Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 19 January 2013. Idaho dollar stores goin’ down! Video game makers goin’ down! Colleges cutting back on programs that U.S. industry leaders say are lacking!

In Idaho, and with almost no notice, Boise based Honk’s $1.00 filed chapter 11 bankruptcy around 16 January 2013.  However, and despite what Boise media reported, they started closing down stores weeks earlier, like the one in Pocatello.  It’s reported that the dollar store corporation just can’t sell enough of the crap they have, and in Utah they owe tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid sales taxes and rent!

A Minnesota steel frame manufacturer will layoff 17 employees. Crenlo blames the bad economy.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is consolidating 13 offices.  State officials claim the move will save $2 million per year, and they will somehow not lay off any affected employee.  Famous last words.

Ohio’s Bowling Green State University will layoff 100 of its employees by Fall 2013!  University officials gave no explanation as to why so many people will be let go.

Another college feeling the pinch.  University of Hartford, in Connecticut, will layoff more than a dozen employees to try and keep their tuition costs for students down. Work hours for some other employees will be reduced.

The Long Beach City College to layoff 18 employees. They laid off employees last year as well.  The California college is dealing with a $6.4 million USD deficit. College officials also cut programs that are ironically what U.S. manufacturers say are lacking in this country, such as aviation maintenance, welding, automotive technology, HAVC and diesel mechanics among others. A few weeks later the college president said “…at no time have I been more confident about our direction and ability to meet the demands before us.”-Eloy Oakley

The Build A Bear store in Santa Rosa, California, closing down.  It’s part of the company’s plan to close down 60 stores across the United States over the next two years.

Also in Santa Rosa, a Gap Kids clothing store is closing down.

Women’s magazine publisher, Merideth, ended 60 jobs, mostly in New York, some in Iowa and other locations. The company says they are integrating operations.  They publish Better Homes and Gardens, Parents, Fitness, and own Allrecipes.com, EveryDay with Rachael Ray and FamilyFun brands.  The cuts come at a time when the company recently increased quarterly dividends to stockholders, by 6.5%.

New York Blower cut 12 people, blaming crashing sales.

By the end of March 250 contracted employees will be out-o-work at the Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania.  Depot officials said most were short term contracts that are ending.

The Bottom Dollar Food stores in Montgomeryville and Chalfont, Pennsylvania, closing down.  They’re owned by the same European company that is shutting down grocery stores in North Carolina, Florida and Virginia.

In Washington, reports say the “vast majority of Gas Powered Games‘ staff” were laid off. The video game maker spent all their cash on their last game, called Wildman.  Company officials say they literally bet their company on its success or failure.

Also in the Evergreen State, the city of Spokane laid off two employees, and more could be in the works. Last year they eliminated 80 positions. They blame it on not enough revenue for the city.

Floyd Central Thriftway food store in Kentucky closing down.  20 employees out-o-work.  Older customers liked their delivery service.  The owner was talking about opening another store, but the reality was that sales kept going down and operating costs kept going up.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Sears, Best Buy, RadioShack, JCPenny all going down?

Since the end of January 2013 the amount of reports on the internet predicting hundreds of retail store closing just keeps going up.

24/7 Wall St reporting that eight retailers will close more stores in 2013: Best Buy, Sears Holding (Kmart and Sears stores), JCPenney, Office Depot, Barnes & Noble, Gamestop, Office Max  and RadioShack.

Video game retailer, Gamestop, predicted to shut down 600 stores! (in November 2012 they announced they would close down 200 stores, but analysts think that’s too low)

RadioShack could close 550 stores!  (already closed more than 120 locations between 2010 & 2011)

Down retail sales are hitting JCPenny so hard they will likely close down 350 stores!

Barnes & Noble says they have to close down stores just to maintain current profit level, possibly 240 stores will be shut down!

Best Buy predicted to close as many as 250 stores!

Kmart could close another 225 stores!

Sears to close another 125 stores!

Office Depot to close 150!

Office Max 175! (at the end of 2011 company officials said they would close 15 to 20 stores every year for five years)

And these are the stores that are expected to end the most retail operations in the United States, there are other smaller businesses that are going down as well. Stay tuned.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: France reveals plans to occupy Mali! Just another hole your leaders are going to throw your tax money down!

“There is still a whole part of the north that remains unconquered….There are terrorist elements concentrated in some areas of the country, others who are dispersed. There are risks of terrorism. So, we have not yet finished our mission.”-Francois Hollande, President of France

03 February 2013, President Francois Hollande revealed that his country has no intentions of leaving Mali, after they invaded on the pretext of going after al-Qaeda linked insurgents.

