Category Archives: Idaho

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

Global Food Crisis & What Economic Recovery? Crops being destroyed by weather, disease and plagues of Red Squirrels! Crop prices going up, good for Idaho farmers with crops to sell, bad for you at the grocery store check out! Is it all smoke & mirrors bull shit?

17 October 2012,  despite reports indicating crop destruction worldwide, and within the U.S., the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports (in their newly released October 2012 report) that overall crop production in the United States is way up (if you throw out corn & soybeans).

A major indicator of crop destruction is the announcement by Farm Credit Service of America (FCSA) that insurance payouts, to U.S. farmers who’ve lost crops, will be at least $25 billion USD, but could hit $40 billion for 2012.

FCSA blames the insurance claims for most of the U.S. crop losses on drought.  Even the USDA reported that the entire state of South Dakota is suffering severe to exceptional drought.  South Dakota farmers, alone, have filed more $149 million in insurance claims.

Some states are now experiencing corn crop destruction because of early freezing temps.  So, in states like Arkansas and Kentucky, not only have drought and cold weather hurt corn production, but the October/Halloween corn mazes aren’t happening because the stalks are too short. The result is that revenue from agritourism is going down (the USDA does agritourism surveys every five years, the last one in 2007).

It’s so bad that corn crops from the Midwestern states are considered destroyed (U.S. corn production is at its lowest point since 1995).  The result is corn prices are soaring.  By 15 October, corn commodity prices increased 5% at the Chicago board of trade.

Last year U.S. corn prices averaged $6.22 per bushel, this year the average is now $7.80!  Some analysts say it’ll hit $8.25 before the end of the year.

The U.S. corn crop destruction is part of a worldwide decline in corn crops. Currently international corn stockpiles are 14 million metric tons below what was expected!  (keep that in mind; “what was expected”, research UN data and you’ll learn that there’s still a lot of corn out there)

Apples are down as well. My own apple tree (here in Idaho), as well as my neighbors’ apple trees, have produce only a fraction of what they normally put out.  In the state of Michigan apple farmers are reporting the same thing, saying their trees produced only 10% of normal output!  An apple farmer in Michigan reports his agritourism revenues way down at his U-Pick apple farm.

In Indiana, apple farmers report getting only 25% of their normal apple harvest.  The Washington Growers Clearing House reports that apple commodity prices are 13% higher than last year.  But that’s good news for Washington state apple farmers; they’re reporting a record harvest.

Even with their record harvest, apple growers in Washington can not make up for crop loses in the rest of the U.S.  As a result, with the high commodity prices for apples, Washington apple farmers could see a record $7 billion in revenue for 2012!  By the way, if your willing to pick apples reports say Washington apple farmers are unable to fill 700 apple picking jobs.

Why the decrease in apples in the rest of the country?  Some states are blaming earlier than normal freezing temps, but several states are reporting a plague of red squirrels.  In Vermont some apple farmers report the squirrels ate half their crop.  In South Carolina, squirrels are blamed for killing more than 100 apple trees.

While biologists suggest that warmer than normal temps caused an increase in squirrel populations (causing an increase in food sources), they admit no one could have predicted this year’s huge numbers of squirrels.  The squirrels are now devouring apples because their normal food source, acorns and beechnuts, are way down this year.

Around the world, in Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Korea (north), India, Pakistan, and in African countries, crops have been destroyed by drought, or other extreme weather events like flooding.

In Japan, domestic agriculture has not only been affected by weather but by the ongoing nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi.

In Afghanistan, farmers report hundreds of acres of crops destroyed by disease.

In Zimbabwe, farmers who couldn’t pay their electric bills had the power cut off to their irrigation pumps.  A farmer said the power was cut without warning, even thought they tried to make payment arraignments with the utility company: “We admit we owe ZESA a debt of $3,000 but they should not have disconnected us without discussing our payment arrangements which we had submitted. The farmers were willing to settle their debts after harvesting their crop during the first week of November.”-Newton Gwetu

In India it’s not just weather, but animals.  Farmers are reporting that their crops are being destroyed by rampaging wild boars and elephants. Elephant rampages have been reported since August.

