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.

Exceptional Failed State: JCPenney killing 33 stores & 2-thousand jobs!

17 January 2014 (10:19 UTC-07 Tango)/15 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/27 Dey 1392/17 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

Despite saying they’re happy with the end of year holiday sales, JCPenney officials are going to shutdown 33 stores and kill 2-thousand U.S. jobs in 2014!

Company officials said they still aren’t profitable, and they need to cut $65-million from their yearly budget! If you’ve been following the Sears-Kmart debacle you’ll realize that shutting down a lot of stores only creates a downward spiral, because shutting down huge numbers of stores also kills overall sales.

Stores will be closed in Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics

Exceptional Failed State: Sears to kill minimum 1600 jobs in 2014! Kmart store built on top of cemetery?

 17 January 2014 (10:06 UTC-07 Tango)/15 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/27 Dey 1392/17 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

Alabama to lose the Decatur Sears in April.  In South Carolina, reports suggesting a now closed Kmart store was built on the old Hampton Plantation slave cemetery.  Activists are asking for a ground radar survey before anymore construction work is done by the property developer.  Another Kmart in Florida closing. This one will shutdown in March.

Sears Holdings is laying off more than 1600 Canadians in 2014!  These cuts are on top of the 800 cuts announced back in November 2013.  Most of the new job losses are in Sears Canada call centers.  Those jobs have been contracted out to IBM.  The rest of the job cuts are in “logistics”.

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart 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), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), recently revealed Decatur Mall Sears (91 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), Torrance Kmart,  Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost),  Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down.

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).

Connecticut:  Waterbury Big Kmart.

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),  Hiram Kmart (53 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 in February 2013 (69 jobs lost),  Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), recently revealed Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!!!),  Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost),  Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Vacant bedroom/bathroom section.

One corner of the half vacant Chubbuck, Idaho, Sears. No official closing announcement was made.

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).  No official announcement, but it’s painfully obvious the Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears going’ down. Or, maybe it’s preps for Shop within a Shop, or one of those domestic spy data storage centers?  On 07 November 2013, GGP sold off the Pine Ridge Mall for a paltry $9 million USD.

Ever since the Kmart bankruptcy, this pad site for sale sign has been seen in the Pocatello, Idaho, Big Kmart parking lot. The Kmart is the only building on the lot.

Ever since the Kmart bankruptcy, this pad site for sale sign has been seen in the Pocatello, Idaho, Big Kmart parking lot. The Kmart is the only building on the lot.

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 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), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost),  Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost),  Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost),  Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost).  58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale.  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 on 16th Ave (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), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost).

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), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!),  Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Sears (80 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears (115 jobs lost).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed.

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), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost).

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials,  Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost).

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), 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), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost).

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

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost),  Fulton Kmart (51 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), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard,  London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost),  Trotwood Sears (67 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), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost).

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), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 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, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost),  both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two),  Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 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), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin CoolSprings Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 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.

Utah:  Orem Kmart (no details reported).

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), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown.

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), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 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),  Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 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 closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

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

Minnesota: Apache Mall  (see update above, GGP will close Sears store by 2014)

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center (see update above, GGP closing store)

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 08-09 October 2013. Boston Strong kills green energy transport company! Costco kills organic Peanut Butter? Target layoffs! ObamaCare killing non-profits!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

France based telecommunications company, Alcatel-Lucent, announced at least 10-thousand layoffs around the World.  At least 2100 layoffs will take place in the Americas.  Alcatel-Lucent has offices in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia.  Company officials said their past layoffs were “not sufficient”, and warned of total collapse: “Everyone recognizes that this is the last chance. The situation in the enterprise is serious, very serious!”-Michel Combes, CEO

Alabama: Handy Head Start school shutdown.  It’s blamed on the temporary federal government shutdown, which only affected 18% of government spending.

