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. Job Losses & Store Closings, 18 – 20 September 2014: “the battle I’ve been losing for three years”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In Petaluma, Massachusetts based Brooks Automation announced they will cease operations and render 85 people unemployed in October.  Local news reports said the shutdown was discovered after Brooks Automation held a job fair for the employees who are about to become unemployed.  Cereal maker General Mills announced they will shutdown their 67 years old Lodi factory by the end of 2015, 430 jobs lost! Administrators blame crashing cereal sales.  In Poway, the Sierra Nevada Corporation warned it will shutdown in November, 33 jobs lost.  At Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Envoy Air (formerly known as MQ) warned it is killing 107 jobs in November, due to American Airlines drastically cutting back regional flights.  In Livermore, Western/Induspac Packaging warned it is shutting down in November, 46 jobs lost.  In Fremont, Obama Care killed 31 jobs at Washington Hospital, that’s on top of the already 196 jobs destroyed since 2013!  Hospital administrators directly blamed the federal government: “Washington Hospital experienced a cumulative net revenue loss of more than $74 million during the past five years due to federal payment reforms, some of which were mandated by the Affordable Care Act.”-Christopher Brown

Florida: After 44 years Miami’s Best Pizza shutdown. The property owner pulled the rug out from under the restaurant owner’s feet, by renting the building to somebody willing to pay far more in rent.  British empire Too Big to Jail Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) shutdown their Miami private bank, 155 jobs lost!  Reports say RBC will focus on providing loans only.   In Jacksonville, after more than 20 years the Sundrez gift shop shutdown.  The owner blamed the bad economy saying it’s been “…the battle I’ve been losing for three years”.

Illinois: In Rock Falls, Comcast announced it’s shutting down its service center in October, three bill collecting jobs lost.

Indiana: Toll road operator ITR Concession revealed it will file chapter 11 bankruptcy.  The company wants to sell out, or get new debt financing to continue ops.  So, the tolls they charge aren’t enough?  How do you like that Indiana commuters?  Not only do you pay upfront for toll roads, but you pay at the pump in fuel taxes!

Kansas:  Perceptive Software announced they will kill an undisclosed number of jobs “to achieve profitable growth”.  The software company has been busy spending money taking over competing companies.  Farm equipment maker AGCO tried to blame their factory shutdown and killing of at least 111 jobs on the embargo against U.S. farm equipment by Russia, however, ag analysts say it’s really the suck-ass economy: “With depressed crop prices, farmers don’t want to spend money, and large equipment dealers like John Deere, like AGCO, are starting to see the effects, and they’re being proactive.”-John Jenkinson, The Ag Network

Maine: Anti-2nd Amendment Pepsi shutting down their warehouse ops in Portland and Augusta, about 100 jobs affected! Pepsi says the bad economy is forcing them to consolidate operations.

Massachusetts: General Mills announced they will shutdown their Methuen yogurt factory, 144 jobs lost!  In Boston, reports that 79 years old Suffolk Downs horse racing track will shutdown at the end of 2014, due to the loss of a casino license, almost 200 jobs lost!

Mississippi: In Biloxi, after two years the Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant shutdown. Attorneys for the casino said the property owner refused to allow the building of a hotel, which was part of the original plan.  In Long Beach, Rouses Supermarket shutdown.

Montana: Sear Holdings announced the are shutting down their Great Falls Sears store & Auto Center, 65 jobs lost.  Originally the shutdown was to be in December, but was moved up to the end of November.

New York: In NYC, Media Group warned it is shutting down in October.  Paradise Media also warned it will shutdown in October, at least 55 jobs lost.  Is Obama Care behind the shutdown of Robert Mapplethorpe Residential Treatment Facility?  Administrators say they will shutdown in December, at least 33 jobs lost.  In Hamilton, Is Obama Care behind the shutdown of Community Memorial?  Nursing facility administrators warned they will shutdown in December, at least 29 jobs lost.  In Long Island, Cynergy Data warned they will shutdown in December, 42 jobs lost.

North Carolina:  Troubled charter school Concrete Roses STEM Academy shutdown without notice.  State education administrators blame what I call DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome).  The school was taxpayer funded for 300 students, but only 126 showed up!

Ohio: Industrial bag maker Mondi Bags announced they are shutting down their New Philadelphia factory in 2015, at least 200 jobs lost!  Company administrators blame the bad economy saying “challenging economic and competitive situation has made it necessary.”

Pennsylvania:  Woodland Hills School District warned it could shutdown three elementary schools and sell off an administrative building due to what I call DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome), at least a 31% decline over the past ten years!  In West Mifflin, Sears Holdings announced it is shutting down the Sears store in December.  Taxsucking Lockheed Martin announced they will kill 58 jobs at their Newtown operations, by November.  On top of that, Lockheed Martin wants to sell off the building by the middle of 2015, meaning more than 1-thousand people could become unemployed!

South Carolina: Switzerland owned Georg Fischer Central Plastics shutdown operations at its Abbeville factory, at least 17 jobs lost.  Production being consolidated to Texas.

Tennessee: The American Red Cross of Northeast Tennessee killed five jobs saying “We’re transforming the way we do business.”

Vermont: Guild Fine Meats sandwich shop shutdown.

Wisconsin: What automotive industry recovery?  In Oshkosh, taxsucking AxleTech laid off 65 people.  Company administrators blamed “a sharp decline in demand for military-grade axles and components”.

16-17 September 2014

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

Business/Economics

Sears, desperate for cash, being paid to shutdown stores! Blames U.S. dollar for bad economy!

01 December 2014 (13:53 UTC-07 Tango)/08 Safar 1436/10 Azar 1393/11 Bing-Zi 4712

Sears Canada’s 3rd quarter 2014 report showed Sears is actually being paid to shutdown stores.

