Amazing Places on Our Planet (November 10, 2023) –Besseggen Ridge is considered one of the best hikes in Scandinavia. It is situated in the Jotunheimen National Park in Norway. This epic trail runs between lakes of different colors and heights above sea level. It takes 6-8 hours to complete this challenging hike.
The Besseggen mountain ridge is forged by Thor, and one of the most known places in “The Home of the Giants” and Jotunheimen National Park. The unique aspects of this hike is the view across the ridge. The spectacular view is made from the two lakes the Gjende lake with the distinct green color, one the one side of the ridge and 400 meter above on the other side we find Bessvatnet with its blue color typical of other lakes.
The colors from Gjende is a result from glacier runoff containing clay and rock flour. Looking down towards Memurubu one can see the nearby river Muru coloring the water with a light colored runoff.
The Local Project (November 10, 2023) – Emerging out of the meadow is Peconic House by Mapos Studio, a family home with a rooftop garden located on a narrow stretch of landscape in Hampton Bays, New York.
Video timeline:00:00 – Introduction to the Architectural Family House 00:53 – Not the Typical Hamptons House 01:29 – Emerging from the Landscape 02:09 – A Noble Material Palette 03:26 – A Walkthrough of the Home 04:32 – Incorporating A Bit of Fun 05:35 – The Star of the Exterior 05:54 – Respecting the Site 06:18 – Proud Moments
Designed to be the opposite of a typical Hamptons home, Peconic House has been built out of materials that help it become part of the landscape. Emphasising red cedar – due to the clients’ love for the material – Mapos Studio employs the wood in both the interior design and exterior architectural elements. Throughout the house, the red cedar is used for cabinetry, walls and floorboards and also gives the interior a unique aroma.
Additionally, as shown in the house tour, the cedar over the exterior architecture will weather over time due to the salt air, humidity and seasons, allowing for the clients to watch their house slowly age. As the house tour travels into the main living space of the home, there is an expansive view of Peconic Bay that immediately grabs attention. Sunken behind a bookshelf is the main living area that doubles as the family’s band room and television room, separated only by a two-sided fireplace.
To the right of the family room is the dining room and kitchen, which has become the heart of the home. Though the residence sprawls over 3,800 square metres, Mapos Studio has broken it up into smaller spaces to encourage more intimate family gatherings and connections. Moreover, there is a green roof with an overhanging sycamore tree that allows the children to climb up it and play in the rooftop garden. Designed for a New York family of five, the house encourages social connection.
Architectural Digest (November 9, 2023) – From the epic halls of The Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Guggenheim, New York City is home to some of the most famous museums in the world, each one looking completely different from the next.
Today Michael Wyetzner of Michielli + Wyetzner Architects returns to AD for an in-depth look at how the iconic museums and art galleries of NYC developed their unique designs and became some of the city’s best landmarks.
Director: Hiatt Woods; Director of Photography: Charlie Jordan; Editor: Alex Mechanik; Host: Michael Wyetzner
The Globalist Podcast (November 10, 2023) –The latest on the conflict in Gaza and whether Qatar can create stability in the Middle East.
Plus: Myanmar and Russia hold their first joint naval drills, a flick through the day’s papers and Andrew Mueller’s irreverent roundup of the week’s news.
The decision by Senator Joe Manchin III will leave open a seat in a deeply red state, threatening Democrats’ hold on the Senate.
Vatican Says Transgender People Can Be Baptized and Become Godparents
A document approved by Pope Francis lays out nuanced guidance in keeping with his vision of a more inclusive church, but it does not amount to a policy change in the church, the Vatican says.
A New Law Supercharged Electric Car Manufacturing, but Not Sales
President Biden’s 2022 climate act spurred big investments in U.S. battery factories, but it has not similarly boosted E.V. sales.
The Economist SPECIAL REPORTS – CHINA’S ARMED FORCES (NOVEMBER 11, 2023): Overestimating China’s armed forces would be dangerous; Unknown soldiers – The People’s Liberation Army is not yet as formidable as the West fears; Rank indifference – China is struggling to recruit enough highly skilled troops; Weapons of woe – From hypersonic missiles to undersea drones, the PLA is making leaps…
Overestimating China’s armed forces would be dangerous, argues Jeremy Page
In 1957 america was gripped by fears of a “missile gap” with the Soviet Union. The Kremlin had stunned the world with a test flight of an intercontinental ballistic missile (icbm) and the launch of Sputnik. An American intelligence report predicted that by 1962, the Soviets could have 500 icbms, outstripping America’s arsenal. When word of that leaked, a political furore erupted. Eyeing the presidency from his Senate seat, John F. Kennedy demanded action to prevent a Soviet “shortcut to world domination”.
Science Magazine – November 10, 2023:The new issue features Mode-locked “chip lasers” generating intense ultrashort pulses of light have been the backbone of ultrafast sciences and technologies.
In thinking about the challenge of getting artificial intelligence (AI) to understand our complex world, I recalled a Twitter post from a user of Tesla’s self-driving system. The user tweeted that his car kept stopping abruptly at a particular location for no apparent reason. Then he noticed a billboard advertisement on the side of the road, featuring a sheriff holding up a stop sign. The car’s vision system had interpreted this as an actual stop sign, and slammed on the brakes.
Though it lies in ruins on the northeast coast of England, Kilton Castle was once an imposing stone fortress, home to several noble families, and—it appears—at least eight cats. Archaeological excavations in the 1960s uncovered a well, at the bottom of which lay the bones of several felines dating back to the 14th century. The animals were an odd mix: Some were domestic cats, but other, larger specimens appeared to be European wildcats, a fierce, burly species that has inhabited the continent for hundreds of thousands of years.
DISCOVER BRITAIN MAGAZINE (OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2023 – The latest issue features Eastern delights – From punting in Cambridge to crabbing in Norfolk; Bloody Mary – Where England’s first Queen was proclaimed; London pubs – Perfectly pulled pints; Holkham Hall – Behind the scenes on the vast estate, and more…
TEDx Talks (November 9, 2023) – Competition is a core part of human nature, and it can drive us to extraordinary feats. But when it goes wrong, the results can be devastating.
Poker champion and science communicator Liv Boeree introduces us to the dark force of game theory driving many of humanity’s biggest social problems — a force that’s now threatening to derail the AI industry.
Olivia “Liv” Boeree is a British science communicator, television presenter and former professional poker player. She is a World Series of Poker and European Poker Tour champion, and is the only female player in history to win both a WSOP bracelet and an EPT event.
News, Views and Reviews For The Intellectually Curious
