Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 12 – 13 March 2013. Karzai says War on Terror is a lie! Russia captures 20 tons of drugs, proof the U.S. war on drugs is a big fail! U.S. official issues report to justify staying in Afghanistan! Rumors of major battle brewing! More rip offs for U.S. taxpayers!

13 March 2013/01 Jumada l-Ula 1434/23 Esfand 1391

In Badakhshan Province, reports of nearly 300 families fleeing their homes in Akshira village in Wardaj District.  Apparently Mujahideen are using the area to prepare for a major battle with U.S. led Afghan National Army (ANA).  Provincial government officials believe Mujahideen are about to launch an offensive to take control of at least four districts, including the province’s capital city.

In Kunduz Province, a suicide bomber killed as many as 20 people, and wounded 35, after he blew himself up at a sporting event.  Among those killed are the son and the father of the Afghan Speaker of the House.  Some reports suggest they were the target of the bomber.

In Baghlan Province, children were playing with what turned out to be unexploded ordinance (UXO).  The bomb went off killing six kids and wounding five. Local government officials say the bomb was left over from a recent battle.

In Helmand Province, unconfirmed reports that an explosion killed two U.S./U.K. led personnel. Also, President Hamid Karzai told University students and local elders that the U.S. led War on Terror is a lie, and that some Mujahideen are actually working for the United States!  He also stated that Afghanistan and Pakistan must unite in order to fight their own War on Terror.

In Nangarhar Province, 21000 kg (about 20 tons) of morphine and heroin was captured by Afghan and Russian forces.  It’s considered the biggest drug bust in years, and is proof that everything the U.S. has done to supposedly stop opium drug production has failed.

U.S. National Intelligence Director, James Clapper, told the U.S. Senate that Afghanistan was too unstable for U.S. forces to pullout: “the Taliban-led insurgency has diminished in some areas of Afghanistan but remains resilient and capable of challenging U.S. and international goals. The coalition drawdown will have an impact on Afghanistan’s economy, which is likely to decline after 2014.”

The German Development Bank just pledged $89 million USD for the construction of an electricity network in Balkh and Samang provinces, and the building of a dam in Baghlan Province.

12 March 2013/29 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/22 Esfand 1391

In Kandahar Province, a U.S. helicopter crashed, killing five U.S. personnel. Mujahideen claim they hit the ‘copter with a rocket, but ISAF said: “The cause of the crash is under investigation, however initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident.”

In Parwan Province, reports that U.S. Bagram air base was hit by rocket attacks.

In Helmand Province, in Khashin district five people were killed after they drove over a landmine. In Musa Qaleh district, a woman and two girls were killed when a mortar round hit their house.

Textron Marine & Land Systems announced they are being paid $113.4 million USD by the U.S. government, to provide Afghanistan with armored vehicles. The deal is being handled by the U.S. Army Foreign Military Sales (FMS).  The company is currently working to fulfill a 2011 U.S. contract for the same armored vehicles.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. & South Korea responds to war threats by increasing sanctions against North!

11 March 2013/28 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/21 Esfand 1391/30 Yi-Mao 4711

Both the United States and Republic of Korea (ROK) have imposed new economic sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).  The United Nations is already working on more sanctions.

President Barack Obama has added the Foreign Trade Bank of North Korea to sanctions.  This means the bank can not continue transactions with U.S. banks. It also includes four individuals and the Korean Workers’ Party.

Earlier in the day there were reports that South Korea imposed their own new financial sanctions against the North.

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, International

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 10 – 11 February 2013: Drug maker quietly lays off more employees than officially stated! Project Transform axes thousands of jobs! More schools going down! Tax man shuts down bakery! More Hollywood cuts despite money making movies!

In California, the company behind the computer effects in the movie Life of Pi, now bankrupt!  Rhythm & Hues laid off at least 200 employees!  The company is apparently broke and can’t even pay employees.

Schmidt’s Bakery and Delicatessen in Colorado bankrupt. 40 people out-o-work.  Former employees must now deal with state tax officials to try and get their final paychecks.  State tax officials seized the company on 08 January 2013.

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) warned of up to 450 layoffs. These are not because of government spending cuts, but are being blamed on increased costs of operations.

In New York, the Horseheads Central School District said they will have to lay of employees and close down at least one school.  They blame it on a $8.2 million USD budget shortfall.  Also, Garden City says they will layoff six firefighters, and a lieutenant reduced in pay. Some of the city officials said the city needed to save money and their fire department was overstaffed.  In Leicester 70 years old Christano Hardware closed down.  Owners blame competition from national chain stores.  A Kmart in Depew will close down by April, 68 people out-o-work. Advanced Monolythic Ceramics shutting down their Ocean factory, 65 people out-o-work. Company officials blamed the bad economy for forcing a consolidation of operations.

Epic Game’s closing its Maryland operation. Company officials said things just weren’t “working out”.

In Pennsylvania, Kettering Corner ice cream shop closed down. The owner says she can’t do it anymore, since her husband died.  And Jonathan Best gourmet grocery store closing down by the end of March.  The owner blamed increased competition.

