Anonymous - WW3 Update - Part 2 (2016)

It's a mad, mad world

Published today August 24, 2016
Views: 2,053

Tech Outposts Expand All Over | Phoenix Has A Long Way To Go [Socially Conservative Politics]

Just about a year ago, John WillIiams, the
President of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank, was here in The New Urban Downtown Mesa for a site visit arranged by Terry Benelli, Executive Director of LISC Phoenix. Along with 21 community leaders, your Mesa blogger was invited on the bus-coach tour in numerous postings this blogsite. Months later - April 5, 2016, an article later appeared on the LISC website " The (Re)Making of Mesa " with more details.
Here's a link >>   http://www.lisc.org/our-stories/story/remaking-of-mesa if you missed it.
During a conversation between on-location stops, John Williams mentioned that once his staff in high-cost San Francisco found out how low housing costs are here, they might think about moving here. . . I THOUGHT TO MYSELF Nah. To the most conservative city in the whole country? don't know if that ever happened but the issue of high wages and high real estate prices has come up in another context brought up in this follow-up piece by Toronto-based architect and real estate developer Brandon Donnelly in his daily blog for city builders http://brandondonnelly.com/

"The Bay Area has never been especially cheap, and tech companies have a long history of moving their more expensive and labor-intensive functions to second-tier cities where land and labor are less expensive. Intel, the semiconductor giant, was founded in the Silicon Valley in 1968, and by 1979, it had manufacturing facilities outside Portland, Ore., and Phoenix. . . But while Phoenix is recruiting companies, its technology scene lacks some crucial elements. Mr. Salkin, from Allbound, said he still flies to the Bay Area once a month for networking or other events. “We’re doing amazing things here,” he said, “but we’ve got a way to go.”
Mr. Salkin added that for technology companies, which hire people from all kinds of backgrounds,
Arizona’s socially conservative politics can be a form of cultural baggage.

HERE'S THE KICKER FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE
In San Francisco, “you can come from any walk of life and feel pretty much accepted and safe,” Mr. Salkin said. “You struggle to say that here right now. I think that’s changing, but it has not been the case in Arizona, and I think that’s
a big thing.”

The rise of tech outposts
What happens when wages and real estate prices become too high in a city? Companies start growing in lower cost locations. We’ve all seen this before. 
Fred Wilson recently blogged about this “spillover effect”, citing a New York Times article talking about the growth of tech offices in Phoenix. As someone who sits on the board of many technology companies, he was noticing a thematic trend:

“A big theme of board meetings I’ve been in over the past year is the crazy high cost of talent in the big tech centers (SF, NYC, LA, Boston, Seattle) and the need to grow headcount in lower cost locations.”

We talk a lot about housing prices on this blog, and so I think it’s useful to see how this, along with high wages, also impacts companies. The two are interrelated.
Below is a chart from the NY Times article showing the US cities with the highest number of technology jobs and the most growth from 2010 to 2015. 

San Francisco is in a league of its own. But overall, the growth is in tech and many cities are adding lots of technology jobs. Look at Detroit and Boston right beside each other (Detroit obviously has a smaller starting base). And look at how Miami is nowhere to be found.
Of course, one interesting question is whether these new outposts – such as Phoenix – can truly come into their own and carve out a niche:

“We don’t want to be San Francisco’s back office — we need more creators here,” said Scott Salkin, a founder and the chief executive of Allbound, which is based in Phoenix, makes sales software and has offices down the hall from Gainsight’s.

Even with the high cost of living, it’s hard to supplant the coastal hegemony. That’s where people go to chase riches. As comedian Daniel Tosh likes to say, “the middle of the country is for people who gave up on their dreams.. . "

 

Boeing Delivers AH-64E Apache Training System To Republic of Korea

From a press release yesterday
Published on ASDNews: Aug 22, 2016
Boeing [NYSE: BA] has delivered to the Republic of Korea an Apache Longbow Crew Trainer that the country’s Army air crews will use to prepare for the AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters that Boeing begins delivering later this year.The system uses the Apache’s flight software and matured flight and avionics simulation models to create an accurate training environment that increases mission readiness.
[ Blogger's Note: Apart from knowing that Apache helos are produced at Boeing, located here in Mesa, readers might be interested to know more about what they can do.
Here's a link to the company's,website http://www.boeing.com/defense/support/training/apache-longbow-trainer/ and a 6:59-minute video
Published on May 11, 2014

Views:51

This edition features stories on Iraqis providing security during elections, the advisory role of U.S. Army during Iraqi elections, Army helicopters providing security and intelligence for Iraqi security forces, virtual combat exercises on the Longbow Crew Trainer flight simulator and Iraqis training to use unmanned aerial vehicles for security during elections. Hosted by Sgt. Nick Morales

