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, Idaho, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Health food nuts victorious! Hostess Twinkies have bitten the dust! 18,500 U.S. workers laid off! Incompetent unAmerican Corporate America to blame! Twinkie the Kid to be replaced with Pancho Villa?

“…Hostess Brands, Inc. has been forced by a Bakers Union strike to shut down all operations and sell all company assets.”-Gregory F. Rayburn, CEO Hostess

18 November 2012, the iconic maker of U.S. snack foods, Hostess, is no more!  It’s being shut down and sold off by the corporate executives who ran it into the ground!

No more Wonder Bread, Twinkies or Ding Dongs for Pocatello, Idaho!

Oh, but many anti-labor commentators are blaming the unionized employees. Bull shit, Hostess can’t survive a strike?

No more Eddy's Bakery in Chubbuck, Idaho!

A Forbes article points out that it’s the corporate management that ran Hostess into the ground, not the unionized employees.  This happened because the corporate leaders tried to make up for dropping profit margins by running the company on debt financing.

Also, after the 2004 Interstate Bakeries bankruptcy (which the company emerged from in 2009, renamed officially as Hostess) the highly educated company leaders made no attempts to change how Hostess did business: “The obvious problem is leadership kept trying to sell the same products, using roughly the same business model, long, long, long after the products had become irrelevant.”-Adam Hartung, Forbes

Sales were constant, but only because Hostess execs kept prices artificially low, which lead to loss of profits.  This was because U.S. consumers are not willing to pay more for junk food.

By 2011 the bad economy finally affected Hostess sales; according to Mintel in the past year Twinkie sales dipped 0.8%, Ding Dongs fell 8.7%, Ho Ho’s down 6.3%.

Back during the first bankruptcy the unions made $110 million USD worth of concessions.  In May and October 2012, a bankruptcy judge gave Hostess the authority to impose more concessions by cutting pay and benefits, that’s what lead to the worker strikes.   Hostess was enacting more concessions without input from employees!

The Teamsters Union blamed the need for concessions on incompetent corporate officials: “Unfortunately, the company’s operating and financial problems were so severe that it required steep concessions from a variety of stakeholders but not all stakeholders were willing to be constructive.”-Ken Hall, Teamsters General-Secretary

According to a CNN report, the average Hostess worker made $20 per hour (and many Hostess factories are located in areas where $20 per hour is barely a living wage).  This is starting to look like just another step in unAmerican Corporate America’s plans to drastically reduce the cost of labor across the country, as part of the long term plan to return the United States to top export status.  The problem is that the cost of living is still too high, even for many making $20 per hour.  The elitists will make huge profits off their export sales, while the domestic economy will continue to fall (more Sears & Kmart closings to say the least) because more and more workers in the U.S. can’t make enough money even for basic necessities.

Don’t worry, your favorite Hostess junk food might survive, as the rights to those brands are being sold off.  But will you be able to afford them?

The most recent Christian Science Monitor report says that Mexican snack food giant (and world’s largest bread maker), Bimbo, is considering buying the rights to most of the Hostess brands.  Bimbo took over Sara Lee, Entenmann’s and Thomas English Muffins in 2010 (did you hear about that one? Start calling them Mexican Muffins).  They also tried to take over Hostess a few years ago.  If Bimbo does buy the Hostess brands analysts say most of the jobs will be in Mexico.

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Another update to the growing list of Sears/Kmart closings! North Carolina hit again! Mass closings planned for Kmart!

“Kmart, the discounting pioneer owned by Sears Holdings (SHLD), is in the throes of a mass shutdown of stores.”-Bloomberg

18 November 2012, just two days after I posted that a North Carolina Kmart was closing, another North Carolina Kmart store quietly made the closing list.

Here’s the updated closing list:

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).

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

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost).

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).

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 to be closed by 03 February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart.

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line.

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

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

North Carolina: High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), recently revealed West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost) “…we made a business decision to not renew the lease at this location based on its performance.”-Chris Brathwaite, Sears Holdings

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

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

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned).

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) .

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears.

