Odds ‘n Sods:

Susan Z. sent us this bad omen: [Former Bank of England official] Willem Buiter Warns of Massive Dollar Collapse

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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.)”

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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.

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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 GainsAlcoa to Slash 13,500 Jobs, Reduce Aluminum OutputIndia: Trucks Go Off Roads Over Fuel Prices, Food Shortages FearedDon’t Get Used to Cheap Oil, Analysts SayFed: Economic Woes Will Last Despite Radical MovesChrysler Sales Plummet 53%Subaru Posts 2008 Increase in USPrivate Sector Cut 693,000 Jobs in December