This page features brief excerpts of stories published by the mainstream
media and, less frequently, blogs, alternative media, and even obviously
biased sources. The excerpts are taken directly from the websites cited in
each source note. Quotation marks are not used.
Source: Telegraph (UK)
June 27, 2009
Nine former members of the Nazi SS were sentenced to life in prison for a series of massacres during the Second World War by an Italian court, according to news reports.
The court also ordered Germany to pay damages to some of the families of the hundreds of victims, the ANSA news agency reported.
The nine suspects, aged between 84 and 90 were tried in absentia and found guilty of the murders of more than 350 civilians in the summer of 1944.
Source: Virginia-Pilot
June 25, 2009
A 30-year-old Civil War re-enactor pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of reckless handling of a firearm in regard to a shooting in September while filming a battle scene.
Joshua Silva of Norfolk must complete a gun safety course and pay $1,200 in restitution before his scheduled return to court Sept. 16. If he completes those requirements, the charges will be dismissed, Commonwealth's Attorney Wayne Farmer said.
Silva was a walk-on in the Civil War documen
Source: Reuters
June 24, 2009
Russian communists have put up giant billboards of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin in a southern city, promoting his tough methods as the best remedy for the world economic crisis.
Stalin killed millions of people during his 30 year rule until his death in 1953, but many in recession-hit Russia have grown nostalgic for his strong leadership, and he was voted the third most popular historical figure in a nationwide poll.
"Everybody knows that under Stalin our country a
Source: Telegraph (UK)
June 26, 2009
The Treaty of Versailles between Germany and the victorious Entente
powers was signed 90 years ago this weekend. Can the details of the
settlement at the end of a war almost now beyond living memory still
have any relevance for us?
Without the events of 11/9 (the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November
1989) and 9/11 (the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on 11
September 2001), it might have been easier to suggest that the results
of the Paris Peace Conference and the subse
Source: AP
June 25, 2009
The country's smallest state has the longest official name: "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations."
A push to drop "Providence Plantations" from that name advanced farther than ever on Thursday when House lawmakers voted 70-3 to let residents decide whether their home should simply be called the "State of Rhode Island." It's an encouraging sign for those who believe the formal name conjures up images of slavery, while opponents argue it's an
Source: Times (UK)
June 26, 2009
As scientists devised methods to use chemical warfare against Britain’s enemies, other officials were preparing for a chemical attack.
The documents from the National Archives show how the Ministry of Food and the Ministry of Home Security held demonstrations to show civilians what to do to decontaminate their food in the event of a mustard gas bombing.
Cheese, tinned food, potatoes, flour, tea and meat were used in 15 seminars in Newcastle, Leeds, Nottingham, London,
Source: Financial Times (UK)
June 26, 2009
Two of the biggest names in the City of London had previously undisclosed links to slavery in the British colonies, documents seen by the Financial Times have revealed.
Nathan Mayer Rothschild, the banking family’s 19th-century patriarch, and James William Freshfield, founder of Freshfields, the top City law firm, benefited financially from slavery, records from the National Archives show, even though both have often been portrayed as opponents of slavery.
Far from bei
Source: BBC
June 26, 2009
The five-day conference in the Czech capital will also aim to increase Holocaust awareness and education.
The Nazis stole an estimated 650,000 religious items and works of art from European Jews during World War II.
While much of the art been returned, a great deal remains in museums and private collections.
Source: Times (UK)
June 26, 2009
British officials considered attacking Tokyo with poison gas in 1944, more than a year before the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.
Documents made public today include a memorandum written by a government academic entitled Attack on Tokyo with Gas Bombs. His report was coupled with a note from the Ministry of Supply, dated May 22, 1944.
It said: “In his report on his discussions in America Major-General Goldnoy suggested that it might be worthwhile attemp
Source: Independent (UK)
June 26, 2009
Relations between the US and Iran over the protests deteriorated sharply yesterday when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Barack Obama of behaving like his predecessor, George W Bush, and declared there was no point in talking to Washington unless the US President apologised.
The American response to the crackdown on the protests had been initially low-key and Britain, rather than the "Great Satan", had been the focus of anger for Iran's rulers.
