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, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 28 January 2013. More bad news for alternative power! More fuel refineries shut down! 239 book stores goin’ down! God can’t stop Christian care centers from closing!

In Nevada geothermal energy producer, Ram Power, eliminated almost all its positions at its HQ.  The CEO is also said to be quitting. They are also trying to sell off their California geothermal project.  The company is moving operations to Nicaragua.

In Missouri,  Renewable Environmental Solutions laid off a couple dozen employees. One manager said the new company management thought there were too many employees: “…they saw we were a little fat for winter operations and that led to some layoffs.”-Jim Fuller, general manager

Also, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, two beer bars shut down.  One owner said he wants to focus on his restaurant, and another owner said he needed to spend more time with his family.

In California, 62 people lost their jobs as the Alon fuel refinery shut down.  Company officials blamed it on the increasingly higher costs of refining fuel to California standards.

In New Hampshire military contractor, BAE Systems,will layoff 200 workers!  Another 100 will be laid off in other parts of the country. They say they’re getting ready for reduced military spending.

Sun Times Media, publisher of many newspapers around the country,  says they are forced to layoff at least 50 people.  They are consolidating operations.

Time will layoff 500 employees!  It’s because the publisher continues to see its revenues crash.

In Arizona, EuroFresh Farms goes bankrupt for the second time! Texas-based NatureSweet is offering to buy all of EuroFarms’ assets.

In Gunter, Texas, Christian Care Centers is closing down their Hilltop Haven nursing home. It’s all about the money: “We were unable to find a sustainable financial model for Hilltop.”-Teresa Scott, senior vice president

Lily’s Pampering Salon & Party Boutique closed for good in Washington.   The building was sold off, and the new owners have plans that don’t involve the salon.

In Hilo, Hawaii, Na Makua Original Hawaiian Designs studio was shut down. The owners want to focus on other projects. However, other reports say sales had slowed down because of the bad economy.

Only a few months after opening, Learning Express is closing down their West Boca, Florida, store.  The owners blame the bad economy.

In Iowa, a Snackers 2 training restaurant shut down. The restaurant school was operated by Goodwill of the Heartland.  Officials say the restaurant always lost money, but last year was unbearable. 17 employees laid off.

Barnes & Noble announced plans to close as many as 239 book stores over the next ten years!  Company officials say it’s part of their plans to create “a good business model.”

 

 

Influenza

U.S. Influenza update, 21 February 2013: As I’ve been saying Flu vaccines don’t work, now CDC agrees! No more Tamiflu OS!!! New cases of horse flu! New cases of the new Bird flu! Your politicians spreading the disease!

21 February 2013/10 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/03 Esfand 1391

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the results of their own vaccine study, and it has them shocked!

First off, for overall effectiveness this year’s vaccine is 56% effective, not 62% effective as has been claimed since the beginning of the season.  Secondly, when you break it down by flu strain and the age of the victim, things get worse.

The vaccine is only 9% effective in preventing influenza strain A in people 65 years of age or older!

So far this season almost 9,000 people have been hospitalized because of the flu, the majority are old people and includes those who got flu shots!

To help support my previous claims against vaccines (that the virus mutates too fast for vaccines to be effective), the University of Louisville recently released preliminary results of their ongoing study of the H1N1 pandemic of 2009-10.  They found that each person’s immune system reacted differently to H1N1 (a type of flu A): “This study underscores the potential variability in the virulence of 2009 H1N1 influenza A strains circulating in Kentucky during the pandemic. These data suggest the hypothesis that the high severity of disease seen in certain hospitalized patients may be related to infection with H1N1pdm viral variants that, due to cell tropism and replication levels, may exacerbate certain types of disease associated with comorbidity.”

Minnesota Department of Health reporting 12 new flu deaths. The total for the North Star State is now 148 deaths.  Last week five nursing homes, and nine schools reported outbreaks.

In South Dakota, a 6th grader was the latest person to die. He died from flu A, the type of flu the vaccine has proven to not work on.

