Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 18 June 2013. Jack in the Box clown turns Mexican! More school & health care cuts!

In Brooklyn, New York, the 153 years old state run SUNY Downstate Medical Center/Long Island College Hospital shut down!  1714 people out-o-work!!!  At least 420 employees were laid off in 2012!  Hospital officials blamed crashing revenues. The Brooklyn Supreme Court has ordered hospital officials to account for every “stick” of hospital assets.  Also, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the five star Dressler restaurant closed suddenly.  The owners blamed the greedy property owner: “With much regret, an agreement could not be reached for a lease renewal.”-Dressler Family

The Christian God can’t stop Saint Mary’s Hospital from laying off 83 people in Michigan.  Currently open positions will not be filled.  “As our fiscal year 2013 comes to a close, we are facing declining volumes due to fewer people seeking inpatient care services, as well as sequestration shortfalls and lower reimbursement from Medicaid and Medicare and other payers.” 

Video gamer maker EA continues to layoff employees.  This time 20 positions were cut.  In April 900 positions were cut as EA officials said they had to reorganize their company!

In Louisiana, Caddo Parish School Board axed another 105 jobs.  The positions include special education teachers, administrators, aides, reading specialist and secretaries.  The new budget also eliminated teaching supplies and reduced substitute teachers.

In Indiana, the Fremont School board laid off at least five teachers.  It’s blamed on budget cuts.

In North Carolina, military contractor DRS laying off 150 to 230 employees in Elizabeth City, despite winning a five year Coast Guard contract to maintain C-130 aircraft!  It’s blamed on federal sequestration budget cuts.  In Raleigh, Hewlett Packard laid off 147 people!  HP officials blamed it on the loss of a contract.

In Arizona, military contractor General Dynamics laid off 22 employees indirectly connected to the NSA domestic spying scandal.  It involves the company’s C4 project, which “….develops and integrates communication and information systems and technology for U.S. government programs, allied nations and select commercial customers.”  Company officials cryptically said the layoffs were caused by changes in business conditions.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shutting down 16 offices around the country.  According to some reports most of the closures will take place in regions hardest hit by the mortgage scandal.  The closures will affect 900 employees!

In Virginia, Smithfield Foods laid off 120 people!  This is the latest round of layoffs regarding the closure of their hot dog and deli meats factory.  In toto at least 400 people will be unemployed!

In Illinois, Spree thrift store (aka resale shop) closed.  35 employees affected.  No specific reason given for the closure.

Pennsylvania based maker of slipcovers, Sure Fit, taken over by Illinois based Focus Products Group.  The Lower Macungie Township distribution center being closed down, positions being moved to Illinois and California.  75 jobs affected.

In California, Nordstrom closing their Long Beach Rack store.  Company officials said they did not want to renew the lease.  Jack in the Box closing 67 fast food stores!  Company officials say they are switching to Qdoba Mexican Grill restaurants.

In New Mexico, Navajo blanket seller Packard’s on the Plaza closing down after 69 years in business.  19 employees will be unemployed in September.  The business is located in the 400 years old Santa Fe Plaza.  The current owners, who live in California, said they had to focus on family issues.  Another Plaza business, ACC Fine Furnishings, also closing down.  The company is consolidating operations, which is blamed on the bad economy.

In Colorado, Brueggers Bagels shut down.  The franchise owner did not want to renew the lease.

In Tennessee, the Nashville Symphony halts in house food service, laying off at least 37 employees. The Symphony is facing foreclosure of their Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

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.

World War 3, Economic Front: California hit hard with Sears owned OSH closings! More Kmart closings! Chevron buying vacant stores!

17 August 2013 (19:44 UTC-07 Tango 16 August 2013)/10 Shawwal 1434/26 Mordad 1391/11 Geng-Shen (7th month) 4711

Sears is closing their Austintown, Ohio, auto parts and service center on Interstate Boulevard.  Sears automotive customers are being directed to Sears automotive centers located in area shopping malls.

Once controlled by Eddie Lampert (Sears Holdings) Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) now bankrupt, and now owned by Lowe’s.  Already several of the California stores are reported to be closing down.  It’s been announced that the stores in Torrance, El Cerrito, Fairfield, Santa Clarita, Fountain Valley and Vacaville will close.  At least 17 of the 99 OSH stores have been publicly axed.  A report on 15 August said it was part of Lowe’s takeover of OSH through a bankruptcy court.  Lowe’s was the only corporation that bid on the bankrupt OSH.  Company officials estimate that each store averages 55 employees; 17 store closings equals 935 people out-o-work!

