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.
Idaho, U.S.

Government Incompetence: Idaho officials fail to post adequate warning signs for E Coli, people swimming in contaminated water

At the beginning of July, Idaho’s Department of Environmental Quality issued a no swimming warning for Sandy Point Beach, at Lucky Peak State Park, because of e.coli.

Officials claim warning signs are posted, but people who’re swimming in the contaminated water say “what signs?”:   “We stopped and we were looking, we were looking for any kind of anything.”-Loretta Vincent of Boise

“We were swimming and had been swimming for quite some time before they finally came and told us.”-Claudia Craw of Meridian

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

No Economic Recovery for U.S.: Apple profits way up, it’s all about China, baby!

Apple Incorporated posted a huge 124% year to year profit, for the second quarter of 2011.  But most of those sales weren’t made in the United States.

Chinese consumers are going nuts for Apple products.  In fact, Apple’s 2011 sales in China are, so far, six times what they were in 2010.

Two reasons for Apple’s exploding sales in China: One is that scalpers were buying up everything in the stores, creating a shortage (and of course selling Apple products for much more).  The second reason is that Apple Inc is investing big time into China: “In the long run, Apple can likely increase its market share since it is gaining sales momentum by investing more resources into China, which it had not been doing previously.”-Kitty Fok, IDC Asia-Pacific.

Fukushima

Government Incompetence: High Levels of Radiation all over Japan!

On 20 July 2011, Japan’s Science Ministry released a radiation map of Japan.  It showed that radiation levels 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, are just as high as areas just 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the damaged plant.

This means Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is putting out enough radiation to cover the northern half of the main island Honshu.  It explains the extensive contamination to cattle feed and cows, among other things.

The radiation map is based on airborne radiation samples taken from 22-23 June 2011.

Fukushima

Government Incompetence: 1200 Cesium contaminated cows made it to market, Professor blames government, contaminated hay all over Japan!

21 July 2011, Japan’s Health Ministry has discovered that at least 1,200 cesium contaminated cows actually made it to the consumer market.  The national government has ordered a stop to all cattle shipments, and says efforts to protect the people from contaminated food must now focus on cows.

On 20 July 2011, test results showed that rice straw in ten prefectures, used for cattle feed, was found to be contaminated with cesium.  This proves the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is spreading radiation all over Japan.

A Japanese university professor is blaming the Japanese government for the contaminated beef, because cattle farmers were never told how to protect their cows, and their feed, from radiation contamination.

 

Fukushima

Government Incompetence: The number of Cesium contaminated cows, that made it to market, hits 578, Cesium more widspread than first thought!

Add Niigata and Miyagi Prefectures to the growing list of cattle, and hay farms, hit with high levels of cesium.  Local officials now believe at least 578 contaminated cows made it to the consumer markets.

In Fukushima Prefecture, officials now say the level of cesium found on cattle feed is 520 times the national limit of 500 becquerels per kilogram of cesium. At least seven Fukushima farms are known to have contaminated cows.

Now cattle on farms in Niigata Prefecture have been found to be internally contaminated as well.  The feed for the cows came from Miyagi Prefecture.

The high amounts of cesium contamination proves that the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is worse than officially stated, and continuing.

The amazing thing is that cattle farmers have not been ordered to stop shipping their cows to market, at this point it is just a request to voluntarily stop shipping their cows.  Fukushima officials expect the number of contaminated cows, reaching consumer markets, to go up.

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

What Economic Recovery? U.S. corporations put the brakes on investing into China, no money to invest

“Under such circumstances, both private U.S. companies and governments in different levels are not capable of investing significantly in China. Somehow they are looking for the investment from China to help them boost their own economies and low-employment rate.”-Zhang Qizuo, economist Chengdu University

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce says investments coming from the United States are way down, compared to last year.  It’s a sign of how bad the U.S. economy is, and the growing discontentment with U.S. citizens in seeing U.S. jobs go to China.

“Large-scale U.S. companies are also under domestic pressure in ‘giving jobs to Chinese’, therefore, they have to consider the feelings of approximately 14 million Americans and deliberately delay or even cut some investment plans in China.”-Zhang Shiqing, economist Nankai University

Overall U.S. investments in China dropped from January of last year, to June of this year, by a big 22.32%.  That’s a big drop, but in dollar amounts, the U.S. still invested $1.68 billion.

European countries, and other Asian countries, are still on the plus side of investing into China.

Another factor in the drop in U.S. investments is inflation in China, which includes the cost of labor.  Labor cost are going up in China, and in the U.S. labor costs are going down, no thanks to Union busting and high unemployment.

