Tag Archives: Bannock

Idaho, Technology

In gun loving Idaho….Bulletproof family photos?

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23 MAY 2019 (11:36 UTC-07 Tango 06) 02 Khordad 1398/18 Ramadan 1440/19 Ji-Si 4717

Photos by me (AAron B. Hutchins)


In a nearly abandoned rail car repair shop, a father and son team are trying to combine machining techniques and artistry to create almost bulletproof family photos, and maybe a local artists’ gallery next to their machine shop.

Forgotten in the rafters

The rail car shop is located at the south end of the old town area of Pocatello, Idaho.  It used to be run by Alpha Pacific Incorporated (not to be confused with the Chinese company ALPHA PACIFIC ENGINEERING & CONTRACTING, now operating out of California), now a shadow of itself called Alpha Engineers Incorporated (almost killed off by the fateful decision of city and county officials to refuse Union Pacific’s request to make Pocatello its Pacific Northwest depot).

Boiler from Illinois

There’s a lot of forgotten railroad history in the building.

Coal Bunker

This is what happens when you “Go West, young man!”

Gone skiing…no more

But that’s not what I want to write about.

Chiron FZ 08 W

The good old (relatively) German made vertical CNC (computer numerical control) machine, Chiron FZ 08 W.

Explaining how the Chiron works to a willing audience…did you catch all that?

Eric V. Erickson, and his son Andrew, are using it to replicate photos and even smart phone selfie pics onto aluminum, plexiglas, anything non-fibrous.

Some ol’ dude hicktown singer, now immortalized in aluminum

At this angle you can see the engraving better

Here’s how thick (or thin) the aluminum plate is

If you prefer, you can get cool lighting affects etching your selfie into ‘plastic’.  Unfortunately it’s not ‘bulletproof’ and can get scratched up if you’re not careful with it.

With white light behind it…

…or you can be leftist liberal hip with the rainbow lighting…oooo!

The plastic has a more interesting 3D effect

But there’s a magical thing you can do with the aluminum plate, automotive grease and a glass plate!

That’s not an old timey photo of Tesla (no, not the car, the ancient electromagnetic genius), it’s an etched aluminum plate covered in grease, then a glass plate is placed over it, sandwiching the grease between the two and turning it into an almost bulletproof photo!  There are other ways to color affect the aluminum, like anodizing (and maybe powder coating?), but it’ll drive up the price.  Oh yeah, expect to pay around $150 for a basic engraving (more for anything extra like anodizing), so it’s only for memorializing those special family moments.   I forgot to measure the examples, I think the aluminum country singer was like 5×6 inches, and the plastic selfie was maybe 9×12?

Wait, what about the art gallery?  There are a couple of areas they hope to make available for local artists to display their works, one in the small foyer….

…and a larger area up the stares.

Don’t disturb Cello Cat

For much more accurate (but you might also get more confused, because these guys speak only ‘Technical’) info call Erickson Design and Machine at (928) 299-9723, or email at [email protected].

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 13 – 14 January 2015: NASCAR Hall of Fame to be closed? Obamacare targeted killing of thousands of non-profit jobs! More proof oil job losses are not due to oil prices!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

According to the National Association of Counties, only 65 out of 3143 counties across the United States have “fully” ‘recovered’ since 2008!!!

Alabama: Obama Care forcing the only mental hospital in the Tennessee Valley to shutdown?  North Alabama Regional Hospital will shutdown by June, 149 jobs lost!  After 25 years Applebee’s shutting down their Brookwood Village restaurant on 01 February 2015. The Texas based property owner refused to renew the lease with the restaurant.

California: In El Darado Hills, Green Valley Nursery & Landscape shutdown.  The owners blamed the greedy landlord saying “Lease expired and we must sell all our plants and trees immediately.”  In Palo Alto, Tibco Software laid off 80 people without warning.  It could be connected to their $4.3-billion USD sale to evil Vista Equity Partners.  In Santa Clara, Broadcom issued a WARN saying 60 people will become jobless in March.  In Los Angeles, Kroger issued a WARN saying another one of their Ralph’s grocery stores will shutdown, 70 jobs lost in March.  In Santa Barbara, after six years the Bizerk Costume Store shutdown, the owners blamed the greedy landlord, LYNX,  for giving them a 30 day eviction notice (instead of the required 60). Local news sources say LYNX administrators refused to say why they kicked out their tenant.  Bizerk co-owner says its all about jacking up the rent: “At the rates that are being charged on State Street, I think it’s very possible that a lot of chain store business might be taking a loss. I know someone who is a manager at Abercrombie & Fitch on State Street who said they lose $200-thousand a year…..!”-David Sampanis

Colorado: God refuses to stop Obama Care from forcing ‘his’ Arapahoe County based non-profit Catholic Health Initiative from laying off 15-hundred people across the United States!  A study says a new proposed law could kill 1-thousand oil jobs in The Centennial State.  The proposed law would prevent new petroleum wells from being drilled within 2-thousand feet (609 meters) of residences.   Anybody like flaming water coming out of their faucets, even if it means jobs?

