Category Archives: Business/Economics

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 18 April 2013. Thousands of people losing their jobs!

Just one day after announcing 300 layoffs in California, Washington based (HQ now in Illinois) Boeing announced that 1700 engineering jobs will be eliminated by the end of the year!   This affects Boeing’s Commercial Airplane unit.   Boeing officials also revealed that they’ve laid off 700 people in other positions since October 2012, and that “…we will continue that effort.”

Cessna Aircraft has warned union employees in Kansas, that some of them will be out-o-work soon.  Company officials blamed the bad economy: “Cessna continues to operate within a challenging economic environment and is experiencing a slower-than-expected recovery….”  The QuikTrip store in the Sprint Center closed down.

The Asada restaurant in Laguna Beach, California, went bankrupt.   The company said the restaurant will stay open, the bankruptcy is to “preserve the business”.  The restaurant owes debts, wages and back rent.  The rent is $21630 per month.   In Modesto, the Memorial Medical Center laid off 39 office employees.  The hospital has consolidated its administrative operations.  In San Jose, two Bay Area Family Fitness centers shut down.  They had opened just 18 months prior!

IBM (International Business Machines, a U.S. company that got its start cataloging concentration camp victims for the NAZIs) warned of major layoffs.  Company officials blame their crashing sales on the bad economy.

In Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia School District is warning of massive job and program cuts, because it is short $304 million for the 2014 school year!

In New Hampshire, The Telegraph laid off about 24 employees, right before the newspaper was taken over by The Ogden Newspapers.

Too Big to Jail, Ohio’s KeyCorp (KeyBank) will increase layoffs and close at least 30 branches around the U.S.  In Youngstown, Cafe Cimmento closed down. The owner said his son left the Cafe for a better paying job.   7-Eleven closed three stores near Ohio State University.

In Cave Junction, Oregon, Rough & Ready Lumber closed down.  The owners of the saw mill blame a lack of logs coming from federal forests.

The Newsland store in Westminster, Colorado, shut down.   It’s the owner’s fifth and final Newsland store.  He started the magazine/book stands 28 years ago.   He blames electronic devices.

In Michigan, Why Not Costumes shut down after 26 years of business.  The owner blames the bad economy.  She’s put the business and her home up for sale.

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.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 17 April 2013. More education cuts! More hospital cuts no thanks to Obama/Romney Care!

Boeing laying off as many as 300 people in California!  Boeing has come up with a way to make satellites more efficiently.  The layoffs affect operations in El Segundo, Torrance, Seal Beach and Huntington Beach.

In New Jersey, the newest and most financially troubled Revel casino laid off 83 employees.  Atlantic City’s bad economy just can’t support 12 casinos!

In Minnesota, Creative Memories made it official and went bankrupt, for the second time in five years. At least 163 people to lose their jobs!

Reinsurance company, PartnerRe, will layoff 140 people despite reporting a profit for its fourth quarter!  Company officials say they’re trying to make the company more efficient (make more profits for the stockholders).  Reinsurance is basically insurance on the policies insurance companies sell to you.

Military contractor, Concurrent Technologies Corporation, laid off 19 workers at its Cambria County, Pennsylvania operations.  Company officials blame government spending cuts.  Reading Eagle, owner of Reading Hospital, laying off 210 medical staff, plus eliminating another 181 jobs through attrition!  Officials blame the Obama/Romney Care (Affordable Care Act) cuts to Medicare/Medicaid!

In New London, Wisconsin, Saputo Cheese laid off 22 employees due to changes in factory set up.

The Head Start education program in Lorain County, Ohio, laid off four employees.  Officials blame federal funding cuts.  In Columbus, the Flow Skatepark closed down.

In New York, the General Brown Central School District considering cutting or eliminating 21 positions.  The district is dealing with a $1 million USD budget gap.  Bus company, Mile Square Transportation, laid off 102 employees!  The company shut down its Peekskill facility, after the local Peekskill City School District dropped their contract.

The Mat-Su Borough School District, in Alaska, is reviewing next school year’s budget and 44 people could lose their jobs.  It has something to do with state mandated teacher to pupil ratios.

In FloridaLee County School District laying off 100 people!  Federal funding cuts are being blamed.  Pierce Manufacturing laid off 33 employees and warned of more layoffs to come.  It’s part of layoffs announced last year, due to Oshkosh shutting down its ambulance production.

