Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3, East Asian Front: Don’t blame China, blame the ones who spend the most money on War Mongering! Blame those who control FDI into the U.S.A.!

08 January 2014 (03:50 UTC-07 Tango)/06 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/18 Dey 1392/08 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

There’s a coming war between Trilateral Commission members within the Pacific Asian Group, and with the North American Group and European Group, but if you go by military spending you can’t blame it on China.  Blame it on the United States (and the British empire)!

China announced that they spent only $106-billion USD on their military in 2013.  Independent sources say it was $166-billion.

U.S. puppet Japan spent $59.3-billion, but the neo-imperialist government of Japan has ordered an increase in military spending. Japan’s new ‘pro-active pacificst’ military spending plan will see an increase of at least $230-billion USD over the next five years. War monger leaders point to disputes over islands and control of resource rich areas (such as the South China Sea) as reasons for increasing military spending.

Another U.S. puppet, the Republic of Korea (aka South Korea) spent about $37-billion USD in 2013.  South Korea is a small country and they spent at least $5-billion more than the much larger country of Australia, which has been taking part in the illegal occupation of Afghanistan.

Bilderberg British empire country of Australia (Pacific Asian Group) supposedly spent $26.2-billion.

Bilderberg British empire country Canada (North American Group) spent $22.5-billion.

Bilderberg British empire country (and Trilateral Commission member within the European Group, aka European Union) United Kingdom spent $60.8-billion.

Bilderberg Germany (European Union) spent $45.8-billion.

Bilderberg France (European Union) spent $58.9-billion.

Bilderberg Italy (European Union) spent $34-billion.

The Bilderberg United States (North American Group) spent at least $682-billion (at least that’s what was actually made public)!  The top spender on war mongering in the World!

The U.S. Department of Defense’s FY2013 Defense Budget report stated, back in February 2012, that the fiscal year 2013 spending plan had a “Base Budget” of $525.4-billion.  “Base Budget” is code for the bare minimum that was going to be spent. By the way, the DoD’s FY2013 report states that the report itself cost taxpayers $34-thousand to compile and publish!

Also realize that it is not China who is the biggest foreign direct investor (FDI) in the United States.  According to the Organization for International Investment’s (OII) 2012 data it is the British empire’s United Kingdom (wake up Patriots!).

China doesn’t even come in second place.  That position goes to neo-imperialist Japan (Pacific Asian Group leader)!

The British empire country of Canada takes 4th place for FDI into the U.S. (again, wake up Patriots!).   3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th places got to other members of the European Union (remember, the EU is the European branch of the Trilateral Commission)!  Notice China is not anywhere in the top nine list of countries who control the United States through FDI!

The OII says 83% of FDI into the U.S. is controlled by those top nine countries!  Those top nine countries are not only members of the Trilateral Commission, but are directly or indirectly connected to the British empire, or Bilderberg society (wake up Patriots!).  The remaining 27% of FDI into the U.S. comes from 150 other countries!

Stop blaming China!

Now realize that the military spending of North American Group and European Union, along with the U.S. puppets of Japan and South Korea (in the Pacific Asian Group) is $900-billion more than what China spends, then you should realize that China is outnumbered and outspent when it comes to military power.

And it should be blindingly obvious that the other members of the Trilateral Commission (actually led by the British empire) is ganging up on China, in order to seize control of what could be the Earth’s last great petroleum resources located in the South China Sea (remember the Vietnam War?).

Stop blaming China!

By the way, even the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, aka North Korea, is a member of the Pacific Asian Group.   And if you find it hard to believe members of the same international ‘club’ would go to war with each other, killing off millions of their citizens, then you need to go back to school and study the political socio/economic climate of the ‘western’ world, and its spider web of crony capitalist business/banking intrigues, prior to the First and Second World Wars!

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3, South East Asian Front: U.S., South Korea & China behind bloody crack down on protesting slave wage workers in Cambodia! All in the name of Old Navy & Walmart!

08 January 2014 (00:58 UTC-07 Tango)/06 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/18 Dey 1392/08 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

Most people in the United States are unaware that for weeks slave wage workers in Cambodia have been demonstrating for better pay, some reports say the average garment factory worker makes $40 USD per month.

