Thursday Morning Links; Scientists Find Hint of Dark Matter; Obama Changes HIs Mind on Korea

Updates

April 6, 2013: update on the Korean Missile Crisis - a) the US scuttles a long-planned ICBM test launch out of Vandenberg, CA; b) North Korea says its strategic objective is to gain more concessions form the West; c) past years suggest that food situation is now at its worst -- the end of a harsh winter; food supplies running out ahead of a new growing season; need food imported from the west. It will be interesting to see if President Obama gives into North Korea and everything returns to "normal." If so, this has turned out to be nothing more than another episode in this long story.
 

Original Post

First: the jobs numbers. Horrendous.

Active rigs: 185 (steady)

RBN Energy: will power plants switch back to coal this summer? This is a very, very interesting read. It will be fun to come back to the story six months from now.

Wells coming off the confidential list today have been posted.

WSJ Links

Section D (Personal Journal): several sports stories. No links now. May come back later.

Section C (Money & Investing):

• Natural gas market tries a balancing act. 
• Gasoline takes a tumble. Refiners were betting on a recovery. Not so fast.

Section B (Marketplace): nothing.

Section A

• Gun curbs lose ground in states. Once the Obama presidency went on the offensive, states have passed more measures expanding rather than restricting the right to carry firearms.
• As US departs, Afghan business dries up. Don't worry: the Taliban will provide jobs. Women need not apply. And, of course, it goes without saying all those photographs of young girls attending school will be but a memory.
• To feel the pain, the president is giving back 5% of his salary. No link. Story everywhere. 
• A trend is noted: state gasoline taxes are heading higher. 
• Job market still US economy's wild card. As the US economy picks up steam, the job market remains a question mark. By the way, there's an analogy here between this story and the rig count in the Bakken. Maybe more on that later.
• Scientists find hint of dark matter. Most important story of the day.
• In over his head: Obama changes his mind. After building up display of force in Korea, he is now backing off, fearing that escalation could result in escalation. I've always said the best thing for the US to do would be to ignore North Korea's rants and raves; watch what the country does. Let South Korea respond.
• China overtakes US as world's largest oil importer. Reported previously.