California: In Victorville, local Desert Community Bank (DCB) shutdown its Dunia Plaza branch.  It’s blamed on the 2007 merger with East West Bank.  Back in 1994 as the News Producer for struggling KHIZ I worked with the president of DCB (Ron Wilson, who quit in 2007 over the merger with East West Bank) to present old school banking advise to our audience. DCB was a true hometown bank, and the president’s weekly advise was appreciated by our audience.  Unfortunately, in 1996 KHIZ was sold off to the local cable company and I had to move on.  KHIZ was in Victorville, but listed officially as being in the Los Angeles TV market.  According to info on the internet it is now owned by a company called Multicultural.  However, none of the internet info lists the 1994-96 years when we busted our asses making KHIZ the number two rated independent 9pm newscast in the LA market. The internet info also doesn’t explain that we all lost our jobs after it was discovered that the station management had royally ripped off the company, stealing millions in “advertising trades” and skipping town (cops actually traced one of the managers to Florida), forcing the new family inheritors (the son-in-law of the widowed owner of Sunbelt) of the station to sell to the local cable company (at least that’s what he told us when he canceled our news department!).   In Walnut Creek, Liliana Castelllanos clothing boutique shutdown.  In Thousand Oaks, what automotive industry recovery?  Silver Star Automotive laid off 47 people.

Illinois: In Chicago, sushi restaurant Ginza shutdown after 26 years.  The greedy property owners sold off the property out from under the restaurant owner’s feet!

Kentucky: In Pikeville, 53 years old Jerry’s Restaurant shutdown. It’s the second Jerry’s Restaurant to shutdown.  The family owners blame the bad economy saying “Times change.”

Massachusetts: In Boston, North End Segway Tours now bankrupt. So much for battery powered transportation.  Apparently the city of Boston Strong didn’t like people riding Segways on the sidewalks and hit the tour company with massive fines!  Decas Cranberries laid off 20 workers, saying the company needed to become more “efficient”.  In Somerset, Brayton Point coal fired power plant shutdown, 240 jobs lost!  It’s blamed on the takeover by Energy Capital Partners.

Michigan: In Detroit, non-profit Crittenton Hospital laid off at least 24 employees. Hospital officials said Obama Care was forcing them to become more “efficient”.  The hospital was already struggling financially, but Obama Care might do them in.

Minnesota: Target laid off 150 people at its Twin Cities corporate HQ!  Target officials blamed employee “inefficiencies” and consumer “behavior”.  In Owatonno, the Cedar Gallery shutdown. The owner said she has to spend more time taking care of her sick parents.

Missouri: Non-profit SSM Health Care warned employees of pending layoffs: “We’re making announcements this week to our employees. There’s nothing more we can say…Out of respect for those affected, we can’t really discuss the details…”-Kristen Johnson

New Mexico: Costco (along with other retailers) is being blamed for killing off the biggest supplier of ‘organically grown’ peanuts in the United States; Sunland. According to court documents, Costco canceled a major contract with Sunland, and then demanded delivery of $20-million USD worth of peanuts currently in storage.  Sunland officials say Costco has yet to pay for at least $4-million worth of those peanuts! The U.S. FDA had recently traced a salmonella outbreak to Sunland. Next time someone says “it’s just peanuts” remind them that attitude killed off one of the biggest peanut suppliers in the country; Sundland is now being liquidated in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  The demise of Sunland not only affects hundreds of workers in Portales, but also several peanut farming operations throughout New Mexico and Texas.

New York: In Buffalo, after 145 years of suds Ulrich’s Tavern shutdown!  They went bankrupt because of the bad economy.  In Watertown, the 40 years old non-profit North Country Children’s Clinic shutdown. 128 jobs lost! Clinic officials blame it on crashing donations and reduced Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements under Obama Care: “Unfortunately the way that the funding has rolled out, we have no choice other than to make this very difficult decision.”-Daniel A. Wasneechak, director

North Carolina: One Lowes Food and two JustSave grocery stores shutdown!  In Mount Airy, Northern Hospital of Surry County laid off 12 people. It’s blamed on reduced Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements under Obama Care.  Hospital official also stated that hospitals became big because they were ordered to: “It’s easy to be criticized for over-expanding, but that’s what hospitals were told to do to handle an aging demographic.”-Bill James, CEO