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (approximately 50 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center

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

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

Idaho, U.S.

U.S. West Nile Virus update, 17 November 2012: Cases still climbing, but slowing down. Reports of new mutated version? Will Survivor actress survive West Nile?

“As of November 14, 2012, 48 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 5,128 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 229 deaths, have been reported to CDC.”-U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

A doctor in Mississippi, Art Leis, reports that the recent cases of West Nile show the virus is attacking the communications areas of the brain, something never seen before. Another doctor in Michigan, Elizabeth Angus, is reporting brain damage in young victims, also never seen before.  Officials with the CDC are not concerned that there is a new stain of West Nile, because they say what is happening is that many of this year’s cases are more severe than in past years.

The CDC’s official death count from 14 November just had several more added on.

On 16 November, New Jersey reported five more human deaths. There are at least 45 cases in the hurricane ravaged state.

By 10 November, Louisiana reported 12 new cases, with two people dying.  At least 356 cases, 15 people have died.

Texas reporting at least 260 new cases since 01 October. On 13 November it was reported that two people died in Travis County.  At least 1,754 human cases, with 81 deaths.  Central Wyoming College determined that as many as 80% of Fremont County mosquitoes could be carrying with the virus.  A former teen TV star, Lisa Whelchel, who recently finished an episode of Survivor, revealed that she is sick with West Nile. It’s not known when she caught the virus, the Survivor episode took place in the Philippines, but Whelchel lives in the U.S. West Nile epicenter of Texas.  Officials say the colder weather might not stop the mosquitoes: “Culex mosquitoes show decreased activity with temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees, but they will continue to breed. It will take days of freezing temperatures to kill them and stop breeding.”-Russell Hopkins, Northeast Texas Public Health District

As of 16 November, California reports 417 human cases (up by 22 since 07 November), 16 people have died (which is unchanged since 07 November).  1,632 dead birds have tested positive, as have 2,839 mosquito group samples. 22 horses have the virus. 532 sentinel chickens are sick, and 22 squirrels.

On 13 November it was reported that Alachua County Health Department, in Florida, was investigating three cases. They are the first cases for that county, and were detected when the people were screened for blood donation.  On 16 November, Walton County and Holmes County were put on West Nile alert after three people became sick. There are at least 64 cases, with two deaths.  Birds and horses are also being reported infected with West Nile.

The number of cases are increasing in Alabama.  Since 08 November several new cases bring the total to 43.

Mississippi reporting six new cases. So far 242 cases, with five deaths.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Idaho is up to 17 human cases.

At this point, Alaska and Hawaii are the only U.S. states not reporting West Nile virus cases.

 

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Updated list of more Kmart and Sears closings! Huge losses for Sears Holdings! North Carolina to lose another 53 jobs!

16 November 2012, Sears Holdings reported a 23rd consecutive quarterly drop in sales, for its third reporting quarter this year.

A $498 million USD net loss (at the same time last year it was a $421 million loss)!  The loss is mostly blamed on a sales drop of 5.8% (but don’t forget that Sears reduced its inventory by almost $1 billion, leaving less for consumers to buy).  Analysts do not think Sears Holdings will survive: “Sears is in a very weak operating condition and is not well positioned to recover.”– Matt McGinley, International Strategy & Investment Group

Here’s the updated closing list, with the newest victim in North Carolina:

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).

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

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost).

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).

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 to be closed by 03 February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart.

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line.

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

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

North Carolina: High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), recently revealed Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost).

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

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

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned).

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) .

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears.

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (approximately 50 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center

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

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

Business/Economics, International

How the Rich get Richer: Filthy rich Queen of England pays maid minimum wage!

“Workers who clean the royal houses for millions of visitors to enjoy will not tolerate poverty pay.”-Mark Serwotka, Public and Commercial Services union

Apparently unaware of the economic conditions for the average Brit, the Queen of England recently advertised for a maid on her website.  The Queen, who gets a huge amount of her wealth from taxes paid by the common folk, offered only 30 hours per week at minimum wage (about $10.50 USD in Merry Olde England)!

