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.
Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Not everyone in China is doing well economically, restaurants forced to use ‘gutter’ oil for cooking, blame inflation

At least 32 people are on trial in China, for collecting used cooking oil from street gutters, then selling it back to restaurants.

A company that was supposed to be creating biodiesel from used oil, instead found it cheaper to simply strain the used cooking oil and sell it back to restaurants.

Also, according to local police, the company was using a “white substance” to remove the nasty smell from the used cooking oil.  Some local media speculate that it causes cancer.

China’s fast booming economy is causing rapid inflation, many individuals, and mom & pop businesses can’t keep up.  Buying recycled cooking oil is a cheap alternative.  One report said the price of new cooking oil in China is about 10,000 yuan, or $1,560 a ton, while ‘gutter’ oil sells for around 8,000 yuan to 9,000 yuan.

This is not the first scandal relating to food safety in China.  Scandals have included melamine tainted infant formula, and pork tainted with the chemical clenbuterol.   Melamine gives false increased protein levels in dairy products.  Clenbuterol helps make meat leaner.  The Chinese government says both can be harmful to humans.

Here in the United States the FDA has approved the use of clenbuterol in animals, but not in humans.  However, the FDA is out on melamine.  Their latest studies showed that melamine was dangerous only when combined with other chemicals.  One study showed cats had kidney failure after eating 32 parts per million of cyanuric acid and 32 parts per million of melamine.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? China says you created the economic problem, you fix it!

“Countries must first put their own houses in order. Developed countries must draw up responsible fiscal and monetary policies.”-Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister of China

Despite China becoming the biggest foreign investor in the United States, they say future investments depends on how the U.S. handles economic recovery.  The same goes for Europe: “European countries are facing sovereign debt problems and we’ve expressed our willingness to give a helping hand many times. We will continue to expand our investment there…Europe and the U.S. must adopt responsible and effective fiscal and monetary policies in a bid to reduce debt pressures.”-Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister of China

Analysts from Citigroup agreed: “What he is basically saying is China wants to help, they want to invest, but we can’t help you take the proper measures to control the debt crisis, you’ve got to do that on your own.”-William Rhodes

Another analysts says the EU and U.S. must stop paying for debt with debt: “Politicians have been paying their budget deficits by selling bonds, in other words mortgaging, or charging the future. Sooner or later that catches up with you, and 2011 is the year that the debt finally catches up with several European countries like Greece and Italy. So they have got to put their houses in order. They have to spend what they have, but not spend more than they have.”-Francis Lun, Lyncean Holdings

U.S.

United Police States of America: TSA, local cops working for drug dealers, you sure the U.S. is safer now than before 9/11/2001?

Three Transportation Security Administration officers in Florida and New York airports, along with two New York police officers, have been arrested for taking bribes from prescription drug dealers.

The bribes were in the form of cash and gift cards.  The TSA officers, and the New York cops, face charges of conspiring to distribute, and possessing with intent to distribute oxycodone.  Altogether 20 people were arrested.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Bank of America increases Home Foreclosures by 200%

Despite their promise to cut back on home foreclosures, Bank of America boosted foreclosures by 200% in August!

CNBC reported that other banks will follow suit.  California and Nevada are being hit the hardest.

RealtyTrac confirms the huge jump in foreclosures in August.  One analysts says don’t necessarily blame the home buyer: “This proves once again that ‘credit’ as measured by legal defaults and foreclosures is not necessarily about borrowers missing payments, rather about what the servicers [banks] chose to do about it.”-Mark Hanson, housing analyst

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Idaho Tax collections miss mark, again

Idaho is two months into its fiscal year and already sales and income tax revenues are $10 million LESS than expected.

The Idaho State Tax Commission says total collections, so far, are $403 million.

Individual income tax collections for August were $91.4 million, about $3.9 million less than expected.

Sales tax receipts for August came in at $86.8 million, $6.8 million less than expected.

July did a little better, but was still less than expected.  Other tax revenues also did well, coming close to expectations.  However, lower sales & income tax revenues means that people still aren’t spending enough money, ’cause they’re not making enough money. Obviously its a sign that for the average Joe & Jone in Idaho, the economy still sucks.

Business/Economics, Technology, U.S.

