Category Archives: Technology

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

Terror Drones: May 14-20. Increased strikes in Yemen. Civilians being forced to fight for government? Oil fields to be guarded by UAVs. Welcome to the 2012 Olympics.

20 May 2012, Iraq revealed they will be using larger UAVs to patrol their Persian Gulf oil rigs. The program is known as Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS).

Iraq already operates the smaller Scan Eagle drones.

20 May 2012, at least two people killed in U.S. drone attack.  Local officials say the Yemen army is on offensive in southern Yemen, and is being supported by U.S. drone strikes.

The offensive began on 18 May. Dozens of people have been killed, including civilians.  Yemen army officials admitted that some of the “civilians” are actually people who “volunteered” to fight for the government!

17 May 2012, two or three suspected Mujahideen were killed by U.S. drone strike in Yemen.

15 May 2012, seven Mujahideen and six civilians were killed by two U.S. drone strikes in Yemen. Independent news media reports say at least 12 civilians were killed, and 21 wounded.

19 May 2012, a Pakistani recon drone crashed in Punjab Province. Technical problems were blamed.

14 May 2012, citizens of Pakistan are suing their own government for failing to stop the U.S. drone strikes: “This is the first time that victims are suing their own government for failing to protect their lives against drone strikes.”-Shahzad Akbar, Foundation for Fundamental Rights

19 may 2012, Israel has created a recon drone the size of a large butterfly. It weighs 20 grams, and is designed for use inside buildings.

Canadian news media reporting that the 2012 London Olympics will be held in a concentration camp, of sorts.  British officials plan to use all kinds of military force, including “…48,000 security forces. 13,500 troops. Surface-to-air missiles stationed on top of residential apartment buildings. A sonic weapon that disperses crowds by creating ‘head-splitting pain.’ Unmanned drones peering down from the skies. A safe zone, cordoned off by an 18-kilometre electrified fence, ringed with trained agents and 55 teams of attack dogs.”

The Toronto Star went on to point out that “Not even China in 2008 used drone planes or ringed the proceedings with a massive, high-voltage fence. But here is London, preparing a counter-insurgency, and parking an aircraft carrier right in the Thames.”

14 May 2012, the U.S. Congress is pushing for public safety agencies to use recon drones. The law was passed on February 14, 2012. Now the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has created a regulation that allows the use of recon drones under 25 pounds by local police, fire and similar “safety” agencies.

For some reason the U.S. Congress is really concerned about allowing local agencies to use lots and lots of drones.

 

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

What Economic Recovery? New U.S. tariffs on Chinese solar panels could be the final nail in the coffin for Idaho’s Hoku Materials

Troubled Hoku Materials polysilicon factory in Pocatello, Idaho, could be finally done in by the latest U.S. tariffs against Chinese solar panel companies.

Hoku Materials is a division of Hoku Corporation, which in turn is a subsidiary of Tianwei New Energy Holdings, which is an affiliate of China South Industries Group Corporation (CSGC).  Hoku Corp turned to China for financial help a few years ago, which is how it became a a subsidiary of Tianwei New Energy Holdings.

The Chinese companies were hoping to get around any possible future U.S. tariffs by taking over Hoku, but it’s now clear that was a wasted investment for them.

On May 17, 2012, the U.S. Commerce Department announced new tariffs on Chinese solar product makers, claiming that China dumped (sold for far less than what it cost to make them) their products on the U.S. market.

The new action, approved by President Obama, imposes tariffs of 31% or more on solar products coming from China. So far, Hoku Materials’ contracts for polysilicon are with Chinese companies only.  Despite several official start-up announcements, their polysilicon factory in Idaho has yet to actually start up!

Prior to the new U.S. tariff announcement, stock in Hoku Corp was trading at less than 30 cents per share.

GOOD AND BAD NEWS FOR IDAHO’S HOKU MATERIALS

Business/Economics, International, Technology

Government & Media Hypocrisy: Japan launches South Korean satellite

April 13, 2012, North Korea launched a satellite (not a ballistic missile as western media continued to report!), which ended in failure, yet didn’t fail to bring world wide condemnation, which included Japan’s mobilization of Patriot missile forces.

May 17, 2012, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced they will be launching an H-2A rocket, carrying South Korean and Japanese satellites. The launch is scheduled for May 18.

The hypocrisy comes from Japan’s threats to shoot down the North Korean satellite launch back in April!  All western news media reported the North Korean satellite launch as a “missile launch”.

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

What Economic Recovery? It’s official, Toshiba & Hitachi end TV production in Japan. Blame Korea, U.S. & digital broadcasting!

May 17, 2012, Toshiba announced no more TV set production in Japan, no thanks to competition from South Korea, and crashing sales in the United States!

