Tag Archives: taxes

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 01 – 04 October 2012. Massive attack planned! Karzai wants war with Pakistan! Karzai wants more advanced weapons, will buy from Russia or China! Karzai does not want to be President anymore! Afghan government to make peace with Mujahideen! Afghan GDP better than U.S.!

04 October 2012

In Nuristan Province, the governor says he has information saying that at least 400 Mujahideen are preparing for a massive attack.  He also says the Mujahideen will be supported by the Pakistani military!

President Hamid Karzai steps closer to declaring war on Pakistan, after he condemns the United States for not doing so: “…U.S. has clearly denied to defend Afghanistan and even their military officials deny the statistics provided by Afghan officials regarding the Pakistan shelling!” 

Karzai also said: “Afghanistan is ready to take every steps to fight in case war was declared among the forces of the two countries.”

The Afghan President says the Untied States is refusing to sell his country the weapons it needs to adequately defend itself, and he is now willing to buy them from Russia or China: “If U.S. and NATO does not want to equip Afghan forces then should Afghanistan wait for it or Afghanistan should take steps to purchase its required equipments from Russia, China, India or elsewhere? We are going to decide in this regard to purchase the required equipments for the Afghan security forces if United States is unable to do so.”

Karzai made the statements just three days after sending thousands of ANA troops to the border with Pakistan.

Afghan politicians say Karzai has been too lenient towards Pakistan.  Tribal elders in Nangarhar Province say they will launch their own retaliatory attacks against Pakistan, the next time Pakistan launches a rocket strike into their province.

Karzai also warned that the United States is planning on staying in Afghanistan beyond Obama’s 2014 pull out date. 2014 is also when presidential elections take place in the Central Asian country.  Karzai indicated he did not want to be re-elected: “The election will definitely happen. Go on and choose your own favorite candidate. My term, if prolonged by even a day, will be seen as illegitimate.”

In Farah Province, two children killed, four in critical condition, after an explosion.  The children might have been playing near a recently planted mine, accidentally setting it off.

In Kandahar Province, a U.S. led airstrike killed at least 15 people.

ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died as a result of a non-battle related injury in southern Afghanistan today.”

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) stated that Afghanistan’s GDP for 2011 was 5.7%, better than the approximately 2.8% for the United States.  The ADB expects Afghanistan’s GDP rate for 2012 to be 6.9%, this after the expected 2012 GDP rate for the U.S. dropped to 1.7%!

Economists say true GDP growth occurs at 3% or higher, clearly Afghanistan is growing while the U.S. is stagnating.  Maybe the taxpayers of the U.S. should stop throwing billions of dollars at Afghanistan and bring that money home?

The ADB admits that if foreign military forces were pulled out of Afghanistan, that country’s GDP would drop!

03 October 2012

ISAF said: “Dozens of Afghan soldiers and police, supported by coalition special operations forces, concluded a six day operation against insurgent networks in the Chak district, Wardak province…..More than 30 insurgents were killed…”

Afghan foreign affairs minister, Zalmai Rassoul, said: “We will continue to pursue the peace process vigorously. This is the just and deserving right of the Afghan people and the surest path to ending the cycle of violence in Afghanistan.”

Loser U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said peace talks were part of a plan “….to guide the relationship between Afghanistan and the United States, as we move to the next phase of our relationship.”

02 October 2012

ISAF said: “An U.S. Forces-Afghanistan service member died of wounds following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan today.”

A day after an attack left three U.S./NATO personnel dead, numb nuts U.S. Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, called Afghan government officials to whine about it!  He then lied and restated “…the United States’ continued commitment to a secure and stable Afghanistan.”

In Zabul Province, a U.S./NATO helicopter crash landed.  ISAF says it was due to technical problems.  Mujahideen claim they shot it down.

Despite having a GDP growth rate that is the envy of the United States, only 4% of Afghans have access to modern “western” banking.  That’s according to the Afghan Banks Association.  What this tells me is that the overwhelming majority of the wealth being created in Afghanistan is only in the hands of an extreme minority!

Afghan banks are also charging interest, which is a violation of Islamic law (one of the real reasons the elites of the West are afraid of Islam).

