Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Fluoride is poison! Insecticide companies say so! EPA & HHS say so! First use of Fluoride was as a bug killer!

01 November 2013 (01:14 UTC-07 Tango)/27 Dhu’l-Hijja 1434/10 Aban 1391/28 Gui-Hai (9th month) 4711

“…a growing consensus that Americans are exposed to too much fluoride. It raises the concern that, for many decades now, the public has been overexposed.”-Jane Houlihan, Environmental Working Group, January 2011

“The compounds of fluorine which I employ for the purpose of destroying insects, are certain soluble ones, viz.: sodium fluoride, ferric fluoride, the silico-fluorides of the same bases, hydro-fluo-silicic acid, and the boro-fluo-silicates.”-from the first patent on the use of fluoride in 1896

“Investigations by the United States Bureau of Entomology with sodium fluoride have demonstrated that lice infesting poultry may be readily destroyed by the application of a small quantity of this powder.”–Parasites and parasitosis of the domestic animals

“It is used in the manufacture of effervescing steel, and the smelting and refining of light metals. It is also used in fluorination of drinking water, as a wood preservative, an adhesive preservative. An insecticide, a protective coating for metals, a pickle for steels and other metals, a flux for soldering and welding, as well as a flux and pacifier for ceramic, glass and porcelain enamel.”–Fluoride Chemicals (Yunnan) of China describing the many wonderful uses of their fluoride product

“U.S. EPA today proposed to start gradually banning a pesticide often used on cocoa beans and dried fruits that degrades to fluoride, a move closely linked to the Obama administration’s decision last week to curb the maximum levels of fluoride in drinking water out of concern for children’s health…………..The Department of Health and Human Services and EPA announced Friday that fluoride, long considered a beneficial tap-water additive that helps prevent cavities, should be restricted to 0.7 milligrams per liter, or the low end of previous legal ranges.”–The New York Times, 11 January 2011

“Fluoride, the primary toxin, interferes with the metabolism of stored fats and carbohydrates that the insect needs to maintain a sufficient source of energy (disrupts glycolysis and the citric acid cycle). The insect then uses protein and amino acids as an alternative source of energy; however, the metabolic rate does not increase sufficiently, and the insect dies. Mortality may not occur for several days…………The following effects were observed at 100 and 300 ppm: decreased body weights, mottled teeth, and injury to the brain, nervous system, liver, kidney, lung, and nasal tissues. In another study, animals died when exposed to concentrations of 600 ppm………At 200 ppm (5.0 mg/kg/day) dogs showed decreased body weight and body weight gain, nervous system effects and changes in the brain………Data is not available from work-related exposures, accidental poisonings, or epidemiological studies to indicate whether sulfuryl fluoride is likely to cause cancer in humans…….Animal studies show that fluoride binds to teeth and bones following long term exposures, resulting in mottled teeth……Sulfuryl fluoride is broken down by hydrolysis into fluoride……”-National Pesticide Information Center Technical Fact Sheet

“The false idea that ingesting fluoride is somehow good for your teeth. At best, fluoride is a topical treatment which should be swished around your mouth and then spat out.“-NaturalNews.com

Fluoride Wars, primary ingredient in Sarin Gas!

Fluoride Wars, people accused of being terrorists when they question water quality! Proof it’s a class warfare thing!

…..none of the drinking water buckets and pans for the dogs and cats were infected, even though they’ve been sitting for a few days.  The animal’s water buckets were filled with city water, which is treated with chlorine and contains fluoride. 

EPA and HHS admit too much fluoride is bad! Argentina says it causes diabetes! Japan says it causes cancer! China (and Harvard) says it reduces intelligence! 

Study contradicts pro-fluoride claims!

Even the ADA now suggests fluoride is bad!

Fluoridated water blamed for Dumbing Down Americans and causing chronic unexplained pain…..

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: More lies from the Obama regime! More revelations from Europe & Latin America!

29 October 2013 (05:29 UTC-07 Tango)/24 Dhu’l-Hijja 1434/07 Aban 1391/25 Ren-Xu (9th month) 4711

“We have a great respect for our partners and allies who cooperate with us……..That’s all I have to say.”-Chuck Hagel, U.S. Secretary of Defense

“Google becomes the devil…”-Monica Rosina, Fundacao Getulio Vargas Law School in Brazil

Brazil: Google is accused of directly helping the U.S. NSA to steal millions of Brazilians’ personal data, including President Dilma Rousseff.  The Brazilian government has stopped all other debates and is working to create new laws that will block or penalize IT companies from passing personal data to other countries.  Google officials are whining that such new laws will restrict their plans to expand in Brazil.  The Brazilian government told Bilderberger Microsoft that its contract will not be renewed.

