Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 07-08 December 2013. More British empire cuts in the U.S.! More housing market cuts! Idaho Hallmark shuts down without notice!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

The Too Big to Jail British empire Royal Bank of Canada laid off 165 people in the United States!  It’s part of their killing of 1129 full time jobs!

Thermoforming, materials handling, green technologies and engineered components maker, PendaForm, shutdown factories in Indiana and Ohio.  At least 79 jobs lost. Both factories had been in operation for more than 60 years. The shutdowns are connected to PendaForm’s take over of Fabri-Form.

California: In Santa Maria, a Safeway owned Vons grocery store shutdown.  In Irvine, Labcorp laid off 70 people.

Florida:  In Crestview, after 21 years Lewis & Co. Jewelers was liquidated.  Saks Fifth Avenue shutdown it’s Florida Mall store, it’s part of the take over by British empire Canadian company Hudson Bay. In Orlando, the Taste Restaurant shutdown without notice: “They just kind of went away suddenly. I notice they didn’t tell a lot of people, even though they had some events going on there.”-Andrea Kudlacz, customer

The former location of Pocatello, Idaho's Hallmark, next door to the Fred Meyer. Employees had 4 days notice, and the place was vacated quickly.

The former location of Pocatello, Idaho’s Hallmark, next door to the Fred Meyer. Employees had 4 days notice, and the place was vacated quickly.

Idaho: In Pocatello, Hallmark Coach House Gifts shutdown with little notice, and no explanation.   Employees were told just four days before the shutdown.  At least 11 jobs lost.  Coach House Gifts is a Iowa based franchise, the shutdown could be part of Hallmark’s ongoing restructuring because of the bad economy.

Illinois: In La Grange, Too Big to Jail PNC Bank shutdown an office.

Kentucky: Big River Electric laid off 165 employees!  It’s blamed on the shutdown of two major customers.

Massachusetts:  Repair work to the Rosaire J. Rajotte Memorial Bridge has killed the successful Laurieann’s Restaurant and Bar: “As soon as they put the barriers up, nobody could get in or out. I had lines out the door when [the restaurant] first opened. As soon as they [construction operations] came in, nobody wanted to deal with the traffic. I lost the older crowd first. Then it was just the bar crowd…..”-Laurieann Kayhart Caterino, owner

Michigan: South Redford School district looking to cut maintenance staff.  In Royal Oak, after 33 years Naked Furniture shutdown.

Oregon: In Portland, Too Big to Jail CapitalOne laid off 66 people.

Texas: What housing market recovery?  In Austin, roofing contractor Ad Willis Company now bankrupt.

Virginia: In Jarratt, paper company Georgia-Pacific laid off 65 employees.

Washington: In Bellingham, Jelita Arts shutdown after ten years.  The owner blames health problems.

06 December 2013: No more deodorant, no more Ben & Jerry’s, no more Lipton? 

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, International

World War 3: China ignores U.S. dollar and accepts New Zealand dollar!

18 March 2014 (12:31 UTC-07 Tango)/16 Jumada l-Ula 1435/27 Esfand 1392/18 Ding-Mao 4712

The People’s Bank of China will now accept the New Zealand Dollar (NZD).

The China Foreign Exchange Trading System says direct trading between the yuan and NZD will start on 19 March 2014.

Vietnam bans the U.S. dollar

Australia, New Zealand give up U.S. Dollar!

Argentina dumps U.S. dollars

Japan & China drop the U.S. dollar

IMF accepts Chinese Yuan against U.S. dollar

BRICS will dump the U.S. dollar

Iran makes first oil sale not based on U.S. dollar

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: The United States is the World’s Gas Station, U.S. government says so! The World needs to sanction U.S. petroleum!

18 March 2014 (22:48 UTC-07 Tango 17 March 2014)/16 Jumada l-Ula 1435/27 Esfand 1392/18 Ding-Mao 4712

Look, United States is a gas station masquerading as a country. It’s kleptocracy! It’s corruption! It’s a nation that’s really only dependent upon oil and gas for their economy, and so economic sanctions are important.

In October 2013 the U.S. Energy Information Administration (USEIA) announced “…the United States will be the world’s top producer of petroleum and natural gas hydrocarbons in 2013, surpassing Russia and Saudi Arabia.”  This means the United States, with a crashing consumer economy and still off shoring jobs to other countries, is totally dependent on oil and gas exports to save it’s sorry economic ass!

