Previously last week Bret posted about how Japan is on the verge of a recession.  In this more recent article from wsj, it suggests what America and the UK have done right after crisis compared to Japan and Europe.  The article suggests measures that have poised the US and also those that have damaged Japan and headed them into recession.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/what-big-economies-got-right-or-wrong-after-crisis-1416786759

More, but Different, E-Book Antitrust Issues

This case with Apple, seems to be the opposite of the Amazon case. Apple was founding guilty of colluding with publishers to fix e-book prices. 

“The suit accused Apple of being a ‘ringmaster’ of a conspiracy with the five major publishers to raise the average price of e-books from the $9.99 price that Amazon had made standard for new e-book releases. Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins and the Hachette Book Group settled the day the case was filed; Penguin and Macmillan settled months later.”

Thoughts on this case? And its contrast/overlap with the Amazon and Hachette one?

Read more here: NYT- Settlement in Apple Case Over E-Books Is Approved

Obama's Immigration Speech

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/transcript-obamas-immigration-speech/2014/11/20/14ba8042-7117-11e4-893f-86bd390a3340_story.html For any that didn't see this... at least as the president frames it, it doesn't seem like his measures are that drastic, increased border security, and allowances for very specific immigrants to become citizens. I can't help but think that a broader (legislative) reform will be needed to "fix" the system.

Encrypting on Smartphones

I find this issue really fascinating. What are the consequences of encrypting phones so that even public safety officials cannot decrypt them? Will this ultimately make us less safe by allowing burglars and/or "terrorists" to hide their communication? Or will this instead make us more safe from the government looking to spy on its citizenry? Two very interesting points to this argument. Where do you stand?

http://online.wsj.com/articles/apple-and-others-encrypt-phones-fueling-government-standoff-1416367801?KEYWORDS=apple+other+encrypt+phones

Japan On Verge of Recession

http://online.wsj.com/articles/abe-adviser-calls-for-more-economic-stimulus-for-japan-1416242064?KEYWORDS=Japan+Scrambles+to+Rescue+Economy

What do you think?? This would be a macroeconomic policy argument.. is more spending or prudence needed? It seems strange to me that the sales tax is being raised. 

National Guard Called into Ferguson

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/18/us/missouri-governor-calls-out-national-guard-ahead-of-grand-jury-decision.html?_r=0

What do you think? Preemptive or just precautionary? Could this make the potential conflict following the grand jury's decision worse?

FCC looks to increase funding for schools' internet access

This article in the New York Times this morning says that FCC chairman Tom Wheeler is proposing to increase school spending on internet access from 1.5 to 3.9 billion.
After reading the article, do you think this should or should not be a primary concern as far as school funding goes?
Some important points to keep in mind are:
1) This funding will be used for nonrecurring infrastructure updates as well as increased monthly payments for service
2) Spending increases by the FCC will have an (arguably modest) increase in average consumer prices for internet service
3) Connectivity in schools ranges from poor to advanced correlating to the affluence of the school district

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/17/business/fcc-chief-aims-to-bolster-internet-for-schools.html?action=click&contentCollection=Business%20Day&region=Footer&module=MoreInSection&pgtype=article