The Circle II Restaurant in North Carolina seized by state tax officials.  State officials say the owners owe $178000 in back taxes.  The Women’s Choice clinic closed down, no details as to why, but several protesters said they are happy about it.

In Batavia, Illinois, Portola Packaging closing its factory and consolidating operations to Tennessee and Arizona. 76 people out-o-work in Illinois. It’s not that the company doesn’t have the money, they’re spending $12 million USD on upgrading the Tennessee and Arizona factories.

In Texas, Gene Allen’s Gifts closing down its Arlington shop on 15 March. The owner blames the greedy landlord.

Too Big to Jail, U.K. based Barclays increased their planned layoffs to 3700 worldwide!  The layoffs will affect employees in the United States.  The massive layoffs are being called Project Transform.

It’s been revealed that a major drug maker, Pfizer, has laid off more people than it officially announced two years ago.  It turns out that the pharmaceutical company laid off 250 more people at its Groton laboratories, than first stated!

Business/Economics, Idaho, International, Technology, U.S.

World War 3: South Korea accuses Idaho’s Micron of international price fixing!

11 March 2013/28 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/21 Esfand 1391/30 Yi-Mao 4711

As war drums are beating, unnamed officials in Republic of Korea (ROK) are blaming Idaho based Micron Technology of fixing prices for computer memory chips: “It’s quite strange that the global memory chip market is seeing unexpected price rises amid less demand for conventional personal computers. It’s highly possible that the chipmakers are engaged in price-fixing. Among other firms, Micron Technology is apparently using its commanding position to manipulate computer chip prices. We are watching it closely.”

Micron apparently controls half the World’s chip market! ROK’s SK Hynix controls 30%, and Samsung 15%.  Those three companies are the only major memory chip makers left in the World, several years ago there were more than ten!

Officials from ROK base their claim on decreasing computer demand on information recently released by International Data Corporation.

This isn’t the first time Idaho’s Micron has been accused of price fixing.

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

World War 3: United States behind most cyber attacks!

10 March 2013/27 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/20 Esfand 1391/29 Yi-Mao 4711

For all the whining the United States government does about cyber attacks, even going as far as making it an act of war and justifying the extra-judicial killing of hackers, it turns out that the biggest perpetrator is the United States.

According to China’s National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team Coordination Center, between September 2012 to February 2013 89 cyber attacks were made against Chinese public and company websites.  39 of those attacks originated from U.S. IP addresses.

According to China’s National Vulnerability Database, between November 2012 to January 2013, 5792 attempted cyber attacks were launched from U.S. IP addresses.  Also, 2194 of servers using viruses or botnets to control Chinese mainframes are located in the U.S.  And, 73% of phishing sites targeting Chinese e-commerce are based in the U.S.

China is not the only country to point to the United States as being behind most cyber attacks, Iranian officials say they are constantly dealing with cyber attacks coming from the U.S.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Government Evil: A booming economy equals more corruption! Courts cracking down hard, but no, it’s not in the United States.

10 March 2013/27 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/20 Esfand 1391/29 Yi-Mao 4711

The booming economy in China has not reduced crime and corruption, it’s actually accelerating it!

The Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) reported that the Chinese year 4710 (approximating to Gregorian year 2012) was another record setting year for investigations into government corruption.

47388 government employees were investigated for corruption, up 2800 from year 4709. In fact the SPP said corruption investigations have gone up four years in a row.

The investigations included 13000 county/state level officials, and 30 officials at the national level.

China’s Supreme Court system convicted 143000 people of bribery and fraud in 4710!  Why does the United States have such a problem going after corruption?

Business/Economics, International

New Swine Flu or bacteria? Nearly 3000 dead pigs found in river, no one claims them!

Update for 11 March 2013/28 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/21 Esfand 1391/30 Yi-Mao 4711

Officials in the Chinese province of Shanghai say they have recovered 2800 dead and decomposing pigs from the river!  The river is the main source of drinking water for the Songjiang area.  Shanghai officials are now suspecting mass pig deaths in other provinces.

Since last year pigs have been dying by the tens of thousands.  In Shanghai dead pigs are collected by government health officials, but in other upstream provinces the farmers just throw the pigs into the river.  One report said in January 2013 more than 10000 pigs died, and the deaths are now averaging 300 per day! Health officials suspect a bacteria is causing the deaths.

10 March 2013/27 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/20 Esfand 1391

In Shanghai, China, more than 900 dead pigs were pulled from the Huangpu River.

The Shanghai Agriculture Committee is trying to find out what killed the pigs, and where they came from.  So far, no one has reported any missing pigs.  Farmers have not reported any epidemics among their animals.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 09 February 2013: More Obama/Romney Care cuts! People being laid off so their co-workers can get a raise! Christian God can’t stop Christian Book Stores from being shut down! Blame greedy Christian landlords!

The Southeast Arizona Medical Center bankrupt. A new company will take over operations.  The old company was millions in debt.  Hospital officials say nothing will change regarding employees and hospital operations (famous last words).