About a week ago reports said the small 35-40 years old (depending on the report) Coos Bay Kmart, in Oregon, would shut down in November.  The store averaged $4 million USD in sales every year.  The manager revealed that Kmart never held a long term lease, and in recent years was renewing annually.  This time they did not renew the lease.

And the Kmart in Orem, Utah, quietly announced their closing.  The articles posted gave no details what-so ever, other than the store was closing and big savings were to be had by shoppers.

The recently vacated Kmart in Moon, Pennsylvania, just sold to California based oil giant Chevron, for $12 million! Apparently Sears Holdings owned the property, and the sale to Chevron was the real reason for closing the Kmart and rendering 143 people unemployed.

In Mississippi, a federal judge threw out Kmart’s claim that they are owed compensation for flood damage in 2010, caused by a vacant Kroger grocery store next door.  The Kroger store went bust and was supposed to be torn down in 2005, but for some reason that was stopped by FEMA.

In New South Wales, Australia, government officials blocked property developers from building a new Kmart.  Wesfarmers is the corporation that operates Kmarts in Australia and New Zealand.

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), recently revealed 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!).

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.

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).

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

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

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

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 Kmart (32 jobs lost), one of the Gulfport Kmarts (52 jobs lost).

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).

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), recently revealed Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard.   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), recently revealed Coos Bay Kmart (25 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).

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.

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: Recently revealed 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).

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

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (will be 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

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 15-17 June 2013. Obama Care making the health care industry sick as a dog! Universities suffer massive decline in student enrollment!

Provider of equipment and management services for cancer clinics, OnCure Holdings, now bankrupt.  The Colorado based company is being parted out, sold off, mass layoffs.  320 employees affected!  Company officials blame Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act for slashing and burning Medicare/Medicaid payments. OnCure is the third health care company to go bankrupt between April and June!  The other two bankrupt health care companies, Rotech Healthcare and Sound Shore Medical Center, both blame Obama Care!

The University of Missouri Health Care is laying off, or reducing the hours of 35 employees, plus 90 vacant positions will not be filled.  It being blamed on reduced Medicare/Medicaid payments!

In Michigan, non-profit health care research company, Altarum Institute, laid off 15 people.  They’re blaming it on the federal sequestration funding cuts.  What automotive industry recovery?  Germany based Benteler Automotive shutting down their Grand Rapids factory, in March 2014.  220 employees affected! The company said that all signs point to tougher competition in the automotive industry and they must become more efficient.  And two staffing contractors working for Detroit Public Schools laid off 650 employees!  The staffing companies say it’s because the school district has failed to pay them for services rendered!

In Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia School District laid off another 76 employees.  The week prior they laid off 3800 employees!!! A new tax on cigarettes was created to help fund the school district.  They are also considering raising the liquor tax.

In Illinois, the Chicago Public Schools laid off 850 employees!   Schools are being closed.

In Virginia, Isle of Wight Schools laying off 21 employees.  The budget for the district is $4 million USD less than last school year’s, despite an increase in local taxes!

Washington DC’s Howard University eliminated 75 jobs.  Apparently the school is in big financial trouble.

Iowa’s Ashford University is begging employees to voluntarily quit!  This includes employees at its Colorado and California campuses.  Reports say the university has suffered huge declines in student enrollment.  One report says enrollment is down 16000 from the year before!

The parent company of University of Phoenix, Apollo Group, laid off 24 people in Arizona.  It’s part of a planned layoff of 1000 employees!!!  It’s blamed on massive declines in student enrollment.

In Wisconsin, heavy equipment maker Caterpillar continues its trend of layoffs.  260 people unemployed due to crashing mining equipment sales!  Caterpillar has already laid off more than 500 hundred people in Illinois!

In Florida, the Palm Beach Ritz Carlton hotel laid off 452 people!  It’s the result of a major management change at the hotel.

California based OneWest Bank laying off 725 people in Texas!   OneWest was taken over by Georgia based Ocwen Financial.  And in Dallas, Saks Fifth Avenue shut down.  123 people out-o-work!

