Category Archives: Business/Economics

Vehicle I-D: NATO Romania’s Mowag Piranha-5

The ‘Class-5’ Piranha prototype was completed in 2008.

Hawaii Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Theresa Gualdarama, 04MAY2023.

The production Mowag/General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) Piranha-5 was revealed to the public on 15JUN2010.

Hawaii Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Theresa Gualdarama, 05MAY2023.

NATO-Romania placed an order for 227 of the Mowag/GDELS Piranha-5 in 2017.  Part of the deal includes production of most of the Romanian Piranha-5s to be done in Romania by a company called Uzina Mecanică București.

During NATO wargame Anakonda23, 06MAY2023. Hawaii Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Theresa Gualdarama.

Romania began receiving their new Piranha-5 in October 2020.  In the beginning of 2023, it was reported that Romania had ordered an additional 150 Piranha-5s.

Hawaii Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Theresa Gualdarama, 06MAY2023.

So far Romania has shown-off the Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) version of the Piranha-5, but it is also being produced as a mortar carrier, ambulance and Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) vehicles.

During NATO wargame Anakonda23. U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Jason Klaer, 15MAY2023.

Here is some video I edited together from U.S. Army videos recorded between April 2022 and June 2023:

The IFV Piranha-5 is armed with a 30-millimeter gun.

Hawaii Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Theresa Gualdarama, 15MAY2023.

More Romanian military equipment: MLI-84M1 Jder, not your father’s BMP!

BMP Ambulance, ROMÂNIA style.

Gun Boats; guardians of the Danube.

A Dying Empire: Rainbow-Woke economic warfare backfires, kills-off Rainbow-Woke San Francisco!

The economic collapse of one of California’s iconic port cities, San Francisco, is not because of increased crimes, in fact it could be argued that the increased crime is a result of the very ‘rainbow-woke’ liberal-progressive economic policies that are the true cause of ‘The City’s’ economic collapse.

The following are just a scratch at the economic reality of the larger Frisco Bay Area.

ABC7 News Bay Area, 15FEB2024:  Revealed, San Francisco’s economic warfare against 30 non-rainbow woke states, backfired!

12FEB2024: San Fran extends ban on legally, yes legally, permitted street vending, in the name of ‘safety’.

Business Insider, 27DEC2023: Economic power is fleeing New York City and San Francisco!

The Economist, 15FEB2024: Liberal-progressives now blame their ‘Pandemic’ for San Fran’s economic woes?!

Finance Hat, 17FEB2024: Meta/Facebook getting the hell outta Dodge!

Foundation for Economic Finance, 26JUL2018: San Fran’s Liberal-Progressive low income housing policies actually benefit the Wealthy!

KTVU Fox2 San Francisco, 14FEB2024: First surge of 120 California Highway Patrol personnel to Oakland yields 71 arrests.

New York Times, 18FEB2024: Election engineering revealed; fake Chinese names printed on San Francisco’s election ballots!

SFGATE, 04OCT2023: Economic experts say NFL team San Francisco 49ers’ local economic impact statement is a lie!

Taxpayer funded military police dog with the U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Safety and Security Team San Francisco, over-watches the crowd outside SF 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, 11NOV2019. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Second Class Jordan Akiyama.

Big pollution penalty ($151.5-million), par-for-the-course for Southeast Idaho Food/Fertilizer Producer!

12 July 2023 (09:53-UTC-07 Tango 06) 21 Tir 1402/23 Dhu l-Hijja 1444/25 Ji-Wei 4721/12 июль 2023 года

“This is an important settlement which reduces the environmental impacts from one of the leading fertilizer manufacturers. This settlement advances EPA’s goals by creating environmentally beneficial waste management practices and ensures that the U.S. taxpayer will not be responsible for future costs associated with closure of this facility. Additionally, this settlement ensures that any future expansion of Simplot’s operations will be conducted according to strict requirements to minimize impacts to surrounding communities, including the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.”-Larry Starfield, United States EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance

In May 2023, I reported that environmental watchdogs had accused Idaho based food/fertilizer/phosphorous producer J.R. Simplot of operating an ‘illegal’ cattle feedlot, which pumped cow crap directly into the Snake River.