“These TAO accesses into several Mexican government agencies are just the beginning — we intend to go much further against this important target.”-leaked NSA Tailored Access Operations document

Mexico: U.S. government spied on Mexican government for at least a decade, under operations Flatliquid and Whitetamale.  They can be traced back to the beginning of Mexico’s so called Drug War.  The U.S. spying on the Mexican government suggest that the Bush Jr and Obama regimes actually considered the Mexican government the enemy, not the drug lords. (remember when the U.S. government was caught selling guns to drug lords?)

At the recent Organization of American States (OAS) meeting, U.S. officials failed to explain the NSA spying fiasco.  They blamed the False Flag government shut down (only 18% of government spending was stopped during the supposed shutdown): “With the government closed and most of its employees furloughed, we lost the time essential for us to engage our inter-agency colleagues and prepare for this hearing.”-Lawrence Gumbiner, Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative to OAS

Italy: 46 million phone calls recorded by U.S. NSA in just one month.

Spain: 61 million phone calls recorded by U.S. NSA (some reports say it was done in conjunction with United Kingdom’s Government Communications Headquarters) in just one month.

France: 70 million phone calls recorded by U.S. NSA (some sources say it was for Israel) in just one month.

Germany: 361 million phone calls recorded by U.S. NSA (including the Chancellor’s, some reports say for the British empire/United Kingdom) in just one month.

European Union: Parliament members are debating new laws that would directly affect Google, Apple and Facebook.

“Is Angela Merkel a terrorist? Are sixty or seventy million Spanish or French citizens terrorists? Are there terrorists at Petrobras? This is clearly about political power and economic espionage, and the claim that this is all about terrorism is seen around the world as what it is, which is pure deceit.”-Glenn Greenwald, journalist who revealed the NSA scandal

Other reports say most of the info gathered by the U.S. government was actually used for U.S. corporate/investment espionage, not true security issues.  That is a violation of international laws.

“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 14-15 August 2013. SBA killing jobs! More Obama Care job loses! City retaliates for court decision by laying off employees!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs.

Despite profits, Cisco Systems announced 4-thousand layoffs! CEO John Chambers said, in a PC way, the economy is not recovering: “This recovery is more mixed and inconsistent than the others I have seen.  The environment in terms of our business is improving slightly but nowhere near the pace that we want.”

After 55 years of printing, American Medical Association ended the publication of their magazine!  They blame the bad economy for not being able to make a profit in the past ten years!  You have to view studies at amednews.com.

Arkansas: In Little Rock, Acxiom laid off 20 employees.  The marketing company said they are reorganizing due to the loss of several clients.  Colorado based Pilgrim’s Pride closed down their chicken slaughter house in El Dorado.  29 jobs lost.  In Fayetteville, the Hooters restaurant closed down.  The restaurant manager blamed it on higher rent.

California: In Redwood City, after 35 years of go-kart racing Malibu Grand Prix shut down.  The operators blame property owners for jacking up the rent.  In Duarte, Pacific Scientific Company laid off 194 people!  In West Sacramento, data collection/spying company, Xyratex International, laid off 58 employees.  It’s part of their plans to layoff 320 people by the end of the year!  The personal data farmer is moving operations to Mexico.

Connecticut:  In Clinton, Cashman’s Hardware closed after 50 years of business.  The owner blames the bad economy and being sued by the city council.  The owner left a final message spray painted on the wall of his store.  In Danbury, Tuxedo Junction Entertainment Complex closed.  The owner blamed the bad economy and lack of parking: “If you’ve ever been in downtown Danbury, you know why it closed……Mayor Giuliani cleaned up New York. I think a leader could have handled the 30 people in Danbury.”-Al Caccamo

Florida: Flamingo Products, whose main market is Latin America, now bankrupt.  Company officials blamed the U.S. Small Business Administration, GE Capital, Interamerican Bank and Crestmark Bank.  In Winter Park, Shipyard Brew Pub closed.  The owner blamed lack of parking for lack of business.

Illinois: In Chicago, Cafe Buonaro closed.  The 23 years old family run restaurant is up for sale.  Some family members want to retire and the others want out of the restaurant business.

