Facial expressions ‘not global’ BBC
Mutation Tied to Need for Less Sleep Is Discovered New York Times
Finance and the Flaw of Averages Paul Kedrosky
UK defends its healthcare Financial Times and Healthcare paranoia is part of America’s culture war Edward Luce, Financial Times
Ten Unsolved Problems in the Global Economy David Merkel
As of Friday August 14, 2009, FDIC is Bankrupt Michael Shedlock, This is a bit illusory, since the idea that the FDIC is self funging is a convenient fiction. When a lot of bank croak, Congress stumps up more money.
Bears prowl Wall St as insiders dump stock Reuters
A rally with troubling aspects Financial Times. Note this is a news story, not an op-ed.
Not Too Hard Michael Panzner. Another take on the “revolution” theme.
AP: A Giant Right-Wing Propaganda Network? Dean Baker
Treasury Bailout’s Limits on Lobbyists Still Haven’t Taken Effect Wall Street Journal. This is so “the dog ate my homework” as to be beyond belief. Ahem, if the Treasury were competent, it would have a short memo to all TARP banks conveying the message: “We are drafting legislation which will be retroactive to this date. You are not permitted to lobby and if we catch you doing anything like that, expect massive fines and public shaming.”
Antidote du jour. From the Lancashier Telegraph:
Pigs at a wildlife park are showing four legs really are better than two, by taking on the challenge of football.
Andrew Reeve, head keeper at the park, said the pigs play with a special ball that leaks feed as it rolls, encouraging them to move it around.
He said the highly-intelligent animals’ matches are getting faster and faster as they learn the best tricks to get their treats.
He said: “It was the owner Neil Mumby’s idea, we already do pig racing here which is a daily event along with other demonstrations and we wanted to do something new.
“Pig football was something that sprung into Neil’s mind.
“Basically we got hold of a special ball that releases feed as it rolls, and with pigs being so intelligent, they soon work out that they have to keep it moving. We get a couple of goals and they basically headbutt the ball and manoeuvre it with their snouts.”
He said five pigs are involved, and people are picked out of the crowd to help hold the goals for the 10-minute match.
“It’s very popular, he added. “It’s such an unusual thing, and as the pigs are learning more about the ball and the rewards they get the game is getting faster. They even balance the ball on their heads at times. It’s starting to get more exciting.”
Doc Holiday 
Posts
Re the Treasury: "other issues had consumed Treasury's time" -
Yeah, we know all to well what those "other issues" were. Too bad we don't currently have a government whose every word isn't a predatory lie.
Re wealth monopoly: The American people better get smart.
Re sleep: So the article hints at research which could synthetically transform people into genetic freaks like Churchill or Napoleon who could function highly in a crisis on little sleep?
Yeah, but I bet that too would simply be monopolized by wealth, by the worst. So I wish failure upon that researcher. That should be our basic line on technology and scientism, given these class war conditions.