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)
Feb 12, 2010
For centuries it had been thought that Baroness Laura Lanza was murdered by her father, Cesare, in an "honour killing" for which he was later pardoned.
But the hilltop town of Carini in Sicily believes that Cesare Lanza may have acted in league with the baroness's husband, Don Vincenzo La Grua, who wanted to remarry.
Her husband also feared that her lover might have tried to claim a part of his estate had she had children from her illicit affair.
Source: ABC News
Feb 12, 2010
Former President Bill Clinton left New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia this morning after stent surgery on Thursday afternoon.
"President Bill Clinton was released from in excellent health," Clinton spokesman Douglas Band said in a statement issued this morning. "He looks forward in the days ahead to getting back to the work of his foundation, and to Haiti relief and recovery efforts."
Source: Telegraph (UK)
Feb 12, 2010
The Jewish psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud might have had a painting by Hitler hanging on the wall of his office, it's been revealed.
A watercolour by the German dictator has come to light that has an inscription on the back that bears the name of Freud's medical practice in Vienna.
While Freud was based in the Austrian city in 1910 it is possible he or one of his staff bought the picture from the struggling artist.
Hitler was a jobbing painter at the time, knocking
Source: Portfolio (Hungary)
Feb 12, 2010
Heirs of Jews killed in the Hungarian Holocaust of 1944 filed a lawsuit at a Chicago court on Tuesday local time against Hungarian state railways MÁV, demanding compensation of USD 1.24 billion (HUF 244 bn) for the company's involvement in deporting Jews during World War II.
The crimes
Plaintiffs, who are Hungarian Jewish victims of the Hungarian Holocaust or their heirs or next of kin, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, bring this action for c
Source: BBC News
Feb 12, 2010
The legacy of Saddam Hussein continues to divide Iraq. Preparations for the country's parliamentary election have been thrown into chaos by a row over a decision to ban hundreds of candidates because of alleged links to the former president's now outlawed Baath Party.
At a recent demonstration in Baghdad, there was a palpable sense of anger among the crowd.
"We'll stamp out the Baathists," they chanted. "No to the return of killers to the parliament."
Source: BBC News
Feb 12, 2010
The man who invented the Frisbee, one of the world's most popular toys, has died at his home in Utah aged 90.
Walter Frederick Morrison conceived and developed his aerodynamic plastic disc in the 1950s, and hundreds of millions have been sold worldwide since.
Frisbee historian Phil Kennedy said Mr Morrison and his future wife, Lu, got the idea from playing with a metal cake pan on the beach in California.
He originally called his toy the Pluto Platter and s
Source: BBC
Feb 12, 2010
He said they agreed Mr Blair would have a clear run, and then support Mr Brown to take over when he stepped down.
But he told ITV1's Piers Morgan's Life Stories the deal was not made at the Granita restaurant as widely believed.
The prime minister also wept when he spoke about his daughter Jennifer, who died aged 10 days after suffering a brain haemorrhage in 2002.
Source: Independent (UK)
Feb 12, 2010
A student who spoke out in Arabic during protests against a speech by an Israeli minister at the Oxford Union has denied he called out the words: "Slaughter the Jews".
A statement issued by the office of Israel's deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, on Wednesday said that a student protester had uttered the words in question as Mr Ayalon faced protests over his appearance at the Union on Monday night.
But the Oxford Student newspaper yesterday quoted second
Source: Telegraph (UK)
Feb 12, 2010
A passing out parade will be held at HMS Sultan in Gosport, Hampshire, for the final graduates of the Marine Engineering Artificer Qualifying Course.
The rank of artificer, affectionately referred to as ''tiffs'' or ''tiffies'', will now fall under the new banner of engineering technicians (ET) - ME for marine engineers and WE for weapons engineers.
A Royal Navy spokeswoman said: ''This change of rank better reflects the job of artificers in the 21st century and recog
Source: NYT Magazine
Feb 11, 2010
[Russell Shorto is a contributing writer for the magazine. His most recent book is ‘‘Descartes’ Bones: A Skeletal History of the Conflict Between Faith and Reason.’’]
...This year’s social-studies review has drawn the most attention for the battles over what names should be included in the roll call of history. But while ignoring Kennedy and upgrading Gingrich are significant moves, something more fundamental is on the agenda. The one thing that underlies the entire program of the n
Source: Science Daily
Feb 11, 2010
Researchers at Queen's University have helped produce a new archaeological tool which could answer key questions in human evolution.