It’s not just elephants in India, but elephants in African countries are also rampaging.  In Tanzania, officials report elephants have destroyed villages and crops: “Up to now people are helpless and TANAPA [Tanzania National Park] rangers are just watching the destruction without taking any action.”-Jumanne Kwiro, Serengeti District Council

In Australia, the climate change is being blamed for driving feral pigs to eating farmers’ crops: “We’re seeing enterprises being destroyed, also pressure in grazing lands that we haven’t seen before. Going into drier seasons we’re really looking at grazing problems as well as destruction of crops.”-Rachel Pratt, Queensland’s AgForce

Australian ag officials are also concerned the exploding feral pig population will affect cattle: “Pigs carry diseases like bruscellosis, leptospirosis and paracites and also they can also carry potentially exotic diseases like foot and mouth.”-Ben Gardiner, Australian Veterinary Association

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) recently reported that corn and wheat crops in Central America are expected to continue their downward trend, averaging a loss of $120 million per year by 2020: “Even with our most conservative estimates, it’s clear that climate change could transform the agricultural landscape across Central America.”-Anton Eitzinger, CIAT

One activist said farmers need to be more adaptable to radical changes in climate: “Extension services across the region need to be reinvigorated to train small farmers in soil and water management. And governments need to lead, they have the ability to make a real difference through setting climate-smart agricultural policies.”-Paul Hicks, Catholic Relief Services

War can be blamed for crop destruction as well. Not just the obvious destruction by bombing and gunfire, but illegal Israeli settlers, in Palestinian territory, have been actively destroying Palestinian olive trees.  More than 500 Palestinian olive trees destroyed by illegal Israeli settlers, so far in 2012!

But what about crops that we don’t eat?  The clothes on your back could be threatened as well.  Cotton crops in Pakistan and India have been destroyed by recent floods.  However, Indian officials have stated that many cotton farms that survived the floods will actually produce bumper yields.  (also, cotton production in the U.S. is up, according to the October 2012 USDA report)

Again, those areas that are not suffering from crop destruction tend to be enjoying bumper crop yields, which means those farmers will also enjoy the higher revenue due to the higher commodity prices, created by speculators supposedly fearful of crop destruction.

While researching Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) I noticed that their most recent graph of global food production shows a steady increase, year after year.  Yet back in August, the UN actually asked the United States to stop bio-fuel production so those crops could be used for food!

The problem isn’t a lack of crops, the problem is the increasing cost to people who need to eat those crops.

There are several examples from the 1990s, such as U.S. rice rotting on Haitian docks because Haitians couldn’t afford to buy it, and African tomato farmers who left their crops to rot in the field because forced competition from Italian companies drove down tomato prices so low it wasn’t worth harvesting the fruits.

Is that what’s happening now, but on a global scale?  Is this what our leaders  mean by leveling the playing field of globalization?

I live in a state that is experiencing bumper crops: Idaho.

Idaho’s dry bean production is up 61% from 2011 (in fact bean production for the entire U.S. is expected to be 56% more than last year).  Despite bean production being so high, speculators are also keeping prices for beans high. Commodity prices for beans are currently about 40 cents per pound, some bean prices are down from last year but they’re still near record highs: “That’s still the best price I’ve ever got myself! I’m not going to complain.”-Dana Rasmussen, Idaho bean farmer

The USDA says Idaho’s canola production has doubled from last year (canola production is also up in Washington & Oregon).  Ag officials attribute this directly to higher commodity prices driven by speculators: “The number one  reason for this increase is there have been excellent and very competitive prices available for farmers.”-Jack Brown, University of Idaho

Idaho’s alfalfa production was down 7%, but that reflects those hay farmers who do not have irrigated fields.  Idaho hay farmers with irrigation actually saw bumper alfalfa yields: “I would say our yields were up a half to a ton per acre. It was a warm summer, and alfalfa loves heat and water.”– Will Ricks, Idaho Hay and Forage Association

Even though Idaho hay farmers with irrigation had bumper crops, the demand for those crops far exceeded supply: “Hay producers were getting calls from dairies in the Midwest. They were willing to pay $300 per ton plus shipping, but nobody had any hay to sell.”-Glenn Shewmaker, University of Idaho

