Must Read Links 5-14-2009

I haven't put out a list of links in a few days but I have saved up a number of compelling articles and media.

1. Long interview with Charlie Munger from Stanford Lawyer (Via Simoleonsense): Amazing!
http://www.law.stanford.edu/publications/stanford_lawyer/issues/80/

2. Interesting article for people who live in NYC from New York Magazine about the potential impact of the financial crisis on City life. Some of the stats on crime and volunteerism may surprise you:
http://nymag.com/news/features/56623/

3. Here are two articles with similar impressions on the Chrysler situation as I had:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124217356836613091.html#mod=todays_us_opinion

http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/topstocks/archive/2009/05/12/how-stealing-chrysler-threatens-our-markets.aspx (Sent to me directly by author Vitaliy N. Katsenelson of Contrarian Edge)

4. Article on the settlement of the General Growth CDS. If you think there is not a commercial real estate induced tsunami on the way I suggest you start reading up on this subject:
http://zerohedge.blogspot.com/2009/05/ggp-auction-final-results.html

Also, here's some more commentary from Zero Hedge's Tyler Durden on REITs and the patsies who have bought into the recent REIT equity offerings: http://zerohedge.blogspot.com/2009/05/reit-maturity-crunch-in-perspective.html

5. Meredith Whitney's scathing commentary on the banks on CNBC (Via Simoleonsense):
http://www.thefundamentalanalyst.com/?p=1367

6. A NY Hedge Fund's interesting idea of how to stop the housing price spiral:
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/another-view-a-market-based-fix-for-mortgages/?ref=business

7. Need more proof that the gov't is willing to exert undue influence over the private sector? How about a smoking gun? (Via The King Report): http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aLYnwYU72yI0&refer=home

I have also included the link to the talking points of the meeting in which the 9 banks were forced to take TARP money. http://www.judicialwatch.org/files/documents/2009/Treasury-CEO-TalkingPoints.pdf

This is my favorite: "If a capital infusion is not appealing, you should be aware that your regulator will require it in any circumstance." Laws? What Laws?

8. Wouldn't it be great if the banking crisis lasted until 2013? S&P thinks it's possible (not that anyone should trust what they have to say): http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE54C6XL20090513 (Via The King Report)