Tag Archives: war

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Black Horse & the Next War: Get ready to literally fight for Your Job! “…hell is coming.” End Romney style Capitalism, create true free enterprise

…there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

Gallup CEO, Jim Clifton, has written a book which says the next ‘currency’ will be jobs!  The book is called The Coming Jobs War.

Clifton was also interviewed for Freeenterprise.com.  He basically said the need for employment will soon override all other desires, even religious beliefs.  He gave a dire warning concerning the lack of job creation in the U.S.: “…we have to be in a state of mind of free enterprise or hell is coming!”

Clifton also said that Corporate America must stop operating on debt, and that the government should enact policies that reward businesses who make real money and not those who ‘cook their books’: “What companies really want is organic growth, not acquired growth [ie Mitt Romney style venture capitalism]. What you want is quality sales growth.”

Companies with weak sales can blame their leadership, not their front line employees: “Where you have lousy sales growth, it’s because you’ve named the wrong person manager.”

The coming jobs war actually starts with customers “…because jobs follow customers, not the other way around.”

Government, and Unions, must act to create a true free enterprise system: “Leaders have to create the spirit of free enterprise in their cities, encourage startups and entrepreneurs, and make it fun to be in business. Nobody builds anything great when they lack confidence in the future of free enterprise.”

 

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

World War 3 & Government/Corporate Incompetence: United States and Europe will suffer from loss of Iranian oil, expect $150 per barrel oil soon, Iran now economically independent

A visit from the International Atomic Energy Agency seems to have put a vote by Iranian lawmakers, to stop oil shipments, on hold.

On Sunday, January 29, the vote was postponed.  One factor is debate over how long Iran should block sales of oil to Europe; some lawmakers want a five year block, while others want 15 years.

Iran’s Oil Minister, Rostam Qasemis, has pointed out that stopping oil shipments to Europe, or the United States, will not greatly affect Iran’s oil business. In the case of the EU, he says they get only 20% of Iran’s oil exports.  British media say it’s 25%, but that’s still not enough to adversely affect Iran’s economy.

Qasemis also said Iran is on the verge of being completely independent when it comes to oil industry supplies: “We can produce all the items needed for the (oil) industry inside the country and cut our needs to the foreign counties through relying on the ability and knowledge of local experts.” 

The International Monetary Fund is also warning the West of any stoppage of oil from Iran.  Some Western media reports say the IMF predicts world oil prices could soar 20-30% if Iran halts oil exports.  And that’s only at the beginning of the oil stoppage.

Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Company, Ahmad Qalebani, said that when oil exports to the EU are ended you can expect oil prices to immediately jump to $150 per barrel.  Again, that will only hurt the U.S. and Europe, not Iran.

In fact the increase in oil prices would only benefit Iran.  At only $85 per barrel, Iranian officials say they will see $57 billion in revenue from March 2012 to March 2013. They’d love $150 per barrel.  And to think our own leaders want to embargo Iranian oil.  (gotta love the global oil industry)

 

 

 

 

Fukushima

Pacific Ring of Fire & Japan Modern Day Atlantis round 5: Southern Honshu could suffer Tsunami even larger than the one that hit in March 2011

A team of researchers from University of Tokyo, and Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), have discovered that southern Honshu will get hit by a much larger tsunami, than the one that hit north eastern Honshu in March, 2011.

Their reason is that they’ve discovered, off the Kii Peninsula, a deep ocean fault cliff that’s 200 km (124 miles) long and 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) tall!

The Kii Peninsula is on the Central Tectonic, or Japan Median Tectonic, fault line, which runs from eastern Honshu down through Kyushu.  On the south side of that line is the highly unstable Philippine Plate.

Professors are now warning local officials that they need to draw up new earthquake/tsunami survival plans in light of the discovery.

JAPAN MODERN DAY ATLANTIS ROUND 4: MINAMISANRIKU, HOMETOWN OF HEROINE MIKI ENDO IS BECOMING THE ATLANTIS I PREDICTED

Fukushima

Government Incompetence & What Global Warming? Freezing temps cause more leaks at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant

Apparently officials with Tokyo Electric Power Company (which has recently been nationalized by the Japanese government, because TEPCo is broke) never thought to protect all the exposed pipes from freezing weather.  Maybe they thought global warming would protect them?

Japan is being hit with their usual freezing winter temps, along with record snow fall in some areas, and that has caused cooling pipes to freeze and burst at the General Electric designed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

TEPCo said at least 40 liters (10.5 U.S. gallons) of water leaked from pipes in Reactor 4.  However, they said 7 tons of water have leaked from Reactor 6!

Matsumoto Junichi, a TEPCo rep,  admitted they failed to protect the exposed pipes from the freezing weather!

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Iranian President says the United States, and Europe, are White Horse Bullies

I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

The following are comments made by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on January 26, 2012.

“The West must be aware that the Iranian nation….does not need them. You impose embargo on Iran’s oil but do not see that the United States has not bought oil from us for 30 years, but nothing happened, and Iran followed its path with dignity.”

“The recent brewhaha about Iran has been created because Iran is on the path of progress and development, and the enemy is seeking to hinder this progress.”