Ohio: In Lancaster, Cord Camera shutdown.  Fayette County Memorial Hospital laid off eight staff, and warned of more, blaming Obama Care: “Health care is going through unprecedented change, and we will have to do more with less!”-Lyndon Christman, CEO

Oklahoma: After already announcing 1200 layoffs (including all their in-house Christian chaplains), Christian owned Chesapeake Energy warned of even more layoffs in 2014! The company has also sold off $4-million in assets.  Also, in-house ops like Chesapeake Weather have disappeared, news reports saying websites have been taken down and nobody answers phone calls.  In Oklahoma City, US Foods shutdown its distribution center. 175 jobs lost!

Pennsylvania: 68 years old Penn Refrigeration Service now bankrupt, and being liquidated under Chapter 7.  Company officials blamed the bad economy.  State run Presque Isle Downs & Casino laid off 26 employees.

Rhode Island: Care New England Health System, Memorial Hospital laid off seven staff.  Spokeswoman for the hospital, Susan McDonald warned that layoffs would be “…an ongoing process” due to Obama Care.

Tennessee:  In Olive Branch, Closure Systems International shutdown its bottle top factory. At least 100 jobs lost!

West Virginia: What housing market recovery? Fairmont Ruskin Manufacturing Plant shutdown. 185 jobs lost!  Company officials blame it on declining “commercial construction markets”.

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 shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

International, U.S.

Norovirus: 900 kids taken out in one day! More cruise ships hit! Prisons hit!

16 January 2014 (12:08 UTC-07 Tango)/14 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/26 Dey 1392/16 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

Ireland: Letterkenny General Hospital psychiatry department closed due to norovirus.

“This is an abnormal situation. We want to investigate every possible cause.”-Terada Seiko, board of education

Hamamatsu City, Japan: 900 grade school kids, and more than 40 adults, at 14 schools were hit in one day.  Local education officials are suspecting the contracted food service, but investigations have yet to determine the exact source of infection.  Complicating the investigation is the fact that food for the schools are made at several different locations.  At this point only five victims tested positive for norovirus.

New Zealand: Reports say at least 60 passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship are sick with norovirus. The ship is being scrubbed before it sets sail on the next cruise.  Passengers for the upcoming cruise are worried, but told local news sources that the cruise line is not willing to refund their money, so they’ll take their chances.  The people who got sick on the previous cruise did so after the ship set sail from Australia.

Taiwan: Health officials claim a South Korean restaurant is to blame for making dozens of Taiwanese tourists sick.  They claim the employees at the restaurant tested positive for norovirus. It is possible to have norovirus and not have any symptoms.

United Kingdom: Multiple hospitals have wards closed due to vomiting bug.  They include Sandwell Hospital, Walsall Manor Hospital, Llandough Hospital, University Hospital of Wales, Morriston Hospital, Wigan Infirmary, Neath Port Talbot Hospital, Bridport Community Hospital, Alexandra Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

California, U.S.A.:  In Santa Rosa, the operators of a nursing home have closed the facility to visitation.  The director of the home published a statement which said they had to take “aggressive action” to stop a suspected norovirus and/or influenza outbreak.  In an example of continued misdiagnosis, an 88 years old patient said she was rushed to the hospital, being told she probably had the flu even though her symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea within an hour of eating.  Hospital test showed it was norovirus.  Even medical employees still incorrectly call gastrointestinal illness “stomach flu”.

Colorado, U.S.A.:  The mental ward of the Grand River Hospital declared an outbreak of stomach bug.

Michigan, U.S.A.: A Christian school was shut down after 30 student developed stomach illness. A doctor who obviously thinks lowly of children, blamed the children: “They rub their butts, they run around, they spread the feces.”-Puneet Gupta, Covenant Hospital

Texas, U.S.A.: 55 prisoners are now sick at the Livingston Polunksy Unit prison.  The first stomach bug cases hit prisoners on death row. The Polunksy Unit has 3-thousand prisoners!  Prison employees are also sick.

