All posts by Hutchins AAron

Born in Deutschland 1965, hometown was Bütthart, parents were not U.S. government employees. However, when father was tricked into joining the U.S. Air Force Civil Service, in 1969, with the promise that we could remain in Germany, we were promptly shipped off to Iran. Due to one of my Iranian educators being disappeared, along with her husband, by the U.S. ally Shah of Iran's Israeli & U.S. created Savak (for the then official terrorist act of promoting the idea that women can vote), and due to my U.S. citizen mother being placed on Savak's Terrorist Arrest List (for supporting the idea that women should vote, at that time the U.S. ally Shah of Iran did not allow women to vote, now they can) we left Iran for the United States in 1973, literally in the middle of the night. At the U.S. Embassy airbase the CIA operated Gooney Bird (C-47) was so packed with other U.S. citizens fleeing our ally Iran (because the Shah gave the OK to arrest any U.S. citizen for such terrorist acts as promoting the concept of voting) that we were turned away by the Loadmaster and had to take a chance on a civilian flight out of Tehran's airport. My father told me he and my mother had three culture shocks; first when they arrived in Germany as civilians, then after being shipped off to Iran as U.S. government employees, then again returning to the United States as unemployed civilians (because so much had changed in the U.S. while they were gone, their only news source was the U.S. Armed Forces Radio & Television Service which heavily censored information about the home front). Since I graduated high school in 1982 I've worked for U.S. government contractors and state & local government agencies (in California), convenience store manager in California, retail/property management in Georgia, California and Idaho. Spent the 1990s in the TV news business producing number one rated local news programs in California, Arizona and Idaho. 14+ years with California and Idaho Army National Guard and the U.S. Air Force. Obtained a BA degree in International Studies from Idaho State University at the age of 42. Unemployed since 2015, so don't tell me the economy has recovered.
Influenza

H7N9 update: U.S. declares state of emergency!!! Your immune system does not respond!

08 May 2013 (17:07 UTC-07 Tango)/27 Jumada t-Tania 1434/18 Ordibehest 1392/29 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

Quietly, in the middle of April, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a public health emergency over the new H7N9 virus.  On the surface the declaration allows the use of testing kits that are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  However, on 22 April a new FDA approved H7 test was made “….available to all qualified U.S. public health and U.S. Department of Defense laboratories…”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has already set up a Situational Awareness Coordination Unit, which includes coordination with the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Quietly, on 01 May, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated: “…CDC has activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate efforts. In the United States, planning for H7N9 vaccine clinical trials is under way. Although no decision has been made to initiate an H7N9 vaccination program in the United States, CDC recommends that local authorities and preparedness programs take time to review and update their pandemic influenza vaccine preparedness plans……CDC also recommends that public health agencies review their overall pandemic influenza plans…..”

A report from the NewScientist says health and security personnel will begin testing people at entry points into the country, as several Asian countries are already doing.  The concern is that H7N9 is proving to be not only difficult to detect and treat, but that it is a sneaky virus which manages to avoid detection by your own body’s immune system.  This allows it to replicate and overwhelm you.

International

Coronavirus MERS update: Spreads to France!

08 May 2013 (14:02 UTC-07 Tango)/27 Jumada t-Tania 1434/18 Ordibehest 1391/29 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

“We still don’t know the animal reservoir of this virus or the source of exposure. We need a solid epidemiological investigation to nail down a common behavior between patients….All we can tell people at the moment is they should be very vigilant about their basic hygiene practices.”-Gregory Hartl, UNWHO

France has confirmed a 65 years old man is infected with the new SARS like coronavirus called MERS.  He got infected while on a trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The UN World Health Organization says there are now 30 confirmed human cases, 18 of which have died.  Most cases are in Saudi Arabia, but have spread to Jordan, UAE, Qatar, United Kingdom, Germany and now France.

 

International

World War 3, West Asian Front: Israel invades Gaza!

08 May 2013 (13:34 UTC-07 Tango)/27 Jumada t-Tania 1434/18 Ordibehest 1391/29 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

Reports that IDF has invaded the town of Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip.  Palestinian reports say tanks and armored bulldozers have begun moving from a staging area 300 meters inside Gaza Strip.  Witnesses claim four Merkavas began firing in all directions as two bulldozers began tearing up farmland, forcing the farmers to flee.  They also claim the IDF is attacking fishing boats (which they say happens on a daily basis).