•  

“The AH-64 Apache helicopter is a critical force multiplier to the U.S. Army and customers around the world,” said Randy Nielson, U.S. Army Apache Program Management Office lead for operator training devices. “The Longbow Crew Trainer is an invaluable asset that will enable Korean Army AH-64 aviators to train and sustain aircraft systems, flight and tactical tasks, increasing their combat effectiveness while reducing risk to the soldier.”
Boeing will provide two years of training and maintenance on the system.
The delivery completes one portion of South Korea’s $1.6 billion order for 36 Guardian helicopters and training and logistical support.
“As the original equipment manufacturer, Boeing is uniquely positioned to offer customers the most comprehensive and immersive training systems available for our platforms,” said Dwight Brandon, Apache Training Systems program manager. “Customers know that Boeing can help them train their people and support their aircraft to affordably maintain mission readiness for many years.”

Source : The Boeing Company - view original press release

 

Image credit for group

A chance to showcase. https://www.army.mil/article/88153

By Capt. Xeriqua Garfinkel (101st Airborne)September 28, 2012

Media Disinformation: US/NATO WAR AGENDA

Here is another excellent piece of investigative journalism from the fine folks working in a research organization in Canada. It appeared just yesterday with all the "Russia-bashing" rampant in mainstream media.

The Fantasy of Vladimir Putin as “Vlad the Terrible” Ratchets Up…
By Felicity Arbuthnot Global Research, August 22, 2016

While the entire article can be found here some excerpts are of interest and notable to inform the public:
“What lies behind the new Russian threat to Ukraine? ” , . .
Trying to find the “Russian threat to the Ukraine” is, as ever, a hard task. It was of course the US which organized the February 2014 coup which replaced the legitimate government and reduced yet another country to chaos. Russia however also appears the victim in a recent incident which triggered the Independent article which Katehon (2) describes with admirably clarity:

“A Ukrainian group of saboteurs was arrested last week (10^th August) by Russia’s secret service, the FSB. It was revealed that the Ukrainians had intended to organize terrorist attacks in Russian Crimea. During the arrest, two Russian citizens from the Federal Security Service and military of the Armed Forces were killed. This tragic incident has provoked tensions between Ukraine and Russia. The Ukrainian regime has begun to move its troops towards the border with Russia and the republics of Donbass, preparing for an invasion.”

Thus Ukrainian forces are thus encroaching on Russia, not the other way round.

Faithfully toeing the West’s misteaching mantra, the Independent article dropped in: “Crimea has not experienced serious military action since it was annexed from Ukraine by the Kremlin in the chaotic aftermath of the Maidan protests.”
Crimea of course, was not “annexed” by a marauding Russia as is implicated.
Only two years ago the paper wrote (3) of the referendum (16^th March 2014( held in Crimea – arranged by Crimea, not Russia – in which over 95% of voters made their feelings clear over the US engineered coup:

“Fireworks exploded and Russian flags fluttered above jubilant crowds on Sunday after residents in Crimea voted overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine and join Russia … after the polls closed late on Sunday, crowds of ethnic Russians in the regional Crimean capital of Simferopol erupted with jubilant chants in the main square, overjoyed at the prospect of once again becoming part of Russia.” The referendum was monitored by 135 international observers from 23 countries.*

Russia thus had not aggressively “annexed” Crimea, the people had voted to secede.

On the day of the referendum the White House released a statement ending, apparently without irony:

“In this century, we are long past the days when the international community will stand quietly by while one country forcibly seizes the territory of another.  We call on all members of the international community to continue to condemn such actions, to take concrete steps to impose costs, and to stand together …” Breathtaking.

This from a country that has, since the end of World War 11, “forcibly seized”, invaded, interfered in or decimated thirty three countries to 2011 (4) – not counting Syria and Ukraine subsequently. 

Jerry Lewis for Mesa City Council

Dumb and dumber? ...or drunk?

Published on Aug 9, 2016

Views: 16

Bob from the Chamber of Commerce explains why Jerry Lewis gave up a successful career in show business, to run for Mesa City Council. You loved his movies, and you are going to love him on the city council.

Central Mesa Light Rail Extension Opening Celebration

...and one year later?

One-Year Anniversary for Start of Valley Metro Light Rail Service in Downtown Mesa

...and the mayor does this?

Published on Aug 22, 2016

Views: 4

Thank you Extra Innings for hosting a #PlayBall clinic for the Boys & Girls Club. Each year, mayors partner with The United States Conference of Mayors and #MLB to introduce kids to baseball and it's always a blast!