links for 2011-08-22

Among Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.’s more than 17,000 patents, a group of 18 may prove most useful in Google Inc.’s effort to fend off litigation targeting the Android mobile platform.

While watching another Arab government get toppled on Sunday evening — this time that of Muammar Gaddafi, in Libya — I was also reading George Magnus's excellent note for UBS, entitled The Convulsions of Political Economy.

In broad terms, the needed elements are plain: further short-term stimulus combined with credible longer-term fiscal restraint. Cut the payroll tax, extend jobless benefits and subsidise new jobs; then curb entitlement spending by raising the retirement age. Neither party in Congress is willing to embrace both sides of that proposal. The only hope of changing this is for Mr Obama to reset his presidency. Be bold. Lead more forcefully. Since all else has failed, put a serious plan to the country and win the argument.

Many prominent politicians are calling for the introduction of jointly issued euro bonds to help combat the European debt crisis. But research conducted by the German government suggests that the bonds would face tough legal challenges, and would cost Germany billions in additional borrowing costs.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The union representing 62,000 grocery workers in southern California has received the go-ahead from members to call a strike if an acceptable contract deal cannot be reached with

Gold may climb the most in more than three decades this year as investors and central banks boost their holdings on concern that global economic growth may stall amid a worsening sovereign-debt crisis in the U.S. and Europe.

Should we be surprised, frightened, disgusted or simply say 'we knew it' that in the informal mixer just after Texas Governor and Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry spoke at a Politics and Eggs breakfast in Bedford, New Hampshire, an unknown gentlemen approaches a casual Perry like an Ian Flemming character, and proceeds to dead drop the following: "Bank of America… We will help you out"… and silently moves on. At least we know now who is funding what, and whose interests potential future president Perry will be paid to defend

If Republicans have their way, taxes will increase next year by $120 billion. Republicans in favor of tax increases? Sadly, yes. Last year the payroll tax on employees was cut from 6.2% to 4.2%, a policy that President Obama supported. Economists from

Household budgets are deteriorating at a faster rate than during the height of the recession in early 2009, according to an analysis of consumers' 
finances.

More than one in 10 town and city centre shops across the UK were vacant at the end of May, the British Retail Consortium says.

Charles Arthur: WebOS is – was – a great little operating system, but the arguments against it being licensed are overwhelming.

When Ruth Rooney moved in 2005 to a two-bedroom house in Vallejo, California, near Napa Valley’s famed wineries, the historic St. Vincent’s Hill neighborhood attracted young professionals and there were few vacancies.

I sadly feel that these comments by Bachmann show in full color the tragic disconnect from reality that we as americans and american politics are having. We think that just because we want something to happen it will, despite all of the fundamental laws of physics and reality that we are breaking. But with our current educational system, who studies physics anyway.

U.S. stocks are set for a “significant rally” which will provide an opportunity for investors to sell before equities resume declines, according to economist Andrew Smithers.

Andrew Smithers is expecting a “significant rally” in US stocks which will provide an opportunity for investors to sell before equities resume

Consumir y construir, para crecer. España, obligada por la crisis a abandonar los excesos de esa fórmula, ha dado un paso más en su camino hacia un modelo productivo más equilibrado. La exportación de bienes, que ya venía ganando terreno desde antes de la última recesión, se disparó a partir de 2010 y acaba de arrojar un dato significativo: entre enero y junio, España tuvo por primera vez superávit comercial con la Unión Europea en el acumulado de un semestre. Y en el segundo trimestre registró, también por primera vez, superávit comercial con los países de la OCDE.

Wall Street Aristocracy Got $1.2T in Loans

Some months ago, I speculated that the US election of 2012 could match a failed incumbent against an unelectable challenger. The odds on this scenario have shortened. The US economy is getting worse and confidence in Barack Obama is collapsing.

Professor Catherine Fowler from Sydney's University of Technology said youngsters are terrified as they are carried or pushed around looking forwards.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – While it's not time for emergency measures, the patient still needs the drip.The U.S. economy is grinding so painfully and haltingly toward recovery that the Federal Reserve looks