Recently Cambodian government minions cracked down violently on the demonstrators, using Chinese made weapons and killing at least five people, wounding dozens.

A GlobalPost report shows pics of Cambodian soldiers wearing uniforms with South Korean flags on them!

Now, amazingly, the South Korean government admitted publicly that the crackdown was actually ordered by them!  Specifically it was ordered by Republic of Korea/United States clothing corporations, such as Yakjin, who says it supplies cheap clothing to Gap, Old Navy, American Eagle and Walmart.

“As a practical measure, military forces and police have been cooperating closely with us to protect Korean companies since we visited the capital defense command headquarters with Korean businessmen to tell them about the situation, and as a result, to prevent any arson attempt or looting, military forces are directly guarding only Korean companies among many factories in the Canadia complex.”-Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Kingdom of Cambodia

United States, China and South Korea are members of the Trilateral Commission (China and South Korea belong to the Pacific Asian Group branch, U.S. belongs to the North American Group).  “Membership in The Trilateral Commission is by invitation only.”-Trilateral Commission statement

(I tried accessing the South Korean embassy in Cambodia website but all I got was a blank page,  the GlobalPost report has a screenshot of the embassy statement in Cambodian)

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 28-30 September 2013. ObamaCare hits tech companies! Diesel truck servicer shuts down! Credit lines kill family businesses!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Reports that AT&T eliminating jobs in its AdWorks operations.

German mega-company Siemens announced 15-thousand global job cuts, including hundreds in the United States!  Company officials are hoping most of the job cuts will come from attrition and employees ‘voluntarily’ quitting! The engineering/tech company is trying to cut $8-billion USD in operating costs.

German owned Sylvania Lighting Services laying off 900 employees in the United States!  It’s not clear if this is on top of the 8-thousand job cuts announced back in July 2013!  The company is “streamlining” ops in the U.S. and Canada.

California: Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market grocery store chain now bankrupt. Company officials said the bankruptcy was necessary for its sale to Tesco.  In San Rafael, Autodesk warned of an undisclosed amount of layoffs.  Semi-truck servicer, Cummins West, shutdown all across the Golden State, at least 304 jobs lost!  In Tracy, Comcast cable laid off 87 people.  In Sunnyvale, tax sucker Lockheed Martin laid off 163 people!  In San Jose, Philips Electronics laid off 72 employees. In San Francisco, Grass Valley shut down, 27 jobs lost.  Berkley Heartlab laid off seven employees across the state.  Tax sucker Dell Service NASA Ames Research laid off 118 people! In Emeryville, addiction treatment center Ernest Gallo laid off another three employees.  Evil British empire private prison operator, G4S, laid off at least 74 employees across the state.  In Fresno, GAF laid off two employees.  In Burlingame, Mills Peninsula Division laid off three people. In Garden Grove, Money Mailer laid off six workers.

Illinois: In Champaign, Better Image Film Labs shut down.  The owners now hate digital cameras.

Indiana: Software maker Ontario Systems laid off 20 employees.  They blame Obama Care.  The company makes billing programs for health care providers, and the Affordable Heath Care law is resulting in reduced demand for their software!  In Huntington, Unilever Ice Cream shutdown, 157 jobs lost!

Kansas: In Hays, after only five months in business Sweet Tooth Candy Store shutdown!  Employees told local news sources that business was good for a couple of months, then it just dried up.

Kentucky: In Lexington, Shorty’s grocery store shutdown.  The manager blamed the bad economy: “We did have a lot of repeat business, a lot of customers that come and see us daily that depend on us. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough.”-Jonathan Henderson

Maine: In Bath, tax sucker Bath Iron Works laid off 42 employees. The company laid off people in August 2013. It’s blamed on U.S. Navy contract ‘modifications’.

Massachusetts: In Northampton, after 39 years the Skera Gallery shutdown.  The owner turning to taxi driving, and writing fiction about taxi driving.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery? French owned Inergy Automotive laid off 104 UAW employees! I could find no explanation why.

New Hampshire: Non-profit SeaCare Health Services announced they are shutting down. They blamed “…the current financial climate for non-profits.”, meaning the bad economy and Obama Care.  In Hooksett, after 126 years iconic Robie’s Country Store shutdown.  The owner burned out and put it up for sale.  In Portsmouth, Hoyt’s Office Products shutdown after 45 years of business.  The family owners blame health problems.

