Rose III by German artist Isa Genzken was permanently installed earlier this fall at Zuccotti Park in downtown Manhattan. Weighing 1,000 pounds and standing over twenty-six feet tall, the yellow rose is forged from painted steel and is based on an actual rose that the artist herself picked, according to ArtNet. The sculpture was developed for production at her foundry Kunstgeisserei in St. Gallen, Switzerland. For Genzken, who has worked in various mediums, giant flowers have been a recurring theme for her. Laura Hoptman, executive director of the Drawing Center, tells ArtNet: “The Rose is both an homage to a city that Genzken knows and loves, and a strong statement for unity and equality that every passerby in this city of millions can enjoy.”
Rose III
DHS Proposes Changes to the H‑1B Visa Lottery Process
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last week a notice of proposed rulemaking that would require petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions to first electronically register with US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) during a designated registration period. Under this proposed rule, USCIS would also reverse the order by which USCIS selects H-1B petitions under the H-1B regular cap and the advanced degree exemption, a move the agency says would result in “a more meritorious selection of beneficiaries” by increasing the number of individuals with a master’s or higher degree from a US institution of higher education selected in the H-1B cap lottery.
Read moreIf We Love Our Countries
The Dubai Fountain Show
The Dubai Fountain is the world’s tallest performing fountain. Located in Downtown Dubai, at the base of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, the fountain is over 900 feet in length (which is equivalent to over two soccer fields) and located on the thirty-acre Burj Lake. The fountain has a unique design consisting of five circles of varying sizes and two arcs, and features powerful nozzles that shoot water up to truly fantastic heights. With over 6,600 WET Superlights and twenty-five color projectors, the fountain has a visual spectrum of over 1,000 different “water expressions,” and fifty color projectors provide a full spectrum of color with a total output of 1.5 million lumens! The fountain shows are set to different songs and include everything from classical to contemporary Arabic to world music. (The one set to Michael Jackson’s Thriller is particularly memorable!) During the shows, the fountain can have over 22,000 gallons of water in the air at any given moment. Stay dry!
Bloomberg: “These Countries Are the Best in the World at Attracting Talent”
For the fifth year in a row, Switzerland lands the top spot on the World Talent Ranking, a report published by IMD Business School. This is based on the country’s ability to consistently and effectively develop, attract, and retain talent. The study consists of surveying over six thousand executives in sixty-three economies and the results are measured by various factors including investment/development on education, the country’s appeal to foreign workers (to include quality of life, taxes, and cost of living), and its ability to create new job opportunities. For some countries, especially in Asia and Latin America, missing one or two of these factors is enough to bump them off the top ranks, making countries like Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands vie for the top spots.
Read moreCNN: “US authorities fire tear gas to disperse migrants at border”
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) closed the San Ysidro Port of Entry, one of the world's busiest international crossings, to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for several hours on Sunday afternoon after a protest by migrants on the Mexican side of the border. After some migrants reportedly rushed toward the border area, US Border Patrol agents fired tear gas at the group. Video and photos of families and young children running from the tear gas sparked international outrage by immigration advocates and politicians. Citing migrants throwing “projectiles” at agents, CBP says on Twitter: "Border Patrol agents deployed tear gas to dispel the group because of the risk to agents' safety."
Read moreRepair the Faults
Tower Bridge
During my trip to London this week, I got an up close and personal look at the iconic Tower Bridge on a foggy and rather moody night. Built over 120 years ago, it is an engineering marvel and I never get tired of seeing it, especially with the new lighting system installed for the 2012 Olympic Games. Across the water is the Tower of London, the famous prison (residents included Anne Boleyn and Guy Fawkes) and site of numerous executions by hanging, beheading, and being burned at the stake. On a less gruesome note, visitors to the bridge can experience spectacular panoramic views as well as take a look inside the Victorian engine rooms to see the steam engines that once powered the bridge lifts. The City of London is required to raise the bridge to “provide access to and egress from the Upper Pool of London for registered vessels with a mast or superstructure of 30 feet or more.” This service is free of charge and available with twenty-four hours notice any time, day or night, 365 days per year. Which is good to know. Just in case I find myself on the Thames with a thirty-foot superstructure. Which, come to think of it, might be a good way to spend Thanksgiving. But however you celebrate, enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday and long weekend!
The Cato Institute: “Immigration Application Denial Rates Jump 37% Under Trump”
According to new data from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), denials for numerous immigration applications and petitions have significantly increased over the past fiscal year. In the first nine months of Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, denials for numerous immigration benefits have increased 37% since FY 2016.
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