When In Gnome

By AnnMarie Bonardi, Amanda Bower, Ellin Martens, Joseph Pierro, Alex Smith, Sora Song, Heather Won Tesoriero and Josh Tyrangiel Monday, May. 21, 2001

BRIT KITSCH Among the hallowed relics of the British Empire facing the dustbin of history: the garden gnome. Can these millennial makeovers, now in British stores, save the twee folk?

--Instead of being posed on toadstools, some figures are on microscooters.

--A Westminster bookstore has created gnomes in the likeness of Tory leader William Hague (hoisting a pint), Home Secretary Jack Straw (armed to squirt weed killer) and PM Tony Blair (big ears).

--Rather go Rome than gnome? One firm has modeled its puckish ornaments on Russell Crowe in his gladiator outfit.

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"The last time I looked, I lived in America. And I'd hate to see the government take away my freedom to eat an oyster."
TOMMY WARD, whose family has been harvesting oysters from the Gulf of Mexico since the 1920s, on the FDA's plan to ban the sale of raw oysters that are harvested in warm months; about 15 people die each year due to raw-oyster contamination
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"The last time I looked, I lived in America. And I'd hate to see the government take away my freedom to eat an oyster."
TOMMY WARD, whose family has been harvesting oysters from the Gulf of Mexico since the 1920s, on the FDA's plan to ban the sale of raw oysters that are harvested in warm months; about 15 people die each year due to raw-oyster contamination
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