It was speculated that Simplot could be hit with a $120-million federal fine.  Now in July, the actual ‘fine’ is more than $150-million!

On 11JUL2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Simplot agreed to pay $150-million “to implement process modifications designed to enable greater recovery and reuse of phosphate”, and a $1.5-million “civil penalty” (fine).

Simplot Don Plant is actually in Power County. The mailing address is for Pocatello, Bannock County, because at one time Simplot’s HQ was in Pocatello (it’s now in Boise).

The settlement also directly affects operations with Simplot’s Don Plant, near Pocatello (but not in Pocatello as typically reported by news media and even government officials, it is actually in Power County), Idaho: “This settlement will bring important benefits to Idaho and the communities that have been affected by the Don Plant’s operations. We are grateful that our state partner, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, helped formulate and will oversee work that Simplot will fund to mitigate the impacts of its phosphate operations on water quality and the environment along the Portneuf River, working in cooperation with both the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the City of Pocatello.”-Josh Hurwit, U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho

February 2023: Idaho Department of Environmental Quality wants Simplot to reduce fluoride air emissions at the Don Plant!

September 2022: Investigation underway after ammonia released at the Don Plant!

July 2021: Simplot pays $65-thousand EPA penalty for pesticides violations!

July 2020: Simplot to pay $775-thousand for hazardous waste violations in Wyoming!

December 2015: FINALLY, MASS POLLUTER J.R. SIMPLOT (NEAR POCATELLO) HIT BY FEDERAL REGULATORS!

Global Economic War, 2011: WHAT ECONOMIC RECOVERY? BIG POTATO PRODUCER SIMPLOT TO CLOSE PLANTS, LAYING OFF 800 SOUTH EAST IDAHO WORKERS!

September 2010: Simplot fined $59-thousand for federal labor violations in North Dakota!

November 2009: Simplot fined for failing to report the pesticide production in factories that were not registered to do so, in Minnesota and North Dakota!

March 2009: California fines Simplot for diesel emissions violations!

Pandemic Perfidy: Empirical data proves lockdowns are a “failure of gigantic proportions”!

An updated (as of 05JUN2023) 2-hundred-20 page study has been made free to the public, it reviewed 19-thousand-6-hundred-46 pandemic studies, from the United Kingdom and United States, and found only 32 studies qualified for use in researching the effects of lockdowns!  Only 22 studies qualified for use as mortality data!

Here are some highlights (lowlights?): Locking down businesses reduced Pandemic deaths by only 7.5%!

‘Shelter in Place’ orders reduced Pandemic deaths by 4.1%, at most! 

Banning public gatherings actually increased Pandemic deaths by just under 6%!

School shutdowns reduced Pandemic deaths by 6.2%, at most!

Overall, the researchers concluded that lockdowns and mandates reduced Pandemic deaths by only 10.7%, with “negligible health effects but disastrous economic, social and political costs”!

This is an update to a study that was first published in 2022.

Pandemic Perfidy: ‘MUDDY WATERS’ INVESTIGATION SAYS CHINA CREATED THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS FUNDED BY ANTHONY FAUCI’S N-I-H?

Pandemic Perfidy/Hunger Games:  FACT CHECKERS LIE! U.S. IS PREPPING TO USE m-R-N-A VACCINES ON LIVESTOCK!

Idaho’s ‘woke’ Micron: Escalating the ‘war’ with China & speculator profits in New York! Is it all about global A-I?

Here is an incomplete list of links to the latest reports, as of 24MAY2023, about the growing global influence of Idaho’s ‘woke’ Micron Technology:

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC of CHINA: Documents reveal China had already been dumping Micron chips in favor of chips made in the Republic of Korea (RoK, aka South Korea), for years!

China claims ban on Micron is justified, blames Biden:

REPUBLIC of KOREA:  Samsung and SK Hynix consider expanding chip making operations now that China has banned Micron!

