Kristan Tetens will host History Carnival LX at Victorian Peeper on Sunday 6 January. Send your nominations of the best in history blogging since 1 December to her at tetenskr*at*msu*dot*edu or use the form.

Saudi Arabian blogger, Fouad al-Farhan, was arrested on 10 December and has not been heard from since then. You can view his site here.

Eli Saslow,"Tradition: The Old Ba' Game," Why We Compete, 30 December, looks at what may be history's oldest and most physical sport and the Scottish town that is its host.

Roberta Hershenson,"A Family Album Is One for the History Books," NYT, 1 January, previews"Looking East: William Howard Taft and the 1905 Mission to Asia," an exhibit of photographs that will open on 17 January at the Nippon Club in NYC.

"What Happened to New York: A History of the 00's so Far," Gawker, 31 December, is a brief history of the city in this decade.

George Will,"The Most Interesting Presidential Candidate," Townhall, 30 December, reviews Shelby Steele's A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win. Hat tip to Dale Light of Light Seeking Light.

Finally, farewell to Marvin Wachman, American historian and former president of Lincoln and Temple universities.

Ari Kelman - 1/1/2008

Happy New Year, Ralph. And thanks for all of your hard work this past year.