The maker of Tamiflu, the anti-flu medicine, says get the children’s version (Tamiflu OS) while you can, ’cause they ain’t makin’ anymore: “…we have shipped all quantities of Tamiflu OS to distributors, some retail pharmacies may still have it…….Given the amount of time it takes to manufacture Tamiflu OS, we don’t plan to make more for the 2012/13 flu season, as it wouldn’t be ready in time.”-Tara Iannuccillo, Genentech

Canadian scientists claim they have a new drug against flu: “Our drug agent uses the same approach as current flu treatments, by preventing neuraminidase from cutting its ties with the infected cell. But our agent latches onto this enzyme like a broken key, stuck in a lock, rendering it useless.”-Steve Withers, University of British Columbia

Oklahoma State Department of Health reporting 26 flu deaths.

In Michigan, Ottawa County reporting double the number of lab confirmed flu cases compared to 2010-11, and five times higher than last year.   So far 20,000 people in the County have complained of flu related illnesses.

Pennsylvania Department of Health reporting that flu related visits to doctors and hospitals are going down. At this point 154 people died.

New Jersey officials say flu is alive and well in their state: “We still do have high influenza-like illness activity throughout our state.”-Tina Tan, State Epidemiologist

The New York State Health Department is reporting fewer cases of flu.  That is, there were fewer cases of people going to the hospital because of the flu, but, the number of people making flu related doctor visits is unchanged.  Also, the number of kids dying from flu has gone up, now eight children have died in New York.  Pediatric deaths make up 38% of lab confirmed flu cases in the Empire State.  There have been 484 outbreaks.  Health officials do not track adult flu related deaths.

Health officials in Colorado are warning that March could be a bad month for flu cases: “March historically is an active time for the flu locally, so we can’t say for sure that the flu season is over.”-Tamara Capp, Mesa County Health Department

In San Diego, California, County health officials are reporting decreased cases.  San Diego got hit hard, with 4,175 lab confirmed cases and 40 deaths.  The flu season isn’t over. For some reason State officials are still reporting far fewer deaths, for the entire state, than whats being reporting in San Diego County.

The next time you hear an “official” telling you not to go to work if you’re sick, tell them its time they take their own medicine!  In Virginia there have been a number of cases of elected officials ending up in the hospital, because they continue to go to work when they are sick:  “Almost no matter what, you’ve got to try to be here every day. This time of year, we’ve got all these bills coming across, and some of them are 20-20 votes.”-Jeffrey L. McWaters, State Senator

The Wall Street Journal reported that flu season is good for OJ.  Orange Juice that is.  The WSJ reported that not only is OJ sales up, but that it’s the older people who’re gulping the citrus juice down.

In Oregon, veterinarians are warning horse owners after a horse came down with equine influenza.  It’s being treated at Oregon State University, the horse originally came from Texas.  This time of year is not good for horses and flu: “Equine influenza is especially dangerous to foals and the foaling season just started.”-Keith Poulsen, OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Flu season recently began in Europe, and the United Kingdom is reporting a doubling of cases in the past two weeks (fortnight).

In Mexico, nine new outbreaks of H7N3 being reported, this time in the state of Guanajuato.  So far 34,889 chickens have died and 53,553 are infected in these latest outbreaks.  Get ready for chicken and egg prices to go up, as this new H7N3 has killed hundreds of thousands of poultry in Mexico since last year.

In Cambodia, a seventh person has died because of bird flu. The 20 months old boy was the eighth Cambodian to be infected with the H5N1 version of bird flu, so far this year.

Bird flus rarely infect humans, but when they do they have an extremely high kill rate.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Two more Kmarts goin’ down!

20 February 2013/09 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/02 Esfand 1391

In Columbia, South Carolina, a Kmart on Saint Andrews Road will close down by May.  Another South Carolina Kmart, on Wade Hampton Boulevard in Greenville, will also close down in May.  Leases were not renewed.

Today “…multimedia financial-services company…”, The Motley Fool, advised against investing in Sears Holdings: “Sears just does not have the resources to compete….the leadership change amplifies the already high level of risk….Sears Holdings is not profitable right now, nor are they forecast to return to profitability anytime soon, which makes a usual valuation analysis meaningless.”

Here’s my updated list of store closings since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost).

California:   El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost).

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost).

Guam:  Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Sears to be closed by 03 February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!!!).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Illinois:  Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost).  Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost). By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state.  The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost).