In Texas, Pratt & Whitney ended its Port San Antonio maintenance operations, and laid off 125 people!  Company officials called it a “business realignment”.  Also in San Antonio, the Zuni Grill closed down.  The Skillman and Abrams store in Lake Highlands shut down.  Reports blame competition from a Super Target, and Super Walmart.

After 57 years of operations, Ponticello’s restaurant closed up in Missouri. The owner retired, saying he wanted to quit before the economy got worse.

In Maine, the Sea Grass Bistro closed.  The owner jumped ship for a job with a private club.

In Kentucky, Indigo Casual Gourmet Cafe in Fort Mitchell closed.  20 employees affected.

Home decor retailer, Kirkland’s, closed its White Marsh Mall store in Maryland.  It’s blamed on the bad economy.

In Illinois, U.S. Cellular closed a store in Evanston.  Apparently the company is focusing on rural markets.

200 Fresh & Easy stores in the United States to be closed and sold off!  The United Kingdom based owner, Tesco, says the economy is so bad they’re losing money on almost every store!  5000 people affected!

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.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Another $20 million lost by Coldwater Creek! Blames it on climate change and shuttered stores!

29 June 2013 (21:41 UTC-07 Tango 28 June 2013)/20 Sha’ban 1434/08 Tir 1391/22 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

The Idaho based women’s clothing retailer, Coldwater Creek, just keeps bleeding out cash!  For its most recent quarter, which ended in May, Coldwater Creek lost $19.4 million USD.

Executives headquartered in Sandpoint blamed it on climate change and the fact that they’ve closed so many stores: “Our first quarter results were impacted by unseasonable weather throughout the quarter….”-Jill Dean, CEO

Coldwater Creek closed two retail stores in the last quarter, along with one factory store.  Company officials don’t expect any good news when this current quarter ends, either.  Amazingly, Coldwater Creek (CWTR) stocks are selling for about $2.50 per share, despite being downgraded to neutral by investment bank B. Riley!

To try and become more efficient, Coldwater Creek just spent money on a Oracle Retail Merchandise Planning and Optimization program: “Ultimately, this should lead to further reductions in aged inventory and allow us to increase our full price selling, making us more productive and profitable.”-Jim Bell, CFO/COO

They say the program will let them better forecast what women want to buy (by spying on customers’ shopping habits).

World War 3, Economic Front: Hawaii’s first Kmart for sale! California Kmart closing!

28 June 2013 (10:51 UTC-07 Tango)/19 Sha’ban 1434/07 Tir 1391/21 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

In California, a Fairfield Kmart that opened in 1969 will close in September.  Sears Holdings does not want to renew the lease.

In Honolulu, the building housing the first Kmart in Hawaii up for lease.  The Kmart is still operating, but local news media did not get any comment from Sears Holdings about the future existence of the store.

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, recently revealed Fairfield Kmart (63 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).

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), recently revealed 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?

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). 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).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors.

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,  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.

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).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 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).   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).

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).

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.

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).

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

 

World War 3, Economic Front: U.S. ally(?) United Kingdom now dealing in Chinese yuan!

23 June 2013 (13:06 UTC-07 Tango)/14 Sha’ban 1434/02 Tir 1391/16 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

The Bank of England and the People’s Bank of China have signed a deal in which they will directly exchange their currency, avoiding the use of the U.S. dollar.

The deal maxes out at 20 billion pounds/200 billion yuan (aka RMB).  That’s currently about $30 billion USD.

Bank officials say the deal is an attempt to create financial stability (in other words, the U.S. dollar is becoming too unstable).

Germany returns to NAZI police stateism! City of Berlin locked down for U.S. President Obama! Residents can’t even get to work without special passes!

20 June 2013 (03:04 UTC-07 Tango)/11 Sha’ban 1434/30 Khordad 1391/13 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

“This is insane. I’ve never seen so much security!”-a 20 year veteran newspaper editor in Berlin

U.S. President Barack Obama was given a welcome worthy of the Führer, when he arrived in Berlin, Germany!