Indiana: In Valpariso, The Artists’ Den shut down after 41 years in business.  The owners want to retire.

Kentucky: The non-profit Christian King’s Daughters Medical Center laid off 148 people!  Hospital officials are struggling to deal with Obama Care.

Massachusetts: Lowell General hospital laid off 34 employees. Hospital officials say the are “right sizing” because Obama Care forces hospitals to provide health care “at low cost”.

Michigan: Jackson City laid off 15 people. It’s in retaliation for a court decision that nullified their illegal stormwater fee.

Mississippi: In Vicksburg, Patsy’s Downtown Market closed down after only 15 months of operations.  The owner, Patsy Humble, would only say “I’m retiring, that’s it!”  

New York: In Armonk, Too Big to Jail Citigroup laid off 36 employees.  Citigroup contracted out the work.  Alcoa shutting down at least one production line at its Massena East aluminum factory.  100 employees affected!

North Carolina: After 25 years a Lexington Food Lion grocery store shut down.  Company officials said it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease.  About 40 people out-o-work.

Ohio: Pennsylvania based Park View Federal Savings laid off 57 employees.  The bank is being taken over by another bank.  In Mansfield, Ritchie’s Market closed.

South Dakota: In Aberdeen, Urban Indian Health shut down after 36 years of service.  Operators of the low income clinic refused to explain to local news media why.

South Carolina: In Greenville, Too Big to Jail Bank of America closing its Pendleton Street office in November.

Texas: In Tyler, Carrier Corporation moving production to Mexico.  At least 102 jobs lost!  What housing market recovery?  North Carolina based door maker, Endura Products, closed down in Nacogdoches.  55 jobs lost.

Virginia: In Petersburg, Boehringer Ingelheim Chemicals announced it will cease operations in 2014.  Officials with the legal drugs pusher implied it was because of Obama Care: “The pharmaceutical industry is going through dramatic changes and manufacturing needs are being impacted by that change.”-Manfred Psiorz, CEO

Wisconsin: In Milton, the 26 years old Gateway Mattress Factory shut down.  The owner blamed the bad economy: “I basically don’t have enough business to cover overhead. What compounds that is over the last two years of the recession, margins are tighter than they’ve ever been in my life….”-Dave Williams

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.

Japan enters U.S. data collection/spying market!

28 October 2013 (11:42 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Dhu’l-Hijja 1434/06 Aban 1391/24 Ren-Xu (9th month) 4711

Japanese tech company, NTT Communications, announced they are taking over two U.S. companies in Colorado and California.

Virtela Technology Services, based in Colorado, provides corporations with computer networking service.

California’s RagingWire collects, processes and stores your personal data.

NTT Communications’ take over will be complete by January 2014.

Japan is part of the Trilateral Commission alliance.

The Trilateral Commission was founded by David Rockefeller in 1973.  The official goal is to foster economic and political co-operation between Japan, North American countries and European countries (notice these are the regions that are currently in big economic trouble).

In 2000, the Japan membership was expanded to include many other Asian countries, and is now called the Pacific Asia Group.

In April 2013, Japan became a member of NATO (which has become the Trilateral Commission’s military unit): “…..You might ask why the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization should come to the Pacific region.  The answer is very simple.  Today’s NATO is a new NATO.  It’s a NATO with a global perspective.  It’s a NATO with global partners.  And Japan is our longest-standing global partner…..NATO and Japan are like-minded……we can help the United Nations and the international community to reinforce the rules-based international system……we need common approaches and responses…….To confront global threats such as terrorism, cyber attacks, and proliferation…..And I am delighted that later today, Prime Minister Abe and I will sign a Joint Political Declaration to guide our future work.”-Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General, from statement made on the morning of 15 April 2013, Japan National Press Club

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 13 August 2013. Warren Buffet kills 600 jobs! Company says bad economy “unprecedented” & “no foreseeable improvement”! Private prisons admit they want more Americans in prisons for the cash!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs.

Aircraft engine maker, Pratt & Whitney, laid off 400 employees!  This is on top of the employee buyout back in May.  Since January, the government tax sucker has laid off 1400 people!

Arizona: In Yuma, 50 years old La Casa Gutierrez Restaurant shut down.  The restaurant was in the family’s home, built in 1895.  They wanted to make sure the home was preserved for Yuma’s history.  They also admitted “…the foundation is compromised…”

Arkansas: 23 years old Brown & Hawkins closed down. The family owners want to retire, they tried to sell the clothing store but nobody was interested.