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.

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

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

North Carolina: High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost),  West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New York: Depew Kmart (68 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost).   Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, recently revealed Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost), recently revealed one of two Greenville Kmarts (74 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors.

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost),  Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost),  Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears will be closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (will be closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 11 – 13 February 2013. U.S. backed assassination attempt on Iranians in Afghanistan? Afghans invade Iran? More proof that attacks are up! More women & children killed by U.S. led home invasions!

13 February 2013/02 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/25 Bahman 1391

In Kunar Province, provincial government officials say a U.S. led NATO home invasion operation resulted in four men killed (dubbed “militants” by U.S. led forces),  four women killed and five children killed. It happened in Chopan village.  U.S. led NATO and Afghan National Army (ANA) forces said the house was a Mujahideen refuge.  Mujahideen sources say only women and children were killed in home invasion, and that they attacked the U.S. led forces after the home invasion, killing five ANA troops and wounding three.   Also, to add to the confusion, villagers say NATO/ANA forces kidnapped six people.  For even more confusion, other reports say the attack in Chopan village was actually an air strike!  Oh, the fog of war!  The only thing everyone is agreeing to is that four women and five children were killed!

In Balkh Province, a staff member of the Iranian Consulate was shot while he was on his way to university classes.  He was wounded with four bullets in his chest and stomach.  Police say the assassination attempt was done by men on motorcycles.  Israeli and U.S. forces have used similar tactics to assassinate Iranian nuclear engineers inside Iran.

Then along the Iran-Afghan border,  Iranian border police say they engaged a group of armed drug smugglers coming from Afghanistan. Seven were killed, they had 400 kilos (881 pounds) of opium.  Provincial officials in Farah Province used a most common excuse, that the Afghans were sneaking into Iran to find work.  Iran has a no tolerance anti-narcotics policy, drug smugglers are punished with death!  A few years ago Iranian border police say they found U.S. documents on Afghan drug smugglers, such as U.S. issued credit cards!

An independent report out of Kabul shows that violence against Afghans, especially kidnapping, continues to increase. This is not the first time such a report has been made, and it comes as U.S. led forces continue to claim a reduction in violence against their own personnel.  The latest Afghan study explains that the latest increase in violence against Afghans is at the hands of U.S. supported private security contractors (mercenaries/Arbaki).  Recently police in Kabul stopped an attempted kidnapping and it turned out that the kidnappers were working for a U.S. backed security company.   The police said they were forced to let the kidnappers go after being pressured by government officials.

12 February 2013/01 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/24 Bahman 1391

In Ghazni Province, U.S. led forces conducted a home invasion which resulted in two people killed, two kidnapped.

In Khost Province, a U.S. led home invasion killed a medical student.

In Kapisa Province, U.S. led home invasions resulted in 12 people killed.

The Afghan government admits that Mujahideen are still in control of legal proceedings in at least 65 districts around the country.  This is because the government does not have the legal infrastructure to impose government law throughout the country.

11 February 2013/30 Raby` al-Awwal 1434/23 Bahman 1391

In Nangarhar Province, one ANA troop was killed another wounded after they drove over a landmine.

In Kapisa Province, local government officials say a U.S. led ANA operation killed eight Mujahideen.

An Afghan investigation into claims from the United Nations, that torture is on the increase in Afghan controlled prisons, backs up the UN claim.  Afghan investigators found that the use of torture by cops and guards was on the increase, and that secret prisons have been created.

A UN report says bribery is big business in Afghanistan.  A survey showed that almost half of all Afghans were forced, or felt they had to pay a bribe, to the tune of $4 billion in 2012!  That’s double Afghanistan’s official domestic revenue.

In Kandahar Province, local government officials are pushing Afghan investors to bring 80 factories from Pakistan into Afghanistan!  The officials claim the move would create 3000 jobs for the province.

Economically strapped Japan has just promised to give Afghanistan an additional $13 million USD in taxes collected from struggling citizens of Japan.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 27 January 2013. Nestle blames inflation!

