Category Archives: Business/Economics

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)

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3, North American Front: Tens of thousand of mostly Christians killed in the name of U.S. instigated False Flag Drug War in Mexico! Migrants seaking work in the U.S. at record lows! More deaths in Mexico than in Syria?

25 December 2013 (15:52 UTC-07 Tango)/21 Safar 1435/04 Dey 1392/23 Jia-Zi (11th month) 4711

“The case of Anastacio Hernandez Rojas is emblematic of a disease that runs to the cold heart of the Obama administration’s immigration policy. The administration’s silence before the killing of innocents is enabling the Border Patrol to continue to kill and abuse with utter impunity. This is an agency that refuses to be accountable to anyone.”-Roberto Lovato, co-founder of Presente

The U.S. backed Drug War in Mexico is getting a lot of people killed, and they’re not even Mexicans!  As I’ve written before, most of the people killed in the so called Drug War, are people from Central American countries!

But of course Mexicans are being killed.  The latest case involves five Mexican teenagers who were ran over by a pickup truck as they left a Christmas party in Reynosa, Tamaulipas.  Officials say it was intentional, and that the occupants of the truck were “gunmen”, although no gun shots were reported.

Most people in Mexico and Central America say they’re Catholic Christians, with a growing number switching to other christian ideologies.  It was the Christian George Bush Jr who pushed Mexico into the Drug War, and Christian Barack Obama is continuing it. On the U.S. side of the border U.S. government officials have been busy killing anybody they want, seemingly at random.

Another report revealed that U.S. government agents are also killing U.S. citizens: “Since 2005, on-duty Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers have killed at least 42 people, including at least 13 Americans.”

The Institute for Women in Migration reports that their research confirms that 47-thousand migrant workers have been killed in the so called Drug War in Mexico, since the Bush Jr regime started it.

Mexican newspapers are reporting that between 10-thousand and 70-thousand migrants from Central American countries have gone missing inside Mexico!  Even the UN suggests that U.S. backed Mexican officials are intentionally looking the other way when it comes to Central American migrants trying to reach the U.S.

The Swiss based Academy of International Humanitarian Law says they’ve confirmed that in 2012  nine thousand people were killed in Mexico, as a result of the Drug War, putting Mexico in second place after Syria.  More people were killed in Mexico than in Afghanistan.

The Swiss study also pointed out that many more unsolved and unreported killings in Mexico could be directly attributed to the Drug War, which means Mexico could actually beat out Syria for the most people killed in 2012!

Oh, and for all those ‘mericans that’re sick of those dern Mexicans stealing the very jobs that most ‘mericans wouldn’t take, the study by the Institute for Women in Migration shows that migrant workers going to the U.S. has crashed.  In 2007 Latin American migrants heading to the United States, through Mexico, peaked at a record 682-thousand+.  By the end of 2012 the number of migrants heading to the U.S. hit a record low of 181-thousand!  (that’s a drop of just over half a million migrant workers, for those of you who can’t do the math)

It’s a sign that the U.S. instigated Drug War in Mexico is really targeting migrants, and it’s also a sign of how bad the U.S. economy really is.   So shove that up your red neck Estados Unidos Christian asses!

(don’t forget about radioactive material being stolen in broad daylight)

Mexico losing U.S. instigated drug war to Knights Templar! 

Mexico kicks out U.S. ‘law enforcement’ agencies, blames them for drug war! 

U.S. supported Mexican Generals connected to Drug violence in so called Drug War.

13,000 people killed in the first 9 months of 2011.

U.S. citizens smuggling drugs in and out of Mexico

drug gangs are actually Mexican NAZIs

Mexico’s Drug War, another front in the Control through Chaos

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 19 September 2013. More Obama Care crap! Major contraction in banking industry continues! More greedy property owners!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

What housing market recovery? Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo bank is warning that they will probably layoff 18-hundred more employees!  Bank officials blame it on crashing demand for home loans.

