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

Japan Influenza Epidemic! New strain attacking children by the thousands! Vitamin D3 better than a flu vaccine?

01 February 2013, the Japanese National Institute of Infectious Diseases is estimating that 2.1 million people are infected with the flu in Japan!

Health officials are basing their claim on reports coming from local hospitals.   740,000 more cases than last week!  It’s the highest estimated number of flu cases in Japan since flu cases began to be officially monitored four years ago!

Last week it was reported that so many children were sick that 2,000 schools were closed! Health officials report that the new strain of flu is going after children first, then going after their parents.

Also out of Japan, researchers studying the effects of flu vaccines discovered that vitamin D3 is at least as effective at preventing flu A infections than the much touted vaccines!  The study was conducted several years ago by the Jikei University School of Medicine Minato-ku in Tokyo. It was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2010: “This study suggests that vitamin D3 supplementation during the winter may reduce the incidence of influenza A…”

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 17 January 2013. Lots-o-grocery stores going down, thousands unemployed! More proof that economic competition in a saturated market is bad! Another college going down! China retaliates?

Sweetbay Supermarket in Florida, shutting down 33 of its 105 grocery stores!  Parent company officials, Delhaize Group in Belgium, say the stores are not making enough money, but, a Sweetbay official admitted most of the stores just happen to be at the end of their leases (letting leases expire, a growing trend within the U.S. retail industry).  2,000 people will be affected!

Two Food Lion grocery stores in North Carolina will close. Company officials say the stores are not making enough money.

Kroger to shut down Du Quoin, Illinois, grocery store in March. Company officials blame competition. 60 employees affected.

The nearly 100 years old Ray’s Food Place, in Crescent City, California, will shut down on 03 February.  Owners blame increased competition.

California Redwood Company to layoff 45 employees at its Krobel, California, factory. Blames it on a big decrease in demand for redwood lumber.

In Sacramento, California, the local school district is proposing closing down 11 elementary schools!  School officials say they need to save $11 million USD over the next four years. They will vote on the closures on 21 February.

Also in Sacramento, the Gap, and next door Gap Kids, clothing stores going down. This is part of the country wide trend for Gap.  Company officials claim these are the final closings that were outlined in their 2007 real estate plans.

350 people are losing their jobs in Kentucky! The Gap clothing business is closing down two distribution centers. The layoffs begin in April.

The Brattleboro Food Co-op, in Vermont, let go 11 people.  Delays in construction of a new Co-op building is being blamed for the layoffs.

Level 3 Communications, in Colorado, announced hundreds of layoffs worldwide!  Company officials say it is a direct result of their take over of competitor Global Crossing.

The Prickly Pear women’s clothing store in Monument, Colorado, shutting down. Owner wants to retire.

Berry Plastics in Easthampton, Massachusetts, laid off 20 people.  Their remaining 315 employees could have their hours reduced. Company officials blamed the bad economy for a huge reduction in demand for their products.

Despite North Dakota‘s booming oil industry, Sanford Health is shutting down its Underwood Continuing Care Center in March. It’s the result of last year’s merger between Sanford Health and Medcenter.  38 residents, and 62 employees affected!

The Upper Dublin School District, in Pennsylvania,  warned of pending layoffs and pay reductions.  They blame a $2.7 million USD budget shortfall.

The owner of furniture store, C.A. Hoitt in New Hampshire, is retiring and closing down the 133 years old business.

Corpus Christie, Texas, losing two stores.  A Abercrombie, and a Abercrombie & Fitch, shut down in the La Palmera mall.  It’s part of the 180 store closings announced by company officials last year.

Back Yard Burgers in Tupelo, Mississippi, closed for good. Owner refused comment, but the franchise went bankrupt in October 2012.  16 people out-o-work.

Pandolfi gift shop shutting down in Edina, Minnesota. The owner said she wants to focus on caring for her family.

The College of Visual Arts in Saint Paul, Minnesota, shutting down!  School officials blame declining enrollment due to the bad economy.  They will close after the spring semester ends.

