Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics, Idaho

Proof money can’t solve anything: Albertson Foundation throws millions of dollars at education every year, the result is Idaho is now dead last in higher education!

16 June 2014 (07:57 UTC-07 Tango)/17 Sha’ban 1435/26 Khordad 1393/19 Geng Wu 4712

“You can look at the initiatives over the past five years, and you can look at the awareness campaign, and you can look at the data that has actually shown we are getting worse in our Go-On rate.  Is that working? Well, obviously not.”-Jamie MacMillan, Albertson Foundation

The Albertson Foundation has been throwing tens of millions of dollars at the Idaho education system year after year, funding campaigns like Don’t Fail Idaho! and Go On!   Now the results are in and it’s all a big fail!

In 2009 Idaho ranked 43rd in the United States for high school graduates going on to college, in 2013 Idaho fell to last place.

This spring Albertson Foundation conducted a survey of high school students and found that most students did not want a college degree or could not afford to go to college (apparently the folks at Albertson Foundation were shocked at how many high school students said they could not afford college).

High school students also stated that the higher education campaign ads gave them two options: Flip burgers or get in massive debt going to college!

Maybe high school grads aren’t so dumb after all, and it’s the Albertson Foundation that needs to go back to school?

Albertson Foundation is still determined to throw more money at their failed attempts to save education, but they say they’ll focus on other forms of post high school education, like vocational training.   Albertson Foundation will also use social media to spread their new propaganda.

Business/Economics

U.S. job losses & store closings 04 – 05 March 2014: No more cranberry juice? Massive missing students shut down more schools! ObamaCare bankruptcies? Radio Shack ups the store closure ante! God kills The Jewish Mother!

Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.

California:  The operator of 19 nursing homes, Country Villa Health Services, is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.   Reduced reimbursements due to Obama Care is an issue, but company officials admitted the main reason for the bankruptcy is because they’re getting hit with massive lawsuits.  1711 patients and 2113 employees affected!

Colorado: The U.S. Air Force Academy laid off 99 employees.  Biochemistry, environmental engineering and meteorology are among ten academic majors being eliminated, due to disappearing students (declining student enrollment).

Illinois: What automotive industry recovery?  Fiat-Chrysler is laying off 325 people in Belvidere! It’s blamed on a 37% drop in sales of the new Dodge Dart.  The factory employees about 1200 people.

Indiana: In Terre Haute, Japan based Sony DADC shutdown its distribution center, 34 jobs lost.  Distribution operations are being consolidated.

Maine: University of Maine at Farmington eliminated 18 jobs.  It’s blamed on lack of funding due to disappearing students.

Massachusetts:  The city of Fall River warned 60 firefighters of impending layoffs.  City officials revealed those positions have been paid for with federal funding, and that funding is being turned off in June.

Minnesota: In Minneapolis, after only four years LifePower yoga gym shutdown.  It’s being consolidated into other Life Time Fitness operations, to save money in this bad economy.  In Shoreview, after 40 years Kozlak’s Royal Oak Restaurant shutdown.  The property was sold to make room for a nursing home co-op.

Missouri: In Springfield one of three Kmarts to shutdown in June, 60 jobs lost.

Montana: In Anaconda, after more than 53 years Lutey’s Furniture & Appliance store shutdown.  Also, there is a Radio Shack operation inside the very large store and it shutdown as well.  The operators of the Radio Shack said their shutdown is not connected to the newly announced 1100 Radio Shack store shutdowns (see Texas below).

Nebraska: What housing market recovery?  In Scottsbluff, Nationstar Mortgage quietly killed 105 jobs!  The layoffs were made public by employees, and it was also revealed that back in November the mortgage company killed all their part time jobs!  Several whistleblower former employees said the mortgage industry shutdown was planned at least one year ago!  In Council Bluff, it’s looking like Griffin Pipe Products is being shut down.  250 jobs lost!   It’s blamed on the takeover by U.S. Pipe and Foundry.

New Jersey:  In Bordentown, maker of cranberry based juices Ocean Spray killing 138 jobs!  They’re shutting down their factory and moving to Pennsylvania.

