The Thwack of Willow on Leather

The cricket season is underway- and England are playing New Zealand at Lords. One of our players got a century on debut- something that has only been achieved at Lords three times before in the history of the game- ain't that wonderful?

Yes- I know- most of you are raising your eyebrows. But here's something I've never understood. The whole English speaking world plays cricket- with the exception of you North Americans. You play base-ball- a related, but less complicated sport. Why? Is it because you opted out of the Empire at an early stage? Maybe. But that only explains the cricketlessness of the USA; it doesn't explain Canada. So what's going on? Does anybody out there know?

Abu Ghraib

Abu Ghraib reminds me of school. School bullies grin like that. Those sexual tortures and humiliations are just the sort of thing that small boys use to enforce hierarchy and kill the boredom.

Small girls too, I should think. Though from what I hear, women are better at the psychological stuff.

I've been there. I've even grinned that grin once or twice. Abu Ghraib reminds me of things about myself I'd rather not remember.

Lock 'em up. I'm a decent person. Get 'em outta my face.