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: BBC
Apr 7, 2010
A search to find those who wore the christening robes of Peter Pan author JM Barrie has been launched by the National Trust for Scotland.
Barrie's mother Margaret lent the white gown to dozens of other families living in Kirriemuir, Angus in the years following her children's christening.
The search is part of the town's plans to mark the 150th birthday of Barrie.
The robe will be unveiled, along with the descendants of those who may have worn it, on 9 Ma
Source: BBC
Apr 7, 2010
A soldier who died almost 60 years ago is being honoured in his Devon home town.
Private David Hamson, from Sidmouth, was killed in the Korean War in 1951, aged 20.
Now a plaque bearing his name has been put up in his memory at St Giles and St Nicholas Parish Church.
Space has been left on the memorial so names of other people from the town involved in future conflicts can be added.
Source: BBC
Apr 7, 2010
A boat in Rwanda carrying people to genocide commemorations has sunk.
Authorities told the BBC six people have died, at least 12 more are feared dead and 50 passengers were rescued.
The vessel capsized in strong winds on Lake Kivu - which lies on the Democratic Republic of Congo border - while on its way to the town of Kibuye.
Rwanda is holding a series of events on Wednesday to mark the 16th anniversary of the start of the genocide in which some 800,000
Source: Telegraph (UK)
Apr 7, 2010
The British museum is to come under renewed pressure to give up leading treasures as 16 countries plan to sign a declaration that demands the return of artefacts sent overseas generations ago.
The demand, issued in Cairo at the end of a two-day conference, is addressed to every country that holds ancient relics.
Western museum hold most of the items listed by countries ranging from China to Mexico. The British museum is the principal target because of the prominence o
Source: Telegraph (UK)
Apr 7, 2010
The number of cars on Britain's roads has fallen for the first time since the Second World War, industry figures have shown.
The recession, the Government's "cash for bangers" scrappage scheme and stricter enforcement of laws against unroadworthy vehicles has led to the decline, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
There were 31,035,791 cars on British roads at the end of last year, a drop of 0.7 per cent compared with 12 months previ
Source: LA Times
Apr 7, 2010
On Aug. 6, 1945, Jeppson and another man armed the bomb called 'Little Boy' aboard the B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay. The bombing is credited with bringing an early end to WWII.
Morris "Dick" Jeppson, a weapons specialist who was mid-flight when he completed arming the first atomic bomb, which the Enola Gay B-29 Superfortress dropped on Hiroshima in World War II, has died. He was 87.
Jeppson, a retired scientist and businessman, died March 30 of complications
Source: BBC News
Apr 7, 2010
It was a glorious last supper.
The menu for the final meal for first class passengers on board the liner Titanic is a feast for the eyes.
Little did the diners dream as they sailed along on the calm waters of 14 April 1912 of the nightmare that lay ahead.
They feasted on a menu of up to 13 courses - they would have been at table enjoying the luxury of silver service for between four and five hours - what else was there to do at sea?
From foie g
Source: BBC News
Apr 6, 2010
US actress Rue McClanahan, star of TV show The Golden Girls, has died following a stroke at the age of 76, her manager has announced.
The award-winning performer played feisty Southern belle Blanche in the popular series.
McClanahan, who underwent heart bypass surgery last year, is the third of the main cast members to pass away.
Only Betty White remains, following the deaths of Estelle Getty and Bea Arthur, who died in 2008 and 2009.
White, 88
Source: Telegraph (UK)
Apr 6, 2010
Experts have begun excavating the ruins of New Place, Shakespeare’s former home in Stratford-upon-Avon, which was demolished 250 years ago.
Although little remains of the property, the team, led by Birmingham Archaeology, believes it has identified a rubbish tip or cesspit used by the 16th century poet.
Fragments of pottery and broken clay pipe have already been retrieved from a muddy hole on the site, which they claim could yield some of the most significant discoveri
Source: Spiegel Online
Apr 6, 2010
Rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia is still far from sight. In an interview with SPIEGEL, Armenian President Serge Sarkisian explains why the recognition of genocide against his people is so important -- and why he is little surprised by hostilities from Turkish politicians.
