Latest news with #Neoclassical
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brits urged to ditch Santorini and Mykonos for beautiful crowd-free island
The absence of mass tourism means you can connect with Greek island life and enjoy the company of likeable locals without the hustle and bustle of the country's holiday hotspots British holidaymakers often default to Santorini or Mykonos when planning a Greek island getaway, drawn by the stunning beaches, whitewashed villages, iconic sunsets and buzzing nightlife. But while these islands have become victims of their own popularity — crawling with tourists, commercialised and increasingly expensive — the lesser-known isle of Hydra offers a crowd- and car-free alternative promising a more authentic, tranquil and enriching escape. This Saronic gem, renowned for its calming atmosphere and absence of automobiles — the sole exception to the vehicle ban is bin collection trucks — is located just an hour and a quarter from Athens. Without honking horns and revving engines, the tiny island exudes a rare peacefulness that encourages visitors to mellow out and truly unwind. On Hydra, goods and luggage are transported by donkeys and mules — it houses the largest herd of working equines in the world. Cat lovers are also in for a treat, as Hydra's streets are full of friendly felines. Much of Hydra's charm lies in its preservation of traditional Greek island life. The absence of mass tourism means you can wander whitewashed lanes, marvel at the and Neoclassical mansions, discover hidden courtyards and enjoy the company of likeable locals without the hustle and bustle. Even in peak season, Hydra remains blissfully uncrowded compared to its Cycladic cousins. Hydra has long been a haven for artists, writers and musicians. The legendary Leonard Cohen famously lived there for several years, drawing inspiration for this song Bird on the Wire (1969) from the island. Today, the island continues to attract creative souls, with contemporary art galleries nestled alongside historic heritage sites. The Deste Foundation Project Space, perched above the sea, hosts edgy exhibitions, while the Historical Archive Museum offers a deep dive into Hydra's pivotal role in the Greek War of Independence. The rugged landscape is ideal for exploration, with over 300 chapels and monasteries scattered across Hydra. Hiking enthusiasts can wander scenic trails through the isle's olive groves and along dramatic cliffs. The coastline is dotted with hidden coves and pebbly beaches, many of which are only accessible by boat — perfect for those seeking solitude and unspoiled swimming spots. Adventurous visitors can also try diving among ancient shipwrecks or join local fishermen for a traditional line-fishing experience. Unlike Santorini and Mykonos, which often require long ferry rides or chaotic airport transfers, Hydra is a straightforward 75-minute catamaran journey from Athens' port of Piraeus. As soon as you arrive, you'll be immersed in a world that feels both ancient and alive. So while Santorini is famed for its volcanic caldera views and stunning sunsets, and Mykonos its buzzing beach clubs, Hydra invites you to slow down, decompress and connect with the simple joys of Greek island life.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Barabak: It's not just Biden. There's a history of presidential health cover-ups
Suddenly, it's 2024 all over again. Once more we're litigating Joe Biden's catatonic debate performance, his lumbering gait, his moth-eaten memory and his selfish delusion he deserved a second term in the White House while shuffling through his ninth decade on earth. Biden's abrupt announcement he faces an advanced form of prostate cancer has only served to increase speculation over what the president's inner circle knew, and when they knew it. "Original Sin," a book by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, published this week, is chock-full of anecdotes illustrating the lengths to which Biden's family and palace guard worked to shield his mental and physical lapses from voters. John Robert Greene is not at all surprised. 'It's old news, hiding presidential illness,' said Greene, who's written a shelf full of books on presidents and the presidency. 'I can't think of too many … who've been the picture of health.' Before we go further, let's state for the record this in no way condones the actions of Biden and his political enablers. To be clear, let's repeat it in capital letters: WHAT BIDEN AND HIS HANDLERS DID WAS WRONG. But, as Greene states, it was not unprecedented or terribly unusual. History abounds with examples of presidential maladies being minimized, or kept secret. Read more: Cancer diagnosis and a new book fuel questions about Biden's decision to run in 2024 Grover Cleveland underwent surgery for oral cancer on a yacht in New York Harbor to keep his condition from being widely known. Woodrow Wilson suffered a debilitating stroke, a fact covered up by his wife and confidants, who exercised extraordinary power in his stead. Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy both suffered serious, chronic ailments that were kept well away from the public eye. Those surrounding Ronald Reagan downplayed his injuries after a 1981 assassination attempt, and the Trump administration misled the public about the seriousness of the president's condition after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 a month before the 2020 election. The capacity to misdirect, in Biden's case, or mislead, as happened under Trump, illustrates one of the magical features of the White House: the ability of a president to conceal himself in plain sight. Read more: Biden is diagnosed with 'aggressive' form of prostate cancer "When you're in the presidency, there is nothing that you can't hide for awhile," Greene, an emeritus history professor at Cazenovia College, said from his home in upstate New York. "You've got everything at