This comes a day after Islamic Jihad said they had intelligence saying Israel was about to invade Gaza Strip: “The Zionist enemy is getting ready for a major military operation on Gaza. We expect an escalation in the coming days but we are not sitting idle. Our military wing has been training for another war and it will not be a cakewalk for Zionists when they come to confront our fighters.”-Khader Habib, Islamic Jihad

And that followed another report on 05 May, that cited an Israeli website called Walla, which said Israeli leaders have called for a Operation Pillar of Defense II against Gaza Strip.

On 02 May, it was reported that IDF was massing tanks and armored bulldozers east of Beit Hanoun.  The Palestinian report said the IDF had set up a staging area 300 meters inside Gaza Strip.  Other reports say an IDF Apache fired on a farm to the east of Beit Lahiya Agriculture School.

International

World War 3, West Asian Front: Israel crosses Red Line, kidnaps Grand Mufti, raids Al Aqsa, Jordan expels Israeli diplomats!

08 May 2013 (12:32 UTC-07 Tango)/27 Jumada t-Tania 1434/18 Ordibehest 1391/29 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

“These Israeli actions violate international law and obstruct peace efforts. As occupying force, Israel is responsible for preventing such provocations!”-Hussein Majali, Interior Minister of Jordan

On 07 May Israel Defense Forces (IDF) backed up by hundreds of illegal zionist settlers crossed the Red Line of the official protector of Al Quds, Jordan, and invaded the Al Aqsa Mosque in Al Quds (Jerusalem).  Palestinians then began rioting against the zionists!  16 Palestinians were kidnapped by the IDF in the West Bank.

Today the IDF conducted a home invasion and crossed another Red Line; they  kidnapped the Grand Mufti of Al Quds, Mohammed Hussein!

Also today, the Jordanian King has summoned the Israeli ambassador after the 150 member Jordanian Parliament voted unanimously to expel Israeli diplomats over the assault on Al Aqsa and the kidnapping of the Grand Mufti.

 

 

International

World War 3, West Asian Front: BBC report of explosions in Iran false?

08 May 2013 (12:04 UTC-07 Tango)/27 Jumada t-Tania 1434/18 Ordibehest 1391/29 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

According to Azerbaijani news media reports, the three explosions reported by a BBC Persian journalist were not airstrikes, but controlled demolitions.

“Those were the planned explosions of destroying old ammunition. This is natural, and all of the explosions were carried out in Shahriar of Shahriar County of Tehran Province, safely.”-Ali Abdullahi, Iran’s deputy interior minister

Business/Economics, Idaho, International, Technology, U.S.

Capitalist Commodity Markets to blame for Pocatello’s Hoku Polysilicon near abandonment!

08 May 2013 (09:49 UTC-07 Tango)/27 Jumada t-Tania 1434/18 Ordibehest 1391/29 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

The massive, and expensive (to local tax payers), Hoku Materials polysilicon factory sits idle and unfinished in Pocatello, Idaho.

Red Neck right wingers like to point the finger at President Obama, saying ‘I told you so’ concerning ‘clean energy’ projects, but the reason for the demise of many solar power companies is actually the capitalist commodity market system and government interference.

Polysilicon prices have crashed and burned since construction started on the 50 American football fields long factory.  It just isn’t worth it to produce the stuff used in solar power panels.  In 2008 polysilicon was worth $400 per kilogram, it’s now crashed to a paltry $20.50!

Hoku Materials ghost town factory, Pocatello, Idaho. 50 football fields long at a cost of at least $400 million.

Hoku Materials ghost town factory, Pocatello, Idaho. 50 football fields long at a cost of at least $400 million.

The ‘experts’ got everything wrong.  They thought the high petroleum prices would drive societies into the arms of clean energy companies, but the problem is that so many clean energy companies started production that soon there was a glut of polysilicon on the market, even before the construction of Pocatello Hoku plant was close to being finished.

