News from around the web: 2009-07-20

"If you aren’t familiar with Banco Santander yet, you soon will be. The Spanish giant is becoming one of the most profitable banks in the world."

I guess there are no CDS players blowing this up

Wiedeking makes off with 100 million euros.

"The latest statistics indicate that, between March and May this year, a record 927,000 individuals were working fewer than 30 hours a week because they could not find a full-time job, a rise of 38 per cent on last year."

Foreign ownership will be a part of this.

"Hershel McGriff has become the oldest driver to take part in a national NASCAR series race after qualifying for a Camping World West Series event at Portland International Raceway."

Marijuana is big business in Cali. Is this a potential source of revenue?

Burgernomics points to uncompetitive currencies in continental Europe"

CIT clearly demonstrates this.

Google Voice will make the legal battle about what telephone companies can and cannot restrict or prioritize very real.

Even 50 Cent is downsizing. But his house is 50,000 sq. ft. That’s absurd. Hat tip Max Keiser.

Back in 1985, we see what Jackson would have looked like at 40.

A racer gets shot during the Tour de France. Crazy.

Sotomayor hearings as ‘Alice in Wonderland’

Introducing ‘cognitive plasticity’ and its connection to experience and brain complexity

Winning athletes are getting bigger much faster than the rest of the population. Why?

Why has Joe Stiglitz been PNG’ed in Washington?

Views on 1930s investigation into financial services

We get a good overview of Reich’s views on health care, housing and more.

A must-read piece on health care. Hat tip Mark Thoma.

Distraction of the Day: Pyramid Economy