Check it out -- the BlackBook guides have expanded into four new international metropoli. Now you can plan that next jaunt with the best shops, restaurants, nightlife, and hotels for Berlin, Hong Kong, Rome, and Tokyo. We're well past 50 destinations worldwide, and our guides are only getting bigger and better. Coming soon: Houston, New Orleans, and more.

Here's something fun to do on the interwebs today: you can control the sunset in Hong Kong. There's a photograph of Hong Kong that you can mess with by moving the cursor over the the screen. The cityscape changes from a dusky early evening through the sunset to the glittery vibrancy of nighttime in the city. Check it out here.

Attention amateur architects and martial arts aficionados: this is your golden opportunity! Earlier this week, a design competition was announced with the aim of restoring kung fu legend Bruce Lee’s former residence in Hong Kong's Kowloon Tong -- and it’s open to anybody. The idea, as per the press release, is to turn the home into “an attraction for locals and tourists to commemorate Mr. Lee’s contribution to martial arts and the film industry.” So no, you cannot build a 300-foot effigy of Lee in the “Iron Horse” stance. Rather, they’re looking for a more serviceable model that includes an exhibition hall, audio-visual room, kung-fu corner, library, etc. But hey, at least there’s a cash prize involved.

I know, I know, the Pigluenza is eating up the lion's share of media interest. Is it a pandemic? Or is it more of an infodemic? In any case, it's a hot topic right now, and it's bringing the idea of a "fever scanner" to the forefront of airport security. Hong Kong has had one of the fever scanners in place since 2003 as a response to the SARS scare. They do not mess around when dealing with sick passengers. Basically, you walk through the scanner and it measures your body temperature. If your body temperature is over 100 degrees, off you go to a secondary screening location staffed with doctors.

Aaron Simpson, co-founder of lifestyle luxury brand Quintessentially Group, on his 24-hour global concierge service, plans for a private floating club at the 2012 Olympics, and painting an heiress’ plane pink.

Point of Origin: In the film business, I was looking after the folk coming into town ... these film stars that had no idea what to do in London. As a producer, I would end up taking them out and making them feel cozy and at home in various clubs and restaurants around town, and then the concept came to me. I said to a couple of my partners who were doing sensible things like being lawyers and restaurants owners, "Lets set this up." We thought it would be a very simple 100-person, 100-member club, but now it's in 52 countries.

While consumption, environmentalism, sexuality, globalization and politics are enjoying their moment as the current hot buttons of the art world, one abstract that's managed to flourish without the pomp and noise is the contemporary diaspora -- a poetic term given to the upheaval and consequent relocation of people from one land to another. Basically, think of, well, any short story by Jhumpa Lahiri, and you'll find yourself with an excellent handle on the type of art that the Sundaram Tagore Gallery specializes in and advocates throughout its four locations.