New York: In Rochester, Kodak has been busy slowly letting employees go.  In the past few weeks about ten people lost their jobs.  In Brentwood, Royal Pet Supplies shutting down their factory in June,  123 jobs lost!   The company is consolidating operations to save money, due to the bad economy.

North Carolina: In Winston-Salem, after 16 years Ollie’s Bakery shutdown.  The landlord is the suspect.

Ohio: In Over the  Rhine, after only two years Reser Bicycle Outfitters shutdown one of their shops.  The company said due to the bad economy they had to consolidate operations.  Parma City School District warned of layoffs as they and the teachers union battle it out in arbitration.  If U.S. teachers are so important why is the United States now among the dumbest countries in the world?

Oregon: In Portland, Ivories Jazz Lounge and Restaurant shutdown.  No reason given, but reviews of the restaurant were hit & miss.  Many customers were shocked by the unadvertised cover charge for the bands.  In Springfield, local farmer’s-crafts  type store Eugenius Marketplace shutdown after only 18 months in business!  It sounds like they couldn’t afford the rent, despite tripling their sales in the past few months.

Pennsylvania:  In Olyphant, Cinram Manufacturing laid off about 50 employees.  The company has laid off hundreds of people over the years, and locals say it won’t be long until there’s no employees left.  The Correy Area School District shut down two elementary schools.  Superintendent William Nichols blames it on the mysterious disappearing students, saying “The board built two buildings here in the past six or seven years that house all of the elementary students and that becomes possible because we have a declining enrollment of 35%…”    In Wilkes-Barre, legal drugs pusher Rite Aid shutting down a 25 years old pharmacy in April.  In Honesdale, after 75 years Morning Glory Gifts shutdown. It’s the economy: “For many years we’ve had our ups and downs, but in the past five years we’ve had more downs than we’ve had ups.”-Kelly Birmelin, owner

Texas: Fort Worth based Radio Shack was closing 500 stores, now they’re shutting down 1100 stores!   Company officials reported a $400-million USD loss for all of 2013!

Virginia: In Virginia Beach, after 40 years God refused to stop the shutdown of The Jewish Mother Hilltop restaurant and dance club/music venue.  The Jewish Mother Hilltop has been plagued by lawsuits, financial problems and recent health problems for the owner.   The owner also admitted that January and February saw crashing revenues, and he was unable to pay rent.

Washington:  More proof that the internet is not the reason for brick & mortar shutdowns.  Internet based children’s products retailer Chasing Fireflies laid off 92 employees.  In 2012, Chasing Fireflies was taken over by the same company that runs Home Shopping Network.  HSN also announced they are moving Chasing Fireflies’ HQ to an undisclosed location.

Wisconsin: Who said tech jobs are recession proof?  In Eau Claire, Hutchinson Technologies killing 78 jobs.  It’s blamed on six straight years of revenue losses!

01 – 03 March 2014: Too Big to Jail banks excused from paying $1-billion in debt! 

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

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics, Technology

Mazda’s new 65+ MPG Diesel, but don’t expect to see it in the anti-Diesel car United States!

13 June 2014 (13:17 UTC-07 Tango)/14 Sha’ban 1435/23 Khordad 1393/16 Geng Wu 4712

Mazda claims it has a new 1.5 liter turbo diesel engine that got an impressive 28+ Kilometers Per Liter (about 65+ Miles Per U.S. Gallon) in their test car!  And Mazda says it will be the cleanest burning diesel engine available worldwide in 2015, claiming no NOx system is required!

Well, worldwide doesn’t mean anti-diesel car United States.   In fact the state of California is making it near impossible to even sell new diesel cars, due to their asinine and ever tightening state EPA rules.

Mazda says their main market for their new diesel powered cars will be the diesel loving European Union, as well as any other country that loves saving money and the environment.  Did you known that diesel exhaust soot can be captured (Diesel Particulate Filter) and then used as fertilizer for your plants?  It’s carbon!

The tiny new Mazda diesel engine reportedly produces 77 kW (105 hp) and 250 Nm (184 ft lb) of torque.  It will be available in the 2015 Mazda 2.  Look out Volkswagen!

clean burning Diesel powered CX-5 Crossover, better MPG than Hybrid SUVs

Business/Economics, Technology

Corporate Evil: Ford Hybrid fuel economy a lie! Hyundai & Kia being sued! Obama regime EPA in on the scam? Diesels rule!

