While none of the items sold by Ten Thousand Villages is a necessity, the low price point and charitable hook seems to have sheltered it from the worst of the recession.

FORBES: Creative Giving

The Brighton Beach area is sheltered from treacherous tides by the natural barriers of Breezy Point, in Queens, and Sandy Hook, N.

WSJ: Brighton Beach: Brookyln's Swimming Mecca

Leicester, subdued and lacking any attacking threat, were soon chasing an 11-point deficit when a thumping Hook penalty from the right touchline sailed through the middle of the posts.

BBC: Ospreys 23-6 Leicester

The Ospreys quickly cut that lead to a point after Hook kicked a penalty and they really piled on the pressure in search of a try.

BBC: Leinster 19-13 Ospreys

Look at it from another point of view: an independent Scotland should want to be clear how much it is on the hook if the rest of the UK has another financial crisis, and comes to its northern currency partner for a big bail-out.

BBC: Scottish independence: Braveheart or iPad?

The Baa-Baas side is brimming with talent and contains a trio of Welshmen with a point to prove: Hook, Peel and Matthew Rees, all former Lions who weren't selected for this tour.

WSJ: Barbarians Shape Up For Lions Rugby in Hong Kong