Rhymes with Minx

Although I'm trying to move away from linkbotting, I found some items I wanna share.

First up, this requires registration (still free, I think), but it's very worth it. It's about war and the law of unintended consequences. Namely, how favorite upcoming made-for-TV war may destroy history.

The ancient kingdom of Mesopotamia, which flourished in the region that became Iraq, is what textbooks like to call the birthplace of urban civilization. The Mesopotamians were the first to record their thoughts in writing, the first to divide the day into 24 hours, the first to eat off ceramic plates. Iraq is home to some of the most important landmarks of the Judeo-Christian tradition, including the reputed Garden of Eden and Ur, the birthplace of the patriarch Abraham. The area had a second flowering in the Middle Ages, when it became a capital of the Islamic world and mosques sprang up everywhere. With war in Iraq looming, many in the art historical world are worried about what might be damaged or destroyed.


Speaking of Iraq

Before you see the sequel, get caught up on the original.

Tolkien's lost manuscript: Frodo Baggins' Diary

Or: Having a Helen Fielding day with the beloved adventure epic.