Mali is a former colony of French imperialism. Apparently it is again. The United States (once an anti-imperialist country) and the European Union are supporting France.

Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) are also helping France regain her old colony.  They are planning to send 8,000 ECOWAS troops to help the French. Of course you’re paying for it!

The chairman of ECOWAS (Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara) told Radio France Internationale (RFI) that Europe, the United States, Canada and Japan (Trilateral Commission countries) have promised ECOWAS $949 million USD so far, and they’ve already paid up $454 million of it!

Think about this; your leaders keep cutting social programs supposedly because there’s no money, yet they keep shelling out hundreds of millions and billions of your tax money to fight never ending wars?

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 18 January 2013. Thousands more laid off in Texas!!! GM impacts entire community with mass layoffs! More colleges hit by declining enrollment! Hate Verizon even more! Have some more cheese with that whine, corporate America?

Meat packing company, Cargill, announced 2,000 layoffs for operations in Texas!!!  Two packing plants will be closed due to a lack of regional cattle for beef, and company officials blame that on the ongoing drought.  Get ready for beef prices to go up even more!

Gerber baby food maker moves production from Michigan to Arkansas. 44 people in Michigan out-o-work.

General Motors to close down its Weld Tool Center in Michigan. 343 GM employees out-o-work! The closure will also affect dozens of independent operations that rely on orders from GM.  Other local businesses said as much as 90% of their sales went to GM Weld Tool Center employees.

Standard Insurance company to cut at least 100 jobs across the United States.  Basically the company is expecting to lose money this year, and is trying to stay ahead of the curve.

The Pewter Rose restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina, shut down just short of its 25th anniversary.  Sales were down, and water damage to the building was the final straw.

One month ago Hatteras Yachts announced layoffs for 150 employees at their North Carolina operation.  Now, local media reports say another 40 people were let go. It’s part of the plans of parent company Brunswick to sell off their Hatteras and CABO Yachts brands.

Also in North Carolina, mortgage insurance company United Guaranty laid off an undisclosed number of people.  Company officials say they’re trying to anticipate near term “business needs”, meaning they think things are going to get worse!

In South Carolina, the Hippodrome Theater is closing down.  The owner says ticket sales are good, but he wants to focus on his law business.

Boise, Idaho, lost another retailer. California based See Jane Run women’s sports wear closed their only store outside of the Golden State.

The Washington Township Health Care District says it has no choice but to layoff 200 employees at Fremont hospital in California! They blame reduced reimbursement rates from state and federal health programs and private insurance.

Directory Distributing Associates shut down its Merced, California, operation and laid off 42 people.

Avon closing down its Pasadena, California, distribution center. 170 jobs lost! The center was opened in 1946. Avon will also close a distribution center in Atlanta, Georgia.  250 jobs lost there! Operations will move to Ohio.  Avon officials say they need to reduce costs by $400 million per year!

Little Dipper restaurant in Dalton, Georgia, closed down. It was famous for chocolate cobbler. The family that owned it would not give details about why they closed the popular restaurant, but said it was time to move one, and that another restaurant was moving in.

In Alaska, the Anchorage school board revealed they are short $25 million USD!  They will have to layoff school employees, although they have yet to pick who becomes unemployed.

In Louisiana, the Jefferson Parish School Board will layoff 20 employees at two alternative schools. They blame lower enrollment due to fewer troubled students (I guess that’s a good thing).

Despite making profits, Massachusetts based custodial bank State Street will layoff 630 employees around the world, 260 just in the Bay State!

Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in Massachusetts to shut down its detox unit. About 24 staff affected. Hospital officials say they’re changing the way they handle certain types of addictions, which will render the detox unit unnecessary.

In Arkansas, the architecture and engineering company, Benchmark Group, laid off at least 23 people.   Company officials blamed the bad economy.

More reason to hate Verizon.  The New York based telecommunications company will layoff 201 people around the country!  Company officials say there is no need for those employees as a result of technical upgrades.  However, a union rep said that was BS: “These layoffs are not needed. We have enough work to cover every one of them.”-Ed Cocliff, Local 827 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Broadway Brew Pub & Grill in Troy, New York, closing down.  Apparently pub owners were threatened by city officials, after several incidents of violence in the pub.

The Vermont Law School has laid off two people, and bought out the contracts of ten others. School officials blame declining enrollment.

