Commentary on the looming depression, the lost high school educated generation, Michael Lewis on life and luck, the importance of libraries, and poverty's cruel harvest.

It’s bad when Martin Wolf contemplates depression.

Financial Times -- Panic has become all too rational
Suppose that in June 2007 you had been told that the UK 10-year bond would be yielding 1.54 per cent, the US Treasury 10-year 1.47 per cent and the German 10-year 1.17 per cent on June 1 2012.

No college degree no life. Thanks to David of Victoria.

New York Times -- More Young Americans Out of High School Are Also Out of Work
For this generation of young people, the future looks bleak. Only one in six is working full time.

The best and the brightest get a lesson on life and luck.

youtube -- Princeton Baccalaureate 2012: Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis, a member of Princeton's Class of 1982 and author of such books as "Liar's Poker" and "Moneyball," speaks at the 2012 Baccalaureate in a speech called "Don't Eat Fortune's Cookie."

The best public space.

New York Review of Books -- The North West London Blues
Last time I was in Willesden Green I took my daughter to visit my mother.

Quote worth reading.

“Helen gives the people of Willesden what they didn’t know they wanted. Smart books, strange books, books about the country they came from, or the one that they’re in. Children’s books with children in them that look at least a bit like the children who are reading them. Radical books. Classical books. Weird books. Popular books. She reads a lot, she has recommendations. Hopefully, you have a Helen in a bookshop near you and so understand what I’m talking about.”

84 Charing Cross Road

Poverty and poor health.

Globe and Mail -- Fight obesity by fighting poverty
Here we go again: another panel on childhood obesity, this one appointed by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.