01 October 2012

ISAF said: “Three International Security Assistance Force service members and an ISAF-contracted interpreter died following a suicide improvised explosive device attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”

The deaths of U.S./NATO personnel, and the contractor, are believed to be part of a massive suicide bombing in Khost Province. Reports say up to 70 people were killed (including the local police chief) or wounded after a man with a bomb blew himself up.  Witnesses say the man was wearing the bomb, other reports say a motorcycle bomb was also used.

The Afghan National Army (ANA) has deployed thousands of troops to the border with Pakistan.  ANA officials say the next time Pakistan launches artillery attacks against Afghanistan, they will be prepared to retaliate with attacks against Pakistan.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Syria officially apologizes. Russia blocks UNSC vote against Syria! Turkey approves use of military outside its borders!

“As far as the incident between Syria and Turkey goes, it is of great concern for us. The situation is deteriorating with every coming day.”-Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister

04 October 2012,  Russia has blocked a anti-Syria draft statement by the UN Security Council.  The UNSC is discussing the cross border fighting between Syria and NATO member Turkey.

Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister, Besir Atalay, says Syrian officials have officially apologized, saying the mortar attack on Turkey was a dreadful accident.

This has not stopped the Turkish parliament from voting to allow the Turkish military to be used outside Turkey’s borders.  The new mandate will be in effect for one year.

The accidental mortar shelling of Turkey happened on 03 October 2012.  Reports say that Turkey has been retaliating with ongoing artillery attacks, at least 14 barrages fired as far as six miles inside Syria until 06:45 this morning.

On 02 October 2012, Russian officials warned that NATO was looking for an excuse to go to war with Syria: “In our contacts with partners in NATO and in the region, we are calling on them not to seek pretexts for carrying out a military scenario…”-Gennady Gatilov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister

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

What Economic Recovery? IMF says world economy to suck for at least 10 more years, says recovery relies on Japan & China! Inflation must take place!

“…it will surely take at least a decade from the beginning of the crisis for the world economy to get back to decent shape.”-Olivier Blanchard, IMF Chief Economist

“The current status of the economy and the global economy needs both Japan and China fully engaged.”-Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director

Officials with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are making some very concerning statements.

While the U.S. main stream media seems focused on the economic disaster unfolding in Europe, the IMF says look to Asia.  Maybe that’s because it’s looking more and more like the IMF policies in Europe are failing big time.

In fact, on 04 October 2012, the IMF just warned the European Union to get its rear in gear: “No one has the luxury of time, this is really urgent!”-Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director

Despite the urgent call to action by the IMF, some European leaders say the U.S. based IMF is actually delaying action: “There are circles, by which I mean the IMF, who are pressing for a delay until after the U.S. election in November…”-Dimitris Hadzisokratous, Democratic Left, one of three political parties running the Greek government

What about China and Japan? The IMF seems to think the two countries are the Holy Grail in saving the World economy.  There are major problems with that!

Japan’s economy is in the toilet!  Japanese factories have been laying people off, and offshoring what ever they can. Japan is in bigger debt than any European country (yet where’s the U.S. media coverage).

China is no longer the economic wunderkind it was just a few years ago.  GDP growth is dropping.  The Asia Development Bank (ADB) predicts it’ll drop almost two percentages, from 9.3% in 2011 to 7.7% for 2012, and even lower after that: “The years of two digit growth in Asia are coming to an end!”-Changyong Rhee, ADB chief economist

And why is the economy in China going down?  Firstly the Chinese government imposed economic restrictions in the hopes of holding off inflation.  But here’s the big reason; orders from Europe and the United States are way down.

Some of those orders are down because of the bad economies in Europe and the U.S., but also because of protectionist policies.

Many European countries have banned specific products made in China, and  U.S. President Barack Obama imposed ridiculous tariffs on Chinese made solar power products (that move also killed the Hoku polysilicon factory in southeastern Idaho, that was hoped to provide hundreds of good paying jobs.  smooth move exlax!).

The IMF is also expecting the cash flushed Chinese banks to help bailout Europe!  Can you believe that?  The Europeans are screwing over Chinese businesses and then the IMF expects the Chinese to help bail out the Europeans?

As expected the Chinese banks said hell no! Several major Chinese banks have cancelled their plans to attend the largest ever IMF/World Bank meeting, to be held in Tokyo, Japan, next week!

But get this, IMF chief economist, Olivier Blanchard, told Hungarian media that Japan would take decades to get its debt problems straightened out, and that the United States has become a financial deadweight:  “It remains the case that, in a number of advanced countries, notably the U.S., a return to full health requires replacing some of the domestic demand that fueled growth before the crisis by external demand. But, the arithmetic is again unforgiving here.”