The USEIA showed just how much leaders like John McCain are relying on the oil and gas industry to save their sorry political asses: “Since 2008, U.S. petroleum production has increased 7 quadrillion Btu, with dramatic growth in Texas and North Dakota. Natural gas production has increased by 3 quadrillion Btu over the same period, with much of this growth coming from the eastern United States. Russia and Saudi Arabia each increased their combined hydrocarbon output by about 1 quadrillion Btu over the past five years.”

John McCain is either a bold face liar, or woefully stupid when it comes to just who is the World’s Gas Station: “Look, Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country. It’s kleptocracy. It’s corruption. It’s a nation that’s really only dependent upon oil and gas for their economy, and so economic sanctions are important.”-Statement made during appearance on CNN’s State of the Union

So what’s this coming war with Russia really about?  Not “freedom”!  It’s about returning and maintaining the United States in the position of the World’s number one Gas Station.

Business/Economics

More Sears & Kmart closings: Sears Canada bankrupt? Lands End kicked out? Beware Seritage?

18 March 2014 (21:43 UTC-07 Tango 17 March 2014)/16 Jumada l-Ula 1435/27 Esfand 1392/18 Ding-Mao 4712

Another Ohio Sears to close down, in July.  Louisiana joins the Sears shutdown in June.  After 32 years a Springfield, Missouri, Kmart closing in June.

One of three ‘Green-Future’ Kmarts in Illinois shutting down in April.  Sean O’Neil, White Lake Township’s planning director, says the store was allowed to go to pot after the ‘Green’ makeover 11 years ago: “The property was not kept up. It’s deteriorated and tired.”

In New Mexico, a gang of four burglars tried to take $38 to 40-thousand USD in merchandise, after they broke into a Deming Kmart. Local news report said all four burglars were arrested with the merchandise, because police had set up a trap due to past burglaries.  Police were in the process of serving search warrants in an attempt to find merchandise from prior burglaries.

In Pennsylvania, three men have been charged with stealing $2700 worth of jewelry from a Moorestown Kmart.

In Australia, the boss of operations Down Under admitted he was surprised at how bad Kmarts have gotten: “I went around to everyone at the Kmart family and I asked them what they thought was wrong. This was a business with a $4 billion [AUD] turnover and making zero profit!”-Guy Russo, CEO

Australian Kmarts are owned by Wesfarmers, not Sears Holdings.

In Canada, Sears Home Services (SHS) now bankrupt.  In February 2013 Sears Canada sold off their home repair service to a SHS company director by the name of Micheal Clements.   He kept the Sears name (aka SHS Services Management/SHS Services Limited Partnership).  But he soon went bankrupt, and screwed over hundreds of customers.

In British Columbia, Doreen and Frank Porta paid Sears Home Services $11-thousand CAD to put a new roof on their house.  SHS hired a contractor to do the job, but never paid them.  Now the contractor has placed a lean against the Porta home, even though they already paid SHS.  Sear Home Services went bankrupt in December 2013, saying they owe $17 million to nearly 600 companies/contractors!  The new owners of SHS somehow lost $14-million in nine months!  Get this, Michael Clements bought SHS because it was project to make $208 million per year!  What happened?

Sears Canada is not off the hook, they are ordered to back up warranty claims for work done by SHS, and to help customers facing liens against their properties.  Turns out the claim that SHS was going to make $208-million per year came from Sears Canada, so is this a case of Sears Canada ripping off one of their own directors?

The bankruptcy not only affects employees of SHS, but employees of Sears warehouses and Sears stores.  More than 600 Canadians now out-o-work as a result.

Back in the U.S.A., Sears Holdings has decided to spin off Lands End, in April.

A report has revealed that Seritage Real Estate (Seritage Realty Trust) is just another smoke & mirrors operation by Sears Holdings.  In Minnesota, it was revealed that Seritage was selling off three Sears Auto Centers; one in Minnetonka, one in Brooklyn Center, and one near the State Capitol in Saint Paul.

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),  Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart.

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, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost).

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40), Colorado Springs Kmart at Powers and Palmer Park boulevards (57 jobs lost).

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), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart.

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), 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), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 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), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), recently revealed White Lake Township Kmart (42 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),  Mason City Kmart (50 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), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given).

Louisiana: Recently revealed Slidell Sears (77 job 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),  Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 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), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), recently revealed that Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul.

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), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), recently revealed Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

Nebraska: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost).

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

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

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost).

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost),  Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost), Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 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), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 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),  Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost),  Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), recently revealed Northwood Sears.    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), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 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), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 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), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 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), Franklin Kmart (33 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:  Murray Sears (for some reason Mormon control news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they’re reporting that the building has just been demolished), 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, Newport News Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Wincester Kmart (91 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost),  Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 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),  Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 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, Technology, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: 50% increase in old fashioned wood for heating in Northeastern United States, as Obama regime moves to join Mormon dominated Utah and ban wood burning stoves! PM2.5 is bullshit!

