Resource Discovery Network "the UK's free national gateway to Internet resources for the learning, teaching and research community". Portal to a veritable shed-load of stuff.

Obvious magic The paper cut sculpture of Peter Callesen, each made from a single A4 sheet of paper. Via

Curbside at the WTO "a unique frontline perspective on the WTO meetings being held in Hong Kong" (Last link is to webcasts of the public sessions). Third World Network offers three briefings (in not so handy .doc format, links top of page) critical of the talks' agenda.

China's greatest journalist dies NYT link (bugmenot) Liu Binyan "fearless and incorruptible, China's conscience" dies aged 80. more inside

Scottish landscapes beautifully photographed by Douglas Salteri.

A bench by Tiananmen Square

China: The Three Emperors. Lovely site trailing the Royal Academy's forthcoming exhibition "devoted to the artistic and cultural riches of Imperial China". Splendours abound.

Plot by religious fanatics to blow up Parliament foiled - 400 years ago today. more inside

Singing mice "Research by a team of neuroscientists has revealed that male mice construct complex songs and sing them for minutes at a time when they come across sex pheromones produced by potential mates." Includes mp3s of said singing (and a nice reference to Bagpuss)

The Slik Road ends up in Seattle in a nice set of resources at UW, including texts (such as Franciscan monk William of Rubruck's famous account of a journey made between 1253 and 1255 to the court of the Mongol Khan) and maps as well as introductions to the cities and architecture, art and cultures to be found along the way.

Interview with Orhan Pamuk. Der Spiegel interviews Mr. Pamuk who was in Frankfurt for the Book Fair and to accept the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. more inside

Ba Jin dies. Literary giant and one of the last direct links to the anarchist movement in early 20^th century China, Ba Jin (a.k.a 李芾甘, Pa Chin) is perhaps best remembered for his trilogy 'Family ". When the Snow Melted.

Chinese Siege Warfare. A nicely illustrated history, which amongst a multitude of riches introduces us to Ming dynasty rocket infantry, a 3^rd century B.C. 'machine gun' and includes a handy strategic geography should you ever fancy invading the Celestial Empire yourself. Via

Anarchists' election video outrages Germans The Anarchist Pogo Party of Germany has épateéed les bourgeois with a rather silly election video. more inside

Allusions to Classical Chinese Poetry in Pink Floyd

Shaggy checks out what's available...very silly. Flash w/ sound more inside

Hard-Core Stalinist propaganda, Juche style. A searchable database of a decade's worth of KCNA articles, with added insult generator and a handy Juche Era conversion tool.

The life of a Tibetan nun One of the two such stories online at the website of Shem, a women's group implementing projects in Tibetan communities in the PRC.

The Laugh Judgement Ship of Fools, the sensible face of British Christianity, seeks to collect the most outrageous and offensive religious jokes before a proposed new law bans them. Nicked from the Guardian's Newsblog

Blood and Roses The Paston family were minor nobility who rose to prominence in 15th century Norfolk. The collection of their family correspondence that survives provides a unique perspective on life in a long lost era - illicit romance, violence with bonus Middle English sound file!, and card games at Christmas. Wikipedia