Monday, July 6, 2015

@10:40, 7/6/15

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1
Business Day

Yanis Varoufakis Abruptly Resigns as Greek Finance Minister

The combative minister had threatened to quit if voters approved a referendum on a European bailout, but his resignation after a “no” vote was unexpected.

http://yanisvaroufakis.eu/2015/07/06/minister-no-more/

"Father forgive them for they know not what they do"

2
N.Y. / Region

Greeks in New York Talk and Cheer, Then Debate Future After Referendum

As word spread in Astoria, a Greek enclave in Queens, New York, that their countrymen had rejected the terms of the rescue package, many people in the neighborhood cheered the vote.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/scattered-notes-on-the-euro/

Scattered Notes on the Euro

Wolfgang Munchau has a perceptive analysis of the utter disaster of the Yes campaign in Greece, in which he says
What I found most galling was the argument that Grexit would bring about an economic catastrophe, as though the catastrophe had not already happened. If you have been unemployed for five years, with no prospect of a job, it makes no difference whether the money you do not get is denominated in euros, or in drachma.
Wish I’d written that. But now what?
It’s becoming hard to see any path that doesn’t lead to Grexit; it is also, although this is still something few want to accept, becoming increasingly obvious that Grexit is Greece’s best hope. Otherwise, where is recovery ever supposed to come from? Even with massive debt relief, Greece will be forced to run huge structural primary surpluses — that is, pursue tax and spending policies that would produce huge surpluses if the economy were anywhere near full employment — and in so doing keep its economy depressed for the foreseeable future.
Or to put it a bit differently, what would be a straightforward policy problem if Greece had its own currency becomes an almost insoluble mess because it doesn’t. At some point the argument that the costs of a transition are too high wears thin.
Now, I get interesting mail when I say things like this — much of it along the lines of “I can’t believe that a far-left-wing type like you got a Nobel”. Because a lot of people seem to believe that real economists believe in sound money, preferably gold, and that only socialists believe that there can ever be any advantages to currency depreciation.
Socialists, that is, like Milton Friedman. But of course modern conservatives get their monetary economics from Ayn Rand, not the Chicago School.

Anyway, this isn’t anywhere close to over."


3
World

Pope Francis’ Visit to Latin America Will Test His Ability to Keep Catholics in the Fold

The pontiff’s roots in Argentina and his championing of the poor are considered vital to stemming the decline of the church’s vast base in the region.

The Catholic hierarchy lives in a fantasy.
They are engaged in testing the power of their fantasy. 

4
World

Video: Greece Rejects Austerity

Greek voters rejected an international bailout deal for their hemorrhaging economy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/world/europe/greek-referendum-debt-crisis-vote.html

Greece has declared effective bankruptcy.
Greece will not allow receivership or any further "Fire Sale".
Greece will build a new currency.
They may have to attempt it more than once.
The U.S. tried several times.  (Not worth a Continental.)
When that has happened I will be a small investor. 

5
World

Security Law Suggests a Broadening of China’s ‘Core Interests’

The term, used by Beijing for subjects it considers nonnegotiable, once was reserved for the issues of Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang. But no more.

http://www.ianwelsh.net/meanwhile-in-china-theres-a-huge-stock-market-crash/

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/delusions-of-control/

Delusions of Control

David Keohane has an informative post on the China stock crash, which is among other things revealing that the Chinese government has much less ability to control events than legend has it. And that brings back memories.
You see, when the Japanese bubble of the 1980s began deflating, there were many people insisting that the Ministry of Finance had it all under control. In fact, years into the Lost Decade you would still read articles and books claiming that Japan knew exactly what it was doing, even that it was all a cunning plot to lull the West into complacency while Japan took over the world economy.
The general point is that if you believe that officials have the economy — any economy — under control, you’re setting yourself up for a big disappointment. And in particular, it’s invariably a very bad idea to assume that officials know things that outside economists don’t. When it comes to economic policy, everyone has pretty much the same information, and holding public office, whatever its other benefits, does not improve one’s analytical skills.
Those of us who have been warning about big trouble in big China might be wrong. But we won’t be wrong because Chinese officials possess secret information or secret levers of control."