The recommended living wage in the city of London is about $13.50 USD per hour.

“This looks really bad. Since the Queen receives considerable support from the public purse she should pay a living wage, not just barely a minimum wage. She’s setting a bad example to other employers. Windsor is in one of the 12 most affluent boroughs in the country, so you would anticipate the cost of living would be that much higher. I would hate to see a return to the Victorian days where a privileged elite preside over the unwashed masses and just pay the bare minimum.”-Grahame Morris, Labour Member of Parliament for Easington, County Durham

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Sears & Kmart news: Losses for Canada! Lawsuits against Kenmore! Millions of shiny sh*t for Kmart shoppers?

14 November 2012, Sears Holdings reports it has completed it’s sell off of about 44% of its stocks in Sears Canada.  According to reports Sears Holdings issued the shares of Sears Canada only to those investors who were Sears Holdings stock holders.  Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates still controls 51% of Sears Canada.

This comes as Sears Canada reports a loss for the most recent quarter, $21.9 million!  Same store sales dropped 5.7% compared to the same time last year (and last year was down as well). CEO, Calvin McDonald, took it as good news, kinda: “Although we made progress in the quarter, we can and must do more. Our plan is working, however our pace of execution has not met our expectations.”

The U.S. Court of Appeals now says Sears can face class action lawsuit over its Kenmore/Whirlpool washing machines.  People are complaining that the front loading environmentally friendly washing machines do not clean themselves properly, leading to mold build up and stinky clothing (say, I was tricked into getting one of those things, and they’re right [you do have to run a bleach wash every month and leave the door open after every load]!  Not only that but the darn thing doesn’t even hold 3/4s the amount of clothes my old cheap top loader could hold).  Legal complaints have already been filed in California, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota and Texas.

The Los Angeles Times challenged the cast of Million Dollar Decorators to find items at Kmart that would satisfy their decorator tastes.  Of course they went for items with celebrity names on them.  Anyone who’s shopped at Kmart, or even Walmart, and bought anything endorsed by a celebrity should know it’s still a piece-o-crap!  Most everything sold at the ‘discount’ retailers have been dumbed down at the factory in order to meet the lower profit margin of those stores.  Even Mary McDonald admitted you can’t make shit shine (actually the cast of Myth Busters discovered a way to make shit shine): “If you try to make something fancy inexpensively, it often looks cheap.”

 

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Updated list of more Kmart and Sears closings! West Virginia & Oklahoma! More than a hundred people added to the unemployment lists!

13 November 2012, more closings announced. A Kmart in West Virginia and a Sears in Oklahoma.

One of the stores is owned by General Growth properties (GGP). GGP officials say they are still deciding what to do with their other Sears stores.

Here’s the updated list:

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).

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

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost).

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).

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 to be closed by 03 February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart.

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line.

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

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

North Carolina: High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost).

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

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

Oklahoma: Recently revealed Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned).

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) .

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears.

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (approximately 50 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center

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

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 09 – 12 November 2012. Sudden increase in sexual crimes, cops rape boy! Increase in violence against women! Children working on farm fields considered terrorists! More Green on Blue attacks! Sweden decides to extend military mission. Karzai blasts U.S. dominated Security Council!

12 November 2012

In Helmand Province, Mujahideen blew up a bulldozer with an 82mm recoilless gun.  It happened at a U.S./NATO outpost in Charkhakyano Manda area of Sangin district.

ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”

In Paktia Province, Mujahideen claim U.S./NATO forces abandoned one of their largest bases, in the Zazi Aryub district.  Some reports say the base was destroyed.

Several days of witnesses testifying at the trial of U.S. Army sergeant Robert Bales, said there was no way he did the murders by himself.  A woman testified that while one U.S. soldier entered their house and killed her husband, another U.S. soldier blocked the doorway. Local police say it was too much work for one man: “One person cannot do this work. One person doesn’t have the courage to go from one village to another in the night.”-Afghan cop who investigated the morning after the murders.

India and Afghanistan have signed four economic agreements worth $2 billion.