Sears Canada (hand in hand with Sears Holdings) administrators have been making deals with property owners to essentially ‘buyout’ the leases on Sears stores, so they can be shutdown.  The lease buyouts, called by Sears a “Gain on lease terminations”, makes money for Sears because it’s the landlords who pay “for the right” to shutdown Sears: “Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Toronto) and Square One Shopping Centre (Mississauga). The landlords approached the Company with a proposal to enter into a series of lease amendments for a total consideration of $191.0 million, being the amount the landlords were willing to pay for the right to require the Company to vacate the two locations.

…The transaction resulted in a pre-tax gain of $185.7 million…

The Company also granted the owners of the Scarborough Town Centre (Toronto) property an option to enter into certain lease amendments in exchange for $1.0 million….”

Sears is also making money off selling off their other properties: “…the Company announced that it had reached a definitive agreement with Montez Income Properties Corporation (‘Montez’) to sell its 50% joint arrangement interest in the eight properties it owned with the Westcliff Group of Companies (‘Westcliff’) for cash consideration of approximately $315.0 million.” 

“…the Company sold its 15% joint arrangement interest in Les Galeries de Hull shopping centre (‘Hull’) that it co-owned with Ivanhoé, to Fonds de placement immobilier Cominar (‘Cominar’) for total proceeds of $10.5 million…”

“…the Company sold its 20% joint arrangement interest in Kildonan Place Shopping Centre (‘Kildonan’) that it co-owned with Ivanhoé, to H&R Real Estate Investment Trust for total proceeds of $27.7 million…”

“…the Company sold its 15% joint arrangement interest in Les Rivières Shopping Centre that it co-owned with Ivanhoé Cambridge II Inc. (‘Ivanhoé’) for total proceeds of $33.5 million…”

Sears Canada also warned that “…the Company determined that the Montreal distribution centre (‘MDC’) may be considered for disposition.”  That means it’s going to be sold off.

Also, “…Broad Street Logistics Centre located in Regina (”Broad Street”). Broad Street, including the adjacent vacant property which is owned by the Company, is being marketed for sale…”

Despite selling off half a dozen properties, Sears Canada also revealed it was building new Sear stores: “…the Company announced that it entered into a binding agreement with Concord Pacific Group of Companies (‘Concord’) to pursue the development of the 12-acre Sears site located at the North Hill Shopping Centre in Calgary, Alberta (the ‘North Hill Project’).”

“…the Company announced that it entered into a binding agreement with Concord to pursue the development of nine acres of the Company’s property on and adjacent to the Company’s store located at the Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby, British Columbia (the ‘Burnaby Project’).”

Sears Canada also blamed the almighty U.S. dollar for part of its problems: “The Company enters into foreign exchange contracts to reduce the foreign exchange risk with respect to U.S. dollar denominated assets and liabilities and purchases of goods or services.”

In the United States, Sears Holdings announced it will reveal its Third Quarter 2014 results during the morning of 04 December.

Sears & Kmart closing update, 22 November 2014

China blames USD for bad economy!

Business/Economics

To Destroy U.S. Dollar: Yet another U.S. ‘ally’ abandons U.S. dollar for Chinese Yuan! China blames USD for bad economy!

01 December 2014 (12:38 UTC-07 Tango)/08 Safar 1436/10 Azar 1393/11 Bing-Zi 4712

“If the won-yuan market matures, transaction costs for the two currencies will fall and the bilateral trade will rise, contributing to economic growth for both countries.”-Lee Ju-yeol, Bank of Korea

An east Asian ally of the United States, Korea (south), has stopped using the U.S. dollar for international trade deals!  At least when it comes to buying products from China.

The Bank of Korea has begun officially trading in Chinese yuan (aka renminbi), and admitted it was to get away from the U.S. dollar!  The Republic of Korea’s won to People’s Republic of China’s yuan trading system was test run last week.

The Bank of Korea has approved 12 smaller Korean banks to directly trade won for yuan.

Chinese administrators said that under the old U.S. dollar (USD) system converting from one local currency to the USD then back to another local currency actually doubled the cost of the products purchased.  In other words, the USD is a main reason why the World economy sucks!

Anybody notice the main streamer U.S. news media rarely (if ever) talks about the World’s rejection of the U.S. dollar?

Germany & Russia fully embrace Chinese Yuan!

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 15 – 19 November 2014: U.S. taxpayers stuck with $511-million bill for new embassy! U.S. attacks ramp up!

For some reason there is very little news of incidents inside Afghanistan for the 15th through 19th of November.  Either nothing happened, or there’s a news blackout.

Helmand Province: A British empire United Kingdom report says a Royal Red Coat was shot and killed by his own troops, back in 2009.  The recently released report says he was hit by 7.62mm NATO bullet from a British empire issued light machine gun.

Kabul Province: The Obama regime said it will stick the U.S. taxpaying  fools with a $511-million USD bill for expanding the U.S. embassy.  Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, said this is proof of “a long-term commitment of the United States”.  Reports that a Kamikaze car bomber blew up at a foreign contractor base, known as the Green Village, killing four people.  Three militiamen with the U.S. state of Oregon’s Army National Guard were sniped and wounded by a Mujahid.  One (a Christian, whose parents are still performing Christian proselytization in Europe) was wounded bad enough to be sent to Germany for treatment.   The Mujahid was killed.   Another Kamikaze car bomber blew up in the foreign taxpayer supported city, killing three and wounding ten.

Kandahar Province: British empire Canadian taxpayers are getting ripped off by the Arghandab Irrigation Rehabilitation Project.  At least $50-million CAD has already been spent and now the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs says more money is needed, lest the multi-million dollar irrigation canal system falls apart.

Kunar Province: Local police reporting several U.S. air-drone strikes over several days, at least nine people killed, four wounded.

Nangarhar Province: Reports that U.S.-NATO air-drone strikes killed at least 22 people over the past few days.