Ag Officials from other states are lamenting just how much Idaho’s ag industry has grown: “Idaho has increased in just two years the equivalent of the entire state of Maine’s production. The July 2012 U.S. Department of Agriculture’s crop production report showed Oregon at 41,000 acres, Colorado at 55,000, Michigan at 46,000, Minnesota at 51,000, Maine at 59,000, New York at 17,000 and Wisconsin at 63,000 acres.”-Bob Davis, Maine Farmers Exchange

What is Bob Davis talking about?  Idaho’s farming acreage has grown, in just two years, to 345,000.   That’s 13,000 more than Oregon, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Maine, New York and Wisconsin combined!!!

You might say Idaho’s ag industry is good for the economy, providing jobs for Idahoans.  But that ain’t so.  Most ag workers are migrants, and even though there’s a shortage of migrant workers many Idaho farmers complain that Idahoans aren’t willing to work for the peanuts they pay.

Idaho law states that farm workers must be paid minimum wage (currently $7.25 per hour in Idaho), however, if a farm laborer is “contracted” that’s a different story: “When I first talked to the farmer about work, he told me that he would pay me $14 per acre. I worked nine hours every day for over a week, but the work was so hard I was only able to do three acres a day. On payday, my boss made up all kinds of excuses and ended up paying me just $11 per acre, which comes out to about $3.60 an hour…. I didn’t know what to do. I have two children to feed.”–Gloria Paniagua, Cassia County, Idaho

Being a contracted farm worker is similar to being on salary, a really bad salary.

According to a report by Idaho Community Action Network, and the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations, the average wage earned by farm workers in Idaho is $5.97 per hour, working ten hours per day, six days per week.

So what’s the point of all this?  There is no food shortage!  Reports show that while there are massive crop losses, those farms still producing are producing record yields!  UN agencies (FAO) report record global ag production almost year after year!  Crony capitalist speculators (who’re probably working for the corporate farms) are driving up food prices, even when there is no shortage of the resources!  Farmers with crops to sell are making big money because of the increased commodity prices and because of the dirt wages they pay their workers!  Don’t forget to add in escalating transportation costs! The net result is everyone is going to pay unjustifiably more for their food at the grocery store or restaurant!

Did you get a pay raise?

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? I warned you! U.S. gas & Diesel prices about to launch, weekly stockpile report shows supply shortage! Blame PADD 1 & 3! Western U.S. being made to pay for shortages in Eastern U.S.?

“‘This is ridiculous,’ said Criley, 55, who pulled into a Valero station off Hamilton Avenue in San Jose where gas was selling for $4.61 a gallon. A station attendant told him that he had just raised the price 20 cents five minutes earlier. ‘It had been holding at $3.99 for a couple of weeks. Now this. You betcha this hurts.'”-The Oakland Tribune, 04 October 2012

“Gasoline station owners in the Los Angeles area including Costco Wholesale Corp. are beginning to shut pumps because of supply shortages that have driven wholesale fuel prices to record highs.”-Bloomberg, 04 October 2012

“The U.S. average retail price of regular gasoline decreased five cents last week…Prices decreased in all regions of the Nation except the Rocky Mountains….The national average diesel fuel price decreased a nickel…”-U.S. Energy Information Agency, 26 September 2012

So, in September average retail fuel prices slightly decreased.  In some places, like Idaho, per gallon Diesel (distillate fuel oil, DSO) prices held almost steady while gasoline went down a piddly few cents.  Now prices are already going back up.

Do not blame the gas station operators!!!  I managed a gas station in Santa Maria, California, decades ago, and I can tell you the profit margin is just too small at the retail level.  In fact, the current situation in California is shutting down family owned gas stations: “Gas is costing me almost $4.75 a gallon with taxes. There’s no sense in staying open. The profit margins are so low it’s not worth it.”-Sam Krikorian, owner Quality Auto Repair in North Hollywood

A Montana based petroleum industry analysts agrees: “The mom and pop gas stations are having to close down from either not being able to obtain gasoline from their regular distributor or cannot afford the break-even price of almost $5 per gallon!”-Bob van der Valk

Back at the beginning of September I warned of higher fuel prices for October.  This was based on the futures (commodity) prices of fuel, which are usually four weeks out. I basically warned that on 12 October 2012, DSO fuel prices could hit around $5.15 per gallon!