your disposal to live a completely hidden double life, if you want. Everything from the Secret Service to the bubble of the White House." Greene likened the Neoclassical mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to a giant fish bowl — one that is painted from the inside. It's highly visible, but you can't really see what's happening in the interior. That deflates the notion there was some grand media conspiracy to prop Biden up. (Sorry, haters.) Yes, detractors will say it was plain as the dawning day that Biden was demented, diminished and obviously not up to the job of the presidency. Today, Trump's critics say the same sort of thing about him; from their armchairs, they even deliver quite specific diagnoses: He suffers dementia, or Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. That doesn't make it so. "It's a very politicized process. People see what they want to see," said Jacob Appel, a professor of psychiatry and medical education at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York City, who's writing a book on presidential health. "You can watch videotapes of Ronald Reagan in 1987," Appel said, "and, depending on your view of him. you can see him as sharp and funny as ever, or being on the cusp of dementia." (Five years after leaving the White House, Reagan — then 83 — announced he was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.) To an uncomfortable degree, those covering the White House — and, by extension, the public they serve — are forced to rely on whatever the White House chooses to reveal. "I don't have subpoena power,' Tapper told The Times' Stephen Battaglio, saying he would have eagerly published the details contained in his new book had sources been willing to come forth while Biden was still in power. 'We were just lied to over and over again." It hasn't always been that way. In September 1955, during his first term, President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a heart attack while on a golf vacation in Denver. ""It was sudden," said Jim Newton, an Eisenhower biographer. "One minute he's fine and the next minute he was flat on his back, quite literally." The details surrounding Eisenhower's immediate treatment remain a mystery, though Newton suggests that may have had more do with protecting his personal physician, who misdiagnosed the heart attack as a bout of indigestion, than a purposeful attempt to mislead the public. From then on, the White House was forthcoming — offering daily reports on what Eisenhower ate, his blood pressure, the results of various tests — to a point that it embarrassed the president. (Among the information released was an accounting of Ike's bowel movements.) Read more: 6 doctors on Biden's cancer diagnosis, how it may have arisen and his treatment options "They were self-consciously transparent," Newton said. "The White House looked to the Wilson example as something not to emulate." Less than 14 months later, Eisenhower had sufficiently recovered — and voters had enough faith in his well-being — that he won his second term in a landslide. But that 70-year-old example is a notable exception. As long as there are White House staffers, campaign advisers, political strategists and family members, presidents will be surrounded by people with an incentive to downplay, minimize or obfuscate any physical or mental maladies they face while in office. All we can do is wait — years, decades — for the truth to come out. And, in the meantime, hope for the best. Get the latest from Mark Z. BarabakFocusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
It's not just Biden. There's a history of presidential health cover-ups
Suddenly, it's 2024 all over again. Once more we're litigating Joe Biden's catatonic debate performance, his lumbering gait, his moth-eaten memory and his selfish delusion he deserved a second term in the White House while shuffling through his ninth decade on earth. Biden's abrupt announcement he faces an advanced form of prostate cancer has only served to increase speculation over what the president's inner circle knew, and when they knew it. 'Original Sin,' a book by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, published this week, is chock-full of anecdotes illustrating the lengths to which Biden's family and palace guard worked to shield his mental and physical lapses from voters. John Robert Greene is not at all surprised. 'It's old news, hiding presidential illness,' said Greene, who's written a shelf full of books on presidents and the presidency. 'I can't think of too many … who've been the picture of health.' Before we go further, let's state for the record this in no way condones the actions of Biden and his political enablers. To be clear, let's repeat it in capital letters: WHAT BIDEN AND HIS HANDLERS DID WAS WRONG. But, as Greene states, it was not unprecedented or terribly unusual. History abounds with examples of presidential maladies being minimized, or kept secret. Grover Cleveland underwent surgery for oral cancer on a yacht in New York Harbor to keep his condition from being widely known. Woodrow Wilson suffered a debilitating stroke, a fact covered up by his wife and confidants, who exercised extraordinary power in his stead. Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy both suffered serious, chronic ailments that were kept well away from the public eye. Those surrounding Ronald Reagan downplayed his injuries after a 1981 assassination attempt, and the Trump administration misled the public about the seriousness of the president's condition after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 a month before the 2020 election. The capacity to misdirect, in Biden's case, or mislead, as happened under Trump, illustrates one of the magical features of the White House: the ability of a president to conceal himself in plain sight. 'When you're in the presidency, there is nothing that you can't hide for awhile,' Greene, an emeritus history professor at Cazenovia College, said from his home in upstate New York. 