Oregon, U.S.A.:  Health officials report 19 new cases.

The U.S. CDC says norovirus accounts for as many as 800 deaths in the United States, every year.

Norovirus (aka Norwalk Virus), is a surface contact bug, meaning you pick it up by touching or eating it.  It is not influenza and there is still no vaccine for fast evolving RNA norovirus.  The only ‘treatment’ is to keep the sick person hydrated.

Exotic anti-biotic soaps can’t kill norovirus, or any other virus for that matter, because anti-biotics are only for bacteria.  Despite that, even hand ‘sanitizers’ made with alcohol can’t totally get rid of norovirus.   Guess what apparently works?  According to the U.S. CDC old fashioned hand soap is best.  Consumer Reports says to leave the soap on your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds.  Also, in public restrooms use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and to open the door, do not touch surfaces with your bare hands after washing them.

Wash household surfaces with bleach.

The worse thing is that you can be infected and not have any symptoms.  An infected person can spread norovirus, yet not feel sick themselves. If you think you might be infected do not cook food for other people. People recovering from traditional symptoms of norovirus can continue spreading the bug for days after feeling better (some reports say weeks).

Fukushima, Idaho, U.S.

More Fukushima Fallout: U.S. Navy forced to investigate personnel suffering Thyroid Cancer! TEPCo demands victims pay back compensation! Homeland Security conducts False Flag radiation surveys! Scientists asking for your help! Idaho turns your smart phone into CellRad!

16 January 2014 (02:17 UTC-07 Tango)/14 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/26 Dey 1392/16 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) says it will conduct medical surveys of at least 71 U.S. military personnel suffering from radiation sickness, as a result of the 2011 Operation Tomodachi.  At least 51 personnel report thyroid cancer.

But wait, the DoD isn’t doing this willingly!  It took an act of Congress to kick the DoD in the ass.  The U.S. House of Representatives mandated the radiation checks as part of the new government spending bill.

Three years later Tokyo Electric Power Company continues to refuse to compensate anymore victims of their nuclear disaster.  TEPCo has rejected the latest arbitrated compensation deal with 180 people in Iwate Prefecture.  TEPCo says the deal is vague.

TEPCo is also demanding that families of employees, who were evacuated because of the March 2011 nuclear explosions, to pay back their compensation!

The national government of Japan has approved TEPCo’s new ten year business plan, but one prefectural governor absolutely refuses.  The governor of Niigata, Izumida Hirohiko, said he will not allow TEPCo to re-start their nuke plant in his prefecture because they’ve proven to be incompetant at Fukushima Daiichi.

Izumida also blamed Too Big to Jail banks and investors: “Shareholders and banks have not taken responsibility, and it is a ridiculous plan from a safety standpoint.”

By the way, TEPCo’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear complex in Niigata Prefecture is the World’s largest!

TEPCo’s ten year plan includes a name change because, company officials admit, customers are now bias against them.  It also funds decommissioning of the disaster reactors with money meant for compensating victims, which explains why TEPCo suddenly is refusing to compensate anymore victims, and is actually demanding those already compensated pay them back! “I was surprised when I heard  from an official of the industry ministry’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy at the end of last year.  Compensation and decommissioning are two different worlds!”-Yamana Hajimu, decommissioning division

TEPCo also said it will raise electricity rates for Japanese, and TEPCo officials blame it on the new higher taxes in Japan. TEPCo also warns they will probably raise rates several times this year!

California assemblyman, Bob Wieckowski, wants the Department of Public Health to start publicizing radiation data concerning the Golden State’s beaches: “I think a lot of people’s questions can be answered if the department would conduct a study or post the results of other studies and monitoring that are already completed…..”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security revealed it will begin airborne radiation checks, on the U.S. east coast.   Helicopters from the National Nuclear Security Administration will take air samples around Baltimore, Maryland.  Homeland Security claims the operation is about protecting the U.S. from future nuclear attack!