I also explained that fuel prices in the Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts (PADD) 5 area (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington) was being hit by fuel refinery shut downs, for reasons known and unknown (and so is the rest of the country).  It looks like that situation has not changed, and might actually be worse on the east coast and along the Gulf of Mexico!

Several media sources are reporting that California fuel refiners are actually rationing out fuel!   The result is that gasoline is reported to have jumped by a full dollar in one week in some parts of the Los Angeles area!

Phillips 66 is shutting down two California refineries for maintenance.  A Chevron pipeline was shut down because of contamination.  On 01 October, a ExxonMobil refinery was shut down because of a power outage. And according to a Bloomberg report, the narcissistic environmental policies created by California politicians/environmentalists have made it impossible to import fuels from outside California!

So don’t blame Obama!  Obama has allowed the opening of more oil fields than any other U.S. President (a true oil man)!!! It’s the fault of the oil companies and fuel refiners, and stupid laws in California!  And that’s the real crux for the drivers in California, the stupid laws!

Even though California is part of PADD 5, their fuel refining laws are so strict that fuel made outside California, yet still within PADD 5, can not be sold inside California!!!

Oh, and the prices Californians are seeing now don’t even reflect what the gas station owners are paying: “Really, since the Chevron Richmond fire, inventories have been tight. As other refinery problems occur, there isn’t much or any available inventory. Retailers are not yet reflecting the wholesale price increases they have experienced...”-Tom Robinson, Robinson Oil

How about PADD 4 (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming)?

Phillips 66, Pocatello, Idaho, 04 October 2012.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, the current average retail price for PADD 4 area DSO is $4.20 per gallon.  If you notice in the pics I posted, here in Bannock County, Idaho, diesel prices range from $4.30 to $4.40 per gallon, at the cheap fuel stations.

CommonCents, Chubbuck, Idaho, 04 October 2012.

For regular octane gasoline, USEIA says the average PADD 4 area retail price is $3.76 per gallon.  My pics show that where I live it’s at least $3.82-$3.84 per gallon.

Padd 4 fuel stockpiles have been stable for all types of gasoline, around 6 million barrels, that’s according to 28 September 2012 data.  All types of DSO, in PADD 4 area, has a stockpile of about 3 million barrels, steady for the past four weeks.  So stockpile issues do not explain why prices in Idaho are higher than the PADD 4 average.

It’s not production issues either.  PADD 4 production has gone up.  DSO production at the end of September was averaged at 0.174 millions of barrels per day (mbpd).  Last year it was 0.156 mbpd.

PADD 4 gasoline production ended September with an average of 0.296 mbpd. At the same time last year it was 0.254 mbpd.

In fact, even in the troubled PADD 5 area, USEIA data shows stockpiles and production hasn’t changed that much in the past four weeks.  (stockpiles of DSO in PADD 5 have actually gone up in the past two months!)

Is it demand?  Nope.  According to USEIA, overall demand for fuel in the United States has gone down slightly since last year!

Average demand for gasoline was at 8.6 mbpd at the end of September, last year it was 8.9 mbpd.  For DSO the average demand was at 3.6 mbpd, compared to last year’s 3.8 mbpd.

The USEIA reported that at the end of September, for the country as a whole, raw oil stockpiles were down by 500,000 barrels.  The ‘expert’ media analysts had expected an increase of 1.5 million barrels!  Overall stockpiles of gasoline went up by 100,000 barrels.  The big loser is DSO, with stockpiles falling by 3.7 million barrels!!!  The net result being an overall reduction in petroleum supplies!

Well, if stockpiles and production are steady or actually up in PADD 4 & 5 areas, and demand is slightly down for the country, then why would overall supplies be low?

Blame PADD 1 and 3!  Stockpiles and production are crashing on the east coast and in the Gulf states!

At the end of September PADD 1 had 41.1 million barrels of DSO, a 20 million barrel drop from last year’s 61.5 million!  Gasoline is at 46.1 million barrels, compared to last year’s 55.3 million barrels!

