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.
Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Black Horse & Political Chicanery: Idaho Republicans rip off Idaho taxpayers. One gets paid to sleep on his office couch, the other gets paid to sleep in his parents home!

“…there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

The Associated Press revealed that at least two Idaho state lawmakers were being paid as much as $122 per diem to sleep in their office, or parent’s home!

Those lawmakers are Republicans John McGee and Curt McKenzie.  McGee has already made the news back in 2011, when he was arrested, and charged with grand theft and drunk driving!

According to the Associated Press, both Idaho state Senators were being paid $122 per day even though they live less than 30 miles from Boise! Gee that’s nice, there are many more Idahoans driving more than that to get to work, and they don’t get paid for it!

It’s not just that they were being paid $122 per day but it was the fact that they were actually staying in Boise; McKenzie took the money even though he slept on his office couch, and McGee claimed the money even though he was staying with his parents.

But don’t think this report by AP will end the scandal, both Idaho Republicans told the Associated Press that they will still claim per diem, but at a smaller rate of $49 per day!

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

White Horse & World War 3: U.S. sanctions on Iran target Chinese company, China pissed

I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

In the name of sanctioning Iran, the United States has imposed sanctions on a Chinese company, the Zhuhai Zhenrong Corporation.

U.S. State Department claims that Zhuhai Zhenrong is Iran’s largest supplier of refined petroleum products. China is not happy:  “Imposing sanctions on a Chinese company based on a domestic U.S. law is totally unreasonable, and does not conform to the spirit or content of UN Security Council resolutions about the Iran nuclear issue. China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and adamant opposition.”-Liu Weimin, spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry

The U.S. action comes as China is increasing oil deals with Arab Peninsula countries, and reducing oil imports from Iran.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Pale Green Horse & Red Horse: Greed for Oil and Cattle Rustling shuts down international health care services for people of South Sudan. U.S. involved

Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other.

I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Since the United States lifted its economic embargo on South Sudan in July 2011, the young country has been spiraling out of control.

Recently South Sudan officials accused Sudan of stealing its oil.  In the latest case they say Sudan stole 650,000 barrels of oil, which was loaded onto a Sudan ship.  Sudan replied by saying South Sudan failed to pay import duties on the oil.  Currently South Sudan must ship its oil through Sudan to ports on the Red Sea.

To make matters worse, South Sudan is in a civil war.  More than seven groups claim that the pro-U.S. government of South Sudan has no intention of living up to its democratic promises (typical of pro-U.S. governments).

But the fighting has gotten so bad that it has international health care providers, and innocent people of South Sudan, running for their lives: “Thousands of people in Lekongole and Pibor fled in the last week and are now hiding in the bush, frightened for their lives. They fled in haste and have no food or water, some of them doubtless with wounds. Now they are hiding on their own, beyond the reach of humanitarian assistance.”-Parthesarathy Rajendran, Medecins Sans Frontieres (French for Doctors Without Borders)

On January 13, the UN World Health Organization announced that fighting in the northern state of Jonglei had destroyed all international health facilities in that area.  So far more than 200 international health care workers have been airlifted out.

In one report, the fighting in the state of Jonglei is being blamed on two rival tribes, who accuse each other of cattle rustling.

 

International

Pale Green Horse: Cambodia first H5N1 human case for 2012

I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Health confirmed that a 2 year old boy has H5N1 (aka Bird Flu).  The boy became sick on January 3 with fever, cough, runny nose and vomiting.  He was transferred to a hospital on January 9, and is in critical condition.

Officials say the boy had been in contact with sick, or dead, birds before falling ill.  H5N1 seems to be more deadly in Cambodia.  So far 19 people have become infected since the H5N1 outbreak a few years ago.  16, of those 19 infected, died.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

White Horse & World War 3: China may be moving away from Iran. Making deals with pro-U.S. Saudi Arabia, Qatar & UAE. Cuts oil imports from Iran

I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

The Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, is visiting several Arab Peninsula countries, signing major oil deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates.  

