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: 20% kill rate!

04 May 2013 (13:13 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada t-Tania 1434/14 Ordibehest 1392/25 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

Medical researchers say the rate of people dying from H7N9 has reached 20%, or one in every five human infections.

Other researchers put together possible H7N9 spread maps, using wild bird flight patterns, and poultry distribution.

When looking at only wild bird migration patterns the spread of H7N9 seems to correlate.  However, problems pop up when looking at domesticated poultry.  Government testing of poultry has already shown that only poultry in the live markets show signs of infection, not one chicken or duck on a farm has tested positive.  Much more research needs to be done to find out why poultry are becoming infected after being brought to live markets.

In Taiwan, government health officials are in trouble after video was released showing the culling of poultry being done by people who are not protected.

The video also shows dead chickens piled in parking lots: “We can see vendors, workers and regular people moving around the market without gloves or masks, and no protection measures at all have been implemented. The market should be a model for the city’s bird flu prevention campaign, but has become a big loophole…”-Tung Chung-yen, Taipei City Council

 

International

World War 3, West Asian Front: Israel officially admits to attacking Syria!

04 May 2013 (02:36 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada t-Tania 1434/14 Ordibehest 1391/25 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

According to Associated Press an Israeli official has just confirmed an Israeli airstrike against Syria on Firday.

The IDF was targeting a shipment of “advanced” missiles they suspected were being delivered to Lebanon.  They stated the missiles were not WMDs, but were “game changers”.

International

World War 3, West Asian Front: Israel did not attack weapons depot or Syrian convoy!

04 May 2013 (02:16 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada t-Tania 1434/14 Ordibehest 1391/25 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

“We question the UN Security Council, the UN and the powerful nations over Israel’s activities. We call on the international community to pressure Israel to stop its attacks and violations and to commit to abiding by Resolution 1701!”-Michel Suleiman, President of Lebanon

According to a Reuters report, an unnamed U.S. official said that some time between Thursday and Friday the Israelis attacked a warehouse in Syria, possibly from Lebanese airspace.

Lebanese media now saying that the Israeli attack could have used glide bombs, or missiles that could have been launched from Lebanon.  It would explain the massive increase in IDF aircraft violating Lebanon’s airspace.

 

International

World War 3, West Asian Front: Israel vs Syria False Flag to invade Lebanon?

04 May 2013 (02:06 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada t-Tania 1434/14 Ordibehest 1391/25 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

“What we can say is that Israel is determined to prevent the transfer of chemical weapons or other game-changing weaponry by the Syrian regime to terrorists, specially to Hezbollah in Lebanon.”-Aaron Sagui, Israeli U.S. embassy spokesman

There has been no official confirmation by Israeli officials, about the U.S. report of IDF airstrikes on Syria.  Strangely there is no news about any airstrikes coming out of Syria, either.  Also, this IDF airstrike apparently took place more than 24 hours ago.

One Israeli independent military intelligence source said Israel conducted several airstrikes on Syria, from Thursday night to Friday morning.  Some of the IDF aircraft circled President Assad’s residence before bombing a nearby weapons depot. The source did not specify if the weapons depot had WMDs or not.

Apparently the Syrian military fired back, but none of the aircraft were shot down.

Israeli sources are also claiming that large numbers of Lebanese and Iranian troops have arrived in Syria, to help the government fight the U.S./European backed insurgents.

For the past week Israeli aircraft have been violating Lebanese airspace.  Sources in Lebanon say the IDF aircraft that attacked Syria flew through Lebanese airspace.  They also say the IDF planes circled over Beirut and possible targets in Lebanon.

Official Lebanese military sources said they counted between eight and 16 IDF aircraft that illegally loitered in Lebanese airspace for 14 hours, between Thursday evening and Friday morning.  One Lebanese media outlet said “…the air traffic in the last 24 hours has been unusually high.”

 

International

World War 3, West Asian Front: Israel activates 2000 Reserve troops!

04 May 2013 (01:24 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada t-Tania 1434/14 Ordibehest 1391/25 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

The main streamer U.S. media was all over the claims by Israel that the Syrian government used chemical weapons, but what they didn’t tell you is that Israel activated 2000 IDF reserve soldiers at the same time.

Officially the call up is being called, essentially, an impromptu war game.  But one zionist Israeli media source said their sources in the IDF called the Northern Command reservist activation “revolutionary and important”, because apparently the Israeli Defense Minister, Moshe Ya’alon, wasn’t told about it!

2000 IDF reserve soldiers were activated.  The ‘war games’ near the border with Lebanon, involve live ammo.  Rumors are spreading throughout Israel that this is actually preps for an invasion of Syria: “The scenario involves Lebanon, but it could also be Syria.”-unnamed IDF source

Ya’alon has been avoiding the Israeli media, but new reports say he’s starting to officially question why he wasn’t told about these impromptu war games.

Israeli analysts have said the size of the war games are not unusual.  What is unusual is that they seemed to be ordered on the spur of the moment, and why wasn’t the Defense Minister told?

 

 

International

World War 3, False Flag Front: Former Bush Jr guy says Syrian WMDs really an Israeli False Flag op!

04 May 2013 (01:03 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada t-Tania 1434/14 Ordibehest 1391/25 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

“We don’t know what the chain of custody is.  This could’ve been an Israeli false flag operation…..what I’m hearing from the intelligence community is that that evidence is really flakey.”-Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Colin Powell

In an interview with The Young Turks, on Current TV (the one that Al Gore sold to Al Jazeera) Wilkerson actually used the term false flag operation twice when talking about the claims of chemical weapons use in Syria.

