READING BEFORE THE WEEKEND (4-23-15)

'The blob' in Pacific Ocean might be to blame for California drought, erratic U.S. weather - studies suggest (Russian Times).

Republicans push for $269 billion handout for heirs and heiresses (Huffington Post).

The childhood Kevin Spacey endured under his American-Nazi father (Movie Pilot).

Jon Stewart goes after Dick Cheney, big time (Daily Kos).


WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR MARKETS
Rise of the Crony Wars ... Bank of England asks why Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway is not too big to fail (Zero Hedge).

Corporate welfare in the federal budget (CATO Institute).

Walmart fined $4.8 million for failure to pay overtime (Inquisitr).

Walmart closed store that voted to unionize and now they must compensate the workers (ATTP).


CORPORATE SECRECY
At U.S. companies, time to coax the directors into talking (NY Times).

Despite federal regulation, CEO-worker pay gap data remains hidden (NY Times).


IDIOT WATCH
Bachmann: Rapture imminent thanks to gay marriage & Obama (Right Wing Watch).

Tony Perkins: Netanyahu defeat could have ushered in the end of times (Right Wing Watch).

James Dobson: Gay marriage will lead to civil war (Right Wing Watch).

Roy Moore compares anti-gay fight to resisting slavery & segregation (Right Wing Watch).

Marco Rubio's deranged religion, Ted Cruz's bizarre faith: Our would-be presidents are God-fearing clowns (Salon).


EURO CRISIS READY FOR CONTAGION?
Greek debt crisis coming to a head - Contagion (Zero Hedge)?

Europe has floated border and capital controls before ... just three years ago (Zero Hedge).

Lehman Brothers failed when it was leveraged at a 30 to 1 ratio ... which makes the suggestion that the European banking system is leveraged at a 26 to 1 ratio a serious matter (Graham Summers).


DOLLAR DENOMINATED COLLAPSE (via Zero Hedge)
The collapse of the petrodollar: Oil exporters are dumping U.S. assets at a record pace (Zero Hedge).

America, meet your brand new biggest creditor ... Japan (Zero Hedge).

China takes aim at dollar reserve status: Promotes Yuan in Investment Bank (Zero Hedge).


MISCELLANEOUS

Yes, energy companies did manipulate market prices during California blackouts ... U.S. top court allows antitrust claims over natural gas prices (Reuters).

Driver's license suspensions creates cycle of debt (NY Times).

Iran nuclear deal: A definitive guide (Harvard Kennedy School).

The crowning glory of Keynesianism (Zero Hedge).

- Mark