'You've got everything at your disposal to live a completely hidden double life, if you want. Everything from the Secret Service to the bubble of the White House.' Greene likened the Neoclassical mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to a giant fish bowl — one that is painted from the inside. It's highly visible, but you can't really see what's happening in the interior. That deflates the notion there was some grand media conspiracy to prop Biden up. (Sorry, haters.) Yes, detractors will say it was plain as the dawning day that Biden was demented, diminished and obviously not up to the job of the presidency. Today, Trump's critics say the same sort of thing about him; from their armchairs, they even deliver quite specific diagnoses: He suffers dementia, or Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. That doesn't make it so. 'It's a very politicized process. People see what they want to see,' said Jacob Appel, a professor of psychiatry and medical education at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York City, who's writing a book on presidential health. 'You can watch videotapes of Ronald Reagan in 1987,' Appel said, 'and, depending on your view of him. you can see him as sharp and funny as ever, or being on the cusp of dementia.' (Five years after leaving the White House, Reagan — then 83 — announced he was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.) To an uncomfortable degree, those covering the White House — and, by extension, the public they serve — are forced to rely on whatever the White House chooses to reveal. 'I don't have subpoena power,' Tapper told The Times' Stephen Battaglio, saying he would have eagerly published the details contained in his new book had sources been willing to come forth while Biden was still in power. 'We were just lied to over and over again.' It hasn't always been that way. In September 1955, during his first term, President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a heart attack while on a golf vacation in Denver. ''It was sudden,' said Jim Newton, an Eisenhower biographer. 'One minute he's fine and the next minute he was flat on his back, quite literally.' The details surrounding Eisenhower's immediate treatment remain a mystery, though Newton suggests that may have had more do with protecting his personal physician, who misdiagnosed the heart attack as a bout of indigestion, than a purposeful attempt to mislead the public. From then on, the White House was forthcoming — offering daily reports on what Eisenhower ate, his blood pressure, the results of various tests — to a point that it embarrassed the president. (Among the information released was an accounting of Ike's bowel movements.) 'They were self-consciously transparent,' Newton said. 'The White House looked to the Wilson example as something not to emulate.' Less than 14 months later, Eisenhower had sufficiently recovered — and voters had enough faith in his well-being — that he won his second term in a landslide. But that 70-year-old example is a notable exception. As long as there are White House staffers, campaign advisers, political strategists and family members, presidents will be surrounded by people with an incentive to downplay, minimize or obfuscate any physical or mental maladies they face while in office. All we can do is wait — years, decades — for the truth to come out. And, in the meantime, hope for the best.
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Why you should swap Santorini and Mykonos for this peaceful Greek island instead
Stepping off the catamaran onto Hydra's ancient harbour feels like entering a living painting – an island caught between myth and a Mediterranean daydream. Unlike the high-energy crowds of Santorini or Mykonos, Hydra is calm, considered and blissfully car-free. On this diminutive island just 75 minutes from Athens, donkeys transport visitors' luggage, fishermen sit quayside mending their nets, and the island soundtrack features the gentle sound of water lapping the shore and the rhythmic clopping of hooves. This Saronic Island jewel delivers the charm of the Cyclades, without the chaos and crowds. Even on my fourth visit, Hydra still waves her magic wand. I don't think I will ever tire of her hidden coves, whitewashed alleyways leading to bougainvillea-bright courtyards and the proud Neoclassical mansions standing testament to the island's naval history. Hydra's magic is both aesthetic and visceral. A preservation order bans motor vehicles – only an ambulance, fire truck and refuse lorry are permitted. No motorbikes either. All goods, from groceries, building materials and household supplies, are transported by donkeys and mules. The island is not just quaint; it's transformative. Hydra has the largest herd of working equines in the world, and the absence of engines lends a softness to life. Animals are relaxed, people are unhurried. Even the cats – Hydra is full of them – are mellow and happy to saunter over for a scratch rather than dash away. With no traffic noise to contend with, the peacefulness seeps into your soul. I found myself breathing deeper, moving more slowly and absorbing Hydra's rare, undisturbed energy. Artists have long been drawn to its shores, from Leonard Cohen, who lived here and whose song 'Bird on the Wire' was said to be inspired by the island, to Jeff Koons, whose 2022 exhibition transformed the Deste Foundation Project Space Slaughterhouse into a sunlit shrine to Apollo. This edgy, seasonal art venue is perched dramatically above the sea, crowned by a massive bronze and copper alloy sun. For a more traditional side of history, visit the Historical Archive Museum of Hydra near the port. Inside its handsome Neoclassical mansion, I enjoyed the naval paintings and intricate ship models, and pored over handwritten letters that tell the story of Hydra's vital