Speaking of the Golden State, the YWCA Thrift Store closed in Watsonville.  After 54 years of operations the bad economy did the non-profit store in.   In Sacramento, two The Beat music stores shut down after 30 years of business.  The business owner blames the property owner for jacking up the rents!

In Portland, Oregon, Solopower shut down. 29 people unemployed.

What oil boom? In Fargo, North Dakota, the 109 Consign store closed down.

Della Notte restaurant shut down in Baltimore, Maryland.  No reason given.

The 29 years old Sassafras Gift Shop closed in South Norwalk, Connecticut.  The owner blamed it on a declining market for gift shops, and on the fact that city officials expect businesses to be money makers for the city.

Another Mitt Romney Staples closing down.  This one is in the Barrington Shopping Plaza in Rhode Island.  It’s part of the Romney wounderkind’s plans to close stores across the United States and Europe.

In New York City, New York, Gleacher & Company Securities laid off 55 employees.  And Royal Health laid off 39 people.  In Syracuse, Scolaro, Shulman, Cohen, Fetter & Burstein, law firm, laid off 50 employees.  In Yonkers, Belmay closed.  60 people laid off.

And the Christian God can’t stop the North Grafton United Methodist Church from shutting down.  The 166 years old Massachusetts church is blaming it on lack of members.

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.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 13-14 June 2013. California hit hard, again! The “system is just broken”!

Eddie Lampert (Sears Holdings) controled Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) now bankrupt.  The California based company has $261 million USD in debt.  Over the past two years OSH has lost $132.8 million!  Apparently the attempt to sell OSH to Lowes fell through.  OSH is now being parted out, which means lots-o-people will be out-o-work!

Also in California, the Los Angeles County Superior Court eliminated 511 positions, demoted 139 employees and transferred 223 to new jobs!  The county court is short $85 million!  Computer security company, Symantec, laid off 1700 employees!  In January, a company official referred to the U.S. capitalist crony corporate “system is just broken”.

The New York City Housing Authority will layoff 500 employees!  It’s blamed on reductions in federal funding.  Oak Beverages shut down in Brooklyn, 53 people laid off.  And BorgWarner Morse TEC ends their new Powdered Metal Operation in Cortland.  35 people laid off.   Originally the new Cortland location was to have employed 70 people.  I couldn’t find an explanation for the closure.

Too Big to Jail, JP Morgan Chase, announced 1800 layoffs at its New York and Florida mortgage offices.  It’s part of their plans to layoff 17000 people by the end of 2014!

Also in Florida, Okey Dokey Grocery shutting down all 11 stores!  157 people out-o-work!  Originally the company was planning on opening 50 new stores!  Reports now say the company is trying to find tenants for their stores.  Local business analysts think the company rushed into the grocery business without a true gameplan.

In Minnesota, IntriCon of Arden Hills laid off 35 people.  The maker of wireless monitoring devices for medical products is moving production around from a couple of states and a couple of countries.

In Missouri, after 99 years the last Garavelli’s Cafeteria closed down.  The owners blame the increasing costs of doing business, and declining customers. It’s now up for sale.  The non-profit Boone Hospital Center laid off 13 employees, and reduced hours for seven others.  It’s part of non-profit BJC Healthcare’s 160 employee layoffs at several of its hospitals!  It’s blamed on Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act: “…experiencing reductions in our reimbursement for the healthcare services that we provide…”-June Fowler, BJC Healthcare

In Alabama, the Christian God can’t stop Catholic Providence Hospital from laying off 35 employees.  It’s blamed on the federal government’s ‘sequestration’ of funding.  Hospital officials say they’ve lost $2 million in Medicare funding!  And medical bed manufacturer, Hausted Patient Handling Systems, sold their factory to Graham Field Health Products.    Clothing brand, Russel Brands, shut down their Wetumpka factory.  191 jobs lost!  This is in addition to the closing of its Alexander City factory.

In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Atlanta Bread Company restaurant shut down.  Local news media reports say it’s not clear why it shut down.  SMS Sportsworld closed in Aiken.  The owner blamed it on too much competition and the bad economy.

Oak Farms milk packager in Waco, Texas, laid off 150 employees!  Production is being consolidated, a few months ago they closed their Louisiana plant.

