1. In its series, highlighting the ultimate trade route, the Silk Road, NPR focuses on what a food haven Syria is. Who knew? Syria as an official bad guy (axis of evil, state sponsor of terror, etc) is country that we're prohibited from trading with, but can still travel to...how does that work? Anyway, just listening to this story made our mouths water!

2. Several American companies were surprised when a reporter noted that they had been trading with banned Chinese companies. The Chinese companies were banned for selling to Iran. To get around the US ban, the Chinese employed the age old tactic of operating under a different name but keeping the same address. Hard to believe that in this day of enhanced compliance enforcement, US companies are still falling for the okey doke...see the full WSJ article here.

 3. This guy drops out of law school and decides to ride his motorcycle from Alaska all the way to the tip of South America encountering bandits, the elements, rock bands, and a serious accident only to be thwarted by Argentine Customs near the end of his journey in this WSJ article.

4. Really interesting Economist article delves into how the culture of the cell phone or is the mobile phone (UK), no make that a handy phone (Germany) or keitai (Japan). The technology is the same but how it's used and even what it's called is determined by culture.

5. Finally for the serious stuff, if you're an importer and rely on the "first sale" concept to value your goods for Customs purposes. An new 200+ report was just issued to Congress.