Blanchard also said inflation was “…necessary and desirable…”

So, in a round-a-bout way officials with the IMF are expecting any World economic recovery to be messy (are they expecting World War 3?), and they’re placing their bets on China and Japan (two countries on the verge of war with each other over some tiny barren islands)!

Like the Colonial Marine, Hudson, said in the kick ass 1986 movie Aliens: “Oh dear lord Jesus, this ain’t happening, man… This can’t be happening, man!”

International, U.S.

World War 3: NATO member Turkey attacked, launches attack on Syria! Emergency NATO summit convened!

“In the spirit of indivisibility of security and solidarity deriving from the Washington Treaty, the Alliance continues to stand by Turkey…”-NATO statement

04 October 2012, Turkey continues artillery attacks on Syrian towns, after a mortar attack killed five, and wounded 10 people in Turkey on 03 October.

Several Syrian soldiers have been killed by the Turkish attacks.

Syrian officials have offered condolences to the families of those killed in Turkey, and vowed to find out who launched the mortar attack.

Turkey has protested to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and an emergency meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, not affiliated with United Nations) is being held.

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Global Food Crisis: Red Bug invades United States, recently noticed in California, but has been seen in Idaho since late 1990s!

03 October 2012, a Red Bug (actually the official non-scientific name in the U.S.) was first reported in California in 2009, however, I moved to Idaho in 1997 and have seen the bug in the area since then.

Scantius aegyptius, aka Lodosiana (=Scantius) aegyptius, is native to the Mediterranean area.  It feeds on the seeds of plants, mainly plants that completely die out at the end of the year and can only be grown from seeds, which makes Red Bug a threat.

Red Bug was noted by BugGuide as being first reported in California in 2009 (as I said earlier, they’ve been in Idaho since late 1990s).

They are considered invasive, because of lack of predators.  People in California report that even their chickens stay away from them.  Harvester ants seem to be their main foe, however, here in Idaho I’ve noticed that our ants have been less and less active every year, possibly due to the ongoing drought (now in its 12th year).

This year the Red Bug swarms were so large I had to find out what they were.  Their growing swarms seem to correlate to the declining ant population!

When my youngest children were attending Chubbuck Elementary (years prior to the official 2009 California discovery) they said all the kids called them Fire Bugs, because they looked like they were on fire.

After all these years the Red Bugs haven’t touched my small victory garden in the backyard. So far they’ve relegated themselves to the driveway/south side of the house area, which is the warmest spot on the property.

I wounder if they have anything to do with my wide variety of bulb plants refusing to sprout this year (they are planted in the same area that these Red Bugs like to swarm)?

Business/Economics, U.S.

Class Warfare: While the rich decry social help for the poor, thousands of millionaire U.S. jerk wads get the lion’s share of unemployment payments! Middle & lower classes get a pauper’s pittance, even though they pay lion’s share in taxes!!!

“Sending millionaires unemployment checks is a case study in out-of control spending. Providing welfare to the wealthy undermines the program for those who need it most while burdening future generations with senseless debt.”-Tom Coburn, U.S. Senator for Oklahoma

A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report revealed that 2,362 people in the same class as Mitt Romney (millionaires), who publicly decry government help, actually got unemployment money from the government in 2009!

Even more the year before that:  2,840 millionaires got unemployment money in 2008!

But wait there’s more!

People with incomes between $100,000 USD and one million dollars also got unemployment money; 954,000 in 2009 and 816,700 in 2008!!!

Lets put this in a better perspective.  Middle and lower class unemployed persons get an average of $300 per week for 37 weeks (if they’re approved, for some reason the state of Idaho always finds some excuse to deny my unemployment claims. The last excuse was that I didn’t make enough income during the “reporting period”.  The reporting period didn’t even cover all the months I was employed with my last employer).

Here’s what millionaires get for unemployment (according to a Bloomberg article):  Income between $1 million and $5 million averaged $11,113 per week for 37 weeks of unemployment!

Income between $5 million and $10 million averaged $18,351 per week of unemployment!

Income more than $10 million averaged $12,333 per week!

But wait, there’s more!

