Of anecdotes and other things

I've been reading John Simpson's autobiography recently. He's the BBC's World Affairs Editor and has made a career out of reporting from the world's most dangerous places. For example, he was one of the first reporters into Afghanistan following the fall of the Taliban, having managed to get across the border by dressing as a woman.

The book is making for fascinating reading, with some incredible - and disturbing - anecdotes. ( Not least this one )

I am very upset about the news of the Columbia. Unfortunately, it's not the only tragedy of the past few days, and others have resulted in more deaths, the Sydney rail-crash, for one. That upset me as well, but, unfortunately, rail-crashes are not uncommon. Nor are people dying in war, of famine, or disease. Everyday tragedies that we should never become complacent to and should always strive to prevent.

But there is something especially devastating when astronauts die like that, as though all our hopes for the future are dying with them. I fear for the continuance of the space-programme, upon which our long-term future may depend.