Thursday, January 01, 2009

Beautiful and authentic Qianlong Emperor's Retirement Palace restored in Beijing -- from New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/12/31/arts/design/20090101_FORBIDDEN_index.html

Nothing like the stupid and downright destructive "restorations" done by the junta in Bagan (spelled "Pagan" before) in Burma --

Israel sees Sykes-Picot borders as irrelevant, says US Ambassador--Tom Barrack.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-sees-sykes-picot-borders-us-envoy-tom-barrack