The new calibration curve, which extends back 50,000 years, is a major landmark in radiocarbon dating -- the method used by archaeologists and geoscientists to establish the age of carbon-based materials.
It could help research issues including the effect of climate change on human adaption and migrations.
The curve called INT
Source: National Geographic News
Feb 11, 2010
Stonehenge may have been surrounded by a "Stonehedge" that blocked onlookers from seeing secret rituals, according to a new study.
Evidence for two encircling hedges—possibly thorn bushes—planted some 3,600 years ago was uncovered during a survey of the site by English Heritage, the government agency responsible for maintaining the monument in southern England.
The idea that Stonehedge was a shield against prying eyes isn’t yet firmly rooted, but it's archaeol
Source: Daily Mail (UK)
Feb 11, 2010
A prominent 17th-century nobleman, Greville was a renowned scholar, soldier, statesman and spy.
Like his dearest friend Sir Philip Sidney, he was also an accomplished author.
So talented, indeed, that some believe he was the true author of several of Shakespeare's works. For years this has been little more than conjecture; fuel for the lively and often hostile debate between Anti-Stratfordians - those who deny that an ill- educat
Source: Culture 24
Feb 11, 2010
Exhibition: Ministry of Food, Imperial War Museum, London until January 2011
As cash-strapped Britons look to the past for cheaper options in these financially troubled times, the Imperial War Museum in London is rolling back the years to remind us how we did it during World War Two.
But despite its contemporary resonance, Ministry of Food explores what now seems like another world. In 1940 the government ministry, under the auspices of Lord Woolton, set about the mammo
Source: Daily Mail (UK)
Feb 11, 2010
A group of young far-right supporters have shocked Austria by wearing pro-Nazi T-shirts and giving the Hitler salute during a visit to a death camp where 120,000 people were murdered.
The skinhead group from the town of Wels posted photographs of themselves on the Internet wearing the shirts at the site of the Mauthausen camp where tens of thousands of people were gassed, worked to death or killed in hideous medical experiments.
Perhaps the sickest picture of all shows
Source: Daily Mail (UK)
Feb 11, 2010
At £15, this 200-year-old set of Encyclopaedia Britannica seemed a snip.
And more than 30 years later it has become clear just how much of a bargain it was - as it has emerged that it's really worth £9,000.
The 18 volumes were printed in 1797 and are thought to be the oldest privately owned set.
Source: The Hindu
Feb 11, 2010
Prehistoric remains from one of the most important Iron Age burials in the State, located here, near Tirunelveli, is likely to be housed on a site museum next to it.
The Archaeological Survey of India, the Central body that carries out excavations in the area, has been approached for setting up the museum. The State government is in the process of identifying land near the site of the remains.
No activity is permitted within 100 metres of any ASI excavation site that ha
Source: Telegraph (UK)
Feb 11, 2010
An Italian court has ordered an ancient Greek statue bought by the J. Paul Getty Museum seized, officials said.
The Los Angeles museum said it would appeal the decision to Italy's highest court and would "vigorously defend" its right to keep the bronze.
The "Victorious Youth" statue, which dates from 300-100BC, was pulled from the sea by Italian fishermen in 1964 off the eastern town of Fano, near Pesaro.The Italian
Source: Telegraph (UK)
Feb 11, 2010
A collection of Valentine letters and cards sent to a relative of the present day Duchess of Kent during the 1850s have been unearthed in a county records office.
The 22 illustrated Valentines were sent by would-be suitors to Catherine Worsley, daughter of Sir William Worsley of Hovingham, in the 1850s.
Three generations of the family later, Katharine Worsley, married into Royalty and is now the Duchess of Kent. Catherine was considere
Source: Telegraph (UK)
Feb 11, 2010
Gordon Brown has admitted for the first time that he believed he, and not Tony Blair, should have become prime minister when New Labour came to power.
leader John Smith’s death, and that he had the experience and skills to lead the country.
Mr Brown admitted that he and Mr Blair had fights during Labour’s first 10 years in office and that their relationship was “incredibly difficult”. His remarks confirm the simmering feud that characterised much of the time the pair
