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.
International, U.S.

Norovirus / Tummy Bug update, 02 August 2013: Airline flight from vomiting hell! 9 people dead, 150 sick in Canada! Hundreds sick at Washington campgrounds!

At least 26 people were quarantined in Australia after a gut wrenching flight from Chile.  Paramedics met the 747 when it landed in Sydney.  Health officials say the sick people were part of the same tour group.  Norovirus is suspected.  Also, in Wodonga The Grange old folks home was “locked down” for a week because of a major gastroenteritis outbreak.  Employees went to the local news media after officials with The Grange lied and said it was just a dozen people sick.  Turns out at least 70 residents and 12 employees were sick.  An unnamed employee said management didn’t even try to pick up the slack to compensate for the sick employees: “Work has increased tenfold. There has been no recognition from management. No one is saying we’re doing a great job. It’s a hard place to work at the moment.”

Nine people have died and 150 sickened after an outbreak at an old folks home in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada!  Health officials suspect the deadly outbreak is caused by norovirus.

And just south, in the state of Washington, U.S.A., the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department is investigating an outbreak at a YMCA campground. About 80 people are sick with norovirus like symptoms.  And 120 people sickened at a Christian campground in Whatcom County!  Health officials are blaming norovirus. They say the outbreak actually started at the beginning of July, but for some reason is only now being made public. About one week ago they did warn residents to be careful as there were “clusters” of cases being reported.  In the same county, people reported tummy bug symptoms after a chile contest on Lummi Island.

The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease claims to have  discovered an antibody that can neutralize human norovirus.  Their study involved the use of immune cells of chimpanzees.

More bad news for plant eaters!  Recent parasite infections are being blamed on bagged salads!  In the United States the cyclospora outbreak has hit 16 states and at least 380 people!  In Iowa and Nebraska, health officials say they’ve traced the parasite to bagged salads.  At this point they’re not releasing the name of the brand of packaged salads.  You can only get sick by eating food or drink contaminated with the parasite.

In Arkansas U.S.A., another parasite has eaten the brain of a girl.  It’s called amoebic meningoencephalitis.  It’s a type of meningitis caused when an amoeba goes up your nose into your brain.  Officials think she got infected while swimming at Willow Springs Water Park.  One of the first signs is vomiting, which could cause people to think it’s a tummy bug.   The 12 years old girl has been placed in a medically induced coma.  If she survives she will be only the third person to do so.

Yogurt and flavored coffee lovers watch out, bugs are being used as food coloring in U.S. food products! According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, cochineal insects are being used to color flavored coffees and yogurts.  There are reports of people having allergic reactions, such as vomiting.  Starbucks announced last year they would stop using the red bugs in their strawberry flavored Frappuccino.  And you thought they were real strawberries.  Officials with Dannon yogurt says the U.S. FDA approved the use of the bugs as a substitute strawberry (carmine) coloring, so they are not going to stop using them!

And more bad news for plant eaters: A Washington U.S.A. woman and her 3 years old daughter were sick for seven months from oatmeal.  At first it was blamed on the standard tummy bug, turns out it was fungal mycotoxin poisoning.  It wasn’t doctors who figured it out, it was the suffering woman.  She was about to make her son a bowl of oatmeal, which he rarely ate, but she noticed he would get sick with similar symptoms when he ate it.  Upon closer inspection of the Western Family brand oatmeal container she found a clump of toxic mold in the oatmeal.

New Hampshire U.S.A., one man has been infected with two rare viruses, Jamestown Canyon virus and the Powassan virus.  Mosquitoes and ticks spread the disease.  The signs are sudden severe headache, fever, vomiting and paralysis.

And in Iowa U.S.A., health officials reporting at least 26 cases of infection from a rare form of salmonella.  Officials say this form of salmonella is related to poultry and is easily confused with the cyclospora parasite.   Also, Polk County Department of Public Health is reporting another parasite outbreak, this time cryptosporidium.  At least 68 cases so far.  You get it from contaminated drinking water or swimming pools.

Bad news for beef eaters: There are reports that the Lone Star Tick is making its way north, from the southern U.S. states.  The bad news is that apparently the bite of the Amblyomma americanum can render you allergic to beef!  Symptoms are vomiting, abdominal cramps, hives, anaphylaxis and death.