PADD 3 ended September with 67.4 million barrels of gasoline, last year they had 74.9 million!  DSO saw a huge drop, from 50.8 million barrels last year to 37.4 million barrels at the end of September this year!

For such a big drop in stockpiles, PADD 3 averaged DSO production is unchanged from last year, at 2.4 mbpd.   PADD 1 DSO production average is down slightly from 0.4 mbpd last year to 0.38 this year.

The same can be said of PADD 1 gasoline production; 2.8 mbpd this year versus 2.9 mbpd last year.  Average gasoline production for PADD 3 ended September at 1.8 mbpd, last year it was at 2.1 mbpd, so a big drop there.

This begs the question: Is the western half of the United States being made to pay for shortages that should only be affecting the eastern half of the country?

“I see no reason for this at all. Sounds like a load of rubbish to me!”-Errol Emrich, pissed off California driver

PS: Wholsale/futures/commodity prices for refined fuels ended September 2012 higher.  So expect even higher prices at the pump next month!  Wish the U.S. petroleum industry a Happy Thanksgiving!

Idaho, U.S.

Ann Romney pissing off U.S. women?

The following was posted in the Tuscola County Advertiser in Michigan:

Ann Romney made a concerted effort to paint a picture of her husband and herself as supporters of women in her talk at the Republican National Convention. She was definitely out of her element when she tried to show empathy for women and families struggling to pay bills, to buy gas and fuel, and coping with daily personal tensions.

Unlike most families with moms working outside the home, or a single parent without a partner to assist and support them, Ann has had cooks, maids and nannies. While her battles with cancer and M.S. were trying, she was able to afford top-notch treatment and emotional support.

She has neither the personal or professional authority to talk about the difficulties of poor, working class or even middle class Americans. Her remark about women doing more and doing it happily made many women cringe. She must not be aware that with working women making 80 percent of what men do, women have to do more just to break even. And her husband has been a proponent for such unfairness.

It’s important to know that the Romneys’ LDS church (Latter Day Saints or Mormon) opposed the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment which would have guaranteed women equal rights. In addition, the southern Bible Belt states plus those states with a strong Mormon presence (Utah, Nevada, Idaho and Arizona) opposed the passage of the ERA amendment. The church even ex-communicated Sonia Johnson, a part-time school teacher and mother for her role in organizing Mormon support for this amendment.

The LDS is a male dominated hierarchy. Women are not allowed to hold the priesthood or serve as elders in their church. They cannot reach as high a ranking in heaven as their husbands. Mothers stay home and are primarily responsible for the nurturing of their children. Women’s “sacred” and “divinely” sanctioned job description as homemaker, wife and mother is heavily emphasized. Large families are encouraged.

Since LDS couples marry so young, women must forfeit their own education and careers. Without college degrees or marketable job skills, most women are financially dependent on their husbands, with few options should their marriage not last “into the eternities”. They believe only women who are married in a church temple will have eternal life and parents are unable to attend the ceremony if not Mormon. (Of course they believe any non-Mormon will go to hell.)

A majority of our population is not aware of the LDS church’s impact on its members. Their beliefs aren’t in agreement with what most women want and need. While living in Idaho among LDS neighbors, working in professional fields for seven years, and our sons attendance at Boise State University, our family learned about this church’s insidious domination of and influence on state government policies, public schools and lifestyles.

Don’t let Ann’s sweetness and charm overshadow the Romneys’ true beliefs and motives.

Bonnie Johnson

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Global Food Crisis: Red Bug invades United States, recently noticed in California, but has been seen in Idaho since late 1990s!

03 October 2012, a Red Bug (actually the official non-scientific name in the U.S.) was first reported in California in 2009, however, I moved to Idaho in 1997 and have seen the bug in the area since then.

Scantius aegyptius, aka Lodosiana (=Scantius) aegyptius, is native to the Mediterranean area.  It feeds on the seeds of plants, mainly plants that completely die out at the end of the year and can only be grown from seeds, which makes Red Bug a threat.

Red Bug was noted by BugGuide as being first reported in California in 2009 (as I said earlier, they’ve been in Idaho since late 1990s).