Virginia based Computer Sciences Corporations confirmed they will layoff an undisclosed amount of employees.  They say they need to become more efficient. I worked for CSC in the early 1980s, no comment other than even in the 1980s they were highly inefficient, but that’s par for the course for companies dependent upon government contracts.

Pennsylvania based TE Connectivity laying off 137 workers across its medical products division! The company blamed it on a $0.5 billion drop in sales.  Want some cheese with that whine?  They only had $13.3 billion in sales during fiscal 2012!

Investment company Legg Mason to layoff an undisclosed amount of employees, due to the merger of two of its divisions.  (no pity for investment companies)

Illinois based metal and plastics distributor, A.M. Castle, will layoff 180 people!  It’s all about increasing their profits even more!

In Skokie, Illinois, a Best Buy is shutting down. 58 employees out-o-work.

Busey Bank will close four branches in Illinois. Bank officials say it’s part of their plan to transition to mobile and electronic banking.

Laurel Hill Healthcare closing its nursing home in Connecticut. It’s part of the growing nursing home closings due to parent company Spectrum Healthcare’s bankruptcy.

A Catholic school in New Albany, Indiana, shutting down.  Saint Mary’s Academy will close for good in May, due to more than $1 million of debt!

Massachusetts based Hologic, maker of medical diagnostic tools, to close its Indiana factory. 140 people out-o-work!

Business/Economics, International, Technology

World War 3: Iran unveils new stealth fighter, 3rd generation indigenous design

02 February 2013, Iran has revealed a third generation indigenously designed stealth fighter.

It’s called Qaher-313 (Conqueror-313), and despite earlier reports that it’s nothing more than a redesigned U.S. F-5, or copy of F/A-18, it actually looks like a small combined version of the U.S. F-22 and controversial F-35.

Video has been posted on video sharing sites.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 17 January 2013. Lots-o-grocery stores going down, thousands unemployed! More proof that economic competition in a saturated market is bad! Another college going down! China retaliates?

Sweetbay Supermarket in Florida, shutting down 33 of its 105 grocery stores!  Parent company officials, Delhaize Group in Belgium, say the stores are not making enough money, but, a Sweetbay official admitted most of the stores just happen to be at the end of their leases (letting leases expire, a growing trend within the U.S. retail industry).  2,000 people will be affected!

Two Food Lion grocery stores in North Carolina will close. Company officials say the stores are not making enough money.

Kroger to shut down Du Quoin, Illinois, grocery store in March. Company officials blame competition. 60 employees affected.

The nearly 100 years old Ray’s Food Place, in Crescent City, California, will shut down on 03 February.  Owners blame increased competition.

California Redwood Company to layoff 45 employees at its Krobel, California, factory. Blames it on a big decrease in demand for redwood lumber.

In Sacramento, California, the local school district is proposing closing down 11 elementary schools!  School officials say they need to save $11 million USD over the next four years. They will vote on the closures on 21 February.

Also in Sacramento, the Gap, and next door Gap Kids, clothing stores going down. This is part of the country wide trend for Gap.  Company officials claim these are the final closings that were outlined in their 2007 real estate plans.

350 people are losing their jobs in Kentucky! The Gap clothing business is closing down two distribution centers. The layoffs begin in April.

The Brattleboro Food Co-op, in Vermont, let go 11 people.  Delays in construction of a new Co-op building is being blamed for the layoffs.

Level 3 Communications, in Colorado, announced hundreds of layoffs worldwide!  Company officials say it is a direct result of their take over of competitor Global Crossing.

The Prickly Pear women’s clothing store in Monument, Colorado, shutting down. Owner wants to retire.

Berry Plastics in Easthampton, Massachusetts, laid off 20 people.  Their remaining 315 employees could have their hours reduced. Company officials blamed the bad economy for a huge reduction in demand for their products.

Despite North Dakota‘s booming oil industry, Sanford Health is shutting down its Underwood Continuing Care Center in March. It’s the result of last year’s merger between Sanford Health and Medcenter.  38 residents, and 62 employees affected!

The Upper Dublin School District, in Pennsylvania,  warned of pending layoffs and pay reductions.  They blame a $2.7 million USD budget shortfall.

The owner of furniture store, C.A. Hoitt in New Hampshire, is retiring and closing down the 133 years old business.

Corpus Christie, Texas, losing two stores.  A Abercrombie, and a Abercrombie & Fitch, shut down in the La Palmera mall.  It’s part of the 180 store closings announced by company officials last year.

Back Yard Burgers in Tupelo, Mississippi, closed for good. Owner refused comment, but the franchise went bankrupt in October 2012.  16 people out-o-work.

