To answer 1 and 2, you can't query on metadata in blob storage. So I guess your best option would be to use SQL Azure or Azure Table Storage as both of them have querying capabilities. Given that you'll be storing huge number of blobs (and thus even more metadata), I'm more inclined towards table storage but that would require special design considerations like proper partitioning.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.