UNITED STATES:

Idaho: Political leaders from New York spend time at Micron’s Boise, Idaho, mega-campus!

College of Western Idaho (CWI) shows New York TV news station how they prep people for work at Micron, TV news station reveals that Micron helped create CWI:

NATO’s G7 meeting reveals new ‘Upwards for the Future’ deal between Boise State University, Japan and Micron! Is it all about supporting global Artificial Intelligence:

Idaho Senator complains about China’s ban on Micron:

Indiana: Purdue University signs landmark U.S.-Japan-Micron agreement at NATO’s G7 summit!

New York: Texas based property speculators buy abandoned country club, in order to profit off the yet to be built taxpayer subsidized mega Micron operation!

Micron executive explains to local TV news station how the yet to be built mega operation will benefit local governments:

21MAY2023: CHINA DECLARES WAR ON IDAHO’S ‘WOKE’ MICRON?

2022: Micron officially goes ‘woke’, suddenly gets big taxpayer funding!

China declares War on Idaho’s ‘woke’ Micron?

21 MAY 2023 (12:34-UTC-07 Tango 06) 31 Ordibehesht 1402/01 Dhu l-Qa’da 1444/03 Ding-Si(4th month) 4721/21 май 2023 года

“The review found that Micron’s products have serious network security risks, which pose significant security risks to China’s critical information infrastructure supply chain, affecting China’s national security.”-Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC)

The People’s Republic of China (PRC, aka communist China) is now banning the use of Micron Technology’s (Micron) products in “critical information infrastructure” items sold/used in the PRC!  They claim Micron “failed” a national security test.

Supposedly, 10% of Idaho based Micron’s global profits come from sales in China.  However, PRC officials say most of the Micron sales went to other foreign companies operating inside the PRC.  CAC administrators did not give specifics about Micron failed its network security review.

On 16MAY2023, Vision of China (VoC) reported that U.S. chip makers, including Micron, were in trouble and needed the Chinese market to stay alive:

https://youtu.be/GP8j_5Ow-Ew

Two weeks ago, Digitimes Asia speculated that a Micron ban in the PRC would be first felt in server Solid State Drives (SSD) sales.

Idaho’s ‘woke’ Micron: TAKING OVER NATO’S G7, WAR WITH CHINA NEXT?

Idaho’s ‘Woke’ Micron: Taking over NATO’s G7, war with China next?

Here is an incomplete list of links to the latest reports, as of 20MAY2023, about the growing global influence of Idaho’s ‘woke’ Micron Technology:

G7=Group of Seven intergovernmental political forum consisting of NATO Member Canada, NATO Member France, NATO Member Germany, NATO Member Italy, NATO Partner Japan, NATO Member United Kingdom and NATO Member United States.

Micron will be the first chipmaker to use EUV (Extreme Ultra-Violet) for volume production in Japan and Taiwan (Republic of China), using the upcoming 1γ (1-gamma) technology.

Japan announces $1.5-billion deal with Micron, to keep NATO’s G7 supplied with chips:

UNITED STATES: Despite industry analyst’s predictions, Micron actually lowers production costs?

Boise, Idaho, based Micron issues new computer voiced promotional explainer about all the different products that Micron’s memory/storage technologies are used in:

Micron’s home-base of Idaho promotes a career with the global tech giant:

Micron’s new mega-operation in New York is negatively affecting homeowners, as they are forced to sell to Micron and land speculators!

Local government officials love the fact that New York property owners are now being forced to sell to benefit Micron: “We promised the company a mega site of about 1-thousand-4-hundred acres, I think what you’re seeing now is that the company is very committed not just for what we talked about but for more potential growth and they understand that they need to make additional investments into certainly land.”-Ryan McMahon, Onondaga County

The new Micron operation in New York is already causing problems, for local hunters and nature lovers:

A local New York community college has already begun vocational courses for Micron employment:

In September 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration heaped praise, and lots of tax incentives, for the new ‘woke’ Micron!

In March 2022, Micron officially went ‘woke’!