California: In Palo Alto, Hewlett Packard laid off 500 people! It’s blamed on crashing computer sales.  Another video game maker, Crystal Dynamics, laid off about 12 employees.   In Hollywood the marketing company, The Cimarron Group, out-o-business.  The company that promoted movies like Ice Age and Brave has been quietly closing offices around the World for several months.  In Los Gatos, restaurant Hobee’s Los Gatos shut down. The owners said weekday business was so slow they couldn’t pay the “premier rent”.  The newspaper, Appeal-Democrat, laid off 19 employees. The publisher blamed the suck ass economy: “We are very sorry that we had to let some good people go, but the reduction in workforce was necessary to keep our business healthy.”-Paula Patton

Connecticut:  Tax sucker, Northrop Grumman, laid off more employees in Norwalk.  The factory is being shut down, a total of 315 people will be out-o-work by the end of 2014!  In Bloomfield, Netflix announced it “….has closed the Bloomfield DVD distribution center due mainly to United States Postal Service transportation and service changes, along with increased internal production efficiencies….”

Iowa: In Dubuque, the Main St. Falbo Brothers Pizzeria closed.  The owners said it wasn’t making a profit.

Maine: Maine Medical Center eliminates 225 filled and vacant positions.  It’s blamed on Obama Care and reduced number of patients.

Massachusetts: In Plymouth, the Used Book Superstore closed after only 10 months in business. It’s blamed on the suck ass economy: “We hired a remarkable staff in this location, who all did their best to provide a clean, well-stocked and well-merchandised bookstore.  Unfortunately, we have not been able to hit the numbers we need to hit to make this location work.”-Bob Ticehurst, president

Michigan: The Portage Manufacturing Plant shut down, 40 people unemployed.  The factory was taken over by competition.   In Flint, Bearded Lady Records shut down after only one year in business.   The owner said he had too many projects to deal with.

New York: In Forest Hills, Laytner’s Linen & Home to close at the end of the year.  An unnamed employee told local news media “The landlord jacked up the price on the rent!”

North Carolina: In Winston-Salem, 70 years old Community Shoe Store shut down. The owners wanted to retire.  Their children did not want to take over the business and they could not find buyers. Sales had been declining.  The Iredell-Statesville Schools laid off 52 teachers and teacher assistants. That’s on top of the 54 laid off back in June. It’s blamed on a “surprising” crash in student enrollment. One school official says many teachers still can’t believe their jobs are at risk: “There are people right now that think they have jobs that will not have jobs.”-Alvera Lesane, associate superintendent

Ohio:  In Columbus privately run youth prison, Starr Commonwealth, shut down, 77 layoffs.  Back in April they closed their Van Wert prison, lamenting “….we can’t get the state or private people to put enough kids into the system…to make it economically feasible.”  Vinton County’s only major grocery store, McArtur SuperValu, closed after 27 years of operations.  The owners said “Words cannot express the sadness that this decision carries; however, it simply is not feasible for us to continue.”  Retail fixtures supplier, CSC Worldwide, laid off 94 people.  Company officials said they were getting out of building fixtures like dairy coolers for grocery stores. They blamed the suck ass economy: “The decision to conduct layoffs and cease operations at this facility was the result of an unforeseeable economic environment, including an unprecedented deterioration of market conditions with no foreseeable improvement.”-company statement

Pennsylvania: In Pittsburgh, 350 people lost their jobs with Heinz.  It’s part of H.J. Heinz’ plans to layoff 600 people in the U.S. and Canada.  Heinz has been letting employees go ever since Warren Buffet, and 3G Capital, took them over.  Mexico based Bimbo Bakeries shut down their factory in Wilson.  78 people out-o-work.  The company is building a new bakery in Upper Macungie Township.

Wisconsin: In Milwaukee, Blount International laid off 200 people at its chain saw factory!  Spokesman David Dugan said the company is moving operations “…closer to where our customers are in Brazil, China and Canada.” 

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: 600% property tax rate increase! Property developers to blame! Media playing Red Herring game!

