Category Archives: U.S.

International, Technology, U.S.

Pacific Ring of Fire Seismic Events part 5 Largest Deadliest update

Since I posted part 4 of Pacific Ring of Fire Seismic Events, the United States Geological Survey added one more quake to it’s “Largest and Deadliest Earthquake” list; the March 11 earthquake near Japan.

But have there been more large quakes this year, not qualifying for the USGS title of “Deadliest”, but still large, and more than normal?

According to the USGS “Significant Earthquakes of the World” list, so far this year there have been 49 magnitude 6.5, or greater quakes around the Pacific Ring.  The majority of those being near Japan.  There’s still three months left to go for 2011.

In 2010 the USGS recorded about 57 M6.5+ quakes around the Pacific Ring.  About 50 M6.5+ quakes took place in 2009.  So in the past three years it looks like about 50 M6.5+ Pacific Ring quakes per year are the norm.

I went back to “Significant Earthquakes of the World 1999”, and counted about 53 M6.5+ Pacific Ring quakes.  So, without doing more detailed research, it looks like the number of “significant” quakes around the Pacific Ring is about 50 per year, and seems to be normal.  Unless we get a sudden boost in quake activity within the next three months, it looks like 2011 will be another normal year.

What about the number of “deadliest” earthquakes, is there an upward trend?  It doesn’t seem so.  Looking at the USGS “Largest and Deadliest Earthquakes by Year 1990-2011” list, we average about one or two per year, and that’s all over the world not just the Pacific Ring.  The USGS determines the “largest and deadliest” by a combination of magnitude intensity and the number of people killed.

However, I noticed an interesting trend regarding when those “largest” deadly quakes happen; most of the dates are from Autumn to Spring, with the minority happening during Summer.  We are closer to the Sun from Fall to Spring, mmmm.

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Unemployed young men in Idaho more than national average

According to Federal numbers, the percentage of unemployed young men in Idaho is more than the national average.

In 2009 the national average was 17%, in Idaho it hit 20%!  Idaho’s 2010 rate was around 18%.

Unemployment claims are down, but according to Idaho Labor Department officials that’s because people just don’t qualify for unemployment assistance anymore.  One official said about 100 people per week are falling off the state unemployment assistance simply because they’ve exceeded the time limit.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Idaho dental insurer to cut payments

Delta Dental of Idaho is going to cut insurance payments to dentists by as much as 13%.

Delta officials say they have to do it to keep costs down to employers who offer their employees the Delta Dental plan.

Idaho dentists say they will have to jack up prices to make up the difference.  One dentist says the cuts took him by surprise: “In the past, Delta Dental has been a great partner with dentists. This is a little out of the blue. I’ve never seen this before.”-Don Wyatt

Delta Dental of Washington state cut payments back in April, by as much as 15%!

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

Incompetence or Conspiracy? Idaho Real Estate web sites, and even Wikipedia, list Micron as the biggest employer in Boise

The computer chip maker Micron Technology is in big trouble, and since 2009 isn’t even the second biggest employer in Boise, Idaho.  Yet, Idaho real estate agent web sites, which encourage out’a staters to move to Idaho, continue to list Micron as the top employer.  Other web sites, and blogs, list the number of Boise Micron employees at 15,000!  Even a check of Wikipedia’s section on Boise still claims that Micron is the top employer.

Micron hasn’t been the top employer ever since 2009, after lay offs cut their Boise work force down to about 5,000.  And that’s according to a September 2011 Idaho Statesman report.  Also, the Idaho Statesman says Micron’s peak Boise employment of about 15,000 happened a decade ago!

To make matters worse, Micron is losing money.  They lost $135 million in the third quarter of this year.  On top of that they’re about to get hit with a court judgment for price fixing.  That judgement could be as high as $11.9 billion.

Micron recently told investors that such a fine would further degrade future operations, and, they admitted they don’t even have any money to pay such a fine!

So why are Idaho real estate companies, web media sites, bloggers, and even Wikipedia still promoting Micron as the top employer in Boise?  Conspiracy, or incompetence?

Business/Economics, U.S.