The entire city of Berlin was locked down, even the Brandenburg Gate was closed to traffic.  Reporters with Deutsche Welle said people weren’t even allowed to open their windows, even though it was a hot day and many don’t have air conditioning: “‘Whatever you do, don’t open the windows,’ warns an experienced colleague, as two small figures move about on the roof of the government building opposite. They might be window cleaners, but they’re more likely to be snipers – sure to be targeting us, according to the colleague. It’s not quite clear whether he’s serious. The windows remain closed for safety reasons.”

There’s even reports that a Secret Service agent shoved German President Joachim Gauck, when he tried to greet Obama!  Reporters complain that their cell phones have been searched multiple times, the automatron security guards say only “Sorry, we have to do it.”

“Have you seen the American security officer with the thick legs? I’ve got a date with her afterwards!”-one of many German jokes about paranoid U.S. security personnel

At least 8000 polizie were deployed, complete with garish green painted armored vehicles, armed with remote control machine guns mounted on turrets.  All for 4000 to 6000 ‘invited’ guests to hear Obama give a hypocritical speech called Peace with Justice.

Obama even ripped off Kennedy and used the hilarious quote “Ich bin ein Berliner” (you see it actually means “I am a jelly donut” in Berlin dialect, because a Berliner is a type of jelly donut.  If you want to say you are a resident of the city then you should say “Ich bin Berliner”, drop the “ein”).

Oh, but Obama probably didn’t even realize how many Berliners he prevented from getting to work or errands, because of the massive NAZIistic security.

Berliners had to have special passes to cross certain streets, some gave up after waiting hours at check points.

Many Germans who lived in East Germany during the Cold War said it was like going back in time to Stasi control!  Markus Ferber, of the Christian Social Union political group, said Obama’s visit and the domestic spying program in the U.S. amounts to “American-style Stasi tactics.”

Who knows how much this is costing the taxpayers?  But polls still show Germans love Obama, someone get the man a toothbrush mustache and red, white & black armband!

It isn’t just that Germans love Obama, it turns out that the United States is the only thing keeping the German economy from crashing.

The United States is the largest investor into the German economy, and 50% of German foreign investments go to the United States.  U.S. companies provide at least 800000 jobs to Germans.  Germany is the third largest foreign employer in the U.S. (after Canada and United Kingdom. Hah, you thought it would be China)

Oh, but that doesn’t mean the economy is getting better.  On the same day that Noble Peace Prize winner Führer Obama arrived to give his Peace with Justice speech, Germany’s second largest Too Big to Jail bank, Commerzbank, announced it would layoff at least 5200 people over the next three years.

 

World War 3, Economic Front-United Police States of America: Prison number one reason men are unemployed?

19 June 2013 (14:19 UTC-07 Tango)/10 Sha’ban 1434/29 Khordad 1391/12 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the percentage of men with jobs had dropped to 88%, in 2012.  There are several factors, but it seems there’s a correlation with the record breaking incarceration rates of men.

By the end of 2011 more than 2.2 million U.S. citizens, overwhelmingly men, were in prison.  And of those released from prison at least half will be imprisoned again.  That’s according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice (BoJ).

On top of that almost 5 million U.S. citizens are on parole, or some other form of ‘justice’ monitoring!

The BoJ also states that incarceration rates increased by 20 times from 1920 to 2006, even though the total U.S. population grew by only 2.8 times.  This is clear evidence that there is some kind-o-conspiracy to put people in prison.  Perhaps free labor for those corporate run for profit prisons?

“Louisiana is the world’s prison capital. The state imprisons more of its people, per head, than any of its U.S. counterparts. First among Americans means first in the world. Louisiana’s incarceration rate is nearly five times Iran’s, 13 times China’s and 20 times Germany’s.  The hidden engine behind the state’s well-oiled prison machine is cold, hard cash. A majority of Louisiana inmates are housed in for-profit facilities, which must be supplied with a constant influx of human beings or a $182 million industry will go bankrupt.”The Times-Picayune

In 2009, two county judges in Pennsylvania pled guilty to accepting bribes, in exchange for illegally imprisoning children, mostly boys, in for profit corporate prisons.  It was called the Kids for Cash scandal.

An estimated 17% of federal prisoners are forced to work for UNICOR, aka Federal Prison Industries.  They make between 23 cents to $1.15 per hour, and 50% of that income goes to court ordered payments!