International news reports say Afghanistan is becoming a proxy war between mortal enemies India and Pakistan.  The current situation between India and Pakistan is a direct result of British empire Great Game bullshit!  Gandhi was a peaceful man, my ass!  Go ask the thousands of Muslims killed because of the ‘man of peace’!

NATO members Germany and Italy announced they will keep 1350 combat troops in-country, in 2015.

U.S. veterans continue their lawsuit against taxsucking contractor KBR over ‘burn pits’ in Afghanistan and Iraq (the U.S. Supreme Court recently gave the ‘green light’ for the suit).  The Government Accountability Office says KBR ran at least 230 burn pits in which military equipment, some perfectly good, were burned.  Anything from uniforms to deadly chemicals: “All kinds of things went up in smoke, from batteries, paint, solvents and tires, to newspapers, plastic water bottles, styrofoam, electronic equipment, and shipping materials such as plastic wrap. Even whole vehicles were burned.”-Hari Sreenivasan, PBS

U.S. TV broadcaster PBS published pics supplied by veterans now suing KBR for health related problems. 

112 militia-personnel of the Army National Guard’s 133rd Quartermaster Company (New York U.S.A.) returned from Afghanistan.

AFGHANISTAN, 10 – 14 NOVEMBER 2014: U.S. combat troops say “WE DON’T KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH WOMEN, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?”

Business/Economics

U.S. Food Crisis, November 2014: “We’re breaking up our family!” No more Wendy’s, Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Hormel or Dinty Moore? “It’s hard to see what this is…it’s hard to fail.” Buying local kills off Mom-n-Pop!

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of November, 2014: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production.

After announcing plans in April to expand ops in Canada, Minnesota U.S.A. based food processor Cargill actually expanded their job killing!  Cargill sold off a Winnipeg feed mill and shutdown a Manitoba mill, as well as shutdown a Manitoba granary.  News reports gave various reasons from saying  the mills needed upgrades that were too  expensive to pay for, to Cargill needing to become more efficient in the Canadian livestock feed industry.   No details reported on how many jobs will be lost.

Arizona: In Tempe, after almost 60 years restaurant Monti’s La Casa Vieja shutdown.  The owner blamed increasing operating costs.

California: In Lodi, food processor General Mills warned they will render 410 people jobless by January 2015!  Dublin based hamburger joint Wendy’s announced it is killing an undisclosed number of HQ jobs (rumored to be in the hundreds) by December, and said that it will continue with its massive store selloffs into 2015!  Wendy’s has been selling off its stores to franchise holders.   Company administrators say they need to cut at least $30-million USD going into 2015!  It’s not due to crashing sales (not yet anyway) but mainly because of skyrocketing beef prices (Wendy’s actually uses 100% beef, unlike McDonald’s)!  The supply of cow meat is dwindling due to the decades old drought in the western half of the U.S., and not only is Wendy’s competing with people shopping for beef in grocery stores, but with other burger and steak restaurants as well.  In Stockton, food processor Hormel announced they will shutdown their 65 years old chili and Dinty Moore beef stew factory in February 2015, at least 110 jobs lost! Company administrators blame the record level prices of beef for causing a 21% drop in profits!   In Auburn, after 38 years Lou La Bonite’s restaurant shutdown.   San Diego based Pizzeria Mozza shutdown their new Seaport District restaurant, and canceled all upcoming pizza making classes: “Sadly, the gospel of Mozza pizza did not adequately spread to the people of San Diego. We regret that we will not be able to continue to serve the community there…”-company statement

Florida: After 33 years Ruben’s Cuban Restaurant being shutdown by the landlord.  The landlord claims it’s only for remodeling, but long time customers are so upset that the local news media demanded confirmation from the landlord that the restaurant will be reopening soon.  Orlando based Darden Restaurants killed 85 jobs (60 filled, 25 vacant positions) at its HQ.  Darden operates Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse.  Company administrators say the skyrocketing price of food (like beef) is forcing them to cut $20-million from their 2014-15 budget!   After barely 12 years the Sea Breeze Winery announced they’re shutting down in December.  The owner says she’ll continue to sell grapes to other wineries.

Hawaii: In Honolulu, the operators of a 59 years old Foodland grocery store announced they are shutting down in December.  Real estate analysts say local Hawaiian business are being killed by ‘big box’ stores and property speculators from mainland U.S.A., and Foodland customers agree: “…it’s all the construction and they’re bringing in all the mainland retailers, so it’s kind of sad…”-Eulie Villegas, loyal Foodland shopper

Illinois: In Roscoe Village, after 17 years the owners of the Hungry Brain said they will shutdown in December.  Reports imply it’s part of a trend of many local joints being shutdown by greedy landlords who want more rent money.

Iowa: After 83 years Dahl’s Foods now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  The bankruptcy will make it easier for the iconic food company to be sold off to a competitor (Associated Wholesale Grocers), 950 employees affected!

Kansas: In Kansas City, after 50 years Quick’s Bar-B-Q shutdown.  The owner says road construction is killing off mom-n-pops: “…I want to get out on my terms and while things are good.  It is hard and these little mom-and-pop folks, you see them dropping.”-Ron Quick

Kentucky: In Louisville, after 33 years Gavi’s Restaurant shutdown.  In Ashland, after only two years the Lamp Post Cafe shutdown with little notice, the lease was not renewed at the last moment, the owners blame the bad economy: “We’re two years into it and it is a tough economy. While we’ve certainly been moving forward, we are a victim of the economy. We found ourselves with our backs against the wall….Our first winter, the electric bill just about killed us…”-Shane Fields

Massachusetts: Maine based Hannaford Supermarkets announced they will shutdown their Ayer grocery store in February 2015, at least 87 jobs lost.  Company administrators said they will not renew the lease and admitted the bad economy cannot support all the grocery stores they have.