After only a few months in business, Canadian-American Structured Solutions (CASS) has laid off half of its employees at its Montana modular homes operation.  Good news, they say it’s temporary: “This is a temporary situation as we wait for materials to arrive for our next projects. And this is a very common practice within the industry.”-Lorne Wallace, CEO

In Arkansas, Nestle laying off 70 people, and cutting production days from six days per week down to just four!  The prepared foods maker blames it on increased costs of food products (inflation).

Click pics to make bigger

Kansas based electrical equipment rebuilder, Solomon, let go another 33 employees. Company officials blame the bad economy.

Wireless equipment maker, PowerWave, goes bankrupt with hundreds of millions in debt.

Wisconsin based School Specialty goes bankrupt. The school supply company is selling off assets.

After 28 years in business, Florida’s Kitchenique Cooking School shutting down.  The owner blames the bad economy and a bad location for a steady drop in business: “This is hard; very emotional. Writing the closing announcement was almost like writing my obituary.”-Vicki McCain

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? 372 employees just now told they will be out-o-work, I reported the Sears store closing weeks ago! Wake up people! I got more evidence of Sears’ demise!

“I was shocked. We knew the store was going to close sometime, but they kept telling us it wasn’t going to happen until later.”-unnamed Sears employee

19 February 2013, reports out of Hawaii saying that the employees at the Honolulu Sears were just told (on 18 February 2013) their store will shut down in June.  Local media sources say the June closing date is several months ahead of what they were told back in November. I reported on 31 January 2013, that the flagship money making Sears store was being closed soon.

The huge Sears store/auto center employees 372 people!

Local Hawaii media stuck with a Sears Holdings’ claim, back in November, that the store would stay open through 2013, closing in early 2014.  The problem is that Sears Holdings does not own the store!  They sold the store at the beginning of 2012 to General Growth Properties (GGP).  GGP has been closing down most of the eleven stores they bought (except for the one in Utah, because they cut a deal on the lease).

Hawaii media also stating that GGP revealed (also in November) that the Sears store would be turned into smaller retail spaces, get this, beginning in 2013, in direct contradiction to the Sears Holdings’ statement.

This is a clear case of store employees, and the local media, relying on info from the wrong ‘official source’.  They were relying on info from Sears Holdings which did not apply in this case because the store was actually owned by GGP (never mind the fact that Sears Holdings hasn’t been reliable, also I’ve worked for GGP at one of their Idaho malls and know what stupid corporate decisions they are capable of).

There have been growing complaints by customers that Sears/Kmart is not honoring their ShopYourWay rewards program. Also, growing reports that advertised items are not actually in stock, customers are then pushed to buy something else.  Is it the old bait-n-switch, or are they just not ordering new inventory?

Back in 2010 Sears Holdings sold $250 million USD worth of bonds to its own retirement plan.  Such a move is considered a desperate attempt by a company in trouble to raise cash, on paper anyway.

Recently Sears issued a $5 “Thank you” coupon.  If you bought $25 worth of stuff you got $5 off.  The problem was that the list of “restrictions” was so long many people didn’t bother.

Also, a man in Florida made the dumb move of taking his SUV to get an oil change at Sears (I worked in a Sears automotive shop in California back in the late 1980s, right before it was proven they were ripping people off on brake jobs).  He claims the Sears employee got in his SUV and then rammed it into a wall: “The Sears auto worker gets in the vehicle, literally, it looks like slams on the gas and hit a truck lift and a concrete wall with the vehicle. It was surreal. I didn’t believe it happened.”-Dan Lindeman

Sears refused to pay for damages: “He told me you just need to pay for these repairs out of your pocket and then sue us or you need to call your insurance company.”

The trusting victim, Dan Lindman, did what Sears told him; he and his insurance provider (Farmer’s) actually paid for repairing the damages caused by Sears!  At last check, Farmer’s said Sears made a payment offer but it was too low and Farmers rejected the offer.

Refusing to honor rewards points, selling bonds to their own retirement plan, issuing coupons with restrictions that make it almost impossible to use, and refusing to pay for damages caused by employees: Sure signs of a company going down.

Here’s my updated list of store closings since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost).

California:   El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost).

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost).

Guam:  Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed on 03 February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost).


Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!!!).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Illinois:  Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost).  Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost). By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state.  The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost).

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.