17 March 2014 (09:58 UTC-07 Tango)/15 Jumada l-Ula 1435/26 Esfand 1392/17 Ding-Mao 4712

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports “All nine states in the New England and the Middle Atlantic Census divisions saw at least a 50% jump from 2005 to 2012 in the number of households that rely on wood as the main heating source.”

“In total, about 2.5 million households (2.1%) across the country use wood as the main fuel for home heating, up from 1.9 million households (1.7%) in 2005. An additional 9 million households (7.7%) use wood as a secondary heating fuel. This combination of main and secondary heating accounts for about 500 trillion British thermal units (Btu) of wood consumption per year in the residential sector, or about the same as propane consumption and slightly less than fuel oil consumption.”

The USEIA also stated that while low income families use the most wood (to avoid expensive propane, oil or natural gas) it’s actually higher income families who “are more likely to use wood”.

This data comes as the Obama regime, through the EPA, is trying to eventually ban the use of wood for heating altogether.

In December 2013, the state of Utah banned the use of wood burning stoves in five counties.  It’s blamed on a trendy new pollutant called PM2.5.  This trendy new term is the same term that’s been used to describe China’s growing pollution problem, but there PM2.5 is blamed on factories and cars.

PM2.5 is also being blamed for growing levels of pollution all over the world.

Now realize that the United States has imposed strict pollution control measures and devices on cars and factories for several decades (since 1974 for cars in California), yet pollution is still a problem?  From the 1960s through the 1990s we never heard of PM2.5!

In January 2014, the U.S. Environment Protection Agency proposed an eventual ban on wood burning stoves and even charcoal burning BBQs.  Without going into details, starting in 2015 such “devices” must burn 80% cleaner than they do now, and it gets ridiculously stricter over the next five to years, with the net effect of rendering wood burning stoves, heaters and charcoal BBQs illegal!

What the hell is PM2.5?   PM stands for Particulate Matter.  2.5 is a measurement in micrometers, it is not a tangible substance.   It could be 2.5 micrometers of household dust, or 2.5 micrometers of bullshit coming from the mouths of the Trilateral Commission, Bilderberger, left wing environmental NAZI nut jobs who’ve taken over your governments! (and “officially” you voted for most of them)

Studies done in the U.S. and U.K. (and published in the past couple of years) blame 13% of heart attacks on PM2.5!  That’s right, for 13% of heart attack victims air pollution, not fatty foods, caused plaque build up in their arteries!

The UN World Health Organization says PM2.5 “….causes about 3% of mortality from cardiopulmonary disease, about 5% of mortality from cancer of the trachea, bronchus, and lung, and about 1% of mortality from acute respiratory infections in children…”

Pay attention, most of these studies do not identify a specific Particulate Matter, it’s any PM that’s 2.5 micrometers in size!

The idea you can put an end to PM that’s 2.5 micrometers in size is insane.  Go back one thousand years, what did people use to heat their homes and cook food and boil water?  Wood and coal and even dried bones and bovine crap!  The whole of humanity around the world burning wood, coal, bones and crap, and you think air pollution is bad now?!

Here’s an conspiracy: This is all part of the U.S. gas station, I mean  petroleum (oil, gas) industry’s evil plot to force you to buy their expensive products.

“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: U.S. job losses & store closings 06 December 2013. No more deodorant, no more Ben & Jerry’s, no more Lipton? British empire kills U.S. jobs!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

The British empire owner of Lipton Tea, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and many body care products, Unilever, has announced that the economy sucks so bad they’re going to layoff 2-thousand employees in 2014!  They are also drastically cutting back on production.  Company officials blame the economy and themselves: “The global economy has calibrated down about 1-1.5% and we probably should’ve done a better job seeing it coming!”-Paul Polman, CEO

Alabama: The Alabama Pain Center laid off 80 employees.

California: In Los Angeles, the House of Props shutdown after 65 years in the movie business. Investor’s Business Daily laid off another six employees.  In Temecula, The Outdoor Channel laid off five employees.

Indiana:  Too Big to Jail First Merchants Bank laid off at least 84 employees state wide.

Maine: Taxsucker Bath Iron Works laid off another 118 employees.  It’s blamed on reduced military spending.  They laid off 39 employees in November.

Minnesota: State University Moorhead laid off six people, and cut five majors.  More layoffs are expected.  It’s blamed on decreasing revenues.