Chinese company, Zhongding Sealing Parts, will shut down its Ohio factory.  At least 117 jobs lost by the end of June!  The company makes rubber parts for the U.S. automotive industry. Company officials said the closure is due to rapidly changing economic environment within the U.S. (which could be code for they don’t like the way the U.S. government is coming down on Chinese companies).  Production at the Ohio factory will be moved to China as a result!

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Money Making Sears store to be closed down! Many more closings to come! Washington Kmart becomes illegal drugs store!

31 January 2013, it was revealed that a moneymaking Sears store in Hawaii will be closed down anyway!

The store was purchased by General Growth Properties last year, and it was even hailed as being an essential part of GGP’s Ala Moana Center mall in Honolulu.  Now a new report from Hawaiian media says the GGP owned Sears will be closed.

Also in Hawaii, Sears Holdings announced they are about to select a new private owner of their only Sears Hometown store on the ‘Big Island’.  Sears Holdings currently owns the store but wants to hand it over to an individual from the continental U.S.

A report by DailyFinance, ranks Sears Holdings as number two for planned store closings in 2013.  The report said it was no longer a matter of if, but when and how many.

In Seattle, Washington, a Kmart scheduled to close down this coming weekend was the target of a drug bust.  Police say Kmart employees were surprised when a 10 pound package of marijuana was delivered, apparently by UPS.  The package was meant to go to Pennsylvania, but: “Whoever sent the package listed the address of the Seattle Kmart on the return label, for some reason.”-Jonah Spagenthal-Lee, Seattle Police

The people of Washington recently legalized possession and use of small amounts of marijuana, however, you can not grow your own (except for medical use), and there is a licensing process to be able to sell it.

Here’s my updated list of 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).

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 to be closed by 03 February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost).


Hawaii: Recently revealed Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).

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

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

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).

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

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 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).

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).

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, Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost).

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).

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).

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).

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

International, U.S.

World War 3: Iran issues warning against Israel, Syria summons UN commander, Israel & United States massing troops along border with Syria!

“Parties that have always taken tough stances on Syria should now take serious measures and decisive positions on this invasion by Tel Aviv and place regional security high on their list of priorities.”-Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs

31 January 2013, a day after reports said Israel launched two air sorties against Syria, Iranian officials are warning that Israel will launch more attacks and other countries in the region should prepare to strike back.

Russia is also sounding a warning: “If this information is confirmed, then we are dealing with unprovoked strikes against targets located on the territory of a sovereign state, which brazenly infringes on the UN Charter and is unacceptable, no matter the motive used for its justification.”-Russian Foreign Ministry statement

In Lebanon a former city councilman is now charged with acting as a spy for Israel. He is accused of accepting at least $600,000 USD from Mossad, and is considered the highest paid spy to be captured.  Regarding Syria, Lebanese officials are condemning the Israeli attack against a Syrian weapons testing center, saying it’s part of a larger conspiracy: “….openly reveals ….the criminal thinking aimed at destroying Syria and …..pave the way for unfolding the chapters of a major conspiracy against …..our Arab and Muslim peoples.”

Syria has summoned the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) commander to Damascus. There Syrian officials delivered an official protest over the Israel air strike, saying it’s a violation of a 1974 disengagement accord between Israel and Syria.

U.S. media reports say Israel was targeting anti-aircraft missiles that the Zionists thought were being shipped to Lebanon.  U.S. government officials and analysts talk as if the Zionist regime is justified in launching attacks against other countries, simply because they are afraid of other countries being able to defend themselves.

Syrian officials still say there was no Israeli attack against any of their military convoys (that report came from U.S./Israeli backed insurgents), but they insist Israel bombed a weapons testing center.  So far Israel will only admit to launching “two air sorties”, but will give no further info.

Syrian TV media is showing what looks like Israeli troops massing on the border.  Also, Israeli media reported several days ago that U.S. and Jordanian troops were massing on the Syrian border.

According to IsraelNationalNews, the Hashimite ruled (British empire installed) Jordan is building up troops, along with British and U.S. forces, and is doing so in co-ordination with Israel!  IsraelNationalNews claims one of their sources as a “senior Jordanian security” official.