Officials from the National Nuclear Security Administration admit that in order to determine if radiation contamination is happening, they need to establish “original background” radiation levels. Government officials also said the heliborne air sampling will take place several times a year for several years!

If you live on the west coast of North America, scientists with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution are asking for your help: “We already have dozens of seawater samples from the coast of Japan out to the middle of the Pacific, but now we need new samples, from up and down the West Coast of North America and across the Pacific.”-Ken Buesseler

The problem is funding, and Woods Hole scientists hope people will raise the funds necessary for the project.  In return anybody, or group, who provides $550 to $600 USD will get a 20 liter sample collecting kit (which also covers the cost of shipping).  For more info contact ourradioactiveocean.org

Researchers at the Idaho National Laboratory (a major nuclear research facility) have come up with a smart phone App that turns your phone’s camera into a gamma ray dosimeter!  It’s called CellRad.

International, U.S.

World War 3, West Asian Front: Obama deploys USMC to UAE! Congress approves $150-million for UAE! Preps for war with Iran? USMC contracted out as “Foriegn Military Sale” bitches!

16 January 2014 (21:45 UTC-07 Tango 15 January 2013)/14 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/26 Dey 1392/16 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

The Obama regime and the U.S. Congress are likely to approve giving the United Arab Emirates $150-million more of your money!  The members of the UAE say the money is needed to train up ‘their’ Presidential Guards.

The $150-million supposedly will cover the costs of the United States Marine Corps to continue current training of UAE forces.  The UAE request is officially called by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency a “Foreign Military Sale”!

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency also revealed that UAE forces are currently operating in Afghanistan. The UAE’s Presidential Guard was formed in 2010/11 as a special operations force, and is led by a former Australian special ops officer.  In other words the UAE Presidential Guards is actually a proxy military mercenary unit of the West, and your taxes pay for it!

The Presidential Guards describe themselves as a military unit that “operates outside the conventional framework”.

International, U.S.

World War 3, Asian Front-Afghanistan, 03-06 January 2014: Unexplained famine targeting children! Afghan government say U.S. ‘evidence’ of terrorism is bogus! Chinook down?

Balkh Province: In Nihar-e-Shahi District, villagers report a U.S. led Israeli style home invasion.  The family was beaten and one person kidnapped. 

Farah Province: In Bala Baluk District, Shewan region, Mujahideen captured the son of a local police chief.  In retaliation, the police chief ordered the kidnapping of 40 villagers, saying they would be set free when his son is set free.

Ghazni Province: In Ghazni City, a suicide bomber killed a local police chief and his bodyguard.  In Aab Band District, government officials reported a battle that resulted in 15 Mujahideen from Pakistan being killed.  Six cops were also killed.  In Andar District, three local cops killed, eight cops and civilians wounded by a suicide bomber.

Herat Province: In Shindand District, Zer Koh region’s Kohak area, Mujahideen claim they shot down a U.S.-NATO-ISAF Cargo Helicopter-47 Chinook.  They say they shot at the Chinook from four different locations.   ISAF confirms an Italian-NATO Chinook was attacked, and “landed in the area”, but says it was not shot down.  Mujahideen also say one of their own was killed in a firefight immediately after the crash.

Jawzjan Province: In Shebarghan City, three people killed, two wounded, during an attack on a natural gas field project.

Kabul Province: In Kabul City, two explosions.  One bomb went off near the 8th District Police HQ.  Cops claim nobody was hurt.  The second bomb exploded as a U.S. military convoy went by.  Unnamed cops say it was a magnetic bomb.  No official government comments about casualties, but Mujahideen say their attack targeted Camp Eggers, and caused dozens of casualties.

Kunar Province: In Chapa District, an explosion killed two people.  Local police say the two people were trying to attack a police station.

Khost Province: In Sabari District, four National Directorate of Security (NDS, Afghan version of Homeland Security) were killed when Mujahideen detonated remote bombs under the victims’ vehicle.