They are considered invasive, because of lack of predators.  People in California report that even their chickens stay away from them.  Harvester ants seem to be their main foe, however, here in Idaho I’ve noticed that our ants have been less and less active every year, possibly due to the ongoing drought (now in its 12th year).

This year the Red Bug swarms were so large I had to find out what they were.  Their growing swarms seem to correlate to the declining ant population!

When my youngest children were attending Chubbuck Elementary (years prior to the official 2009 California discovery) they said all the kids called them Fire Bugs, because they looked like they were on fire.

After all these years the Red Bugs haven’t touched my small victory garden in the backyard. So far they’ve relegated themselves to the driveway/south side of the house area, which is the warmest spot on the property.

I wounder if they have anything to do with my wide variety of bulb plants refusing to sprout this year (they are planted in the same area that these Red Bugs like to swarm)?

Idaho, U.S.

U.S. West Nile Virus update, 01 October 2012: Now being called a ‘disaster’! Humans, horses and now chickens! Medical media calls outbreak over, then suddenly 400 new cases! No insurance, no treatment?

“To judge from past reporting trends, these figures suggest that this year’s West Nile virus outbreak will be among the largest ever recorded!”-Lyle Petersen, CDC

“…disturbingly unpredictable, disagreeable, and difficult to control.”-CDC statement

“At first they said West Nile would remain concentrated along the Eastern Seaboard. Then, as it moved westward, they said it wouldn’t spread beyond the Midwest. In 2006, seven years after the virus was detected in New York, it infected several residents here in Washington. Now it’s been reported in every state except Hawaii and Alaska.”-Terry McElwain, Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

In the last week of September 2012, 400 new cases of West Nile virus were reported throughout the United States.

At least 3,545 cases in 48 states, with 147 deaths, and that’s what the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting.  What the CDC reports is at least a week behind what’s happening on the ground.

Incredibly, during the middle of September, some medical media sources reported that the West Nile virus outbreak had peaked out, and was on the decline!

70% of cases are in Texas, South Dakota and Mississippi.

Mississippi: 197 human cases, five deaths: “We are in the middle of the worst epidemic of West Nile virus infection in the state of Mississippi ever and one of the worst in terms of the United States!”-Art Leis, Methodist Rehab Center

Ohio: Clark County Combined Health District confirmed an elderly man died from West Nile virus.  Computer problems prevented the release of details. Ohio Department of Health reports 93 human cases, so far.

Texas: Morris County reports first case of West Nile in horses: “The horse exhibited ataxis, which is lack of muscle coordination, fever, and depression.”-Dennis Seymore, veterinarian

So far this year there have been 39 cases of equine West Nile virus in Texas.   “It should also be noted that vaccination for West Nile Virus does not protect a horse from other mosquito-borne diseases such as Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis.”-Dennis Seymore, veterinarian

A Texas woman is suffering doubly, not only has West Nile left her partially paralyzed, but she has no way to pay for medical care.  The Fort Worth hospital she is in is trying to send her away. She needs 24 hour care, but hospital staff say it ain’t gonna happen without money: “Ideally, we’re usually able to get them transferred to a rehab facility or somewhere they can have impatient care. However, due to her limited funding status, we have to plan for her to go home.”-Melody Argueta, Huguley Memorial Medical Center

Louisiana: 29 more human cases reported.  So far 280 people infected, 11 deaths.

Iowa: Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Iowa Department of Public Health report large number of horses infected.  More than 20, last year there was only one equine case.

Oklahoma: Nine people have died from West Nile so far. 154 human cases.

California: Reporting 182 human cases, 10 deaths. Health officials warning to stay away from dead birds.  So far 1,273 dead birds, in California, have tested positive for West Nile.  Rodents, like squirrels, also testing positive.

Florida: Alachua County Health Department discovered West Nile virus in several chicken flocks, and one horse.  More than 40 human cases statewide.

Massachusetts: “The Massachusetts Department of Public Health risk assessment level has been raised from ‘Moderate’ to ‘High’ in the towns of Stoneham and Winchester in efforts to raise awareness regarding this arbovirus in the closing weeks of the warm season.”

