All posts by Hutchins AAron

Born in Deutschland 1965, hometown was Bütthart, parents were not U.S. government employees. However, when father was tricked into joining the U.S. Air Force Civil Service, in 1969, with the promise that we could remain in Germany, we were promptly shipped off to Iran. Due to one of my Iranian educators being disappeared, along with her husband, by the U.S. ally Shah of Iran's Israeli & U.S. created Savak (for the then official terrorist act of promoting the idea that women can vote), and due to my U.S. citizen mother being placed on Savak's Terrorist Arrest List (for supporting the idea that women should vote, at that time the U.S. ally Shah of Iran did not allow women to vote, now they can) we left Iran for the United States in 1973, literally in the middle of the night. At the U.S. Embassy airbase the CIA operated Gooney Bird (C-47) was so packed with other U.S. citizens fleeing our ally Iran (because the Shah gave the OK to arrest any U.S. citizen for such terrorist acts as promoting the concept of voting) that we were turned away by the Loadmaster and had to take a chance on a civilian flight out of Tehran's airport. My father told me he and my mother had three culture shocks; first when they arrived in Germany as civilians, then after being shipped off to Iran as U.S. government employees, then again returning to the United States as unemployed civilians (because so much had changed in the U.S. while they were gone, their only news source was the U.S. Armed Forces Radio & Television Service which heavily censored information about the home front). Since I graduated high school in 1982 I've worked for U.S. government contractors and state & local government agencies (in California), convenience store manager in California, retail/property management in Georgia, California and Idaho. Spent the 1990s in the TV news business producing number one rated local news programs in California, Arizona and Idaho. 14+ years with California and Idaho Army National Guard and the U.S. Air Force. Obtained a BA degree in International Studies from Idaho State University at the age of 42. Unemployed since 2015, so don't tell me the economy has recovered.
Fukushima

Government & Corporate Incompetence: Russia warning the world; Japanese products contaminated with radiation. Why isn’t the U.S. EPA or FDA protecting us?

On 01 December 2011, Russian port authorities in Vladivostok stopped a shipment of tires from Japan. They say the tires are emitting beta and gamma rays.

This is not the first time Russian inspectors found radioactive products from Japan.  In April, 49 second hand (used) cars shipped from Japan were found to be emitting radiation six times the safe limit.  A similar incident happened in June.  Eastern Russia is a big market for used Japanese cars.

What about radiation testing in the U.S.?  The latest statement from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) claims to have conducted “…28,190 field examinations for radionuclide contamination.”  However, they only talk about 1186 samples (out of the 28,190 tests) being safe.  The data for the rest of their test is in a format my computer couldn’t open.

The FDA website has some statements that are pure bogusnus.  Example: “Little or no harvesting of fish is taking place in the area around the reactor.”  This is false! Fisherman in the Fukushima area have been fishing, including around the Daiichi power plant, it’s their only source of income!  In fact the latest revelation, that strontium 90 is pouring into the ocean, has the local fishermens’ co-op threatening to sue Tokyo Electric.

Another example from the FDA: “The volume of water between particles and fish absorbs radiation, “shielding” the fish.”  Bull Shit!  Why have so many fish in Japanese markets turned up highly contaminated with radiation?  Why are Fukushima fishermen so pissed off!?

The FDA tries a Red Herring argument by saying: “The half life of I-131 is about eight days.”  They’re talking about cesium 131, they’re trying to make you feel safe.  Hello, what about the strontium 90, the plutonium, and other isotopes that last virtually freakin’ forever!

They do mention cesium 137 (half life of 30 years), but here’s another amazing statement the FDA makes: “…the radionuclides also undergo biological excretion and do not continue to build up in fish…”  Bull shit again!  When I was a Cold War soldier, the U.S. Army had us doing yearly training for NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) warfare.  One of the things we were taught is that radiation contamination freakin’ builds up over time!  The longer you’re exposed the more F–ked up you get, because it builds up!  You see when you work around radiative shit, you have to monitor not only the intensity of the radiation, but how long you’re exposed to it.