27 October 2013 (13:08 UTC-07 Tango)/22 Dhu’l-Hijja 1434/05 Aban 1391/23 Ren-Xu (9th month) 4711

“All these years of getting nothing, then all of a sudden, they want to lay this tax on your back and still not give you nothing! For the last three years, we’ve been paying $128 a year for garbage collection. I don’t even have my green garbage can. Where’s my can? You can call 911, but nobody gonna squeal up to your front door, so forget it.”-Cornelia Bailey, 9th generation resident

In Georgia, U.S.A., the McIntosh County commissioners have reappraised property values on the island of Sapelo.  Some property owners, who can trace their roots back to pre-War Between the States, are facing a 600% increase in taxes as a result!

The county officials ordered a property value reassessment back in January.  The move by county officials could be a way to push out residents so the property can be sold to developers.  Starting in 2010, property owners have been pushed to sell their land to developers.  The large amounts of money that some homes have sold for are what county commissioners are using to justify their huge home value adjustments.

Before developers became interested in the island, homes were only worth an average of $10-thousand USD.  But in the past two years developers have been paying more than $100-thousand for the homes.

The main streamer U.S. news media is making this story sound like a cultural/descendant of former slaves issue, but that’s a red herring.  What this is, is another way that U.S. home owners can have their homes taken away from them, even if they’re paid for.

Sapelo Island can be accessed by boat or plane only.  Most of it is owned by the state.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Too Big to Jail: Elitists ripped off by their own elite hotel!

26 October 2013 (14:52 UTC-07 Tango)/21 Dhu’l-Hijja 1434/04 Aban 1391/22 Ren-Xu (9th month) 4711

The Maryland, U.S.A., based elitist hotel chain, Ritz Carlton, admits to ripping off wealthy customers at their Osaka, Japan, hotel.

In a press conference the hotel’s general manager, Oriol Montal, admitted he knew back in July that customers in the restaurant were not being served what they ordered.  Food items were being made with cheaper ingredients.  Montal also admitted that some food items were contracted out to third party food services.

However, in true elitist style Montal blamed the restaurant’s menus for the bait-n-switch, saying the menus had incorrect item descriptions.  This does not explain why he said nothing for the past three to four months since learning of the problem.  Montal says he will refund his rich customers their money.

Montal admitted there is no oversight regarding how the hotel restaurant is run.  In July he was told of shrimp ingredients that were not what was printed on the menus.  He claims that it was this month (October) that he was told, apparently by a restaurant whistleblower, that other food items, like bread, were not what they seemed.

I hope all those laissez-faire elitists liked their bait-n-switch meals!

Business/Economics, Idaho, Technology, U.S.

Exceptional Failed State: U.S. job losses & store closings 10-12 August 2013. Veteran run military contractor stealing bombs from National Guard? Idaho loses 1500 jobs in one day? More health care cuts blamed on the Federales!

Incomplete list of announced closings and layoffs.

AOL (American On [Off ?] Line) announced they are selling off 400 Patch sites!  This after announcing they will layoff as many as 500 Patch Editors!

California: In Alameda County, the Almeda Health System laid off at least 57 employees at two hospitals, this as AHS is actually adding two more hospitals to its inventory. One of those hospitals was donated by a non-profit health care group (probably done in by Obama Care).  Hospital officials say the layoffs are their attempt to comply with Obama Care!  In Long Beach, the Christian Saint Mary Medical Center laid off 86 employees.  In Redwood City, Perseid Therapeutics ended operations.  59 people unemployed. It’s the result of a takeover by Astellas.  In San Jose, IBM laid off 203 people!  The layoffs were part of IBM’s elimination of 3-thousand jobs World wide!

Florida: In Tampa, Too Big to Jail JP Morgan Chase lays off another 208 people!  That’s on top of the 435 cuts announced in June. The evil bank officials admitted that the home mortgage disaster has reached a point where it’s not worth it for banks to continue stealing people’s homes, so they’re now going after their own employees!

Georgia: In Tucker, Park Pet Retreat shut down. The owner of the doggie daycare center blames a suck ass investor:“I am so very sorry to tell you that the Investor that was brought to me and led me on for a month has backed away from the deal.”   But, apparently some good news; it seems Rita MacCallon has such loyal customers that she’s opened a new doggie daycare under the title Rita’s Pet Retreat.

Idaho: In Boise, Micron Technologies (the World’s 2nd largest DRAM maker) announced it will fire 1500 employees!  It’s the result of Micron taking over Japanese competitor Elpida.  Micron officials say the layoffs will be spread around the World, but a Boise financial consultant, Dave Pesto, said “It appears to be pretty heavy here.”  Micron laid off 2-thousand people in Boise back in 2009!

