Tag Archives: taxes

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.

 

 

International, U.S.

Government Incompetence & World War 3: Obama returns combat troops to Iraq!

“At the request of the Iraqi government, according to General Caslen, a unit of Army Special Operations soldiers was recently deployed to Iraq…”-New York Times, 24 September 2012

According to a New York Times article, President Barack Obama has sent Special Forces troops back into Iraq!

The revelation is buried fifteen paragraphs into the article: “Iraq and the United States are negotiating an agreement that could result in the return of small units of American soldiers to Iraq…”

The article is basically about how the U.S. instigated civil war in Syria is spilling into Iraq, making things so bad that U.S. combat troops are being sent back in (hey, sounds like history repeating itself, just ask historians about the British Empire’s failed attempts at controlling Iraq prior to World War 2).

 

 

 

 

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 28 – 30 September 2012. Afghan troops do battle with NATO troops! More drone strikes! USMC General ‘mad as hell’!

30 September 2012

In Maidan Wardak Province, there is a report that NATO called in a U.S. drone strike, which killed four civilians and wounded several others.  It could be vengeance for yesterday’s Green on Blue attack.

In Nangarhar Province,  four people killed, three wounded, after a motorcycle bomb exploded near a Mosque.

The National Coalition of Afghanistan announced they were opposed to any planned military pact between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

29 September 2012

In Maidan Wardak Province, the provincial governor reporting that Afghan National Army (ANA) troops have attacked NATO occupation forces!  So far three ANA troops have been killed. ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member and an ISAF civilian contractor died following a suspected insider attack in eastern Afghanistan…”

The Department of Defense has revealed that the number of U.S. personnel killed in Afghanistan since the invasion, has reached 2,000.

Ignorant U.S. Marine Corps General, John Allen, had this to say: “I’m mad as hell about them, to be honest with you. We’re willing to sacrifice a lot for this campaign, but we’re not willing to be murdered for it.”

Numb nuts U.S. Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, said this: “I expect that there will be more of these high profile attacks and that the enemy will do whatever they can to try and break our will using this kind of tactic.”

Hello! It’s called War; you invaded them, they are defending their territory which is their legal right under international law.  And by the way, the people of Afghanistan had nothing to do with 11 September 2011!!!

In Herat Province, two cops were killed, and two wounded, after they drove over a mine. Also, four people were killed by U.S. led airstrike.

The Afghan Interior Ministry announced that at least 20 Mujahideen were killed, and 21 captured in battles in the provinces of Kabul, Kandahar, Zabul, Uruzgan, Logar, Ghazni, Khost, Paktika, Paktiya and Helmand.

In Kunar province, three people were killed by U.S. airstrike.

In Helmand Province, 12 people were killed by two U.S. led airstrikes.

28 September 2012

In Farah Province, Mujahideen claim they killed seven U.S. personnel after the huge mine they planted exploded when a U.S./NATO armored vehicle drove over it.

In Helmand Province, a U.S./NATO armored fighting vehicle (AFV) ran over a woman and her child. The father, mother and their son were riding a motorcycle when they were hit by the AFV.  The boy was killed, his mother wounded.  Witnesses say a policeman at an intersection waved the family on, but the AFV did not stop.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 24 – 27 September 2012. Is Mother Nature to blame for school poisonings? Boy said he was going to blow himself up ’cause the U.S. killed his parents! Video shows Mujahideen wearing new issue U.S. uniforms!

27 September 2012

Despite threats of war with Pakistan, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, agreed to come up with a long term military pact.  They hope to come up with an agreement by the end of 2013, and the United Kingdom said they will support it.

26 September 2012

In Kabul Province, at least 16 schoolgirls were poisoned.   They were treated at a hospital in Kabul city.  Afghan health officials are investigating, and have now admitted that some of the past school poisonings could have been due to environmental factors and not terrorism!

ISAF said: “Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”

In Logar Province, a U.S./NATO military convoy was attacked by a suicide bomber driving a car packed with explosives.  Mujahideen claim seven people killed, five wounded.  Mujahideen also claim three armored vehicles destroyed.

25 September 2012

In Ghazni Province, police arrested a religious leader for ordering the whipping of a 15 years old girl.  Government officials say the girl was whipped for having an illicit relationship with a boy.  The boy was fined.

In Herat Province, people are protesting the continued arbitrary arresting of civilians by U.S. forces.  Protests were held in the city of Herat.

In Helmand Province, a 12 years old boy surrendered himself to police. He told police that at first he wanted to be a suicide bomber to avenge the death of his entire family at the hands of U.S./NATO. He said Mujahideen encouraged him and gave him a suicide vest bomb, but he chickened out.

