"Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen..."

It's been 42 years since Bob Dylan, our trickster hero, wrote those words. And still they come.

Yo, Canada. What the.....?? Pay up!!

This seems like it would be a pretty cool chart for novices and experts alike. I bet it would make a fine birthday gift or something for someone, you know, I'm just saying...

Chart detail here.

I never really did "get" the Bauhaus architectural style embodied by Mies van der Rohe (From Bauhaus to your house!).

If, as this article says, "The idea was that industrialized, mass-produced housing could shelter all those wretched proletarians consigned to rat-infested tenements" in the 1920's, is this an architecture we still need?

Norwegians have long held the belief that they are one of the wealthiest nations, if not the wealthiest nation. Well a new in-depth study reveals that when cost of living and taxes are factored in, Norwegians are in fact among the world's poorest people.

Hate your job? Think you've got one of the worst jobs ever in history?

You have no idea...

I've posted and commented in the past about the globalized nature of soccer, and my belief that it's the most globalized institution on the planet. But there may an institution just as globalized: wine.

Sure, the French wine industry is struggling, but Napa, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and a host of other nations are reinventing the wine trade.

Hey, Paulo Maldini, you just got fire bombed in your home stadium. I suppose you'll want to comment on your "sophisticated" fans.

Here's the correct characterization of the fans.

And here is UEFA's verdict.

Meanwhile, 80 miles away in Turin, Juventus fans brawl with police before and after their match with Liverpool. The game report says "missiles were being exchanged before the match".

The next time someone comments on a little Yankees - Red Sox kerfuffle, remember that this sort of behavior is the norm at Euro soccer matches.

Television creates bullies!! Children are all going to get melanomas!! We're all going to die in a supervolcano eruption!!

Oh, wait....never mind.

Last week I went to a wine tasting at my good friend Chris Didden's house. A delightful affair with great hosts and great guests and lots of great wine to try. The deal was that everyone had to bring a wrapped up bottle and then you had to rate it. About 30 bottles in all. Well, it turns out that the wine I brought over won.

It was a most good-natured wine. A touch sardonic, perhaps, but not cynical. A most civilized wine, one indeed after my own heart.

Several weeks ago I put up a post with some commentary related to the United Nations. One of my comments was that I thought the time had long since passed for the UN to move.

It seems I'm hardly alone in this view. Here's hoping this movement picks up steam. An organization as corrupt and ineffectual as the UN doesn't deserve to be on American soil. I'm sticking with my original suggestions: Havana or Brussels.

I have posted and commented previously about the woeful lack of 21st century gadgetry available to us, compared to what we had been promised (flying cars, notably. Also teleportation).

Still, if this is the future, count me out.

It seems Stalin had some grandiose plans for Moscow. Unrealized, alas. The Peoples Commissariat of Heavy Industry? I mean, really...

Esoteric, but interesting.

We are in a rare economic vortex, where inflation fears are putting downward pressure on bonds, which in turn holds interest rates at least somewhat in check. Regardless, the Daily Market Update posted to my company website predicts higher rates in both the short and long term.
If you're house shopping make an offer and lock your loan.

They better be careful down there. What if it turns out we're sitting on the equivalent of a giant balloon?

The Atlantic Monthly asks a question about your real estate agent related to motivation and trust.

For those of you who may be house-shopping, here's the daily market update regarding rates and trends from my company website.

The weekend is very nearly upon us, so let's do a carnival round-up!

TexasBestGrok is hosting the latest installment of the Carnival of the Recipes. "The revolution will be cooked..."

The Education Wonks once again do a great job with the latest installment of the Carnival of Education. Anyone interested in education (and that should pretty much be everyone) should check it out.

And Eric Berlin, who struggles with his urges to complain, is hosting the amazing Carnival of Vanities. It's the April Fool's edition, so keep a shaker of salt handy.