Michigan: In Liberty Township, more than four decades old Yukon Jack Food & Spirits restaurant shutdown.  Before it was a restaurant (starting in 1970) it was a grocery store.  Local news media said the owners refused to talk.  In Lansing, a restaurant whose purpose was to serve locals with products bought locally has failed.  The Fork in the Road restaurant shutdown, the owners admitting they didn’t realize how expensive it was to keep 100% of their business local.  Despite having lots of customers, buying food and supplies locally was killing them financially: “There’s a lot of compromises that we could have made but we’re just not willing to do that. That’s not why we started. We need to have a business plan to keep staying true to those principles. To compromise those principles, that would be failing.”-Jesse Hahn, who added that he was faced with two choices; shutdown or cut employee wages, raise prices and buy from outside sources

Missouri: In Springfield, Kroger announced it will shutdown four  Dillons grocery stores in January 2015, supposedly they’re being sold off to competitor Price Cutter (an employee owned op like WinCo).  However, administrators with Price Cutter were actually upset at the news and said they never made Kroger an offer to buy the Dillons stores, in fact it was Kroger who came begging to Price Cutter.  Price Cutter agreed to a lease, not an outright purchase: “Dillions announcement to exit all four Springfield locations in January, 2015 is disappointing news….Dillions approached us of their intent to vacate the Springfield market….Price Cutter has entered into a real estate agreement to lease all four of the Dillions locations.”-Erick Taylor, Price Cutter president

New Jersey: In Egg Harbor City, Renault Winery Resort and Golf now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. The administrators say they are fighting for the life of the iconic winery: “We have been here for 150 years, and our plan will ensure us being here long into the future. We’re not looking to sell the place. We’re looking to continue the legacy here.”-Dennis Del Vecchio

New York: In NYC, after 15 years Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks shutdown because the greedy landlord jacked up the rent.  After only a year neighborhood grocery store Delancey Market shutdown.  In Geneva, after months of rumors 54 years old Madia’s Big M grocery store shutdown.  The Madia family basically said it wasn’t worth it operating a grocery store anymore and will focus on their other business ops.  In Brooklyn, after only a year the owner of Marco’s restaurant announced it will shutdown in December. The owner says the profits weren’t high enough to cover operating costs.

North Carolina: Salisbury based the Bottom Dollar Food chain store was sold off and all 66 stores are being shutdown, 2-thousand 2-hundred jobs lost across the country by the end of December!

Ohio: In Springboro, a 56 years old IGA grocery store shutdown.  The owner blames competition from ‘big box’ stores: “We’ve got third, fourth generation shoppers. I’ve seen the kids in their baby carriers, to them bringing in their own kids. It’s hard to see what this is, when you watch your inventory dwindle down trying to make excuses to the customers is just, it’s hard to fail.”-Doug Preston

In Mansfield, after 47 years Grantie’s Grinders (sub style sandwiches) shutdown, 11 jobs lost.  The owners blame competition from a ‘big box’ sandwich shop that recently moved into the neighborhood.   All 14 Ohio Friendly’s Restaurants shutdown!  The francisee blamed the bad economy: “These closings are regrettable, however continuing operation was no longer viable.”-Apex Eagle Hospitality

Pennsylvania: In Pittsburgh, after only two years Station Street Hot Dogs shutdown.  The owners decided not to renew their lease, claiming other projects were getting in the way.  Anti-2nd Amendment Pepsi shutdown yet another distribution center, this time in West Goshen.  60 employees are being forced to move, if they want to stay employed, while at least six employees were rendered unemployed.    (while I hate Pepsi for expressing anti-2nd Amendment opinions I love their Pepsi “Throwback”, made like the original with none of that corn syrup and chemical crap)

South Carolina: In Conway, after six years the Eggs Up Grill shutdown, 20 jobs lost.   The owners said they’re being evicted due to not being able to pay their bills.  Co-owner Christine Bonar says “There’s no value to put on what we’re losing financially. It will be the value of the friendships that we’ve made and the staff that we worked with. We’re all breaking up. We’re breaking up our family!”  Manager Jeanne Sudowski is worried about the employees: “Obviously losing your job right before Thanksgiving and Christmas time is very rough…..some of them I don’t know if they can collect unemployment because they’ve only been here since July.”

Tennessee: In West Knoxville Sonny’s BBQ shutdown.  In Chattanooga, the owners of SturmHaus Beer Market announced it will shutdown in December, blaming the bad economy: “Craft beer share is not enough to sustain our vision for a quaint, downtown on-premise, off-premise gathering place.”

Texas: In Houston,  Hollywood Vietnamese & Chinese Cuisine shutdown.  El Tiempo Cantina also being shutdown.  Evil city officials approved the seizing of the property so greedy property developers can build a massive apartment complex on Montrose Avenue!  In College Station, after 14 years La Bodega taco bar shutdown.  The owner said they had to vacate the old decrepit building, and hopes to find a new location.

Vermont: In Rutland, owners of Sal’s Downtown Restaurant announced they will shutdown in December.  Apparently the landlord refused to renew the lease.

Washington: In Seattle, the owners of Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar announced they will shutdown in January 2015.  Apparently the owners and the landlord don’t get along.  After 63 years A&J Meats and Seafood shutdown.

Wisconsin: In Appleton and Green Bay, after more than ten years Goodwill Industries shutdown their popular Harmony Café.  Although it was popular Goodwill administrators say the two restaurants were actually losing money: “The restaurant side got away from us. We kept subsidizing them hoping we would finally create a plan that would be competitive.”-Bob Pedersen, president & CEO

U.S. Food Crisis, October 2014

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 16 – 17 September 2014: “You cannot lie to your employees.” The Cloud already killing jobs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

It’s been revealed that the draconian cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) will affect only four U.S. states: Michigan, Wisconsin, New Jersey and New Hampshire.  The rest of the states say they will use their own taxpayer’s money to make up for the federal cuts.  The cuts come at a time when there are record numbers of people needing food help.  The cuts were passed by Congress and signed by the Obama regime. And administrators of SNAP say across the U.S. ‘white’ people are getting the most help for buying food (43%).