In Herat Province, police arrested three fellow cops on suspicion that they sexually assaulted and then killed their neighbor’s 13 years old son.  Afghan officials have noted that there has been a sudden increase in sexual crimes, in the past few months.

In Logar Province, a U.S./NATO drone strike killed three teenagers.  They were working in farm fields.  U.S./NATO officials say they were Mujahideen planting landmines.

In Farah Province, Mujahideen attacked a U.S./NATO fuel supply convoy.  They claim to have destroyed 11 fuelers and two buses.  Witnesses say they saw two drivers burn to death.  Mujahideen claim they killed at least 15 drivers and security guards.

11 November 2012

In Helmand Province, an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier killed a U.S./NATO soldier.  Local officials say it was caused by an argument, and it was a British Red Coat that got killed.  ISAF said only: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died when an individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform turned his weapon against ISAF service members in southern Afghanistan today.”

In Kandahar Province, a bomb was planted in a cart.  It exploded, but there are no reports of casualties.  Also, a bus ran over a landmine, killing eight people.

In Khost Province, officials reported a large explosion in Sabari district, no one was hurt. Also, a family of at least five were killed when they drove over a landmine. They were returning from the hospital were the woman just gave birth.

In Daykundi Province, Mujahideen claim they captured food supplies from local police. They say they captured 30 bags of flour, 20 parcels of rice, 13 cartons of cooking oil, six parcels of sugar, two parcels of beans and 20 kilos of tea.

10 November 2012

In Kandahar Province,  Mujahideen claim to have killed five U.S./NATO troops, with a remote detonated bomb.  It’s the same area where U.S. soldiers massacred people in two villages.  The U.S. claims only one soldier carried out the killings; Robert Bales.  Also, a local cop joined the Mujahideen.

In Badghis Province, reports are confusing, but one or two ANA soldiers shot at Spanish/NATO troops. Some reports say none of the Spanish provincial reconstruction team members were hit, other reports say one was wounded. Also, some reports say a ANA soldier was killed, while other reports say two ANA soldiers were arrested. A 12 years old boy was also wounded.  Mujahideen claim that one Spanish soldier was killed and three wounded.

In Khost Province, a woman was killed, and 10 people wounded when a bicycle bomb went off.

In Kunar Province, a U.S./NATO airstrike wounded three children. Local officials say the U.S. bombed anti-U.S. demonstrators.   U.S./NATO/ISAF officials considered the demonstration a gathering of Mujahideen, even though it included children.

09 November 2012

ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan today.”

In Herat Province, a woman and her baby were killed by the father.  Police say it happened after the husband and wife got into an argument.  Investigators say at least 30 woman have been killed in Herat, under similar circumstances, in the past eight months.

In Balkh Province, a 22 years old man was arrested for raping a five years old girl.  The rape allegedly took place the night before at a wedding party.  The child was sent to the hospital.

Sweden announced it will begin withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2013.  This is actually an extension, as Sweden was to begin pulling out by the summer of 2013.

India signs deal to train 600 Afghan army officers per year.  India, along with China, has agreed to help support the Afghan National Army after the U.S./NATO withdrawal in 2014.

President Hamid Karzai demanded an end to the U.S. dominated UN Security Council: “Coming to the global democratic governance, I think there is no disagreement here, that it isn’t just nor is it very democratic, the Security Council does not represent all of us, the five permanent members having the right of veto is not democratic and the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly is not democratic…”

 

 

 

International, U.S.

Character does matter! So called Christian USMC General John Allen connected to David Patreaus affair? Is the Obama administration simply cleaning house?

13 November 2012, now U.S. Marines Corps General John Allen is being investigated for “inappropriate communications” with females who’re connected to the David Patreaus affair.

I posted how the Patreaus affair might just be an excuse for the former Army General to stop working for President Barack Obama, after all some U.S. media sources said they didn’t really see eye to eye.

Is it the case that USMC General John Allen also has a problem working for Obama? This new twist in the Patreaus investigation was announced by Defense Secretary and Obama lackey Leon Panetta.  The order to investigated Allen came directly from Panetta.