In Kabul Province, a hand grenade was thrown into a market. At least six people wounded. Local police say it might be connected to the assassination of the owner of the market a month ago.

In Badakhshan Province, hundreds of people protested the U.S. anti-Islam movie, and French anti-Islam comics.  They demand the Afghan government end all ties to the United States.

Two U.S. Marines are to face criminal charges for urinating on the bodies of dead Afghans, according to the USMC.

24 September 2012

The Afghan Interior Ministry says government forces have killed 39, wounded five and captured 72 Mujahideen in battles in the provinces of Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul, Wardak, Ghazni, Ghor, Nimruz, Nangarhar, and Baghlan.  Only two government forces were killed, 12 wounded.

Mujahideen have released a video of reading of wills and an English explaination for the attack on Camp Bastion.  They are wearing current issue U.S. uniforms.

“On the 14th of the current month at around 10:00 pm at night, a successful operation was carried out by 15 courageous martyrdom seeking Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate on the second largest enemy base in southern Afghanistan (Camp Bastion/Leatherneck) which resulted in the death of 47 invaders while more than 34 others were wounded.  Besides the heavy human toll, more than 11 enemy Harrier Jets and helicopters were also eliminated as well as a several fuel reserves and aircraft hangers completely destroyed.”

This statement from Mujahideen comes at the same time ISAF restated that Mujahideen attacks are down from last year!

International, U.S.

Government Incompetence & World War 3: More blowback, man who helped the West assasinate Gaddafi is tortured to death!

26 September 2012, almost one year after Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi was captured then tortured to death live via cell phone video, one of the men (supported by the United States and European countries) responsible has himself been tortured to death!

The man, known as Omran Sha’aban, was captured by Gaddafi loyalists in July 2012, along with 22 other people.  He was tortured, then shot in the stomach and neck (similar to what happened to Gaddafi).  He was then released still alive.  U.S. puppet leaders then sent him to a hospital in France, where he died.

This is proof the U.S. and Europe have not succeed in taking over Libya, the war is still on!

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Mitt Romney’s Staples to close 75 stores! Downsize 30 more!

26 September 2012, Staples, considered an example of success for vulture capitalist Bain Capital (Mitt Romney sat on Staples’ board of directors for more than a decade), is in big trouble.

On 25 September, officials with Staples announced they will close down 75 stores worldwide (at least 30 in the United States with 15 of those being accelerated closings, 45 stores and delivery businesses in Europe).  Staples will also downsize/relocate another 30 stores in the U.S.

Will the Pocatello, Idaho, Staples make the new closings hit list?

Common sense tells you that means more job losses, even though company officials are claiming that won’t happen.

Sales at Staples are crashing, especially for computers.  Company officials say they are shifting to more internet based business.

For the quarter ended July 2012 Staples reported an overall 6% decrease in sales, compared to the same time in 2011: “Our second quarter results fell short of our expectations due to softer than expected sales trends in North America and ongoing weakness in Europe and Australia.”-Ron Sargent, CEO

In North America sales decreased 3%, but around the world Staples saw a 10% decrease!

Staples has also revised its future sales outlook downward, and is expecting hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in costs just to close down all those stores!

Mitt Romney, and others with Bain Capital, once called Staples their prime example of success.  Here’s just a sampling of other companies that Bain Capital is involved with: AMC Entertainment, Aspen Education Group, Brookstone, Burger King, Burlington Coat Factory, Clear Channel Communications, Domino’s Pizza, DoubleClick, Dunkin’ Donuts, D&M Holdings, Guitar Center, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), Sealy, The Sports Authority, Toys “R” Us, Warner Music Group and The Weather Channel.

Once you start investigating all the companies that Bain Capital is involved with, or affiliated with, it becomes clear that it is unAmerican Corporate America’s vulture (venture) capitalist investment companies that are killing our economy.

And Mitt Romney says as President of the United States he’ll do for the country what he did for Corporate America!

International, U.S.

Christian Crimes: Church leaders ripped off their own charities! 9/11 charity scam, Katrina charity scam, tax evasion in the tens of millions of dollars!

“Not only was this (nonprofit) plundered to fund the operating deficits of the church, the amounts were spent on personal items of the pastor’s family, and thus were items of taxable income.”-Bruce Kowal, former accountant for Reverend Carl Keyes

“If the New York attorney general were to ever find out, then goodness knows the kind of trouble you and the church could be in, never mind the IRS or the feds!”-David Cushworth, former accountant for Reverend Carl Keyes

25 September 2012, ongoing reports by the Associated Press (AP) proves that you can’t trust church leaders.

The AP report says that Reverend Carl Keyes got hundreds of millions of dollars in donations for charities related to 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and other disasters, as well as international charities (Urban Life Ministries, Aid for the World and many others that aren’t even registered with the proper authorities).