role in the Greek War of Independence. While the port's charms are undeniable, Hydra invites you to explore further. You can saddle up and ride a horse through olive groves, past centuries-old chapels – there are over 300 to discover dotted across the island. You could also charter a boat to circle the island and discover secluded beaches only accessible by sea, or cross to nearby Dokos island to dive among ancient shipwrecks and underwater cliffs. For a taster of authentic island life, try traditional line fishing experiences aboard wooden caiques run by local fishermen whose families have worked these waters for generations. As travel fever once again grips popular Greek islands such as Santorini and Mykonos, Hydra offers a compelling alternative. No airport chaos, no hours-long ferry rides, no jostling for the perfect sunset snap. Ferries are expensive throughout Greece, and the 75-minute catamaran ride from Athens to Hydra is no exception, starting from €60 (£50) return. But then you are there, in a place that feels both preserved and alive, chic yet authentic. Whether you're swimming beneath ancient cliffs, sipping wine on a sand-speckled terrace, exploring bold art installations, or simply watching the sunset from the harbour, Hydra has a way of making you slow down, breathe deeper and stay longer. Yes, Mykonos has pulsing beach clubs and Santorini has its famous sunsets – but Hydra has soul. And that is the Greek island escape I'm chasing. How to do it Where to stay The five-star Mandraki Beach Resort (from €280 per night) is set on Hydra's only sandy beach. Tucked into Mandraki bay – a 10-minute water taxi ride from the harbour, transfers provided until 11pm – this former 19th-century shipbuilding yard has been reimagined into a unique escape with just 17 suites decked out with natural materials, original stone archways and soft linens. The real treat is Captain M, the resort's open-air restaurant, where dishes such as cauliflower couscous salad and seabream with creamed potatoes are seasonal and rooted in Greek tradition with playful modern twists. I enjoyed dinner with a chilled glass of assyrtiko as the sun set over the Peloponnese. Easyjet flies from London Gatwick to Athens from £90 return; catch the 75-minute catamaran from Athens to Hydra, from €60 (£50) return.
Business Insider
12-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
How student finance clubs seized control of the path to Wall Street
In his first week as a freshman at Columbia University, Jordan Cancel, a Floridian who was then 18, saw just how competitive a career path to finance would be. Outside the iconic Butler Library, known for its Neoclassical columns, mobs of students were clamoring to get to informational booths set up by the college's finance and business clubs. "There were lines and lines of kids queued up at these club booths," Cancel, now 20, recalled in an interview with Business Insider. The students, he said, were all vying to converse with the clubs' leaders and make a good impression. "I was just honestly really overwhelmed." Weeks later, heading to his first admissions interview with one of these clubs, the stakes felt palpable. Cancel recalled reading the Excel sheet with timeslots for a lengthy list of applicants as he waited for his name to be called. He brought plenty of résumé copies and dressed in business formal, "down to the shoes," because he'd heard that assessment metrics included attire. "I was so beyond scared," said Cancel, who was ultimately accepted into the club. As part of Business Insider's series on career paths in finance, we interviewed about 30 students from schools popular with Wall Street recruiters, including the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, New York University, and Georgetown University. They described how campus business and finance clubs had become a crucial gateway to a career on Wall Street. These are extracurricular, student-run groups — like a chess club or drama society — that come with names like the "investing banking club" or the "finance club." Some run full-fledged investment funds, while others are Greek fraternities that recruit students majoring in business, finance, marketing, or accounting. What distinguishes them is that they tend to offer their members VIP access to campus recruiters, specialized training sessions, and other tools to help students snag the all-important investment banking internship, which is the best path to a full-time job after graduation. The catch? Their perks have created a race for membership, and the admissions process to join a club can be as cutthroat as the industry itself. You want to be part of the résumé book. This is the latest in a series of stories exploring careers in finance, how they are changing, and how these shifts are affecting young people. The clubs help Wall Street employers by creating a clear pipeline of job candidates, and firms have been known to cater to them as a result. While it's unclear exactly when these clubs became must-haves for a Wall Street job, the people who spoke with BI tended to agree that the situation reflected a race among employers to recruit talent earlier and earlier. A Wharton sophomore said he knew of high school students who'd started preparing to get into clubs as soon as they were accepted to college — before they'd even arrived on campus. "I remember my senior year, after I got into college, I was just messing around. I was just having fun," but that's not the case anymore, he said, adding: "You've gotten into these places and it's like, all right, now work on building a DCF" — a valuation method. "It's outrageous." To be sure, the club scene has long been exclusive. From the "eating clubs" at Princeton to the average sorority, organizations will choose members based on social interactions, pedigree, and background. What makes the financial and business clubs different is that they are less about making friends or exploring