13 June 2014 (12:45 UTC-07 Tango)/14 Sha’ban 1435/23 Khordad 1393/16 Geng Wu 4712

Yet more proof those environmentalist do-gooders don’t know what they’re talking about: Ford admits they flubbed on the fuel economy of their hybrid cars.

Ford says it will make a “goodwill” payback to 215-thousand U.S. hybrid car owners (13-thousand Canadians) because the advertised Miles Per Gallon rate on their hybrid Fiesta, Fusion, Lincoln MKZ , C-Max, and plug-in hybrids Fusion and C-Max Energi vehicles are wrong.

The actual MPG of those cars is about 7MPG lower.  The problem is how car companies test their vehicles.  It’s turning out that their road testing does not match real world realities.

Hyundai and Kia are being sued over their MPG claims for their hybrids.

In May, Consumer Reports stated that the new Honda Accord hybrid failed to get the advertised 47MPG.  In fact, the all gas Accord gets better MPG than what its hybrid sibling actually got!

It was Consumer Reports that pointed out that gas-electric hybrids made by Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Ford all failed to obtain their advertised MPG!   They even blamed the U.S. EPA for creating false results: “We’ve found that the EPA tests often exaggerate the fuel economy of hybrids.”-Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports

The lower hybrid MPG figures mean that there are a few all gas powered cars that get just as good MPG, and there are diesel powered cars that outright beat hybrids and all gas cars in MPG!  (Go Volkswagen!)

Hybrid cars are a sham! Honda settles California lawsuit

Business/Economics

Exceptional Failed State: New trend for Sears & Kmart closings; no more warnings!

12 June 2014 (15:43 UTC-07 Tango)/13 Sha’ban 1435/22 Khordad 1393/15 Geng Wu 4712

An Alabama Kmart shutting down in September.  Another Illinois Kmart going down, this time the Collinsville store will shutdown in September.   North Carolina losing a 35 years old Kmart, in September.  80 Wisconsinites to become unemployed when another Kmart shuts down in July.  A New York Sears Appliance and Hardware shutdown.

In California, a San Diego Kmart shutdown without notice!  Sears Holdings said they signed over their lease to another business rendering the Mid-City Kmart “closed to the public, effective Wednesday, June 11”.

Sears Holdings said it might dump its 51% control over Sears Canada, in order to gain $730-million in desperately needed cash.      Sears Holdings also said it is adding another 80 stores to its 2014 shutdowns in the Untied States, due to the acceleration of crashing sales.

Update from observant reader:  Oregon losing a Kmart (in September) and a Sears Home Services center.  The Sears Home Services center closing was not publicly announced.  (see Comments below)

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings since the end of 2011:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, recently revealed Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost).

Delaware: Dover Kmart (72 jobs lost), Seaford Sears (30 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 (more than 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart, Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost), Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost), Laguna Hills Mall Sears, recently revealed San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 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), Colorado Springs Kmart at Powers and Palmer Park boulevards (57 jobs lost).

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart.

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart.

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost).

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!!!), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost). No official announcement, but it’s painfully obvious the Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears going’ down. Or, maybe it’s preps for Shop within a Shop, or one of those domestic spy data storage centers? On 07 November 2013, GGP sold off the Pine Ridge Mall for a paltry $9 million USD.  Across the street, in Pocatello, the property where the Kmart is located has a “pad site available” sign, posted ever since the Kmart bankruptcy.  The Kmart building takes up most of the “pad”.

Indiana: Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost).

Illinois: Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost), Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, recently revealed Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost).  58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa: Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost).

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

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!), Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart.

Louisiana: Slidell Sears (77 job 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, Landover Sears (115 jobs lost).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), recently revealed Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost),  Lapeer Kmart (56 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), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost).

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost), Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

Nebraska: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials, Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost).

New Jersey: Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart.

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost).

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost), Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), recently revealed Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware.

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), recently revealed High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard, London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost), Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 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), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), recently revealed Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), recently revealed Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice).

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), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost), both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two), Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin CoolSprings Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors.