Finally the FDA passes the buck onto Customs and Border Protection saying they screen the cargo containers coming from Japan.  The FDA also says their own people walk around the docks using hand held radiometers, and if they detect high “background” radiation levels then they do more intensive inspections. The problem is that just because the contents of the shipping container are radioactive does not means the thick steel container will emit radiation!  The Russian inspectors at Vladivostok must be doing a better job at inspections than our people.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is making things more confusing , because they’ve been revising their “methodologies” and policies (isn’t that convenient).   They don’t inspect products, but are supposed to be testing air and water.  I’ve written about how many of the RadNet sites were not even working during the first few months of the nuclear crisis in Japan.

The EPA has changed how they report their RadNet data.  In Idaho there’s only one RadNet site, in Idaho Falls.  Their gamma counts show a lot of spikes, but it’s not clear if it’s because of Fukushima or not.  On the old RadNet web page there was a detection of cesium 131 (short half life) in precipitation readings on 01 April 2011.  However, the new RadNet sites are even more confusing, there is no way the general public can make use of them, what a waste of taxpayer money!

Fend for yourself!

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

Global Economic War: U.S. continues investigation into Chinese PV companies. Idaho’s Hoku silicon factory may be ended before it starts. City of Pocatello guilty of the same claims being made against Chinese government. U.S. is new battle ground between Chinese and European companies

The trade war between Chinese photovoltaic companies, and their supposed ‘U.S.’ rivals heats up as the U.S. International Trade Commission votes to continue the Department of Commerce investigation.

I say “supposed ‘U.S.’ rivals” because it turns out the gang leader is owned by a European corporation. Likewise, at least one supposed ‘U.S.’ polysilicon producer is owned by a Chinese corporation.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is set to render a judgment on January 19, 2012.  It could mean that actions will be taken to reduce photovoltaic (PV) products (solar power) coming into the U.S. from China.  China has responded by investigating polysilicon producers in the United States.  Polysilicon is used to make the solar power products.

Hawaii based Hoku International (owned by China’s Tianwei New Energy) announced they will be selling Chinese made photovoltaic modules through a subsidiary called Tianwei Solar USA.  Hoku is about to start up a polysilicon plant in Pocatello, Idaho.  Their silicon buyers are Chinese companies.

So Hoku is set up in a bad position; action by the U.S. government could hurt their new plans to sell Chinese PV products, and retaliation by the Chinese government could hurt their pending polysilicon orders.

But while looking into this mess, I discovered that what’s really going on is an economic war between China and the European Union, with the United States the battlefield.

The U.S. investigation was started by complaints from CASM (Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing).  The lead company in the complaint is SolarWorld Industries Americas.  Their U.S. base of operations is Oregon, but they’re actually a German corporation (SolarWorld) headquartered in Bonn.

CASM’s web site says six other companies operating in the U.S. have joined their organization, but they refuse to name the other members. They also have a interesting slogan (being that SolarWorld is a German company): “Solar technology was invented here [meaning the U.S.], and we intend to keep it here!”

CASM, through the U.S. Congress, recently sent a letter to President Barack Obama (sign by dozens of members of Congress), outlining what they call illegal trade practices by the Chinese government. Some of those practices were employed by the city of Pocatello, in trying to get Hoku to build its long delayed polysilicon factory in Idaho.

One of the claims is that “…cheap or free land from local or provincial governments; extensive tax breaks…”  This is exactly what the city of Pocatello did to win over Hoku.  The land was, in a round about way through huge property tax breaks (equaling the value of the land), given to Hoku.  Union Pacific Railway even got involved.

Union Pacific is going to be the main transporter of the finished polysilicon products.  Recently it was discovered, by Idaho officials, that in the rush (ironic ’cause it’s years behind schedule) to build the factory, that Hoku forgot to build the required double access roads!  Currently the only access to the factory is at the end of a dead end residential street (it was the residents, tired of the traffic jambs, that brought the issue up with officials)!!!  Hoku worked some magic with Union Pacific, who’s agreed to build the access roads.

By the way, one of the individuals credited with bringing Hoku to Pocatello, Gynii Gilliam, is now working at the state level as Idaho’s chief economic development officer.

So, the Europeans (specifically Germans, through CASM) are using the U.S. to launch an economic war with Chinese PV makers, but the charges they’re making against local governments in China are also applicable to local governments in the U.S.!  The pot calling the kettle black.  Unfortunately many ‘mericans (‘specially those working for Hoku, and other polysilicon producers) could actually end up losing their jobs if CASM is successful.

