FRONT PAGE: "Rising Powers Challenge U.S. On I.M.F. Role," by Mark Landler, New York Times, 30 March 2009.

In Great Powers, I talk about the IMF sensibly moving down the scale from fairly solid New Core pillars to emerging markets truly on the edge in this crisis. But the obvious payback for these G-20 (relative) newbies is that they get a whole lot more say on how the IMF works. No question about the G-20 as clear center of great power gravity. That is an old theme of mine. Anybody think to call the UN? Nah. Biggest crisis in decades and it's completely irrelevant. Why? Well, I guess we're still waiting on all those wars everybody keeps predicting. Sporadic street protests just aren't doing it for me. Then you find yourself hoping for something big from China, but instead of conquering Taiwan, Beijing bores us to tears by focusing on things like who decides what at the IMF and the need for a global reserve currency other than the dollar. Disappointingly sensible. Instead of WWIII, we have to settle for Lil' Kim launching his latest. Pretty sad line-up for the end of the world as we know it. Where's Jack Van Impe when you need him?