New York:  An elderly man from New York was diagnosed with West Nile while visiting friends in Canada. He is in critical condition.

Idaho: 11 human cases, at least five equine cases.

Illinois: DuPage County Health Department reports fourth human death.  138 human cases statewide.

Michigan: Department of Community Health reports two more human deaths, 170 cases.

New Jersey:   At least 22 human cases, one death.

Virginia:   First equine case, the horse had to be killed.

Georgia: Two new human cases, one fatal, in Gwinnett County.  At least 43 cases statewide.

Maryland:  30 human cases.

Tennessee: At least 21 human cases. Rap singer, Brabo Gator, fell into a coma after being infected. Doctors say he will probably never sing again because of damage to his lungs.

Rhode Island: Reporting third human case.

Wisconsin: Two confirmed human cases, 23 possible.

Colorado: Three human deaths, 92 cases.

 

 

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

What Economic Recovery? Hewlett Packard boss to reveal her secret plans!

“I believe in creative destruction.”-Meg Whitman, CEO Hewlett Packard

“It’s staggering, this is now the cheapest big stock in the last 25 years. That reflects an industry belief that the company is going to decline.”-A. M. Sacconaghi, Bernstein Research

According to a New York Times article, Meg Whitman will reveal her tactical plans for rejuvenating Hewlett Packard (HP) on Wednesday, 03 October 2012.

HP employes thousands of people in the United States (Boise, Idaho. Houston, Texas. Costa Rica), but those jobs have been disappearing, and under Whitman’s plans could be reduced even more. She wants to continue HP’s spread across the world, already HP has at least 60,000 employees in India alone!

Whitman says she hopes to get her changes completed within four years.  But one thing’s for sure, HP has got to stop buying up losing companies: Just last year HP spent $10 billion USD buying a company called Autonomy.

Here’s a good thing about Whitman, she hates bureaucracy.  The first thing she did at HP was to consolidate and trim the upper management.

On 03 October we’ll find out just how much more trimming she’ll do to the rest of the company.

 

 

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

What Economic Recovery? Hewlett Packard spending millions to save money in Idaho? Announces even more layoffs! Refuses to pay fair share in taxes! Hoping to save itself by making a deal with the devil: Israel!

“Just think of all the value that they have destroyed. It has been a case of just horrible management.”-Brian Marshall, ISI Group

23 September 2012, the past month has been a busy month of announcements from struggling computer maker, Hewlett Packard (HP).

At the end of August, HP reported a quarterly loss of $8.9 billion USD! (Dell computer maker also reported a big loss)  Then at the beginning of September, HP officials announced they will layoff 29,000 employees by 2014, that’s an increase of 2,000 from their layoff announcement in May of this year.

HP blamed the quarterly loss on down sales, and the cost of downsizing the company!

According to an Idaho Statesmen report, HP spent $50 million, over the past few years, downsizing its operations at the huge Boise HP campus.

The report also pointed out that HP is refusing to publish just how many people have lost their jobs at the Boise campus.  The Idaho Statesmen estimates it to be in the hundreds (at least 320).

HP also isn’t mentioning the fact that they’ve spent more than $40 billion on buying up worthless companies!

Just days ago a U.S. Senate investigation revealed that HP is one of thousands of unAmerican Corporations (including Microsoft) that are working hard to avoid paying taxes.

“The bottom line of our investigation is that some multinationals use our current tax system to engage in shams and gimmicks to avoid paying the taxes they owe.”-Carl Levin, Senator from Michigan

The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations discovered that HP avoided paying $4.5 billion in taxes, from 2009 to 2011, by using complicated offshore loan deals  (you see it’s not just Mitt Romney, everyone in unAmerican Corporate America does it).

Of course HP officials deny it: “I can assure the committee that HP takes seriously its obligations to accurately follow accounting principle and to pay taxes that it owes.”-Lester D. Ezrati, HP

HP also has operations in Israel, and today it was announced that HP is in the running for a huge military contract worth half a billion USD!  (IBM, Dell and Lockheed Martin have also bid)

The contract will be for a new huge Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) computer server farm based in the Negev desert.  It will be the main server farm for electronic logistics, communication and military intelligence operations being run by other newly built bases in the Negev.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Hoku pulls stocks from NASDAQ, deregisters with SEC.

