How the French fare in their American rivals' backyard will reveal just how good the Europeans really are.

ECONOMIST: The car industry

With the Euro still dominating the American dollar, try looking in your own backyard for European flair with a considerably smaller price tag.

CNN: Exotic vacations may be closer than you think

American doesn't like competition in its own backyard.

FORBES: Dogfight

The American Indian technique has been adapted for use in a backyard barbecue, so you don't have to bring in river stones to surround a campfire.

NPR: Where There's Smoke, There's Flavor

In the first case, William Souder, an American journalist, chronicles the jarring tale that unfolded near his own backyard in Minnesota.

ECONOMIST: Small things often hold big secrets

Together with an amateur astronomer friend from California, Mandel has traveled to Australia and set up a high-powered telescope, mount and CCD camera in Lee's own backyard observatory, which they've dubbed the Australian-American Imaging Station.

FORBES: A Star Is Born