In Ohio, the Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center laying off employees and closing departments.  Company officials blame the Obama/Romney Care reforms.  Also, Akron General Medical Center warned 132 employees that layoffs are coming! Officials there blamed a combination of decreased revenues and Obama/Romney Care: “The external pressures being placed on us, and really all hospitals across the country, are extraordinary.“-Tim Stover, Akron General Health System

Eastern Kentucky University announced they will layoff an undisclosed amount of employees.  This in an effort to maintain classes and give pay raises to those who are not laid off!  Also, Guitar Emporium closed down in Louisville. The owner retired, five employees out-o-work.

Christie’s closing its Haunch of Venison galleries in New York, U.S.A., and London, U.K.  40 jobs affected.  Also in New York, Pardzee’s pizza restaurant in East Syracuse closed down. The owners wanted to retire.

In North Carolina, the Books-A-Million store closed in Cotswold Village.

In Washington DC, the Christian book seller, Newman Bookstore, will close down in May.  Church officials say it’s because the landlord jacked up the rent (so why not ask your God for the extra rent money?).

Lambert’s Swap Shop book store in Arkansas out-o-business. The Christian owners blamed crashing sales, but said their biggest seller was the Bible.  They claim the Bibles would sell out as soon as they came in, but I guess it wasn’t enough for the Christian God to help them keep their 40 years old book store open.

Railroad Books & Videos closing down in Strasburg, Pennsylvania.  Also, the Thomas’ Trackside Station toy store closing down as well. Both stores are owned by the same family. They blame crashing sales.

In Williamstown, Massachusetts, the Store at Five Corners closing down, again. The store was going to close down in 2011, because of money problems, but somehow continued on.  Now the landlord wants the store closed for sure.  The manager of the store say he was not given a reason why: “I received a call on Wednesday night from the building’s owner, saying he wanted to close the store and he wanted to close it by Sunday.”-Ryan Hassett

In Iowa, the Citizens First National Bank branch at Flindt and Richland Drives in Storm lake, closing down.  The bank wants to make more money by renting out the office space.

A 100 years old privately run public swimming pool shut down. Wisconsin’s DeKoven Foundation blames “…increased state and federal regulations, prohibitive cost structures and availability of qualified staff.”

After 105 years the Emmerson Furniture store in Cañon City, Colorado, closed down. The owner is upset because he tried everything in the past three years to save the family business: “…I hate the fact we have to close. It’s not anything I’ve done wrong or anybody else. It’s just the economic conditions aren’t good….it’s been a spiral going downhill. I couldn’t make it stop.”-Brady Emmerson

Also in Colorado, Sonny’s Rocks jewelery store in Denver closed down. The owner said the bad economy was a sign that it was time to retire: “Retail has just gotten to the point it’s so tough today. I’ve been doing this for 40 years, so I’m ready to relax.”-Michael Nedler

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

Government & Corporate Evil: It’s official, the Too Big to Fails are now Too Big to Jail! Attorney General claims that UnAmerican Corporate America has the world economy by the balls!!!

The following statements were made during the 06 March 2013/23 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/16 Esfand 1391 U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee questioning of Department of Justice oversight.

“In the case of bank prosecution. I’m concerned we have a mentality of ‘too big to jail’ in the financial sector….Assistant Attorney General Breuer said that one reason that DoJ has not sought these prosecutions is because it reaches out to ‘experts’ to see what effect the prosecution will have on the financial markets.”-Chuck Grassley, U.S. Senator from Iowa

“…I am concerned that the size of some of these institutions becomes so large that it does become difficult for us to prosecute them when we are hit with indications that if we do prosecute…..it will have a negative impact on the national economy, perhaps even the world economy.”-Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General

Another U.S. Senator, and economist, went nuts when she heard those statements: “It has been almost five years since the financial crisis, but the big banks are still too big to fail?  That means they are subsidized by about $83 billion a year by American taxpayers and are still not being held fully accountable for breaking the law!  Attorney General Holder’s testimony that the biggest banks are Too Big to Jail shows once again that it is past time to end Too Big to Fail!”-Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts

Where’s the main streamer media on this one?

Those of us who’ve been dealing with long term unemployment have already seen our economy “negatively impacted”, it’s time for those who destroyed our economy to pay!

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Israeli soldier desecrates Qur’an, IDF attacks al-Aqsa Mosque! Israel continues attacks on Gaza! U.S. begins Leviathan war games with Israel.

08 March 2013/25 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/18 Esfand 1391

Israeli soldiers attacked protesting Palestinians at the al-Aqsa Mosque.  Palestinians responded with firebombs.

The protest has been ongoing since Israeli soldiers stormed the Mosque on 03 March 2013.  They broke up a Qur’an recitation, with one IDF troop kicking and trampling the Qur’an.

No mention by U.S. media!

Also not mentioned is that fact that Israel has not stopped attacking Gazans. The latest attack involves an attack by IDF personnel on farmers in the town of Jabalia.   One Palestinian wounded.  This is yet another violation of the most recent cease fire agreement. Last week six Palestinians were wounded by IDF troops in Gaza Strip.

The navies of United States, Greece and Israel have begun two week long war games.  This is a continuation of war games started in 2011 called Noble Dina. The main purpose of the war games is to protect new natural gas operations in the massive Leviathan petroleum fields under the Mediterranean Sea.