In the African country of Nigeria, reports of at least 104 cases of gastroenteritis.  Health officials blame poor hygiene.

In the new administrative district of Bandipora, in Jammu and Kashmir, India, at least 75 cases of gastroenteritis.  Apparently people are rising up in protest because government officials supplied them with contaminated water.  The angry people actually forced Public Health Engineering Department employees to drink the contaminated water!  Health officials are now telling people to boil the water.  In Mumbai city, 40 cases of cholera, and 2481 cases of gastroenteritis, were reported in July.

Pakistan reported a 39% increase in gastroenteritis, from December through January.  (they also reported a 90% increase in snake bites!)

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 01-02 June 2013. Property owners to blame! Federal government conveniently forgets to renew contracts! No more Lucasfilm?

What oil industry boom? Texas based Digerati Technologies, a phone company, made a big mistake when it bought out several oil drilling service companies in Montana and North Dakota. Now the phone company is bankrupt with $62.5 million USD in debt!

Printer of commercial and educational materials, Ohio based BTPO Hess Holdings, now bankrupt.  Company officials blamed it on overproduction, competition and the bad economy.  They have $100 million in debt, with only $50000 in assets!  And the Christian God can’t stop the closing of the Mercy Mount Airy Child/Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit.  The Christian health center started back in the late 1800s.  apparently a new center is being built.  I’ve found articles dating back to 2001 that show the hospital has been shutting down various operations for years.

In Massachusetts, the veterinarian emergency clinic, Vetcision, closed down.  The Vet says he will still do house calls.  And the Jordan Hospital closed the third floor of its East Wing.  64 jobs affected.  Hospital officials blamed it on declining customers and the Obama/Romney Affordable Care Act cuts to Medicaid/Medicare.  (the ‘Obama Care’ was co-written by the same guy that wrote Romney’s ‘Romney Care’ when he was gov’na of Massachusetts)

In Georgia, Mitchell Johnson Building Supply ended their 50+ years of “Strong Traditions” by shutting down.  And after almost 50 years, the Rossville Music and Golf store shut down as well.

The Board at Work skate store closed in Maryland.  The owners blamed it on a bad location for their shop, and the weather.

In Connecticut, The Hair Place closed up shop after almost 44 years of business.  The owner blames the landlord, who jacked up the rent and also added fees for customer parking!

After 30 years of business, Cards of Joy and Gifts store shut down in New Hampshire.  The owners said business sucks!

In Texas, Lubbock Power and Light closed their office on 82nd Street.  Utility officials say it was not their fault: “…Lowe’s Supermarket approached LP&L to terminate the property sublease agreement that was entered into in April 2005.  As a result, LP&L had no choice but to terminate our sublease.  After conducting a thorough business case review, LP&L has decided not to pursue another location since transactions at Southwest Branch have declined 43.1% from 2005 to 2013.  Just since 2010, walk in traffic at the Southwest Branch has declined 30%.”-Chris Sims, Lubbock Power and Light   (in other words, the economy sucks!)

And in Utah the Christian God can’t stop the closing of the Provo Mormon Deseret Book store.

And the Christian God can’t stop the closing of the 100 years old Wapato Community Presbyterian Church, in Washington.

Japanese printer company, Ricoh, laid off at least 70 people in Portland, Oregon.  Company officials said they had to “integrate certain of its business units”.

Federal government contractor Lockheed Martin, laid off 59 employees at their Suffolk, Virginia facility.  Company officials say the federal government failed to renew a training contract.

The East Ramapo Central School District, in New York, laid off 60 people, despite a $12 million increase in the budget!  Apparently even more employees would have been laid off if the $12 million budget increase failed.

In Florida, 261 people lost their jobs with the Marion County School District!  The district is short $29 million!  It’s blamed on state funding cuts.

In California, Gene Watson Construction laid of 316 people! In San Diego, U.S. Navy contractor US Joiner laid off 37 employees.  Lucasfilm closed down their San Francisco operations and laid off 201 people!  Blame it on George Lucas selling out to Disney!  Also, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art laid off 48 employees.

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.