Another video game/computer graphics maker going down?  Machinima laid off 22 employees.  Company officials said layoffs were necessary for their “growth”.

California: In Bakersfield, after 20 years the Baskin-Robbins ice cream store shut down.  The store owner blames the property owner (who is also a property developer), who refused to offer a new lease to the ice cream seller.  In Long Beach, tax sucker Boeing announced they will shut down their last major assembly factory in California by 2015.  Boeing ended production of expensive C-17 military transport aircraft.  In Escondido, Palomar Health laid off another 35 employees.  At the beginning of September Palomar Health laid off 122 employees in Escondido!

Connecticut: In Windsor, tax sucker Westinghouse shutting down their nuclear fuel parts factory in 2014.  66 jobs will be lost.

Iowa: The last Kmart store in Cedar Rapids will be closed down.

Maine: In Cape Elizabeth, Too Big to Jail KeyBank shut down the town’s last bank!  It’s part of a nationwide banking industry consolidation (contraction) of operations.

Massachusetts: Global medical device maker, Coviden, announced they are being forced to restructure to meet the Obama Care law, meaning massive layoffs due to shutting down medical device factories.  Obama Care created a new tax on medical device companies, many have decided to end operations rather than pay the tax.

Michigan: In Novi, a Blockbuster video store shut down.  It’s part of plans to shut down all Blockbuster stores. In Wyoming, after 62 years in business, Leatherman Hardware shut down.  The family owners blame an ever worsening economy: “It seemed like our piece of the pie got smaller and smaller each year. The city has changed so much over the years, and things just kept getting harder and harder.”-Dave Leatherman junior

Montana: In butte, Netflix shut down its DVD distribution center.  It’s blamed on crashing sales.

North Carolina: Seven BI-LO stores shut down! It’s blamed on the takeover by a company called Publix.

Ohio: In Jackson, Masco Cabinetry will close its Merillat factory.  200 jobs lost! Local news reports say the company gave no reason.

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, union workers were told by American Airlines that as many as 400 could lose their jobs! It’s blamed on the merger with USAirways.

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 18 September 2013. Several thousands more lose their jobs! More Obama Care layoffs!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

BlackBerry announced 5-thousand people will lose their jobs!  Company officials blame crashing sales.   In June, BlackBerry reported a loss of $84-million USD.

Arizona: In Tucson, after 23 years the El Mezon del Cobre restaurant shut down.  The owner, a single mother of three, said it was getting too hard to continue operations.

Connecticut:  What automotive industry recovery? In Cheshire, Willow’s Motorsports shut down.  The motorcycle dealer blamed the high price of new motorcycles (who wants to pay more than 10-thousand dollars for a new motorcycle, anybody remember when they were just a couple of hundred?) and internet competition for their declining sales of motorcycle parts.

Florida: In Clearwater, Ruth Eckerd Hall laid off 13 employees. Officials with the non-profit performing arts organization blamed it on declining donations.

Iowa: What automotive industry recovery? In Creston, after 103 years of manufacturing automotive parts and engines, Gits will shut down in 2014! 95 jobs lost.  The company is consolidating manufacturing to other factories.

Kentucky: In Louisville, at least five Swifty gas stations shut down, without notice!  Speculation is that the company lost too much money, because they were an old fashioned gas station selling mainly gas, which generates only pennies in profits on every gallon sold. (that’s pennies on every gallon, not pennies on every dollar.  more proof that you can’t blame the gas stations for the high prices, they’re getting ripped off too)

Maine: In New Bedford, Southcoast Health System laid off 60 people.  Southcoast President and CEO, Keith Hovan, directly blamed Obama Care.

Maryland: In Salisbury, the Peninsula Regional Medical Center laid off 58 people.  That brings this year’s layoffs to 101.  Hospital officials blame declining demand for care and declining reimbursements caused by Obama Care.

Michigan: Too Big to Jail, Flagstar Bank, shut down in Troy, according to a WARN filing.  At least 299 jobs lost!