Nangarhar Province: In Ghani Khel District, Mujahideen attacked a U.S.-NATO-ISAF base. Government officials say six Mujahideen killed.  Mujahideen say seven of their own were killed (they even publicized their names), but also say they caused U.S. forces at least 25 casualties.  ISAF confirmed that a U.S. Army Sergeant 1st Class (E-7), from the U.S. state of Florida, was killed in the attack.

At the behest of the Obama regime, the Afghan government reviewed ‘evidence’ presented by U.S. military personnel regarding 88 Bagram prisoners about to be released.  The Obama regime claims the 88 men, who’ve been held without charge or trial by U.S. forces, are terrorists.   The Afghan government review board found the U.S. ‘evidence’ to be bogus and declared the men innocent of the U.S. charges!

There are reports of skyrocketing cases of children dying from starvation.  One estimate said there is already a 50% increase in malnutrition cases compared to the same time in 2012!  Doctors Without Borders reports that the Bost Hospital is admitting an average of 200 children per month for starvation! The New York Times points out that the unexplained famine is taking place despite billions of taxpayer funds spent by the U.S. and European Union to supposedly improve food security.  “In 2001, it was even worse, but this is the worst I’ve seen since then!”-Saifullah Abasin, Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital

12 soldiers of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 481st Transportation Detachment, from the U.S. state of Mississippi, deploying to Afghanistan.

U.S. Army’s 505th Transportation Company, from the U.S. state of Florida, deploying to Afghanistan.

208 militiamen of the Army National Guard’s 108th Sustainment Brigade, from the U.S. state of Illinois, deploying to Kuwait, in support of the Afghan occupation.

Army National Guard’s Military Advisory Team 5, from the U.S. state of New Jersey, deploying to Afghanistan as Combat Advisors to the Afghan National Army.

300 militiamen of the Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment, from the U.S. state of Florida, returned from Afghanistan.  In an example of a lack of government funding, the governor of Florida actually got retailers to donate $35-thousand USD to support the homecoming!

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 04-07 October 2013. Massive grocery store shutdowns! Baby killer lays off 3-thousand people! What automotive & housing industries recovery? Rent & taxes killing mom & pops!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Alabama: Wiregrass Medical Center laid off at least 20 employees. Hospital officials say Obama Care is forcing them to “…cut $1.2-million…”! Hospital CEO, Jim Heitzenrater, said Affordable Health Care has hospital officials scrambling to figure out how they’ll stay alive under Obama Care.  What automotive industry recovery?  In Opelika, Benteler Automotive shutdown, 115 jobs lost!  All across the Yellowhammer State six Food World grocery stores shutdown. At least 500 jobs affected!

Arizona: In Scottsdale, Martini Ranch entertainment venue shutdown after 19 years of live shows.

California: In Salinas, the River Ranch Fresh Foods packing operation shutdown. More than 170 jobs lost! Owners said costs to fresh pack produce keep going up while sales keep going down! Sutter Health laid off at least 17 employees across the Golden State.

Colorado: In Fort Collins, Office Depot shutdown. Company officials said the property owner refused to reduce the rent.

Connecticut: In Danielson, after 46 years Gil’s Shoe Barn shutdown.

Georgia: In Cave Springs, Country Cousins gift store shutdown.

Indiana: Too Big to Jail, Citizens Financial Bank laid off at least 84 employees.  It’s blamed on First Merchants taking over the bank. Bank officials revealed that they consider IT employees to be “redundant” and are the first to be laid off.

Iowa: What automotive industry recovery? In Lake Mills, Cummins Filtration shutting down by the end of 2014.  80 jobs will be lost.

Florida: What housing market recovery? In Jacksonville, PHH Mortgage laid off 365 people!  It’s blamed on crashing demand in home loans.  All across the Sunshine State six Food World grocery stores shutdown, at least 500 jobs affected!

Maryland: Major tax sucker and baby killer Lockheed Martin laid off 3-thousand employees!!!  It’s blamed on military budget cuts.

Michigan: In Harvey, Walstrom’s Restaurant shutdown after 51 years of food.  The restaurant owner blamed ever increasing rent and taxes.

