THE AMERICAN SCHOLAR (December 2, 2024): The latest issue features ‘From Atop The Magic Mountain’ – One-Hundred years later, Thomas Mann’s epic remains as prophetic as ever.
Only rarely did the outside world intrude on an idyllic Connecticut childhood, but in the tumultuous 1960s, that intrusion included an encounter with evil
The Local Project (December 3, 2024): Located in Anglesea on Victoria’s surf coast, Burnt Earth Beach House is an architect’s own home inspired by nature. Architect John Wardle designs a holiday home deeply embedded in its landscape, grounded in an enduring love of terracotta, a fascination with ceramics and the unique beauty of bricks.
00:00 – Introduction to the Architect’s Own Home 01:48 – Walkthrough and Layout of the Home 03:18 – The Material Palette 04:48 – The Bathing Spaces 06:12 – Unique and Favourite Moments 07:16 – Creating A Special Place
As an architect’s own home inspired by nature, Burnt Earth Beach House reflects the hues and tonality of the ochre-coloured cliff edges of Anglesea just beyond. “It was very important that we do something here that would transcend time but do so in a way that is completely different from our homes in Melbourne,” says John Wardle, founding partner of Wardle. The home’s facade is expressed through an invented brick developed alongside brickmaker Klynton Krause.
The process involved extrusion and hand tearing the brick surface prior to cutting, which exposes a raw, uneven surface, making every brick unique. Approaching the architect’s own home inspired by nature, a courtyard acts as an informal living zone and is bordered by a kitchen that houses a vast square central terracotta island bench. The space then bends around into the dining area with a reading nook that looks into the courtyard. Upstairs, a study appears to float overhead, enveloped in a hand-knotted screening from Vietnam.
Monocle Radio Podcast (December 3, 2024): French prime minister Michel Barnier’s government faces collapse as right-wing parties push back on his budget proposal.
We’ll also discuss the latest out of Syria and why Japan has doubled its military-aid budget. Then: we cross to Cannes as the Monocle team hits the International Luxury Travel Market.
President-elect Donald J. Trump’s decision to install Kash Patel as F.B.I. director indicates that he remains undaunted by Washington resistance as he appoints ideological warriors, conspiracy theorists and even relatives.
In a letter, the Democratic leader said members of his party would work with Republicans to consider the president-elect’s nominees — but asserted they should undergo traditional Senate vetting.
Tensions Rise Among Russia’s Elite as Economic Growth Slows
The slowdown is worrying for the Kremlin but not serious enough to significantly hobble its war effort.
TRACKS – Travel Documentaries (December 2, 2024): Outdoor filmmaker Jeff Aiello and his Emmy Award-Winning team embark on a thrilling adventure on Alaska’s Kenai River, where the group fishes for sockeye salmon, hikes through lush temperate forests, and visits the historic seaside town of Homer, including the iconic Salty Dog Saloon.
They also travel to Iceland, exploring breathtaking sites like Diamond Beach, Gullfoss, and the remote highlands, showcasing the raw beauty and untouched wilderness of these extraordinary destinations.
After spending years painting the media as the “enemy of the people,” Donald Trump is ready to intensify his battle against the journalists who cover him. By David Remnick
R.F.K., Jr., Wants to Eliminate Fluoridated Water. He Used to Bottle and Sell It
Donald Trump’s nominee to lead H.H.S. once started a bottled-water line, Keeper Springs. What was in it? By Charles Bethea
On the Block: Where Jerry Lewis and Buddy Hackett Once Schvitzed
The tummlers have moved on, but the distinctive Friars Club building, in midtown, is going to the highest bidder. By Bruce Handy
Monocle Radio Podcast (December 2, 2024): The latest from Syria as Russia fails to contain a rebel offensive on Aleppo, Icelanders vote after the collapse of a fraught coalition government,
Jamaica’s tourism minister joins us ahead of the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes. Then we bring you the global paper review and the latest business news. Plus: Why Santa won’t be coming to France.
Forces opposed to President Bashar al-Assad have captured the Aleppo airport and are attacking the western city of Hama, according to local officials and a Britain-based war monitor.
Amphibious operations across the Dnipro River at Kherson illustrated the suffering and endurance of Ukrainian forces. A team of Times journalists observed the perilous movements.
Several lawmakers expressed support on Sunday for the president-elect’s plan to install a loyalist who has vowed to use the position to exact revenge on adversaries.
A Second Trump Term Poses a Crucial Test of the Senate’s Independence
President-elect Donald J. Trump is threatening to challenge the institution’s historic role, and the Constitution, with his prospective nominees and threats to push the boundaries of executive authority.
News, Views and Reviews For The Intellectually Curious
Boomers Daily 