International

World War 3, Asian Front-Afghanistan, 17-18 July 2013: More proof the United States commits War Crimes! Proof that women are worth more than men in Afghanistan!

Kabul Province, Kabul City, Afghan news media reported two explosions, but gave no details.

The Afghan interpreter arrested two months ago, in connection with U.S. Special Operations Force’s torture deaths in Maidan Wardak Province, stated he was following the orders of the U.S. SOF personnel.  U.S. SOF personnel were evacuated from the province after President Hamid Karzai made threats as a result of overwhelming evidence that U.S. SOF was committing war crimes.  A small mass grave was found at the abandoned U.S. SOF Forward Operating Base (FOB).  The arrested translator, Zakaria Kandahari, also said he did not take part in the torture deaths of civilians because he “….was not allowed to commute in the base and investigation room.”

In Ghazni Province, Gillan District, reports that U.S. led NATO/ISAF forces killed a woman in a home invasion.  Supposedly ISAF is investigating.  Also, reports that Mujahideen have liberated Rashidan District.

In Logar Province, Pul-e-Alam District, reports that 15 people were killed in a U.S. led NATO/ISAF airstrike on a village.  Government officials claim it was an airstrike on Mujahideen.  Also, police say eight Afghan contract workers were assassinated as they went to work at the U.S. FOB Camp Shank.  The workers were  shot execution style. Police blame Mujahideen, but Mujahideen have not claimed credit.

In Herat Province, Karokh District, the brother of Afghanistan’s National Security adviser was assassinated.  He was a prosecuting attorney and was shot and killed on his way to work, the assassins escaped.

The terrorist organization, USAID, is spending $200 million U.S. tax dollars on a new education program for adult women.  This despite the fact that education for Afghan men is not any better than for women, and the fact that Canadian soldiers revealed that Afghan boys are being used for homosexual sex crimes by Afghans and U.S./NATO forces!  (the investigation by the Canadian military has resulted in hundreds of pages of documentation, but for some reason the Canadian military has now sealed the investigation. the crimes are also revealed in a U.K. journalist’s documentary called This is What Winning Looks Like!)

February 2013: ITALIAN SUPREME COURT FINDS 26 EVIL AMERICANS GUILTY OF WAR CRIMES!!!

International, U.S.

British Empire Owns the United States: Forces U.S. taxpayers to fork over $150 million for spy data!

02 August 2013 (19:39 UTC-07 Tango 01 August 2013)/25 Ramadan 1434/11 Mordad 1391/26 Geng-Shen (6th month) 4711

According to leaked U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), dated 2010, the United States Department of Homeland Security/NSA gave the United Kingdom $150 million taxpayer dollars in the past three years for ‘intelligence’!   This is according to the British news source The Guardian.

The money is going to the U.K.’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).  According to the leaked NSA documents, a GCHQ official calls the U.S. payments an “investment”.

The documents show that U.S. taxpayers are funding half of the British spying operations in Cyprus.  Remember Cyprus?  That’s the country that suddenly went belly up, and massive bailouts of the government took place, while many people had their bank accounts seized to pay for the bailouts!  It’s all connected to the recently discovered massive petroleum field in the Mediterranean (known as Levant Basin Province, aka Leviathan).

Ironically, even though the U.S. is paying the U.K. for spy data, according to the NSA documents 60% of the British Empire’s internet and phone spying is actually being done by the U.S. NSA!

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 30-31 May 2013. Chris Christie gives British Empire corp $80 million tax break, to cut jobs in the United States!!! MetLife says the U.S. is toast!!!

The biggest insurance company in the U.S., MetLife, has laid off 2500 people since 2012!  The insurance and investment company said the United States is no longer the place to do business and will focus on other countries for growth opportunities!!!

In California, Westwood’s Jerry’s Famous Deli closed, 63 employees laid off.  The restaurant owner blamed it on the property owner jacking up the rent.  A Jerry’s Famous Deli also closed in West Hollywood.  In Santa Monica, Rubin Postaer Associates laid off 200 people!  Rubin Postaer Associates is Los Angeles County’s second largest advertising agency. Honda was their biggest client, and Honda just cut back big on their advertising budget.  In Simi Valley, Arizona based Nexicore laid off 108 employees!  The computer company blames it on crashing sales.