Unemployment compensation is paid for by federal and state taxes (here in Idaho the state taxes come from the employers, who actually get part of that refunded based on number of unemployment claims made against their companies.  Several Idaho Job Service employees have confided to me that the system is set up to favor the employers, because Job Service is mainly funded by those employer taxes).

The Library of Congress CRS report shows that the majority of unemployed (middle and lower classes) make up the lion’s share of tax filers yet get the pauper’s pittance in unemployment help.  The report shows that the higher the income the smaller the share of tax filings.

In 2009, unemployed people who had incomes between one dollar and $100,000 made up 91.07% of tax filers.

Unemployed people who had incomes between $100,000 and $200,000 made up only 7.3%!

Incomes between $200,000 and $500,000 only 1.06%!!

Incomes between $500,000 and $1 million only 0.07%!!!

Unemployed people who had incomes more than $1 million made up only 0.02% of tax filers in the United States!!!!

The CRS report, titled Receipt of Unemployment Insurance by
Higher-Income Unemployed Workers (“Millionaires”), was released back in August, but is only now hitting the mainstream media!

What was that about the rich bastards and bitches getting richer and richer?

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

Media Incompetence & What Economic Recovery? Sears & Kmart not ‘closing’ stores, just not gonna renew their leases. Misleads lazy media, dozens more stores being shut down before Xmas, due to expired leases!

02 October 2012, the local media in the state of Maine reported that “Unlike last winter’s mass closings……Lewiston’s Sears is the only one closing now.”-Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine

That’s a big FAIL Sun Journal!!!  There’s at least a handful of Sears and Kmart store being shut down for the same reason as the Lewiston, Maine, store: Sears Holdings is not renewing leases!

The people of Morristown, Tennessee, were shocked to learn their local Sears is not renewing their lease, and as many as 72 employees will be laid off!  Sears Holdings hopes to have the store shut down by January 2013.

The local mayor said Sears gave them no warning: “It was a surprise to us. Also, it’s disappointing. Although we have a lot of good news going on in our city with new jobs, it’s disappointing to lose 72.”-Danny Thomas, Mayor of Morristown

A resident of Morristown is pissed off: “…people havin’ trouble findin’ jobs, I mean it’s gettin’ close to Christmas and stuff, what’s these people gonna do?”-Nicole Harbin

Another store closing (which could have been part of the June announcements) is the Sears at the Liberty Fair Mall, in Martinsville, Virginia.  Even if it was announced back in June, folks around Martinsville say it’s news to them.

Officially the Liberty Fair Mall Sears is being closed due to “…failing to come to terms on a new lease…”-Martinsville Bulletin, 16 September 2012

That wasn’t the reason given in the June announcement, anyway, another 75 employees out of work by Xmas!

Here’s a store closing that definitely wasn’t on the June list: Village Mall Sears in Auburb, Alabama.  “We’re expected to exit the building by the end of December. The lease is not being renewed at that store.”-Kimberly Freely, Sears Holdings

This is the second Sears Holdings store closing in Auburn.  The local Kmart was shut down back in April.  Sears had been in operation in Auburn since 1951!

At the end of 2011, Sears Holdings said they would close up to 120 U.S. stores in 2012 alone.  They even established a store closing list, which recently disappeared from their website (I checked again this morning, 02 October 2012)!

So far, since the end of 2011, Sears Holdings publicly announced at least 102 closings (on their now missing store closing list) and also announced the possible sale of 11 stores to major mall owner General Growth Properties (GGP).

What the mainstream media doesn’t tell you is that Sears Holdings has been aggressively closing down stores since 2010.  At least 174 stores closed with the result of 13,920 people losing their jobs!

Sears Holdings continues quietly closing Kmarts as well.  Recently the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry was notified that a Kmart store will be closed at the Pittsburgh Parkway Center Mall.  54 employees out of work by 06 January 2013!

In Florida, local media surprised that yet another Kmart is closing, despite the fact that it’s probably part of the June announcement.

A Jacksonville Business Journal article talks about the two Florida Kmarts mentioned in the December 2011 announcements, and seems ignorant of the 2012 announcements: “In December 2011, Sears Holdings released a list of 79 stores it was closing. But the company planned to close between 100 and 120 in total. On that list, two local stores were closed…”-Jacksonville Business Journal, 17 September 2012

I guess they weren’t paying attention to my postings in Blind Bat News!!!