New York: In Warwick, Toy Chest shutdown.  The owner says she doesn’t want to play by manufactures’ rules anymore, saying manufacturers don’t give retailers a choice, and they push bulk purchases in which retailers don’t know what they’re getting.  So much for consumer demand driving industry! In DeWitt, Aspen Athletic Club shutdown.  In Batavia, Present Tense bookstore shutdown. In Buffalo, tax sucker DRS Integrated Defense Systems shutdown, 36 jobs lost.   In New York City, Too Big to Jail DEPFA BANK laid off 32 people.

North Carolina: Video game maker, EA, shutdown its studio in the Old North State.  In Wilmington, after 86 years G. Stein Furniture shutdown.  The family owners blamed competition from “big box” stores, specifically the ability of the big boxes to give customers huge lines of credit.

Pennsylvania: In Bethlehem, Walgreens shutdown their distribution center. 400 jobs lost!  In York, Jim & Nena’s Pizzeria shutdown.  In Pittsburgh, Too Big to Jail Bank of America shutdown an office, 209 jobs lost!

South Carolina: In Charleston, Andolini’s Pizza shutdown after more than 20 years in business.  The landlord refused to renew the lease.

Tennessee: In Chattanooga, Alstom Power Turbomachines laid off 88 employees.

Texas: Across the Lone Star State, Too Big to Jail Bank of America laid off at least 524 people!

Wisconsin: Heavy equipment maker Caterpillar laying off more workers.  This time 115 people rendered unemployed in Milwaukee! This is on top of the 260 people laid off during the summer! Company officials have been complaining about their crashing international sales.

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, Technology, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: Obama’s current backyard replaces old commuter trains with new ones from Japan! Billions in U.S. taxes paying for Japanese take over?

07 January 2014 (20:34 UTC-07 Tango 06 January 2013)/05 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/17 Dey 1392/07 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

“Demand for new rail cars is growing in other U.S. cities.  We’ll aim to satisfy the need for replacements in those places as well.”-Iwasaki Hiroji, Kawasaki Executive Officer

U.S. taxpayers have just updated the metro rail system in Washington DC, with train cars made in Japan!

Kawasaki Heavy Industries delivered several new cars to the Greenbelt station in Maryland, in a ceremony in which U.S. officials did not directly mention the Japanese connection.

The cars’ major components were made in Japan, then shipped to Kawasaki’s final assembly factory in Lincoln, Nebraska.  There was a time when U.S. industries could have handled the task, but not anymore no-thanks to unAmerican Corporate America outsourcing jobs overseas!

Kawasaki officials claim some of the Japanese cars were 100% built in their Nebraska factory.

The Washington Metro Area Transit Authority has ordered 528 Japanese rail cars, at a cost to U.S. taxpayers of $1.1-billion USD!

“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.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 26-27 September 2013. More University layoffs, as more people refuse college, and fail High School! More publishers in trouble!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Alabama: Birmingham, Butler’s Grooming Club shutdown its downtown location.  Company owners have made a deal to open men’s salons in Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

California: Boeing laid off at least four people across the Golden State. Symantec laid off 80 people.  Palo Alto, business law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati laid off 35 people. A company press release said “…unfortunately, the job and the industry have changed, and we must make some changes to more efficiently serve our internal constituency and clients, and better position the firm for the future.”  West Hollywood, Koo Koo Roo chicken restaurant shut down.  Pico Rivera, Cablofil shutdown, 27 jobs lost.  San Clemente, Southern California Edison laid off 14 workers.  Burbank, Walt Disney Pictures laid off six employees.

Florida: Weston, Too Big to Jail American Express laid off 300 people!  Billing ops in Weston are being moved to California and Connecticut by the beginning of 2015.

Georgia: Central Georgia Health System laid off 50 health care workers. Company officials said it’s because of the expected crash in government and insurance industry reimbursements under Obama Care.

Idaho: Boise, Affinion Group kills 226 jobs!

Michigan: Musgekon, after 31 years Daniels Hair Styling Academy shutdown. The owner said she needs to retire.

Montana: Billings, the Montana Rescue Mission shutdown their downtown operation. The operators say they are moving employees to other operations where demand is higher.