Iraqi reports stated that U.S. personnel leaving Iraq supposedly to return the U.S. actually went to Jordan: “Some of the U.S. forces that left Ain al-Assad airbase…did not go back to the U.S.A. or its base in Germany, but were transferred to Jordan…”-unnamed source

“At least one U.S. aircraft carrying military personnel landed at Prince Hassan airbase [in Jordan]….”-unnamed employee with Royal Jordanian Airlines

Since October 2012, there have been reports, mainly British, saying that the U.S. had already positioned at least 400 personnel along the Jordainan/Syrian border.  The official U.S. response was that it was for humanitarian reasons.

Also, U.S. made anti-aircraft Patriot missile batteries have finally been stationed along the Turkish/Syrian border.  At least two sets of Patriot missile batteries have been installed, and are now being manned by personnel from the Netherlands and Germany.

Just today, Stars and Stripes, reported at least 100 U.S. military vehicles heading to the Turkish/Syrian border.  They are rushing to set up more Patriot missile batteries.  The missile batteries are being operated by the U.S., German and Dutch militaries (NATO members, as is Turkey).  Their central control facility is located in Ramstein, Germany.  And get this, reports say two missile batteries require 400 personnel to operate, isn’t that how many U.S. troops were deployed to the Jordanian/Syrian border back in October (see above)?  Humanitarian reasons, yeah right!

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 16 January 2013. Texas loses hundreds of jobs in one day! No one wants corn fuel! California still losing jobs!

In Texarkana, Texas, 400 people will become unemployed starting in February!   It’s happening at the Red River Army Depot, in anticipation of the 2014 Afghanistan pullout.

In El Paso, Texas, electrical switch/outlet maker Leviton Manufacturing closing down.  339 people to be out-o-work!   The New York based company said it’s consolidating manufacturing operations throughout the country.

New Jersey’s Star Ledger announced it will let go 34 employees.  Company officials blamed the bad economy and the slow recovery from Hurricane Sandy.  The layoffs are also part of the 60 total layoffs announced by parent company Advance Publications.  Advance Publications is itself owned by the Newhouse family.

In Simi Valley, California, Bank of America said it will lay off 51 employees.  The too big to fail bank said the jobs lost are in connection to a reduction in mortgage defaults.

The San Francisco, California, based web content discovery company, StumbleUpon, laying off 35 people.  Company officials say they’re not in trouble, they just want “to become more streamlined” in order to bring the company  “into a profitable situation”.

The internet social commerce/photo sharing service, Lockerz, is closing down its San Diego, California, office.  They’ve also laid off 30% of their Seattle, Washington, staff.  Company officials said the layoffs are necessary to realign the company, also the exact number of people being let go will not be made public: “I will not comment on how many individuals were effected or any specific individual.”-Leilani Augustine, CMO

Tuscan Gardens gift store closing in Petaluma, California. The owner wants to focus on ceramics.

Saint Louis, Missouri‘s, Express Scripts laying off 332 people across the U.S.!  This come after the country’s largest pharmacy benefits manager spent $29.1 billion USD to take over Medco.  103 former Medco employees have so far been let go as well!

Only a day after laying off 200 employees, Atmel lays off another 140!  It’s another round of layoffs at their Colorado Springs, Colorado, factory. Company officials blame the bad economy. Last year Colorado Springs officials gave the California based microcontroller company about $339,000 in tax breaks.

Corn based ethanol fuel plants in Nebraska are shutting down. Abengoa Bioenergy says the alternative fuel market is not doing well for corn based gas, so they’re temporarily closing two refineries.  They make the 4th and 5th corn based fuel refineries to shut down in the Cornhusker State.

Mormon run Dillard’s department store is shutting down two stores in the Cache Valley Mall in Logan, Utah.  About 50 employees affected.   It’s all part of Dillard’s “strategic store closures”.