SPIEGEL: Mr. President, in 2008, you attended a football match between your two countries together with your Turkish counterpart. It was a sensation at the time. Do you regret having invited the president
Source: Science Daily
Apr 6, 2010
A team of archaeologists from the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute, along with a team of Syrian colleagues, is uncovering new clues about a prehistoric society that formed the foundation of urban life in the Middle East prior to invention of the wheel.
The mound of Tell Zeidan in the Euphrates River Valley near Raqqa, Syria, which had not been built upon or excavated for 6,000 years, is revealing a society rich in trade, copper metallurgy and pottery production. Artifacts
Source: Scripps News
Apr 6, 2010
What began as a casual hallway conversation between two Minneapolis lawyers has turned into a small-scale international search for Danish fishermen who helped rescue Jews during World War II.
The obstacles include the passage of time -- 67 years to be exact -- and a well-deserved cultural reputation for stoicism and modesty.
In October 1943, in German-occupied Denmark, Danish Jews were about to be rounded up and deported to concentration camps. But, in one of the few up
Source: NYT
Apr 6, 2010
Long before this town existed, there were Indians of that name who lived, camped, hunted, fished and grew maize in the woods and fields along the shoreline.
Now, archaeological evidence of the Narragansetts’ early presence in Rhode Island has ignited a debate over private development on a site that some consider to be culturally and historically significant. The state maintains it has the regulatory authority to stop development on the site. The developer says this amounts to a tak
Source: The Independent
Apr 6, 2010
Scholars translating a Roman victory stele, erected in the Temple of Isis at Philae in Egypt in 29 BC, have discovered the Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus’ name inscribed in a cartouche – an honour normally reserved for an Egyptian pharaoh
Octavian’s forces defeated Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, and captured Alexandria soon afterwards. Historians believe that although Octavian ruled Egypt after the death of Cleopatra in 30 BC, he was never actually
Source: Slate
Apr 6, 2010
Bob McDonnell, the Republican governor of Virginia, is bringing back a long-running right wing tradition by declaring April 2010 “Confederate History Month” — at the request of the neo-Confederate group “Sons of Confederate Veterans,” described by Civil War historian James M. McPherson as a white supremacist organization.
The two previous governors of Virginia (Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine) refused to issue similar proclamations, but the Sons of Confederate Veterans knew they
Source: LA Times
Apr 6, 2010
A lawyer, he later became the first non-engineer to oversee the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. His wartime service reportedly influenced his management style.
John H. Lauten, a lawyer who helped plan the invasion of Normandy as an Army captain during World War II and later became the first non-engineer to oversee the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, has died. He was 96.
Lauten died of natural causes March 22 at an assisted-living
Source: Daily Mail (UK)
Apr 6, 2010
The family of a Holocaust survivor has been allowed to keep a $10million (£6.6million) ancient gold tablet he received in exchange for cigarettes on the streets of post-war Berlin.
Berlin's Vorderasiatisches Museum had demanded the 3,200-year-Assyrian artefact be returned because it was looted by Soviet troops.
But a judge on Long Island has ruled that Polish Auschwitz survivor Riven Flamenbaum's family no longer has to hand over the valuable relic.
Flamenb
Source: BBC News
Apr 6, 2010
The Polish prime minister will attend Wednesday's ceremony in Russia marking the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre of Poles by Soviet forces. It is an unprecedented step, and one which could herald a new era in strained relations between Poland and Russia, says the BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw.
The families of the victims of the Katyn massacre have endured decades of lies, discrimination and frustration.
For 50 years, the Soviet Union blamed the murder of more than
Source: BBC
Apr 6, 2010
A stolen Leonardo Da Vinci painting was handed over to a private investigator in a pub car park, a court has heard.
The Madonna of the Yarnwinder began its journey back to Scotland in 2007, four years after it was stolen from Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfriesshire.
Robert Graham, 57, of Lancashire, told Edinburgh High Court that he met an underworld figure in a Liverpool car park and paid £350,000 for the canvas.
Source: BBC
Apr 6, 2010
Druids have lost a bid to have an ancient skeleton which was unearthed in Wiltshire reburied at one of the county's most famous stone age sites.
The Council of British Druid Orders told an official consultation that the body of a neolithic child, found in 1929, should be reinterred at Avebury.
The druids contend that the remains which are on display in the village need to be treated with more respect.
But English Heritage, which owns the site, says the bo
