Tag Archives: Travel

The New York Times — Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024

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As Hegseth Vows to Fight, Trump Considers DeSantis for Defense Secretary

The president-elect appeared to be having serious conversations about picking Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida as Pete Hegseth, the current selection, dismissed the allegations against him.

Manhunt Enters Second Day After Health Executive Is Gunned Down in Manhattan

Brian Thompson, the chief executive at UnitedHealthcare, was shot in the back in Midtown Manhattan by a killer who then walked coolly away.

Lawmakers Move to Impeach South Korean Leader After Failed Martial Law Bid

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempt to break a political deadlock by imposing military rule collapsed within hours, leaving him with few defenders. A vote to impeach him could come as soon as Friday.

Supreme Court Inclined to Uphold Tennessee Law on Transgender Care

The justices heard arguments on Wednesday over whether Tennessee can ban some medical treatments for transgender youth. More than 20 other states have similar laws.

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The New York Times — Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024

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South Korea President Declares Martial Law, Then Backs Down

Soon after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration on Tuesday, lawmakers voted to defy him, prompting the president to say he was lifting his order.

Justice Dept.’s Apolitical Tradition Is Challenged by 2 Presidents

The post-Watergate norm that political leaders should steer clear of criminal cases is being tested from opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Inside the Supreme Court Ethics Debate: Who Judges the Justices?

In private meetings and memos, the justices made new rules for themselves — then split on whether they could, or should, be enforced.

Supreme Court Returns to a Culture War Battleground: Transgender Rights

On Wednesday, the justices will hear the marquee case of the term, a challenge to a Tennessee law banning several forms of medical care for transgender youths.

Arts & Literature, Culture, Homes, Magazines, Previews, Reviews

Country Life Magazine – December 4, 2024 Preview

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Country Life Magazine (December 3, 2024): The latest issue features ‘The Full English’ – Why our homegrown style is back….

London Life

Richard MacKichan finds Sir Paul Smith rockin’ around Claridge’s Christmas tree
Catriona Gray meets the movers and shakers of the capital’s art world
All you need to know this month in the capital

Caroline Moorehead’s favourite painting

The author selects a portrait that shows the ‘very essence of what it was to be Sicilian’

The world turned upside down

Carla Carlisle—wife of a farmer and a diversifier extraordinaire— offers an insider’s view on the Government’s ‘Great Betrayal’

What to look for in winter

Now is not the time to hibernate, suggests John Wright, as he encourages us to appreciate the countryside’s stark, intricate beauty in these colder months

Putting in a Good Word

Lucy Denton delves into the remarkable history of Stationers’ Hall, the central London home of the Worshipful Company of Stationers for the past 400 years

The legacy

Amie Elizabeth White hails Henry Cole, inventor of Christmas cards

The rocky-pool horror show

John Lewis-Stempel loves to be beside the seaside as he examines the enduring appeal of England’s glorious coastline

Bowler me over

Matthew Dennison tips his hat to the rural origins of the bowler as he celebrates its 175th birthday

A touch of frost

Beware an ill wind blowing us into 2025, warns Lia Leendertz

Piste de résistance

Joseph Phelan finds a business on an upslope when he visits the last ski-maker in Scotland

Eyes wide shut

Sleep in art is often drunken, deadly or the stuff of nightmares, but rarely is it peaceful, as Claudia Pritchard discovers

Size matters

Charles Quest-Ritson cranes his neck to take in the sheer scale of the specimens at West Sussex’s Architectural Plants

Kitchen garden cook

Melanie Johnson on sprouts

Travel

Life in Grenada quickly grows on Rosie Paterson
Catamarans and cabanas
Jamaica’s Blue Mountains are heaven for Steven King
Fine dining is the holy grail for Pamela Goodman

Arts & Literature, Culture, History, Magazines, Science, Society

Culture: The American Scholar – Winter 2025

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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.

Under a Spell Everlasting

Thomas Mann’s Magic Mountain, published a century ago, tells of a world unable to free itself from the cataclysm of war By Samantha Rose Hill

Aging Out

Many of us do not go gentle into that good night

The Fair Fields

Only rarely did the outside world intrude on an idyllic Connecticut childhood, but in the tumultuous 1960s, that intrusion included an encounter with evil

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

Australia Design: Burnt Earth Beach House Tour

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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.

#Architect #Nature #Home

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The New York Times — Tuesday, December 3, 2024

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In Pardoning His Son, Biden Echoes Some of Trump’s Complaints

President Biden complained about selective prosecution and political pressure in a system he has spent his public life defending.

Trump Doubles Down on Defiance After the Collapse of the Matt Gaetz Selection

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.

Schumer Presses for F.B.I. Checks and Senate Consideration of Trump Nominees

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.

Documentaries, Landscape, Tours, Travel, Videos

Travel Tour: Iceland And Alaska’s Frozen Wonders

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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.

#tracks #iceland #alaska

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The New York Times — Monday, December 2, 2024

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Fighting Rages in Syria as Rebels Advance

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.

Ukraine’s River of Anguish

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.

Republicans Stand Behind Trump’s Choice of Kash Patel to Lead F.B.I.

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.

Arts & Literature, Books, Newspapers, Previews, Reviews

The New York Times Book Review – December 1, 2024

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THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW (December 1, 2024): The latest issue features ‘Unfinished Business’ – “The City and Its Uncertain Walls features all of Haruki Murakami’s signature elements — and his singular voice — in a new version of an old story.

100 Notable Books of 2024

Here are the year’s notable fiction, poetry and nonfiction, chosen by the staff of The New York Times Book Review.

How the World’s Largest Democracy Slid Toward Authoritarianism

“The New India,” by Rahul Bhatia, combines personal history and investigative journalism to account for his country’s turn to militant Hindu nationalism.

What Exactly Is Morning Mist? And Other Questions.

In “The Miraculous From the Material,” the best-selling author Alan Lightman examines the science behind the wonder.

Angela Merkel Tells Us What She Really Thinks

In her memoir, the former German chancellor reflects on her political rise and defends her record as the outlook for her country turns grim.

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The New York Times — Sunday, December 1, 2024

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Rebels Seize Control Over Most of Syria’s Largest City

The rapid advance on Aleppo came just four days into a surprise opposition offensive that is the most intense escalation in years in the civil war.

Trump Says He Will Nominate Kash Patel to Run F.B.I.

President-elect Donald J. Trump turned to a firebrand loyalist to become director of the bureau, which he sees as part of a ‘deep state’ conspiracy against him.

Kennedy’s Inheritance: How Addiction and Trauma Shaped a Turbulent Life

Donald Trump’s pick to be health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reached a pinnacle of power after a life of fame and addictions and a career intertwined with conspiracy theories.