Grapes of Wrath

 
OK, is Eric Asimov doing international finance now (and scooping the rest of us, too)? His wine of the month is from the Greek island of Santorini, which is the remnant of a bigger island destroyed by a huge volcanic explosion. This explosion seems to have played a central role in the collapse of Minoan civilization, and may have given rise to the legend of Atlantis.
Eric, are you telling us something?"

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2015/07/links-7615.html

http://www.smh.com.au/business/comment-and-analysis/greece-debt-crisis-china-is-the-real-elephant-in-the-room-20150706-gi65mk.html

6
U.S.

Teenager’s Jailing Brings a Call to Fix Sex Offender Registries

Many people hold up the case of Zachery Anderson, who at 19 had sex with a minor who lied about her age, as a reason to rethink who’s registered.

There must be another solution to these problems. 
The registers treat the communities but not the participants.

7
Real Estate

Home Renovation: Time for a Hotel?

Few spend much time thinking about where they’re going to live when the demolition crew arrives.

It is not time yet.
A tent in the garden would work for three seasons of the year.

8
Business Day

Hopeful Start to Greek Debt Negotiations Quickly Soured


The Greek debt negotiations will go nowhere.

9
Health

More Caregivers Are No Spring Chickens Themselves

It’s another rising reality for an aging population: people over age 75 providing care for partners, siblings, friends and even parents.

These are all real concerns.
They deserve careful consideration by both of us.
I hope that by the time they become immediate either I won't care or
we will have solutions.
there will be great pressure to generate a general solution if democracy endures here.

10
Opinion

Protected Consumer Data

The Future of Privacy Forum writes that the law “requires consumer consent if personal data will be used in new or different ways.”

I trust only corporate ignorance.
If it is known the salesmen will know.

11
Science

Should Swimmers Worry About Sharks?

A rash of shark bites in North Carolina has raised concerns. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe.

If you are worried swim in freshwater pools. 

12
Sports

Australian Sets Record to Capture First Stage of the Tour de France

Rohan Dennis won the first stage of the Tour de France in record speed in the individual time trial on Saturday.

Rohan Dennis pedaled 34.5535 mph in the time trials.

13
N.Y. / Region

Helping Immigrant Farmers Sow Seeds From Home on American Soil

A farmer’s program in New York City instructs immigrants with agricultural backgrounds in the industry by offering classes and providing land.

We will have to do it with help from the extension service (county agent).

14
Opinion

Giving Consent to Sex

Readers discuss an article that was critical of requiring affirmative consent as part of an effort to reduce rapes.

I hope it is not our special concern.

I will leave it to the adolescents to work out rules acceptable to them.

The legislatures cannot help.

15
World

Francis, Hailed as ‘Pope of the People,’ Arrives in Ecuador on 3-Nation Tour

Francis brings his message of a church in transformation to a heavily Catholic region, and is expected to address the themes he wrote about in his encyclical on the environment.

If he is kind and honest he should disappoint his faithful in his audiences. 

16
Opinion

Interns, Victimized Yet Again

A federal court ruling makes it harder for students to challenge exploitative work programs.

Labor is in surplus.

17
The Upshot

Now Europe Must Decide Whether to Make an Example of Greece

The Greek public has said no to more of the same austerity, and Europe faces a difficult choice.

Greece will exit the euro. 
The only question is when.
Germany will tell us.

18
Science

Reaction to Smells May Help Diagnose Autism, Study Suggests

In a small study, researchers determined that autistic children did not make the same responses to pleasant and unpleasant odors as their typically developing peers.

I am sorry that the normal children will suffer for science.

19
Sports

Dustin Brown, Ranked 102nd, Has Nadal’s Number

Brown, 30, who grew up in Germany and Jamaica, has a knack for beating Rafael Nadal, which he did Thursday for the second time in two opportunities.

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/sports/baseball/index.html

Boston is not playing.

http://nytimes.stats.com/mlb/standings.asp

20
Sports

Thriving in a Barren Land

Sports, like most aspects of life, are not easy in the Canadian Arctic. But a major youth tournament recently revealed soccer’s importance to the area.

  The U.S. team beat the Japanese team by three goals.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/sports/soccer/womens-world-cup-usa-defeats-japan-to-win-title.html?ref=soccer

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