Illinois: In Chicago, Career Education Corporation laid off another 480 people!  That’s on top of the 900 people laid off since last November!  The company has lost more than a hundred million dollars since last year!

Kansas: Wichita City warned of layoffs.  If city revenues are down, as is expected, they want to layoff 13 employees.

Louisiana: Explo Systems bankrupt, company officials in prison.  They are $3 million in debt, and were even served with an eviction notice by the Army National Guard.  The company was supposed to be disarming and destroying out of date munitions for the Louisiana National Guard.   At least six employees were charged with unlawful storage of explosives, reckless storage of explosives, failure to obtain magazine license, failure to properly mark explosive material,  failure to keep accurate inventory and conspiracy.

New York: In Buffalo, yet another non-profit health care provider, Phoenix Frontier, bankrupt because of the federal government.  The IRS claims the disabilities and mental health service provider failed to pay taxes.  In Levittown, magic Shop closed (the store sign actually has magic spelled with lower case m).

North Carolina: The Agricultural and Technical State University laid off at least 50 employees.  The University of North Carolina at Greensboro laid off an undisclosed amount of employees.  In both cases it’s blamed on state funding cuts, and declining student enrollment.  In Greensboro, Cafe Carolina closed down. The owner blames the suck ass economy: “We really wished, we had the ability to keep it going, but under the current conditions we just can’t.”-Ron Hines

Texas: In Waco, Southern Foods Group ended operations.  150 employees let go!

Vermont: Wood burning stove maker, Vermont Castings, laid off 100 employees! Other layoffs took place in Kentucky and Mexico. The company was taken over by its own management, who decided to slash and burn in the name of consolidation.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Exceptional Failed state: More Sears & Kmart closings! Sears selling off its most profitable stores!

26 October 2013 (03:42 UTC-07 Tango)/21 Dhu’l-Hijja 1434/04 Aban 1391/22 Ren-Xu (9th month) 4711

“….Sears had already sold close to 12 of its most profitable stores in the United States and Canada….”-Alex Kimani, Syncopy Research, warning investors in his article Sears: Get Out Or Get Burned

In Illinois, the Champaign Market Place Mall Sears being closed by GGP.  The store was sold to GGP in 2012.  The store opened in 1975.

In Wisconsin, the Fort Atkinson Kmart will close mid-January.  The store opened in 1979.

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).

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).

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).

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 Sears going’ down. Or, maybe it’s preps for Shop within a Shop, or one of those domestic spy data storage centers?

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), recently revealed Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 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).

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).

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: 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.

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).

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), recently revealed 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.

Exceptional Failed State: Study says U.S. citizens too stupid to compete in Global workplace! Older U.S. workers smarter!

25 October 2013 (15:17 UTC-07 Tango)/20 Dhu’l-Hijja 1434/03 Aban 1391/21 Ren-Xu (9th month) 4711

Despite the fact that people in the U.S. have decent access to computers and the internet, they actually score lower in intelligence than even countries who lack access to technology!

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development released the results of their comparison of average workers in a couple dozen countries, including the United States.  U.S. workers lose!

The average U.S. worker earned a “Mean proficiency in literacy” score of 262.  Only France, Spain, Italy and Cyprus scored lower.  Surprisingly German workers scored only 267.1.  The average score is 270. Russian workers scored 275.2.  Not surprisingly, Japanese workers are way ahead of the pack with a high score of 293.6 (but their high technical intelligence still doesn’t make them much money).

Those scores include people in the age range of 16 to 65 years.  When OECD cut the age range to just 16 to 24 years, U.S. workers scored even lower, dropping to 260.9, meaning the older U.S. workers are smarter than the young workers.

This contrasts with most other countries, who saw a jump in their literacy score when the older workers were left out of the equation.   This is not good for the United States, because it suggests that as more older workers retire, or are refused jobs because of their age (like me), the overall global competitiveness of U.S. workers will continue to fall in the coming decades.

When it comes to the “adjusted” math (numeracy) score the U.S. worker does worse.  Only Cyprus and Italy scored lower than the U.S.  And it gets even worse when you throw out the old fogies: U.S. workers aged 16 to 24 suck with the lowest score of 240!  Even the young workers of Cyprus beat the U.S. in math!

The OECD also gave the U.S. poor IT and problem solving scores, but my dumb ‘merican brain couldn’t take it anymore (I is college edumacated, yes I is, Idaho State Uni).  Check it out for yourself: OECD Skills Outlook 2013.