french bistros and cafes in sharp decline

Times are hard for Le Fontenoy, the only surviving cafe in this village in north-central France which once had three, as well as a butcher's, a boulangerie, a grocer's and a restaurant. Now, as changing habits and new laws alter the residents' relationship with an erstwhile local fixture, its future is looking bleak. It is a bistro with no kitchen, a former tabac with no cigarettes, and Letouzey's coffers are as empty as his bottle of pastis. read more

theartsdesk

Newspapers are cutting back on journalists and art reviewers. Meanwhile a load off the Telegraph reviewers have started their own news desk in the form of The Arts Desk. Maybe they are onto the new model papers have been talking about for so long.

cities from zero book

With recent events in Tibet it got me thinking about how the rapid expansion of China has destroyed so many things in it's wake.

This seems to be another Tienanmen Square for the Chinese people. This book examines the way history, culture, and natural considerations are swept aside to produce cities from dust, planning from ground zero. It looks at Dubai and China as case studies.

I wonder if this architectural urban planning could be applied to the pathological pursuit of power that is the cultural wasteland of Chinese neighboring countries, horrifically it seems so.

Tibet in exile
Meanwhile the sitting protest in London continues.