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.
International, U.S.

Britain reveals UN backed ground force operation in Libya

The United Kingdom’s Inner City Press revealed a 10 page document that shows a United Nations backed ground force operation is about to begin in Libya.  It will involve 200 military observers, 190 UN police officers and 61 civilians.

The operation is awaiting approval by the UN Security Council, and an official request from Libyan rebels.  It also details the creation of a new Libyan government, by the United Nations, not the rebels.

The 10 page “Martin report” also claims that the Libyan rebels committed war crimes, by killing prisoners and looting.  It also “doubts” that Gaddafi used mercenaries.

The report was apparently written on August 22, but was officially denied until Inner City Press got its hands on an official copy.

 

 

 

International, U.S.

U.S. led War on Syria: Russia threatens UN Veto, says the U.S. will sidestep the UN and use NATO to attack Syria

“We are afraid that the resolution could push the most radical Syrian opposition forces to more active operations to topple the government. Just because of that, we categorically do not accept the aims our Western colleagues try to attain with that resolution.”–Vitali Churkin, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations

Russia, as well as China, have stated that they oppose any UN Security Council resolution against Syria.

Russian officials say they have information that the United States, and European Union, will sidestep the UN Security Council, because they can not get enough votes of support for their planned attack on Syria.  Instead it is highly likely that the U.S. and EU will use language under NATO rules to justify an attack on Syria.  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is not part of the United Nations.



International

Yet another study says Chocolate reduces High Blood Pressure

The University of Cambridge found that regular consumption of chocolate might slash the risk of developing heart disease by a third.

114,000 people were studied.  People who ate the most chocolate were 37% less likely to develop heart disease, and 29% less likely to suffer a stroke.

Why? Researchers speculate that chocolate’s high content in polyphenols, antioxidant compounds that boost the body’s production of nitric oxide, helps reduce blood pressure.

Business/Economics, International, Technology

UN warns of return of Bird Flu, Vaccines not working

“Wild birds may introduce the virus, but people’s actions in poultry production and marketing spread it.”–Juan Lubroth, UN Food and Agriculture Organization

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is warning of a new mutant strain of H5N1 (Bird Flu).  They say it’s spreading throughout southern China, and Vietnam.

Current vaccines do not work on this latest strain.

The UN is predicting the mutant H5N1 virus could spread to Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Korean and Japan.  The last H5N1 outbreak peaked in 2006.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: After raising prices in U.S., GM lowers prices in China, losing out to VW

“The next 12 months look tough.  Incentives brought forward buying in a very dramatic fashion in 2009, 2010, and now we are seeing a lack of pent-up demand.”-Ashvin Chotai, Intelligence Automotive Asia

General Motors can’t stand the heat of the competition in China, so they’re sacrificing profit margin by dropping their prices, on minivans.

“GM does not rely on the minibus for profit, they only contribute volume.”– Jenny Gu, JD Power & Associates.

GM might not rely on minivan sales for profits in China, but they’re sure taking the competition serious.  GM’s sales of minivans, in China, dropped 3% this year, so far.  That’s important when you realize that China, not the United States, is now GM’s largest auto market.

The minivans that GM sells in China, are made in China, not the U.S.  One in eight vehicle sales in China are minivans.

It looks like VolksWagen is taking up the slack in GM’s lagging Chinese made minivan sales.  GM sold 1.27 million vehicles in China in the first half of this year, compared with VW’s 1.1 million.  This means VW could soon overtake GM’s number one foreign car maker position in China.

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? East Idaho Salvation Army declares “food crisis”, 20% of Idaho kids going hungry as Idaho politicians slash and burn social services

“We’ve had an increase in requests for that type of service, and so our food supply is dwindling rapidly.”-Brenda Ames, Pocatello Salvation Army

A recent survey by Feeding America revealed that the economic situation in Idaho is much worse than elected leaders claim.  At least 20% of Idaho kids do not know where their next meal is coming from.

“Children are aware that the parents are struggling to feed them. They don’t know if there is enough in the house for breakfast, enough food for dinner.”-Joye Jones, Idaho Food Bank Pocatello Branch

The problem is made worse by the facts that because more people are making less money, donations to food banks are down, and, the state of Idaho has been cutting federally funded social programs.

The state with the least food insecurity is also the state with the best economy; North Dakota with less than 12% of kids going hungry.

 

International

Typhoon Talas on track to blast Japan

Talas has been a slow but steady tropical storm, building strength as it heads towards the center of Honshu.  It’s expected to become a full blown Typhoon on August 30.

The projected path of Talas brings it onshore, on September 1, in south central Honshu, west of Tokyo.  Then it almost splits the island as it heads north to the island of Hokkaido.   Japan is still recovering from the March 11 disasters.

Fukushima

Tropical Storm Talas heading for nuclear damaged Japan, will become a Typhoon before landfall

Tropical storm Talas, directly south of Japan, is heading right for the center of the nuclear damaged island nation.

It’s predicted that by 29 August 2011 Talas will be a category 1 typhoon.  Japan is still recovering from the 11 March 2011 quake and tsunami. Also, the damaged nuclear plant Fukushima Daiichi could get hit.