He used much of the money to fund his Manhattan church (eventually sold off to his benefit), pay his own personal debts, buy a $950,000 USD house in New Jersey, and even pay for his son’s college education.  He also failed to report donations used for personal expenses to state and federal tax collectors.

His own accountants resigned in protest.

Of course the christian leader denies everything: “Sorry that you don’t have a real ‘story’ here, but the truth is actually quite boring since no one did anything wrong.”-Jennifer Polovetsky, attorney for Reverend Carl Keyes

 

U.S.

Pacific Ring of Fire getting hammered? Why is FEMA running emergency preparedness PSA specifically about the 1989 Loma Prieta quake?

Video

Recently I saw a emergency preparedness public service announcement (PSA) on TV, it was specifically warning about a major earthquake, using the 1989 Loma Prieta (San Francisco bay area) earthquake as an example.

The latest Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) PSA is part of a new series called The Day Before.  Past PSAs were more general in their warnings, why would FEMA now issue a PSA so specific?

Several reports have come out this year, from federal Department of Homeland Security agencies, as well as state agencies, which discuss major earthquakes and tsunamis, including the 1989 Loma Prieta quake.  They also reveal a concern about how such things are predicted. As a result many state and local governments (from Virginia to California) have been asked to better prepare for another similar quake.

A July 2012 report by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, called Spectral Damping Scaling Factors for Shallow Crustal Earthquakes in Active Tectonic Regions, basically says that current ground motion measurement formulas used to predict earthquakes are not accurate, specifically when it comes to shallow quakes (California has a lot of those, on a weekly basis).  Of course they’ve recommended a new formula.

In June 2012, a TsuInfo Alert (Tsunami Information Alert) was presented by Washington State Department of Natural Resources.  It concerns the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which affects the North American west coast from northern California up to British Columbia.

The report quotes one scientist who has concerns about how PSAs should be used to prepare the public: “There is no one flyer, no one commercial that’s
going to reach all of these audiences. They all have to be engaged individually, and they have to be approached with something that shows what’s in it for them.”-John Schelling, Washington State Emergency Management Division

The June TsuInfo Alert was packed with warnings about the underestimated effects that earthquakes have in generating tsunamis, not just on the west coast of North America, but including Hawaii and the Gulf of Mexico.  The overriding advice for the public is, as one official from New Zealand was quoted: “….don’t wait around, head for higher ground!”-Fred Mecoy, Emergency Preparedness
Manager, Wellington

Officials from the U.S. state of Oregon suggested three basic rules for surviving after a major earthquake/tsunami: “…one can survive three minutes without oxygen, three hours without shelter, three days without water, and three weeks without food.” 

Don’t forget hypothermia (part of the “shelter” rule), especially if your dragged out to sea.  Many of the tsunami deaths in the March 2011 disasters in Japan were the result of hypothermia, not drowning!

In February I predicted 2012 would be a busy year for earthquakes, specifically around the Pacific Ring of Fire.   I count the number of 6.5 magnitude+ quakes, reported by the U.S. Geological Survey as Significant Earthquakes, and so far for 2012 there’ve been plenty.

I count at least 31 6.5+ quakes from 01 January 2012 to 05 September 2012, all  of them around the Pacific Ring of Fire!

I counted 13 Significant Earthquakes between 5 and 6.4 magnitude, all around the Pacific Ring of Fire (including some tectonic plates directly in contact with Pacific Ring plates).

When compared to 2011, 31 6.5+ quakes doesn’t seem out of the norm. I counted about 34 such quakes for 2011 (on the USGS Significant list). But remember, 2011 was the year of the great disasters in Japan. Seven of those are quakes and/or aftershocks of the 11 March 2011 Great East Japan disasters (and I only counted up till 05 September).

For Significant quakes between 5 and 6.4 magnitude, I counted only four.

For 2011 there was a total of 38 Significant Earthquakes, from 01 January to 05 September.  For 2012 there have been a total of 44 Significant Earthquakes, six more than 2011 during the same time period.

So, while the number of 6.5+ quakes for 2012 are slightly lower than 2011, the number of quakes between 5 and 6.4 are higher (USGS does state that their lists are to be considered “incomplete”).  The Gregorian/Western/Christian calender year of 2012 isn’t over, yet.