Things to Know - 27 April

1.  Beating back some of the really dumb and unconstitutional behavior and edicts from the irrational and goofy governor of Florida is really possible.  Maybe it's a trend?:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/26/rick-scott-drug-testing-unconstitutional_n_1455963.html

2.  There is a bit of history an FCPA (Foreign Corruption Practices Act) that has been of interest lately because of Walmart in Mexico.   It is nice and short bit of information to understand the issue:

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/04/the-corruption-law-that-scares-the-bejesus-out-of-corporate-america/256314/

3.  Remember the crappy mortgage backed securities?  Well, the same Wall Street financial Greeders are now bringing you SLABS - Student Leveraged Asset Backed Securities.  Making money off of students in-debt to pay off their education.  That same Wall Street group is really hoping that the rates will double on 1 July.  We thought indebted servitude went away with the Civil War:

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/print/42829/

4.  Thom Hartmann presents easy to absorb news facts on his vide-audio synopsis of newsworthy items:

http://truth-out.org/news/item/8762-on-the-news-with-thom-hartmann-gop-plans-to-cut-$33-billion-from-food-assistance-programs

5.  Eugene Robinson has a view on the process of reforming immigration in view of the fact that data now suggests that residents south of the border are no longer coming this way:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/immigration-turnaround-offers-chance-for-real-solutions/2012/04/26/gIQAcbC0jT_print.html

6.  Lawrence Summers outlines his opinion on Romney's economic plan (or lack of detailed plan) as fantasy:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/romneys-fiscal-fantasy-plan/2012/04/26/gIQAR44zjT_story.html?hpid=z2

7.  In the midst of all the building rhetoric from the GeeOpee Wannabees (or Wannabeens), this piece kind of puts all the talk in perspective:

http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/culture-warriors-dont-win/?pagemode=print

8.  Hector Tobar is back.  Writing about his experiences recalled from the LA riots 20 years ago as a new reporter for the LA Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-riot-tobar-20120427,0,3057327,print.column

--
Juan

"Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled." 
       -- Michael Crichton

"Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks." 
       -- Doug Larson

"Once the game is over, the King and the pawn go back in the same box." 
       -- Italian Proverb

"I think that one possible definition of our modern culture is that it is one in which nine-tenths of our intellectuals can't read any poetry." 
       -- Randall Jarrell