--关羽--

　关羽（160?-220），字云长，本字长生，身长约合1.98米，并州 河东解县人（今山西运城市），汉族。一直是历来民间崇祀的对象，东汉末年刘备麾下著名将领，前将军，汉寿亭侯。演义中为五虎上将之首，与刘备，张飞桃园结义。死后受民间推崇，又经历代朝廷褒封，被人奉为关圣帝君，佛教称为伽蓝菩萨，尊称为“关公”。被后来的统治者崇为“武圣”，与号为“文圣”的孔子齐名。有“千里走单骑”“单刀赴会”“温酒斩华雄”“过五关斩六将”的佳话。

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关羽的专用兵器：青龙偃月刀

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~http://baike.baidu.com/view/2275.htm

--CityCenter Las Vegas 2009--

- 4,004-room 61-story ARIA Resort & Casino (Cesar Pelli)

- 165,000-square-foot casino (Pelli)

- 400-room + 227 condos - Mandarin Oriental Hotel/Residences (Pedersen / Tihany)

- 400-room + 207 condos - The Harmon Hotel/Residences (Foster and Partners)

- 1543-unit Vdara Condo/Hotel tower (Rafael Viñoly)

- Twin, 337-unit luxury condo towers Veer (Helmut Jahn)

- 500,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space The Crystals Mall (Daniel Libeskind)

- $40 million worth of modern sculptures and installations by world famous artists

- 225,000 square feet of convention and meeting space

- 900,000 square feet for back-of-house operations

- 2,000-seat theater

- 70,000-square-foot spa

- 7,500-car parking garage

- Fire station

- People movers (trams)

- On-site power plant

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~http://www.citycenter.com/

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~http://www.vegastodayandtomorrow.com/citycenter.htm

--Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill--

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (Can) (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British politician known chiefly for his leadership of the United Kingdom during World War II. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. A noted statesman and orator, Churchill was also an officer in the British Army, a historian, a Nobel Prize-winning writer, and an artist.
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During his army career, Churchill saw combat in India, in the Sudan and the Second Boer War. He gained fame and notoriety as a war correspondent and through contemporary books he wrote describing the campaigns. He also served briefly in the British Army on the Western Front in World War I, commanding the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers.
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At the forefront of the political scene for almost fifty years, he held many political and cabinet positions. Before the First World War, he served as President of the Board of Trade, Home Secretary and First Lord of the Admiralty as part of the Asquith Liberal government. During the war he continued as First Lord of the Admiralty until the disastrous Battle of Gallipoli caused his departure from government. He returned as Minister of Munitions, Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for Air. In the interwar years, he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Conservative government.
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After the outbreak of the Second World War, Churchill was again appointed First Lord of the Admiralty. Following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain on 10 May 1940, he became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and led Britain to victory against the Axis powers. Churchill was always noted for his speeches, which became a great inspiration to the British people and embattled Allied forces.
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After losing the 1945 election, he became Leader of the Opposition. In 1951, he again became Prime Minister before finally retiring in 1955. Elizabeth II offered to create him Duke of London, but this was declined due to the objections of his son Randolph, who would have inherited the title on his father's death. Upon his death the Queen granted him the honour of a state funeral, which saw one of the largest assemblies of statesmen in the world.
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~http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill

--Cambodia--

Cambodia, a country which has seen great wars and destruction is beautiful, mysterious, exciting, vibrant and eerily haunting. Two key images come to mind when you think of Cambodia – Angkor Wat and Buddhist monks in orange robes.

Angkor Wat, the 9th to 13th century Buddhist temple is the site that most people travel to Cambodia to see. Angkor rises majestically from the surrounding jungles and is truly one of the ancient wonders of the world – it will amaze you with its size and breathtaking beauty. Most visitors to Angkor Wat spend a couple of days exploring. If you can arrange a visit at Sunrise – do, it is stunningly beautiful then.
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~http://www.adventuretravel.co.nz/destinations2.asp?id=2&cid=7

--One Hundred Billion Dollars--

HARARE, Zimbabwe, July 19 (UPI) -- Hyperinflation in Zimbabwe hit another milestone Saturday when the central bank introduced a $100 billion bill.

The new bills can circulate legally beginning Monday, CNN reported. But as large as the amount might seem, it is only enough to buy four oranges and not enough to cover the cost of one loaf of bread.

The country has been in an economic tailspin for several years. President Robert Mugabe, blaming profiteers and speculators for the destruction of the economy, announced this week that the government would provide basic necessities at a low subsidized price to end the inflation.

The government announced this week inflation had hit 2.2 million percent.

Outsiders blame much of the inflation on the government-backed takeover of white-owned farms by "war veterans" loyal to Mugabe. The country went from being an agricultural exporter to being unable to feed itself.

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~http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/07/19/Zimbabwe_introduces_100B_bank_note/UPI-95281216507668/

--The Night Before X'mas-Cambodia--

Have you ever wondered

Where Santa leaves his sleigh,

When he brings toys for children

To find on Christmas Day?

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For reindeers, all the roof-tops

Are much too smooth and steep!

One slip, they'd go sliding down,

And land in one big heap!

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But if they were in the garden,

How could Santa, with his sack,

Climb right up to the roof-top,

Then down the chimney stack?

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There's so much danger in the road,

So, where can he leave his sleigh?

Perhaps you'd like to ask him,

When he comes round your way!

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--Happy Birthday--