READING FOR THE WEEK (Nov. 4, 2013)

Robot bartender pours drinks in Germany theme bar (Denver Post) ... and the pouring robot's history, apparently, can be traced to a software developer and electronics engineer (Slate).

Radiation from Fukushima reactors matches the fallout of 14,000 Hiroshima bombs ... Fuel removal from Fukushima's Reactor 4 threatens "apocalyptic" scenario (Common Dreams).


NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES
Anyone else catch this? As Europe erupts over U.S. spying the head of the NSA says the government must stop the media from reporting this stuff (Common Dreams).

President Carter: What Edward Snowden did is beneficial to our nation over the long haul ... especially since the United States doesn't have a "functioning democracy" today (Huffington Post / Der Spiegel).

CBS "eyewitness" admits he lied about Benghazi attack while bashing critics (Media Matters).

How the CIA turned venture capitalism into a high-tech intelligence tool (Prism).


BILLIONAIRES & WAGE GAPS
Why "socialist" Sweden has more billionaires per capita than the U.S. (Slate).

CEO-to-worker pay gap is obscene; want to know how obscene (LA Times / Michael Hiltzik)?

IN THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND DEPARTMENT
According to Herman Cain the Devil was behind all those sexual harassment allegations that followed him through his presidential bid (Real Clear Religion).

What ill-informed people believe ... Not that this is news, but here's a Fox News chart that will mislead you about welfare and jobs in three different ways (Daily Kos).

Yeah, he's still an idiot ... Rush Limbaugh believes that NFL players wearing pink is evidence of the national assault on masculinity (Media Matters).


OBAMACARE
Yet another Obamacare horror story debunked (LA Times / Michael Hiltzik).

Special Investigation: How insurers are hiding Obamacare benefits from customers (TPM).

What really happens to people whose health insurance was 'canceled' because of Obamacare (TPM).


MISCELLANEOUS
Saudi man beheaded for car stunt that killed two people (Daily News).

Too funny. Former Vice President Dick Cheney cancels trip to Canada because it's too dangerous (NBC News).

Add Texas gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis to list of people who has to sign an affidavit to vote (KERA News).

- Mark