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.
Fukushima

Government Incompetence: More cesium cattle bans, 12 Prefectures asked to step up testing of cattle!

The government of Japan has already banned beef shipments from Fukushima and Miyagi Prefectures.  Now Iwate Prefecture is being considered for such a ban after cows there have been found contaminated with cesium.

At least 12 prefectures are voluntarily checking their own cows.  The national government is says it will cover the cost of the testing.  It is now believed that at least 3,000 contaminated cows made it to consumer markets.

It is becoming very clear that the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has been, and still is, spreading massive amounts of cesium across Japan.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

No Economic Recovery for U.S.: Property owners put U.S. land up for auction in China, offers immigrant applications to high bidders

According to the Chinese media, 73 Chinese have won internet auctions for land in Florida.

United Solutions of America auctioned off land belonging to a bankrupt company in Florida.  The auction specifically targeted Chinese buyers, as it was a Chinese auction host, Zhuang Nuo, who ran the auction.

1,000 square kilometers of land was split into 100 sections.  Bidders were also enticed with 30 immigration applications if the total bids went over $200,000.

All 100 sections sold on July 22.  73 Chinese won the auctions, with one of them snatching up 20 of the 100 sections.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

No Economic Recovery for U.S.: Nissan boosting production…in China

Nissan is going to invest $7.7 billion into the world’s largest car market…no not the United States…China!

Nissan entered into a joint venture with China’s Dongfeng Motor, and together they’re investing billions to boost car production in China.  They expect to produce 2.3 million vehicles per year by 2015.

Nissan’s U.S. sales mirror that of Toyota, up at the beginning of the year, but down by the end of May.

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

No Economic Recovery for U.S.: Toyota doubles production…in India

Toyota announced that demand is up so much that they’re doubling production…in India.

Toyota will invest $220 million into its Indian operations, with the goal of increasing production to 310,000 vehicles per year by 2013.  Toyota added that it’s all types of vehicles that are enjoying increased demands, from economy cars to SUVs and mini vans.

India is one of the fastest growing car markets, last year overall sales grew by 34%.  Toyota admitted that it does not expect high sales in Japan, and sales in the U.S. are not good.

For the United States Toyota has reported some confusing sales numbers.  At the beginning of 2011 they reported an increase in sales, yet as of the end of May, Toyota says U.S. sales dropped by 27.9%.  That’s based on “daily sales rate (DSR) basis”, when you look at their raw volume it gets worse, sales down 33.4%.

How about Toyota’s divisions?  Lexus reported a drop of 46.3%, and TMS Hybrids sales dropped 49.2%.

Of course Toyota officials blame the March 11 disasters in Japan for causing part of the sales decrease, by interrupting the production of  parts.  But, I remember reading an article that said there were already dockyards full of Toyotas, both in Japan and the U.S., because there was a lack of orders from U.S. dealers.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Will spread of Radiation topple Japan’s longest life expectancy claim? Forget Obama Care, U.S. life expectancy keeps dropping

The latest results of life expectancy around the world, puts Japan in number one spot for the 26th year in a row, at least for Japanese women.  Women in Japan average 86.39 years.  Japanese men hold the number four spot at 79.64 years.

Hong Kong women are in second place, while men in Hong Kong take first place.  Men from Switzerland hold second place.  Women from France hold third place, while men from Israel hold third in their category.  Women from Spain hold fourth place.

Where does the United States rank?  Despite spending the most money on health care, of any other country, life expectancy continues to drop.  Last year the U.S. ranked 36th, this year the U.S. ranks 38th.

In a separate study, looking at U.S. counties, it was discovered that some counties had fallen to the level of third world countries back in the 1950s.  So much for corporate/insurance controlled health care systems.

Fukushima

Second Japanese Prefecture ordered to stop shipments of cattle due to cesium contamination!

Last week the national government of Japan ordered all cattle shipments from Fukushima Prefecture halted, now they have done the same with cattle from Miyagi Prefecture.

It turns out that the majority of cesium contaminated beef came from Miyagi Prefecture. The cows were fed hay contaminated with thousands of becquerels of cesium.  The national safe limit is 500.

