Assorted Links (7/11/2010)

Paul Berman: What You Can’t Say About Islamism – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“In the Wall Street Journal, Paul Berman writes that American intellectuals won’t face up to Muslim radicalism’s Nazi past.”

The Case of Apple and the Mysterious Bars – The Numbers Guy – WSJ

blogs.wsj.com

“Apple’s announcement that its formula for calculating signal bars to display on the iPhone was “totally wrong” spotlighted a mysterious aspect of cellphone technology.”

No Garden-Variety Public Pension Crisis

www.american.com

“Public-sector pensions in New Jersey and other states completely ignore the risk and cost to taxpayers of investing in increasingly risky assets.”

Kimberly Strassel: Obama and the Chicago Machine – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“In the Wall Street Journal, columnist Kimberly Strassel writes that testimony in the Blagojevich trial shows the White House in an unflattering light.”

Donald Luskin: Why This Isn’t Like 1938—At Least Not Yet – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“In The Wall Street Journal, Donald Luskin notes that stock prices show we’ve dodged another depression, but toxic, antibusiness rhetoric and policy errors like the Dodd-Frank bill are hurting the still-fragile recovery.”

Eric Felten: Fox TV’s Glenn Beck is Opening a University? Imagine the Curricula if Every Celebrity Did

online.wsj.com

“In his De Gustibus column in The Wall Street Journal, Eric Felten notes that Fox TV’s Glenn Beck is opening an online university, and wonders why any or all celebrities can’t open schools, with curricula to suit their reputations and (sometimes) peculiar talents.”

Peggy Noonan: The Town Hall Revolt, One Year Later – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“Peggy Noonan writes in the Wall Street Journal that Democrats didn’t get the message from all of the townhall meetings last summer. Will Republicans do better?”

Walking Away From Million-Dollar Mortgages – NYTimes.com

www.nytimes.com

“The well-to-do have stopped paying their home loans in greater numbers, and apparently with less guilt.”

Ohio hamburger chain says insurance reform will bite into profits

www.cleveland.com

“The White Castle hamburger chain fears that a health insurance reform law adopted earlier this year will put its profits on a downward slide…White Castle, which currently provides insurance to all of its full-time workers and picks up 70 to 89 percent of their premium costs, believes it will likely end up paying those penalties. The financial hit will make it hard for the company to maintain its 421 restaurants, let alone create new jobs, says company spokesman.”

Charles Krauthammer – The selective modesty of Barack Obama

www.washingtonpost.com

“Obama is convinced of his own magnificence, and hardly any of his own country’s.”

New Takings, Just Like the Old Takings

www.american.com

“Oh, for the good ol’ days when eminent domain was the government’s preferred method for taking private land.”

How Much the World Has Changed – Freakonomics Blog – NYTimes.com

nytimes.com

“Advertisements from days gone by.”

Why Limits On Banker Bonuses Are Meaningless « StreetTalk – Forbes.com

forbes.com 

“Limiting compensation will not prevent the next blow up.”

Lee E. OHanian: More Unionization Means Fewer Jobs – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“In The Wall Street Journal, UCLA economist Lee E. O’Hanian says that the president’s drive to spread unionization throughout the private economy will raise prices, lower production, increase unemployment and retard growth.”

The Superfund Bait and Switch – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“The Wall Street Journal writes that the EPA is using the spill as a pretext to raise taxes and revive a destructive liability theory.”

Arthur B. Laffer: Unemployment Benefits Aren’t Stimulus – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“Arthur B. Laffer writes in The Wall Street Journal that increasing unemployment benefits will not have a stimulative effect on the economy but it will reduce the incentive to find work. A federal tax holiday is a better way to cut the high jobless rate.”

The Friends of Israel Initiative: Israel: A Normal Country – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com 

“In the Wall Street Journal, the new Friends of Israel Initiative writes that Western democracies must reevaluate their jaded perspectives on Israel.”

Daniel Henninger: Obama and the Spending Volcano – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com 

“Daniel Henninger writes in The Wall Street Journal that voters are frustrated with the Democrats’ unprecedented spending and the debt that it has created.”

AT&T Finds Glitch Affecting iPhone 4 – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“AT&T said a software defect is slowing down the wireless connection for more than one million customers looking to send data from smartphones like the iPhone 4 or laptop modems.”