Utah: Murray Sears (for some reason Mormon controlled news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they’re reporting that the building has just been demolished), 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), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Wincester Kmart (91 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), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), recently revealed Ashwaubenon Kmart (80 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall (see update above, GGP will close Sears store by 2014)

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center (see update above, GGP closing store)

Business/Economics, International, Technology

Martial Law: Your cell phone is assembled in an Asian country, but the tech to spy on you came from Israel!

10 June 2014 (09:25 UTC-07 Tango)/11 Sha’ban 1435/20 Khordad 1393/13 Geng Wu 4712

“…the tech sector has become the backbone of the Israeli economy.  Throughout the global recession Israel saw growth year on year. Just take a look at the NASDAQ….foreign listings, number one is China, number two is Israel.”-Samuel Burke, CNN tech reporter

A CNN tech program inadvertently revealed that while your cell phone, or other electronic gadget, is assembled in an Asian country, the technology to spy on you comes from Israel!

Israeli companies are the ones who “code” the guts inside your cell phones.   The Israeli government even created a Chief Scientist position to oversee such operations.

For some reason the CEOs of these Israeli tech/augmented reality companies, that’re coding your gadgets, stated that they had no problem paying the Israeli government 26.5% in taxes.   The CNN report didn’t explain why.

In 2012, the Israeli government passed a law (Electronic Waste Law) making it mandatory to recycle electronic gadgets.  The law went into effect in January 2013.  The recycling companies employ mentally and physically handicapped people to do the recycling work.

And a new law went into effect this year, in which household appliances equipped with computer tech must also be recycled.

So basically your ‘new’ cell phone has guts made from recycled Israeli electronics, which are then coded by Israeli companies so that your caring government can spy on you.

Business/Economics

U.S. job losses & store closings 01 – 03 March 2014: ObamaCare forces hospitals to end care for pregnant women? FCC kills Utah company! Too Big to Jail banks excused from paying $1-billion in debt, in exchange for shutting down power plants!

Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.

Arizona: In Tucson, after 13 years Kevin Jewelers shutdown.

California:  Coachella Valley Unified School District laid off 51 teachers.  More layoffs in the works.  BEST (Barstow Employment Specialized Training) Opportunities killed 98 jobs, guess their job training wasn’t good enough.  The Alta Bates Summit Medical Center continues to kill jobs because of Obama Care.  This time 227 healthcare workers in Berkely and Oakland became unemployed!  In Oakland, Mexico owned Bimbo Bakeries shutdown, 160 jobs lost!  In Panorama City the maker of wheel chair lifts for vehicles, Ricon, laid off 25 employees.  Are the layoffs connected to the Obama Care medical device tax?   UPS (United Parcel Service) killed 1073 jobs at their Richmond hub!

Indiana:  In Greensburg, Radio Shack shutdown.  It’s part of Radio Shack’s plan shutdown 500 stores across the U.S.!

Massachusetts: In Boston, the 1-800-Flowers shop shutdown on Hanover Street.  An employee told a local reporter that it was the company’s fault because they’ve “mismanaged the franchise” for months now.

Michigan: In Westland, after 26 years Play Ball Sports announced it will shutdown once all merchandise is sold off.   After the announcement the store was robbed of $2-thousand USD of merchandise (caught on security cam) and the owner claims he was almost killed in the process!  Grand Rapids Public Library laid off at least 18 employees.  Director Marcia Warner blamed it on a “new financial reality”.   The South Haven Health System Hospital shutting down its birthing center in May.   Officials directly blame Affordable Care Act (Obama Care): “Some of our board members were born here, and many of our employees, and they’ve stayed in the community, so it’s a sad decision but one that’s necessary for the viability of the rest of the organization…..because we have such a high medicaid population utilizing our services, the program [Obama Care] does not reimburse to the level where we can support the program.”-Joanne Urbanski, CEO

New Jersey: In Wayne, Mitt Romney/Bain Capital owned Toys R Us killed 200 HQ jobs!  It’s blamed on declining sales.   Kimball Medical Center laid off 73 healthcare workers.  Hospital officials say they must consolidate services with other hospitals in order to survive Obama Care cuts.