New York:  Regional newspaper publisher, GateHouse Media, now bankrupt.  Company officials claim to be in debt by $1.3-billion USD!  United Airlines laid off 82 employees at the Greater Rochester International Airport and Albany International Airport. New York City, Condé Nast Traveler laid off 14 editors, including the entire ‘photo desk’. Reports say the magazine is shifting to digital formats.  Medina, medical device maker Baxter International laid off “less than 100 people”.  Company officials said that it was due to suspension of shipments of certain products (?due to new Obama Care taxes maybe?).  Buena Vista Books shutdown, 33 jobs lost.

North Carolina: Durham, unconfirmed reports say The Herald-Sun newspaper laid off as many as six employees.  The newspaper recently started charging people to see their internet articles.   Greensboro, after 53 years of cooking Anton’s Restaurant shut down. Owner Tom Anton says “It’s been a struggle for awhile what with the economy and competition.”

Ohio: Columbus, TimberTech shutdown, 58 jobs lost.  Salon, Arrow Electronics shutdown, 54 jobs lost.  Palmerton, after 40 years iconic Spillane’s Variety Store shutdown.  The 71 years old owner, Bill Spillane, said business was good but “…it’s time to go and enjoy things. I’ve been working all those years since I got out of high school, and I just feel I missed out on a lot of things. I worked six days, sometimes seven a week!”   Youngstown State University $6.6-million in the hole! Nine employees laid off, expect more: “Three consecutive years of enrollment declines, combined with consistent reductions in state operating appropriations, has resulted in a significant structural budget deficit that requires us to immediately implement cost savings measures.”-Randy J. Dunn, YSU President

Pennsylvania: 156 years old Mansfield University laid off at least 54 employees. They are short at least $14.3-million! University officials blame their crashing enrollment numbers on the crashing High School graduation rate in the region! Apollo, Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market shutdown. The grocery store was only five years old.  Company officials now realize the small population of Apollo could not support a third grocery store.

Tennessee: The owner of two drive in movie cinemas says he has to shut one down in order to afford the digital upgrade for the other.  His Midtown Drive-In in Harriman was sacrificed to update his Parkway Drive-In in Maryville.

Texas: Houston, Too Big to Jail Pentagroup Financial shutdown, 123 jobs lost!  Xerox laid off 81 people.

Washington: Richland, Fluor Federal Services laid off 150 people!

Washington DC: In Obama’s current back yard, HandsOn Greater DC Care now bankrupt and dissolved, after 24 years of non-profit unpaid volunteer programs to help the poor. No reasonable explanation given.

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, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 25 September 2013. More ObamaCare cuts! Firefighters & prison guards now unemployed! Zoos closing down, what’s in the food?

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Reports saying the U.S. cinema industry shift to digital projectors could result in many Drive Ins closing down.  Most drive in cinema operations can not afford to switch over to digital.  One drive in operator in Connecticut said he needed at least $100-thousand USD to make the switch.

Florida: In Green Cove Springs, Gustafson’s Dairy shut down after 105 years of operations!  It’s blamed on crashing demand for their products.

Illinois: Metals recycler Keywell now bankrupt.  It sounds like the company is trying to make itself more attractive to potential buyers.

Minnesota: In Sartell, mobile advertiser NativeX laid off 28 employees.  NativeX also laid off another 17 people across the U.S.

New Jersey: Too Big to Jail Capital One eliminated 54 jobs in Secaucus.  Bank officials admit they are switching to relying on technology rather than people.  In Atlantic City, 51 federal taxpayer funded firefighters were laid off.  The federal grant that paid for the jobs ended.  In Howell, Pathmark grocery store closed down. It’s part of company plans to close stores in the region.

New York: In Amherst, Sykes Enterprises laid off 65 call center employees.  In Southampton Village, Barrister’s restaurant closed after 35 years of business. In Babylon, Village Basket shut down.  The owner, Nancy Kupferman, blamed both the bad economy and the high rent saying “…but no sales equals the inability to pay any amount of cost to run this business…”

Nevada: The Las Vegas Zoo shut down after all staff quit in protest and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced an investigation into what is being fed to the animals.  Local news reports say the USDA had to provide food because the trapped animals had not been fed since the employees quit!