What booming oil industry? Texas based Enerflex Limited shut down its Casper, Wyoming, natural gas operations.  89 people unemployed.  It’s blamed on a market shift from coal-bed methane to shale gas.

Edinboro University, in Pennsylvania, warned of layoffs due to declining student enrollment, for the first time in decades.  And Kissel Hill closed its North Cornwall Township store.  11 people out-o-work.  The owners said the store was an experimental operation opened last year.

In Cheshire, Connecticut, Bovano’s Retail Store closed.  Seven people out-o-work.   In Fairfield, Cargo Bay clothing store shut down. The owner is taking a break.

Local finished arts & crafts store Sarida, in Maine, closed up shop.  The owner said her first year was great, but by the Autumn of 2012 business crashed: “We started panicking in November.”-Tammy Cook

In Wisconsin, Oshkosh Defense laid off 700 employees!  It’s blamed on reduced government spending.  More layoffs are expected.  In Holman, Blue Cup Coffee House restaurant shut down after ten years of operations.  The owner blames the bad economy: “It’s been a tough couple of years. Last year was significantly down…..Different marketing techniques did help, but at the end of the day, it was too little, too late.”-Kim Granum

In Oregon, Georgia Pacific announced it will layoff 100 people over the next three years.  The paper product maker is replacing them with machines.

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.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 11-12 June 2013. 4000 hospital employees laid off, blamed on Obama! U.S. model kit company shutting down? Illinois & New York hit hard, again!

IBM is ending operations and laying off as many as 8000 employees in Vermont and North Carolina!!!  A company press release basically blamed it on tough competition.

British empire owned Kearfott laid off 96 employees in North Carolina.  Kearfott makes guidance systems for UAVs (recon and assassination drones) for the military.  The report of layoffs came from employees, company officials refused to talk to local media about it.  In Lewisville, Shallowford Hardware shut down after only five years in business.

What automotive industry recovery?  Delaware based Lio Energy Systems and China based Miles Electric Vehicles joined California based Coda Automotive in bankruptcy.  Coda is the parent company of Lio Energy and Miles Electric.  It’s blamed on lack of sales of their electric cars.

In Pennsylvania, Wissahickon School District laid off six people, and reduced the pay for two other employees.  Also, the Altoona Area School District closed two elementary schools.  It’s blamed on declining student enrollment.  Philadelphia’s most famous restaurant, Le Bec Fin, shut down.  The restaurant has closed before, and re-opened, but the owner says it’s for good this time.

In Georgia, the Muscogee School Board wants to layoff 20 teachers.  They’ve already closed two elementary schools.  It’s all about balancing the budget.  The city of Columbus warned of massive layoffs.  The city has already laid off hundreds of employees over the past couple of years.

The Louisiana Civil Service Commission laying off 3976 employees at LSU’s hospital in Shreveport!!!  Most of those are classified as state employees.  It’s part of the state’s plans to privatize the hospital, partially blamed on the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act for reducing Medicare/Medicaid payments to the state.

In Connecticut, the Christian God can’t stop Saint Vincent Medical Center from laying off 50 employees, and eliminating 100 other positions!  Catholic hospital officials blamed it on competition and decreased federal funding due to the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act.

The University of Maryland Medical Center laying off an undisclosed number of employees.  Hospital officials are directly blaming the Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Act.  They also blame federal sequestration, which will cut several billions of dollars from Medicare.

In New York, Lakeside Memorial Hospital Emergency Department and Inpatient Unit shut down, 343 people unemployed! Hospital officials blame it on lack of customers.  In NYC, CNN America-Starting Point laid off 40 employees.  And Artio Global Investors closed, 94 people laid off.  Direct Access Partners closed, 62 people laid off.  Post House Investors closing, 59 employees out-o-work. In Dunkirk, The Carriage House closed, 133 people out-o-work!   In Farmingdale, OSI Pharmaceuticals shut down, 96 people unemployed.  Rochester Beer & Beverage shut down, 63 people unemployed.