Montana:  After nearly 50 years O-Toole’s Bar shutdown: “The economy just doesn’t support the bar anymore.”-Rose Wiseman, owner

New York:  NYC based legal drugs pusher, Pfizer, laid off 150 people in Ireland.  The company will shutdown their Irish factory in 2015.

North Carolina: Xerox continues layoffs, this time 168 call center jobs killed in Cary!  In Blakeney, Encore Bistro shutdown, no reason given.

Pennsylvania: In Lehigh County, Avantor laid off “fewer than 20 employees”.  It’s blamed on the bad economy.  In Pittsburgh,  Doug’s Market shutdown.

South Carolina:   In Columbia, Taboo Adult Superstore finally shutdown after losing its business license.

Texas: In Spring, British empire owned (Cadbury Schweppes) Dr Pepper Snapple bottling plant shutdown, 112 jobs lost!

Virginia: In Winchester, TV3 shutdown.  Employees said they were given no warning.  The owner, Gray Television, basically said it wasn’t worth it anymore.

West Virginia:  80 employees of Consol Energy were let go.  The company sold off five of its coal mines.

05 December 2013: Walgreens kills 175 jobs!

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, International

World War 3, Southeast Asian Front: Vietnam bans the U.S. dollar in order to stop money laundering!

16 March 2014 (07:35 UTC-07 Tango)/14 Jumada l-Ula 1435/25 Esfand 1392/16 Ding-Mao 4712

State Bank of Vietnam Circular No 05/2014/TT-NHNN goes into effect in April 2014, it says that all Foreign Indirect Investments (FII) into Vietnam must be made in Vietnamese  Dong, not U.S. dollars (or any other currency).

FII is when somebody from outside your country invests in ‘properties on paper’ in your country, without actually buying land/buildings.  Those properties could be held as securities, funds or private equity.  Vietnam also considers investments into businesses without owning or controlling them as FII.

The new law is specifically for investors living outside Vietnam.  The FII will also be non-transferable to foreign credit institutions or foreign banks.  This is an attempt to stop money laundering (as well as keep most of those FII in-country).

Business/Economics

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 05 December 2013. Walgreens kills 175 jobs! More ObamaCare job cuts! Canada kills U.S. jobs!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Who said the internet is stealing all the business? AOL laid off 20 employees.  America OnLine’s official policy is not to explain why they fire people.

McGraw-Hill Education laid off 60 employees in four locations across the U.S.  Company officials said they need to become more efficient.

Alaska: In Chugiak, 30 years old Rural Discount Center shutdown.  The owners blame it on policy changes by their suppliers.

California: The Corona Regional Medical Center laid off 40 nurses. Hospital officials said the layoffs were necessary in order to adapt to Obama Care imposed reimbursement cuts.  In San Diego, Peregrine Semiconductor laid off 20 employees.

Florida: In Largo, Rocky’s Diner shutdown without notice.  The owner blamed it on a worsening health problem.  In Lakeland, 20 years old Lakeland Sports Cards shutdown.

Illinois: In Lake Zurich, MC Sports shutdown after losing its lease.

Kentucky:  In Louisville fresh food seller, Grasshoppers Distribution, shutdown due to “lack of financial sustainability”.

Maine: Restaurant company Tim Hortons shutdown five operations in the Pine Tree State.  It’s blamed on the bad economy.

Maryland: In Aberdeen, Saks Fifth Avenue laid off another 191 people at its distribution center!  Saks laid off 200 people back in May 2012.  Saks was taken over by Canadian company Hudson Bay.

Massachusetts:  Medical instruments maker, Harvard Bioscience, warned of massive layoffs.  It’s part of the company’s plan to offshore U.S. jobs to China.

New Mexico: In Farmington, 20 years old Golf USA shutdown.

New York: Medical device maker, AngioDynamics, laying off 100 people over the next three years.  They are consolidating operations in response to Obama Care taxes on medical devices.  In West Islip, a King Kullen grocery store shutdown.  In Maspeth, Walgreens pharmacy laid off 175 Duane Reade employees!  Another 45 employees will be let go in 2014. Walgreens took over Duane Reade.

Ohio: In Heath, arts and crafts store Michaels shutdown.

Pennsylvania: In Cumberland, 40 years old Coakley’s Restaurant & Irish Pub now bankrupt.  Company officials say they need to reorganize.

Wisconsin:  In Milwaukee, Diversified Machine shutdown, 218 job lost!  It’s blamed on a merger.

