MonTemplar's Journal: News that Matters - 27th August 2003

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TODAY'S HEADLINES :

First black woman joins Queen's guard

Harley-Davidson revs up 100 years

Romans in footwear style shocker!

Egypt bans foreign belly dancers

Canada signs Indian land deal

Japan economy *really* in trouble...

Pink sees red over prince's 'hunt'
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First black woman joins Queen's guard

Janna Scantlebury, 19, from Bow, in the east of London, has been selected to join the ranks of the mounted guards working around Buckingham Palace.
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Harley-Davidson revs up 100 years

It was founded in 1903 when 21-year-old William S. Harley joined his 20-year-old friend, Arthur Davidson, to make a racing bike in a 10 foot by 15 shed on which was scrawled "Harley-Davidson Motor Company".

Oh, and apparently it's not just a man's machine :

Increasingly, the bikes are becoming a vehicle of choice for young, professional women who like the tough image.

And the company does now sell bridal wear including, according to its website, a "women's leather bustier", a "women's bridal hat - lace trimmed" and a "silk bandana".

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Romans in footwear style shocker!

Evidence for what, by modern standards, would be considered a lack of style has been uncovered at a major archaeological dig in south London, where a foot from a bronze statue appears to be adorned with both socks and sandals.

The discovery was made during the excavation of a three-acre Romano-Celtic temple complex at Tabard Square in Southwark.

Last month, a 2,000-year-old pot of cream, with its contents still intact, was found at the site.

The horror! :-)
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Egypt bans foreign belly dancers

A top belly dancer commands around ($3,145) £2,000 a night - a price the foreign dancers have been happy to undercut.

I hope we don't see this logic being extended to other danceforms - only Spaniards can do Flamenco, only Cubans can do Salsa, etc.
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Canada signs Indian land deal

The deal sees the Tlicho Nation - formerly the Dogrib First Nation - assume control over 39,000 square kilometres (15,210 square miles) of land between Great Slave and Great Bear lakes in northern Canada.

[That's about the size of Switzerland!]

[...]
It will give them the chance to exploit the natural resources of the territory, including Canada's two diamond mines.

Plenty of puff from Jean Chretien to mark the occasion. No quotes, though, from the tribe's reclusive leader, AldyGrauniad*... :-)

* Anagram of well-known Canuck of this locale, is case you need a hint.
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Japan economy *really* in trouble...

Plans are afoot to recruit homeless people to sell the Big Issue in Tokyo and Osaka. But will the Japanese accept it, or try and ignore it?
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Pink sees red over prince's 'hunt'

The PETA poster-grrl has written to Prince William, offering to play at his 21st birthday party - if he will publicly renounce blood sports.
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Roman, huh?

[dubiousdave]

My bet is that he was a German tourist.