Massive layoffs in Illinois, again!  Plastic model kit company Testors laid off 107 employees at it’s Rockford plant!  Testors has operated out of Rockford since 1929, they also make paint and other model building supplies.  Company officials say the bad economy is forcing them to eliminate some of their model supply brands.  This means closing their 84 years old Blackhawk Park Avenue building, and moving operations into a smaller building.  Commercial Vehicle Group shut down its truck parts factory in DeKalb.  75 jobs lost.  Illinois Central School Bus lost its contract in South Beloit.  107 people unemployed!  Life sciences equipment manufacturer, PerkinElmer, shut down operations and laid off 53 people in Downers Grove.  In Chillicothe, warehousing company HK Logistics laid off 59 employees.  Hubbell Central Distribution Center closing its South Holland facility. 82 people laid off.  Book publisher D.B. Hess for sale, 148 employees affected!  Chartwells Dining Services lost their contract in Waukegan, 113 jobs lost.  Chartwells has been losing contracts across the country.  In Edwardsville, Berkeley Contract Packaging shutting down and laying off 161 people!  Commercial building construction firm, All Tri-R, lost a major contract.  173 unemployed!  Military contractor, KBR, closing it’s Chicago office, 83 people out-o-work.  Drug maker AbbVie laid off another 96 employees.  Manufacturer of automated toll collection systems, TransCore LP, closing a call center and laying off 196 people!

In Indiana, reports that Slingshot SEO laid off ten employees.  Company officials say they’re “…right-sizing our organization for our next wave of growth.”

In California, JDSU laid off 125 people at its optical products division in Sonoma County!  The company has ended production of some products.  In Santa Barbara, after 29 years of business the Travel Store closed down.  The owner blamed it on internet competition and declining local customers.

Donation funded PBS NewsHour closing offices in San Fransisco, California, and in Denver, Colorado.  Most employees at those offices laid off.  It’s blamed on declining corporate sponsors.  Current open positions will not be filled.  Because of reduced corporate sponsorship, PBS NewsHour is short $7 million USD!

Commercial cable TV sports channel, ESPN, began a second round of layoffs.  Company officials say they plan to layoff up to 400 people this year!  Reports say the first round of layoffs, in May, came with no warning.

Greyhound bus company shut down their Clearwater, Florida, bus station.  Local news sources say the company would not comment on why they’re closing the station.  JP Morgan & Chase laying off 435 people in Tampa!  It’s part of the Too Big to Jail bank’s plan to layoff 17000 people across the country by the end of 2014!!!

Julie’s Gold Crown Hallmark closed in Arkansas.

In Manassas, Virginia, it was revealed the Kmart would close in September.  71 people out-o-work!

The Lai Thai Restaurant closed in Casper, Wyoming.  Health and family issues forced the owners to sell to a new owner, who will hopefully re-open the restaurant.

In Oregon, FOSS Maritime laid off 60 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.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

The United States is a Failed State: Another 1.18 million citizens have left the U.S.! Don’t blame new tax rules! Where are they all going?

11 August 2013 (00:28 UTC-07 Tango)/04 Shawwal 1434/20 Mordad 1391/05 Geng-Shen (7th month) 4711

According to the U.S. Department of State, 6.38 million U.S. citizens are now living outside the United States!  That’s 1.18 million more than what the State Department reported in 2012!  (that does not include government or military personnel)

But wait, the 6.38 million figure is what the U.S. State Department compiled for 2011! You see, the data the State Department just released is two years old!  I could almost guarantee the actual number of U.S. citizens leaving the country is higher.

Already 1810 have renounced their U.S. citizenship, just in the first half of 2013, that’s record breaking!

Since 2008 the numbers of U.S. citizens rejecting their citizenship has only gone up.  These approximate numbers are compiled from the quarterly list of names provided by the Internal Revenue Service.

2008: 235

2009: 743

2010: 1500

2011: 1788

2012: 747

First six months of 2013: 1810

The exodus has got government leaders so riled up that they’ve passed tax laws (like FATCA & FBAR) that essentially makes anyone who leaves the United States a tax evading terrorist.

But you can’t blame the new taxes because expatriates are already required to pay U.S. taxes even though they live in another country: “The U.S. is the only developed nation in the world that taxes its citizens on income they earn abroad.“-William McGurn, Wall Street Journal

The new tax laws require foreign banks to report accounts of U.S. citizens to the U.S. government.  FACTA also require foreign banks to steal up to 30% of U.S. payments to U.S. citizen’s bank accounts! Banks in Germany and Canada are complaining that the laws are too complicated, and will cost them money to comply with.

