July 2, 2023) – The John Muir Wilderness area extends along the crest of the Sierra Nevada of California for 90 miles, in the Inyo and Sierra National Forests. Established in 1964 by the Wilderness Act and named for naturalist John Muir, it encompasses 652,793 acres.

Videographer: Scot Miller.

Travel: A Guided Tour ‘Day Trip’ To Riga In Latvia

DW Travel (July 2, 2023) – Explore Riga with DW’s Hannah Hummel. Riga, Latvia’s capital, is set on the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the River Daugava. It’s considered a cultural center and is home to many museums and concert halls.

Video timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:30 Breakfast at Rigensis 01:12 Riga’s Old Town 01:32 The House of the Blackheads 02:04 Art noveau architecture 02:26 View from Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija 02:55 Bastion Hill park 03:18 Freedom Monument 03:46 Museum of the Occupation of Latvia 05:41 Riga Central Market 06:23 Dinner at the market 08:07 Riga Black Balsam

The city is also known for its wooden buildings, art nouveau architecture and medieval Old Town. The pedestrian-only Old Town has many shops and restaurants and is home to busy Livu Square, with bars and nightclubs. 

Travel: An Aerial Tour Of The Empire State Building

the Dronalist Films ( July 2, 2023) – The Empire State Building is a steel-framed skyscraper rising 102 stories that was completed in New York City in 1931 and was the tallest building in the world until 1971. It is located in Midtown Manhattan, on Fifth Avenue at 34th Street. It remains one of the most distinctive and famous buildings in the United States and is one of the best examples of Modernist Art Deco design.

At the time of its construction, there was fierce competition to win the title of tallest building in the world. The Chrysler Building claimed the title in 1929, and the Empire State Building seized it in 1931, its height being 1,250 feet (381 metres) courtesy of its iconic spire, which was originally intended to serve as a mooring station for airships. A

The New York Times – Sunday, July 2, 2023

Image

Everyone Knew the Migrant Ship Was Doomed. No One Helped.

An undated handout photo provided by the Greek Coast Guard showing migrants onboard the Adriana before it capsized off the coast of Greece.

Satellite imagery, sealed court documents and interviews with survivors suggest that hundreds of deaths were preventable.

Wagner Uprising Highlights China’s Risks With Russia

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, both in dark suits, stand side by side in a palatial indoor setting, flanked by the flags of China and Russia.

Xi Jinping needs Vladimir Putin to remain in power, and Russia to maintain stability, to help uphold the countries’ shared interests and to keep challenging the United States.

Along With Conservative Triumphs, Signs of New Caution at Supreme Court

The Supreme Court’s story this term is considerably more complicated than the narrative of a conservative juggernaut that emerged the previous term.

Chief Justice Roberts delivered both landmark victories for the right and significant rulings in which he forged alliances with the liberal justices.

Hunter Biden’s Daughter and a Tale of Two Families

The story surrounding the president’s grandchild in Arkansas, who has not yet met her father or her grandfather, is about money, corrosive politics and what it means to have the Biden birthright.

The New York Times – Saturday, July 1, 2023

Image

Supreme Court Rejects Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan

Nearly 26 million borrowers had applied to have some of their student loan debt erased.

The proposed debt cancellation of more than $400 billion would have been one of the most expensive executive actions in U.S. history.

Supreme Court Backs Web Designer Opposed to Same-Sex Marriage

Lorie Smith said her Christian faith requires her to turn away customers seeking services to celebrate same-sex unions.

The justices settled a question left open in 2018: whether businesses open to the public and engaged in expression may refuse to serve customers based on religious convictions.

Affirmative Action Ruling May Upend Hiring Policies, Too

The Supreme Court decision on college admissions could lead companies to alter recruitment and promotion practices to pre-empt legal challenges.

18 Hasidic Schools Failed to Provide Basic Education, New York City Finds

An eight-year investigation determined that the religious schools were breaking the law by not offering thousands of students adequate instruction in English and math.

Architecture: Stonelea Farm House In Australia

The Local Project (June 39, 2023) – Responding to context and climate, the architect delivers Stonelea, an authentic, multi-generational country retreat embedded in the landscape.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Sustainable Modern Farm house 00:48 – The Brief 01:00 – Retaining the Existing Elements 01:20 – Consideration of the Carbon Footprint 01:43 – A Walkthrough of the Home 02:55 – Providing Natural Light 03:44 – Drawing Inspiration from the Site and the Landscape 04:39 – A Result of Combined Efforts and Proud Moments

Nestled in the western foothills of the Blue Mountains, Stonelea by Matthew Woodward Architecture tenderly responds to context. Continuing a long-standing interest in connecting people with landscape, Stonelea gently frames the human experience within its striking rural surrounds.

An existing cluster of workers’ cottages, each with a wondrous view across the vast valley and connection to the Coxs River below, informed the planning and articulation of the home. The home’s linear and low-lying form draws on the Australian shed vernacular. A minimalist approach to form is articulated in the generous floor plan, whilst the earthy materials reflect an affinity with the landscape.

Stonelea’s barn-like form skilfully combines hardwood timber shiplap and metal roof sheeting set on a weighty podium of local stone, embedding the house atop the slope of the river and valley panorama. The architect dexterously planned around established trees, conveying a seamlessness with the landscape that belies the age of the architecture. A simple, elongated spatial arrangement gives hierarchy and order between public and private spaces.

Ensuite guest bedrooms and a kids’ room are lined along a timber-screened walkway, flanked by a large master bedroom to the north and expansive living spaces to the south, affording acoustic separation and privacy.

Italy Travel Guide: Napoli, Pompeii And Amalfi Coast

Stef Hoffer Films (June 30, 2023) – Napoli is one of Europe’s most diverse and fascinating cities, and an intriguing place to travel to. Often misunderstood, this Italian city has some of the country’s most beautiful architecture, ancient historic sites, delicious food, interesting traditions, and a friendly, welcoming people.

Located in the Southern Campania region, Napoli (or Naples) has a very different character from most other Italian cities.

In this travel documentary, I’m exploring the streets of Napoli and its surroundings. From the buzzing, narrow alleys of the old city center to the grand churches and cathedrals. From historic palaces and castles to mysterious underground tunnels. And from ancient archaeological sites under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius to one of Italy’s most beautiful stretches of coastline.