Here’s a list of articles that I have been reading lately:

Have You Accidentally Sold Your Soul Lately? – Freakonomics Blog – NYTimes.com

freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com

“An online retailer adds an interesting clause to its contracts.”

 Q&A: Semi-Variance: A Better Risk Measure? – Fama/French Forum

www.dimensional.com

“Is semi-variance a more useful measure of downside risk than standard deviation?”

Don’t Fear the Invisible Tax – Economix Blog – NYTimes.com

economix.blogs.nytimes.com

“Despite the criticism of the value-added taxes Government spending is no lower in countries with more visible taxes.”

Holman Jenkins: The War on Shorts – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“In The Wall Street Journal, Business World columnist Holman Jenkins says the SEC’s lawsuit against Goldman Sachs is part of a long campaign by the federal agency against short sellers. It is also a convenient way of deflecting attention from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s role in the housing bubble.”

The Violence Card – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“The Wall Street Journal writes that Bill Clinton plays politics with Oklahoma bomber Tim McVeigh.”

Op-Ed Columnist – Riders on the Storm – NYTimes.com

www.nytimes.com

“The growing belief that the Internet has led to an increasingly fragmented and polarized media market may be contradicted by new research.”

The English Patient

www.thebigquestions.com

“A 64 year old breast cancer survivor suffering severe back pain is told she’ll have to wait five months for an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon through the National Health Service (NHS). She therefore (and perfectly legally) chooses to pay 250 pounds (about 385 dollars) for a private appointment. He puts her on …a waiting list for surgery to remove a cyst from her spine, surgery which is routinely covered by the NHS. But the NHS decides that since she can afford 250 pounds for a private appointment, she can also afford 10,000 pounds (over 15,000 dollars) for private surgery. They therefore deny to provide her the surgery for which she’s been paying taxes her whole life.”

Campaign For Liberty — A Strong Majority Wants to Repeal ObamaCare

www.campaignforliberty.com

“Support for repeal of the recently-passed national health care plan is proving to be just as consistent as opposition to the plan before it was passed. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of likely voters nationwide favor repeal, while 41% are opposed. Those figures include 48% who Strongly Favor repeal and 29% who Strongly Oppose it. Over the past four weeks, support for repeal has remained in a very narrow range from a low of 54% to a high of 58%. Forty percent (40%) now believe repeal is at least somewhat likely, up two points from a week ago. Forty-nine percent (49%) say it’s not likely. This includes just 15% who see repeal as Very Likely and 12% who say it’s Not at All Likely.”