As the death toll of US service personnel in Iraq touches 2,000 (and, of course the death toll of Iraqis is much higher), the New York Times has a long piece profiling some of the families of the dead.
Blog
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A happy ending for the Brighton banner-wavers
A touching follow-up to an earlier post.
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The Nicky Line
A Wikipedia article on the Nicky Line, the former Harpenden to Hemel branch line, closed (surprisingly early) in the late 40s. Interesting how a potentially useful link line was run down because of stubborness by the competing companies.
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Public information films
The National Archives present a selection of public information films from the 40s and 50s, including the famous ‘coughs and sneezes spread diseases’. BBC News magazine considers the genre.
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The lengths people will go to for a beer
The Stranger (Seattle) reports an art/beer project, of a quite … er … intimate nature. Link (not necessarily safe for work) via MeFi.
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Tory leadership – a three year old speaks
Dialogue at the breakfast table, with David Davis on Today in the background:
Tom: What are they talking about now?
Me: There’s going to be an election, and they’re talking to one of the people who’s in it.
Tom: Oh no, not again! (pause) Like in Vote for Duck? -
Foreign office FoI site
Lots of interesting historical material, from Zola Budd to Kosovo, on the FCO’s Freedom of Information site.