Experience the marvel that is night-blooming tobacco By Leigh Ann Henion
In western North Carolina, the mountain growing season is short, and autumn is already tossing yellow-and-red confetti against my windshield as I drive the back roads to my friend Amy’s homestead. Curve after curve, I find locust trees that are a few shades lighter than they were last week. Buckeyes also seem well on their way to change. It is now hard to tell the difference between orange leaves falling and monarch butterfly wings rising. The signs of summer and fall, all intertwining.
Insider Business (September 6, 2024) – Henri Selmer Saxophones was founded in Paris in 1885. Today, the company is synonymous with high-end saxophones. The most popular saxophone it sells, the Series II alto, starts at about $7,000, but a Selmer can cost you as much as $30,000, depending on the customization and finishes like gold plating.
John Coltrane, one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, used Selmer saxophones in his performances. He recorded his magnum opus, “A Love Supreme,” on a Mark VI. One of his Mark VI tenor saxophones is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
Musicians are willing to pay for a Selmer for a variety of reasons: the familiar sound, the history behind the brand, the craftsmanship and attention to detail, and the playability.
Bali: A long-distance hike through the Indonesian island’s forested interior Ireland: Exploring the ancient landscapes of the Burren, County Clare New Mexico: Meet the rangers protecting the US state’s wealth of parks and monuments Morocco: Itineraries to experience the country’s bohemian cities, desert villages and more Athens: A layer cake of ancient and modern, the Greek capital overflows with intrigue Oxford: Rambling gardens and cosy bookshops in England’s ‘city of dreaming spires’ Cascais: Historic mansions, museums and moreish seafood on the Portuguese Riviera Ticino: Mediterranean and Alpine cuisines intermingle in this southerly Swiss canton Jamaica: The island’s best hotels, from secluded mountain cabins to intimate beachside escapes
National Geographic Traveller Magazine (June 11, 2024): The September 2024 issue features a look beyond Istanbul and the Turquoise Coast in Turkey to descend into the subterranean cities of Cappadocia, a feast in the blossoming culinary region of Urla, and a marvel at Edirne’s age-old oil wrestling festival. Plus, trekking in Sri Lanka, a weekend in Montenegro and a guide to Miami.
Also inside this issue:
Sri Lanka: The Indigenous Vedda people are leading immersive treks in the jungled highlands Valencia:Journey through the parks, wetlands and groves of 2024’s European Green Capital Austria: Drink up the views from Carinthia’s lakeside restaurants and lofty mountain trails Japan: Itineraries to experience the archipelago’s urban life, scattered islands and more Miami: Explore the influences that have shaped Florida’s sun-soaked capital Dublin: A guide to the Irish capital, from big-ticket attractions to intimate audiophile bars Bay of Kotor: From medieval towns to national parks, this is Montenegro at its prettiest Perth: The capital of Western Australia is fresh out of an unprecedented hotel boom
Plus, a Silk Road adventure in London’s British Museum; Spain’s Parador hotels unveil new tours; the global influences behind Guyanese cuisine; fine dining in Sorrento; the inside scoop on St John’s, Canada; canal boating trips in the UK; a bucolic escape in the Forest of Dean; the best autumn literary festivals; and portable kit for your next adventure.
We talk with author Oliver Smith on finding peace at Britian’s holy sites, and former astronaut José Hernández on reaching for the stars. In our Ask the Experts section, the experts give advice on digital nomad visas, planning a music-themed road trip in the US and more. The Info sets sail for Venice’s historical regatta, while Hot Topic explores the rise of tiger mosquitos across Europe and the Report asks whether costlier safaris really mean more money for conservation initiatives. Finally, photographer and writer Simon Urwin discusses capturing the otherworldly landscapes of Algeria in How I Got the Shot.
TRACKS – Travel Documentaries (August 6, 2024): Anagni, a medieval jewel in Italy’s crown, whispers the echoes of popes and ancient power through its storied streets and majestic cathedral. Its intricate Cosmatesque art and historical significance paint a vivid portrait of a city that has long been a beacon of spiritual and artistic heritage.
For nine days Thomas Middleton’s A Game at Chess was the greatest box office phenomenon of the English Renaissance. Then a warrant was issued for his arrest.