Missouri: In Saint Louis, tax sucker Boeing laid off 300 people!  Boeing ended production of their expensive C-17 military transport aircraft.

New York: Tax sucker General Electric to shut down its Fort Edward factory.  200 jobs lost!  Company officials moved production to Florida, with little notice to New York employees.

Ohio: Non-profit Summa Health System being killed by Obama Care. 30 more employees were laid off.  Back in January Summa Health laid off 54 employees.  Summa officials are hoping a deal with the Christian God’s Catholic Health Partners will save them.  The largest employer in the region, Cleveland Clinic, laying off as many as 3-thousand people!  Hospital officials blame Obama Care: “To prepare for healthcare reform, Cleveland Clinic is transforming the way care is delivered to patients.…..we need to further reduce costs to the organization by $330 million in 2014.”-Cleveland Clinic press release

Pennsylvania: In Wyomissing, Play It Again Sports shut down. The operators blame declining sales. In Waynesburg, Southwest Regional Medical Center laid off 29 employees.  Hospital officials blame reduced payments caused by Obama Care.  The hospital can no longer offer high level services: “The key change to services available locally is that we will only be performing scheduled surgical procedures and we will not be offering the highest intensity level of services as in the past.”-Cindy Cowie, CEO

South Carolina: A West Ashley Piggly Wiggly grocery store shut down. 14 other Piggy Wiggly stores were sold off!

Washington DC: Education software maker, Blackboard Incorporated, laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  Company officials refuted claims it was 140 employees. Company officials said they needed to reduce operating costs.

West Virginia: Theatre West Virginia shut down after 53 seasons! It’s blamed on the bad economy.  In Morgantown, the Kmart will be shut down. 100 jobs lost!

Wisconsin: OEM Fabricators laid off 45 employees. They blame a slow down in construction, oil and gas industries.

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.

Unpaid contractor is winning bidder for abandoned Hoku Materials factory, again! 1-thousand jobs on the way, by a company with questionable history?

18 December 2013 (18:12 UTC-07 Tango 17 December 2013)/14 Safar 1435/27 Azar 1392/16 Jia-Zi (11th month) 4711

After a federal court judge ruled the November auction of the massive, and unused, Hoku Materials factory in Pocatello, Idaho, illegal, JH Kelly wins again.

This time JH Kelly bid $8.3 million, which is still a paltry sum when you realize the polysilicon factory is said to be worth about $700-million (but then again, JH Kelly is the one owed the money for building it). Reports say this time the federal bankruptcy court approved the auction.  However, JH Kelly has 72 hours to pay up.

There are reports by a local east Idaho TV news program (KIFI) that a local silica mining operation has made a deal to operate the factory.  Officials with Idaho based Arco Hills Silica Company (AHSC), and Nevada based JCF Funding, claim as many as one thousand jobs will be created!

However, back in August JH Kelly’s attorney said this about AHSC and JCF Funding: “It just seems difficult to conceive these people are serious if they haven’t made a written offer and haven’t engaged capable counsel.  The first thing a bankruptcy judge asks is: ‘Show me the money.’”-Ford Elsaesser

JH Kelly is also the biggest creditor to the bankrupt Hoku Materials factory, and they want their money.

There are some scandals with Arco Hills Silica Company; back in June a former CEO pled guilty to wire fraud, involving the theft of $5-million.

Also, there is court documents showing AHSC was sued by Beco Construction Company.  A “Judgment By Default” for more than $30-thousand was levied against Arco Hills Silica Company in 2004, and renewed in 2009.

“Arco Hills Silica Company is the exclusive mining and manufacturing Company for one of the world’s largest and most pure silica deposits in the world. It is presently in the early stages of development of these assets with anticipation that production will begin during 2011. This company is also actively in beginning construction on a major silicon processing plant, solar panel manufacturing and research facility and various polysilicon plants all to be located in Southeastern Idaho.”-AHSC company statement

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 16-17 September 2013. More companies unable to pay their federal taxes! Christian petroleum company fires their own preachers! More mom & pops say ‘get out now’!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs:

Assisted living service provider, Chatsworth PGA, now bankrupt.  The company is in debt by as much as $500-million USD!