Another Florida media source, Jacksonville Daily Record, does not mention the June closing list, but did say the Jacksonville (on Beach Boulevard) Sears is not mentioned on the Sears Holdings website (as I stated above, the closing lists have disappeared).

Don’t expect things to get any better, recently Sears was ranked 5th out of 12 companies with the Least Valuable Employees.  And don’t forget the Mitt Romney/Bain Capital/Carlyle group connection!

Just to help out those mainstream local media sources, and to give you an idea of the impact this is having across the United States, here’s a list of known store closings/closed stores for 2012.

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart, Mobile Sears Grand/Essentials, Auburn Kmart.

California:   El Monte Sears Grand/Essentials, two San Diego Sears Grand/Essentials.

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart, Glenwood Springs Kmart, Lone Tree Sears Great Indoors, Longmont Sears.

Georgia: Macon Sears, Buford Kmart, Douglasville Kmart, Atlanta Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Jonesboro Kmart.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart, Callaway Kmart, Orange City Kmart,  Deland Sears Grand/Essentials, Stuart Sears Grand/Essentials, West Palm Beach Sears Grand/Essentials, Port St. Lucie Sears Grand/Essentials, Crystal River Sears, New Smyrna Beach Kmart, St. Augustine Kmart, Pompano Beach Kmart, and recently revealed Jacksonville Kmart.

Idaho: Lewiston Sears.

sears chubbuck

Floundering Sears at the GGP owned Pine Ridge Mall in Chubbuck, Idaho.

Kmart Pocatello

Floundering Big Kmart in Pocatello, Idaho. Are they next to go in Idaho?

Indiana:  Anderson Sears Full Line, Saint John Kmart, Indianapolis Kmart.

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart, Davenport Kmart.

Kansas: Lawrence Sears Full Line.

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears Hard lines, Winchester Kmart, Hazard Kmart.

Maine: Lewiston Sears.

Maryland: Ellicott Sears Grand/Essentials.

Michigan: Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart.

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line.

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials.

North Carolina: High Point Sears Full line, Moorehead Sears Full line, Rocky Mount Sears Full line, Statesville Sears Full line.

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart.

Oregon: Roseburg Sears Full line.

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, and recently revealed Pittsburgh Kmart.

South Carolina: Sumter Sears Full line.

Tennessee: Antioch Sears Full line, Cleveland Sears Full line, Oak Ridge Sears Full line, Hendersonville Kmart, and recently revealed Morristown Sears Full line.

Virginia: Norfolk Sears Full line,  Midlothian Kmart, Richmond Kmart.

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line, Lacey Kmart.

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears Grand/Essentials, Rice Lake Kmart.

Don’t forget, this is the 2012 known list of closings, there were closings in 2011 and 2010 as well, and they’ll be more for 2013.

Idaho, U.S.

U.S. West Nile Virus update, 01 October 2012: Now being called a ‘disaster’! Humans, horses and now chickens! Medical media calls outbreak over, then suddenly 400 new cases! No insurance, no treatment?

“To judge from past reporting trends, these figures suggest that this year’s West Nile virus outbreak will be among the largest ever recorded!”-Lyle Petersen, CDC

“…disturbingly unpredictable, disagreeable, and difficult to control.”-CDC statement

“At first they said West Nile would remain concentrated along the Eastern Seaboard. Then, as it moved westward, they said it wouldn’t spread beyond the Midwest. In 2006, seven years after the virus was detected in New York, it infected several residents here in Washington. Now it’s been reported in every state except Hawaii and Alaska.”-Terry McElwain, Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

In the last week of September 2012, 400 new cases of West Nile virus were reported throughout the United States.

At least 3,545 cases in 48 states, with 147 deaths, and that’s what the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting.  What the CDC reports is at least a week behind what’s happening on the ground.

Incredibly, during the middle of September, some medical media sources reported that the West Nile virus outbreak had peaked out, and was on the decline!

70% of cases are in Texas, South Dakota and Mississippi.

Mississippi: 197 human cases, five deaths: “We are in the middle of the worst epidemic of West Nile virus infection in the state of Mississippi ever and one of the worst in terms of the United States!”-Art Leis, Methodist Rehab Center

Ohio: Clark County Combined Health District confirmed an elderly man died from West Nile virus.  Computer problems prevented the release of details. Ohio Department of Health reports 93 human cases, so far.

