Required Reading for September

• Malcolm Gladwell has called Michael Lewis the greatest story teller of our generation. I would have to agree. His latest column for Vanity Fair examines Greece's financial insanity. If you thought Iceland was a financial basketcase wait until you read about Greece. There are despots in Sub-Saharan Africa that are shocked by the level of corruption in Greece. "Beware of Greeks Bearing Bonds": http://www.vanityfair.com/business/features/2010/10/greeks-bearing-bonds-201010?printable=true
• What’s an atheist to think when thousands of believers (including prominent rabbis and priests) are praying for his survival and salvation—while others believe his cancer was divinely inspired, and hope that he burns in hell? Hitchens' latest in Vanity Fair: http://tinyurl.com/23mqktg
• Continuing with the religion theme, Hitchens' latest for slate. Summarized: "The taming and domestication of religious faith is one of the unceasing chores of civilization." http://www.slate.com/id/2266154/
• The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg has penned a two part mini-piece on Fidel Castro based on conversations he recently had with Fidel in Havana. My only comment: is this Fidel's deathbed confession? Very interesting stuff, including Fidel's acknowledgement that the "The [Communist] Model Doesn't Even Work For [Cuba] Anymore". Part 1: http://tinyurl.com/2fmqd2u. Part 2 (re: Iran/Ahmadinejad's anti-semitism): http://tinyurl.com/34anpsh
• McLeans asks what laws apply to the Chilean miners trapped a kilometre beneath the surface? If you read this article and your first thought wasn't Hobbes and Rousseau's Social Contract, then you're not me nor a complete nerd. Still, it's an incredibly interesting philosophical question. Could a situation arise whereby the miners free themselves of Chilean law and instead create a new social contract appropriate to the situation they find themselves in? (i.e. lack of food, no privacy, heavy mental stress, aka survival mode). http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/09/08/that-far-down-who-decides-whats-law/
• Kelly Slater won the Hurley Pro at Trestles on Saturday, making him the odds-on favorite to win his 10th World Championship this year. Grindtv asks "Is Kelly Slater the Greatest Athlete Ever? No Seriously?" http://www.grindtv.com/surf/blog/20591/could+kelly+slater+be+the+best+athlete+ever+no+seriously/ It's not as preposterous as you think. If it weren't for Mick Fanning, Slater would likely be working on his 6th consecutive World Championship this year.. to go with his 5 consecutive titles in the 1990s. Throw in his three year hiatus between 1999 and 2003 and he could easily have a dozen World Titles by now. Also, only two guys have ever beaten Kelly for the title since he's been on the tour (Andy Irons and Mick Fanning). Nobody else has done it and Andy's no longer even on the tour. Add to this the fact that Slater grew up in wave-starved Florida and it's even more amazing (generally, outside of Slater, most of the top pros come from Hawaii and Australia). Plus he was banging Pam Anderson when that was something to be proud of!! Definitely and interesting argument.
• Malcolm Gladwell asks, "is social media capable of creating real social change?" In the New Yorker: "The Revolution will not be Tweeted": http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/10/04/101004fa_fact_gladwell?printable=true
• Michael Lewis asks why are Wall Street banks shutting down their prop trading desks after fighting Congress tooth and nail to prevent a prop trading ban (and winning, by the way)? Whatever the reasons, somehow taxpayers and shareholders (and most likely the global financial system) will be screwed down the road. http://tinyurl.com/2egc9eu
• After the Wall Street overhaul (underhaul?) bill, bankers, no longer able to gamble with shareholder money through prop trading, are fleeing for the safety of (largely unregulated) hedgefunds. What could possibly go wrong? Vanity Fair shows you "how to start a hedge fund." Funny stuff. http://www.vanityfair.com/business/features/2010/09/hedge-funders-201009