Breakfast Links: June 17, 2011

— Urban farming is ecologically dubious.

— Syrian troops seize new town.

— Members of congress working to avoid disclosure of campaign donations by government contractors.

— Obama trails generic Republican.

— House moves to cut agriculture programs.

— AARP open to Social Security cuts.

— Laurent Kabila likely to win re-election in Congo with a smallish plurality.

— Global regulators move to impose tougher capital rules on giant banks.

— Shrooming our way to happiness.

— Brad DeLong's macro overview.