Odds ‘n Sods:

Here is a round-up of grim economic tidings from England: Scotty found this one from The Times of London (online edition): World Agenda: riots in Iceland, Latvia and Bulgaria are a sign of things to come. And Jack B. found this: Britain on the brink of an economic depression, say experts. And still more bad news from the UK, by way of reader G.G.: Confident tone as UK bond sale nears. (They admit that the risk of a government bond auction failing–where the amount of money raised falls short of its target–has increased.) And Luddite Jean sent this: Gordon Brown admits: ‘I never saw it coming,’ as figures confirm we’re in the worst recession for 28 years: (Jean notes: “How on earth a Chancellor of the Exchequer and then Prime Minister didn’t see this coming, I’ll never know. 18 months ago, I was predicting a sharp downturn and possible recession – family and friends thought I was crazy, but I prepared for it just the same. Now I have a business which is doing well, and should continue to survive through a recession and depression. The goods I hold will be in great demand if we reach TEOTWAWKI. When I found your web site in the latter part of last year, it reassured me that I wasn’t the only ‘crazy’ person on the planet!”) Also from Jean: UK ‘could run out of money very soon’ warns Cameron amid fears of 70s-style IMF bail-out.

   o o o

Evan sent this, as an example of very bad OPSEC: Deadly weapons found in storage unit.With some more details, reader L.D. sent us this link: Man accused of keeping weapons cache in Bellevue [, Washington] storage. Gee, I guess that this shows that skill as a machinist does not necessarily also engender the ability to mark a calendar with a storage contract expiration date. One correction to the television news report: It described the demi-blocks of C4 as “armed and unstable”. But there were no blasting caps, fuses or wires visible in the photo. So I think the description was a bit of hyperbole. But regardless, this guy is going to be in deep legal trouble. As I advise my consulting clients: Do NOT risk a long stretch in prison, just for the sake a of gun that shoots faster. Either buy registered Class 3s, or just skip it. You can wiggle your trigger finger nearly as fast as full auto, anyway…

   o o o

Thanks to Mr. Yankee for sending this: As Food Costs Rise, Is Government Being Straight About Inflation?

   o o o

Bill N. mentioned a Thermite emergency fire starter.