“The U.S. says the Iranian nation is not the target of sanctions and that they (sanctions) target officials while they are of the type that directly affect the masses and do not hurt officials.”

“They say, ‘we adopt sanctions because Iran does not negotiate.’ And this is while they adopted sanctions ahead of Iran’s negotiation and are seeking to find an excuse to avoid negotiations.”

“Why should we make up excuses? A person who has logic and has something to say does not avoid negotiations, but rather those who are bullies and hegemons make excuses.”

“You impose sanctions on our central bank, but did you have dealings with our central bank? The value of our annual foreign exchange transactions is $200 billion, only 24 billion of which are with Europe.”

“At a certain juncture, 90% of our foreign exchange transactions were with Europe, but you are aware that the transactions have now decreased to 10% and (sanctions) cannot affect Iran’s economy.”

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3 & Government/Economic Incompetence: Iran will stop buying products from Europe and the United States! Working with China and India to trade oil for gold!

“According to one of the main clauses, the Islamic Republic of Iran will halt all oil exports to European countries as long as they continue to ban oil imports from Iran. Another clause obliges the government to forbid imports of all goods from countries which have imposed sanctions on our country.”-Nasser Soudani, Majlis (parliament) Energy Committee

January 28, Iranian lawmakers have finalized a bill that would freeze all oil shipments to Europe.  But the bill would also place an embargo on any products being sold to Iran from countries that have joined the U.S./EU oil embargo against Iran!

This shows the Iranians have realized that the U.S. and EU are not in a good economic position to impose embargoes.  They are taking advantage of that and  will not only stop all oil shipments to oil starved Europe, but with stop buying products from countries who embargo Iranian oil.

The Iranians created a petroleum trade institution that does not use U.S. dollars. It’s very successful, and part of why Iran has become so wealthy.  Not only do they not take U.S. dollars, but they actually accept barter for oil, such as trading raw oil for refined fuel.

Iran has become a major producer of refined fuel in the Middle East.  In fact, in February, 2011, Iran stopped buying refined fuel from other countries!  On January 14, 2012, Iran announced they now make their own jet fuel.

A German political analysts told Russian media that Iran has learned how to succeed under sanctions: “All the present faithful customers to Iran oil are set to continue buying this oil, and they will find a way, rest assured. This is the signal I get from Tehran.  I was personally present when the deputy economics minister of Iran was talking to a foreign society in Berlin, and the gentleman said very openly to the shocked audience ‘OK. You don’t want to buy our goods. Well, the Chinese do.’”-Christoph R. Hörstel

Now Israeli media are reporting that Iran, India, China and several other countries are working on a oil for gold trade deal.  The deal would allow countries to avoid going through U.S. and European banks to buy Iranian petroleum products!

Also, on January 26, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated: “Today, we have attained a status that we need not sell oil to Europe, and we are following our path determinedly.”

Business/Economics, U.S.

United Police States of America: New Mexico prison keeps man in solitary for 22 months, man was never convicted of a crime! Same prison has history of Staph infections. Story updated!

Dona Ana County officials have some ‘splaining to do, after they kept a mentally ill man in solitary for 22 months, even though he was never convicted of a crime! The same prison, in New Mexico, also has a history of untreatable Staph infections, and it houses child prisoners as well as adults.

On January 24, 2012, a jury in a federal court decided the county owed the man $1 million for every month he was held in prison, for a total of $22 million.

County officials tried to defend their actions, in court, by saying the mentally ill man had a criminal history, and that he was a danger to society.  However, that violates our constitutional rights regarding a fair trial.  Just because you have a criminal history, and you might be a danger to society, doesn’t mean you can be held without trial (unless you’re considered a terrorist under the new law sign by Obama).

After 22 months, the man finally got his trial, and it was a New Mexico District Court Judge, Douglas Driggers, that determined that while he was mentally “incompetent”, he was “not dangerous”!  Judge Driggers threw out all charges and freed the illegally held man.  Apparently Dona Ana County law enforcement, and prison officials, took it upon themselves to act as judge and jury when they locked up the mentally ill man.

County officials also tried to claim, in court, that the man never asked to be released from solitary.  However, evidence presented in the federal trial showed that the prison psychologist kept the man sedated with powerful drugs!  Other evidence showed the prison psychologist is not certified to administer drugs!

County officials still have not given an official explanation as to why they locked him up without ever going to trial, but they say they will appeal the federal court’s decision.

The Dona Ana County prison, which also houses child prisoners, has a history of recurring untreatable Staph infections, called MRSA.  It’s not just that county prison, but all New Mexico prisons, as admitted by an epidemiologist for the New Mexico Department of Health.   Doctor Mack Sewell said state health officials see MRSA infections in prisons “several times a year.”

07 March 2013 update: Dona Ana County appealed the $22 million dollar judgement against them. The county now claims the man was arrested for intoxicated driving, and driving a stolen car.  They could not prove their claim, but the judgement against them was reduced to $15 million.  The victim now lives outside New Mexico and is dying of lung cancer.