But Mr Obama has h
Source: Times (UK)
June 26, 2009
An ancient river channel, shipwrecks and giant underwater gravel dunes are among previously unknown features discovered during the most detailed survey to date of the Channel seabed.
The survey, covering 500 square miles off the Dorset coast, is being carried out in advance of the 2012 Olympics. Sailing events will take place off Weymouth and Portland, and organisers are anxious to avoid any unpleasant surprises, such as uncharted rocks, that have holed small boats in the past.
Source: BBC
June 26, 2009
Lethal clouds of tiny poisoned darts were to be tipped with mustard gas to kill enemy troops without damaging nearby buildings or equipment.
The file has been released by the National Archives.
Test results were inconclusive and although the scientists remained enthusiastic, the project was shelved.
The concept was developed between 1941 and 1945 at the Porton Down research base in Wiltshire.
Source: Bloomberg News
June 24, 2009
Governments have failed to live up to commitments to track down and return looted art to Nazi victims and their heirs, claimants’ representatives said before an international meeting on Holocaust-era assets.
The June 26-30 conference in Prague, attended by delegates from some 50 countries, will review how far nations put into action a non-binding 1998 agreement, known as the Washington principles. Delegates also aim to agree a new declaration on stolen art. Groups representing Jewi
Source: New York Daily News
June 25, 2009
C. David Heymann is alleging - for the third time - that Jacqueline and Bobby Kennedy had an affair, and once again, other Kennedy biographers are slamming the author's claim.
In his new book, "Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story" (available on July 14 from Simon & Schuster's Atria Books), Heymann interviews several on-the-record witnesses who say that the in-laws had a sexual relationship after JFK's assassination in 1963.
David Talbot, author of "Broth
Source: NYT
June 25, 2009
The John Birch Society.
For some, that name means nothing. Or it sparks flashbacks to the 1960s, when the John Birch Society was synonymous with seeing red here, there and everywhere. Maybe you displayed a Birch bumper sticker on your car; maybe you enjoyed the Chad Mitchell Trio song mocking the Birch obsession with communism:
You cannot trust your neighbor or even next of kin
If mommy is a commie then you gotta turn her in.
Yet for others, th
Source: TPM (Liberal blog)
June 25, 2009
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is taking her refusal to fully fill out her Census form, which is a crime punishable by a $5,000 fine, to a whole new level: Invoking the memory of the Japanese internment during World War II, and the evil role that the Census played in it!During an interview this morning on Fox News, Bachmann mostly focused on the danger of her personal information falling into the hands of the dreaded menace ACORN. But at one point, she made a very interesting appeal to h
Source: BBC
June 25, 2009
The results of a significant archaeological dig have been unveiled in County Down.
Neolithic and Bronze Age remains were found at Loughbrickland when work began on new roads four years ago.
They included evidence of three Neolithic houses dating back over 6,000 year and a Bronze Age burial site.
Information boards have now been erected at the site. It is not yet known where the artefacts will be stored on a permanent basis.
Source: BBC
June 25, 2009
On Saturday, more than 90 years after being shot for desertion, Pte James Smith's name will finally be added to Bolton's roll of honour to soldiers killed in World War I.
It is one of many events taking place across the UK to mark the first Armed Forces Day, which has replaced Veterans' Day.
The long-awaited recognition for Pte Smith, known as Jimmy, comes after a campaign by his great, great nephew Charles Sandbach.
In 2006 the government formally pardon
Source: BBC
June 25, 2009
The international prosecutor at the Khmer Rouge tribunal has warned that the process is failing to make a connection with the Cambodian people.
Robert Petit said he was also concerned about political interference at the special courts.
The Canadian official has just announced his resignation after three years of leading the prosecution of former Khmer Rouge leaders.
He said his resignation was not connected to problems at the tribunal.
Source: Telegraph (UK)
June 25, 2009
A needle-worker has created a jaw-dropping vision of the Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling in simple cross-stitch.
Using a British concept by cross-stitch 'guru' Dave Peters, called Xstitch Professional, Canadian Joanna Lopianowski-Roberts, 44, who lives in San Francisco, California, spent at least one hour a day for eight years with the work on her lap.
Over the following decade and by committing a total of 3,572 hours, which the IT management consultant and her