U.S. expats living abroad, yet paying U.S. taxes with little or no representation.  Isn’t that what the U.S. Revolution of 1776 was all about?

Where are all those U.S. citizens fleeing to?  According to the recently released State Department data (from 2011) the favorite place is still the Western Hemisphere (Canada, Latin America, Caribbean).  Two million 591 thousand U.S. citizens fled north or south of the border.  By the way, this year former USN SEAL, former movie star and former governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura, revealed that he moved his family to Mexico.  Don’t blame U.S. taxes, in an interview with controversial Alex Jones, Ventura basically said the sheeple of the U.S. are a bunch of panty wastes who don’t have the guts to fight their repressive elitist British empire/Israeli zionist controlled government!

Europe is the next favorite escape destination, at one million 612 thousand.  But for those who move to Europe you can not blame it on trying to avoid U.S. taxes, because the tax rates in Europe are outrageous! How ’bout that waffling Republican Michele Bachmann? First she’s a U.S. citizen, then she becomes a Swiss citizen in 2012, then changes her mind!  In 2012, Grammy-nominated songwriter Denise Rich renounced U.S. citizenship after moving to United Kingdom.  Also, in January 2013 ‘merican pop music star Tina Turner renounced her U.S. citizenship and became a Swiss citizen.  Tina Turner said she can’t bring herself to call the U.S. ‘home’ anymore: “I’m very happy in Switzerland and I feel at home here. I cannot imagine a better place to live.”

Next is the Near East (aka Middle East, North Africa) at 870 thousand.  That’s right, U.S. citizens are moving to countries considered to support terrorism!

East Asia and Pacific countries have seen 864 thousand U.S. citizens move in.  In 2012 Facebook co-founder, Eduardo Saverin, renounced his U.S. citizenship and now calls Singapore his home.  In his case taxes might be the motivating factor.  Athlete Quincy Davis renounced U.S. citizenship in June 2013.  He now plays basketball for Taiwan.

212 thousand U.S. citizens moved into South Central Asian countries (Afghanistan anyone?).

And African countries saw 171 thousand U.S. citizens take up residence.

Remember, these are 2011 State Department numbers.

Business/Economics, Technology, U.S.

Martial law U.S.A.: Think your smartphone data is secure? Silent Circle erases customer data due to fear of the NSA!

10 August 2013 (15:46 UTC-07 Tango)/03 Shawwal 1434/19 Mordad 1391/04 Geng-Shen (7th month) 4711

The following was posted by Silent Circle:

To Our Customers

We designed our phone, video, and text services (Silent Phone and Silent Text) to be completely end-to-end secure with all cryptography done on the clients and our exposure to your data to be nil. The reasons are obvious — the less of your information we have, the better it is for you and for us.

Silent Mail has thus always been something of a quandary for us. Email that uses standard Internet protocols cannot have the same security guarantees that real-time communications has. There are far too many leaks of information and metadata intrinsically in the email protocols themselves. Email as we know it with SMTP, POP3, and IMAP cannot be secure.

And yet, many people wanted it. Silent Mail has similar security guarantees to other secure email systems, and with full disclosure, we thought it would be valuable.

However, we have reconsidered this position. We’ve been thinking about this for some time, whether it was a good idea at all. Today, another secure email provider, Lavabit, shut down their system lest they “be complicit in crimes against the American people.” We see the writing the wall, and we have decided that it is best for us to shut down Silent Mail now. We have not received subpoenas, warrants, security letters, or anything else by any government, and this is why we are acting now.

We’ve been debating this for weeks, and had changes planned starting next Monday. We’d considered phasing the service out, continuing service for existing customers, and a variety of other things up until today. It is always better to be safe than sorry, and with your safety we decided that the worst decision is always no decision.

Silent Phone and Silent Text, along with their cousin Silent Eyes are end-to-end secure. We don’t have the encrypted data and we don’t collect metadata about your conversations. They’re continuing as they have been. We are still working on innovative ways to do truly secure communications. Silent Mail was a good idea at the time, and that time is past.

We apologize for any inconvenience, and hope you understand that if we dithered, it could be more inconvenient.

Business/Economics, Technology, U.S.

Martial Law U.S.A.: Think your secure email is secure? Lavabit shut down for refusing to comply with NSA!