Allen was supposedly going to be promoted to top commander of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The Patreaus/Allen connection involves an female “unpaid social liaison” at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida (makes you wonder what really goes on at the top of Central Command).  An unbelievable 30,000 pages worth of emails and other documents of communications with the unpaid non-government social liaison are being reviewed!  Why would anyone need to have that much documented communications with an non-governmental  “unpaid social liaison”?

An unnamed Obama official told the U.S. media this morning that Allen could face prosecution under the U.S. Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

Panetta refused to answer questions about Allen’s current service in Afghanistan.

Perhaps there is something to be concerned about, but such shenanigans by higher ups in the military are not unusual.  Is is just coincidence that suddenly, after a President gets re-elected, two top military officials, who are known not to agree with the President, are on their way out?

 

International

Christian & Government Evil: Queen of England’s empire rife with child abuse at the hands of church & government officials, Australia admits guilt, hidden investigations reveal tip of iceberg!

“I can testify from my own experience that the church covers up, silences victims, hinders police investigations, alerts offenders, destroys evidence and moves priests to protect the good name of the church.”-Peter Fox, New South Wales Detective Chief Inspector

“I would say please get the Jillings report published because it shows… rape, bestiality, violent assaults and torture, and the effects on those young boys at that time cannot be under-estimated.”-Ann Clwyd, read mysterious Jillings Report

12 November 2012, a total of three British Broadcasting Corporaton (BBC) executives have now resigned over a documentary that falsely accused a politician of child sex abuse.

The problem is that such crimes are rife within the British empire.  Today the Australian Prime minister, Julia Gillard, caved to demands from the general public and said a Royal Commission investigation into child abuse, taking place in schools and churches, will be undertaken.

This came after a top police official in New South Wales made demands in a publicized letter to the government. Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox wrote his letter after 35 years of investigating crimes against children.

However, the Australian government’s investigation will apparently focus only on the Catholic Church.  The current pope has already apologized, and the Aussie state of Victoria confirmed at least 600 cases of abuse at the hands of Catholic officials, since 1936.  The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference publicly supports the investigation, but pointed out that the problem of child sexual abuse is not confined just to the Catholic church.

Opposition party politicians are asking that the Royal investigation be expanded to other churches, schools and even non-governmental agencies.

Back to the British Isles.  The BBC report concerned long term child abuse crimes in Wales.  Crimes that had been investigated then covered up by the local county government.

In this particular case, the abuse took place throughout the 1970s-80s.  In 1991 seven workers at child care homes were convicted, however, another investigation was launched because the abuse claims continued.

In 1994 John Jillings was hired by the county to lead the investigation.  He says the Clwyd County Council refused to make public his investigation (aka The Jillings Report), on the advise of attorneys who said the county would be sued.

Then, in 2000, High Court judge Sir Ronald Waterhouse published his investigation, which has been criticized as not showing the full scale of the child abuse scandal.

This led to the recent BBC report, which somehow got the public blaming an unnamed politician (unnamed in the BBC report) who supposedly is not connected to the crimes.  The whole thing is actually diverting from the real problem of how rampant child abuse, at the hands of British government and church officials, really is in Merry Olde England (of course I mean the whole of the British empire).

Here’s what Colin Everett, of the Flintshire County Council, said about the mysterious Jillings report: “We have now established that several copies of the report are in existence in local authority archives.  The report and any supporting documents held in archive are being made available to North Wales Police and the National Crime Agency (NCA). The Jillings report was disclosed to the subsequent Waterhouse inquiry and we would expect the NCA to have access to it through recovery of the papers from the inquiry, held in archive by government departments. North Wales local authorities are taking collective and independent legal advice on whether the report can or should be disclosed under the Freedom of Information legislation, whether in full or in part. The National Crime Agency is being consulted, as any public disclosure cannot compromise or prejudice the new investigation.”

(and don’t forget about the abuse of European orphans and Native Americans at the hands of Canadian officials throughout the 20th century.)