IDAHO’S MICRON, A ONCE INSIGNIFICANT COMPANY NOW TAKING OVER THE WORLD?

U.S. Labor Shenanigans: HOME DEPOT SELLING ‘TAX FREE’ TO WOKE U.S. MILITARY, TO INCREASE RECRUITMENT/RETENTION?

World War 3, February 2023: JAPAN JOINS NATO? PROOF NATO IS A PARANOID-SCHIZOID!

U.S. Labor Shenanigans: Home Depot selling ‘tax free’ to woke U.S. military, to increase recruitment/retention?

18 MAY 2023 (08:26-UTC-07 Tango 06) 28 Ordibehesht 1402/27 Shawwal 1444/29 Ding-Si 4721/18 май 2023 года

“The collaboration with the Exchange is another example of The Home Depot’s ongoing commitment to better serving military service members and their families.”Hector Padilla, executive vice president of outside sales and service at The Home Depot

Today, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and U.S. Army (USA) Exchange Service announced a roundabout/pseudo/covert(?) taxpayer subsidized deal (in that, who is going to make up the lost state sales tax revenue?) with The Home Depot, officially in the name of ‘thanking’ people for their military service, but more likely in the name of increasing recruitment and retention of military personnel, and to help increase sales for struggling The Home Depot.

Official USA/USAF Exchange Home Depot logo.

The new operation is called “The benefit just keeps getting better!”  USA and USAF personnel based within the United States can now buy appliances from The Home Depot, sans sales tax! The Home Depot already gives military personnel a 10% discount.

Specifically, The Home Depot will set-up appliance kiosk/showrooms in military exchanges (USAF calls them BX for Base eXchange, the USA calls them PX for Post eXchange) where personnel can place sales tax-free orders.  Having the ‘sale’ conducted in a PX or BX is important, you see military exchanges and commissaries are exempt from state/territory sales tax!

Also, it seems the deal with The Home Depot is about replacing the inhouse appliance department of the military exchange service: “In addition to providing a significantly expanded selection of major appliances, Exchange orders will be fulfilled using The Home Depot’s existing capabilities to provide efficient and dependable delivery.”-Tom Shull, CEO Army & Air Force Exchange Service

But wait, this ‘deal’ with financially struggling The Home Depot was made last year! In the last half of 2022, it was announced that the USA/USAF Exchange Service would begin the deal with The Home Depot by Spring 2023.  The U.S. Navy (which includes the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard) would also take part under something called the Joint Buying Alliance.

The ‘woke’ military’s Joint Buying Alliance began in January 2019.  Originally this was intended to make the military retail (resale) service more responsive to the wants of military personnel, and it included silly-vilian (civilian) vendors operating ‘on base’. In February 2023, it was boasted that the Joint Buying Alliance had saved military personnel $140-million!

U.S. Labor Shenanigans: WOKE FOLK IN THE U.S. MILITARY FORCE OUT HUNDREDS OF OFFICERS, STEAL $2.3-MILLION?

Global Hunger Games: Wheat & Beef; climate, war, crime, money is being made!

Here is an incomplete list of recent links, and video reports, affecting global beef and wheat production, ending 17MAY2023.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) says farmers/ranchers need more space for raising cattle/livestock.

Global Cattle Feed Market could be worth US$78.3-Billion by 2027!

Islamic Emirate of AFGHANISTAN: Plague of locust destroys wheat;

República ARGENTINA: GMO wheat seed sales being expanded!

Wheat harvest is up, by 45%!

Commonwealth of Nations/NATO CANADA: Massive wildfire in Alberta threatens livestock!

Did you know more than 3-hundred insects make cow crap their home?

People’s Republic of CHINA: Communist officials project big yields for Winter wheat in Shandong Province;

Arab Republic of EGYPT: Egyptian farmers are producing so much wheat that the government had to build 35 new silos, and seven massive warehouses, for storage! The government revealed that in past years a lot of Egyptian wheat was being lost due to lack of storage!

NATO FRANCE: Soft wheat exports, outside the European Union, have once again been reduced!

