I hadn't seen the London Review quote before, so thanks. I'd seen most of the rest by scrolling through metaquotes yesterday (you'll be unsurprised to learn that the "tea" quote is already avialable in icon form). I was quite touched by the view that others, particularly Americans, have of the way that this country is dealing with this shit. Sometimes it takes an objective view to make you realise that we're really *not* all running around like headless chickens, whatever else may be going on.