Then add to that the trade wars between China, the U.S. and European Union.  Eventually, the Obama administration jacked up tariffs so high on Chinese polysilicon companies that it wasn’t worth it to do business in the U.S.  By then Hoku Corporation (the parent of Hoku Materials) had become Chinese owned, due to financial problems (including Hoku Materials not being able to pay its construction contractor, JH Kelly, or pay its Idaho utility bills, so many times that both threatened to seize the property).

By the middle of 2012 the unfinished $400 million USD Pocatello polysilicon factory was moth balled, staffing reduced to just 30 people, with rumors of liquidation in bankruptcy court.  By the end of 2012, the Chinese company that bought into Hoku (Tianwei) was getting blasted in the Chinese media for buying a pig in a poke.  According to former Hoku Corporation CEO, Scott Paul, Tianwei invested “….more than $129 million of its own capital in Hoku, and they have provided for another $244 million in debt financing from banks in China.”

Now back to the ‘experts’.  In February 2013, ‘experts’ predicted that polysilicon prices had bottomed out.  They were wrong!  Prices had hit $21 per kilogram, and polysilicon producers said there was no reason to produce anymore until the price went up over $25.

In March 2013, British media reported that prices had crashed 50% compared to the same time last year.

In April 2013, another report said that polysilicon prices could continue to crash because of the anti-free market tariffs imposed by the major players; China, South Korea, European Union and United States.  And, the ‘experts’ again said prices had bottomed out.  The average price at the end of April 2013 was $20.50.

So where does that leave Hoku Corporation’s Hoku Materials factory in Pocatello?  Optimistic officials with the Bannock Development Corporation (a County level organization that worked hard to bring Hoku to Pocatello, including huge local tax breaks) think that anytime now Hoku will start production: “It’s a wait and see thing, depending on the market……Basically, [Hoku Corp.] needs to fire up the plant when it’s ready to go.”-John Regetz, Bannock Development

Sounds like the local development folks aren’t communicating with Hoku.  The latest statement from the company indicates that bankruptcy and liquidation is the only option being considered: “….exploration of potential restructuring at Hoku Materials and Hoku Corporation is ongoing, with no formal update at this time.”-Hoku Corporation statement

“Restructuring” is code for bankruptcy/liquidation.  So no Mister Regetz, it sounds like Hoku is not planning to “fire up the plant”.

Green/clean energy just doesn’t make big enough profits for the crony capitalist system.  Another case in point is the recent announcement by BP (British Petroleum) that it will abandon it’s wind power operations near Idaho Falls, Idaho, as well as its wind and solar projects across the United States.

Also, don’t forget the artificial reduction in demand created by all those government tariffs.

The answer is that clean energy projects need to be run like a non-profit co-op, but the problem is that crony capitalists don’t like that and will do everything they can to prevent that from happening (’cause contrary to their propaganda, they do not like competition, especially if it’s from a non-profit).

More on the demise of Hoku Materials:

Hoku deregisters with SEC

Hoku downward spiral

Hoku restructuring

Hoku to be finished off

U.S. tariffs nail in the coffin for Hoku

Good & bad news for Hoku

Hoku better get its rear in gear

Hoku beggars China

Hoku going under

Hoku begs

More trouble for Hoku

Hoku starts operations(?)

Hoku ended before it starts

Investigation puts the brakes on Hoku

Hoku ongoing delays

Hoku turning to China

International

World War 3, West Asian Front: Israel bans civilian traffic in Golan! All access to internet cut off in Syria?

08 May 2013 (21:56 UTC-07 Tango 07 May 2013)/27 Jumada t-Tania 1434/18 Ordibehest 1391/29 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

Israeli Defense Force announced a travel ban in the occupied Golan Heights.  The ban affects civilian travel on the northern border road and the Heights eastern road.

It appears the ban is indefinite, until further notice.

The UN Interim Force In Lebanon has declared the IDF intrusion into Lebanese airspace (on their way to bomb Syria) a violation of international law: “UNIFIL says that in the course of the past week it has observed a higher number of Israeli air violations over Lebanese air space…..compel Israel to halt its violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty by air, sea and land, and carry out all its obligations in accordance with Resolution 1701.”-Martin Nesirky, United Nations

It appears all internet service has been cut off in Syria, according to Google’s Transparency Report.  I tried to access some Syrian sites and got a “server not found”, or “forbidden” message, but other sites still came up.