According to Harvard sociology professor, Bruce Western, 1.2% of white men and 9% of black men born right after the end of the Second World War (1945) had been to prison.  But when you look at men born just after 1975 the incarceration rates jump; 3.3% of white men and 20.7% of black men had been to prison!

Human Rights Watch says 56% of imprisoned people are mentally ill!

As of 2008, the official incarceration rate in the United States is 743 out of every 100,000 citizens.

The entire eastern half of the U.S., and the West Coast states, house the most prisoners.

Yes folks, the numbers are record breaking, and have made the United States of America the top country for imprisoning its own population, which, according to the propaganda we were told during the Cold War, is proof of an oppressive authoritarian regime!

 

 

False Flag Bio-War? GMO crops intended to create starvation in the U.S. & Canada?

19 June 2013 (04:08 UTC-07 Tango)/10 Sha’ban 1434/29 Khordad 1391/12 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

“The US (and Canadian) yields are falling behind economically and technologically equivalent agroecosystems matched for latitude, season and crop type; pesticide (both herbicide and insecticide) use is higher in the United States than in comparator W. European countries….”

A study by the University of Canterbury, in New Zealand, has revealed that the people of the United States and Canada could soon face starvation because of continued use of GMO (genetically modified organism) crops.

“The choice of GM-biotechnology packages in the US agroecosystem has been the stark contrast with W. European patterns of biotechnology use. Notwithstanding claims to the contrary…..there is no evidence that GM biotechnology is superior…..”

“Producing food is an essential activity, and the ability to produce food is a global strategic asset.”

“…..GM crops are not a solution, in part because they are controlled by strict IP instruments. Despite the claims that GM might be needed to feed the world, we found no yield benefit when the United States was compared to W. Europe……GM crops have maintained or increased US pesticide use relative to equally advanced competitors. The pattern and quantities unique to the use of GM-glyphosate-tolerant crops has been responsible for the selection of glyphosate-tolerant weeds, with estimates of resistant weeds on between 6 and 40 million hectares [14.8 million to 98.8 million acres] in the United States…….The use of Bt crops is associated with the emergence of Bt resistance and by novel mechanisms in insect pests

The diversity of the germplasm is not increasing under the commercial sector in the United States and under prevailing government innovation incentives…..This is linked to globally declining rates in yield growth.”

Read more in the International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability.

World War 3, Economic Front: Sears revenues down because of shuttered stores! Kmart slave labor! Sears Canada begins closing stores! Sears sells out to Lowe’s?

19 June 2013 (21:59 UTC-07 Tango 18 June 2013)/10 Sha’ban 1434/29 Khordad 1391/12 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

Illinois about to lose the Mount Vernon Sears.  Sears Holdings officials gave the usual bullshit reason for the closing: “As a part of the ordinary course of business, we close stores for a variety of reasons. The store closures are part of a series of actions we’re taking to reduce ongoing expenses, adjust our asset base and accelerate the transformation of our business model. These actions will better enable us to focus our investments on serving our customers and members through integrated retail – at the store, online and in the home.”

A woman who bought Halloween decorations at a Kmart store that has since closed, discovered a letter inside one of the boxes containing the decorations.  It was a plea for help from a Chinese slave laborer.  The New York Times confirmed the letter by finding the actual slave laborer.  He has since been freed, but was held in a Chinese slave labor camp for his outlawed religious beliefs.  The company that supplied Kmart with the decorations denied they were made by slave laborers.

Sears Holdings reported a loss of $279 million USD during the quarter that ended 04 May 2013.  Ironically Sears is blaming part of the drop in sales on the fact that they’ve closed so many stores: “Domestic store closures accounted for approximately $375 million of the decrease from the prior year quarter.”-Sears Holdings First Quarter 2013 report

Sears Holdings is also blaming Sears Canada for ongoing losses: “Sears Canada’s comparable store sales declined 2.6% in the quarter”

They also blame the value of the U.S. dollar: “First quarter revenues also included a decrease of $19 million due to foreign currency exchange rates.”

