If you're thinking this is "nice, but, well, not that impressive?" - think again. Look at the deeper history here, the US national anthem's lyrics were being written while under attack by the British. The ideas surrounding the formation of the United States are rooted in beating the British. In older Britons, there has always been partial resentment of the Americans stemming from WWII ("could have helped sooner" and "came here and took our women with their flashy clothes and cigarettes and nylons!" being the two popular complaints). And with everything surrounding Buckingham Palace being steeped in tradition, things just do not change.

So a gesture like this is truly amazing, and makes me proud to be British.

Didn't seem like a likely headline to me either.

Talking of footie, it's official: Leeds are leaving Elland Road. For what it's worth, I think it's a great idea, though there is a twinge of sadness at the thought that I'll likely never be back there watching them play. Me and our Paul spent a lot of crazy Saturdays in the Kop, and even crazier nights - like the Bradford game that left me wondering if I'd broken a rib from all the pushing against the metal supports, or the time Chris was doing acid in the middle of the game and was going off about oranges or something. I don't really miss that one fat bastard pissing on me though.