The Hive Archive

A BBC photographer embarked on a project to talk to, “… people you see every day but never meet. Urban living is full of these close encounters where we never make contact.”

Tony, from London, had the following to say, “Oh, stop it, you touchy-feely freak! I live in London precisely because people here are NOT overly intimate. I like the fact that I walk amongst strangers, I love the fact I am not subject to tedious drivel from people who happen to impinge upon my geography. If you want to know your neighbours, go live up North or something - stop assuming we all want to be like you.”

From a forum I frequent: “what a pleasant surprise this morning. the floor above us was putting down some floor leveler and it just happened to leak right onto our rack, covering the whole thing is a cement like shell. luckily everything is still up and running. oh happy day, oh happy day”

From the New York Times:

In the annals of international diplomacy, it is not exactly Yalta. But today’s visit to Graceland — the ticky-tacky Elvis Presley mansion here — by President Bush and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan brings a little bit of shake, rattle and roll to American foreign relations.

The prime minister is a die-hard Elvis fan; the two share a birthday, Jan. 8, and a pompadour hairstyle, though Mr. Koizumi’s locks are longer and grayer than those of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. On Thursday, in a joint appearance with Mr. Bush at the White House, the prime minister had a message for the United States:

“Thank you very much, American people, for ‘Love me Tender,’ ” he said

With Mexico’s presidential election two weeks away, the drug wars are a central issue in the race, and the main candidates are all trying to look tough on the issue, while splitting over whether U.S.-style solutions are needed.

Roberto Madrazo of the former ruling party claims the toughest law-and-order platform: One of his campaign ads depicts a criminal wetting his pants out of fear of Madrazo’s proposals for stiffer sentencing. “Criminals can’t play around with me,” Madrazo tells voters.

• Yahoo News