What every American should know about the United Nations

and

U.N., Kofi Annan Win Nobel Peace Prize

I like this quiz. Based on a hefty number of questions, you're given recommendations of places in the U.S. in which you might like to live, plus little community-report blurbs. It's gotten me started thinking about packing up and getting out again. Of course, there's still the money issue to consider. Sigh.

Ok, so this is how I scored:

Carlisle, Pennsylvania -- The Waterfront Capital
The Rockville Bridge near this Pennsylvania town was built in 1901 and is still the longest stone arch bridge in the world…
Population: 615,000 | Average Home Price: $122,000 | Precipitation: 40" | Snow: 37"
[I'm pretty sure I've never even considered Pennsylvania, period.]

Seattle, Washington -- The Emerald City
The game "Pictionary" was developed by a waiter in this town in 1986…
Population: 2,315,000 | Average Home Price: $193,000 | Precipitation: 35" | Snow: 15"
[Designing board games and waiting tables: sounds pretty damn good to me! Plus ex-members of Some Velvet Sidewalk live in Seattle. Not to mention, you know, all those other bands. Yeah, them.]

Hartford, Connecticut -- The Insurance Capital
This Connecticut city is home to America's oldest State House, oldest public art museum, and oldest continuously published newspaper...
Population: 825,000 | Average Home Price: $155,000 | Precipitation: 41" | Snow: 42"
[No Connecticut, thank you. I'm morally opposed. Case in point: "The Insurance Capital?" Blech.]

Cincinnati, Ohio -- The Queen City
This big Ohio city with the small-town feel is home to baseball's first professional team: the Reds started in 1869…
Population: 1,620,000 | Average Home Price: $132,000 | Precipitation: 39" | Snow: 19"
[The City of Freddie Mercury? Rock! Another distinct possibility.]

Providence, Rhode Island -- New England’s Best Kept Kept Secret
This Rhode Island spot is the home of the award-winning flaming sculpture WaterFire, installed on the three rivers of downtown...
Population: 650,000 | Average Home Price: $128,000 | Precipitation: 48" | Snow: 32"
[Er... I'd need to do a wee bit of research. RI is kinda like Delaware or Wyoming to me -- sort of unreal. Do these states even exist? Ok, now I'm just being obnoxious.]

New Haven, Connecticut -- Home of Yale University
The first hamburger was cooked at Louis' Lunch in this Connecticut spot in 1900...
Population: 523,000 | Average Home Price: $198,000 | Precipitation: 43" | Snow: 30"
[New Haven? I'd rather not be stabbed to death in my sleep, thank you.]

The best article by far written since September 11. Penned, not surprisingly, by the brilliant English author Martin Amis. Go. Now.

Martin Amis: Fear and Loathing