Pandolfi gift shop shutting down in Edina, Minnesota. The owner said she wants to focus on caring for her family.

The College of Visual Arts in Saint Paul, Minnesota, shutting down!  School officials blame declining enrollment due to the bad economy.  They will close after the spring semester ends.

Chinese company, Zhongding Sealing Parts, will shut down its Ohio factory.  At least 117 jobs lost by the end of June!  The company makes rubber parts for the U.S. automotive industry. Company officials said the closure is due to rapidly changing economic environment within the U.S. (which could be code for they don’t like the way the U.S. government is coming down on Chinese companies).  Production at the Ohio factory will be moved to China as a result!

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Money Making Sears store to be closed down! Many more closings to come! Washington Kmart becomes illegal drugs store!

31 January 2013, it was revealed that a moneymaking Sears store in Hawaii will be closed down anyway!

The store was purchased by General Growth Properties last year, and it was even hailed as being an essential part of GGP’s Ala Moana Center mall in Honolulu.  Now a new report from Hawaiian media says the GGP owned Sears will be closed.

Also in Hawaii, Sears Holdings announced they are about to select a new private owner of their only Sears Hometown store on the ‘Big Island’.  Sears Holdings currently owns the store but wants to hand it over to an individual from the continental U.S.

A report by DailyFinance, ranks Sears Holdings as number two for planned store closings in 2013.  The report said it was no longer a matter of if, but when and how many.

In Seattle, Washington, a Kmart scheduled to close down this coming weekend was the target of a drug bust.  Police say Kmart employees were surprised when a 10 pound package of marijuana was delivered, apparently by UPS.  The package was meant to go to Pennsylvania, but: “Whoever sent the package listed the address of the Seattle Kmart on the return label, for some reason.”-Jonah Spagenthal-Lee, Seattle Police

The people of Washington recently legalized possession and use of small amounts of marijuana, however, you can not grow your own (except for medical use), and there is a licensing process to be able to sell it.

Here’s my updated list of 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).

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 to be closed by 03 February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost).


Hawaii: Recently revealed Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 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).  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).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart.

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.

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials.

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).

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

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 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).

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).

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, Irmo Kmart (no info on how many 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).

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).

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).

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

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 16 January 2013. Texas loses hundreds of jobs in one day! No one wants corn fuel! California still losing jobs!

In Texarkana, Texas, 400 people will become unemployed starting in February!   It’s happening at the Red River Army Depot, in anticipation of the 2014 Afghanistan pullout.

In El Paso, Texas, electrical switch/outlet maker Leviton Manufacturing closing down.  339 people to be out-o-work!   The New York based company said it’s consolidating manufacturing operations throughout the country.

New Jersey’s Star Ledger announced it will let go 34 employees.  Company officials blamed the bad economy and the slow recovery from Hurricane Sandy.  The layoffs are also part of the 60 total layoffs announced by parent company Advance Publications.  Advance Publications is itself owned by the Newhouse family.

In Simi Valley, California, Bank of America said it will lay off 51 employees.  The too big to fail bank said the jobs lost are in connection to a reduction in mortgage defaults.

The San Francisco, California, based web content discovery company, StumbleUpon, laying off 35 people.  Company officials say they’re not in trouble, they just want “to become more streamlined” in order to bring the company  “into a profitable situation”.

The internet social commerce/photo sharing service, Lockerz, is closing down its San Diego, California, office.  They’ve also laid off 30% of their Seattle, Washington, staff.  Company officials said the layoffs are necessary to realign the company, also the exact number of people being let go will not be made public: “I will not comment on how many individuals were effected or any specific individual.”-Leilani Augustine, CMO

Tuscan Gardens gift store closing in Petaluma, California. The owner wants to focus on ceramics.

Saint Louis, Missouri‘s, Express Scripts laying off 332 people across the U.S.!  This come after the country’s largest pharmacy benefits manager spent $29.1 billion USD to take over Medco.  103 former Medco employees have so far been let go as well!

Only a day after laying off 200 employees, Atmel lays off another 140!  It’s another round of layoffs at their Colorado Springs, Colorado, factory. Company officials blame the bad economy. Last year Colorado Springs officials gave the California based microcontroller company about $339,000 in tax breaks.

Corn based ethanol fuel plants in Nebraska are shutting down. Abengoa Bioenergy says the alternative fuel market is not doing well for corn based gas, so they’re temporarily closing two refineries.  They make the 4th and 5th corn based fuel refineries to shut down in the Cornhusker State.