At the outset of the 1919 Paris Peace Conference Japan enjoyed a seat at the top table, but the vexed issue of racial equality set it and its notional Western allies on different paths.
WORLD ARCHAEOLOGY (July 18, 2024): The latest issude features ‘Pompeii’ – The biggest dig in a generation; AI and Archaeology – Reconstructing ancient landscapes; Creatures of The Nile – What animals did for Ancient Egypt…
The biggest dig at Pompeii in a generation is working to expose nearly an entire block of the ancient city. Archaeologists are making astonishing discoveries that shed powerful new light on life and death in the shadow of Vesuvius, as…
Ancient Egypt owed many debts to the creatures that lived in and beside the Nile. Both wild and domesticated animals offered an abundance of food, raw materials, and inspiration. But…
What can artificial intelligence bring to archaeology? Maurizio Forte introduces recent work dedicated to reconstructing ancient landscapes, and weighs some of the risks and rewards.
The discovery of an unsuspected family link to Christiansborg Castle, Ghana, led to a project examining a forgotten aspect of the transatlantic slave trade. Rachel Ama Asaa Engmann introduces us…
National Geographic Traveller Magazine (June 11, 2024): The July/August 2024 issue features a look beyond California’s vineyards and glacier-carved national parks to savour its tranquil coast, home to laid-back surf resorts and wave-lashed islands harbouring wildlife found nowhere else on Earth with the Jul/Aug 2024 issue. Plus, high-octane thrills in the deserts and mountains of Ras Al Khaimah and a slow journey along ancient trails in Cape Verde’s elemental hiking country.
Also inside this issue:
Ras Al Khaimah: The Emirate state of mountains, deserts and coastline is now emerging as an adventure hub Cape Verde: The West African archipelago is prime hiking country, with ancient trails running through farms and mountains Slovakia: The past is felt with every step in the central region of Horehronie, home to lush valleys and a diverse folk culture Peru: Unforgettable itineraries through which to discover the nation’s cuisine, culture and complex history Barcelona: There’s always time for one more cocktail on streets peppered with clandestine speakeasies Hamburg: Wedded to the water, Germany’s ‘gateway to the world’ has long welcomed the tides of change Danish Lakes:Dive into the waters around Silkeborg, where wild swimming spots mingle with fairytale forests South Devon: Award-winning wines, local rums and stellar farm shops in the south west Rome: Savour the Eternal City with a stay that incorporates its rich history, from secluded boutiques to grand palazzi
Plus, The return of Liguria’s much-loved Via dell’Amore; Ireland’s new national park; the story of Belgian cuisine; Tartu’s best hotels; a salsa-lovers guide to Cali, Colombia; Alpine thrills in Austria; a UK break in North Staffordshire; books for the summer months and kit for family trips to the coast.
We talk with author Sophie Yeo on the legacy of ice fishing in the Finnish wilderness, and ranger Edward Ndiritu on the future of anti-poaching in central Kenya. In our Ask the Experts section, the experts give advice on planning a food tour in Malaysia, low-impact French hiking holidays and more. The Info peeks behind the curtain of the Edinburgh Fringe, while Hot Topic explores the state of travel in Cyprus 50 years since its division. After a look at the winning images of this year’s Photo Competition, photographer Ulf Svane discusses distilling the magic of Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival for our June issue in How I got the shot.
THE AMERICAN SCHOLAR(June 4, 2024): The latest issue features ‘An Olympian for the Ages’ – Why George Eyser’s feats at the 1904 Games deserve to be celebrated today; Joshua Prager on a forgotten Olympian, Mickalene Thomas and the art of remixing, new poetry from Ange Mlinko, and more…
Is the convergence of human and machine really upon us?
The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI by Ray Kurzweil
In the fall of 2014, an MIT cognitive scientist named Tomaso Poggio predicted that humankind was at least 20 years away from building computers that could interpret images on their own. Doing so, declared Poggio, “would be one of the most intellectually challenging things … for a machine to do.” One month later, Google released an AI program that did exactly what he’d deemed impossible.
News, Views and Reviews For The Intellectually Curious
Insider Business
National Geographic Traveller Magazine (September 6, 2024): The October 2024 issue
Boomers Daily 