Google Books might just be the next big thing. Imagine no longer having to go to the library.. every book ever made is within your grasp, or for a small fee you can access periodicals and special collections. Here is one book that you can read for free online- Ruskin's Seven Lamps of Architecture:

Longqing Gorge

Just north of the Badaling Great Wall is Longqing Gorge. During this time of year, there is the Festival of Snow and Ice, which transforms the gorge into a light and color wonder world.

Chinese New Year 2009- Confucious Temple

Hoards of people and jammed traffic made it nearly impossible to go to Ditan Park today. So we went to a much quieter temple instead.

More fireworks photos

Happy Niu Year!

Went on the rooftop of Calvin's place in Fulicheng (just south of the CBD) to watch a panoramic view of the New Year fireworks. This is how crazy it is.

Skiing at Nanshan

Out in the arid brown mountains north of Beijing is a artificial-snow ski resort. It's not Whistler, but it satisfies the ski craving. Never saw so many Chinese people skiing before. Lots of French too. I went with a bunch of SHA colleagues there last week to go snowboarding and drink lots of pi jiu.

Toronto

Gehry's new Ontario Art Gallery.

Ivs posing for scale.

A brilliant staircase!

The serpentine ramp at the front entrance is an understated masterpiece.

The new ROM.

The new Four Seasons Opera House. Although very conventional, it does manage to create interesting moments where theatrical display and public promenade coalesce.

Korean buffet!

Montreal 

View from the plane. Notice the downtown core shrouded in haze, hugging the base of the mountain, called Mont Royal (hence, Montreal).

An interesting layering of urban patterns. St. Joseph's Oratory is the dome on the left.

Nothing beats a bowl of pho. 

St. Viateur, where they make melt-in-your-mouth bagels.

Lebanese cuisine is amazing. This is the schwarma.

At Steak-Frites with old friends.

New Year's 2009 at a straw-bale cottage in Morin Heights.

Relaxing at an outdoor spa.

The Canadian landscape.

Chad having an intense conversation with Pastor Dave.

Charmaine and Janelle.

With Pastor Dave's family and Tyson and Eliane.