Minnesota: In Duluth, Garon Brothers jewelers shutdown.  They are focusing on internet sales only.

Nebraska: In Lincoln, Murray’s for Men of Stature shutdown.  Also, Kent’s Mens Shoes shutdown.

New York: In Queensbury, cancer drug delivery systems maker Delcath laid off 21 workers.  They blame it on the U.S. FDA.  In Rochester, Bausch + Lomb laid off 24 employees.  It’s blamed on the new Bausch + Lomb owner, Valeant Pharmaceuticals.  In Glenn Falls, a Blockbuster video store shutdown.

North Carolina: Computer seller Lenovo reported a “small” number of layoffs, even though their sales are up.

Ohio: What housing market recovery?  In West Chester, Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo shutdown their mortgage office, 63 jobs lost.  It’s blamed on crashing home loan demand.

Oklahoma: Prosthetics manufacturer OrthoCare Innovations shutdown.  The company is moving to Washington.

Texas: In Plano, Christian owned Dillards upscale department store shutdown. 101 jobs lost!  In Bryan, after 102 years of operations Parker-Astin Hardware shutdown.  The current owner, Zane Anderson, bought the store in 2005 because he “loved” it. He says the bad economy killed his dream!

Washington: In Olympia, a Office Max shutdown. It’s blamed on the merger of Office Max and Office Depot.

Wisconsin: In La Crosse, clothing store Scott Joseph Menswear shutdown after only eight years. It was the only men’s clothing store in town. The pissed off owner blames the bad economy: “It was a tough decision, but I just can’t get ahead. I thought the economy would come around.”-Scott Koenen

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 shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

ObamaCare Hell: FEMA says almost 60% of Idaho’s firefighters screwed over by Affordable Health Care! An ObamaCare backdoor tax increase revealed!

15 January 2014 (22:45 UTC-07 Tango 14 January 2013)/13 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/25 Dey 1392/15 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

“…about $300 per employee per month to insure them…….If we are forced to provide these insurance benefits I think you will see a lot of fire departments out of business.”–Bryan Grover, Central Fire District, Rigby, Idaho

FEMA’s own U.S. Fire Administration says 57.8% of Idaho’s fire fighting operations are considered “volunteer”.  Under Obama Care even volunteer fire departments have to start paying for insurance.

A couple of weeks ago some main stream U.S. news sources reported that the IRS (the ones who’ll be fining those they believe are in violation of Obama Care at the end of the year) gave volunteer fire departments an exemption.  But that’s not true, the ‘exemption’ was only a suggestion on the IRS blog, it still has not been ‘implemented’: “We are going to need to wait and read the final implementing regulations very closely before we can 100% declare victory.”-David Finger, National Volunteer Fire Council

If the exemption is not implemented then not only could there be less fire fighters on hand, but your local taxes will jack up 35%!

But Idaho’s volunteer firefighters are not the ones who’ll be hardest hit, 92.7% of Nebraska’s fire departments are considered volunteer!

Idaho, Influenza

Influenza: Two more prisoners die from H1N1! More U.S. prisoners sick! More grade school kids sick! Canadians say H1N1 kill rate higher than expected! Shutting down banks? Idaho hospital says stay out!

14 January 2014 (15:28 UTC-07 Tango)/12 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/24 Dey 1392/14 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

As of today, at least 27 Canadians have died from H1N1, despite millions of vaccinations across the Great White North. Pharmacies continue to report lack of vaccines.  The Canadian Medical Association Journal is reporting increasing concern over H1N1 infections. Specifically health officials are concerned with the kill rate: “There are more deaths than what we expect for the regular H1N1 influenza.”-Pierre Lebel, McGill University Health Centre

New Brunswick, Canada: A woman described as “in her midlife” became the 27th Canadian to die from H1N1.