 

International

World War 3, West Asian Front: Israeli airstrike on Iran?

07 May 2013 (14:43 UTC-07 Tango)/26 Jumada t-Tania 1434/17 Ordibehest 1391/28 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

The Jerusalem Post reporting explosions west of Tehran, Iran.  They say a BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) Persian channel reporter posted a tweat saying three explosions took place at a missile testing center in Iran.

I wasn’t able to confirm on the BBC Persian site.

IsraelDefense is saying the explosions hit the Shahriar district of the City of Karaj, which is northwest of Tehran.

U.S.

World War 3, False Flag Front: Unemployment; why the U.S. government & unAmerican Corporate America loves it!

07 May 2013 (10:57 UTC-07 Tango)/26 Jumada t-Tania 1434/17 Ordibehest 1391/28 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

Long term unemployment is proving to be a benefit to the U.S. government.  It’s called reduced Social Security payments, or backdoor austerity policy.

First lets clear something up: You main streamer media deceivers need to stop calling Social Security (SS) a “benefit”!  We pay for it, gottdamn it!  A benefit is not something you pay for! SS is a government mandated retirement system that we are forced to pay for, therefore it is a true entitlement!

Here’s why the federalies love long term unemployment:  According to research by AARP/CNNMoney for every year you are unemployed, the amount you could have gotten through your SS retirement is reduced by 3%.

Now realize that for the first time in United States history there is a huge number of U.S. citizens who’ve been unemployed for more than six months (more than 4 million in April 2013).  For unemployed people 50 years of age or older, 44% are long term unemployed.

So all this unprecedented long term unemployment is allowing your elected officials to keep more of that SS money for themselves.  Is this some kind of False Flag op designed to ‘save’ the Social Security Administration by artificially reducing future retirement payments?

We already know our ‘elected’ federal officials rape Social Security funds all the time.

And it seems unAmerican corporate America is in on the False Flag game.   According to a study by Rand Ghayad of Northeastern University (and published in December 2012 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston), employers will not consider anyone who’s been unemployed for six months or more, regardless of their experience.  Ghayad discovered that employers would rather hire a buffoon who’s been unemployed for a week, than someone with years of relevant experience!

Ghayad also broke the lies that unAmerican corporate America was spreading; that they couldn’t find “qualified” applicants.  He proved that what they meant by “qualified” was how long you’ve been unemployed:  “It isn’t that firms aren’t finding the right workers, but that employers are screening out the long ​​term unemployed.”

Then you have another gimmick employers are using; credit reports.  If you have a bad credit score, which is included in the background check most big employers conduct, you will not be hired.  And guess what?  Most long term unemployed have bad credit (gee, I wounder why?)!

According to a Demos survey, one in four unemployed people were told their credit score would be considered for employment.

The Society for Human Resource Management says at least 47% of the employers they surveyed use credit checks to determine who they hire.

The evil irony is that the longer you’re unemployed the worse your credit report becomes, because you can’t pay your debts!   Another Demos survey found a direct correlation between worsening credit scores and repeat or prolonged unemployment.

Even the majority of people who find new jobs are being paid far less than their previous job, and that too reduces the amount of SS retirement they will get, and makes it harder to pay their debts thus jeopardizing any future employment opportunities.

Some conspiracy theorists believe this is part of a False Flag op to artificially reduce the cost of labor by creating an unprecedented number of indentured servants for unAmerican corporate America.  And to me, it’s also starting to look like a back door way to government austerity, by reducing your entitlements on the grounds that you’re unemployed or underemployed.

 

 

International

Coronavirus update: 2 more deaths! Now called MERS.

07 May 2013 (09:19 UTC-07 Tango)/26 Jumada t-Tania 1434/17 Ordibehest 1391/28 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

The new SARS like virus in Saudi Arabia has killed two more people.  The death toll is now 18.

Both of the latest victims were from the same family, from the Al-Ahsa governorate.  So far six of the deaths were people from Al-Ahsa.

Health officials still don’t understand how the new coronavirus works.  It results in death from pneumonia or kidney failure.  Some researchers think it’s related to a bat virus.  However, most victims did not have contact with non-human animals.

International health researchers have decided on a name for the new virus: MERS.  It stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.