The Dustbin of History

Editor's Note: the previous post was, it would be obvious to anyone who read it, hacked out at speed and not reconsidered in any way, contrary to the usual practice around here: I had had a long day at work, it was getting late, the kids were sick, etc. I have therefore spent a restless night worrying about how bad it actually was. I have now gone back to it, fixed up the most obvious mistakes and misguided statements, and re-posted it. I hope nobody minds. It won't happen again.