Toshiba reported a $620 million USD loss for the past Japanese fiscal year!

The company also revealed that TV sales in Japan have crashed ever since television broadcasters switched to digital broadcasting last year.

Toshiba will continue TV production in factories outside of Japan.  Hitachi also announced they will end TV production in Japan, in September.

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

Oil & Gas Prices: U.S. media flat lies about Iran’s oil sales!

The Washington Post reporting that Iran can not find buyers for its oil, and is storing oil on tanker ships as a result.

This is a blatant lie because Iran’s oil sales have only increased since the U.S. led sanctions were imposed!

The latest example is of Zimbabwe, which has asked for an increase in Iranian oil and refined diesel fuel.

Also, three ship bookers, including Galbraith’s Ltd in London, confirmed that India is buying more Iranian oil. A Liberian (former U.S. African colony) tanker has been chartered to ship 130,000 metric tons of Iranian crude (per shipment?) to India!

If Iran is storing oil on tankers, why did India have to charter a tanker?

In fact, on May 11, 2012, one Indian official told the U.S. to ‘F’ themselves over the Iran oil sanctions:  “Government of India is perfectly free to take a decision (on this issue). We do not take note of sanctions by other countries….So far as our sovereignty is concerned, we can assure that we will never allow any pressure…There will be less oil or more oil imported from Iran depending on demand. The oil [Indian] companies will decide that.”-Jaipal S. Reddy, India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Japanese media has just reported that Japanese oil companies are increasing the number of oil tanker ships.  JX Nippon Oil & Energy has just bought three 5,000 ton class tankers, and is planning on buying a fourth.  Cosmo Oil is buying an additional tanker.

Japan won an exemption from the U.S. oil sanctions against Iran, so guess where those new tankers are probably going to go for their crude cargo?

Another claim in the Washington Post article is that ships carrying Iranian oil can’t get insurance, because most maritime insurance companies are based in Europe.  However, China and Japan are in the process of buying insurance from Iranian companies!  The Iranian government is conducting a review to allow Iranian insurance companies to cover foreign ships.

Pakistan and Iran are in the process of creating a banking system that will allow Pakistan to buy Iranian oil and gas without going through the usual U.S./U.K. dominated international banking system.

The Iranian government is on the verge of privatizing 15 government controlled petroleum businesses. As part of the privatization process, the Iranian government has already sold 555 million shares of stocks in the companies, and more stocks will be issued!

On May 12, 2012, the Iranian Oil Ministry revealed they had “ratified” 16 new oil projects last year.  That was out of 28 projects submitted.

If Iranian oil is just sitting at the docks, why is the Iranian government approving so many new petroleum projects?

International, Technology, U.S.

New even older Mayan calender found! No doomsday for 2012!

“The Mayan calendar is going to keep going for billions, trillions, octillions of years into the future…Numbers we can’t even wrap our heads around.”-David Stuart, University of Texas

Researchers from several universities have studied the most recent find of an ancient Mayan calendar, and concluded there is no “end of days” for 2012.

The calender was part of a mural painted on the wall of an ancient Mayan house.  The house was unearthed in Guatemala in 2010.  The archaeologists who uncovered the house (led by researchers from Boston University) said the wall calender reminded them of someone working out mathematical formulas on a makerboard (“whiteboard”).

Click here to see National Geographic pics.

Researchers did the math and realized that the Mayan wall calender (which could be at least 1,200 years old) projected astronomical observations well past the feared December 2012 date.

What is significant is that it appears that the Mayans who made the wall calender were dealing with mathematical formulas that are beyond today’s understanding!

 

 

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

What Economic Recovery? Panasonic reports record loses!

May 11, 2012, Panasonic reporting a record loss for the year ending in March.

Panasonic ended the Japanese year with a net balance of minus $9.8 billion USD, it’s the fourth straight year of loses for the electronics company!

Panasonic officials blame it on a huge drop in TV set sales.  In April, Sony and Sharp gave the same reason for their losses as well, and blamed it on the lack of recovery in the United States.

 

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

Oil & Gas Prices: U.S. gas reserves up. Iran allows private sector oil sales. OPEC says there is too much oil!

May 10, 2012, Iran announced the discovery of a huge oil field in the Caspian Sea.  The discovery was made while exploring a huge new gas field.

The gas field was discovered in December, and named the Sardar-e Jangal field.  It’s estimated to contain 50 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

May 9, 2012, Iran’s Oil Ministry is now allowing the private sector to sell up to 400,000 bpd to international customers.

The decision leaves the National Iranian Oil Company, as well as the Iranian central bank, out of any oil sales involving private sector companies. This means those private sector companies can avoid the U.S./European oil sanctions.

Despite U.S. led sanctions against Iranian oil, Turkey (a NATO member) actually increased oil shipments from Iran.

