This financial crisis is a killer – literally

As Thomas Kostigen observed in his Marketwatch article entitled Harsh Reality, “the real tragedy of this financial crisis is that people will die.”

It’s not just the stock markets and lending institutions that are affected. Each and every one of us will feel the effects of this sooner or later. Living in a developed country does not grant you immunity to the ripples on this particularly murky pond. As Mr. Kostigen points out:

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported this week that the gap between the rich and the poor is getting bigger around the world, and that the U.S. is experiencing the biggest dichotomy.

Just how many people worldwide are affected by that ever widening gap between the haves and have-nots is made plain by The World Health Organization. They note on the WHO website “inequality in income is increasing in countries that account for more than 80% of the world’s population.” In case you’re wondering, The US Census Bureau’s projection for today’s world population at 6,732,572,877.

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The impending threat to oil of Gustav

It’s looking like the menace of Hurricane Gustav means oil prices could go either way next week and no one, even the analysts, seem confident in which way to jump. It’s not unusual to see oil leap whenever there’s a perceived threat to oil supplies, be it weather or terrorism related, for example.

Analysts are divided on what the outcome will be if Gustav does indeed hit hard. Memories of hurricane Katrina, which was right at this time of year in 2005, are still fresh in most people’s minds with the anniversary having just passed. This time round though, speculation is rife that some of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve supplies might be made available. Others are banking that enough of a disruption could lead to oil soaring above the $120 a barrel mark.

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Google’s new privacy link unveiled

The little change made to Google’s homepage perhaps wasn’t even noticed by the majority of regular Google users. After all, most of our attention is drawn straight to the search box. But closer observation tells the tale of Google’s newest feature – the inclusion of a Privacy link. Previously the last line on the page simply read “© 2008 Google”. Now it says “© 2008 – Privacy”.

Photo Credit: Google

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Why we use fireworks on July 4

Ever wondered why fireworks are used to celebrate Independence Day? I did. It’s a nod to the muskets that were fired, bonfires lit and shouts that rang out in celebration of the Declaration’s first readings in public.

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