04 December 2013: 2-thousand teachers will be laid off, in one state! 

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

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 04 December 2013. 2-thousand teachers will be laid off, in one state! YMCA turns to the Devil? More health care cuts!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

What housing market recovery?  Too big to Jail Ocwen Financial, laid off more than 800 employees across the U.S.!  It’s blamed on their take over of GMAC Mortgage.

California:  Hewlett Packard announced they will kill 1124 jobs in European Union!  It’s part of the Californian company’s plan to kill 29-thousand jobs around the world by October 2014!

Connecticut: In Orange, a Stop & Shop shutdown, 123 jobs affected!

Delaware: In Greenwood, long time Yoder’s Country Store shutdown.  The family owners blame it on Walmart and dollar stores.

Florida: White Springs Agriculture Chemicals shutdown.  350 jobs lost! Company officials say the phosphate industry is becoming more competitive.

Kentucky:  In Lexington, Kentucky Proud Market shutdown.  The store manager said it was not for economic reasons, but she was not allowed to disclose the reason. The state Board of Education warned of massive layoffs throughout the taxpayer funded public school system.  2-thousand educators and staff could be laid off by spring 2014: “With sequestration, district bailout of the Kentucky School Board Insurance Trust, and budget cuts, we are headed for the ‘perfect storm’. By next March or April, we predict 10-12 districts will fail to meet their basic financial commitment and we will see pink slips like we’ve never seen before.“-Terry Holliday, Commissioner.    Compare that to 1800 who lost their jobs over the past three years.

Maryland:  MedStar laid off 74 hospital workers.

Michigan: In Dexter, ReCellular shutdown their distribution facility.  120 jobs lost!  It’s blamed on the loss of a major contract.

New Jersey:  Optimer Pharmaceuticals killed 177 jobs!  The company was sold to a competitor.

New York: Computer chip maker, GlobalFoundries, laid off 30 people as part of its plan to be more competitive.  In Forrest Hills, Perfume Globe shutdown.

Pennsylvania: In Philadelphia, Atlantic Express school bus service laid off 518 employees!  The company is bankrupt.

Ohio: Three Friendly’s restaurants shutdown.  Company officials said they were “underperforming”.

Texas: In Longview, Joy Global announced more layoffs, but refused to give numbers.  The company says demand for its products continues to crash.  This is the third round of layoffs in 2013.

Wisconsin: In Dane County, the Christian god couldn’t stop his YMCA from laying off 13 employees. The YMCA turned to the Devil, unAmerican Corporate America, and conducted a typical Wall Street survey that said even though they had not lost members, they weren’t gaining any either, so cuts had to be made.  The YMCA made drastic changes to its youth programs, as well.  Member Lisa Pierobon Mays, says the YMCA has lost its way: “It’s a real bait-and-switch they’ve done. Shows how out of touch they are.”

01-03 December 2013:  Property tax increase can’t stop city layoffs! 

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.

More Economic Decline: Ashley Furniture shuts down liquidation center in Pocatello! So much for their “investment”!

12 March 2014 (15:54 UTC-07 Tango)/10 Jumada l-Ula 1435/21 Esfand 1392/12 Ding-Mao 4712

A local southeast Idaho TV station reported that Coldwell Banker realtor, Don Zebe, claims Ashley Furniture is simply selling off an “investment”, and has no plans to leave Pocatello, Idaho.   Yet he is the agent selling off both their Pocatello properties!

Ashley Furniture dumping their Oak Street "investment". Sales got so bad they started selling used cars in 2013!

Ashley Furniture Liquidation dumping their Oak Street “investment”. Sales got so bad they started selling used cars in 2013!

Ashley Furniture's Hurley Drive "investment", now up for sale. It sits on property that used to be residential, until the city forced the home owners out, so they could bring in the California based furniture seller.

Ashley Furniture HomeStore’s Hurley Drive “investment”, now up for sale. It sits on property that used to be residential, until the city forced the home owners out, so they could bring in the “independently” owned furniture store.

Zebe has the Ashley Furniture HomeStore listed for sale at $3.2-million USD, and the Ashley Furniture Liquidation store listed at $647,600.

Ashley Furniture recently announced they had more than $3-billion in furniture sales in 2013.  They also opened their 500th store, in Texas.  They claim they’re going to open 50 new stores across the U.S. in 2014.

But wait, it turns out that Ashley Furniture HomeStore, and Ashley Furniture Liquidation stores are independently owned.   These so called independently owned stores sell furniture made by Ashley Furniture Industries.

So, are the independent owners of Pocatello’s Ashley Furniture HomeStore and Liquidation stores just cashing in on their “investments”, or is there a plan in the works for new locations in Pocatello, or maybe Chubbuck?