NATO Federal Republic of GERMANY: Scientists claim they have figured out how to use Co2 and methane to make food for cattle!

Commonwealth of Nations/Republic of INDIA: Despite climate change, the state of Punjab once again is the biggest producer of wheat, accounting for nearly half of the wheat production of India!

Republic of INDONESIA: The country consisting of many islands tries to end its reliance on imported beef/cattle from Commonwealth of Nations-Australia, by importing beef/cattle from the Federative Republic of Brazil!

Republic of KOREA (RoK, aka South Korea):  Biosecurity emergency declared, several hundreds of cows being culled (killed) due to ‘hoof & mouth’ disease!

Commonwealth of Nations/Islamic Republic of PAKISTAN: Political protestors set fires, end up burning to death cattle/livestock;

Republic of the PHILIPPINES: An importer is looking to buy 44-thousand tons (40-thousand tonnes) of wheat to feed livestock!

RUSSIAN FEDERATION: Scientists are trying to make cattle feed out of chicken crap!

UKRAINE: What war? The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine is now boasting that farmers are about to plant the most wheat since 12 years ago!

Commonwealth of Nations UGANDA: Ranchers in fear for their lives as rebels (Karamojong warriors) rustle cattle en masse;

Republic of ZIMBABWE: Agriculture expanded by allowing private sector to invest in majority of wheat production.

Global Hunger Games: NATO MEMBERS BAN FOOD IMPORTS FROM UKRAINE! GLOBAL FOOD SHORTAGE CAUSED BY European Union HOARDING?

U.S. Hunger Games: WINTER WHEAT… KILLING FIELDS?

DAIRY LAWSUITS, BEEF SHORTAGES, CARBON CREDITS INCREASE CONSUMER COSTS! SUGARCANE MEANS COW SHIT DON’T STINK?

U.S. Hunger Games: Winter Wheat… Killing Fields?

Here is an incomplete list of recent links, and video reports, affecting the 2023 Winter wheat harvest in the United States.

“We’ll see short wheat, thin stands, some wheat that looks really good and a lot of fields that aren’t going to be harvested.”-Justin Gilpin, CEO of Kansas Wheat Commission

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) projects the overall 2023-24 U.S. wheat supply to go down, while U.S. demand goes up, meaning higher pricesThe USDA also expects a slight 2% increase in Winter Wheat production, which won’t affect the overall yearly total.

Wheat bran might not be good for gluten free diets, after all!

KANSAS:  The Kansas Wheat Commission is confused by low wheat futures (wheat market prices).  Winter wheat harvests are going to be low, as low as the harvest of 1963, this should push futures higher (low supply, high demand) but for some reason July futures went 16% lower: “It just feels like the market is oversold and kind of overdone considering the production situation we’re facing in the southern Plains of the United States.”-Justin Gilpin, CEO of Kansas Wheat Commission

But wait, here is another report that says “July Kansas City wheat prior to the report was up 13 cents but soared at one point to move nearly 58 cents higher before finishing with a still very strong gain of 35 1/2 cents.”

IDAHO: Higher commodity futures might not be enough to cancel higher operating costs for Gem State farmers!

MICHIGAN/OHIO: Fertilizing (‘feeding’) the wheat, again, will it make a difference or is it “snake oilish”;

NEBRASKA: University of Nebraska worries that the dry Spring killed the Winter wheat harvest: “It’s been a cool, dry spring, so we haven’t had a lot of growth in the wheat. It has greened up. So, we can now see what kind of stand we have, or winter kill.”-Cody Creech, Nebraska Extension dryland cropping specialist

OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association warns that the 2023 Winter wheat harvest could be lowest, ever!

Eight months without rain, when it came it was too little too late, tough drought not seen since the 1950s;

Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University warns there are cost concerns for fertilizing wheat for hay or grain;

U.S. Hunger Games:DAIRY LAWSUITS, BEEF SHORTAGES, CARBON CREDITS INCREASE CONSUMER COSTS! SUGARCANE MEANS COW SHIT DON’T STINK?