Florida: In Miami, Obama Care forcing Crothall Healthcare to layoff 54 employees.  Obama Care forcing non-profit healthcare provider Florida Blue to eliminate 150 jobs!

Georgia: In Augusta, a Big Lots rip off store on Wrightsboro Road shutdown.  Local news reports say company reps refuse to give a reason.   Could it be that there are already several Big Lots in Augusta?  In Atlanta, special effects motion capture company Giant Studios shutdown and sold off their motion capture rights to Lightstorm Entertainment.  Some Giant Studios employees will transfer to Lightstorm’s California offices.

Hawaii: Retail store specializing in anything ‘Hawaiian’ Hilo Hattie shutdown their Kihei store and their Kona store.  Company administrators say they are going to try a new concept of entertainment style retail operations.

Idaho: According to National Association of Counties most recent data eastern Idaho’s Bannock County has failed to make any recovery in the areas of Jobs, Unemployment, GDP or Home Prices since 2008!  Never mind that Bannock County is still assessing the value of homes at tens of thousands of dollars above what they will actually sell for!

Illinois: Chicago based United Airlines revealed it might eliminate 2-thousand jobs despite lower fuel costs!  Administrators want to replace in-house employees with cheap-o contractors.

Indiana: Horse racing gambling company Centaur Gaming announced it is shutting down its off-track Merrillville betting site in March, at least 33 jobs lost.  It’s blamed on the lack of people willing to gamble, the bad economy has resulted in a 50% decline in betting!   Aluminum casting and machining company Harvey Industries revealed they laid off more than 143 people without notice, back in December!  Company administrators would only say “Due to unforeseen business circumstances, we were unable to provide this notice at least sixty (60) days before the layoffs took effect.”

Kentucky: In Louisville, after 18 years Wild and Wooly Video store shutdown, the owner blamed crashing sales ever since 2008.

Nevada: More proof casinos aren’t recession proof; Las Vegas based Caesars Entertainment now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

New Jersey: Pop corn maker Dale and Thomas Growers announced they will layoff 56 people in March, saying they are “transitioning to a co-manufacturing arrangement in Indiana”.  In Manville, God refuses to stop the Diocese of Metuchen from shutting down ‘his’ Christ the King School.  It’s the 11th ‘christian’ school to be shutdown by the Diocese of Metuchen, since 2009.  It’s blamed on raptured, I mean DSS (what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome).

New Mexico: After eight years free magazine Local iQ ceased publication.

New York: In NYC, restaurant The Palm issued a WARN saying they will shutdown (supposedly for remodeling) in April, 43 jobs lost.  Eastman Kodak continues its slow death layoffs, this time at least 16 people will be let go by April.  In Bayport, Wenner Bakery Products issued a WARN saying they’ll shutdown their Parbake Facility by May, 49 jobs lost.

North Carolina: Wishart Norris Henninger & Pittman law firm finally revealed that they shutdown back in December, blaming a dispute with new management.  The city of Charlotte has admitted it can’t pay off $17.8-million owed to Too Big to Jail Bank of America and Wells Fargo for floating the money losing  NASCAR Hall of Fame!  City administrators admit the loan payments are so big that they can’t even “break even”, and are begging the banks to ‘write down’ the loans, kinda like Greece wants to do with the European Union.

Ohio: In Belmont County, after only three years the local Electronic Recycling Services shutdown without warning.  Apparently the property is being sold off and electronic recycling operations in the county are being consolidated.

Oregon: Georgia Pacific is laying off 40 people, as part of their three years plan to eliminate at least 100 jobs from their Halsey paper mill.

Pennsylvania: After 25 years Booty’s Place restaurant shutdown in the Church Hill Mall, the owner would only say “No comment.”   In Ashely, after 34 years Clark’s Irish Import and Flower Shop shutdown.  The owners blame crashing sales ever since 2008, in other words they haven’t seen any ‘recovery’.

Tennessee: In Somerville, God refuses to stop Obama Care from forcing ‘his’ Methodist Healthcare from shutting down by March.

Texas: The Wall Street Journal warns that Fort Worth based iconic RadioShack is about to go bankrupt busted and will be sold off.  Obama Care forced Harris Health System (formerly Harris County Hospital District) to kill off 260 jobs!  Administrators blamed Obama Care for causing them to lose $70-million!  Houston based infamous Halliburton began another round of layoffs, but don’t blame falling oil prices, it’s because of their takeover of rival Baker Hughes.  In December Halliburton said they would eliminate 1-thousand jobs!

Wisconsin: The South Shore YMCA in Cudahy shutdown.  The greater YMCA of Metro Milwaukee blames it on massive debts.  In Wisconsin Rapids, after 43 years The Gift Tree shutdown.

09-12-January-2015: Obamacare insurance exchange fails, shutsdown!

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Idaho, Technology

Pokey Airport 02 August 2014: SISTR Lenco BearCat

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Click pics (by AAron B. Hutchins) to make bigger:

Idaho, U.S.

Smokey night for Pocatello & Chubbuck. Charlotte Fire still burning.