Arkansas: Obama Care forced now vacant county owned Crittenden Regional Hospital into chapter 7 bankruptcy (which usually means it’s ‘toast’).  More than 400 healthcare workers lost their jobs!   The draconian insurance reimbursements cuts imposed by Obama Care means the county hospital cannot pay off nearly $7-million USD  in bonds, however, city and even federal government administrators are suing, accusing the county hospital board of essentially taking the bond money because bookkeeping can’t seam to account for it.

California: Microsoft announced it will layoff 160 Microsoft Mobile Oy employees in November as part of a 2nd round of massive international job killing (see Washington below)!  In San Francisco, hotel Marriott Marquis announced a temporary layoff of at least 22 employees in November.  In Campbell, cloud service Hightail (formerly YouSendIt) laid off 74 employees without notice.

Florida: In Pembroke Park, Mitt Romney’s wunderkind Staples announced it will shutdown a delivery operation in November, killing off 68 jobs.

Georgia: After 60 years the iconic Zesto Drive-In restaurant shutdown, the family owners say they were forced to sell by greedy property developers.

Illinois: In Saint Charles, a Savers thrift store shutdown.  In Lake Zurich, a Savers thrift store shutdown.  News reports said Savers administrators refused to explain why.  The Illinois Policy Institute reports that the number of Prairie Staters whose incomes have crashed, and therefore should qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps), has hit 745-thousand.  The institute says for every one person who loses a job at least two people go begging to the government for food.  Chicago based United Airlines is now offering bribes (buyouts) to any flight attendant who quits.  Airline administrators want at least 21-hundred flight attendants to voluntarily quit!

Kansas: Overland Park based cell phone service provider Sprint warned of massive layoffs: “Some managers will make it and some won’t. I told some managers that some are going to be gone…..You cannot lie to your employees.”-Marcelo Claure, CEO

Kentucky: In North Lexington, the YMCA announced they will shutdown their child development center in October, blaming declining enrollment.  In Morehead, after 61 years Perk’s plumbing supply shutdown.

Maryland: What housing market recovery?  In Rockville, RoundPoint Mortgage announced it will kill off 68 mortgage jobs.  Taxsucking military contractor General Dynamics announced it will kill off 61 jobs in October.

Michigan: In Sterling Heights, a 246 room Best Western motel will be auctioned off in October.   News reports say the motel is still operating.  The motel is owned by evil vulture capital investors who want to dump it.  An undisclosed number of bus drivers lost their jobs when Lakeview School District drastically reduced bus service.  District administrators blame DSS (what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome).

Minnesota: Minneapolis based food giant General Mills revealed its profits for its fiscal 1st quarter crashed 25%!  They will continue with job killing.

Missouri: In Ladue, after nearly 70 years Spicer’s toy and candy store shutdown, they couldn’t afford the new lease.  What housing market recovery?  In Saint Louis, Concrete Coring now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Attorneys for the company blame the bad economy saying the company “…has been unable so far to work out from under its debt generated following the faltering economy in late 2008 and into 2009 and beyond.” 

New Hampshire: In Merrimack, reports that after 11 years Swan Chocolates reduced their cafe hours to the public. The owners said they needed to get back to creating new eats, and they can’t do that while running a full time retail eatery.

New York: After 62 years the owners of Hoffman’s Playland amusement park announced they are shutting down, and redeveloping the property.  In NYC, Williams Lea Corporate Information Solutions warned it will shutdown by the end of September, a least 41 jobs lost. In Jamaica (at the JFK airport), LSG Sky Chefs warned it will shutdown by January 2015, at least 139 jobs lost and 200 jobs to be transfered!   In Suffern, Switzerland based evil legal drugs pusher Novartis warned they will be shutting down between December 2014 and sometime in 2015, at least 83 jobs lost.

North Carolina: In High Point, La-Z-Boy announced they are shutting down their Lea Industries kids furniture factory by the end of 2014, at least 100 jobs lost!  UNC Health Care reports that Obama Care has lost them $4-million in revenue!  They are now $8-million behind on their budget!  UNC Health Care administrators say they are still owed $15-million from the state and federal governments!

Ohio: In Urbana, God refused to stop the British empire’s Christian Salvation Army from shutting down their thrift store.  Administrators at the HQ in Cincinnati said their thrift store will shutdown in November, and they told their local Urbana administrators the issue is not open for discussion.

Oregon: The child prison camp known as Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility might be shutdown, due to crashing numbers of child inmates (but isn’t that good news?).

Pennsylvania: California University is blaming DSS (what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome) for eliminating 30 jobs.  The university lost 3.2% of its student body at the beginning of the new school year.

South Carolina: In Columbia, the Belk store shutdown in the Dutch Square mall.

Tennessee: Massive food producer Cargill announced they’re shutting down a Memphis corn mill in January 2015, 440 jobs lost! Cargill A-holes, I mean administrators claim the mill is “underutilized”.

Texas: Comcast SportsNet Houston could laid off 75 employees, if a judge approves their sale to DirecTV and AT&T.   The 75 employees make up almost three quarters of the staff.  In Houston, oil industry company HighMount Exploration & Production warned it is shutting down and will kill off at least 35 jobs by November.  Austin based pawn shop chain store EZCorp revealed it will kill off an undisclosed number of jobs.  Company administrators say they must “right size” their pawn operations due to the bad economy.  They currently employ more than 7-thousand people across the U.S.

Virginia: In Richmond, after 38 years Buddy’s Place announced it will shutdown in January 2015. The owner blames the greedy landlord for demanding more rent.

Washington: Reports say Redmond based Microsoft will begin a 2nd round of layoffs.  The computer company already killed off 13-thousand jobs in its 1st round of layoffs!  Reports say most of the 2nd round of job killing will directly affect employees of Nokia, which Microsoft took over in April.  Nokia is now called Microsoft Mobile Oy.  In Yakima, after 29 years Off the Record record and CD store shutdown.