The New Castle Youth Development Center closing in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. 223 jobs lost!  Some officials say the center for troubled youths saw a huge decline in juveniles being housed there, with only 31 currently staying in the 100 bed facility (at one time there were 250 beds at the juvi jail).  State Representative, Jaret Gibbons, said it was all part of the governor’s conspiracy to close down publicly funded prisons, possibly to make way for private for profit prisons.

Windber Medical Center in Pennsylvania closing its obstetrician wing in March. Hospital officials said they’re having such a hard time finding replacements for the four obstetricians who’re leaving, that they just decided to close down the obstetrician wing!

Conifer Health Solutions closing its Alpharetta, Georgia, call center.  About 90 people out-o-work.  The Texas based health care revenue outsourcing company is consolidating operations with other call centers.

In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, women’s clothing store Susanne’s is closing.  The owner said it is for personal reasons.

After 121 years the Associated Bank in Hammond, Wisconsin, is no more. It was the only bank in the town of 1,100 households. Bank officials say it’s part of their closing of 11 branches, due to the bad economy.

An update from 15 January: Cirque du Soleil will lay off 400 people around the world, but said the majority of the cuts will be in Canada.

International, U.S.

Breaking news, World War 3: United States backs Israeli airstrikes against Syria!

“Israeli warplanes violated our airspace at dawn, bombing directly one of the research scientific centers in the Jimraya district in rural Damascus…”-Syrian statement

30 January 2013, pro-U.S./Israeli media sources say an unnamed U.S. official confirmed an Israeli airstrike against Syria.

The U.S. official says they believe anti-aircraft weapons were being sent to Lebanon, and the Israelis felt threatened.  However, the U.S. official did not comment on Syria’s claim that Israel bombed a site used for testing new weapons.  Still no comment from Israel either, other than they confirmed there were two air sorties launched.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Scotland, Canada & Spain uniting against the British Empire? Latin America tells the Red Coats to get out of Falklands! Tells the Yankees to get out of Puerto Rico! The age of Separatism Summits is here!

“There are the underlying emotional arguments for independence, then there are the more rational economic ones. What we are seeing is that they are coming together.”-Alfred Bosch, Spanish politician

On 29 January 2013, First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, and Quebec’s Premier, Pauline Marios, issued a joint statement after holding what some sources have called a separatism summit:  “Both leaders also talked about the political situation in their respective jurisdictions and agreed that their destinies are a matter for the people of Scotland and Quebec to decide.”

The Canadian province of Quebec narrowly lost it’s independence bid in the recent elections.  And election officials in the United Kingdom told the Scots that they had to change the wording on an upcoming 2014 independence referendum.

Interviewed after the separatism summit was over, Premeir Marios said not only is the push for Scottish independence moving forward, but Quebecois will never give up: “I think the most important thing is the determination of the First Minister and his team to arrive at the support of the population on this issue. I think that is very clear, he will put all his team and all his determination to obtain this goal. I think that is as similar as we made in the past and we will do in the future.”

In a warmer climate, the people of Catalonia, Spain, are pushing for independence as well. The people of Catalonia will also be voting for independence in 2014. The Spanish government is calling it unconstitutional.

On 28 January 2013, the latest summit meeting of CELAC ended.  One of the results of that meeting was a unanimous resolution demanding the British Empire get out of the Malvinas (Falkland Islands).  This as Cuba’s President, Raúl Castro Ruz, assumed presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

CELAC is also aiming to end U.S. as well as U.K. colonialism: “With the dissipation of United States siren songs at the 2009 Summit in Trinidad & Tobago, Latin America and the Caribbean excelled in their unity and independence when they reclaimed the Malvinas as Argentine and demanded an end to the blockade and exclusion of Cuba, an event that the Cuban people will always remember with profound gratitude.”-Raúl Castro Ruz (read his full speech here)

And let’s not forget the U.S. controlled Puerto Rico.  The new President of CELAC said: “Our community will not be complete without Puerto Rico, a truly Latin American and Caribbean sister nation submitted to colonial domination.”-Raúl Castro Ruz

Last year even the United Nations Decolonization Committee (UNDC) demanded independence for Puerto Rico: “The Special Committee on Decolonization today called on the United States to expedite a process that would allow Puerto Ricans to fully exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, requesting the General Assembly to consider the question of Puerto Rico comprehensively in all its aspects.”-18 June 2012, UNDC statement

Where was the main stream U.S. media on that one?