Arizona based Pro’s Ranch Markets bankrupt.  The grocery chain focused on Hispanic customers in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The company blames a decline in sales on several factors, including Arizona’s anti-immigrant laws.

In White Plains, New York, British Empire based Pearsons Education laid off 55 employees. The education publisher has been laying off employees non-stop due to constant “restructuring”, even after New Jersey gov’na Chris Christie gave the Red Coat company an $80 million USD tax break!!!  And the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act is killing another health care provider!  Sound Shore Health System now bankrupt: “As is true with many community hospitals serving a working-class constituency, the Medical Centers have been beset by the financial pressures caused by cuts in Medicare and Medicaid funding.”-Court filed bankruptcy statement

Speaking of New Jersey, the city of Linden wants to layoff 31 cops. City officials blame it on the police union rejecting the city’s concession offer. City officials say they need to save $1.2 million. Gee why don’t they ask gov’na Christie for the money?  He gave foreigner Pearson Education $80 million!

In Washington, the Pierce County Jail laid off 20 guards.  The county is short $4.2 million, and 160 inmates are about to go free due to their sentences being up.  There are no new inmates expected because two of the county’s customers, the cities of Lakewood and Tacoma, are sending their inmates to a cheaper facility.

In Colorado, the Upper Pine Fire Protection District cut four jobs: “If we didn’t do this, we wouldn’t have any reserves left after next year. Too many factors led to this. By this time last year, we’d had income coming into the district from fighting wildland fires on federal lands. This year, that didn’t happen.”-Bruce Evans, District Chief

The College of Central Florida got rid of 28 jobs.  College officials blame a $2.4 million shortfall on declining student enrollment.  In Gainesville a Stein Mart is closing, rumors say it’s being replaced with a Hobby Lobby.

In Illinois, the Chicago Sun Times laid off all its photogs, all 28 of them!  Reporters are now required to do their own pics and video (just like in the smaller news markets).  And the Adler Planetarium laid off 15 people. Officials say they are trying to stay ahead of the bad economy by becoming more efficient. Plass Appliance shutting down after 75 years of sales. It’s blamed on the bad economy. At one time there were ten Plass Appliance stores.

The Muncie Public Library announced that it has to cut $400000 from its budget, and that means layoffs in Indiana.

What automotive industry recovery?  Germany based Volkswagen confirmed they will layoff 500 people in their Tennessee Passat factory!!!  They blame it on crashing sales of Passats.

What oil industry boom?  In Texas, Cameron International laid off 88 employees.  The global provider of production and processing equipment for the oil and gas industry is shutting down their factory in Magnolia.

And despite North Dakota‘s oil boom, Finland based cell phone & GPS maker Nokia laid off 50-60 employees in their Fargo factory.  Company official say these latest layoffs are in addition to the 10000 planned layoffs announced at the end of last year!  Nokia officials say they want to streamline their North Dakota operations.

In Pennsylvania, The Common Plea and The Plea Bar closed down after 42 years of business. The owners are selling the restaurant operation and focusing on catering.  The Pocono Mountain School District closed two elementary schools.  School officials blame it on declining enrolment, and the need to save $2 million!  PBS Coals announced a third round of layoffs.  This time the mining company laid off 134 people! In the 2nd round of layoffs 138 people got axed!  Company officials said the economy is that bad, even in China: “…..the 134 layoffs are a result of economic decline. The domestic market is low, and we sell to international markets, the big players are China and India, but there isn’t a lot of economic growth there either!”-Lori J. Mason, PBS Coals

Georgia based payment processor First Data Corp. continues to lay people off as part of its never ending “restructuring”.  This time 40 people in Nebraska got canned.  It was part of the latest round of layoffs country wide, which saw a total of 70 jobs cut. In April they laid off 60 people in Nebraska, and between 2007 and 2010, 800 Cornhuskers got the axe!

In Wisconsin, 72 people lost their jobs because iconic Ball container company closed down operations in Milwaukee.  And 202 people out-o-work at the Kewaunee Power Station!  The operator of the nuclear power plant, Dominion Resources, said this is just the first round of more layoffs to come. The nuke plant is being shut down, in toto 632 employees will be affected!

