June 15th, outsourced

Have you ever wondered why we used to say "the Ukraine" instead of just "Ukraine"? Or had you possibly not realized that we don't say "the Ukraine" anymore? Either way, read this. (Also, the article is correct that there is no definite article - "the" - in Russian/Ukrainian, but you can tell if Russians are saying "the Ukraine" or "Ukraine" depending on which preposition they assign to that country. "Na" will offend Ukrainians. They prefer "v". I know this from personal experience.)

This site's Soviet Bus Stops photos were awesome. [HT Anna]

Those people who busted out their indignation when Vogue ran an adulatory profile of Asma Al-Assad in March 2011 can calm down, because the editor of Vogue has retracted it.

June 12 was World Day Against Child Labor. A lot of these photos are very hard to look at.

Seven people who need to get out of the freaking way. [HT Eric D. Snider]

What a charming topic: what kind of must-know advice do guide books offer visitors to the United States? Among other things, be on time and don't make noise while you eat.

Christopher Clark is in the UK again. I love this time of year. (I should note that I don't know this guy and I am not a big theater buff but I just like reading about his summer adventures every year.)

The idea of a salt maze for slugs is hilarious to me.

Finally, enjoy this article from the BBC about Mitt Romney's British heritage. I especially liked the inclusion at the end of a) a British family with the last name Romney who is not actually related to him but enjoys buying Romney bumper stickers, and b) two random people who are Mitt Romney's closest British relatives. The article was nothing if not thorough, I suppose.