Friday morning roundup

What about these real estate blurb would lead you to believe it relates to the People's Republic of China:

The spacious duplex comes with crocodile-skin bedposts, hand-carved bronze doors inlaid with Swarovski crystals — and a $45 million price tag.

and

“Look at this bronze door,” said Wang Yaodong. “That costs $50,000! Look at these Gaggenau appliances. They were made in Germany.” The glasses were imported from Belgium, the Jacuzzi from Italy. And don’t worry about losing your key, he said, “This lock can read the palm of your hand.”

I love Shanghai, but you get a lot more for your money in Tokyo.

David Brooks compares the Tea Party to the New Left of the 1960s.

Virginia threatened to close rest stops, too, to great popular revolt. Services cost money, people. And states raise money through taxes.

The FTA report on Metro's safety is scathing.