He also said Israeli leaders are “inept” and “clueless” about the effects of their actions on the rest of the region.

Business/Economics

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Indiana & Washington losing Sears! Virginia Kmart closing!

04 May 2013 (23:15 UTC-07 Tango 03 May 2013)/23 Jumada t-Tania 1434/14 Ordibehest 1391/25 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

After 80 years in operation, the East Wenatchee Sears in Washington will be closed down.  59 people out-o-work.

In Indiana, the Sears located at the Richmond Square Mall is closing.  49 jobs lost.  The Sears store first set up shop in that area in 1928!

After 36 years of operation the Kmart on East Little Creek Road in Norfolk, Virginia, will close.  Sears Holdings is trying to get out of the lease contract early. 77 employees let go.

Here’s the updated list of Sears/Kmart store closings since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost).

California:   El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart.

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost).

Guam:  Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost),  Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart.

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!!!).

Vacant bedroom/bathroom section.

One corner of the half vacant Chubbuck, Idaho, Sears. No official closing announcement was made.

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).  No official announcement, but it’s painfully obvious the Chubbuck Sears going’ down. Or, maybe it’s preps for Shop within a Shop?

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), recently revealed Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost).

Illinois:  Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost).  Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost). 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale.  By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state.  The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials.

North Carolina: High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost),  West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost).   Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost),  both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart.

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors.

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost),  Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), recently revealed Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost),  Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), recently revealed East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears will be closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (will be closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

Business/Economics

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 04 March 2013. Thousands more laid off! Schools keep getting hit!

Soho Shoes in North Carolina closed.  It’s because the parent company, Urban Hype, now bankrupt.  The company claims they have zero assets and nothing but debt.

Illinois based YTB International now bankrupt.  The company has had many problems, such as declining sales and a lawsuit by the California attorney general.  Also, at least seven Illinois companies announced more than 1200 people being laid off!  Those companies are Ball Metal Beverage, General Cable, John Costigan Residential Center, L3 Electrodynamics, NanoInk, Vie de France Yamazaki and Portola Packaging.

The Katonah-Lewisboro School District, in New York, is laying off 11 employees, and jacking up local taxes by 5%.  School officials say it’s the only way to balance next year’s school budget.

The Liberty Academy Charter School in Jersey City, New Jersey, closed down.  School officials blamed lack of academic performance.

In California, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District announced that it is forced to take drastic action because of millions of dollars in budget shortfalls and funding cuts.  In Los Angeles, the Playa Rivera restaurant closed down.  Most people considered the restaurant a success, but apparently the owners had much higher expectations and considered it a failure.  In San Francisco BioWare (a division of video game maker EA) shut down, 30 people out-o-work.  In Sacramento, the big pub Pyramid Alehouse closed down due to the bad economy.  80 employees laid off.

The news source Daily Voice closed down its Massachusetts locations.  At least 11 employees laid off.  An unnamed former employee said company officials led them on to think nothing was wrong with the company: “The news came really out of nowhere, considering the emails that were reassuring that we’re fine.”

In Connecticut, Minnesota-based uniform rental and linen supplier AmeriPride ended its Hartford operations. At least 55 employees laid off.

In Alexandria, Virginia, decor and furniture store Bizim Collection closed down.  The owners are leaving the United States.

In Florida, J.C. Penney closing its West Palm Beach store.  125 people laid off!

Mining equipment manufacturer Joy Global closing its Millersburg, Kentucky, factory in October. 150 people will be let go!  The company has been closing other factories, and blames it on crashing demand for their products.

Texas based Tesoro oil company shutting down its Kapolei, Hawaii refinery.  It’s selling it off along with 31 Hawaiian gas stations.  Company officials say its no longer worth it to refine fuel for the Hawaiian market.  210 employees out-o-work!

 

 

International

World War 3, West Asian Front: Israel bombs Syria!

04 May 2013 (22:39 UTC-07 Tango 03 May 2013)/23 Jumada t-Tania 1434/14 Ordibehest 1391/25 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

“Israel bombed Syria tonight.”-Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator from South Carolina

Unnamed U.S. intelligence officials announced that Israel launched an airstrike on a supposed Syrian chemical weapons depot. The unconfirmed announcement was first reported by CNN (Cable News Network).

Sources in Lebanon supposedly told U.S. officials that 16 IDF (Israeli Defense Force) aircraft violated Lebanese airspace on their way to Syria.

Unnamed Israeli officials implied they launched the airstrike because they thought Syrian WMDs were being taken by U.S. backed insurgents.

International

New coronavirus killing people in Saudi Arabia!

03 May 2013 (10:41 UTC-07 Tango)/22 Jumada t-Tania 1434/13 Ordibehest 1391/24 Ding-Si (3rd month) 4711

A new SARS like virus is attacking people in Saudi Arabia.  It was first discovered last year, and is sometimes called Saudi, or London, SARS.  It’s a new (novel) type of coronavirus (aka London 1, nCoV).

Since September 2012 there have been 24 lab confirmed human cases, and 16 deaths, in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and the United Kingdom.  In the past week Saudi Arabia reported seven new cases, and five deaths. Death is usually caused by kidney (renal) failure.

The Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia says they have not been able to find an origin, or connection, to the outbreak.