13-15 September 2014

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

Fukushima, Idaho

Fukushima – WIPP – Radiation Fallout: More proof cell phones can kill you! Idaho & California elementary schools site of new radioactive cell towers? TEPCo finally pouring concrete! Santa Barbara hit by giant radioactive lobsters? WIPP wants more of your money!

24 November 2014 (10:15 UTC-07 Tango)/01 Safar 1436/03 Azar 1393/03 Yi-Hai (10th month) 4712

India: A new report shows the nuclear power industry is not cost effective, but like a parasite lives off the backs of unsuspecting taxpayers!  The Hindu reveals even more ugly truths about nuclear power: “The key fact about nuclear power is that it is the world’s most subsidy-fattened energy industry…..Commercial reactors have been in operation for more than half-a-century, yet the industry still cannot stand on its own feet without major state support….costs have escalated multiple times…..The nuclear share of the world’s total electricity production reached its peak of 17 per cent in the late 1980s. Since then, it has been falling, and is currently estimated at about 13 per cent, even as new uranium discoveries have swelled global reserves…..there is enough uranium to meet current demand for more than 100 years.

Yet….wind power, solar power and biomass — has surpassed installed nuclear-generating capacity. In India and China, wind power output alone exceeds nuclear-generated electricity.”

France: French nuclear company Areva is in big trouble, losing 23% of its stock value due to massive delays in its Finnish nuke reactor, and other nuke projects.  Areva is also a major player at the Idaho National Laboratory in United States.  Areva administrators are rethinking their financial projections for 2015 and 2016.

Sweden: Yet another international study on cell phone radiation concludes that chronic use of the little computer could give you brain cancer.  The study was published in Pathophysiology, and concluded that insecure people who just have to constantly gab their heads off to somebody on the other end of that smart phone, will lose their heads to cancer; 25 years of manic cell phone use increases your chance of brain cancer by 300%!

U.S.A.:  Speaking of cell phones and cancer, lets not forget that government administrators in India put a hold on cell tower construction in their country, based on their own studies and studies done by the UN WHO (which says ‘cell’ signals cause cancer).  In fact  the Indian Cellular Association requires new cell phones to show users the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) they get from cell phone use.  But that isn’t going to stop the administrators of School District 25 and the city of Chubbuck, in the U.S. state of Idaho, from allowing T-Mobil to build a cell phone tower right on the playground of Chubbuck Elementary (which is also right next to a residential area).  Of course T-Mobile is going to pay School District 25 a hefty monthly rent for putting the tower on the playground, and the scandalously administered district is short on cash.  Parents have justifiably threatened to pull their kids from school if the cell tower deal goes through.

But wait there’s more!  In Clairemont, California, Verizon is forcing the building of cell towers on school properties!  School administrators of the English-French elementary and preschool La Petite Ecole are actually against such a plan (in contrast with the greedy administrators in Idaho), which will see 16 antennae and a microwave dish (I’ve seen radiation from a radar dish on a C-130 kill a bird that was sitting in front of it, during a test of the radar) implanted on the school property!  Verizon administrators responded by pointing out that there are already cell towers in the area.

The Federal Communciations Commission says local governments cannot dictate to cell phone companies, and the United States government allows much higher exposure rates from cell towers than other countries.

In New Mexico, the number of nuke workers allowed into the failed Waste Isolation Pilot Project has been increased to 74.  Administrators are crediting the increase in recovery ops to the repair work done on a massive “emergency” elevator hoist, which can carry vehicles.  It was also revealed that the explosion(s ?) was strong enough to require replacing of roof bolts needed to secure the roof and walls of the underground tunnel system.  The massive bolts are 3.6 meters (12 feet) long!

Administrators with Los Alomos Nuclear Laboratory (the source of the exploding waste drums) are denying that they got lazy with safety protocols. Their tantrum was in response to an article in The Santa Fe New Mexican.  The old school newspaper spent six months investigating the WIPP fiasco and concluded administrators made mistakes and then covered them up: “…workers packaging the waste came across a batch that was extraordinarily acidic, making it unsafe for shipping……

Instead, the lab and its various contractors took shortcuts in treating the acidic nuclear waste, adding neutralizer and a wheat-based organic kitty litter to absorb excess liquid. The combination turned the waste into a potential bomb that one lab chemist later characterized as akin to plastic explosives….” 

Senators from New Mexico are asking the U.S. taxpayers to fork over even more money for WIPP, this time they want an additional $113-million USD on top of what’s already been approved!

(and back to The Golden State) Reports that cesium 134 from Fukushima Daiichi has been detected off the California coast.  Could this have anything to do with the record 12 pound lobster caught near Santa Barbara?  

Jamaica: More than a year and a half has past since the Caribbean country impounded a mini-van from Japan.  It is contaminated with radiation from Fukushima Daiichi.  Jamaican port administrators say Japan is still refusing to take back the contaminated mini-van.  One of the problems is that the contaminated cargo would end up passing through other ports on its way back to Japan: “It may go through other jurisdictions, so you have to get those clearances. It means that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade would have to engage other missions to seek their assistance to have it returned.”-Major Richard Reese, Jamaican commissioner of customs

Japan:  The Japanese government is paying U.S. (Texas based) company Kurion $10-million to come up with a way to get rid of tritium contamination in the 400+ metric tons per day of contaminated water pouring out of Fukushima Daiichi into the Pacific Ocean. Kurion is already making bank on filtering cesium and strontium from the water.

The new contract award to Kurion came days before Tokyo Electric Power Company essentially admitted failure in dealing with the never ending slow burn China Syndrome melt down of Fukushima Daiichi, the following are reasons why.

