trends and psyops of the future

1. economy down, gold -- be careful very very careful

Dubai govt ring-fences main assets - Kuwait Times

DUBAI: Dubai has ring-fenced prized assets such as Emirates airline from the $26 billion debt restructuring of Dubai World, denting fragile investor sentiment ahead of talks between the state conglomerate and key creditors. The firm that spearheaded Dubai's growth was set to meet with its main bank creditors later yesterday to discuss a request to delay repayments that has shaken global markets and damaged the reputation of the Gulf Arab business hub.

UK: it's worse than we thought, admits Darling - The Independent

The Chancellor admitted today the recession was far deeper than he had predicted as he announced a public sector pay squeeze to help curb soaring national debt. Alistair Darling laid out plans to slash public spending in real terms from 2011 - after the General Election - as he revealed the economy would shrink by 4.75 per cent in 2009 compared to his April Budget estimate of 3.5 per cent.

opinion - Gold's Enemies Multiplying - MINEWeb

There's nothing like kicking a golden dog when it's down. Just as the metal's recent surge runs out of steam - temporarily perhaps - new voices are being added to the recently silenced crowd which never misses an opportunity of dissing the "barbarous relic". Among the e-mails being circulated by the anti-gold lobby is an interview in late October by Nouriel Roubini, or Dr Doom as he prefers to be called, who told Yahoo Finance you'll never find him among bullion's supporters.

2. disease -- it's gonna get you

severity of H1N1 may be less than previously feared say experts in study! - Chinaview

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- A new study from researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and the UK Medical Research Council projects that the severity of the H1N1 flu during the autumn-winter flu season in the United States will likely be less than previously feared.

but WATCH OUT FOR THE PLAGUE - Prevent Disease

A limited number of agents, if used as weapons, could cause disease and death in sufficient numbers to cripple a city or region. These agents also comprise the top of the list of "Critical Biological Agents" developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).


3. cyber attacks, also gonna get you

smart grids may be prone to cyberattacks so install this meter and let us protect you (wink wink wink) - UPI Asia

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Smart-grid networks that depend heavily on technology both for energy efficiency and for better management of electricity consumers are vulnerable to cyberattacks that can endanger entire cities, industry findings show. Ann Whyte, a spokeswoman for Defense Support Services LLC (DS2), a Lockheed Martin and Day & Zimmermann company, said suppliers that are planning to install electricity smart meters in every home by 2020 need to adopt new power-line communications technology to ensure the grids remain safe from cyberattacks.

and btw, hackers will 'resemble drug cartels' (wink wink wink) - The Independent

According to new research, the future generation of computer data security companies will have to protect consumers from the industrialisation of hacking, identity theft and an increasing amount of attacks carried out on social networking sites. Data security firm, Imperva, released its study on December 8, stating the top five security trends they expect to see during the next ten years. Imperva believes cyber criminals will band together in the future, "forming a supply chain that starkly resembles that of drug cartels."

4. try not to go hungry

Malaysian veggies cost 200% more

PETALING JAYA - PRICES of vegetables in Malaysia have soared by as much as 200 per cent in recent weeks due to inclement weather conditions. Additionally, floods and the short supply in countries like India and China have also caused the prices of some imported vegetables like onions, garlic, potatoes and cabbage to shoot up drastically.

5. people shuffled all over the globe

migrant numbers double in 30 years in UK: 10% now foreign-born - Daily Mail

The number of immigrants living in Britain has almost doubled in less than three decades, official figures show. More than 10 per cent of the population - 6.7million - were born abroad, the Office for National Statistics has found. The analysis shows that the count of those born abroad - now agreed to be the best figure for measuring the rate of immigration - is two million higher than it was just eight years ago.

6. the big kahuna psyop: aliens gonna get you?

bluish-green fireball sighted over northern Germany - The Local

Several eyewitnesses reported seeing a bluish-green fireball over northern Germany on Monday night – possibly a large meteor burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere, according to experts at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).

mystery as spiral blue light hovers above Norway - Daily Mail

A mysterious light display appearing over Norway last night has left thousands of residents in the north of the country baffled. Witnesses from Trøndelag to Finnmark compared the amazing sight to anything from a Russian rocket to a meteor or a shock wave - although no one appears to have mentioned UFOs yet. The phenomenon began when what appeared to be a blue light seemed to soar up from behind a mountain. It stopped mid-air, then began to circulate.