A Different Reaction to Thatcher's Death

Your grandmother probably once told you not to speak ill of the dead, and if you've seen the media coverage of the death of Margaret Thatcher, then you know they're working very hard to do grandma proud. Not so much in Brixton.

Got Jubilee Fever?

Today the celebrations for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee took place in, around, and on the Thames River, and it was just about the biggest thing to hit London since the premiere of the last Harry Potter movie. Or maybe bigger than that.

Now I've made no secret that I'm a monarchist, or at least if it is a secret it's been unintentional. Call me crazy, but I think the monarchy still has meaning in the 21st century. Maybe there's something to being reminded that power was once held be an elite few who only shared it with blood, and that now their power is granted by the continued good graces of the people. Or maybe the monarchy still matters because we still look to the Queen for comfort in times of distress, the Commonwealth's mutual grandmother for all intents and purposes. Or just maybe, the monarchy plays into our collective love of pageantry, playing dress up in elaborate costumes, getting to take part in parades, wearing awesome hats, etc.

Are the Olympics Worth Having Missiles On Top of Your Apartment Building?

As I was flipping through the paper yesterday, I came across a story about how British Air Defense was installing surface-to-air missiles on top of a British apartment building in preparation for the London Olympics this summer. So basically, about 700 people living in this building in Bow, a suburb outside of London, are now, for all intents and purposes, sitting on a missile installation. Temporary though it may be.