In another sign that radiation is spreading across Japan, officials say the contaminated cows did not come from specific areas within the prefectures, but from all over.

 

 

Business/Economics, Technology, U.S.

Mainstream Media Hype: Scooters suck, new Mazda 2 gets just as good MPG as a Scooter, and you can carry four people and groceries

The latest hype by the mainstream media is trying to create a craze for scooters.  One report says they get 70 mpg.  Guess what?  So does the new Mazda 2, and it’s a car.

So what’s more practical?  Getting a scooter that you might be able to squeeze two people onto, or getting a car that can hold at least four people, and groceries, and it gets the same mpg as a scooter?

In Japan, the new gas sipping Mazda 2 is sold under the name Demio (I already posted a story about it in June).  The amazing thing about the Demio is that it’s not a hybrid (no expensive batteries to replace), and it’s not a diesel (you can use the cheaper gasoline).  It uses a 1.3 liter gas engine.

As far as sales in the U.S., Mazda will begin selling a bigger car, the Mazda 3, with a bigger 2.0 liter version of the 1.3, later this year, or the beginning of next year.  The new Mazda 3 will get at least 40 mpg highway (no big deal my 145 hp 2003 KIA Spectra, with 5 speed manual transmission, gets 40 mpg).

They will also offer the 2.0 engine in a new Mazda CX-5.

Unfortunately, Mazda reps in the United States say there are no plans to sell the 70 mpg Demio/Mazda 2 in the U.S.  Maybe if enough people demand the car they will, so get moving everyone, flood Mazda North America with your demands for a 70 mpg car!  Who wants to drive a dangerous scooter all the time?

You can go to www.mazdausa.com, click on “contact us”.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Idaho to see local Post Offices shut down

The United States Postal Service released a list of nearly 3,700 post offices that could be shut down.  Many post offices in Idaho are on the list.

The list of cities where post offices could be shut down are: Ahsahka, Almo, Arbon, Avery, Boise, Calder, Chester, Clayton, Desmet, Ellis, Geneva, Hamer, Harvard, Howe, Monteview, Moscow, Ola, Parker, Pocatello, Swanlake, Tensed, Weston and Yellow Pine.

The USPS says it will also consider replacing some of the post offices with “Village Post Offices”.  These would be contracted offices run by existing local businesses.

The United States Postal Service does not make money off taxpayers, they are solely funded by the postage they charge, and other products they sell.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

If you want a good credit rating, don’t live in Idaho. Where you live now affects your credit score

Credit scoring companies are getting so nit picky that now they judge you based on where you live.

CardRatings.com now considers the state you live in as part of your credit score.  One of the states that can make your rating go down is Idaho.  Curtis Arnold, founder of CardRatings.com, says Idaho scores low because of high unemployment and high bankruptcy/foreclosure rates.

A low credit score for your state doesn’t just affect your rating, but the credit ratings of your local banks.  This makes it harder for local financial institutions to get major loans from national banks, which in turn makes it harder for them to issue local loans.

Which state can make your credit score go up the most?  Oil rich North Dakota.

Idaho

Grass fire sets Idaho junk yard on fire, fears of propane and liquid oxygen tanks exploding results in blocked roads

Image

Initial reports say that a grass fire on U.S. Highway 30 (Old Bannock Highway) near the Hoku plant, and the malting plant, in Bannock County, Idaho, caused a massive junk yard fire.  Fortunately the wind was blowing the flames away from the gas company.

Walt’s Auto Salvage fire, July 26, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

The salvage yard is run by Walt’s.  Law enforcement blocked off several roads, because a gas company, Ameri Gas, is located right next to the salvage yard. They deal in liquid oxygen and propane.

WAS fire, U.S. Highway 30, Bannock County, July 26, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By 14:30 (2:30 PM) about 45 vehicles in the yard were on fire. The fire was brought under control around 15:00 (3:00 PM), thanks to the massive response by local fire fighters.  Some witnesses say the junk yard fire started after one or more propane tanks exploded.