Tuesday, June 2, 2009

THE POWER HOUR Team Network News | June 2, 2009

GM files for bankruptcy protection -- President Obama said Monday that General Motors’ bankruptcy plan is viable, achievable and will help automaker move toward profitability. He said he is "absolutely confident" that a well-managed GM will emerge from the process - government will act as a caretaker.

GM bankruptcy spells disaster for small suppliers -- Independent suppliers manufacture 70 percent of the 15,000 parts -- including seats, engine blocks, electronics, and bumpers -- that go into a single automobile. Collectively, they make up a $388 billion industry that accounts for more than 600,000 of the 2 million American jobs tied to the auto industry. Of those, the overwhelming majority are small businesses with an average of 80 to 100 employees, according to industry experts.

Cash missing after Navy rescue from pirates -- The U.S. Navy is investigating the disappearance of $30,000 in cash during the hijacking of the U.S.-flagged ship Maersk Alabama off the coast of Somalia and the Navy SEALs' rescue of its captain, Richard Phillips, in April.

Bloomberg: Global Crisis ‘Inevitable’ Unless U.S. Starts Saving, Yu Says -- Another global financial crisis triggered by a loss of confidence in the dollar may be inevitable unless the U.S. saves more, said Yu Yongding, a former Chinese central bank adviser.

What Do The Chinese Think About The Dollar? -- In order to reduce its dollar holdings, China is diversifying its estimated $40 billion per month in new investments. The Chinese are locking up the rights to resources and raw materials around the world. They are stocking up on copper, iron ore, oil, as well as the precious metals. As reported last month, China recently announced that it had more than doubled its gold reserves. China admits to having about 1,054 tonnes of gold. In all likelihood, the real number is higher.

When Go-Go Went Bye-Bye -- "Having cut prices on its new homes by more than 50 percent, Meritage Homes of Scottsdale, is attracting buyers in a punishing market. Three years ago, Meritage Homes was selling dozens of $250,000-$300,000 homes in the Maricopa area southeast of Phoenix. Then came the crash. Meritage executives have spent the past six months overhauling their entire business model. They now are building and selling homes for less than $100,000 in the same Maricopa neighborhood."

Air France plane missing off Brazilian coast -- An Air France plane carrying 228 people from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Paris has disappeared off the Brazilian coast after hitting strong turbulence, officials reported Monday morning. Brazilian officials feared that the Airbus A330 had gone down with 216 passengers and 12 crew members aboard. The Brazilian air force had begun search and rescue operations in the Atlantic Ocean off the Brazilian coast, near the small island of Fernando de Noronha, a lieutenant colonel told Brazil's TV Globo.

Boston police getting more firepower -- The Boston Police Department is preparing a plan to arm as many as 200 patrol officers with semiautomatic assault rifles, a significant boost in firepower that department leaders believe is necessary to counter terrorist threats, according to law enforcement officials briefed on the plan.

Oklahoma (Gulf War Vet) pharmacist charged with murder after shooting would-be robber -- Jerome Ersland, a former Air Force lieutenant colonel and a Gulf War veteran, is facing charges of first degree murder after he shot and killed 16 year-old Antwun Parker when the teenager and an accomplice identified as 14 year-old Jevontia Ingram, attempted to rob the pharmacy.

Johnson & Johnson being asked to remove 2 chemicals from baby shampoo -- Johnson & Johnson is being asked by a coalition of organizations to remove two chemicals, considered probable human carcinogens, from its baby shampoo and other personal care products.

Swine H1N1 summer spread raise fears of pandemic -- The latest surveillance report (week 20) from the CDC, clearly indicates that swine H1N1 activity is on the rise in the United States, as seasonal flu levels continue to decline.

AstraZeneca told reps to lie about Seroquel/diabetes link -- Drug giant AstraZeneca instructed its sales representatives to tell doctors that there was no link between its antipsychotic drug Seroquel and an increased risk of diabetes, even though studies conducted by the company had already shown otherwise, according to documents uncovered as part of a lawsuit.

Irradiated cat food banned in Australia-it kills cats -- A SERIES of mysterious cat deaths was caused by the government-mandated practice of irradiating imported pet food.

Monsanto dropped a cool 2 million on lobbying in 1st quarter 2009 -- Turns out, the GMO-seed giant spent $2 million pushing its agenda in Washington the first three months of the year.

Public asked to help monitor life on earth -- Scientists asked people around the world on Monday to help compile an Internet-based observatory of life on earth as a guide to everything from the impact of climate change on wildlife to pests that can damage crops.

Cheney-execute terrorists if Gitmo must close -- Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Monday that the only alternative to holding some suspected terrorists indefinitely would be to execute them, arguing against the Obama administration's plans to close the Guantanamo detainee prison.

Elaine Brown Update: Lawyer request evaluation of New Hampshire tax evader -- A New Hampshire judge has been asked to order a mental evaluation of convicted tax evader Elaine Brown to see if she is competent to stand trial on conspiracy and weapons charges.

Revolution: Boots on the Ground county by county by Devvy Kidd -- True to form, the usurper has picked another dangerous individual - this time for the U.S. Supreme Court. Knowing the Republicans are too cowardly to put a real fight, this candidate was selected because she's female, Hispanic and her anti-Second Amendment stand.

72 year old woman tasered at traffic stop -- A 72-year-old woman is pulled over for speeding, then tasered and sent to jail. "I wasn't argumentative, I was not combative as they said. This is a lie. All of this is a lie, pulled away from him I did not," she said, reading the arrest affidavit.

US firm says handheld puke ray is ready to go (so the cops can use these too after they taser you?) -- A US industrial laser company says it has developed a functional puke-ray system, ideal for use by cops or military personnel wishing to take down their opponents without shooting them. The firm proposes to issue the "non lethal light fighting technology" in two form factors - light-sabre/torch and blaster-pistol.

The Bilderberg group & what they may be planning -- For over 14 years, Daniel Estulin has investigated and researched the Bilderberg Group's far-reaching influence on business and finance, global politics, war and peace, and control of the world's resources and its money. Read More...

Army deploys old tactic in PR war -- Body counts are back, reigniting the decades-old debate about whether victory in war can be judged by measuring the stack of enemy dead. In recent months, the U.S. command in Afghanistan has begun publicizing every single enemy fighter killed in combat, the most detailed body counts the military has released since the practice fell into disrepute during the Vietnam War.

Spy chips guiding CIA drone strikes locals say -- Ever since 9/11, locals in Central Asia and the Middle East have spread tall tales about American super-technology: soldiers with x-ray glasses, satellites that can see into homes, tanks with magnetic, grenade-repelling armor. But small radio frequency or GPS emitters have been commercially available for years. A veteran spy tells Danger Room that the use of these Taliban-tracking devices entirely plausible.

Increased storm off US coastline have forecasters concerned -- These Popup Storms Could Mean More Severe Weather for U.S. During Hurricane Season.

Newly discovered reaction from an old drug may lead to new antibiotics (selenium & gold) -- A mineral found at health food stores could be the key to developing a new line of antibiotics for bacteria that commonly cause diarrhea, tooth decay and, in some severe cases, death.

Uranium mining near the Grand Canyon? -- The Obama administration has been quick to overturn several anti-environmental moves ushered in during the 11th hour of George W. Bush's presidency, but halting uranium exploration and mining near the Grand Canyon has not been one of them.

Committees of correspondence & safety -- Copy of Broadside from Boston, Massachusetts, 1775 and Text of Broadside message.