Tag Archives: unemployment

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Despite defending Obama’s NATO meeting, Chicago can’t pay its cops!

“First, the City took the unusual position that Officers could not request to be credited with compensatory time for any overtime that they worked during the NATO Summit knowing that this was a clear violation of our contract. Now, after our Mayor, Superintendent, and the citizens of Chicago have heaped praise upon Chicago Police Officers for their excellent work at the NATO Summit, the City has taken the position that Officers are not entitled to compensation for working a sixth or seventh consecutive day during a single calendar week.”-Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Chicago Lodge 7

“NATO is not an excuse for the city of Chicago to circumvent the contract. It clearly states that officers working overtime are to be paid in either time or money…..This is just another example of the city not honoring the contract.”-Mike Shields, FOP president

Some Chicago cops are starting to realize that those elites they defend are about to screw them over, welcome to the club!

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? 45,000 U.S. Postal workers to be forced out

25 May 2012, the U.S. Postal Service is offering buyouts to 45,000 part time mail handlers.

It’s part of the USPS’s plans to layoff 150,000 employees by 2015.  Postal officials had no comment about how they were going to do that.

You can blame the U.S. Congress for forcing the Postal Service to over pay into government retirement and health plans, even though the USPS does not get any tax dollars!!!

The money for the U.S. Postal Service comes directly from sales of postage and mail services!

Fukushima, Idaho

East Idaho Gamma Ray detector not functioning? Gamma levels higher than “typical”? Evidence of Fukushima Daiichi?

As the Japanese nuclear disaster continues on, with no end in sight, I discovered that a public radiation detector, or High Pressure Ion Chamber (HPIC)/gamma detector, in the middle of nowhere eastern Idaho, apparently is not working.

It’s part of the Idaho Environmental Monitoring Program (IEMP), which is actually run by a conglomeration of Federal and State agencies.  They include the State of Idaho, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

Big Lost River IEMP Tower

IEMP is located at the Big Lost River rest stop along U.S. 26/20 highway.  It’s sandwiched between the INL complex and EBR 1.  The area is home to at least 50 nuclear power projects, a sign at the rest stop claims it’s the most nuclear projects in one area in the whole world.

HPIC gamma detector. Note that it is made by GE, the same company behind Fukushima Daiichi.

At the rest stop there is also a display that presents current IEMP data to the public. However, the gamma radiation display is blank.  There is a website, www.idahoop.org.   The website is not put together well, but when I clicked on the Rest Area Tower (found under the Community Monitoring section) it does display the gamma levels.  As of 25 May 2012 background gamma radiation is at 16.1 μR/h (micro Roentgens per hour).

Big Lost River rest stop IEMP display board

This might be a little high, but how are we in the general public supposed to know?  Here’s a couple of examples: According to Wikipedia 9.8 μR/h equals approximately 86 mR/year, which is considered “less than typical”.  Another example is that of the ghost city of Pripyat, which was contaminated by Chernobyl in the 1980s.  As of 5 January 2012 the city was still showing gamma levels as high as 66 μR/h, which is why no one can live there!

The IEMP website also gives you locations of several other gamma stations throughout eastern Idaho. They surround the INL. Here’s what the many Towers were picking up on 25 May 2012: Blackfoot  10.4 μR/h, Idaho Falls 13.8 μR/h, Fort Hall reservation 14.5 μR/h, Rexburg 13.0 μR/h and Terreton 15.0 μR/h.

The major problem with this IEMP website is that it does not give you any historical gamma readings.  The system was put into place in 1997, and having that historical data would be the best way to see if gamma radiation was increasing or not.  We also don’t know if the current, slightly higher than “typical”, micro Roentgens per hour of gamma radiation is the result of the record number of nuclear projects in the area, or from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi!

Big Lost River IEMP station

There are many EMP sites throughout the United States, such as CEMP in Nevada.  But not all monitor gamma radiation. The CIEMP checks only solar radiation (net radiation).  You can search under “environmental monitoring program” to see if any are in your area of the U.S.

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

What Economic Recovery? Desperate Mazda to sell out to Fiat, look out that Alfa Romeo might actually be a Miata from Japan!

23 May 2012, after losing it’s former supporter, Ford, Mazda is now desperate for help from a bigger car maker.  In steps Fiat.

Fiat already owns most Italian brands, like Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Mazarati, and they’re majority owner of Chrysler.

NHK reporting that a deal between Mazda and Fiat would see the two seat Mazda roadster (known as Miata in the U.S.) being equipped with a Fiat engine and sold as an Alfa Romeo.

Mazda and Fiat would work together to produce more fuel efficient engines, and Fiat could incorporate Mazda technology into its Fiat 500 mini car.

Back in March, Mazda reported their fourth straight year of huge losses!