GLOBAL ECONOMIC WAR: CHINESE OWNED HOKU ABOUT TO START OPERATIONS IN IDAHO. WILL U.S. INVESTIGATION INTO CHINESE SOLAR PRODUCTS PUT THE BRAKES ON HOKU’S OPERATIONS?

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

What Econmic Recovery? Fox cuts ties with Idaho TV station, ends local newscasts, Merry Xmas!

Southwestern Idaho’s KRTV, channel 12, is no longer a Fox affiliate, and it has ended its Boise area news coverage.

“In the spring of 2011, the Fox Television Network and Block Communications parted company. Although we did offer to sign a new affiliation agreement with Fox for KTRV, they chose to move the affiliation to another station.  A network affiliate requires a different business model than does an independent station.  As a result a reduction in staff is taking place this week.”-Bill Lamb, Block Communications

General manager of KRTV, Rick Joseph, said “We have some exceptional people here who put forth a terrific and honorable effort every day.  But the new business model we find ourselves having to adopt does not include news.”

Employee layoffs began December 5.

Merry Xmas!

Business/Economics, International

United Police Kingdom: England’s August riots blamed on Bobbie Brutality

A study to find out the main causes for the August 2011 riots that hit several locations in England, revealed a surprise. Economic factors were not the number one reason, police brutality was!

The London School of Economics, along with the Guardian newspaper, conducted a study called Reading the Riots. 85% of those surveyed blamed the riots on the British Bobbies, saying the police hold themselves about the law.

The biggest complaint against the police is the constant detentions and harassment of lower class people, who’re never charged with any crime. Then comes the beatings and shootings by police.  Over the decades hundreds of civilians have been killed by Bobbies.

The August riots were started because the Bobbies shot and killed an unarmed father while he sat in the back of a taxi.  The cops claimed he shot first, and that a shootout took place. However, the dumb cops committed the act on a crowded street, and many witnesses countered the police claims. An independent investigation concluded that the Bobbies shot and killed the man without provocation!

On the first night of what started out as peaceful protests, the Bobbies singled out a teenaged girl because she was berating them for killing the man. They beat her. Video of the beating was posted on the internet.  Their beating of the girl is what started the riots.

To be sure, economics was also a factor in the August riots. For young Brits they were upset over the ending of a public allowance for children who stay in grade school, and, the tripling of college tuition.  The Reading the Riots study discovered that it was the older Brits who rioted over police brutality.  Many said they want vengeance for decades of repression at the hands of the Bobbies!

And it’s not over, four out of five respondents say more riots are coming for the United Police Kingdom!

By the way, violent protest does work. It forces the Elites to spend money fighting a war on the home front.  After all, they ain’t gonna spend that money on helping create jobs, and that’s what makes them Elites, they don’t want to spend their money (so much for trickle down economics).

Business/Economics, International

United Police Kingdom: Scotland Yard says Occupy demonstrators are equal to al Qeada!

“It is likely that activists aspire to identify other locations to occupy, especially those they identify with capitalism. City of London Police has received a number of hostile reconnaissance reports concerning individuals who would fit the anti-capitalist profile. All are asked to be vigilant regarding suspected reconnaissance, particularly around empty buildings.”-Terrorism/Extremism update for the City of London Business Community

A document leaked from the London Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) shows they consider the Occupy movement a terrorist organization equal to al Qeada!

The document, titled Terrorism/Extremism update for the City of London Business Community, was leaked to Occupy LSX demonstrators by an unnamed businessman.

“Activism is not a crime and the desire to participate in democratic decision-making should not be a cause for concern for the police in any free society….An institution that confuses active citizens with criminals and equates Al Qaeda with efforts to re-imagine the city is an institution in grave danger of losing its way.”-Occupy LSX response

There are at least three active Occupy London movements currently taking place, including the Occupy LSX movement.  LSX stands for London Stock Exchange.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Arabian country, Qatar, attacks Russian Ambassador, U.S. involved

“The U.S. is probably playing its diplomatic angle to put pressure on Qatar to wield its power in the Arab League in a way it is beneficial to the Anglo-American interests.”-James Corbett, independent journalist

Russian Ambassador to Qatar, Vladimir Titorenko, was attacked by Qatari customs officers at the Doha International Airport on November 29. He was returning from a trip to Jordan. Russia is suspending relations with Qatar, after their demands for an explanation were ignored.

