Frequent content contributor KAF suggested sci-fi novelist David Brin’s nonfiction book “The Transparent Society“ [1] as a useful reference when considering retreat OPSEC [2] in this modern era of Google Earth. BTW, its was Brin who authored the novel “The Postman“, which Kevin Costner later put on the big screen, with uneven results.
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Reader Michael H. notes: “[My friend] Art was just reading in an airline magazine article that mentioned in 1960, 1 in 9 people in the US were overweight or obese and we averaged 8.5 hours of sleep daily. Now 2 in 3 are overweight or obese and we average 7 hours of sleep.” It sounds like people must be eating large bowls of ice cream while watching the Tonight Show. It goes without saying: Get regular exercise and lose that spare tire if you want to be ready to pull through the coming hard times.
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Just a few days left! More than 550 SurvivalBlog readers have bought Foodsaver vacuum packers at the special December sale price. We get a little “piece of the action” for each one that is sold. So this a is a great way to save money and to support SurvivalBlog! Don’t miss out on this sale! You can buy a FoodSaver v2830 for $59.99 (originally $169.99) with free Standard Shipping for orders over $100, directly FoodSaver.com. Be sure to use code L8FAV28 at checkout. [3] This offer is valid during the month of December, or while supplies last. By buying foods in bulk and re-packaging them in more handy (single meal size) vacuum bags, you can save a lot of money on your grocery bill. Buy a FoodSaver. You’ll be glad that you did!
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SurvivalBlog regular Michael Z. Williamson mentioned Grabill Meats [4], a small company in Indiana that produces canned meats at competitive prices. (Roughly $3 per pound, before shipping.) They we-pack can beef chunks, pork chunks, boneless chicken, boneless turkey, and ground cooked beef in 14 ounce and 27 ounce sizes.
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The day’s economic news: First Paul in Texas sent us these two cheery headlines: World faces total financial meltdown Bank of Spain chief [5]. and IMF chief warns 2009 may be ‘even darker’ [6]. And the industrious sent us all these: Five articles illustrate how global shipping is sinking fast: 1 [7] – 2 [8] – 3 [9] – 4 [10] – 5 [11] — Toyota Posts First Ever Annual Loss [12] — Obama Team Plans Biggest Boost in History to Save American Economy [13] — Bush’s Detroit Bailout Looks Like Path to Bankruptcy [14] — Warning of Wave of 2009 UK Retailer Bankruptcies [15] — China Cuts Rates for Fifth Time in 90 Days [16] — Japanese Exports Fall Record 27% [17] — US Gasoline Seen Hitting $1 Per Gallon in 2009 [18] — World Wide Bankruptcy Wave About to Hit [19] — Protectionist Dominoes are Beginning to Tumble Across the World [20] — Irish Banks Saved by $7 Billion Bailout [21] — Canada to Give GM, Chrysler $4 Billion [22] — Money Market Funds Reel as Yields Near Zero [23] — COMEX Gold and Silver Price Manipulations are Bashing Precious Metal Investors, Miners and Shareholders [24]