New York: Electric company Mach Gen now bankrupt busted.  The company is actually owned by Too Big to Jail banks like Bank of America and Credit Suisse.  Mach Gen was created to control natural gas fired electric plants in New York, Massachusetts and Arizona.   As a result of the bankruptcy the Too Big to Jail banks will skip out on paying off $1-billion USD of debt!

Ohio:  Evil Bechtel laying off 155 employees in April, at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station!  It’s because their contract will expire.  In Stow, Wisconsin based packaging company Bemis shutting down their factory in May, despite reporting 2013 net sales of $5-billion!  115 jobs lost!

South Carolina: In Landrum, Ken’s Meats & Seafood shutdown after only three years of operations.  The owners said everything was going good until summer 2013, when sales crashed: “We just didn’t have enough local support to sustain us for the long run. Unfortunately I can count on two fingers how many local businesses bought from us and that was unfortunate…..demand for my products is just not here in our local community.”-Ken Brackett, co-owner

Texas: In Austin, engineering company URS laying off 79 employees in April.  They lost the contract to operate a toll road.

Utah:  Video service provider for people with hearing loss Sorenson Communications now bankrupt busted.  6800 jobs threatened! Company officials blame their decline on a 2010 U.S. FCC rule change, which reduced the amount of fees companies could charge, but forced companies to spend more money on upgrades.

Virginia:  Taxsucker General Dynamics says if the military doesn’t renew their contract then 88 IT employees will become unemployed.

Wisconsin: In Tomah, after 50 years Bob’s Furniture shutdown.

28 February 2014: ObamaCare forcing medical supply companies to commit “suicide”!

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

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. job losses & store closings 28 February 2014: Another women’s clothing chain going down in flames! Successful internet business kills jobs! ObamaCare forcing medical supply companies to commit “suicide”!

Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.

Alabama: In Birmingham, God refused to stop the Parkway Christian Academy from shutting down.   This time it’s blamed on church members not paying their dues, as a result the church has to sell the school!

Arkansas: Arkansas News Bureau laid off five employees, which turn out to be the majority of their seven full time staff!

California: Who said tech jobs are recession proof? Atos IT Solutions laid off three people.  Avnet Integrated laid off three people.  Loehmann’s killed 160 department store jobs!  In Emeryville, troubled Switzerland based legal drugs pusher Novartis killed 167 jobs!  In San Diego, legal drugs pusher Optimer Pharmaceuticals laid off 21 employees.  The Riverside Dental-Doctor Group killed 162 jobs!

Louisiana: The University of New Orleans killed more jobs.  This time 28 people lost their jobs in an effort to save $2-million USD!  It’s blamed on disappearing students.

Idaho: In Aberdeen, food and agriculture giant Simplot announced they will kill 309 food processing jobs by April!

Illinois: In Martinsville, Accents unique item store shutdown, apparently after only fours years of business.

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, taxsucking military contractor Exelis Night Vision and Communications Solutions laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  The company has killed 800 jobs in the past three years!  There is now a For Sale sign on the building.  It’s blamed on drastic Department of Defense spending cuts.

Iowa: In Mason City, after 102 years Marshall & Swift dry cleaners shutdown! 50 jobs lost.  The family owners did not give a reason, but the property is up for sale.

Kentucky: In Louisville, the Heine Brothers’ Coffee shop shutdown. Company officials said the shop had good business, but it wasn’t good enough to cover the outrageous rent.

Maryland: In Salisbury, after 30 years the Shinn Paint store shutdown.

Massachusetts: In South Deerfield, Yankee Candle Company laid off about 30 salaried employees.  It’s actually blamed on their successful and growing internet business!

Michigan: In Franklin, after 30 years Bead Works shutdown.

New York: In NYC, Juicy Couture clothing retailer laying off 21 employees by the end of March.  In Copiague, Baumann & Sons Buses warned that they might lose their contract, which would result in 250 jobs being lost!  In Coram, Acme Bus warned they might lose their school bus contract, resulting in 334 jobs being lost!  In Endicott, employees for IBM revealed that at least 15 people lost their jobs.  IBM officials refused to comment to local news media.  In Schenectady, health insurance company MVP Health Care killed 100 jobs!  It’s blamed on Obama Care: “The health insurance industry is going through a time of unprecedented change, and we need a streamlined and nimble organization to stay ahead of the curve.”-Denise Gonick, President and CEO

North Carolina: All-States Medical Supply blames Obama Care for killing their jobs.  Company officials explained that Obama Care cuts government and insurance company reimbursements for their medical supplies by 45%!   Medicare audits of their accounting have been increased by 250%!!!  Such audits place reimbursements in limbo, company officials say two and a half years worth of reimbursements are now on hold until the backlog of Obama Care audits are completed!  CEO Marcus Suess described Obama Care as “suicide” for the medical supply industry!

