Front Page: The New York Times – February 6, 2023

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Balloon Incident Reveals More Than Spying as Competition With China Intensifies

There is nothing new about superpowers spying on one another, even from balloons. But for pure gall, there was something different this time.

U.S. Navy Divers Work to Recover Debris From Chinese Spy Balloon as Diplomacy Dwindles

The effort off the coast of South Carolina is expected to take days, and Navy and Coast Guard ships have been sent to the scene. U.S. officials are watching for retaliation from China.

Taking Aim at Trump, Koch Network Will Back G.O.P. Primary Candidates

The move by the alliance of conservative donors could provide an enormous boost to a Republican alternative to the former president.

Kamala Harris Is Trying to Define Her Vice Presidency. Even Her Allies Are Tired of Waiting.

Ms. Harris is struggling to carve out a lane for herself in what may be one of the most consequential periods in the vice presidency.

Profiles: ‘Edward Hopper’s New York’ Exhibition Tour

CBS Sunday Morning (February 5, 2023) – A new exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art provides a window into Edward Hopper (1882-1967) and his view of urban life. “Edward Hopper’s New York” features about 200 works that capture a changing and changeless city, and illuminate the inner lives of city dwellers. Correspondent Serena Altschul reports.

Architecture: Memory Rock On Great Barrier Island In New Zealand

ArchiPro – This unique beach house was thoughtfully inspired by Medlands Beach where it is situated on Aotea (Great Barrier Island).

The long curving shoreline is punctuated by a large, weathered rock to its centre. This informed the architectural composition with a low, long, horizontal form complemented by a taller, denser, two-level element to the centre. It is a confident design with a direct relationship to site and context.

This metaphorical design response flowed through to the materials, with textured, “sandy” plaster and light-coloured timber for the interior walls, textured bronze fixtures (cast in sand) and vertical cedar cladding, mimicking the bullrush reeds in the adjacent wetland.

Culture: The New Review Magazine- February 5, 2023

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The New Review (February 5, 2023): @natasha_walter on the state’s crackdown on ​the right to protest Plus: @marktpower’s shipping forecast photographs @RobertDFBooks interviewed by @MsRachelCooke On my radar: @paramore’s Hayley Williams & more.

Front Page: The New York Times – February 5, 2023

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Downing of Chinese Spy Balloon Ends Chapter in a Diplomatic Crisis

The balloon, spotted earlier this week over the western United States, was brought down when an F-22 fighter jet fired an air-to-air missile at it off the coast of South Carolina.

Muscle Cars, Balaclavas and Fists: How the Scorpions Rolled Through Memphis

Residents say the street crime unit was an intimidating and sometimes violent presence in the city. Five Scorpion officers are charged with murdering Tyre Nichols during an arrest.

In West Bank, Settlers Sense Their Moment After Far Right’s Rise

After a surge in violence, there are fears of a wider escalation in the occupied West Bank. Israeli settlers see an opportunity, and Palestinians fear what’s next.

Democrats Overhaul Party’s Primary Calendar, Upending a Political Tradition

The proposal radically reshapes the way the party picks its presidential nominees, putting more racially diverse states at the front of the line.

Fashion: The High Cost Of Handmade Bespoke Shoes

Insider Business (February 4, 2023) – Handmade bespoke dress shoes take months to make. Shoemakers transform rough measurements of a customer’s feet into a one-of-a-kind shoe. One pair can cost over £5,000.

London has been a hub for shoemaking for centuries, and while the industry has shrunk over time, an increase in demand from Japan and the US has helped to reignite interest in this craft. So, why would someone buy bespoke dress shoes? And what makes them so expensive?

The New York Times Book Review – February 5, 2023

The New York Times Book Review – February 5, 2023:

Salman Rushdie’s Miracle City

His new novel is about a kingdom that is founded on pluralism but fails to live up to its ideals.

What Does It Mean to Be Liberal?

In his new book, “The Struggle for a Decent Politics,” the political philosopher Michael Walzer grapples with a definition.

Storming Normandy in 1346

“Essex Dogs,” the first novel in a projected trilogy by the historian Dan Jones, imagines a hard-bitten band of mercenaries hired to invade France on behalf of their English king.

Columbia Views: A Journey To The Lost City Of Teyuna

DW Travel – Discover Teyuna! It’s older than Machu Picchu and not quite as famous. Known in Spanish as Ciudad Perdida or the “Lost City,” it is located deep in the jungles of northern Colombia. You need weather-proof clothing and sturdy shoes for the four-day trek to the archeological site.

Our reporter Joel Dullroy is making the adventurous journey to the Lost City. Join him on his trip! Background: The ruins of Teyuna were once settled by the indigenous Tairona people. Their descendants still live today in the Wika and Kogi tribes in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Architecture: Biomorphic Home Design By Julius Roy

Biomorphic architecture is a style of architectural design that emphasizes natural shapes and patterns. As such, biomorphic architecture is inspired by organic forms like plants, animals, or the natural elements.

THE BLACK HOUSE [ I ]

Just like white, black is not in the strict sense of the term a color, however it is associated with it from a psychological point of view, black conveying just like a color a symbolism. Scientifically, black refers to black holes and nothingness. In optics, black absorbs all wavelengths and is therefore characterized by its apparent absence of color, unlike white which is obtained by returning all the wavelengths it absorbs in equal parts. In the West, black is associated with mourning, sadness and despair, fear and death. 

THE LABRADORITE HOUSE [ I ]

Labradorite is a mineral synonymous with security and regeneration. Discover its unique reflections that will remind you of the beauty of the polar skies and equip yourself with this strong energy shield to protect yourself from external negative energies.

Design Artist: Julius Roy

News, Views and Reviews For The Intellectually Curious