International, U.S.

Breaking news, World War 3: Israel launches airstrikes against Syrian targets!

30 January 2013, several hours ago it was reported that Israeli planes hit a Syrian army convoy near the border with Lebanon.  Then, just recently, another report that says Israeli planes hit a Syrian military compound!

Reports say the convoy was targeted because Israel believed it was delivering weapons to Lebanon. The source of the report was U.S. backed Syrian rebels.

Israeli media reports that Syrian military commanders say no such attack took place.  Instead, Syrian officials say the Israeli airstrike targeted an experimental  weapons center in Jamraya.  Two people were killed, five wounded.

So far officials with Israel have not commented.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. expands military presence in Africa! U.K. sending troops to Mali! Western leaders agree to ‘donate’ your tax money to the war in Mali!

29 January 2013, the Obama administration announced they will send military personnel into Niger.  On the surface they will be operating drones in support of the western/christian invasion of Mali.  Pentagon officials said the actual role U.S. forces will play has yet to be determined.

In the United Kingdom, British Defense Secretary, Philip Hammond, announced plans to send 240-300 Red Coats to Mali.

The British empire is already helping the French by flying in supplies on Boeing C-17 transports.  And at least 70 Red Coats are in the country of Senegal, operating drone aircraft.

Also, leaders from the United States, European Union and Japan (note: these are the main players in the one world government wanna be Trilateral Commission) met and agreed to become “donors”.  In other words, they’ve already met in Ethiopia for a conference to determine how much of your tax money will be spent on the invasion and occupation of Mali.  Reports say our fearless leaders have agreed to give hundreds of millions of taxes, just to the pro-western government of Mali.

Let’s see, our western government leaders have been cutting social programs saying there isn’t any money for them, yet they spend billions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Mali!

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

Congressional Evil & What Economic Recovery? Media lies about USPS international postal rate change? I have receipts that show at least a 50-60% increase! Hello, Hyperinflation!

I got a shock when I shipped off some packages to Europe, USPS international First Class rate went up 61%!!!

Some media mainstreamers had been reporting a 5-10% increase, but that’s for domestic postage.  Even the Postal clerks at the Clark Street office, in Pocatello, Idaho, told me they were surprised by how high the international rate went up.

People who supplement their meager incomes (or maybe it’s become their only source of income) on internet selling sites like ebay, Etsy, Scoomer, etc, and who sell a lot outside the United States are going to see a drop in business (I know many internet sellers attribute at least 50% of their sales to international buyers).

On 17 January 2013 I sent a measly 2 ounce package to Australia, it cost $3.78 USD, online price.  On 29 January 2013 I sent another 2 ounce package, but this time it cost $6.16 online. Do the math, that’s a 61% increase!

Here’s another example: On 27 December 2012 I sent a 1 pound 14 ounce package to Canada, it cost $9.15 online.  Today that same package now cost $16.15 online, a 56% increase!

Here’s yet another example: On 18 January 2013 I sent a 3 ounce package to Italy, at an online U.S. Postal Service rate of $4.56.  Now that same package has an online cost of $8.88 (the in USPS store cost is $9.45).  That’s a 51% increase!

There were some media sources, like StudentNews, that reported that the First Class International rate would go up 60%, for items weighing up to one pound (that’s questionable as you can see in my Canadian example the package weighed almost 2 pounds!). Apparently someone at the USPS realized they were charging far less than UPS or FedEx, and decided to make their First Class International rate “more competitive” with the competition.

Making your prices more competitive with your competition is now code for jacking up your rates to meet your competitors higher prices. A kind of price fixing if you ask me. I remember when being more competitive meant you tried to have lower prices than your competitors.

Is this yet another attempt by the Congressionaly controlled Postal Commission to intentionally destroy the U.S. Postal Service?  Remember, it’s Congress that sets the Postal rates, not the USPS!