Video game maker, Red 5 Studios, announced they will layoff 10% of their employees.

Arizona: In Tucson, Dee’s Shoes shut down after 60 years of business.  The owners said they need to retire.  The oldest shoe store in Tucson offered custom shoe making and was the first to sell wide width shoes.

California: In San Francisco, maker of charging stations for electric cars, Ecotality, now bankrupt.  The company is now being sold off.  In San Bernardino, Herrick (aka San Bernardino Steel) laid off 140 steel workers!  In El Segundo, Raytheon laid off 54 employees.

Florida: Even the sex industry going down because of the bad economy.  FriendFinder internet dating site (which is also the owner of Penthouse adult magazine) now bankrupt. Company officials blame seven straight years of revenue losses!

Idaho: In Wallace, U.S. Silver & Gold mine laid off 130 people!  The company calls itself “…the second largest primary silver producer in the United States.”  Company officials blamed the layoffs on falling silver prices.

Illinois: In Chicago, Vulpes (the owner of gourmet food store Fox & Obel) now bankrupt.  It’s blamed on increased competition resulting in massive debts to food suppliers and unpaid federal taxes.  Anti-violence non-profit, CeaseFire, shut down due to lack of donations.  What automotive industry recovery? In Fairfield maker of fuel pumps for cars, Airtex Products, laid off 240 employees, with little notice!  The unionized workers had just approved a new one year contract.  In Niles, Grainger Industrial Supply shut down, 94 people unemployed.  It’s part of the 2011 announcement of the closing of at least 25 locations across the United States, which is blamed on crashing sales.

Indiana: Community Howard Regional Health laid off at least 50 employees.  It’s blamed on decreased hospital customers, and an expected decrease in federal government payments as a result of Obama Care.

Iowa: In Mason City, River City Bagel store closed down. The owner said his research shows that the economy is not going to recover: “We looked at it long term, whether it was going to work out or not. We decided now is a good time to get out!”-Marcus Lunning

Kentucky: Another coal miner going down.  James River Coal shut down, laying off 525 people!

New Jersey: In Montclair, Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats shut down. The owner wants to move onto new “…re-inventions of Aunt Jean.”

New York: Israeli based computer graphics and special effects maker, Gravity International Group, now bankrupt.  Gravity has offices in Canada, Connecticut, New York and California.  The U.S. bankruptcy was filed to stop the company from being evicted from its New York office.  They have not been paying their rent.   Patricia Lynch Associates (PLA) laid off at least two employees. PLA is a crony state government lobbying company.

Minnesota: In Kenyon, legal drugs pusher Bergh Pharmacy closed down.  They were bought out by Walgreens.

North Carolina: What housing market recovery? Construction contractor Dutch Barns bankrupt and out-o-business.  A total of 40 jobs lost. An attorney representing the company blames the bad economy.

Oklahoma: The Christian God can’t stop the ‘christian’ natural gas company, Chesapeake Energy, from firing their chaplains and one bee keeper.  The arrogant ‘christian’ company apparently thought of itself as a church and provided chaplains to marry employees!  The firing of their in-house preachers comes a few days after announcing that 2-thousand employees will become unemployed!

Oregon: What automotive industry recovery? In Clackamas, Indiana based Dutchmen Manufacturing shut down their travel trailer and camper factory.  163 people unemployed!  Since 2011, Oregon has lost almost one thousand Recreational Vehicle manufacturing jobs!

Texas: Private police state contractor, U.S. Security Associates, laid off 352 employees throughout the Lone Star State!  It’s blamed on the loss of a major contract.  The Walmart-Laredo Distribution Center shut down. 53 people out-o-work.

Washington: In Seattle, internet music service Rhapsody International cut 15% of its employees.  It’s blamed on declining revenues and a management change.

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