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: Japanese government will NOW test soil for radiation

According to NHK(Nippon Housou Kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation), there has not been any official soil sampling since the nuclear disasters following the 11 March 2011 quake/tsunami.  Tokyo Electric Power Company has done periodic samples, but only within the area of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear compound.

The Japanese Science Ministry is now taking actual soil samples outside the nuclear facility.  What I mean by ‘actual’ is that up ’till now they’ve been conducting soil samples from the air!  NHK didn’t explain how you do soil sampling from the air, but it’s clear the government has realized they need to actually get down on the ground to properly test the soil.

The Science Ministry will join with universities and private laboratories around Japan, to do the soil sampling.  Samples will be taken every 4 square km (2.4 miles) in areas within 80 km (49.7 miles) of the nuclear plant and every 100 square km (62 miles) in areas further away.

 

Fukushima

Japanese University Students find Plutonium!

University students, concerned with the fact that there is no official government soil testing around the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuke plant, took some samples of their own.

They found plutonium-239 and 240, making up a total of 0.078 becquerels per kilogram.  The samples were taken on 21 April 2011.  Immediately after they took the samples the Japanese government declared the area an evacuation zone.

Business/Economics, Idaho

What Economic Recovery? Pocatello city budget now cutting Muscle

The city of Pocatello, in eastern Idaho, is trying to figure out how to cut $2 million from its budget.  The mayor says they’ve already trimmed all the fat: “What fat there was we’ve cut and now we’re starting to cut into muscle.”-Brian Blad, Pocatello Mayor

So far city officials have decided to cut $150,000 from the police force.  More meetings are scheduled to figure out what else to cut.

Local media reports say the city is hoping to see an increase in property tax revenues.  That’s highly unlikely since Idaho leads the U.S. in falling home prices.  Officials might be overly optimistic, or maybe they’re planing to increase taxes?

Business/Economics, International

Corporate Incompetence: Strange Japanese Rules

Women in Japan were asked to post online, strange rules that their employers have.

“In our company, women are forbidden from putting on makeup. On top of that, the only underwear we are allowed to wear is white or beige. We are also not allowed to date guys under 23. If they catch us doing so, they cut our monthly pay and ask us to write and submit an official self-reflection letter. When we eventually find a marriage partner, we have to introduce him to the boss and ask for his blessings.”

“When we get to work, we are required to greet the boss’ dog. This should happen before we greet our colleagues or even the boss himself. In cases where someone has forgotten, they are given a lecture on morals by the boss.”

“Every morning when we arrive at the office, the first thing we are supposed to do is greet our company’s ‘special’ female coworker. We never know why we are forced to do so, because her status is not above ours. In fact, we don’t know what her status is. We are also not allowed to leave before her. If this happens, we are called to publicly apologize in front of everyone at work.”

“Our boss has a bell on his desk, which he uses to summon us. He never pronounces our names. When the bell rings, we know what to ask: “Coffee or tea, sir?” His desk is just two meters away from ours. It’s not that far, but maybe he doesn’t like calling people by their names.”

“When I was working at a department store as an elevator girl, we all had to keep our possessions in a bag that was specifically for work. While this is common for some types of jobs, what was strange in our case was that full time employees had a Chanel bag, contract employees had a Louis Vuitton, and part-timers had no-brand bags. That was the unspoken rule. Also, when we are in the restroom, we can’t leave before any full time employees do. In fact, we have to hold the door for them.”

It makes you wonder why they don’t revolt?


Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Mazda will stop U.S. production, moving to Japan & Mexico

Mazda announced that it will stop production of its Mazda6, at a Ford plant in Michigan.  Mazda will move production of the Mazda6 back to Japan.

The Michigan plant is a joint venture between Ford and Mazda, known as AutoAlliance International.  The joint venture has been losing money ever since the ‘credit crisis’.

Mazda also plans to build cars in Mexico, mainly for the booming Latin American car market.  Some Mexican built Mazdas will be sold in the United States.  Rumors are that Mazda wants out of its joint venture with Ford.

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Food Crisis: Deadly E-coli hits United States, FDA can’t inspect for new strain

“We usually consider that a rare complication, and to have 470 is absolutely extraordinary. This is a new public health problem.”-Robert Tauxe, CDC

Center for Disease Control believes three people in the U.S. have picked up the latest deadliest form of e-coli.  They had returned from Germany.

Michael Osterholm, at the University of Minnesota, says the e-coli outbreak in Europe is the deadliest on record.  1,624 cases are being reported by hospitals, but the actual number of infected people could be ten times higher.

Chinese scientist, working with German scientist, says the new e-coli strain is not only “super toxic”, but is resistant to treatment.  The strain is similar to the 0104:H4 strain, except for its resistance to antibiotics, which is why scientists think this is a new strain.

Earlier the Food and Drug Administration said it was inspecting vegetables from Europe for e-coli, but it’s been reveled that the FDA can not test for the new strain.  The FDA tests for e-coli 0157 strain (which is also deadly).

 

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Answer to Idaho Coupon Thieves: Shop at Fred Meyer or Smiths

Recently Idaho newspaper circulation directors speculated that the increase in thefts of newspaper coupons were due, in part, to people trying to save money and deal with high gas prices.

Here’s a solution, that unfortunately for me ends up being free promotion for two stores; shop at Fred Meyer or Smiths.

Both these stores give away thousands of free in store coupons.  Also, if you join their points club (free to join) you get discounts on their already competitive gas prices, and a quarterly rebate based on how much you shop during that quarter.

Actually, at the Fred Meyer in Pocatello, their gas prices are usually the cheapest, even before the points discount for club members (again the club is free to join).   Take advantage, save some money, and don’t be a coupon thief!