What We Read Today 07 April 2014

Econintersect: Every day our editors collect the most interesting things they find from around the internet and present a summary “reading list” which will include very brief summaries of why each item has gotten our attention. Suggestions from readers for “reading list” items are gratefully reviewed, although sometimes space limits the number included.

• Russia and U.S. Waging Financial War? (Julian DW Phillips, The Market Oracle) Hat tip to Rob Carter. The primary source of threats of financial war have come from Russia, to a lesser extent from the EU and the U.S. says Phillips. He thinks that the damage to both sides in such a war would be too horrible to contemplate and describes some of the details. Therefore he doubts the likelihood of follow through. But he says he cannot dismiss it and wants to sell you some gold.

• Vice (Bob Lefsetz, The Big Picture) Good review of the great new investigative journalism TV show.

• To Reduce the Health Risk of Barbecuing Meat, Just Add Beer (Polygamous Ranch Kid, Slashdot) Hat tip to Roger Erickson. Abstract and summary here. The paper on which this report is based, sadly paywalled.

• Canada Unemployment Rates Drops a Notch, as Government Hires More Workers. (Lindsey Taylor, FX Empire) Canadian business is still wary of hiring, but the government has picked up some slack. Many (70% of the total) jobs added were part-time, another sign of private sector caution.

• Europe votes for a ‘neutral net’ … but what does that mean? (Angela Day, The Conversation) The EU Parliament has passed a strict net-neutrality act which prevents internet service providers (ISPs) from discriminating between different types of internet traffic and from restricting (legal) content, sites or platforms. Internet service providers (ISPs) had wanted the ability to charge different users based on the speed and reliability of service each user desired and possibly block certain types of traffic outright. The act will not become law, however, until the Council of the European Union also approves. ISPs are expected to lobby hard for modifications.

Today there are 13 more articles discussed behind the wall.