GOP fights for bankers rights to hide derivatives trading

Barney Frank is spot on with this. Voters may not be in favor of generic regulation, but if the alternative is collapse of a global economy then a bailout of the most privileged 1%, the answer may be a bit different. Why are the Republicans so strongly in favor of hiding shady trades and not protecting Americans? It was a costly mistake by both Democrats and Republicans to trash the regulations that protected the country since the Great Depression so turning back the clock once again makes no sense.

Why would anyone want more secrecy on Wall Street?

The Republican-led House passed two measures on derivatives. One would exempt inter-affiliate swaps, or the exchange of risk through financial derivatives within parts of a company. Under a second, these swaps would still have to be reported but margin, capital and real-time reporting requirements would not have to be followed. The bills now go before the Democrat-led Senate.

"The lack of transparency on derivatives would be a step backwards," Frank said. "There's a notion that the more we regulate, the worse off we'll be. I think it's the less we regulate."

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AT&T; sort of modernizes iPhone locking policy

This new policy change from AT&T is a step in the right direction, but it's still years behind Europe and it doesn't go nearly as far. As I mentioned earlier this week, I got around to changing carriers last week and unlocked my iPhone quickly, easily and legally using iTunes. By law mobile providers have to allow you to unlock your phone after three months over here.

Why should you have to stick with a locked phone when you are already locked into the agreement? AT&T or whoever will have you anyway so it's excessive to keep the phone locked. For Americans who travel abroad for work, a locked phone means insanely expensive calls and data charges rather than being able to pop in a new chip from a local provider. Those charges are never good as anyone who travels will confirm.

What's most upsetting about this ancient policy is that AT&T has been able to get away with this for so long. The changes in Europe date back to at least 2009, maybe even before. Allowing more than one mobile provider to sell the iPhone has also been around for years before the US finally allowed it. Funny how the US continues to be so weak when it comes to non-competitive policies that hurt consumers. How is it that in the US, big business is able to get away with this for so long?

Of course, let's not forget about Apple, the ultimate control-freak company. Anyone who thinks Apple isn't calling the shots with mobile providers is kidding themselves. If Apple gave an ounce of care about their slobbering customers, they could have pushed this issue ages ago. But they don't so they didn't. Read the rest of this post...

National Review fires contributor after race baiting "advice" column

It's no wonder the GOP has a major problem with the issue of race when you hear this. Surely John Derbyshire did not just wake up, write this offensive column and it was the birth of his racism. The National Review had to know him since he wrote there often enough but they failed to take action because his racism was not that far off from mainstream conservative views.

Isn't it rather odd that the National Review's editor praised Derbyshire at the same time as he fired him? If only Derbyshire could keep his racist rants within acceptable limits, perhaps? Very strange. It should not be that difficult to say that the writer is offensive and unacceptable and leave it at tha rather than including praise. The Guardian:

Derbyshire, who has previously described himself as a racist and homophobe, wrote the column in the form of "advice" to his teenage children on how to stay safe when around African Americans....

"If planning a trip to a beach or amusement park at some date, find out whether it is likely to be swamped with blacks," Derbyshire wrote.

NOTE FROM JOHN: I just read the article, and wow. I don't know what I was expecting, but I certainly didn't expect what I got. It's far worse than folks are depicting. For example:

There are black saints and black psychopaths. In a population of forty million, you will find almost any human type. Only at the far, far extremes of certain traits are there absences. There are, for example, no black Fields Medal winners.

I'm sure past prejudice has nothing to do with that. Oh but it gets worse:

Do not settle in a district or municipality run by black politicians.  [Note from John: I guess that means Derbyshire is leaving America - good riddance.]

(10g) Before voting for a black politician, scrutinize his/her character much more carefully than you would a white.

(10h) Do not act the Good Samaritan to blacks in apparent distress, e.g., on the highway.

Read the rest of the article yourself.  I don't think I've ever heard anyone say to not help a black person in distress.  Wow. Read the rest of this post...

Emily Loizeau: "Je ne sais pas choisir"

We did an Emily Loizeau song earlier, and it was well received. She's quite an interesting performer.

