Judge Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed as the Supreme Court replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsburg on 27 October, barely a week before the presidential election. After Justice Ginsburg’s death on 18 September, the nomination of a new Justice became a political battle. Justice Ginsburg was one of the four Democratic-nominated Justices out of the nine … Continue reading “Supreme Court Confirmation Rushed Through”
We all need a bit of beauty in these difficult times, and the inspiring example of dancers who are continuing to practise their art even in lockdown. And for a literary fix, see how the emotions of great classics like Jane Eyre and The Handmaid’s Tale can be expressed through ballet. Ballet companies from around … Continue reading “World Ballet Day”
New Zealand’s 17 October election was originally scheduled on a historically significant day: 19 September, the annual anniversary of the date in 1893 when New Zealand women became the first in the world to legally vote. It was postponed because of Covid but was historic anyway: the Labour party became the first in 24 years … Continue reading “New Zealand gives Jacinda Ardern and Labour a Landslide”
To celebrate Black History Month 2020, the British Post Office painted some of its iconic red post boxes black and adorned them with the portraits and stories of notable black Britons. The boxes show biographical information about the person featured, and passers by can scan a code to access a Black History Month gallery of … Continue reading “Painting the Town Black”
Lors de la reprise des cours en présentiel début juin 2020, le défi a été de poursuivre le travail ensemble selon de nouvelles modalités, à savoir en présentiel pour certains élèves et en distanciel pour d’autres élèves. Continuité des outils numériques connus et maîtrisés de tous J’ai abordé cette période inédite en optant pour une … Continue reading “Black Lives Matter : Travail collaboratif et éducation aux médias autour d’un sujet d’actualité”
All U.S. states are not equal when it comes to time and budget lavished on them by presidential candidates and political parties. Most of the focus is on states which are variously referred to as swing states, battleground states or purple states. In the presidential election, it’s not the national popular vote that counts, but … Continue reading “Red, Blue or Purple States: a Colorful Guide to U.S. Elections”
American poet Louise Glück won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature for “her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal”, the Swedish Academy said on Thursday. "It's too new … it's too early here." Take a listen to this brief conversation with new Literature Laureate Louise Glück, recorded shortly after the … Continue reading “2020 Nobel Prize in Literature for American poet Louise Gluck”
Despite the coronavirus, the Musée Jacquemart-André has a great retrospective of the work of JMW Turner (1775-1851), with the “Turner, peintures et aquarelles de la Tate” exhibition. Running to January 11, 2021. The Musée Jacquemart-André is paying tribute to one of the best-known English artists and the greatest representative of the golden age of English … Continue reading “Private Turner: Watercolours and Paintings”
The Fondation Louis Vuitton reopened its doors to the public on September 23 with a special show featuring the work of American photographer Cindy Sherman. Sherman’s thematic self-portraits are a reflection on the portrayal of women in modern society. This is the first solo show dedicated to the artist since her 2006 exhibition at the … Continue reading “Cindy Sherman Self-Portraits: Hiding in Plain Sight”
On 2 October, the White House announced that President Trump and the First Lady, Melania, had both tested positive for Covid 19, and were self-isolating in the presidential residence. Mr Trump therefore has to interrupt his campaign for re-election and the remaining presidential TV debates are put in doubt. Mr Trump announced the news in … Continue reading “Campaign Interrupted”