TEPCo is now filling in trenches connected to reactors 2 and 3 turbine buildings with concrete, because they cannot stop the flow of highly irradiated water, and they still can’t figure out where it’s coming from!  The trench outside unit 2 is said to contain at least 5-thousand metric tons of contaminated water, while the trench outside unit 3 holds 6-thousand metric tons!

Japanese news reports say TEPCo has already tried to use cement to block water sources, but it has failed.  TEPCo administrators say they will try using a new type of water repelling cement.

TEPCo administrators have admitted that their radical plan to freeze the ground, in order to stop the contaminated water from getting to the Pacific Ocean, has failed.

At least three ‘throwaway’ workers were injured when the 13 meter (42 feet) tall cooling tank they were building collapsed.

For some unexplained reason, removal of unused fuel rods from storage pools on top of the GE designed reactor unit 4 cannot be attempted at this point. Unit 4 was not in use at the time of the quake and tsunami in 2011, and all its fuel was in storage in the fuel pool. The plan was to remove the massively heavy, and ignitable, rods to a more stable storage pool, but suddenly Japan’s Nuclear Energy Safety Organization halted the operation, demanding an evaluation of TEPCo’s plan be conducted by Tokyo based International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning.  Supposedly all the spent (used) fuel rods have been removed (400 metric tons worth), but there are still 204 new (unused) fully explodable with the force of a small tactical nuke fuel rods in the storage pool.

TEPCo and Japan’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA) have pushed back their hopes for securing Fukushima Daiichi by five years, from 2020 to 2025.

Schools in Fukushima Prefecture are being used to store contaminated dirt, against the will of the locals, and Japan’s Jiji Press discovered there are no plans to remove the radioactive dirt piles!  Prefectural government administrators are blaming a national law implemented in 2012, after the radioactive dirt was piled on school property.  The cost of removing the contaminated soil is also a factor.

Renovations reveal U.S. park is nuke disaster area! 

Business/Economics

To Destroy U.S. Dollar: Germany & Russia fully embrace Chinese Yuan, 800% increase in 9 months!

23 November 2014 (10:17 UTC-07 Tango)/30 Muharram 1436/02 Azar 1393/02 Yi-Hai (10th month) 4712

The Obama regime sanctions against Russia are thoroughly backfiring, as Russia increased the use of China’s yuan by 800% from January 2014 to September 2014!

Germany has also become the first European Union country to directly deal in yuan!

In Frankfurt, the Bank of China has just opened an office to allow trade deals to be paid for in yuan (aka renminbi), not U.S. dollars.  So far ten major German banks have signed on to use the yuan.

Back in Russia, Chinese banking administrators say they now have “about 100 Russian commercial banks ” signed on to do deals in yuan (renminbi) only.  On top of that, Russia’s largest bank (Sberbank) is now offering loans in Chinese cash only!

Both Russian and European Union administrators say the primary purpose of moving away from the U.S. dollar is to create stronger economies, in other words, they’re blaming the crashing World economy on the U.S. dollar.  This is because for decades the World has had to convert to U.S. dollars to conduct international business, and doing so is getting more and more expensive: “Payments in rubles and yuan are very promising. Switching to such a large scale work means that the impact of the dollar on the global energy sector will objectively decline. This is not bad either for the global economy, or the world of finance and the world energy markets…..The People’s Republic of China is one of our key partners in the region. We will make greater use of settlements in our national currencies in our trade with China. We are already carrying out our first deals in rubles and yuan…..“-Vladimir Putin, President of Russia

European Union Joins China

Greece joins China to destroy the U.S. dollar!

Germany joins China to destroy U.S. dollar!

BRITISH EMPIRE…..ACCELERATING DESTRUCTION OF THE U.S. DOLLAR!

Total collapse!

British Empire joins Russia to destroy U.S. dollar!

“Your tyranny I was part of is now cracking on every side. And your own life is in danger, your empire is on fire!”-Gripped by Fear by Front 242, 1991

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 13 – 15 September 2014: Public transportation killing jobs! Japanese car parts makers killing U.S. jobs! British oil companies killing U.S. jobs! Nextel killed by 23% crash in sales?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alaska: British empire BP (British Petroleum) announced they will kill 475 U.S. oil jobs by the beginning of 2015!  BP has sold off its Alaska ops to a rival oil company, which will result in at least 275 people becoming unemployed, the other 200 might be hired on by the new company.

California:  Nor-Cal Beverage sold off their beer distribution service, 128 people could become unemployed in November!  What automotive industry recovery?  In La Mesa, car dealer Drew Ford (aka Penske Ford) warned it will shutdown in November, 281 jobs lost!  In San Diego, United Technologies warned it will shutdown in November.  In Carlsbad, internet tech company Yahoo warned it will shutdown in November, 59 jobs lost.  In North Hollywood, Warren’s Blackboard “food & drink workshop” announced it will layoff 58 employees in November.  In Whittier, Kroger announced it will shutdown yet another Ralph’s grocery store, 62 jobs lost.  Kroger has been blaming the increase health insurance costs for employees, forced by Obama Care.  In Fountain Valley, Obama Care killing off Morrison Healthcare.  The provider of meals to hospitals and nursing homes announced they will shutdown in November, 91 jobs lost.  What housing market recovery?  In Irvine, Discover announced it will kill 25 mortgage service jobs in November.

Florida: In Winter Haven, after 35 years Yarn Basket shutdown.  It’s blamed on the deteriorating health of one of the co-owners.

Illinois:  Chicago Public Schools (CPS) killed 476 contracted janitor jobs!  The Obama regime mayor, Rahm Emanuel, refused to discuss the issue with local news media and referred them to the CPS, who were conveniently not available to explain the sudden job killing spree.  In Inverness, Obama Care killing off 14 years old non-profit Wellness Place cancer center.  Kathy Scortino, clinical director and interim executive director, hinted that Obama Care was the last straw because “It just became very difficult to sustain it financially.” 

