Economics and Investing:

From Zero Hedge: Meet The 171 Banks For Which The Margin Of Failure Is [As Little As] One Thousand Dollars

B.B. recommended this post over at Seeking Alpha: Food Prices and Global Hunger Equal Riots, Civil Wars and Revolution

Chris D. suggested this post: No Investment Goes Straight Up, Except in a Mania.

John R. sent this: Despicable Lies, Delusional Economic Recovery, Hyped Unemployment Numbers 

Also from John:   Mortgaging Our Grandchildren’s Future? That’s Being Optimistic! (Jeff Berwick in The Dollar Vigilante)

U.S. Fiscal Meltdown in Spitting Distance: Laurence Kotlikoff. He has some excellent analysis of the current political grandstanding. The piece begins: “The two parties are having a heated debate over the Republican plan to slice $61 billion off Uncle Sam’s projected $3.6 trillion budget. If the Republicans get their way, the deficit will fall from 9.5 percent of gross domestic product to 9.1 percent. If they don’t, they’ll probably shut the government for a couple of days. Then they’ll compromise on, say, a $40 billion budget cut, having proved they gave it their best shot.”

Items from The Economatrix:

What Is The US Employment Picture Really Saying?

Service Sector Expanded In March At Slower Pace

Oil Slides as China Raises Interest Rates

Fears For Global Recovery as Oil Hits $120 Mark