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, Hillcrest Healthcare System laid off 50 people because of Obama Care (the so called Affordable Care Act).  Oklahoma is one of dozens of states that opted out of expanding Medicaid under Obama Care, which means hospitals will not be reimbursed for many treaments.  In Muskogee, Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples shut down. It’s part of company plans to shut down Staples across the country.

Pennsylvania: Metal container maker Crown Holdings laid off 300 people, mostly in Europe!  Company officials blame crashing economies in Europe and North America.

South Carolina: Tax sucker General Electric (GE) laying off about 100 employees at their Greenville ops. GE officials say they are trying to make their Power & Water Business more competitive.

Tennessee: In West Knoxville, optics maker Luxottica North America shutting down, 310 jobs lost!

Texas: Tax sucker Bell Helicopter laid off 28 people at its Amarillo factory.  They blame government spending cuts.

Washington: 16 prison guards lost their jobs at the Pierce County Jail.  It’s blamed on county budget cuts.  The jail was making money by housing prisoners from several cities, but those cities have had to cut back on outsourcing their prisoners because of a lack of tax revenues. Pierce County Jail lost at least $5-million USD in 2013!

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, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: 54% of U.S. citizens say Welcome to American Dream Hell! Crony capitalist economy, and Chritianity, has failed!

04 January 2014 (23:31 UTC-07 Tango 03 January 2013)/02 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/14 Dey 1392/04 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711

“Those old enough to remember the early `70s are especially nostalgic, as are tea party supporters and people who live in the countryside. Those who say U.S. life has declined are more apt to name politics, the economy, moral values or changes in families as the biggest difference.        The 3 in 10 who think life is better are more likely to point to computers and technology as the big change.”-Associated Press

According to the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 54% of U.S. citizens expect life to suck the big green weenie by 2050.  Only 21% think life will improve.

The new survey also shows that the number of U.S. citizens moving away from organized religion has quadrupled since 1972: “Maybe it just means people are thinking for themselves and not following blindly….”-Christine Hicks, Tennessee Methodist

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 23-24 September 2013. Texas hit hard! More bank contractions killing more jobs! Hospital official reveals that Obama Care is meant to kill jobs and stop health care!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Alabama: In Pelham, after 50 years Fran’s Restaurant shut down.

California: In San Diego, Coca Cola laid off 92 bottling employees.  The soda pop maker says they plan on closing the bottling factory off state Route 94 at 47th Street.  In San Bernardino, Ryder Logistics shut down, 108 jobs lost!  Software maker Intuit, laid off at least 47 people across the Golden State.

Georgia: The non-profit Georgia Heritage Center for the Arts shut down.  In Thomasville, after 156 years Jerger Jewelers shut down!

Hawaii: Toys N’ Joys shut down after 30 years in business.

Illinois: In Woodridge, Sports Authority shut down. Christian Saint James laid off 125 people at its Chicago Heights and Olympia Fields hospital campuses.  Hospital officials directly blame Obama Care: “Under the new law, institutions such as Franciscan St. James are, in fact, encouraged to keep patients out of the hospital, and are penalized for certain hospital re-admissions.”-Franciscan Saint James press release

Kentucky: In Louisville, model train store L&N Trains and Things shut down after 32 years. The owner blames health problems (just in time for Obama Care).

Michigan: Too Big to Jail JP Morgan Chase shutting down their Detroit office.  367 jobs lost!

Nevada: What housing market recovery?  In Las Vegas, Too Big to Jail CitiMortgage killing at least 760 jobs!  At least one thousand people will lose their jobs across the U.S., it’s part of the banking industry’s contracting mortgage ops, due to crashing demand for new home loans.

New York: Christian Saint James Mercy Hospital shut down their psyc unit. Hospital officials said Obama Care will not fund such in-house psychiatric care operations!

North Carolina: Elizabeth City State University laid off 46 employees.  The school’s budget is short $5-million USD, caused by taxpayer funding cuts and declining student enrollment. In Winston, The Screaming Rooster restaurant shut down after only three years in business.  The corporate owner, WSRooster, went bankrupt.

