Monday Blogcrawl

Well, I have been sick these past few days - quite ghastly, actually. Barely even been able to sit in front of my computer. But I have soldiered on in order to present you with an iteresting collection of things from the past week:

• I am a self-confessed Retromanic. Which is why I want to read the new book Retromania. Speaking of which, lovely to see Boy George's plump and beautiful face on a round-up of the gender-benders of popular song.
• Mythic Musings writes up an afternoon with the wonderful Thich Nhat Hanh. There is also an exhibition of photographs of forest monks which looks quite interesting.
• I thought that all of the Amerasians had left Vietnam long ago, but the Tucson Sentinel points out that there are still some there, patiently waiting to re-settle in America. This pic of the Catholic church in Sapa makes me want to hike up there - from Flickr. It seems like tired old boy-bands can't get enough of Vietnam, and Vietnamnet informs us that Westlife is headed there any day soon. Westlife! And it seems that creative types in Vietnam are increasingly dissatisfied with how awards are handed out - from Look At Vietnam.
• A very thoughtful essay uses the teaching of English to explain the importance of gay marriage.
• Central Station provides us with some exquisite sculptures made from words and paper.