In Michigan, the Pump House Grille was seized by the Berrien County Treasurer’s Office, for failure to pay property taxes.  And Jill’s General Store closed down.  The family owners said declining sales didn’t justify the amount of time they were putting into the business.

In Alabama, 200 employees at the Russell Athletic/Fruit of the Loom Mill Decorations Plant were told bye-bye!  The clothing company is closing the factory.  It’s blamed on the bad economy.  The Home Fashion Paint and Floor Covering Company closed after 44 years of business. The owner retired to do Baptist missionary work.

Another irony, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security shut down 13 WIN Job Centers!  It’s blamed on federal funding cuts.

In Wheaton, Maryland, the Showcase Aquarium tropical fish store closed after 45 years.  The store owner said his lease expired and a multitude of factors convinced him that it wasn’t a good idea to renew it, mainly that a major redevelopment plan by Montgomery County is going to destroy any parking for customers.

After 30 years of operations the Burr Cooperative Nursery School shut down in Massachusetts.

Idaho based paper company, Boise Inc., closed it Umatilla, Oregon, chipping operations.

In Virginia, Apple computer retailer, CityMac, closed after less than one year in business!  The owner says sales suck, and profit margins for computer retailers is too small to justify trying to stay open.  The store property has been turned over to the city of Bristol.

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.

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 27-29 May 2013. Property owners strike again! California hit hard again!

In New York, Dance New Amsterdam bankrupt.  The people who operate the dance center had to enlist the help of politicians to get the bankruptcy through.  The center has been barley able to pay day to day operating expenses, due to the loss of decreased foundation funding and the loss of a major partner.   And the Albion Public Schools laid off 15 Albion High School teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators, basically the entire staff of the high school.  This after they decided to stop using teaching students and close an elementary school.

The 81 years old restaurant, Pals Cabin, in Wet Orange, New Jersey closed down.  Local news media had asked the owners if the restaurant was closing and the response, every time, was basically NO.  Turns out the owners discovered they can make more money “redeveloping the site”.

In California, after 30 years of business the Presto Magic store in Long Beach now out-o-business.  The store owner blames it on the property owner jacking up the rent.  Reports that a Jack in the Box fast food joint closed in Cathedral City.  In LA, Labcorp-National Genetics Institute laid off 45 employees.  In Rancho Cordova, PennySaver newspaper laid off 43 employees.  In San Jose, Cisco Systems laid off 182 people!  In San Mateo, reports that Mills Health Center will close its 4th floor Senior Health Services operations, 76 people unemployed. In San Diego, the Union Tribune laid off at least ten employees. The newspaper is restructuring.  In Sacramento, the 21 years old 4th Street Bar & Grille closed, the owner blames the bad economy: “…Unfortunately, for me I got the rug pulled out from under me and that is how it goes.”-Ron Fleming

Texas based Highway Technologies finally came out of the job layoff closet.  Company officials finally admitted they are bust and have laid off 740 of their 825 employees, countrywide!  The news was first reported a week ago by Montana news media, but Highway Technologies refused comment.  Montana was hit hard because the road construction company is a major employer in the sparsely populated state.  300 Montanans lost their jobs, with no warning!  Interestingly, Texas news media reported the company notified Texas officials days before the layoffs took place.  Somebodies lying!  In a long winded explanation company officials revealed they had been trying to sell the company off, and basically said their line of operating credit was frozen: “The company had been working to obtain the necessary funding to continue operations and was actively pursuing other alternatives (including sales of assets) to avoid permanently closing its facilities. More specifically, the company anticipated a commitment to finance ongoing operations, as had occurred previously, and attempted to enter into an agreement to sell to a key competitor. Regrettably, the company’s best efforts were unsuccessful. Unforeseeably, financing was denied and the prospective purchaser was not willing to proceed with the sale…..”

In Dallas, Texas, 52 people lost their jobs with Diebold.  It’s part of the corporate realignment.

Chemtura Corp plans as many as 50 layoffs at their Middlebury, Pennsylvania, facility.  In 2007 the chemical company announced they would undergo massive restructuring.

In Michigan, Milan Board of Education will be voting on eliminating at least 12 positions.

In Brownsville, Oregon, the Central Linn Kidco Head Start shut down due to federal funding cuts.