Mormon run Dillard’s department store is shutting down two stores in the Cache Valley Mall in Logan, Utah.  About 50 employees affected.   It’s all part of Dillard’s “strategic store closures”.

The New Castle Youth Development Center closing in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. 223 jobs lost!  Some officials say the center for troubled youths saw a huge decline in juveniles being housed there, with only 31 currently staying in the 100 bed facility (at one time there were 250 beds at the juvi jail).  State Representative, Jaret Gibbons, said it was all part of the governor’s conspiracy to close down publicly funded prisons, possibly to make way for private for profit prisons.

Windber Medical Center in Pennsylvania closing its obstetrician wing in March. Hospital officials said they’re having such a hard time finding replacements for the four obstetricians who’re leaving, that they just decided to close down the obstetrician wing!

Conifer Health Solutions closing its Alpharetta, Georgia, call center.  About 90 people out-o-work.  The Texas based health care revenue outsourcing company is consolidating operations with other call centers.

In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, women’s clothing store Susanne’s is closing.  The owner said it is for personal reasons.

After 121 years the Associated Bank in Hammond, Wisconsin, is no more. It was the only bank in the town of 1,100 households. Bank officials say it’s part of their closing of 11 branches, due to the bad economy.

An update from 15 January: Cirque du Soleil will lay off 400 people around the world, but said the majority of the cuts will be in Canada.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. expands military presence in Africa! U.K. sending troops to Mali! Western leaders agree to ‘donate’ your tax money to the war in Mali!

29 January 2013, the Obama administration announced they will send military personnel into Niger.  On the surface they will be operating drones in support of the western/christian invasion of Mali.  Pentagon officials said the actual role U.S. forces will play has yet to be determined.

In the United Kingdom, British Defense Secretary, Philip Hammond, announced plans to send 240-300 Red Coats to Mali.

The British empire is already helping the French by flying in supplies on Boeing C-17 transports.  And at least 70 Red Coats are in the country of Senegal, operating drone aircraft.

Also, leaders from the United States, European Union and Japan (note: these are the main players in the one world government wanna be Trilateral Commission) met and agreed to become “donors”.  In other words, they’ve already met in Ethiopia for a conference to determine how much of your tax money will be spent on the invasion and occupation of Mali.  Reports say our fearless leaders have agreed to give hundreds of millions of taxes, just to the pro-western government of Mali.

Let’s see, our western government leaders have been cutting social programs saying there isn’t any money for them, yet they spend billions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Mali!

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

Congressional Evil & What Economic Recovery? Media lies about USPS international postal rate change? I have receipts that show at least a 50-60% increase! Hello, Hyperinflation!

I got a shock when I shipped off some packages to Europe, USPS international First Class rate went up 61%!!!

Some media mainstreamers had been reporting a 5-10% increase, but that’s for domestic postage.  Even the Postal clerks at the Clark Street office, in Pocatello, Idaho, told me they were surprised by how high the international rate went up.

People who supplement their meager incomes (or maybe it’s become their only source of income) on internet selling sites like ebay, Etsy, Scoomer, etc, and who sell a lot outside the United States are going to see a drop in business (I know many internet sellers attribute at least 50% of their sales to international buyers).

On 17 January 2013 I sent a measly 2 ounce package to Australia, it cost $3.78 USD, online price.  On 29 January 2013 I sent another 2 ounce package, but this time it cost $6.16 online. Do the math, that’s a 61% increase!

Here’s another example: On 27 December 2012 I sent a 1 pound 14 ounce package to Canada, it cost $9.15 online.  Today that same package now cost $16.15 online, a 56% increase!

Here’s yet another example: On 18 January 2013 I sent a 3 ounce package to Italy, at an online U.S. Postal Service rate of $4.56.  Now that same package has an online cost of $8.88 (the in USPS store cost is $9.45).  That’s a 51% increase!

There were some media sources, like StudentNews, that reported that the First Class International rate would go up 60%, for items weighing up to one pound (that’s questionable as you can see in my Canadian example the package weighed almost 2 pounds!). Apparently someone at the USPS realized they were charging far less than UPS or FedEx, and decided to make their First Class International rate “more competitive” with the competition.

Making your prices more competitive with your competition is now code for jacking up your rates to meet your competitors higher prices. A kind of price fixing if you ask me. I remember when being more competitive meant you tried to have lower prices than your competitors.

Is this yet another attempt by the Congressionaly controlled Postal Commission to intentionally destroy the U.S. Postal Service?  Remember, it’s Congress that sets the Postal rates, not the USPS!