29 June 2012, at 00:00 hours dozens of fires still burning on the hills where homes were ravaged, at the south end of Pocatello, Idaho.  Associated Press reporting more than 1,000 people evacuated.

The winds have calmed down, but have also shifted northwest, smoke filtering slowly a few miles northwest into the city of Chubbuck overnight.

South end of Pocatello, dozens of fires still burning at 00:00 hours 29 June 2012. Bright light at top of pic is the full Moon.

Weather forecasts predict calm winds for the rest of Friday, good news for firefighters.  Air temperatures expected to get into the 90s Fahrenheit (30s Celsius).

Camera not good enough to take pics at night, and I couldn’t get close enough ’cause of the police road blocks.  By 23:30 hours, 28 June 2012, U.S. Bureau of Land Management said about 1,038 acres burned with no containment (reports of burned acreage conflict, National Interagency Fire Center, based 236 miles away in Boise, says 450 acres. another report out of Boise said 20% containment).   As many as 700 homes threatened, at least 20 known destroyed.

The fire is dubbed Charlotte Fire (starting near Charlotte Road in the Mink Creek area), and local fire officials say the big concern now are downed power lines.

Portneuf Medical Center enacted their emergency plan, and reported two trauma cases, but unknown if connected to the fire.

Evacuees were told to go to Century High School or Idaho State University.  Pets were being taken to Pocatello Animal Shelter.  Livestock taken to Bannock County Fairgrounds.

Local businesses have been offering help to evacuees and firefighters. Officials suspect the fire was human caused.

Pocatello burning! Evacuations!

Business/Economics, Technology, U.S.

Government Incompetence: Pocatello, Idaho, doctor & ISU faculty member failed at autopsies

The Idaho Board of Medicine is investigating complaints that Steve M. Skoumal screwed up at least ten autopsies. It was brought to the attention of the Board mainly because the local  police questioned the results.

In one case Skoumal, a faculty member at Idaho State University in Pocatello (in Bannock County), ruled three deaths were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.  But, local Rexburg police (in Madison County) said that didn’t match with x-rays, or the fact a recently fired gun was found at the scene, or the fact that there were bullet holes in the victims.

Supporters of Skoumal say the police are just upset because he didn’t give them the answer they wanted to hear.

But this case brings up a good point; Idaho does not have standardized, dedicated, official local government coroner services.  In many cases families of the deceased have to pay for a pathologist to conduct an autopsy, as one Pocatello doctor/lawyer said: “…people who brought the bodies have to pay for the doctor to do more autopsy or less autopsy.”-Richard Hearns

There is a state code concerning coroners, but in some Idaho counties coroners are elected.  In other counties they are hired from local doctors.  Officials say the tax revenues are not enough to support a dedicated 24/7 coroner (although taxes are pretty high here).

Skoumal is connected to three high profile cases in eastern and southeastern Idaho: Unsolved Madison County deaths, the death of a Bingham County woman whose granddaughter was prosecuted for homicide, and the 2006 murder of Pocatello High School student Cassie Jo Stoddart (fortunate the murderers incriminated themselves with their own video).

Skoumal is accused of misreading toxicology reports, being unable to determine knife wounds and bullet wounds.  One of the complaints filed with the Board of Medicine accused him of not being a pathologist, he admitted he was not a certified pathologist.

It could be another year before the Idaho Board of Medicine holds an Administrative Hearing regarding the complaints.

 

 

 

Idaho

Pay for Local East Idaho County Officials a Rip Off

If pay for Pocatello and Chubbuck officials is a bargain, then we’re getting ripped off from Bannock County officials.

According to the League of Women Voters, Bannock County Commissioners, and Officers, make $60,000 + per year.  The one exception is the County Coroner who makes only $23,195 per year.

Let’s put that in perspective.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Bannock County, Idaho, has a population of 80,812.  The majority of which live in the cities of Pocatello and Chubbuck.  When you combine the population numbers of those two cities, that totals 61,166, or 75% of the total population in Bannock County.  Now realize that the residents of those two cities get most, if not all, their services from their cities.  So why is pay for officials at the county level so high, compared to city officials?

Here’s another interesting piece of information; Bannock County has the highest tax rate in the whole state of Idaho (actual total dollar amount collected is not the highest in the state, there are several counties that collect much more than Bannock).  County officials point out that most of the taxes end up going towards the cities of Pocatello and Chubbuck, and School District 25.  If that’s the case, where is the county getting the money to pay the high salaries?

In a side issue; former Pocatello Mayor Roger Chase, in an interview he did as mayor, said that the top employers in Pocatello are not paying property taxes. Chase implied that those taxes are being passed on to everyone else who is paying property taxes.

Considering the population of Bannock County, and the fact that 75% of that population live in two cities that are providing their services, and the fact that most of those city’s elected officials make far less money than the county officials, I don’t see the justification for the higher county pay.  I’d like to see future candidates for county positions run on a pledge to lower their salaries.

The League of Women Voters of Idaho have their own website; lwvid.org.  The information about the pay of officials is published in a brochure.  For Bannock County, it is published by the League of Women Voters of Pocatello. It also contains cities of Chubbuck, and Pocatello, and state and federal official’s salaries.