The New Bedford School Department, in Massachusetts, laying off 250 people!  The school had been relying on $11 million USD in federal stimulus money, which expired.  In Lexington, Wild & Woolly yarn store closed after 34 years in business.  The store owner blames it on the property owner jacking up the rent.  In Worcester, Tortilla Sam’s Fresh Mex closed.  After 11 years of operations the owner decided the economy had gotten so bad that it was time to get out of the restaurant business.

In Florida, the Christian God can’t stop the closing of the Saint Mark school.  After 50 years of operations the Catholic school closed due to declining enrollment. And the lease is up on the Cheri Bloom Bridal and Formalwear, and the owner can’t afford to renew it. The sushi restaurant, Bond Street lounge, closed in the Townhouse Hotel, in South Beach. It’s being replaced with a pub.

Georgia based HeritageBank of the South closing its Sylacauga, Alabama, office.  Bank officials said the operating costs of the office were not justified by the revenues coming into the office.

Frank’s Shoe Repair closed down in Illinois.  The owner of the 98 years old store died.

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.

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 24-26 May 2013. California hit hard again! Trucking company lies about massive layoffs!

What automotive industry recovery?  Israel/California based electric car battery maker Better Place now bankrupt.   The problem was that the Israeli owners wanted electric car owners to exchange batteries when they needed to be charged, instead of just plugging them into a power source.

Also in California, massive closures and layoffs!  Ralph’s Grocery closed two stores, 104 people unemployed!  Omnicare in Burbank closed down, 62 people unemployed.  NBTY Acquisition closed in Carson, 256 people laid off!  Green Mountain Coffee in Castroville laid off 74 employees.  LA’s Wally’s Wine & Spirits laid off 63 people.  Affymax in Palo Alto laid off 227 people!  Cascade Logistics closed in Tracy, 36 unemployed.

Trucking company YRC Freight, laid off thousands of people across the country, starting back in March, even after Union members spent the last few years accepting massive pay cuts!  Union workers said they were told the cuts in pay would prevent layoffs, obviously they were lied to!  YRC is shutting down dozens of distribution centers (break bulk) and end of line terminals across the U.S.   In Ohio 541 people losing their jobs!  In Missouri 491 people losing their jobs!  183 people laid off in New Jersey!  In Tennessee, the Memphis terminal will be downsized, 175 people could lose their jobs!  In California, 288 people lost their jobs! Those are just the layoffs that got local news media attention.  A March 2013 report out of Missouri pointed out that the YRC website stated they were laying off only 230 people across the country, another lie!   Another report from 2010, revealed that YRC laid off 21000 people worldwide by March 2010!  YRC Freight is restructuring its network of hubs and terminals.

In New York, network broadcaster NBC laid off an undisclosed number of people as their Rock Center show ended.  Also, Alias restaurant closed in New York City.  The owners decided it was time to quit.  After 30 years Pastime Antiques shut down in Southold.  The owners said the need to retire.

The Christian God can’t stop the closing of the 94 years old Saint Stanislaus Christian school, in Nebraska.  Assumption-Guadalupe and Holy Ghost Christian schools were also shut down in the Cornhusker State.

In Michigan, Calvin College laid off 22 employees.  The college is $115 million in debt!  And the Christian God can’t stop 700 layoffs!  Catholic Ascension Health is laying off 350 people at Saint John Providence hospital, and 350 people at four other operating units and seven hospitals throughout Michigan!  Officials with the largest Catholic health care system in the United States blamed it on declining customers and “lower reimbursement from Medicaid and Medicare” caused by the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act!

Rhode Island’s Lifespan healthcare system laid off 107 employees! They blame a $150 million shortfall on the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act!

The Roseland Hospital in Illinois laid off 68 employees.  Another 47 people will have their workweek reduced by one day.  The hospital is in millions of dollars of debt, and the majority of its customers are low income without insurance, and of course the cuts to Medicaid/Medicare caused by the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act could be the final straw.  Also, Cynthia’s Sweets chocolate shop closed, the owner needed a break.  And the Clipper Ship Gallery closed down, the 70 years old owner blames it on the bad economy.

In Maryland, 50 jobs lost as the Maryland General Hospital shut down its obstetrics and gynecology services. They blame it on declining customers and increasing operating costs.