So here's another, a clever sly song about having problems choosing. Unlike the previous video, this is a studio performance with two other musicians.

The song, "Je ne sais pas choisir" ("I don't know how to choose", or "I just can't choose") starts with a sly, sexy verse, then turns (comically perhaps) more serious.

The sexy part, to get you started:

When I sleep all alone, I say, God it would be good
To share my bed with nice young guy.
When I share my bed with a nice young guy,
I say, to sleep all alone,
Oh God that would be good.

Chorus:
No, it's really true, I don't know how to choose
It's really annoying, you don't have to tell me.
No, it's really true, I don't know how to choose.
It's really quite disturbing, so just let me sleep.

Note the off-hand manner of performance; that distancing from the material is part of the fun of this piece — as is the Mozartean quality to the music. (Could you guess she's classically trained?)

Listen first; the rest of the translation (roughly) is below.

As you watch, pay attention to the man half-hidden on screen-right. From time to time, he reaches over the back of the piano to play his part one-handed ... and backward. Interesting.



So the first problem is choosing to sleep or not sleep with someone. Here are the other choices she can't make:

When I'm dining Indian, I pick Chicken Tikka
Then tell myself Lamb Korma would be best.
When, at last, I'm eating shrimp with grapes,
I tell myself I should have
ordered veg.

And some darker ones:

When I want to throw myself from the Pont du Carrousel
I say at last, No, life is beautiful.
When someone tells me, Life is beautiful
I want to throw myself
off the Carrousel Bridge.

When I want to die on Wednesday morning
I tell myself, This can wait till Thursday.
When I wake up on Thursday morning
I tell myself, I should have died
on Wednesday.

But the music is always light. A little masterpiece, in my opinion.

By the way, did you notice that the chorus always ends on an unresolved chord? Except the very last one. Nice.

GP

(To follow on Twitter or to send links: @Gaius_Publius)
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Pope talks about "groping in the darkness" at Easter Mass

Unfortunately he wasn't talking about the "groping in the darkness" by numerous priests, but everyone else instead. No, addressing the global problem of child rape by priests as well as the cover up by senior leaders in the church has once again not made the list for the Pope. The morally bankrupt Catholic church, who is now even fighting a morality war with the Girls Scouts, is much more comfortable blaming everyone else than taking a hard look at the black hole of corruption within the church, right up to the top. BBC News:

Pope Benedict XVI is set to lead Easter Sunday Mass in Rome's St Peter's Square and deliver his traditional Easter message from the basilica's balcony.

At a vigil Mass on Saturday evening, he voiced fears that mankind is "groping in the darkness, unable to distinguish good from evil".

The theme of his homily was the contrast between darkness and light.

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Santorum remains highly unpopular in his home state of PA

The radical Republican wasn't very popular when voters sent him packing and his numbers are about the same today. What has to be a painful realization for Romney is that as unpopular as Santorum is in his home state, Romney is currently running behind him. That may change between now and voting day but it once again shows how lukewarm the support is among Republicans for Mitt Romney.

He spoke at the state's largest annual gathering of conservatives several weeks ago, yet won a straw vote with less than half the vote. His support in the state also has slipped, according to surveys that highlight his apparent likeability problem.

Santorum is as unpopular now as he was at the time of his defeat. A February poll by Muhlenberg College showed that nearly half the registered voters surveyed viewed him unfavorably. Just 39 percent saw him favorably.

A March 28 poll by Franklin & Marshall College showed Santorum with 30 percent support to Romney's 28 percent among registered Republicans, a significant drop from the 29-point advantage Santorum enjoyed in February.

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Neil Young - Heart of Gold, Live

It's a perfectly sunny day today which will make for an ideal gardening day. I did find a few signs of life in my 10 year old hydrangea which is great. It doesn't look like it will bloom this year but maybe it will bounce back for next year. Fingers crossed. The slow cooked leg of lamb will go in the oven sometime this afternoon and ready for dinner tonight. If you're having an Easter meal with family or friends today, enjoy. Read the rest of this post...