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

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

North Carolina: High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost),  West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New York: Depew Kmart (68 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost).   Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors.

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost),  Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost),  Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears will be closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (will be closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

Kit Bashing, Reviews

Revell’s Chevy COPO Nova

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Kit Bashing: SUPERCHARGING THE OLD AMT OPEL GT KIT

 

Fukushima

Nearly two years later, Fish still contaminated with radiation!

18 February 2013, fish being caught off the Pacific coast of Chiba Prefecture, in Japan, are contaminated with 130 becquerels of cesium per kilogram! The new (higher) official safe limit is 100.

The area is 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of Fukushima Daiichi, where several GE designed reactors melted down in March 2011.

This is the first time that fish caught near Chiba Prefecture has exceeded the government safe limits.  However, back in December 2012, sea bass were already showing 60 becquerels of cesium per kilogram. Some fisheries voluntarily stopped accepting the fish back then.

This shows that radioactive contamination of the Pacific Ocean is ongoing, almost two years after the multiple melt downs.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 26 January 2013. More than 50,000 people laid off!!! More of God’s schools shutting down! No more margarine?

The U.S. Department of Defense announced they have started laying off 46,000 taxpayer funded employees! Also, for the next 22 weeks full time civilian employees will be forced to take one unpaid day off every week. This is because the government is broke!

DRS Technologies closing down its Cheektowaga factory in New York. The electronics contractor for the U.S. Defense Department as gone through many owners and name changes since 1957. Officials say government budget cuts, and the bad economy, did them in.  They did not reveal how many people will lose their jobs.

Doll collectors will have one less place to get their collectables repaired, the Victorian Doll Museum & Chili Doll Hospital in New York is shutting down: “I’m kind of like Kodak. I could be here another 10 years, but I’m realistic. The importance that dolls once held in people’s lives has taken a back seat to technology today. Time brings change. I’m ready for change in my life.”-Linda Greenfield, doll doctor

International news service, Thompson Reuters, laid off 3,000 employees around the world!  Barb Burg, vice president and global head of communications at Reuters, explained that it was all about controlling costs (after the merger of Thompson and Reuters back in 2009, mergers are never good for employees).  The layoffs included employees in the United States, and at Reuters TV because their contract with YouTube was not renewed.

In Massachusetts, 12 people lost their jobs at the Holyoke Health Center. Hospital officials admit they no longer have the money to keep them employed: “The Health Center does not have the resources to maintain positions that are not covered by contracts, grants or third party reimbursements.”-Jay Brienes, Executive Director

In Pennsylvania, the Allentown School Board approved a budget that will mean layoffs. Officials indicated they will start with administration, they also implied over-staffing was a major problem.   The new budget tries to anticipate reduced funding from state and federal sources.

In California, a Christian school closing its doors for good in Fresno. Declining enrollment and increasing operating costs are being blamed for shutting down Sacred Heart Catholic School.  But there does seem to be a trend as the Catholic Church is shutting down schools, and even hospitals, across the country.

Germany based SolarWorld is laying off employees again.  Last year their massive layoffs affected the Hillsboro, Oregon, factory with nearly 90 layoffs. It looks like layoffs will hit the factory again. The solar panel maker is in trouble with debt.

Even though Chrysler reports profits, they’ve ended a shift at their Dundee, Michigan, engine factory.  Most of the employees were given new jobs, but reports say that those who were still under probation were fired, at least 14.

Employees with Gardner Denver in Quincy, Illinois, went to local media with claims of dozens of layoffs. Company officials refused to comment. The 154 years old international industrial equipment maker is up for sale!

The Pennsylvania based PNC Bank is consolidating branches in Maumee, Ohio.

The Wa-Zoo women’s clothing store in Louisiana is giving up on brick & mortar stores, and switching to internet sales only.

Unilever closing down operations in Atlanta, Georgia. 125 people out-o-work! The Atlanta factory is where Country Crock, Imperial and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, margarines are made. Unilever officials said they are consolidating production with other factories to save money.

