01.01.70

When the French garrison at Dien Bien Phu fell to the Communist-led Vietminh on 7 May 1954, it marked the end of 90 years of French colonial rule in Indochina. Two months later, the Geneva Accords called for a temporary division of Vietnam at the 17th parallel, to be followed by “free and fair elections” monitored by the international community. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Laos and Cambodia, the two other parts of Indochina, were also recognized.

Little landlocked Laos became a constitutional monarchy with a king, Sisavang Vong, resident in the remote royal capital of Luang Prabang in the north, and a government and parliament in Vientiane, a sleepy little town in the central region. Pending a political settlement with the Royal Lao government, the pro-Vietnamese Pathet Lao, who had fought with the Vietminh against the French, were allowed to regroup in the two northern provinces they already controlled. To monitor the provisions of the Geneva Accords, including a ceasefire, an International Control Commission, with members from Canada, India, and Poland, was established.

Source: UNC Chapell Hill

by Crystal

Plus, Lands’ End has that awesome guarantee policy: return any time, for any reason, for a full refund.

Source: Land's End: Girls' Mockneck Rash Guard for $3.99 shipped :: Money ...

by admin

January might not be the month when most people shop for swimming suits, but for us regular lap-swimmers, the dire need for a new suit can occur at any time of year. i have one back-up suit which i plan to break out when my old ones become embarrassingly see-through (note:  ask your colleagues to check the backs for you).   for about 20 bucks you can buy a suit that oddly enough looks good on almost every body—from an esme-type to a claire-type and in-between.   in fact, perversely enough, esme thinks one’s suits tend to wear out faster in the winter....

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