Hawaii based Hoku Corporation is no longer selling stocks, through NASDAQ anyway.  At the beginning of September 2012, Hoku filed a Form 15 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), asking for their existing shares to be deregistered.

This means Hoku will not have to make any reports to the SEC for the next 90 days.

Back in July Hoku delisted from NASDAQ.  Hoku Corp. is blaming their fall on the crashing price of polysilicon.  Hoku Corp. shut down their Hoku Materials polysilicon operation in Idaho, back in May.

Hoku Corp. is looking for a buyer for its Hoku Solar division.

Hoku Corp. stocks are now being traded Over The Counter (OTC). As of  17 September 2012, they were selling for only .07 cents per share.

HOKU CONTINUES DOWNWARD SPIRAL. POCATELLO PLANT MOTHBALLED! 

Idaho, U.S.

Idaho Wildfire Update, 20 September 2012: Another smokey day, still leading the nation, firefighter accused of starting fire! Forecasted dry winter, not good!

20 September 2012, Idaho leads the United States with eight major fires.

Smoked out sky over Cotant Park, Chubbuck, Idaho, about 08:45 hours 20 September 2012.

Even though the sun was high after 08:00 hours (8am for 12 hour clock users), the light was no brighter than dawn (don’t you love your itchy eyes?).

Boise County Sheriff’s Department has arrested an 18 year old firefighter accused of starting the Karney Fire, which burned at least one home, and is threatening another 100.

The firefighter was arrested while fighting the very fire he’s accused of starting.  Sheriff’s officials think the motive was to get attention!

Weather forecasters are calling for another dry winter for Idaho. Idaho has been in a drought since 2000.

Regarding the Mustang Complex Fire, officials said the only thing that’ll put it out is hoped for autumn rain and winter snow.  But, if this winter is going to be dryer than last year then we’re in for a really long fire season!

For 2013 the National Research Council predicts another record fire year!

Idaho now has 807,308 acres (326,705.9 hectares) of burned land.

Halstead (Salmon-Challis National Forest): 172,128 acres (69,657.7 hectares), area closures are in effect.

Karney (Southwest Area Office, Idaho Department of Lands): 350 acres (141.6 hectares), structures are threatened, evacuations are in effect.

McGuire Complex (Nez Perce National Forest): 59,141 acres (23,933.5 hectares), communities threatened, evacuations are in effect.

Mustang Complex (Salmon-Challis National Forest): 327,017 acres (132,339 hectares), area closures are in effect.

Powell SBW Complex (Clearwater National Forest): 49,925 acres (20,203.9 hectares).

Sheep (Nez Perce National Forest): 41,036 acres (16,606.6 hectares), structures are threatened.

Trinity Ridge (Boise National Forest): 146,832 acres (59,420.8 hectares), area closures are in effect.

Wesley (Payette National Forest): 10,879 acres (4,402.5 hectares), residences are threatened.

IDAHO WILDFIRE UPDATE, 17 SEPTEMBER 2012:  PURPLE HAZE

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Idaho’s Coldwater Creek loses $17 million! Store closings will continue!

On 29 August 2012, Coldwater Creek reported a 2nd quarter loss of $17 million USD.  It’s the third quarter in a row for the women’s apparel retailer.

The Sandpoint, Idaho, based company blames it on falling sales (again).

Direct catalog sales dropped $5 million, retail/outlet stores and spas dropped $12.3 million, compared to the same time last year.  Some of the sales loses were blamed on the closing of 24 Coldwater Creek stores across the United States, since 2011 (four closed during the 2nd quarter of 2012).

Company officials say one of their plans to improve financial performance is to move existing stores into smaller locations, as well as closing another 20+ stores by 2013.

NASDAQ is threatening to delist Coldwater Creek from its stock exchange, because the price of one share is still below $1.00.

Also at the end of August, a former Coldwater Creek official was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and more than $246,000 in restitution, after pleading guilty to embezzling the company.  The judge rejected a plea agreement which called for a sentence of only 90 days in jail.