Flint Energies’ appliance store in Warner Robins, Georgia, will shut down once they’ve sold off all their inventory. They blame the bad economy: “We had some very good years serving our members in the decade of the 2000s, peaking in 2006. But the market has not rebounded enough for us to continue.”-Jimmy Autry, senior vice president

In Nebraska, Windstream is closing down its Hastings store.  The Arkansas based communication company is closing down 30 of its bill paying/service stores across the country. Officials blame their customers for using the internet, instead of their brick & mortar stores. Windstream is currently spending big bucks on a new three story building in Rochester, New York.

In Indiana, Abercrombie and Fitch closed its store in the University Park Mall in Mishawaka. Its part of the clothing company’s plans to close 180 stores.


 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 08 – 10 February 2013. 104 people working for U.S. contractor poisoned! USMC blames Red Coats for destruction of Harriers! U.S. mililtary equipment leaving Afghanistan, yet General Allen says the war still has not been won!

10 February 2013

In Helmand Province, a U.S. led NATO/ANA offensive was repelled by Mujahideen.  Occupying troops were flown into Trikh Nawar area of Marjah district, supported by armored vehicles.  Mujahideen were prepared and detonated at least seven bombs in the battle.  Reports said that the fighting was ongoing and that nine NATO occupiers/ANA puppets were dead, six wounded.  Also, two Mujahideen killed, four wounded.

In Ghanzi Province, a bomb was planted near the local High Peace Council office. It exploded, yet there are no reports of casualties.  As is typical with bombings, no one claims responsibility.

In Paktiya Province, a local government official was wounded as Mujahideen launched three mortar rounds into a government compound.

In Kabul Province, 104 employees of “Minority, Woman-Owned…” Onyx Construction were sent to hospital after being poisoned.  They got sick after eating.   Onyx Construction is based in the U.S. state of Florida.

In Badghis Province, 17 local cops joined the Mujahideen.

U.S. Marine Corps General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Outgoing USMC General john Allen was interviewed by the BBC, and he said the war is not won: “I think we have gone a long way to setting the conditions for what, generally, usually, is the defining factor in winning a counter-insurgency, to set the conditions for governance, to set the conditions for economic opportunity…. I think we are on the road to winning.”

Despite admitting that the U.S. has not achieved its goals, the military pullout has begun.  Customs officials in Pakistan report that 25 container trucks loaded with U.S. military equipment left Afghanistan.  They are heading for Karachi, a port city along the Indian Ocean.   Pakistani Customs officials say they’ve been told to expect another outbound U.S. convoy soon.

09 February 2013

“We agree with the UN report and confirm that innocent kids have been killed during coalition forces operations, specifically U.S. troops operations during the past ten years.”-Aimal Faizi, Afghan government spokesman

In Helmand Province, six people killed when they drove over a landmine.  An investigation into the massive Mujahideen attack on Camp Bastion, last year, blames the U.K./U.S./NATO personnel on the base!  U.S. National Public Radio reported that a USMC investigation revealed that British Red Coat controlled Camp Bastion was not properly guarded, allowing Mujahideen easy access. Camp Bastion is next to Camp Leatherneck, where U.S. Marine Harrier VTOL jets are based. The attack damaged or destroyed eight Harriers at a cost of $300 million USD.  Two occupying troops were killed, eight wounded, one contractor wounded.

In Paktia Province, a local contracted militia/security guard (Arbaki) commander joined the Mujahideen.

In Uruzgan Province, witnesses say U.S. led forces conducted a home invasion in Kakraki area Gohergeen Nawa region, Char Chino district.  Two people were kidnapped.  Also, in Char Chino district two local cops joined the Mujahideen.

In Kapisa Province, Mujahideen claim they assassinated a man working for the spy agency National Directorate of Security (NDS).

08 February 2013

In Kapisa Province, in Tagab district, Mujahideen attacked U.S. led efforts to retrieve a downed helicopter.  The ‘copter was shot down the day before. Mujahideen said they were expecting them and killed two U.S./NATO/ISAF troops and three U.S. led Afghan troops. One Mujahid was killed.

In Ghor Province, Mujahideen claim they repelled a attempted home invasion by “enemy” troops, in Qomandan Ahmad village of Charsada district.

In Badghis Province, Mujahideen launched attacks against an Afghan National Army (ANA) base, and several checkpoints.  They claim to have killed six “puppets”, and wounded five others.