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Odds 'n Sods:
Susan Z. sent us this bad omen: [Former
Bank of England official] Willem Buiter Warns of Massive Dollar Collapse
o o o
Reader Debby S. flagged this: Terrorists
could use 'insect-based' biological
weapon
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"Shades of Minority Report...", writes "Mike Papa",
an ex-pat living in Jordan, regarding this article: Police
set to step up hacking of home PCs. Mike's comment: "So now the United
Kingdom is authorizing warrantless preemptive invasion of home computers
by police if "a senior officer says he “believes” that it
is “proportionate” and necessary to prevent or detect serious crime." Scary
stuff, likely coming soon to a country near you (Here in Jordan, I'm not sure
it doesn't happen already. I've been told by several to assume that all e-mail,
phone calls, Internet usage,
etc. is routinely monitored.)"
o o os
How did I miss finding this great blog for so long? Check out Tamara's
View From the Porch blog. I just added it to my Blogroll.
o o o
Luddite Jean in England sent these two news links:: 200
shops a Day to close this year in high street bloodbath, and Cold
war! 12 freezing European countries without gas as Russia switches off
supply (Jean added this explanatory comment: "Russia has long accused the Ukraine of
stealing [natural] gas from the pipeline, and are using this as an excuse. The
real reason is purely
economic - the price of Urals Crude oil has fallen to $32, and Russia no longer
has enough money to run the economy. They are holding Europe to ransom, and demanding
higher prices for the gas.") And here is the latest from Cheryl: US
Stocks Drop Erasing Most of '09 Gains -- Alcoa
to Slash 13,500 Jobs, Reduce Aluminum Output -- India:
Trucks Go Off Roads Over Fuel Prices, Food Shortages Feared -- Don't
Get Used to Cheap Oil, Analysts Say -- Fed:
Economic Woes Will Last Despite Radical Moves -- Chrysler
Sales Plummet 53% -- Subaru
Posts 2008 Increase in US -- Private
Sector Cut 693,000 Jobs in December
