Here's what we're following this morning:

(via Dangerous Minds - this is an actual pay phone in NYC)

When is a campaign contribution a bribe? - The Washington Post | Are there such things as "genuine donations" any more?  Just ask the folks from Citizens United.

The keys to understanding the collapse of the status quo - Charles Hugh Smith | Managing expectations: "Reminding people that they surely can reach higher!"

What's keeping Greece alive? - Counterpunch | When one is legally allowed to move capital throughout Europe in order to keep European countries afloat, there's not much you can't fix.  On the other hand, when you have sticks-in-the-mud in Germany saying that they've reached their limit, you have to wonder about the end-game.

Paul Ryan must sell the idea of small government - Financial Times | Obama's biggest fear: math.  We all know what happens, though, when politicians threaten the sacred cows of entitlement spending.

Congress is in the way of Obama bringing rain to the Midwest - Zero Hedge | Never let a life-altering drought get in the way of a little central planning.

America's secret drone war in Africa - Wired | We are going to hear more and more about Africa in the coming decade.  China thinks so: that's why it's purchased darn-near the entire country.

Avoiding an Italian bailout: why and how - VoxEU | Hint: it involves selling anything that isn't nailed down.  The question is, will the architecture you just purchased look good in your 3BR, 2BA on the Near Northside?

Why civil service jobs are now facing a new threat - El Pais | Who would have thought that having an insufficient budget for three straight quarters would be the thing to kick-start governmental firings?

Money market funds can lose money, just not YOUR money - Dealbreaker | The New York Fed has submitted a proposal to make money market fund shareholders (remember that word; fair's fair, you know) 95% creditors and 5% shareholders.  In other words, when smelly things start to hit breeze-generator things, you'll want to be the first to the exits.

Your New Economy website of the day - Daily Job Cuts