Ohio: What housing market recovery?   JP Morgan Chase killing another 440 jobs in Columbus, Westerville and Gahanna.  The Too Big to Jail bank also closed an office in Cleveland, killing 31 jobs.  It’s part of the banking industry’s contracting mortgage ops, due to crashing demand for new home loans.  What automotive industry recovery?  In Toledo, Chrysler laid off 500 Jeep factory workers!  Chrysler officials say the new car market is so slow that they’ve overproduced the new Jeep Cherokee, and have to halt production!

Oklahoma: The Christian God can’t stop the Christian controlled Chesapeake Energy from laying off another 86 employees. This is apparently in addition to the 2-thousand who will become jobless, and after the gas company fired all their in-house Christian chaplains!

Tennessee: The only medical clinic in the town of Trezevant, shut down.  McKenzie Regional Hospital operated the West Carroll Medical Clinic and decided they could not continue paying the rent under Obama Care!

Texas: Cardell Cabinetry issued a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification), saying 903 people will become jobless!   The company is now under investigation for violating the WARN law, apparently they closed down their factory before issuing the WARN!  Going somewhere? Travcelocity laid off 14 employees in Southlake, and warned more layoffs were coming. The layoffs are connected to Travelocity’s deal with Expedia. What automotive industry recovery?  In Houston, Gulf States Toyota laid off 85 people at its vehicle processing center.  Company officials say the bad U.S. economy has forced them to change their “business objectives”.  In Fort Worth, tax sucker Bell Helicopter laid off more than 300 employees and contractors!  Company officials blame it on their main source of revenue, the unstable U.S. government!  In Austin, Colorado based Arrow Electronics shut down their office, laying off 60 people.

Wisconsin: Milio’s Sandwiches in Wauwatosa and Waukesha shut down.  Local news media says no explanation from company officials.  In 2012 the owners claimed they were going to expand over the next five years.  In Madison, renewable energy company, Virent, laid off 35 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.

“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, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 20-22 September 2013. Papa John’s going down? Obama Care killing home health care services! Yet again, thousands of people losing their jobs!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Blackberry now says at least 45-hundred jobs will be killed!  Blackberry is being forced to restructure due to crashing sales.

Alabama: More coal mine shut downs.  Rocky Mountain Mining and Twin Pines laid off a combined 113 people!

California: Tax sucker Boeing laid off 51 people across the not so Golden State. In San Francisco, John Muir Health begging 212 employees to voluntarily quit! This is on top of the 540 employees that are being laid off!!!  CEO, Cal Knight, referred to Obama Care when he said “In this new health care environment, our current costs are not sustainable in the long run.”  In San Jose, Tico’s Tacos shut down after 56 years in business.  In Sacramento, eight Papa John’s take-n-bake pizza places shut down without notice!  50+ employees will not get their final paychecks (I’ve experienced that). Company officials said only that it was due to “…circumstances beyond our control…”  (In my case the circumstances beyond my employer’s control was the state of Idaho seizing all her assets, for failure to pay taxes/fines, then telling we employees there was nothing left over to pay us with. In other words the state killed our jobs and took our money! And conveniently none of us qualified for unemployment under the state’s draconian Right to Work you over unemployment compensation program) In El Centro, International Paper shut down.  110 jobs lost!  

Florida: In Jacksonville, cigar maker Swisher International laid off 250 people!  Company officials blamed government regulations for their decision to move ops to Dominican Republic.  In Orlando, Darden Restaurants laid off 85 people at the HQ.  Company officials said they need to save $50-million USD per year!

Illinois: In Kewanee, Charitable Resource Foundation shut down. 60 jobs lost.

Indiana: In Carmel, Frontier Communications laid off 54 employees.

Massachusetts: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care laid off 65 employees. CEO Eric Schultz blamed Obama Care for “….the changing health care environment.”  Say, isn’t Obama Care based on Romney Care, and Romney Care was created for Massachusetts?

Michigan: In Berkley, Hiller’s grocery store shut down. Company officials blamed “…many factors…” including the cost of renovation and lack of parking. Basically, the bad economy doesn’t make it worth putting more money into the store.

Minnesota: Crystal Care Home Health Services now bankrupt.  Local news reports said employees are working without pay! The health care provider is accused of ripping off Medicaid.  800 employees affected!

Missouri: Bankrupt furniture maker, Furniture Brands/Thomasville, announced they will shut down all corporate owned stores!

New Jersey: The South Brunswick YMCA shut down.