10 August 2013 (15:34 UTC-07 Tango)/03 Shawwal 1434/19 Mordad 1391/04 Geng-Shen (7th month) 4711

The following was posted by the operator of a secure email service that was bullied by the U.S. government:

My Fellow Users,

I have been forced to make a difficult decision: to become complicit in crimes against the American people or walk away from nearly ten years of hard work by shutting down Lavabit. After significant soul searching, I have decided to suspend operations. I wish that I could legally share with you the events that led to my decision. I cannot. I feel you deserve to know what’s going on–the first amendment is supposed to guarantee me the freedom to speak out in situations like this. Unfortunately, Congress has passed laws that say otherwise. As things currently stand, I cannot share my experiences over the last six weeks, even though I have twice made the appropriate requests.

What’s going to happen now? We’ve already started preparing the paperwork needed to continue to fight for the Constitution in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. A favorable decision would allow me resurrect Lavabit as an American company.

This experience has taught me one very important lesson: without congressional action or a strong judicial precedent, I would _strongly_ recommend against anyone trusting their private data to a company with physical ties to the United States.

Sincerely,
Ladar Levison
Owner and Operator, Lavabit LLC

Defending the constitution is expensive! Help us by donating to the Lavabit Legal Defense Fund here.

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 09-10 June 2013. Bad economy kills 100 years old non-profit!

What automotive industry recovery? Georgia based lead acid battery maker, Exide, bankrupt. Company officials blame higher production costs, increased competition and a crashing market in Europe.

Texas based National Envelope (aka NE Opco) went through on their threat of bankruptcy.  They blame crashing envelope sales on electronic communications.  In Dallas, the 100 years old non-profit, Camp Fire Lone Star, shut down operations!  It’s blamed on increased competition for decreasing donations, due to the bad economy.

In Pennsylvania, the Allentown School District laid off 99 teachers, with the goal of eliminating 132 teaching positions!  It’s blamed on reduced state and federal funding.  In Philadelphia, Boeing laid off 41 employees. Company officials say it’s necessary to remain competitive.  Bethlehem’s Supermercado Mi Terra grocery store closed after 55 years of business.  It’s being replaced with a C-Town grocery store.  And the Home and Planet home decor store shut down.  The owner said he has to sell the building.

The Hummel Gift Shop closed in Ohio.  The owners retired.  Bradley Caldwell closing their distribution center in August. 81 people out-o-work.

In Minnesota, Nordic Home Interiors shut down their retail operation.  They will focus on internet sales.

Su Casa II Mexican Grill shut down in Wisconsin.  The owners blame skyrocketing increases in all costs, the final straw being a new lease.

Schwan Foods shut down their distribution centers in Oakes, North Dakota, and Faulkton, South Dakota.  The mayors of the two towns complained that the closings will greatly impact their small towns.  The door to door food service is consolidating distribution into a new $1 million USD center in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

In Washington, after failed attempts to sell it off, the owners of Junction Bakery and Café gave up.

In California, the only medical supply store in Lompoc, Valley Medical, shut down.  Management referred local news media to corporate HQ for details of the closing, but corporate officials are apparently ignoring inquiries.  Local news media say 4000 elderly will be affected by the closing.

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, Idaho

Employee owned WinCo is the new business model of the 21st Century!

10 August 2013 (19:51 UTC-07 Tango 09 August 2013)/03 Shawwal 1434/19 Mordad 1391/04 Geng-Shen (7th month) 4711

“WinCo arguably may be the best retailer in the Western U.S……WinCo is really unstoppable….They’re Walmart’s worst nightmare!”-Burt Flickinger III, New York based retail analyst

The Idaho Statesman published an article showing that employee owned WinCo is being used as a prime example of what large U.S. businesses need to be like to survive and excel in the 21st century (Gregorian calendar system).

The article gives a good explanation why Idaho based employee owned WinCo is exploding in growth.

By the way, why does the main stream media always add a dash between Wal and mart? There’s no dash between Wal and mart, and mart is not capitalized. It’s Walmart.  I hates Walmart, but at least I spells it correctly.  Actually here’s the history: From 1962-64 there was no dash.  From 1964-92 there was a dash.  From 1992-2008 there was a star.  Since 2008 Walmart has gone back to no dash or star upon thars (but there’s like an astric following Walmart*).

WinCo expansion delays caused by Arizona aesthetics cops!