George Barr's Philadelphia home remains only half-finished, a stark testament to the sudden and calamitous breakdown of relations between the owner and his builder.
The implication could hardly be clearer: FIFA, the scandal-plagued governing body of world football, wants the team playing England in today's semi-final to win the trophy for the fourth time.
Wild salmon were once so abundant that some apprentices had contracts stipulating that they were not to be fed it more than twice a week. How times have changed...
Connections drive growth. Roman roads, naval signals and, eventually, the global telegraph network were all essential for the success of their civilisations because knowledge is power.
On the day that 710 fresh 'asylum seekers' escaped the war-torn hell hole of France to descend on Britain, the immigration minister responsible was preoccupied with other matters entirely.
It was pure Roman Colosseum, without the lions and tigers but with corporate sponsors, only the venue was this time the historic South Lawn of the White House.
TOM COLLOMOSSE: As the game's greatest prize eluded him as a player, Koeman is determined to make amends as a coach. But his team are far more dour than previous versions.