Some people here have been complaining of the kinder, gentler, European-friendly version of the Star Spangled Banner being played at the Olympics. Personally, I like this version. Francis Scott Key never intended it as a battle hymn but as a solemn reminder of a stupid war that should never have been fought.

Strange but true: back in 1947, the Smithsonian dismantled Francis Scott Key's house and put it into storage. Now they claim to have lost it. While losing a house key may be an accident, I reckon that losing a Key's house takes real talent...