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

World War 3 & Government Incompetence: Oil embargoes are double edged swords. Iran about to swipe back at Europe, could stop all oil shipments voluntarily!

Europe is dependent on foreign oil.  The European Union was pushed into joining the United States in placing an embargo on Iranian oil (in exchange for exempting British Petroleum).  Now Iran says, so what, we’ll voluntarily cut off European oil supplies!

Lawmakers in the Iranian Majlis (similar to a parliament or congress) will decide a new bill on January 29, 2012.  If approved it would cease all oil shipments to Europe by the end of next week.  That’s significant, because the EU oil embargo involves only new oil contracts, not existing ones.

So, in reality the EU oil embargo is a paper tiger, because it doesn’t involve existing oil deals (part of the deal with the U.S. and exempting BP).  The Iranians have realized that oil is, at this point, their greatest weapon.

The United Kingdom is already suffering increasing fuel costs, and their fuel stations are running dry, because of internal problems.  So how stupid are countries who rely on foreign oil suppliers, when they threaten their own oil suppliers?

Could Iran voluntarily halting oil shipments, to U.S. and EU buyers, be a greater incentive to go to war, then their alleged nuclear weapons program?   Modern societies don’t run on nuclear bombs (not counting the ticking time bomb nuclear power plants), they run on oil.

 

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

Black Horse & Fuel Prices: United Kingdom to see record Diesel prices, not because of Iran oil embargo but because one of their refineries went bust!

…there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently warned that a successful oil embargo against Iran could cause oil prices to jump by at least 30%.  But already Britons are being hit with record fuel prices, as fuel stations are running dry because a major oil refiner went bankrupt and stopped shipping out fuel!

In February, 2011, gasoline (petrol) prices in Britain hit at least $9.67 per gallon.  British media now reporting that diesel prices could pass 1.45 pounds per liter (that’s U.S.$8.60 per gallon), with the average diesel car, not truck, driver paying more than $156.00 for a fill up!

Back in 2010, diesel cars became the most popular vehicles in Britain, because diesel fuel was a little cheaper, per gallon, than gas. I say was, because in May, 2011, diesel fuel prices in the U.K. finally went higher than petrol.

Now, the giant Coryton fuel refinery in Essex, England, stopped fuel shipments on January 24, 2012.  Coryton’s Swiss parent company Petroplus filed for bankruptcy, as they fell victim to the ongoing credit crisis in Europe (you see capitalist corporations don’t operate with cash, they operate on loans, just like Mitt Romney).  13 banks, including Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas, froze Petroplus’s credit accounts (can someone please freeze the credit accounts of our capitalist leaders here in the U.S.?).

But just because they stopped shipping out fuel doesn’t mean they’re not making it.  In fact Coryton officials admit they’re now hording all the fuel they make: “Our immediate priority is to continue to operate the Coryton refinery and the Teesside oil storage business without disruption while the financial position is clarified and restructuring options are explored.”–Steven Pearson, joint administrator

Now throw in the fact that fuel tanker drivers are on strike at another British refinery.  That strike is blocking supplies from getting to 340 fuel stations in Britain.  By January 26, 2012, filling stations in Britain began reporting they were out of fuel, after customers rushed to fill their cars when news of the fuel supply stoppage was heard.

“There is no doubt the loss of supplies from a major U.K. refinery, plus the problems in Iran, is going to give the speculators a field day. When they speculate, the only way is up as far as  fuel prices are concerned. Motorists are going to have to get used to seeing prices creeping up.”–Edmund King, The Automobile Association

 

 

 

Business/Economics

Black Horse & Morgan Stanley: Cuts employee pay 30%, claims profits are down, gets hit with billion dollar lawsuits, then hires ex Merrill Lynch team. If you’re not a shareholder, you are a nobody!!!

…there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

“You’re naive, read the newspaper, number one. Number two, if you put your compensation in a one year context to define your overall level of happiness, you have a problem which is much bigger than the job. And number three, if you’re really unhappy, just leave. I mean, life’s too short.”-James Gorman, CEO of Morgan Stanley, telling employees who’re not happy with pay cuts to go home

Bloomberg reporting that Morgan Stanely is cutting employee pay by as much as 30%, as well as capping bonuses.  Is it because profits are down? Well they are down, but they still made a profit of $4.11 billion in 2011!

Oh, and CEO James Gorman got a 25% cut in pay.  He made only $10.5 million in 2011!  Is it because they’re being sued by two major banks over the home foreclosure fiasco? A German bank, and a French/Belgian bank, are suing for $1.2 billion, because they claim Morgan Stanley sold them bad mortgage investments between 2006 and 2007.

Officials with Morgan Stanley are not commenting on the lawsuit, they claim they don’t know anything about it (at this point).

But if Morgan Stanley is hurting for cash, why did they hire an ex team of ‘advisers’ from Merrill Lynch, for who knows how much?  It’s claimed Philip Ressa and Justin Cho made Merrill Lynch $2.1 million last year.

I think CEO James Gorman revealed the real reason for cutting pay and bonuses when, at the end of a statement to Bloomberg media, he said “…we have to respect the fact that shareholders have to get paid…”