new interests and more about your résumé. This has led to a degree of meritocracy, with the clubs requiring wannabe members to prove they have enough know-how and genuine interest to join. Club leaders from three schools told BI that their organizations accepted less than 10% of their freshman applicants, who numbered 150 to 300 in recent years. The interest makes sense. Members get exclusive exposure to the industry, including training and tips from upperclassmen who have already gone through Wall Street's rigorous internship application process. Some clubs give their members real money to manage — whether a percentage of the university's endowment or capital from members and alumni. It's hypercompetitive, it's overwhelming, and you have to be pushing constantly. Firm recruiters often interact with student clubs, granting members special access to meetings and events. A club might, for example, invite employees of a bank (often school alumni) to give a presentation on their summer analyst program, followed by one-on-one "coffee chats" with members. One student club leader said he landed an investment banking internship because members of his club were invited to visit the firm's headquarters. The club leader is one of many students who asked to remain anonymous to protect their future careers. "I have so many opportunities to network internally and have specific résumé drop links that these recruiters give to the club specifically, that are only open to members," he told BI about his campus club experience. "You want to be part of the résumé book." The hedge fund Balyasny went to campus clubs to find candidates for its recent stock pitch competitions, which it uses to identify talent. A private equity worker, meanwhile, said the "No. 1 thing" she looked for when she was a recruiting captain of an investment bank was whether students from her alma mater had been members of "the two most prestigious investment clubs on campus." Some students have balked at the rule, saying it puts them behind in recruiting for Wall Street internships, which students must apply for halfway through their sophomore year. "Kids are just so much less prepared," one student told the Georgetown Voice of the impact the rule was having on students interested in working on Wall Street. The student publication reported that the rule wasn't making the admissions process any less competitive and was just delaying the flood of applications. While the pressure these young people face may feel exaggerated, there are plenty of signs that the stakes are all too real. Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs have disclosed record levels of applicants to their internship programs. And Wall Street's earlier-than-ever recruiting schedule compelled Steve Sibley, a professor at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, to move an introductory corporate finance class he runs from the fall of students' sophomore year to the spring of their freshman year. "We realized we weren't offering classes early enough for these students," he said. The end result has been a club culture that often mimics the industry itself, including a cutthroat selection process. Some clubs conduct three to five rounds of interviews, students told BI, which can involve a résumé review (yes, your high school résumé), a social assessment, and multiple technical rounds in which you'll be grilled on real-world finance questions. The club leader described a freshman applicant who froze and started crying after flubbing a question. It was hard to watch, and, needless to say, the student didn't make it to the next round. "Of course it sucks when you have to reject people," the club leader said. "But at the end of the day, we have X amount of applicants and a limited number of spots. And that is literally just how the industry is set up as well. It's hypercompetitive, it's overwhelming, and you have to be pushing constantly." Most of the students BI spoke with echoed that low acceptance rates were extreme and sometimes ridiculous. They also said it's this way for a reason, including the difficulty of managing and teaching hundreds of other students. "We only have so much bandwidth as people running the club," a Wharton junior said. "The impact is lower if you're dealing with 300." Also, for better or worse, being a sought-after club brings a level of prestige and bragging rights for those who manage to get in. "You want to be in the club where so many people want to get in," the club leader said. As a freshman at Georgetown University in the fall of 2022, Jonathan Rothschild refused to apply to finance clubs his first semester, he said, once he learned about the rigorous interview processes and acceptance rates of under 10%. "I was like, look, I just got here. I don't even know if I want to be in this club, let alone if I want to do five rounds of interviews for it," he told BI. "I don't think that's how we should be treating people freshman year." That choice led him to Georgetown Collegiate Investors during his second semester, a student-owned investment fund that lets any student participate in its training program and later become a "junior analyst" on the team if they pass a basic knowledge test. The fund has more than $150,000 in assets under management, money raised from current and former student members. Rothschild, now a junior and co-CEO of GCI, argues that the selective of these clubs favors people who have been exposed to finance early in life. "If you're only accepting 5% of the people, you're getting the people who already know what they're doing," he said, adding: "I'm not saying take everyone, but you could take 25% of people at Georgetown and be fine." The very students who lack the background or knowledge to get into these clubs are the ones who stand to benefit most, he said. "That's always been our selling point: We'll train you, we'll get you ready, you don't need prior knowledge, we will teach you."