Texas: Morris County reports first case of West Nile in horses: “The horse exhibited ataxis, which is lack of muscle coordination, fever, and depression.”-Dennis Seymore, veterinarian

So far this year there have been 39 cases of equine West Nile virus in Texas.   “It should also be noted that vaccination for West Nile Virus does not protect a horse from other mosquito-borne diseases such as Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis.”-Dennis Seymore, veterinarian

A Texas woman is suffering doubly, not only has West Nile left her partially paralyzed, but she has no way to pay for medical care.  The Fort Worth hospital she is in is trying to send her away. She needs 24 hour care, but hospital staff say it ain’t gonna happen without money: “Ideally, we’re usually able to get them transferred to a rehab facility or somewhere they can have impatient care. However, due to her limited funding status, we have to plan for her to go home.”-Melody Argueta, Huguley Memorial Medical Center

Louisiana: 29 more human cases reported.  So far 280 people infected, 11 deaths.

Iowa: Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Iowa Department of Public Health report large number of horses infected.  More than 20, last year there was only one equine case.

Oklahoma: Nine people have died from West Nile so far. 154 human cases.

California: Reporting 182 human cases, 10 deaths. Health officials warning to stay away from dead birds.  So far 1,273 dead birds, in California, have tested positive for West Nile.  Rodents, like squirrels, also testing positive.

Florida: Alachua County Health Department discovered West Nile virus in several chicken flocks, and one horse.  More than 40 human cases statewide.

Massachusetts: “The Massachusetts Department of Public Health risk assessment level has been raised from ‘Moderate’ to ‘High’ in the towns of Stoneham and Winchester in efforts to raise awareness regarding this arbovirus in the closing weeks of the warm season.”

New York:  An elderly man from New York was diagnosed with West Nile while visiting friends in Canada. He is in critical condition.

Idaho: 11 human cases, at least five equine cases.

Illinois: DuPage County Health Department reports fourth human death.  138 human cases statewide.

Michigan: Department of Community Health reports two more human deaths, 170 cases.

New Jersey:   At least 22 human cases, one death.

Virginia:   First equine case, the horse had to be killed.

Georgia: Two new human cases, one fatal, in Gwinnett County.  At least 43 cases statewide.

Maryland:  30 human cases.

Tennessee: At least 21 human cases. Rap singer, Brabo Gator, fell into a coma after being infected. Doctors say he will probably never sing again because of damage to his lungs.

Rhode Island: Reporting third human case.

Wisconsin: Two confirmed human cases, 23 possible.

Colorado: Three human deaths, 92 cases.

 

 

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

What Economic Recovery? Hewlett Packard boss to reveal her secret plans!

“I believe in creative destruction.”-Meg Whitman, CEO Hewlett Packard

“It’s staggering, this is now the cheapest big stock in the last 25 years. That reflects an industry belief that the company is going to decline.”-A. M. Sacconaghi, Bernstein Research

According to a New York Times article, Meg Whitman will reveal her tactical plans for rejuvenating Hewlett Packard (HP) on Wednesday, 03 October 2012.

HP employes thousands of people in the United States (Boise, Idaho. Houston, Texas. Costa Rica), but those jobs have been disappearing, and under Whitman’s plans could be reduced even more. She wants to continue HP’s spread across the world, already HP has at least 60,000 employees in India alone!

Whitman says she hopes to get her changes completed within four years.  But one thing’s for sure, HP has got to stop buying up losing companies: Just last year HP spent $10 billion USD buying a company called Autonomy.

Here’s a good thing about Whitman, she hates bureaucracy.  The first thing she did at HP was to consolidate and trim the upper management.

On 03 October we’ll find out just how much more trimming she’ll do to the rest of the company.

 

 

International, U.S.

Government Incompetence & World War 3: Obama returns combat troops to Iraq!

“At the request of the Iraqi government, according to General Caslen, a unit of Army Special Operations soldiers was recently deployed to Iraq…”-New York Times, 24 September 2012

According to a New York Times article, President Barack Obama has sent Special Forces troops back into Iraq!

The revelation is buried fifteen paragraphs into the article: “Iraq and the United States are negotiating an agreement that could result in the return of small units of American soldiers to Iraq…”

The article is basically about how the U.S. instigated civil war in Syria is spilling into Iraq, making things so bad that U.S. combat troops are being sent back in (hey, sounds like history repeating itself, just ask historians about the British Empire’s failed attempts at controlling Iraq prior to World War 2).