Saudi Arabia is already China’s biggest supplier of oil.  The new deals include building a 400,000 barrel per day refinery just for China, and Chinese companies expanding the infrastructure of the Arabian Peninsula countries.

This comes after China announced it would cut oil imports from Iran, blaming contractual issues (not pressure from the U.S.).

However, Premier Wen said China and Saudi Arabia needed to deepen their cooperation “…in the face of changeable and complicated regional and international trends.”

Business/Economics, Technology, U.S.

Pale Green Horse: Crime no longer number one killer of Americans; Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes and other illnesses beat out murderers. So much for America’s great capitalist health care system!

I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released their list of top disease/illness killers, and when compared to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) crime report, health issues now kill more people than criminals.

The FBI says murder has dropped to 16th place in their list of crimes in 2010.  That made health issues the number one killer in the U.S.

The top killers are heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory illnesses, cerebrovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, kidney disease, influenza, pneumonia & pneumonitis, septicemia, Parkinson’s and suicide.

 

 

International, U.S.

White Horse & World War 3: Russia to make U.S. Missile Defense system a waste of U.S. taxpayer money

“It seems strange that it is Russia who is required to show flexibility. This is not our project. If an architect is building a house, it is up to him to offer a design which would not violate property rights, area design and neighbors’ interests. So it is our U.S. colleagues who should demonstrate miraculous flexibility to ensure that their AMD system does not violate the interests of other countries if it is to be located in Europe.”-Dmitri Rogozin, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia

Russians refer to the U.S. missile defense system in Europe as American Missile Defense (AMD).  It’s also known as EMD (European Missile Defense).  It is an extension of the U.S. National Missile Defense, which is why the Russians see it as an expansion of the Empire of the United States.  The U.S. has been expanding its missile defense system into Europe under the cloak of fighting “terrorism”!

“I will certainly ensure Russia will give a corresponding technical response if the AMD system endangers our national interests. This will result in the American AMD being considered a waste of money.”

I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

International, U.S.

White Horse & World War 3: Russia restates warnings to the United States, concerning Syria and Iran

“Iran is our close neighbor, just south of the Caucasus. Should anything happen to Iran, should Iran get drawn into any political or military hardships, this will be a direct threat to our national security.”-Dmitri Rogozin, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia

“Syria must be left alone and the sides to the conflict must be assisted in breaking the stand off and starting negotiations. No one must interfere with Syria. This is dangerous.”

“If we add the escalating tensions around Iran to the situation in Syria and the consequences of the Libyan war, then the upcoming ‘scorching’ Arab Summer, which is following the Arab Spring, will hardly be to anyone’s taste.”

I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Economic Recovery? 100% inflation: January 14 last day to get your Powerball Lottery ticket for only $1

Saturday, January 14, will be the last day you can get a Powerball Lottery ticket for  $1.00.  To “celebrate” the lottery’s 20th anniversary the price of one “play” will now cost $2.00.

Lottery officials claim the 100% increase in the price of a lottery ticket is worth it because they’ve increased the size of most jackpot winnings.  For example the new starting jackpot amount will double from $20 million to $40 million.

They also claim it will be easier to win.  They’re reducing the number of red Powerball numbers used.  Instead of 39 red numbers, there will be 35.  But since I’ve played the lottery for at least two decades, and never won anymore than $10.00, the 100% increase in the price of one play is enough to make me stop playing.

 

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

Corporate & Government incompetence: USPS paid FedEx $1.4 billion in 2010! Or did they?

Cash strapped U.S. Postal Service paid FedEx (called Federal Express until 1994) $1.4 billion in 2010, to send USPS packages!

It’s ironic because not only is FedEx a contractor with the USPS (one of the biggest), it’s also a rival of the USPS.

One consulting group, SJ Consulting, suggested the USPS stop sending so many airfreight packages through FedEx.  But here’s the thing, before anyone gets upset with the Postal Service, didn’t we postal customers actually pay for the cost of shipping those packages on FedEx?