Japan's Miho Museum, designed by Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, opened in 1997 about 20 miles northeast of Kyo-to. The remote "museum on the mountain" is considered one of the most innovative buildings of the 20th century, as extraordinary as the art it houses. Chris Christensen, a frequent visitor to Japan, gives a free talk about the museum this week, and shows an award-winning video on the challenges facing its construction during the seven-year project, built within a nature preserve. 6 p.m. Thursday, Liliha Public Library, 1515 Liliha St. 587-7577.

LAS VEGAS

INDOOR SKYDIVING — NO AIRPLANE, NO PARACHUTE, JUST LOTS OF THRILLS

Indoor skydiving may sound like a tricky concept, but hey, this is Las Vegas! At Flyaway Indoor Skydiving, just a few blocks from the Strip, you can get the feel of a real sky dive without that annoying airplane jump and parachute hassle. Then ... you get to hover above the spinning blades of a giant fan in a vertical wind tunnel and get airborne on a thunderous wind stream in a padded facility. A net keeps you from falling into the fan. $325 for coaching and five short sessions. 877-293-0639, www.flyawayindoorskydiving.com

'OUR DUMB WORLD'

THE ONION TURNS ITS SHARP WIT LOOSE ON AN UNSUSPECTING PLANET

Looking for a different kind of travel book? The Onion's "Our Dumb World: Atlas of the Planet Earth" might be just the ticket.

You'll find all the Planet Onion hallmarks here: political satire, one-liners, brilliant headlines and, leading the charge, a withering introduction by Editor Emeritus T. Herman Zweibel.

There are 202 featured countries, interesting photos and charts of "historic events." The text tells it how it is in The Onion's humorous and cheeky way. $27.99.

— Chris Oliver