Ambassador Titorenko told Russian media, from a hospital, that he was hoping it was due to incompetence (just like our wonderful TSA).

Interestingly, the attack came the same day Russian officials accused Qatar of violating international law by wantonly shipping weapons to Libyan rebels, despite a UN arms embargo: “We know how the arms embargo was applied in Libya. It was used only in respect of the Libyan army, while the opposition got their arms. France and Qatar publicly spoke of such shipments. There were also open mentions of the work of special forces from several European countries. Having adopted the UN Security Council resolution banning the supply of arms, some nations, in fact, boasted that they were in breach of it. We will treat the call for an embargo on arms supplies to Syria in light of the Libya experience, and the behavior of some of our partners. Right now, the most important thing is to stop acting by means of ultimatums and try to move toward political dialogue.”–Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia

Qatar is also doing the same thing in Syria.  Ambassador Titorenko was in Jordan trying to get support for a Russian diplomatic plan to stop any attacks by the U.S. and European countries against Syria.

Pro-U.S. Qatar is the current head of the Arab League. Qatar has received at least U.S.$70 billion in investments from the United States (while our economy goes down the toilet).

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? U.S. Postal Service cuts officially (almost) done deal, will “move forward” with austerity measures, Merry Xmas!

As promised, the U.S. Postal Service made its dreaded announcement on December 5.  The USPS filed a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to “move forward” with austerity measures that will not only cut back service, but eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs.

“We’re in a deep financial crisis today because we have a business model that’s tied to the past [ie Congress]. We are expected to operate like a business, but don’t have the flexibility to do so [because of rules created by Congress]. Our business model is fundamentally inflexible [no thanks to Congress]. It prevents the postal service from solving its problems.”-Patrick Donahoe, U.S. Postmaster General, November 2011

The plan, supported by the Obama Administration, calls for cutting U.S.$20 billion from operating costs by 2015.  That means closing 252 processing facilities, closing 3,700 post offices, and eliminating 100,000 jobs!!!

The processing centers will be closed by spring 2012.  Job losses just from the closing of processing centers could hit 28,000! Expect delays in getting your mail.

This after the U.S. Congress decided to ‘delay’ any action on their part until after next year’s Presidential elections.  The move guarantees the demise of the USPS, because President Barack Obama set the default date for the Postal Service as December 16, 2010.

In a PBS interview, both the Postmaster General, and the President of the Letter Carrier’s Union said it wasn’t really about lack of business, in fact the Postmaster General said package volume was still good.  It was all about the U.S. Congress ripping off the non-taxpayer funded Postal Service: “The Postal Service actually has somewhere between $50 billion and $125 billion in their other funds that is not taxpayer money. They haven’t used a dime of taxpayer money in over 30 years! And the Congress just needs to act responsibly and quickly to give them access to that — those funds.”- Fredric Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers

Rolando pointed out that the job losses will go beyond the USPS. It will affect all the companies the USPS contracts with, like FedEx, Siemens, Northrop-Grumman, Pat Salmon & Sons and Campbell-Ewald, to name a few.

Rolando, in the PBS interview, predicted that millions of jobs will eventually be lost because of what’s happening to the USPS!

Merry Xmas Mr. Scrooge, and God bless us, everyone!

 

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

Government Incompetence: Fluoridated water blamed for Dumbing Down Americans and causing chronic unexplained pain, blame the nuclear and pharmaceutical industry

“We have been suffering from various diseases for consuming water with fluoride content. We are desperately in need of pure drinking water.”-residents of Jagalur, India

Yet another study proves that fluoridated water makes you stupid, and can cause a life time of pain!

The latest study was conducted in India, and just published in the Journal of Medical and Allied Sciences.

Rats were used, and the results were neurodegenerative and morphological alterations in the neocortex, hippocampus and cerebellum areas of the brain, and in the spinal cord and sciatic nerve.

Neurodegenerative is the progressive loss of neurons, and “morphological alterations” basically means physical mutations.

