Armchair Travelers’ Latest Destination: Ancient Rome

“Now Google Earth has embraced a frontier dating back 17 centuries: ancient Rome under Constantine the Great. Soaring above a virtual reconstruction of the Forum and the Palatine Hill or zooming into the Colosseum to get a lion’s-eye view of the stands, Google Earth’s 400 million users will be able to explore the ancient capital as easily ‘as any city can be explored today,’ Michael T. Jones, chief technology officer of Google Earth, said Wednesday….”

A Bacon Goes Unsold As Art Market Shows Flickers Of Life

“In a bumpy sale of contemporary art at Christie’s on Wednesday, some paintings, drawings and sculptures were eagerly sought, but there were also big disappointments as the art market struggled to adjust to today’s financial climate. What was expected to be the star — a 1964 self-portrait by Francis Bacon that was estimated at $40 million — went unsold without so much as a bid. But other works brought prices that surprised even Christie’s executives.”