Massachusetts: After 56 years Hyannis based Mill Stores chain furniture store shutdown at least nine of its brick-n-mortar outlets, including all its New Hampshire and Rhode Island stores!  Local news reports say stores will remain open in Maine and Connecticut, however, when I checked the Mill Stores website it lists only three brick-n-mortar stores in Massachusetts, and the Harwich store is listed as “closed for the season”.

Michigan: After only seven years Detroit based (and Gannett owned) StyleLine magazine announced it will shutdown after printing its October issue.

Missouri: In Universal City, after 33 years the Good Works Furniture Store shutdown, the owners blaming the city’s $43-million USD trolley public transportation plan for blocking access  to the store: “It will make the traffic pattern in the Loop that much more difficult. In the end, we will end up with a Trolley that’s going to increase the tourism traffic.”-Rita Navarro

New York: Legal drugs maker Siga Technologies now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Apparently a rival drugs maker is claiming Siga ripped off their smallpox anti-viral drug.  In NYC, 50 Restaurant Group announced it will shutdown in December, at least 39 jobs lost.

Ohio: What automotive industry recovery? Japan based YSK laid off 19 people at its Chillicothe car parts factory.  Company administrators were surprised by their crashing sales: “While a difficult decision and an unprecedented one in its 25 year history, YSK’s Management Team felt that it was necessary for the long term health of the company.” 

Virginia: Reston based international telecom NII Holdings is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted in the U.S. and Europe.  NII promotes Nextel products in the U.S.   In August NII failed to make an interest payment on a massive loan.   Company administrators blame their money problems on a 23% crash in sales since last year.

11-12 September 2014

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

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 10 – 14 November 2014: Illinois National Guard deploying for Poland? Ohio National Guard a bunch of sex criminals saying “we don’t know how to work with women, what do you expect?”

Faryab Province: A French citizen was stabbed in Maimana City prison.  The French citizen was visiting the prison on behalf of the International Red Cross.  The prisoner who did it says he was chosen by other prisoners to attack the Frenchie, but news reports failed to explain why they wanted to attack the Red Cross employee.

Logar Province: Nine cops killed, three wounded, after a Kamikaze bomber attacked their police HQ.  The official police report says the bomber was wearing a police uniform.

Herat Province: In Shindand District, police report that a mortar round exploded, killing two people and wounding one.  In the same district two Pakistanis working for a fiber optics company have gone missing.  In Herat City, a religious leader was assassinated.  He was shot multiple times in the head and, as usual, police have no clues as to who did it.

Kabul Province: In Kabul City, an explosion wounded three people, no other details given.  In the city’s police district 9 an attorney was arrested in a bribery sting.  The former chairman of Kabul Bank was sentenced to 15 years in prison, after being convicted of taking part in the embezzlement of nearly $1-billion USD.  Five more former bank employees have been arrested.

Kandahar Province: In Kandahar City, the principal of Haji Mirwais high school was assassinated.   Police admit they have no clues.  In Spin Boldak District, a cart with a bomb in it exploded, killing one person and wounding five.

Kunduz Province: A U.S. Army Special Forces Sergeant 1st Class, from Michigan, was shot and killed while on patrol. The Afghan Ministry of Defense says intense battles are taking place in Chahar Dara District.

Nangarhar Province: In Jalalabad City, a motorcycle bomb exploded, killing three cops.  Four people wounded.  A day later a mortar round impacted within the city, killing one person and wounding three.  A day after that paranoid NATO troops shot and killed a man in a ‘rickshaw’, claiming he was a Kamikaze bomber planning on attacking them! In Behsud District, a real Kamikaze car bomber attacked a NATO convoy, killing one person and wounding one.  In Spingar District, Afghan National Police report they called in a U.S. airstrike, which killed at least six people.  The ANP says one of those killed was from Pakistan.

Parwan Province: In Bagram District, a NATO dismounted patrol was attacked by Kamikaze bomber.  Three NATO personnel wounded, no further details.

Iran’s Immigration and Foreign Nationals Department says it has arrested 62 Afghans for violating Shi’a laws.

NATO member Kingdom of Denmark announced another $90-million in taxpayer funding for the government of Afghanistan: “Denmark is committed that based on the strategic agreement between Afghanistan and Denmark, the government of Denmark will support Afghanistan annually U.S. $90 million till 2017.”– Martin Lidegaard, Danish foreign minister

NATO member, and British empire country of United Kingdom announced they will keep at least 100 SAS (Special Air Service) terrorists in Afghanistan in 2015.  News reports say their job will be specifically assassination operations.

The Obama regime will keep at least 12-hundred U.S. Army Delta Force and U.S. Navy SEALS in Afghanistan in 2015.   British empire news reports say their job will be specifically assassination operations.

An Army National Guard militia-woman in the U.S. state of Ohio is accusing her chain of command of sexually assaulting her while deployed to Afghanistan: “And he comes up and he’s pushing himself in between my legs…..there’s people standing around and nobody says anything about the first Sergeant just pushing himself in between somebody’s legs!”

Local news reports say her company commander actually blamed her saying “We told you females from the very beginning, we do not know how to work with women. We’re field artillery, we’re combat arms unit we don’t know how to work with women, what do you expect?”  An investigation is being conducted.

The U.S. state of Illinois announced five Army National Guard militiamen are heading to Afghanistan, as part of NATO member Poland’s latest deployment of troops to the Central Asian country.  News reports say that Illinois Guard troops routinely deploy with Polish troops, to Iraq and Afghanistan.

154 militia-personnel of the Army National Guard’s 276th Engineer Company (Missouri U.S.A.) returned from Afghanistan.

The dip shit vice president of the United States openly lied about the number of U.S. military personnel wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan during a Veteran’s Day ceremony.   Biden said “…troops wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan: 5168.”  According to the U.S. Department of Defense the actual number is 52168!

Afghanistan, 05 – 09 November 2014: U.S. Army ‘loses’ $420-million worth of equipment, to Islamic State?