Class War: Occupy Wall Street protests escalate, more than 700 arrested after Brooklyn Bridge blocked, hundreds arrested in Boston, Occupy Chicago continues, Occupy Los Angeles grows

“Over 700 summonses and desk appearance tickets have been issued in connection with a demonstration on the Brooklyn Bridge late this afternoon after multiple warnings by police were given to protesters to stay on the pedestrian walkway, and that if they took roadway they would be arrested.”-official police statement

October 1, what had to be several thousands of protestors took over the Brooklyn Bridge.  It had to be several thousand because New York city police say they arrested more than 700 of them.  The bridge is now open to vehicular traffic.

“This is our Tahrir Square. We’ll stay here for months if we have to.”-Emilio Baez, Chicago protestor

The protests in Chicago, Illinois, are now a week old.  At lest 30 people are protesting in front of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.  The protestors are calling for the end of the Federal Reserve.

“We had to set a stand to let Bank of America know they cannot foreclose on families and put them out on the street.”-Carolyn Grant, Boston protester

In Boston, Massachusetts, about one hundred people were arrested during protests in front of Bank of America’s headquarters. Reports vary on the number of protestors, from several hundred to more than 3,000!

Boston cops made statements that revealed their true attitude: “They wanted to be arrested, and we obliged.”-Edward F. Davis, Boston police Commissioner

In Los Angeles, California, several hundred people continued the on again off again, Occupy LA protests, by marching to city hall.  No arrests were made, people driving by joined in by honking their horns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

Class War, What Economic Recovery? Warren Buffett says the Elites have won, his propsed tax on the Elites is first step to increasing taxes on everyone else

“There’s been class warfare going on for the last 20 years, and my class has won.”-Warren Buffett, legendary investor

In the U.S. Congress Republicans have been misquoting Warren Buffett, saying he’s not really for the proposed tax increase (aka The Buffett Rule) on the Elites.  Oh, he’s for it alright.

In a recent interview with a CNN reporter Buffett was asked how an increase in taxes, on the extreme minority of rich elites, would help the government’s debt problem?  Buffett admitted: “It probably would come in at 20 billion [increased tax collections from elites], but no one thing is gonna solve the deficit of over a trillion.” He went on to explain that it’s a necessary first step in preparing everyone to accept tax increases, and even more cuts to social services:  “…I think that getting people to buy in, in this country, to the kind of ‘shared sacrifice’ that’s going to be needed, it’s going to be very important they feel there’s fairness to what’s going on…”

In other words, the people of main street U.S.A. haven’t seen anything yet, when it comes to more taxes and cuts to government spending!

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

Government Incompetence equals What Economic Recovery? Small Business loan program a big FAIL!

In 2010 the U.S. Treasury Department set up the Small Business Lending Fund.  U.S.$30 billion was intended to be used to help small businesses expand and hire more people, it didn’t happen.

That Small Business Lending Fund ended, September 30, 2011.  Only $4 billion of the $30 billion was loaned out!

As usual everyone is blaming everyone else!  The banks, that were supposed to get the money to loan to small businesses, said the application process was too difficult and had too many restrictions.  The Treasury Department says hardly any bank applied.  Both the banks and the Treasury Department say hardly any small businesses applied.  Small businesses say it wasn’t worth the attempt because the banks put too many restrictions on the loans.

Some analysts say the Obama administration really thought that the economy would be much better in 2011, which is why they made it so tough to qualify for the loans.  In other words, there was no real effort to help small businesses in the United States.   Another example of how out of touch, with main street U.S.A., our political leaders in Washington DC are.

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Down economy equals increased domestice violence, Death rates up in Idaho

A new study by the Journal of Pediatrics says there is a direct correlation between the recession and an increase in child abuse cases.  The study was done in four states.

Not only that, but courts are reporting an increase in domestic violence: “Our court advocacy roles are up 40% from this time last year.”-Diane Zanetti, Executive Director of Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

In Idaho, deaths connected to domestic violence are up.  So far this year 18 people have died from domestic violence, compared to 13 for the entire year of 2010.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Home Federal Bank lay offs hit Idaho & Oregon

“We continue to see high unemployment nationally and in our local markets. And the outlook for improvement in economic growth, which we believe is necessary to drive loan demand, remains questionable.”-Len Williams, Home Federal Bancorp

Home Federal Bank will close six branches in Idaho and Oregon.  Officials hope it will save the bank U.S.$1 million in the next year.

A total of 35 people will lose their jobs.  20 in Idaho and 15 in Oregon.  10 of the Idaho lay offs will come from changes to Home Federal’s mortgage operations.

Home Federal Bank reported a $4.1 million loss in 2010, and so far this year has lost $2.6 million!