By March 2001, euro bills and coins will replace local currencies as legal tender in the participating European countries. So certain people who have been hoarding large amounts of marks, francs, or other currencies are scurrying to avoid losing wealth. A NY Times article tells of Germany’s border checks, which are turning up hidden stashes in cars, and a theory that the euro has become weak because of the conversion of billions of mafia-held marks into American dollars. It’s an interesting look into the concept of currency exchange and what “cash” is. (And speaking of exchanging money, I enjoyed this nicely done Flash animation that relates a bureaucratic experience of a Canadian trying to deposit a check in U.S. funds. The sound effects are great. via /usr/bin/girl)