On 14 June 2013, it was announced that Sears Canada will start closing stores in the Great White North.  Canadian news media report that two to three major Sears stores in the Toronto area will be closed.  Sears Canada officials blame the owners of the property, saying the landlords offered to pay Sears at least two hundred million in CAD (CAnadian Dollars) to vacate the premises.  (in January Sears Canada closed two distribution centers, ending 700 jobs)

On 17 June 2013, California based Orchard Supply Hardware went bankrupt.  OSH was bought by Sears in 1996.  Sears began selling stock in OSH in 2012.  Now reports say Lowe’s (a hardware competitor) is looking to become the new owner of OSH.

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.

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).

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).

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?

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!), recently revealed Mount Vernon Sears (68 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).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors.

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,  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.

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).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 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).   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).

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).

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.

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).

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

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 14-16 April 2013. More school & health care cuts!

What U.S. automotive industry recovery?  After more than 74 years of service to South Boston and Southern Virginia, car dealership Wyatt Chevrolet ends operations.  The owner blames crashing sales on the bad economy, saying it’s a sign that he needs to retire.

In New York, the Bay Shore School District laid off 40 teachers.  It’s blamed on a $5 million USD budget gap.  The Ticonderoga Central School District could layoff between 11 and 15 people, and cut some sports programs.  In DeKalb Junction, Carvel Hardware closed due to the owners retirement.  The owner said he’s been trying to sell the building, but so far no takers.  After 45 years of business, Bleecker Bob’s Golden Oldies record store shut down in Greenwich Village.  The owner blamed internet competition and a landlord that keeps jacking up the rent.

In Florida, Edison State College laid off at least eight staff.  Officials said their contracts will not be renewed.  The college is undergoing a revue of its accreditation.

In California, Coast Community College District is considering letting go “dozens” of employees.  It’s blamed on public and private funding cuts.

In Indiana, the Indianapolis Public Schools will layoff 59 people.  Officials blame a $30 million deficit!  After 92 years, Crownover Jewelry closed up shop.  The current owner says changes in the jewelry market is forcing him to find a new career.

In Missouri, another of god’s Christian schools went down. Christ the King School in Kansas City shut down, after 68 years of operations.  Church officials say student enrollment has declined to the point that they are losing money.

In Michigan, 42 teachers with the Grand Blanc school district, now unemployed. Detroit Medical Center laid off 300 people!  Those still with jobs will see their pay cut!  Blame Obama/Romney Affordable Health Care Plan!

Delaware Hospice laid off 52 employees (after laying off 104 employees starting in January).  Company officials blame it on reorganization of the company.

AbbVie, to layoff hundreds of sales staff.   The drugmaker is switching from ‘primary care’ drugs to ‘specialty’ drugs.

In Kentucky, the Blue Grass Army Depot laying off 182 people!  It’s blamed on reduced federal spending.

50 people lost their jobs at the U.S. Army’s Fort Rucker, in Alabama.  The employees work for contractor Army Fleet Support, their layoffs being blamed on new contract requirements.

In North Carolina, non-profit Industries for the Blind laid off 40 employees.  Turns out the non-profit is a contractor for the U.S. Army, making moisture absorbing T-shirts.  The contract recently ended.

In Texas, the San Antonio Housing Authority laid off 16 people.  Officials blame federal funding cuts, and warned that more layoffs were possible.

MV Transportation, a Texas based company is ending transportation service in Greenbelt, Maryland, laying off 188 people!  Too Big to Jail Bank of America closed its Muddy Creek Road branch office in Churchton.   Local news reports said no reason was given.

In Iowa, Linn County laying off 22 employees, due to state funding cuts.

Minnesota based scrapbooking company, Creative Memories, warned of bankruptcy.  150 jobs threatened!

In Illinois, SRNTY Jewelry out-o-business.  The owners say they will focus on wholesale orders only.

In South Carolina, Lisa’s Country Corner gift store, and Cathleen’s Daughter antique store, both closed down in Lexington’s Old Mill.  The owner of the gift store is switching to internet sales only.  The antique store owner blamed the bad economy for her store going out-o-business.

After 30 years of service the homeless shelter, Richmond Freedom House, shut down in Virginia.  It’s blamed on reduction in public and private funding.

In Pennsylvania, Seidenburg Luggage and gift store closed down after 75 years of business.

Einstein Bros. Bagels closed three stores in Portland, Oregon.  In Salem, Davidson’s Garden Store shut down.

Cheese maker, Sargento, closing its Bellingham, Washington, operation.  34 to 54 employees affected.

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.