I can’t think that this is helping cut unemployment in the United States, after all there has been no change in the overall unemployment situation, even though there’s been a 22.32% drop in investments into China.  Despite what Chinese economist think, I think the real reason is that U.S. corporations, and government, have put the brakes on investing into China, is because they’re out of money to invest.

Fukushima

Corporate Incompetence: Kansai Electric shuts down nuclear reactor after water cooling system fails, only 18 reactors now working in Japan!

While attention has been focused on the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, there is another nuclear plant in trouble. The Ohi plant in Fukui Prefecture.

Kansai Electric Power Company runs the Ohi plant, and Reactor 1 has been on emergency cooling, and now it has failed.

KEPCo says they were able to shut down the reactor.  They are trying to find out why the emergency cooling system failed.  The local prefectural government says that even if KEPCo finds out the cause, they will not allow them to re-start the reactor.

Japan has 54 reactors, now they are down to only 18 operating reactors.  Japan is heavily dependent upon nuclear generated electricity.

 

International, Opinion, U.S.

Evil Cops & Rupurt Murdoch: Scotland Yard boss quits, another arrest, was this more than just unscrupulous journalists wanting a scoop?

“I have taken this decision as a consequence of the ongoing speculation and accusations relating to the Met’s links with News International at a senior level.”-Paul Stephenson, Metropolitan Police Commissioner

The boss of the Met Police, aka Scotland Yard, announced he’s quitting.  A few days ago he acted like this thing with Rupert Murdoch’s various media outlets was minor, and involved only a few managers at various newspapers, and a handful of evil cops.  Turns out it’s much bigger.

Also, remember Rebekah Brooks?  She’s the former CEO of Murdoch’s News International, and a former editor of the News of the World.  A couple of weeks ago she acted like it was no big thing, then suddenly quit last week, but not before reportedly telling her underlings that things were going to get much worse.  Now she’s been arrested.

Brooks is the eighth person arrested in connection with the phone-hacking probe and the fourth arrested in the police bribery investigation.

What’s really troubling about this phone hacking scandal is that it might have been done with the help of the British police.  British cops were willing to take bribes to give out information to help Murdoch’s “fair and balanced” news organizations.  Why would cops be so willing to sell such information to the media, especially Murdoch owned media outlets?

Even here in the United States there is enough cause for concern that the FBI is investigating such Murdoch owned media outlets as Fox News, and the Wall Street Journal, for at least attempting to do the same thing here.  Also, the U.S. Department of Justice is now investigating.

Is the Rupert Murdoch’s media empire really just a huge covert spy agency?  Don’t think it’s not possible.  History shows that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and British intelligence agencies (SS aka MI5, SIS aka MI6, etc) have set up fake corporations purely for the purpose of spying on people and governments.  Just one example; anybody remember the fake CIA transport airline “Air America”?

 

 

Idaho, Opinion, U.S.

Government Coverup? Idaho police cleared of killing man who was shot several times

On June 17, Idaho Falls police officers tried to apprehend a man wanted for failing to pay fines, and probation violation.  It ended after the man shot one cop, who lived thanks to his bullet proof vest, then the other police returned fire, shooting the suspect at least six times.

The official investigation said the police fired in self defense.  The shots fired by police hit the man in the neck, shoulders and abdomen.  The official investigation claims that the suspect shot himself in the head, after being shot multiple times by the police.  Here’s the problem: The police officers’ own official statements say they do not recall seeing the suspect shoot himself!  Mmmm

 

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Chinese Housing Bubble about to explode: Property Loans halted

“You’d better prepare to pay 40% of your home price as down payment, because commercial banks are going to ask more for a property loan.”-Gong Hang, bank official

First the Chinese government created a new income tax schedule that meant more people were excused from paying taxes, but left them potentially unable to buy a home (due to not having the required tax documents).  Then they ordered down payments to be increased, or mortgage interest rates must be increased (some banks did both).  Now, banks are just flat refusing to issue anymore property loans.

In what’s called 2nd and 3rd tier cities, in China, banks are refusing to issue anymore loans for property: “We will not accept property loan applications at present, even if it is from a first-time home buyer.”-unnamed bank official

If you think paying 40% down on a home is outrageous, wait ’till you read this: 40% down is for first time home buyers, if you’re buying a home for the second time Chinese banks now want 50-60% down.

Bank officials say it’s because the Chinese government ordered banks to hold onto their money, by not lending it out.  This is an attempt to control inflation, which Chinese officials are fearing could get out of control.