John Aravosis of AmericaBlog, August 3, 2008:

One thing that constantly amazes me is how much the French actually LIKE America and Americans. It's a rare Frenchman who doesn't dream of going to New York City. Even the Parisians, when you get to actually talk to them (helps if you know French), actually love Americans (at least far more do than you'd ever expect). And it is simply shocking how often you hear from foreigners that America was supposed to be the shining example for the world. That the reason they get so angry at America is because they expect corruption, and lies, and failure from their own governments. But America they thought was better.

Go read MD Conservatarian's "Visiting Poland." Well done, MDC

Washington Post, June 30, 2008:

Twenty thousand soccer fans are expected in the Washington area this week to watch teams of Ethiopians from the United States and Canada compete. The annual tournament has become one of the largest gatherings of Ethiopians outside their homeland.

We need a little more of this sort of thing. HAT TIP Americablog.com.

The following is a brief guide for the casual or tourist user of the Washington Metro. Course Coarse (H/T to a loyal unidentified reader) language is employed in distinction to the usual practice of this blog, in order to get the point across.

I was enchanted by this hauntingly simple, beautiful site dedicated to the restoration of the mother church of Eastern Christianity, the Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) cathedral in Istanbul, to active status as an Orthodox house of worship.