It's a sideshow, I know, but I was struck by the following two articles and have been meaning to share them for a good few days now. I'll generally read anything by PJ O'Rourke, even when it's about Airbus as in this case.

Airbus is one of those typical head in the clouds European Grand Projets- which is not to say it's useless, just hobbled rather by the nature of the grand political design instead of liberated by free cooperation on technical matters.

ps. Still trying to deal with my keyboard situation; an accident with tea I'm afraid. The laptop's a bit old and round here I haven't yet found a motherboard suitable to replace it. I still have many things I'd like to talk about, but my opportunities to write using a keyboard are bit limited.