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A roundup of what The Globe and Mail's market strategist Scott Barlow is reading this morning on the World Wide Web.

I'm certainly not as cynical about the brokerage industry as this post from behavioural economics-based website Psy-Fi, "What's the point of having a financial adviser?" But author Tim Richards does bring up some important points for Canadian investors, as new rules regarding fee disclosure are currently being negotiated by domestic regulators.

Mr. Richards argues that more transparency is unlikely to help retail investors. He writes, "it's a lot easier to agree to accept a vaguely regulated disclosure requirement than it is to enforce regulations requiring that advisers are paid for, or can only offer, advice in a blinded situation."

"What is the point of Financial Advisers?" – Tim Richards, Psy-Fi

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. doesn't have the best of corporate reputations, with its history of squeezing suppliers on pricing, driving out local businesses and paying employees the bare legal minimum. But it appears the New York Times has risked stretching the "evil Wal-Mart" meme too far.

Responding to a column by Tim Egan, Wal-Mart management made an excellent, detailed refutation to the Times' allegations. For example, responding to charges that the company is a "net drain on taxpayers," Wal-Mart responds that it's actually the largest corporate taxpayer in America.

"Fact Check: The New York Times 'The Corporate Daddy' " – Wal-Mart's corporate blog

I wish Motley Fool had a different name, because this extended list of things columnist Morgan Housel has learned while covering finance is anything but foolish. There are 22 poignant lessons here for investors in the post, such as:

"Willingness to wait longer than other people is your biggest natural edge. If you can think about the next five years while everyone else is fixated on the next five months, you have an advantage that makes high-frequency trading, insider tips, and corporate loopholes look like a joke."

"I'm Just Now Realizing How Stupid We Are" – Motley Fool

A Vox post details why the death of fossil fuels is grossly exaggerated. The economic resurgence of the emerging markets has resulted in more coal consumption than ever before. There is a wealth of surprising statistical information here, including the fact that China now consumes 50 per cent of the world's coal, and that fossil fuels make up 87 per cent of energy supply – a figure that has remained unchanged since 1999.

"Clean energy is growing worldwide. But fossil fuels have grown even faster." – Vox

University of Oregon economics professor Tim Duy makes a similar point to my Saturday column, though in a more detailed fashion – until wages rise significantly, investors should not fear inflation in the least.

"Inflation Hysteria" – Tim Duy's Fed Watch

"See Also: Inflation is Back, But Not as We Knew It" – Inside the Market

Tweet of the Day (with short video): From @sbnation "The Twitter heat map from USA vs. Portugal is pretty amazing." http://sbn.to/UxRERH

Diversion: "What would it look like if you could peel a city off Earth's crust?"Gizmodo

Follow Scott Barlow on Twitter at @SBarlow_ROB.

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