Singapore: Despite what is happening in North America, Ministry of Health officials are telling people there’s nothing to worry about.  Now, two Citibank employees in Singapore are confirmed sick with H1N1.  Eight other employees are sick and being tested: “We have informed all employees on the precautions they should take and have distributed face masks and antiseptic wipes to all staff sitting on the same floor as those who are affected.”-Citibank statement to local news media

Alabama, U.S.A.: The Decatur Morgan Hospital reports four influenza related deaths.  They’re not sure what type of flu the patients had.  They are isolating all people hospitalized with flu symptoms.

Arkansas, U.S.A.: A women’s prison has cancelled all visitation after a inmate died, possibly from H1N1.  At least two of the other 899 prisoners are confirmed sick with flu.  Prison officials claim they’ve called in more medical staff.

California, U.S.A.: In Fresno, the 61 years old County Jail prisoner who was sent to hospital with H1N1 last week, has died. Prison officials admit that three inmates have been placed into an isolation “pod” because they have H1N1, at least nine other inmates (8 men, 1 woman) are sick, possibly with H1N1. Kings County reports a new death.  Merced County reports a new death. Sonoma County reporting an H1N1 death. Santa Clara county reports two new deaths, and 13 new “severe” cases. San Mateo county reports one death.  State health officials told California news media they expect the death toll to increase by Friday.  As far as how many people died who did not get a flu shot, officials have admitted that only two of seven confirmed H1N1 deaths did not get the flu shot.  Health officials said they weren’t sure about the others.

Connecticut, U.S.A.: The Department of Public Health says there are more than 683 flu cases, and they expect it to get worse.

Idaho, U.S.A.:  A second man has died from H1N1 in the Gem State.  He lived in Bonner County.  The first Idahoan to die this flu season lived in Twin Falls County.  In Bannock County, the Portneuf Medical Center is asking people sick with mild flu symptoms to stay away (see below).

Illinois, U.S.A.: Hospitals in Chicago are asking people to stay away, unless they have severe symptoms (see below).   Loyola University Medical Center reporting at least 147 cases, 31 in the past week.

Indiana, U.S.A.:  Allen County Sheriff’s Department reporting county prisoners are being made to wear masks.  News sources say there is an outbreak of influenza in the prison, but county officials will not confirm the reports.  Unnamed county health officials reported they had given prison officials kits to test prisoners for flu.  Prisoners are also being vaccinated (which is a total waste if there’s already an outbreak).

Iowa, U.S.A.: Department of Health reports a healthy child died from flu.  They are also investigating the deaths of “several adults”.

Louisiana, U.S.A.: After an eight years old girl died from H1N1 last week, school officials today revealed that at least two other students have H1N1.  Two girls have been allowed back in school after a doctor said they were better.  School officials say janitors are doing “extra” disinfecting.

Mississippi, U.S.A.: Jackson County reports 13 new hospitalizations for H1N1.   The Jackson County Medical Care hospital is now closed to visitors and new patients.

Montana, U.S.A.: State health officials report at least 101 hospitalizations as of 04 January.

North Carolina, U.S.A.:  Health officials are reporting that the first infant to die in their state this flu season, did so yesterday.  This brings the state’s flu death toll to 22, the majority being young and middle aged adults.

Texas, U.S.A.: In Dallas, a pregnant woman lost her unborn child to an influenza infection. She’s hospitalized at Baylor Specialty Hospital.  She can barely talk and has been sick since before Xmas.  State health officials are begging people to get the flu shot.

Utah, U.S.A.: In the past week three people died of flu.  So far five people have died this flu season.

Washington, U.S.A.: The Spokane Regional Health District reports that a woman with other health problems has died from flu.  Currently there are 135 people hospitalized with flu in the Spokane area.  Last year at the same time there were only 31 flu hospitalizations.

Many hospitals are telling sick people to stay away.  What they mean is that if you don’t have severe influenza symptoms stay away, because you’ll just spread the virus in the hospital.  Severe flu symptoms include the usual fever, coughing, aches, plus dehydration and difficulty breathing.  Especially difficulty breathing because that’s how H1N1 kills you.  Hospitals will isolate anyone with severe symptoms to try and keep the virus from spreading.

Anybody notice that H1N1 is targeting adults in their child bearing/rearing years?