Of course, baseball's recent ruling class isn't yet willing to surrender, even if an Eastern Division team hasn't made the World Series since 2009.
The scene isn't much prettier in Eastern Europe and the Baltics, where, because of struggling economies, currencies have severely weakened.
Martin Brodeur, who finished with 18 saves, isn't worried about the defending Eastern Conference champions.
The eastern mountains don't face the entire expanse of dunes, so the wind cuts the Sossusvlei valley into a "U" shape.
The fall of the wall was a kind of year zero for Berlin and was followed by a wave of optimism, illustrated by the murals from that era at the East Side Gallery (the longest section of the Berlin wall still standing), but the integration of the relatively impoverished eastern section hasn't been easy and is an ongoing process.
But experts said it wouldn't be surprising if the attacks originated in Eastern Europe instead.
Getting ready for the Eastern Conference semifinals probably wasn't high on his list.
In April 2007 when Poland and Ukraine were announced as joint hosts amidst roaring celebrations in Cardiff, Uefa hoped that the decision would aid the development of football infrastructure in central and eastern Europe where it isn't as developed as in the west but where the passion for the game is equally strong.
Raymond Felton added 15 points and 10 assists for the Knicks, who haven't advanced in the playoffs since reaching the 2000 Eastern Conference finals.
Don't import the immigrants, then from southern and Eastern Europe.
It doesn't get any easier for the Hawks, who visit the Eastern Conference-leading Miami Heat on Tuesday before hosting the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.
There's enviable depth to this roster and while those dreams of Eastern Conference finals seem laughable, they shouldn't be thumb-wrestling for the 8th seed with Friday's road opponent, the Bucks.
There are also key areas where businesses -- including those that are struggling -- can't go without help, says Jon Zion, president of eastern U.S. operations at staffing firm Robert Half International Inc.
In Canada he can't seem to escape the stigma of having made his fortune in eastern Europe.
So if this was a potential first-round Eastern Conference playoff preview, the Bucks probably didn't enjoy much of what they saw on Tuesday night.
But as long as commitments to south-eastern Europe remain at their current level, don't expect much help from Britain in the event of, say, another crisis in the Gulf.
Mr Balls admitted Labour had made mistakes with the economy - particularly on eastern European immigration and bank regulation - and "didn't spend every pound of public money well".
BBC: Labour conference: Balls unveils five-point growth plan
There isn't a superstar on the team, which entered Wednesday in fifth in the Eastern Conference, nearly assured of a playoff spot.
Had they beaten the Bulls, the Knicks would have defeated every team in the Eastern Conference at least once during the season, something they haven't done since 2000-01.
When he isn't picking flowers in Nimla garden, a green oasis in the dry hills of eastern Afghanistan, he works in a hot, dusty parking lot in the city of Jalalabad.
But he didn't really give the case much thought until 13 years later, when as a sophomore at Eastern Michigan University he attended a lecture by Mark Lane.
At that point I knew that this wasn't over and my instincts took over again and I ran to the 6 train on the eastern side of city hall.
Of the top 100 most popular YouTube channels that aren't industry-sponsored, there is one black creator, four Asians and one of Middle Eastern descent, according to Web researcher Jenny Unghba Korn.
While Toshiba hasn't leaked any information on pricing, we do know that this svelte convertible will be hitting Middle Eastern shores in "Q1 2007, " but we sure hope Tosh brings the goods over to this side of the pond soon after.
ENGADGET: Toshiba's Portege M400 goes Core 2 Duo, gets HSDPA
With many residents still accustomed to shopping in small local shops, demand isn't yet keeping up with supply at the new, big malls, according to information supplied to Eastern Connecticut State by Steven Beesley, co-founder of the Institute of Shopping Centre Management in Hong Kong.
FORBES: They're springing up in Asia, but will they all last?
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