We Didn't Know: "El Paso (Texas) is closer to San Diego, on the Pacific, than to Houston." (The Economist)

Exciting! One of the best words we can use to describe our upcoming auctions in Baltimore, Sunday and Monday before the ANA Convention. Get ready, get set! Our catalogue is now in process.

Our Congratulations to Bill Gates for captaining Microsoft for 33 years. It's rather curious that the United States of America has harassed Microsoft in many areas, whereas other countries, Japan for example, go out of their way to encourage entrepreneurship and businesses. Come to think of it, the United States has never done anything to help the rare coin business, a dynamic part of American life, hobbies, and enjoyment. Perhaps we should hire some lobbyists.

Best wishes to the American Numismatic Society in its ongoing move to relocate its New York City headquarters. The coin collection has already been relocated, garnering a nice article in the New York Times. Wonder what will happen to the ANS home of two moves ago, at Audubon Terrace, 155th Street and Broadway, with the elegant Hispanic Society building next door? The neighborhood has deteriorated in the century since Archer Huntington, railroad scion, paid for both buildings and the surrounding plaza. The next thing we know, Donald Trump or someone will revitalize the area, and once again it will be the place "to be."

Studies of the Latin language are "on the rise again in Britain and America. It is not just useful in a competitive system, also sends a coded message about the nature of the school and the kind of people it attracts… In 2006 in America 32,191 students followed Latin, and 22,849 took some Greek." (The Economist)

Chances of death: by motor vehicle accident 1 in 90; by drowning 1 in 9,000; by airplane crash 1 in 30,000; by earthquake 1 in 130,000; by fireworks accident 1 in 600,000; by asteroid impact, various sizes, 1 in 720,000; by large asteroid impact 1 in 1,600,000; in regional asteroid impact at the tsunami level 1 in 2,800,000; by food poisoning by botulism 1 in 3,000,000; by meteorite impact mass extinction 1 in 4,300,000; by local impact of meteorite or space object 1 in 6,000,000; and by shark attack 1 in 8,000,000. Interesting statistics, as we often hear of shark attacks killing people, but not of meteorites or space objects. (Nature)