Despite the oil boom, Trinity Health closed its clinic in Parshall, North Dakota.  It’s blamed on the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act, but it could also have something to do with the fact that Trinity Health is being sold to the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

In Virginia, more than 161 employees have been laid off at Southside Virginia Training Center!  More than 200 employees retired early or quit! The institution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities got into trouble with the U.S. Department of Justice.  A court deal ordered them to pay up $2.4 billion, and they are also being forced to shut down by 2014.  This mean hundreds more employees will be let go, as of May there were 914 people still working at the training center!  But wait, there’s more!  There are three other Virginia Training Centers that will be closed as well!   Not only are thousands of employees affected so are thousands of families who’ve been relying on the centers to help their disabled loved ones.

Too Big to Jail AIG Advisor Group laid off 40 employees.  They’re consolidating their commissions processing functions.

As many as 200 employees were laid off at the Libbey Glass factory in Shreveport, Louisiana!  Production moved to Mexico.

In Delaware, casino owner Dover Downs says they will have to layoff employees if casino taxes aren’t lowered.  Company officials say they will be forced to layoff “hundreds” of employees.

In Utah, No Place Like Home kitchen and home accessory store closed down.  The store owner says the property owner found a new tenant willing to pay more rent!

Gregg Shoes in North Carolina shut down after 30 years in business.  The owner wanted to retire.  And 103 people out-o-work in Gaston County, as Arrow Home Fashions shut down their factory!

The 54 years old Holiday House restaurant closed down in Florida, because of the bad economy: “We didn’t want to do this, but we had no choice…..Right now, we just can’t make it, with such few customers.”-Willa Cook, co-founder & co-owner

In Norwalk, Connecticut, the 29 years old Sassafras boutique out-o-business.  The owner says the main reason is the bad economy: “There has been a general economic malaise overall. I’ve been instituting cost cutting, but it hasn’t been enough.”-John Deorio, owner

Deorio also warned that other local businesses were on the verge of closing: “I told them [other local business owners] that I was closing due to the difficulty in continuing the business, but I was preaching to the choir.”

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.

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 23 May 2013. More massive school & health care cuts!!!

In Utah a British Empire owned mining company, Kennecott, laid off 100 employees!  More layoffs are planned.  It’s blamed on a major landslide at the Bingham Canyon Mine, and the price of copper doesn’t justify the expense of clearing the landslide.

In Saint Louis, Missouri, non-profit Lighthouse for the Blind medical packaging company laid off 24 employees.  85% of its business comes from the federal government, specifically the Department of Defense, and those contracts are being cut.

In Oklahoma, the Christian God can’t stop 210 layoffs at the non-profit health care organization known as Saint John Health System!  Governor Mary Fallin is being blamed for refusing to expand Medicaid coverage, and they also blame the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act cuts to Medicare/Medicaid.

The McCready Memorial Hospital/Alice Byrd Tawes Nursing Home in Delaware, laid off 18 employees, and turned five full time jobs into part time jobs. It’s blamed on declining customers.

In Connecticut, the Christian God can’t stop an undisclosed amount of layoffs at Saint Vincent’s Medical Center!  It’s blamed on the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act!

Want to burn your body fat with a laser?  Too late, the Texas company that sold such a device, Primcogent Solutions, now bankrupt.  Company officials said they were supposed to making money off licensing the use of the fat burning laser, but their investigations showed that the laser was a money losing operation.

Kansas based Cessna Aircraft lays off more employees. One month after offering voluntary buyouts to employees, Cessna officials say they will begin laying off an undisclosed number of employees.  Company officials blame crashing sales on the bad economy.

The Yeager Airport, in West Virginia, could layoff up to four employees, and eliminate three other positions.  It’s blamed on declining customers, and the loss of a route to Florida.

In Michigan, one week after announcing that 70 employees would be let go, Ann Arbor Board of Education gave the axe to 233 teachers!  The school district is short $8.67 million USD!

The Hattiesburg Public School District, in Mississippi, wants to layoff 20 teachers. They’re short $1.8 million!

