The Brunch Table

Here’s a fascinating Guardian article about the logistic difficulties of conducting EU business in the language of all 25 member countries–simultaneously.

Once the new countries are let in on May 1st, according to Plastic, the EU will have more people than the U.S., a bigger GDP, and–most interestingly–a little more than half our military budget. (Considering that our military spending, not counting Bush’s wars, is about 2/3 commercial-tech R&D, that could actually work out to a larger standing army, if they can get the legalities of a common military hammered out.)

Man, the EU is really fixin’ to be a lovely place to sue for asylum.

Devol, who is 78 and has clear memories of growing up with 11 brothers and sisters during the Depression, said it is easier to understand what is going on now “if you’ve been there before.”

A stunning profile of current conditions in southern Ohio.