Morning News: Omicron Variant, Travel Columnist Career, Mistletoe History
Christmas – America’s mixed response to the Omicron variant comes down to geography, WSJ’s Scott McCartney looks back on his career, and why do we kiss underneath a parasite.
Front Page Views: The New York Times – December 25
Paris Walks: Right Bank Of Seine To The Louvre (4K)
The Port du Louvre is a walkway running along the River Seine (on the “right bank”) immediately to the south of the Louvre in Paris, France. It is parallel to and lower than the larger Voie Georges Pompidou road between it and the Louvre.
Mountain Road Views: The Sani Pass In South Africa
Classic Car Stories: A 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 At The 1956 Monte Carlo Rally
In 1955 this glorious Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 was purchased new by Ken Carter, a former Works driver for the Cooper racing team, who acquired this very car to compete in the 1956 Monte Carlo Rally with his friend Robert Ropner. Join Commander Timothy ‘Tiny’ Brompton-Belcher RN and Aston Martin specialist Dylan Miles and take a journey back in time with this wonderfully historic Aston Martin
Science: 2021 Top Stories Of The Year, Marijuana Research, Book Reviews
On this week’s show: The best of our online stories, what we know about the effects of cannabinoids, and the last in our series of books on race and science.
First, Online News Editor David Grimm brings the top online stories of the year—from headless slugs to Dyson spheres. You can find out the other top stories and the most popular online story of the year here.
Then, Tibor Harkany, a professor of molecular neuroscience at the Medical University of Vienna’s Center for Brain Research, talks with host Sarah Crespi about the state of marijuana research. Pot has been legalized in many places, and many people take cannabinoids—but what do we know about the effects of these molecules on people? Tibor calls for more research into their helpful and harmful potential.
Finally, we have the very last installment of our series of books on race and science. Books host Angela Saini talks with physician and science fiction author Tade Thompson about his book Rosewater. Listen to the whole series.
Home Tour: ‘Menzies Pop’ In Sumner, New Zealand
An architect’s own home, Menzies Pop is a celebration of architectural craft. Introducing a refined material palette to the pre-existing building, Common Architecture maximises the potential of the New Zealand property. Located in Sumner, a suburb settled on the outskirts of Christchurch, Menzies Pop is a distinctive concrete construction.
A house tour of ‘The Bunker’, as it is referred to by locals, reveals the creative possibilities of the building that culminated in it becoming an architect’s own home. Hand-crafted details give character to the foundation of the house, such as clover shapes cut into the parapets and a skilfully carved arched entrance. Features retained by Common Architecture, such as a concrete ceiling and concrete work beams, present the home as an architecturally exciting offering.
Cementing its status as an architect’s own home, Menzies Pop emerges as a thoughtful reconfiguration of its original building. Three bedrooms are reimagined as a kitchen-living area, with their north-west orientation allowing the spaces to have access to a deck at the rear of the home. By moving the kitchen into a more communal part of the house, Common Architecture presents the space as central to family life. The interior design of the structure speaks to the fact that it is an architect’s own home.
An expert eye is applied to the scale of furniture, skylights and the single-length boards that cover some of the walls of the home, so that the dimensions of the building are emphasised. The beloved timber of the pre-existing home is complemented by teak, stone and brass accents, which form a sophisticated extension of the original material palette. Embracing its structural history, Menzies Pop stands as a cleverly crafted example of an architect’s own home.
Timeline: 00:00 – The Local Project’s Print Publication 00:20 – An Introduction to Menzies Pop by Common Architecture 00:40 – Where It’s Located 00:52 – The Existing House 01:35 – The Beginning of the Renovations 02:45 – The Key Elements of the New Renovation 03:47 – The Kitchen 04:01 – The Extension (First Floor Edition) 05:03 – The Key Learnings 05:41 – What Common Architecture Are Most Proud Of 06:19 – The Local Project’s Tri-Annual Subscription
Walking Tours: Liverpool In Northwest England
Liverpool is a maritime city in northwest England, where the River Mersey meets the Irish Sea. A key trade and migration port from the 18th to the early 20th centuries, it’s also, famously, the hometown of The Beatles. Ferries cruise the waterfront, where the iconic mercantile buildings known as the “Three Graces” – Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool Building – stand on the Pier Head.
Timeline: 00:00 Albert Dock 08:08 Salthouse Dock 09:35 The Dock Traffic Office and Pump House 11:14 Salthouse Quay 13:00 The Liverpool Waterfront UK and Strand street 19:24 River Mersey Embankment and Canada Boulevard 20:47 The Beatles Pier Head 23:38 Ice Rink and Christmas Market 26:22 Liverpool Canal Link 27:37 Water street 32:30 Liverpool Town Hall 33:20 Castle street 35:00 Brunswick street 37:25 The Strand 41:20 Albert Dock 44:28 Liverpool One Water Fountain on Thomas Steers Way 46:20 Liverpool ONE 48:41 Christmas Tree on Paradise street 49:25 Paradise street 57:36 Church street 58:51 Church Alley 01:03:09 Bold street 01:08:00 Church street 01:09:22 Basnett street 01:10:34 Williamson Square and Christmas Tree 01:12:25 Liverpool Playhouse Theatre and Radio City Tower 01:14:26 Houghton street 01:17:13 Liverpool Register Office 01:18:23 St John’s Gardens and William Brown street 01:19:10 Liverpool Christmas Market 01:23:43 Wellington Column and Walker Art Gallery 01:27:00 Liverpool Cenotaph and Wheel Of Liverpool
Destinations: Condé Nast Top 2022 Travel Journeys
Boomers Daily 