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

What Economic Recovery? HP to layoff up to 48,000 more employees! Texas to be hit hard? Idaho’s printer factory targeted? Blame lack of recovery in Europe!

23 May 2012, Hewlett-Packard (HP) is expected to layoff another 25,000 employees according to an unnamed source, reported in a CNN/Fortune article.

The original report of the 25,000 job cuts came from Bloomberg on 17 May 2012.  It includes about “…10,000 to 15,000 from Hewlett-Packard’s enterprise services group.”  HP’s enterprise services is headquartered in Plano, Texas.

However, on 16 May 2012, Business Insider reported that HP wants to layoff up to 15% of its employees. “Layoffs are going to be significant.” HP has about 320,000 employees, if they go for a 15% cut that’s 48,000 people losing their jobs!

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) is reporting that HP will report huge losses after the stock markets close today, 23 May. The WSJ Market Watch is expecting HP to report a quarterly earnings decline of 27%, with overall revenues down by 5%.

Fox News reporting that HP is suffering from the bad economy in Europe, which makes up 37% of HP’s business: “The increasing uncertainty and resulting macro weakness in Europe will likely act as an ongoing headwind to growth.”-Chris Whitmore, Deutsche Bank Securities

CNN is reporting that “Many of the job cuts are expected to come from the printing unit.” Back in march, HP announced it was merging its computer and printer factories.  However, this is not the first time HP has combined computer and printer production.

The last attempt was made in 2005, and was reversed six months later.

According to the IdahoStatesman, more than 50% of HP’s Boise, Idaho operation is printing and imaging.  When the IdahoStatesman questioned HP’s Boise campus boss (back in March), he claimed he was unaware of the merger of computer and printer operations.

Hewlett Packard has been slashing and burning ever since 2009, when employees got a 5% pay cut.  Then in 2010, about 9,000 jobs were cut. In February 2012, 275 people lost their jobs due to the canceling of HP’s webOS.

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, 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, U.S.

World War 3: Japan sues U.S. over Iran sanctions! U.S./U.K. media lie about Japanese bank freezing Iranian accounts!

May 17,2012, according to Japan’s NHK the Japanese bank, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, is suing the United States over a court order to freeze Iranian accounts.

Western media has been reporting that the Japanese bank has frozen the accounts, but that’s not what Japanese media says.  Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ filled the suit on May 16, but refuses to make any public comments.

The U.S. court order is not about current sanctions against Iran, but is an old civil suit claiming that Iran was responsible for the 1983 bombing of the USMC barracks in Beirut, after the U.S. invaded Lebanon.

The families of the killed Marines have been led to believe Iran should pay, yet there is no concrete evidence that Iran was behind it.  Lebanese who claim to be connected to the bombing say they were simply defending their country against the U.S. invaders.

Yasuhiro Sato, chairman of the Japanese Bankers Association, says any sanctions imposed on Japanese banks doing business with Iran, will cripple Japan’s struggling economy. So who are the sanctions really against?

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? European economies crashing and burning! Greece -6.2% GDP! IMF wants Mo Money! China in trouble!

May 15, 2012, the Group of 20 industrialized countries (not for long maybe?) will be meeting in Mexico, in June.  Already Mexico and Japan are calling for G-20 members (mainly those of the BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to give the U.S. based International Monetary Fund another $430 billion USD!!!

This is because the European economies are crashing and burning. Italy reported a minus 0.8% GDP for the January to March quarter. That’s three quarters in a row of declines! Spain reported a minus 0.3% GDP, for the second quarter in a row. But Greece reported a huge minus 6.2% GDP!!!

The only “good” news came out of Germany, which reported a stagnant 0.5% GDP. And Germany is supposed to be the economic powerhouse of Europe!  Of course main stream western media reporting it as a “bounce back” in the economy, idiots!

Overall, the entire 17 member European Union reported a stagnant 0% GDP for January to March 2012!

To make matters worse, China is reporting that European investment into China has declined for six months in a row!  Chinese officials admitted that their country’s explosive economic growth can only be driven by foreign investment (like unAmerican Corporate America shipping U.S. jobs to China).

From January to April 2012, European investment into China dropped 28%.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Greek Unemployment breaks Records! 60,000 companies went bust!

On May 10, 2012, the Greek Statistical Authority revealed that unemployment continued upward to record levels.

For February 2012, unemployment was at an official record high of 21.7%!

But wait, there’s more!  The reason for the record breaking unemployment was that 60,000 Greek companies went out of business in 2011!  60,000!

Greek business associations say another 60,000 could go bust in 2012!  They blame it all on the “austerity” cuts the Trilateral Commission control government is imposing upon the people of Greece.

On May 6, Greek voters voted to get rid of the U.S. based Trilateral Commission controlled ruling party, but now efforts to create a new government have stalled.