[The trains were never forgotten, but the extent of their influence only came to light with the arrival of the read more

[The trains were never forgotten, but the extent of their influence only came to light with the arrival of the internet and the subsequent flowering of genealogical research. This obsession with roots will be felt especially keenly by foundlings, who often have no way of exploring their family histories.] I notice that genealogical sites now have warnings on them saying people should be ready for little surprises, ... They're not all going to find themselves descended from King Henry VIII or Richard Cur de Lion or Wellington. This is rather strange because it was pretty taken for granted a few generations ago that families had all kinds of little moments where things had gone not according to the book. It was just one of those things. You tried to accommodate it. There was no social welfare. You just had to sort it out within villages, the families, the parish. Children went to the workhouse, but people knew about it. Nowadays, there's a kind of surprise that these cases were so commonplace.

Reform is alive and well within Islam, but it will only happen by those from within Islam and not those read more

Reform is alive and well within Islam, but it will only happen by those from within Islam and not those who hate Islam.

The camera is no more an instrument of preservation; the image is...

The camera is no more an instrument of preservation; the image is...

For the first time anywhere in the United States, an appellate court has ruled that such private communities are 'constitutional read more

For the first time anywhere in the United States, an appellate court has ruled that such private communities are 'constitutional actors' and must therefore respect their members' freedom of speech.

I found my sound early on. Look at U2: they haven't changed their music for 20 years. Anyway, many people read more

I found my sound early on. Look at U2: they haven't changed their music for 20 years. Anyway, many people come unstuck when they try to change what they do and what they are known for.

It's a show that's designed just for children.

It's a show that's designed just for children.

Shame on the soul, to falter on the road of life while the body yet endures

Shame on the soul, to falter on the road of life while the body yet endures

I don't think what happens in this country is censorship, I should say that. It's something else. It's not banning. read more

I don't think what happens in this country is censorship, I should say that. It's something else. It's not banning. It's something else.

I'd like to stop at 3 feet and let it set a little, see how it looks along the seams.

I'd like to stop at 3 feet and let it set a little, see how it looks along the seams.