In Pennsylvania, the state auditor general’s office laid off 67 employees.  The state office is short several million dollars, and they blame it on the governor.  A major east coast convenience store supplier, Cooper-Booth Wholesale, now bankrupt.  Apparently the federal government seized their bank accounts in connection to illegal cigarette smuggling.  In the Germantown section of Philadelphia, the NewCourtland nursing school closed after only three years of operations!  NewCourtland opened the school to provide nurses for its nursing homes operations, but then turned around and sold them off! And 56 employees with the Reading School District could lose their jobs.  The district is short $12 million, and apparently most people didn’t know it: “There’s a train wreck ready to happen, and the school district and the public need to hear it.”-Robert Peters, district CFO

The Elmbrook School District laying off 30 employees in Wisconsin.  It’s blamed on declining student enrollment and reduced government funding.

New York based flash sales website Totsy shutting down(?), after laying off all 83 employees! The company targets eco-freindly moms. Reports say the company burned through investors money as fast as they got it.  It also appears that flash sales websites were just a short lived fad.

In California, 115 years old Clifford’s Jewelry shut down in Chico! The owners wanted to retire, and apparently nobody in the family wanted to continue the business.  Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) closed down in Fountain Valley.  The Sears owned Hardware chain went bankrupt in June. The latest news is that Lowe’s might buy OSH from Sears.

And another Office Depot in Virginia bites the dust!

Another cafe closed in Maine, this time the Coffee Pot Cafe in Lincoln.  The owner blames the bad economy.

In South Carolina, Fred’s retail store closed down in Columbia. It’s the third store to close in the city this year. Since 2008 the company has been shutting down underperforming stores, due to the bad economy.

21 people became unemployed when the 45 years old Bienville Club closed down in Mobile, Alabama.  The owner blamed it on declining customers and increasing rent.  He says the property owner more than doubled the rent!

In Ohio, apparently the privately run children’s social program provider, Children’s Connection, shut down in Mount Vernon. And John Q’s Steakhouse closed in Cleveland. It was originally one of the first Stouffers Restaurants.  The owner wants to retire.

No more Gotham Tavern in Portland, Oregon.

In Hawaii, the Da Kitchen shut down in Honolulu, after only three years in business.  The restaurant owners did not like what the property owners wanted for rent.

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.

Idaho, U.S.

Pocatello, Idaho, Charlotte Fire 2?

29 July 2013 (21:55 UTC-07 Tango 28 July 2013)/21 Ramadan 1434/07 Mordad 1391/22 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711

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International

World War 3, East Asian Front: Korea says final talks for peace, industrial complex to become military base!

28 July 2013 (14:36 UTC-07 Tango)/20 Ramadan 1434/06 Mordad 1391/21 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711

The rhetoric has escalated to a final ultimatum from Republic of Korea (RoK, South Korea), “final talks” over the massive industrial complex known as Kaesŏng (Gaesong) Industrial Region (KIR).

I’ve pointed out that Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s closing of KIR hit the U.S. capitalist puppet RoK right in the nuts, despite western news media and public officials saying it was hurting DPRK.

On 28 July 2013, RoK unification minister in charge of cross-border affairs, Ryoo Kihl-Jae, announced that a final offer for talks to re-open KIR was sent to DPRK.  No details given, but he added that RoK was willing to send five shipments of humanitarian aid to DPRK to get them to re-open KIR.

On 27 July 2013, DPRK held a massive victory day celebration, and what western news media seemed to downplay was the fact that China’s vice president, Li Yuanchao, was standing right by the side of Kim Jong-un.  A clear show of support.  By the way, also present for the celebrations were political and military officials from Mozambique, Tanzania, Namibia, Uganda, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, India, Japan, Cuba, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Iran, Mongolia and Russia.  Even former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark paid a visit during the week!

On 25 July 2013, DPRK negotiators declared KIR talks had collapsed, and threatened to turn the commie run crony capitalist corporations’ work camp into a full fledged military base: “If the fate of Kaesong industrial zone ends like this, the military would reclaim it.”-Pak Chol-Su, DPRK delegate

You need to realize it was DPRK that made sacrifices for the creation of the capitalist KIR.  The area was originally a DPRK military base, and they agreed to remove their military forces and create a massive work camp for the sake of U.S. capitalist puppet corporations from RoK.