New York: In Wappingers Falls, Southeastern Container shut down. 31 jobs lost.

North Carolina: In Smithfield, electronics maker AB Interconnect shutting down a factory.  70 jobs lost.

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, Steve’s Sundry Books & Magazines shutting down on 31 December 2013.  The owner said the timing of the lease expiring and declining book sales seems to indicate she needs “…to begin the next chapter in my life.”

Rhode Island: The Providence Journal laid off about 30 employees. Revenues continue to drop.

South Carolina: In York, Stacy’s Garden Center shut down after 39 years of business.  It’s blamed on ‘big box’ competition.

South Dakota: In Huron, tax sucker Raven Aerostar shutting down.  75 jobs lost.  Their contracts to supply U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan ended.

Texas: In Edinburg, International Paper-Edinburg East Container Plant shut down.  105 jobs lost!

Utah: In Ogden, after 40 years Gardiner’s Sew & Quilt shut down. “We just gotta retire. The years have caught up with us.”-Kurt Gardiner, 80 something years old owner

Washington: Sprint laying off 161 people! Company officials blame it on their takeover of Clearwire.  Saint John Medical Center has reduced the hours of its nursing staff.  No, it’s not to make the working conditions better, it’s blamed on declining customers and reduced reimbursements from Obama Care.  Saint John is owned by PeaceHealth Columbia Network, which recently eliminated 500 jobs at its various hospitals!

West Virginia: In Moundsville, TeleTech shut down.  258 jobs lost!

Wisconsin: In Waunakee, Owens & Minor Distribution shut down. 70 jobs lost.

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, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: Sears and Kmart closing in Michigan! Disney disses Pakistan, could affect Sears & Kmart!

30 December 2013 (12:22 UTC-07 Tango)/26 Safar 1435/09 Dey 1392/28 Jia-Zi (11th month) 4711

Somehow I missed this one: According to a report out of Bloomfield Township (Bloomfield Hills), Michigan, the local Kmart and Sears are closing.

The Kmart had a name change at the beginning of the year, to KDollar.  Sears Holdings’ experiment into ‘dollar’ stores failed, because the store shut down this month.   Reports said the closing sale discounts were being mirrored at the Bloomfield Township Sears, which implies it is shutting down too.  The Sears and KDollar share the same retail property address.

The Disney corporation has decided to stop buying clothing made in Pakistan.  Disney’s subsidiary, Marvel, is expected to do the same.  The Walt Disney Company has adopted a new Permitted Sourcing Countries list for its slave wage labor made products, and decided Pakistan doesn’t meet their new guidelines.

Pakistani officials believe the new Disney created Permitted Sourcing Countries list will be adopted by U.S. retailers like Sears and Kmart, which could mean a crash in cheap exports from Pakistan by as much as $200-million USD per year.

I find this hypocritical of Disney, and maybe even political, as when you view Disney’s list of “permitted” sources you’ll find countries that are far worse than Pakistan.  Also, Pakistan has been spending billions of dollars, and thousands of lives, helping the U.S. fight the so called War on Terror.  Yet, U.S. officials and U.S. news media are constantly making Pakistan to look like the bad guy.  Is this move by Disney under the guise of “…safe, inclusive, and respectful workplaces…” (soon to be adopted by many other U.S. companies) just a false flag op to crash Pakistan’s economy?   After all, where are the most problematic clothing factories right now?  Bangladesh, not Pakistan.  (Disney swears it does not do business in Bangladesh, yet after every major clothing factory fire there investigators always find clothing with Disney labels on them)

Maybe the real reason Disney is cutting off Pakistan, as a source of products, is that the U.S. (and European) retail economy sucks so bad they just can’t sell all those slave wage labor made products?

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).

California:   El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart,  Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost),  Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down.

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

Connecticut:  Waterbury Big Kmart.

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost),  Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost).

Guam:  Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost),  Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost).

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).

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).  58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale.  By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state.  The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost).

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

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!).

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.

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), recently revealed Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears.

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.

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

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

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

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

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost),  West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart.

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

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

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

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost),  Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard,  London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost),  Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost).   Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost),  both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two),  Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin CoolSprings Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost).

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

Utah:  Orem Kmart (no details reported).

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost),  Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost),  Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost),  Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost).

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)