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, Turkey imported 270,000 bpd of Iranian oil in March. That’s more than double their February imports!

May 10, 2012, officials from OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) members are reporting that there is too much oil in the world markets!

OPEC reported that in April they pumped out 31.62 million barrels per day (bpd). According to Reuters, that’s 1.62 million bpd more than what OPEC intended.

Keep in mind that OPEC does not represent all oil producing countries in the world. Reuters reports that even non-OPEC members increased oil production in April!

However, OPEC, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), expect demand for oil to increase, especially since Japan has shut down all its nuclear reactors.

The U.S. EIA also reporting that natural gas supplies increased in the United States.  For the week ending May 4, U.S. natural gas storage is at 2.606 trillion cubic feet.  That’s 44.5% above the five year average. However, analysts expected it to be more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Terror Drones: April 30 – May 6. Canada to use drones on its own people, new arms race. Drones on trial in U.S.

May 5, 2012, U.S. drone strike kills at least eight people in Pakistan.

May 2, 2012, U.S. drone strikes kill at least 15 people in Yemen.

From April 30 to May 6, the U.S./NATO increased airstrikes in Afghanistan.  They include the use of drones.  The result is an increasing number of civilians deaths.

May 3, 2012: U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, numb nuts Ryan Crocker, stated that the new military pact between Afghanistan and the United States could allow drone strikes to continue past 2014.

May 5, 2012: U.S. Mormon news source, Deseret News, supports the FAA issuing civilian licenses for drone operation.  Their article points out that many businesses would benefit, like photography, sports, real estate, etc.  Despite the fact that the Federal Aviation Administration has yet to issue civilian licenses, Utah State University has already been using a drone, taking pictures.

May 5, 2012: According to The Canadian Press, the Royal Canadian Air Force will expand the testing of drones to include operations by police: “We know we need to use them, and the Canadian Forces from a capability point of view are moving ahead to ensure there is domestic capability as part of its UAV program in the future.”-Lieutenant General Walter Semianiw

General Semianiw admitted the use of drones by Canadian police is to commit acts of violence: “You must remember that, in Canada, within the domestic construct, I do not have the right to be able to apply lethal force in Canada. That is the responsibility of the police.”

Canadian officials also implied that there is a drone arms race going on between the United States and Canada, by pointing out that the U.S. has military drones patrolling along the U.S.-Canadian border.

Canada has used Israeli made drones in Afghanistan.

May 4, 2012: The Seattle Times opinion piece says that since so many people use the cameras in their cell phones to take pictures of just about anything, then police using drones to take pictures of you in your back yard does not constitute invasion of privacy.

May 3, 2012: It’s the opening stage of the first trial for a U.S. citizen arrested with the use of a drone.  The man arrested was tasered several times, but local police in North Dakota called in a Predator drone because they were concerned for their safety!

What happens at this trial could affect how drones are used by police against the citizens of the U.S.: “There is, furthermore, no existing case law that bars their use in investigating crimes.”-Douglas Manbeck, ND state prosecutor

 

 

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

Economic Recovery? Idaho’s Micron Technology invades Japan! Micron on the offensive!

May 4, 2012, Japanese media reporting that failed Elpida Memory has chosen Idaho’s Micron Technology as its corporate savior.

According to NHK: “Elpida is Japan’s sole DRAM memory chip maker. It filed for bankruptcy protection in February after suffering losses stemming from the strong yen and intense foreign competition.”

But here’s the irony; Idaho’s Micron is also having revenue trouble.  Idaho media, real estate web sites, etc, have been reporting Micron as the Boise area’s largest employers.  But Micron’s employment in Boise dropped to 5,000 in 2009, and has been trickling down ever since.

Micron has had a lot of investors, yet their quarterly reports for 2011 were loss after loss (in the hundreds of millions each quarter).  This is because the memory chip market basically crashed.

However, since the beginning of 2012 Micron officials have been busy buying up other factories, and now companies.  Micron recently took over a Toshiba owned factory in Virginia, called Dominion Semiconductor.

Here’s what the Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch said: “The current state of the memory-production business is looking like the hotel business, where various facilities are bought and sold like trading cards from company to company.”

One reason for that is that memory chips have become a dime a dozen (actually less) and there’s no brand loyalty among chip users.

Micron officials seem to have scouted the next wave of memory innovation correctly, they are now pushing their RealSSD (Solid State Drive) and computer companies are buying it up.

On May 4, 2012, Elpida officials chose Micron, out of three bidders, to take over their company.  It’s reported that it will cost Micron $2.5 billion USD.  The take over will be finalized at the end of May, and new company plan submitted to Tokyo District Court by August.

Originally Micron offered $1.9 billion for Elpida, but Elpida shareholders threatened legal action.