viral civil unrest

What a fine turn of phrase. I think the author of the blog knows it's good, as she uses it repeatedly.
http://pennyred.blogspot.com/2011/08/panic-on-streets-of-london.html?spref=fb
This is the best overall writing about the current situation in England that I've seen. I don't think she's entirely correct, but it's very clearly laid out, and even many of the comments are cogent, even as they disagree with each other. There are some confusing ones (like the guy who claims that the riots have received no US news coverage. My impression is the opposite - it's been the lead international story, more than Syria in many cases, and way more than the dire conditions in Somalia). The comment I thought most useful, in this context or many others: "Everything we do is political, including criminality. Whether it be by a government, a corporation or an individual. In any case, the scale of the unrest has made it political."
Thanks to Robin McKinley for the link - it was exactly the kind of blog I've been thinking of, but since Rachel from North London and many of her cohort stopped blogging, I'd lost track of sources for that POV.


Totally unrelated English POV
http://pineapplecharm.blogspot.com/2010/10/nation-of-nerds.html

soldiers cover Rolling in the Deep

I think it's rather pretentious for Adele Adkins to call herself ADELE, like she's shouting all the time, but she's a good singer and songwriter. I think this cover of one of her songs is fabulous. I don't know the names or locations of the musicians - it's from a youtube channel that mostly is about the video maker's preparations to come out as soon as the waiting period for the end of DADT is over, so in the meantime he doesn't disclose his location or coworkers.
http://www.youtube.com/user/AreYouSuprised#p/a/u/0/eBaskRZDbNA
Having worked with a lot of military folks in the clinic earlier this summer, I can't see those boots without wondering which ones have special inserts and stuff - there are many options for personalizing them if you want to spend your own money on upgrades. Not much that can be done with spending about the backaches that seem prevalent, though.