Researchers say the negative affects with intelligence and pain take place before physical mutations appear: “High levels of fluoride in drinking water (1-12 parts per million) affect central nervous system directly without first causing the physical deformities of skeletal fluorosis.”-K. Pratap Reddy, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India

This is not the first study to say fluoride is bad for you.  Over the decades dozens and dozens of studies across the world have resulted in the same conclusion.  According to the Fluoride Action Network (FAN), there are now 25 studies showing that fluoride makes you stupid.

Studies have also shown a link between arthritis pain, back pain, joint and muscle pains. The research in India was motivated after people in a village named Jagalur, were found to be suffering from all kinds of diseases and chronic conditions. Investigations blamed the fluoridated water.

It’s not just Jagalur.  Joint pains, teeth problems, muscular pains, stomach pain and headaches are common among people in Gollaratti, Rajnatti, Gidnatti, Bullolli, Machikere, Marajanmatti, Kechhanahalli, Devikere, Chadaragolla, Gowripura, Kyasanahalli and many other villages who’s water has fluoride in it.

However, the problem in India comes from naturally occurring fluoride in their well water.  Here in the United States local and state governments purposely add fluoride to the water.

It turns out that currently, only the English speaking countries add fluoride to public drinking water.  In the book The Fluoride Deception, author Christopher Bryson revealed how the push for fluoride use in the U.S. is directly related to the U.S. nuclear program and the pharmaceutical industry.

It turns out there have been many anti-fluoride lawsuits against local municipalities in the United States, however most have not been successful.

Now lets see, English speaking countries are the only ones that intentionally add fluoride to the drinking water, and there’s been a huge increase in chronic pain, and the use of pain killers, among the people of those English speaking countries. Also, there’s been a huge decrease in the overall level of intelligence, no matter how much taxpayer money has been thrown at education programs. And, have you also noticed that the political, business, social and religious leaders of those English speaking countries seem to be making decisions that are more and more irrational? Mmmm, could it be something in the water?

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

Government Incompetence in the United Police States of America: TSA bullies strip search 85 year old, ban pregnant woman with studded purse!

“I was on the phone all the way to Orlando trying to figure out what was going on with her. It was terrifying. I don’t ever want to go through it again.”-Tami Gibbs, mother of TSA victim

Despite promises of improved, and more respectable security screenings, the Transportation  Security Administration continues to behave like a bully.  In one case they forced an 85 year old woman to strip, and banned a pregnant 17 year old from boarding the plane because of the design on her her purse!

“It’s my style. It’s camouflage. It has an old western gun on it…She was like, ‘This is a federal offense because it’s in the shape of a gun.’ I’m like, ‘But it’s a design on a purse. How is it a federal offense?'”-Vanessa Gibbs, banned because of purse design

Gibbs says she was told by TSA officials, in Norfolk, Virginia, she could not get on the plane with her studded purse, because it also has the image of a revolver.  They claim a federal law says you can not have anything that represents weapons on an airliner. In Gibbs’ case the TSA officials called her purse a ‘replica weapon’!  Doesn’t that violate our right to Freedom of Expression?

In another recent case, 85 year old Lenore Zimmerman said she was called a terrorist: “I walk with a walker. I really look like a terrorist. I am tiny. I weigh 110 pounds, 107 without clothes, and I am strip searched.”

The strip search took place at the JFK airport.  Zimmerman says they forced her to strip search because she refused to go through scanners with her defibrillator.

She says she asked to be patted down instead, but the TSA officer refused.  During the search her walker hit her leg and caused bleeding. Medics were called.

TSA officials are flat denying they strip searched her: “While we regret that the passenger feels she had an unpleasant screening experience, TSA does not include strip searches as part of our security protocols and one was not conducted in this case.”

It’s interesting that the TSA makes that claim because it seems to be a common offense reported by TSA victims.

 

 

 

International, U.S.

Russian Elections: The return of the Red Menace? Violence during elections

The U.S. media has reported that Vladimir Putin’s political party is losing support in the latest Russian elections (although still in power).  But which party is gaining support?  Why it’s the old school communist party from the days of the Soviet Union.

The most recent check of Russian media polling results showed Putin’s United Russia party in the lead with 49.54% of the votes.  The next highest party is the Communist party with 19.16% of the vote.  But does it really matter?

In Moscow, more than 300 people protested the elections, saying they were not fair because all the political parties involved were not true ‘opposition’ parties.  Things got violent, with police arresting at least 100 people.