Night time reading: 2009-08-05

The anti-Apple backlash is on.

Very good series on the science behind human eccentricities.

If Madrid fail miserably, it will be just desserts

I will give it a test run

Not Madoff size fraud. HSBC involved.

In its Form 10-Q filed early Wednesday, Goldman said that some of its affiliates “have received inquiries from various governmental agencies and self-regulatory organizations regarding the firm’s compensation processes

Citi needs to sell assets unlike no other big American bank

Baker suggests Bernanke does not deserve re-appointment

Can one inflate away debt deflation problems?

Yes, like PIMCO, Buffett has invested to gain from government largesse. But most of his financial investments are well-run institutions that pre-date the crisis. They received government funding because of systemic risk. M&T and US Bancorp are perfect examples of this. As for the stress tests, they were a sham, used to induce investors to pony up more capital. I see nothing wrong in criticizing them. So, I like this provocative analysis but must quibble on several points and I think it falsely paints all TARP recipients with the same brush.

Exactly my point about a technical recovery i.e. recession ends from a lower base.

Again, Northern Rock was a reckless lender

£4bn loss in the first six months of the year

July auto sales up from program

Distraction of the Day: Brazilians urged to conserve water in a strange way.