Corporate Incompetence: Pain killing drug pump killing the patient, says FDA recall

September 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a recall on a drug infusion pump by Medtronic.

The recalled drug pump was called “SynchroMed II”, including models of 8637-20 and 8637-40, distributed between 2004 and July 2011.

There is a problem that actually causes recurrent or withdrawal symptoms, which could be life-threatening.  There are 55 known cases of failure, and one known death.  I personally might know of another unreported death, someone who died just two months after having a pain pump put in. It was a painfully slow death because her own doctors didn’t know what was going on.  She was a single mom.


Business/Economics, U.S.

United Police States of Corporate America: Artist being harrased by cops because of his anti-Bank paintings

“I’m not a terrorist. I’m not firebombing any banks.”-Alex Schafer, artist

A Los Angeles, California, artist is constantly harassed by police, because of his anti-bank paintings.

The paintings show major national banks on fire, the artist says they’re hot sellers!  “I started the bidding off at 920 bucks and its at $10,100 now.”

The artist also uses slogans like “Bad banks should fail”.  Apparently the paintings and the slogans have local police thinking the artist is a terrorist.

Who’s the real terrorists? Since 2008, none of the bank bosses in charge during the mortgage meltdown have done any jail time.  Instead, they were the recipients of bailouts and bonuses, while millions of U.S. citizens continue to suffer through foreclosure, unemployment and financial ruin.

 

 

U.S.

United Police States of America: Texas school cop hunts down and kills unarmed student, who was hiding for his life

“He never followed orders. What makes you think he can deal with children?”-Mother of murdered student, talking about renegade school cop

The mother of an unarmed 14 year old boy killed after a Northside Independent School District of San Antonio, Texas, school cop chased him off school property and shot him, is now demanding justice.

The boy ran after he hit another student.  The 14 year old had a history of trouble at the school, but so did the renegade cop.

Police dispatch recordings show the school cop was ordered NOT to chase the 14 year old.  He ignored the orders and chased the boy off school property, into a garden shed behind a home, and killed him.

The cop claimed the boy lunged at him, and he shot at close range in self defense.  The autopsy showed the boy was NOT shot at close range.

The cop has a long record of getting into trouble himself: 16 reprimands in four years!  Suspended WITHOUT pay five times!

Here’s the amazing thing; the police department wanted to fire the renegade cop, but the Northside Independent School District fought to keep the cop in their schools!

The mother of the boy is now suing for civil rights violations, supervisory liability and negligence.

 

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Syrian internet hackers find documents showing plans by Turkey, Britain, France & the U.S. to attack Syria

Unconfirmed report that the Arabic language website Syria Steps says hackers (known as Syrian Cyber Army) found documents that show that France and Britain have grand ambitions of retaking their former mandates of Syria, Lebanon, and Israel/Palestine.   I wonder if this has anything to do with the new oil and gas fields discovered off the Lebanese coast?

Apparently the French have offered Turkey guaranteed membership in the European Union, and ensure that Turkey’s Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, remains in power for along time.  In exchange Turkey will help topple the Syrian government.

The documents go on to detail how the region would be split up between France, United Kingdom and United States.  Basically France and the U.K. would regain control of their old post World War 1 mandates, and the U.S. would get bases in the eastern area of Syria known as Deir ez-Zor.

The report also claims that Turkey will allow Israel to do what it wants.  This makes the report suspicious given the current relations between Turkey and Israel.  However, if the report is true it suggests that Turkey is putting on a big front acting like it’s ready to go to war with Israel, which could be a red herring operation.

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? United States “collapsing” says former U.S. Treasury Secretary

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary, Lawrence Summers, says the United States is “collapsing”.  Summers has written an opinion piece for Newsweek magazine.

He basically says none of the proposed job/stimulus plans offered by the President, or Congress, are enough to save the U.S. because they are short term: “For years we will have an economy with plenty of slack, low borrowing costs, and high unemployment. The specter of a double dip will hover over us if government does not do its part in pushing the economy forward—not just this year, but for years to come.”

Lawrence Henry Summers served as the 71st U.S. Treasury Secretary from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton.  He also directed the U.S. National Economic Council for President Barack Obama until November 2010.