Tag Archives: April 2023

Arts/Books: Times Literary Supplement – April 28, 2023

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Times Literary Supplement @TheTLS (April 28, 2023) – This week’s @TheTLS, featuring Abigail Green on 1848; @WeTheBrandon on the geopolitics of space; @woodsgregory on James Purdy; @JulianBaggini on food policy; @scheffer_pablo on the Passion in the Netherlands; @CamilleRalphs_ on poetry anthologies – and more

News: South Korea’s Yoon Visits U.S., Tunisia Tensions, Central America Violence

The Globalist, April 26, 2023: South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk-yeol, visits the US, the deteriorating political and economic situation in Tunisia, and a conversation with the secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council about violence in Central America.

Plus: Monocle’s Tokyo bureau chief, Fiona Wilson, on animation and Japanese soft power.

Front Page: The New York Times — April 26, 2023

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Biden Announces Re-election Bid, Defying Trump and History

President Biden is already the oldest president in American history and, if he were to win again, he would be 86 at the end of a second term.
CREDITDOUG MILLS/THE NEW YORK TIMES

While the president once pitched himself as “a bridge” to a new generation of Democratic leaders, he has decided that he is not ready to turn the torch over yet.

Analysis: Biden Faces Headwinds, but Democrats See Reasons for Optimism

President Biden, delivering remarks at the White House last week, announced on Tuesday that he would seek a second term.

President Biden’s poll numbers remain low, but structural advantages have Democrats insisting he is far better positioned than his Republican rivals.

Harry Belafonte, 96, Dies; Barrier-Breaking Singer, Actor and Activist

In the 1950s, when segregation was still widespread, his ascent to the upper echelon of show business was historic. But his primary focus was civil rights.

A Bleak Outlook for Manhattan’s Office Space May Signal a Bigger Problem

Remote work and rising interest rates are dealing a double blow to office landlords, with potentially grave consequences for the city and even national economy.

Business: How ‘Junk Fees’ Invaded The U.S. Economy

CNBC (April 25, 2023) – Americans are collectively spending nearly $65 billion on sneaky fees, according to the White House. “It really seems like companies have become addicted to junk fees,” Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission, told CNBC.

Junk fees are making companies billions of dollars richer. Watch the video above to learn more about where junk fees hide, details of proposed changes, where policy may fall short and whether increased regulatory oversight may be enough to squash junk fees once and for all. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:26 Defining ‘junk’ fees 5:34 Squashing fees 7:52 Policy problems 10:02 The future of fees

Architecture: An Insider Tour Of Sheats-Goldstein Residence In Los Angeles

The Local Project – (April 25, 2023) – Overlooking the city of Los Angeles, Sheats-Goldstein Residence by John Lautner and James Goldstein is an iconic and action packed home that ignites the idea that a residence is an expression of its owner.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Inside the Iconic and Action Packed Home 00:49 – A Reflection of Mentality and Personality 01:16 – A 1972 Purchase of Amazing Design and Views 02:14 – The First Step in the 45-year long Renovation Process 03:14 – No Separation between Inside and Outside 03:42 – John Lautner’s Dislike of Box-like Forms 04:09 – A Focus on the Natural Elements 04:43 – The Addition of Tropical Vegetation 05:30 – A James Turrell Skyspace 06:05 – The Continuation of John Lautner’s Legacy 06:45 – Two Rebels Working in Cohesion 07:21 – Preserving History and Hard Work

Built and designed to reflect James’s life and experiences, the house asserts a dominance over the landscape with its frameless glass walls, hidden wonders and angled corners and turns. After buying the residence in 1972, James sought the help of John Lautner to re-model the home after observing the previous owner’s undesirable changes to the original design. Part of James’s wish was to return the structure’s lost character through dramatic improvements.

After John’s passing and having resided in the home for 45 years, James has continuously worked on adding to character of the iconic and action packed home, with respect to John’s original vision. Opposed to building anything that resembled a box or came to a 90-degree angle, John Lautner designed the home with angular walls, built-in furniture and open plan floor spaces. Wanting the residence to feel natural, the use of concrete floors is used to help imbue the feeling of openness, while carpets used within the home are designed to look like small stones and deepen the natural impression.

Additionally, the frameless glass wall that occupies the living room continues to unite the indoor and outdoor spaces and enables views of the tropical foliage and vegetation that surround the building. Spanning across over 1.5 hectares of hillside, the home’s landscape is saturated with thick foliage and vegetation that holds hidden walkways, ponds and open grassy areas. Additionally, the unique character of the iconic and action packed home is further emphasised with the James Turrel skyscraper. Tucked into the lower hillside of the home, the building acts as a form of art, allowing for one to sit back and delve into the appreciation of light and shadow.

News: Russia’s Foreign Policy, China Backtracks, North Sea Energy Meeting

The Globalist, April 25, 2023: An update on the war in Ukraine as Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, visits New York. Also, leaders from the largest-ever coalition around energy in the North Sea meet in Belgium.

Plus, Spanish authorities exhume the remains of a fascist leader.the papers with Charles Hecker and a culture round-up with Amah-Rose Abrams.

Front Page: The New York Times — April 25, 2023

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Ukraine’s Spring Offensive Comes With Immense Stakes for Future of the War

Damage in Izium, Ukraine, last week. A failed counteroffensive could lead to waning Western support in Ukraine.
CREDITMAURICIO LIMA FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

Without a decisive victory, Western support for Ukraine could weaken, and Kyiv could come under increasing pressure to enter serious peace talks to end or freeze the conflict.

Tucker Carlson, a Source of Repeated Controversies, Is Out at Fox News

Tucker Carlson’s announcement was made less than a week after Fox settled a defamation suit for $787.5 million.
CREDITREBECCA NOBLE FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

Mr. Carlson has been one of the network’s top-rated hosts for many years.

What Tucker Carlson Leaves Behind as He Is Shown the Door

The host’s abrupt dismissal upends Fox News’s prime-time lineup — and the carefully honed impression that the ratings star was all but untouchable.

These Countries Lined Up to Help Ukraine. Now Their Farmers Are Angry.

A grain deal that got Ukrainian exports moving and eased a global food crisis is now fueling protests in Romania and among other staunch supporters of Kyiv.

Opinion: Wise Worries On AI, Global Peace Crumbles, The English Identity Myth

The Economist ‘Editor’s Picks’ Podcast (April 24, 2023) This week, how to worry wisely about artificial intelligence, why in Sudan and beyond, the trend towards global peace has been reversed (13:00) and if English nationalism is on the rise, no one has told the English (19:30).

Type 2 Diabetes Studies: 65% Higher Death Rates With ‘Sweetened Drinks’

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The BMJ (Published April 19, 2023) – Conclusions: Individual beverages showed divergent associations with all cause mortality and CVD outcomes among adults with type 2 diabetes. Higher intake of SSBs was associated with higher all cause mortality and CVD incidence and mortality, whereas intakes of coffee, tea, plain water, and low fat milk were inversely associated with all cause mortality. These findings emphasize the potential role of healthy choices of beverages in managing the risk of CVD and premature death overall in adults with type 2 diabetes.

READ COMPLETE BMJ RESEARCH STUDY

Travel Tours: Smithsonian Journeys – April 2023-2024

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VIEW ONLINE 2023-2024 CATALOG

Powered by more than 175 years of prestige and trust in the Smithsonian, our trips mirror the reputation, varied collections, research, and community of the Institution. On any given trip, you’ll travel with intellectually curious, worldly, and adventurous life-long learners, and forge lasting friendships with others who share your passion for deeper learning and exploration.