Ohio:  After 27 years, Glenwillow based women’s clothing retailer Dots now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and shutting down!  All 360 stores in 28 states to shutdown!  3500 jobs lost!

Oregon: Layoffs continue at the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility.  When chemical weapons were being destroyed the base employed 830 people.  Now there are only 90.

Pennsylvania: In Pittson, Clarcor Air Filtration shutting down, 60 jobs lost.  Company officials now say it was an economic mistake to move to Pittson.

Texas: In San Antonio, taxsucker Lockheed Martin laid off 36 employees.  It’s blamed on declining orders by the warmongers known as Department of Defense.   Over the next two months Boeing killing 600 jobs in San Antonio!

Virginia: The Hope Co. Boutique and Cameo stores shutdown.

27 February 2014: Another big bank says housing market crash coming! 

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

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics

Dumb Americans: Majority of GM car owners don’t even know they own a GM!!!

06 June 2014 (19:07 UTC-07 Tango 05 June 2014)/07 Sha’ban 1435/16 Khordad 1393/09 Geng Wu 4712

China’s CCTV was interviewing a U.S. auto industry analyst over the massive General Motors (GM) recall scandal.  The Chinese interviewer was literally flabbergasted when the U.S. analyst stated that most GM car owners in the U.S. don’t even know they own a GM!

The analyst used Buick and Saturn as an example saying most Buick and Saturn owners don’t know that their cars are included in the massive recalls.  The analyst postulated that it was going to take a long time for the recall and repair of a potentially deadly problem with ignition switches (and other problems) simply because many GM car owners don’t know they own one of the potentially deadly GM brand cars.

Why is Chinese news media concerned about the GM recall?  Because  GM now sells more Buicks in China than in the U.S.!  China is fast becoming the number one car market for General Motors, no longer is the U.S. the top car market.  And yes, no thanks to ‘globalization’, GM cars sold in China are affected by the same scandals affecting GM cars sold in the U.S.

Short list of General Motors brands: GMC, Saturn (now defunct), Pontiac (now defunct), Chevrolet (aka Chevy), Buick,  Cadillac, Hummer (now defunct), Sweden based SAAB (auto division sold off to Netherlands based Spyker), Germany based Opel, Australia based Holden, United Kingdom based Vauxhall, China based Wuling, China based Baojun, China based Jie Fang (aka FAW-GM), UzDaewoo (joint venture by GM Korea and Uzbekistan).

Back in the old days, when U.S. cars had character, strength and weren’t dumbed down by anti-car regulations and false flag emission controls, most people in the U.S. took so much pride in their cars that there were heated arguments over who’s car brand was better, and this even led to the creation of drag racing and custom car shows.  Now all we get is light weight computer controlled crap for a new car, no matter what the brand is!

Business/Economics

U.S. job losses & store closings 27 February 2014: Another big bank says housing market crash coming! More ObamaCare hospital shutdowns & massive layoffs! California real estate kills jobs!

Incomplete list of announced closings & layoffs.

Best Buy announced they are killing 2-thousand salaried mid-level U.S. manager jobs by the end of 2014!  Already 500 have been let go!  Best Buy is also killing 950 jobs in Canada!

Aussie airlines Quantas in big trouble.  5-thousand jobs being killed.  Quantas is even asking for an Australian government bailout.  Their revenue problems are directly affecting U.S. company Boeing.  Quantas says it will delaying paying for three Boeing 787 Dreamliners for its Jetstar division.  Quantas is also trying to sell off 50 of their airliners.

Arkansas: Little Rock based marketing company Acxiom started a third round of layoffs since the end of 2013.  This time 100 people in Arkansas and 100 people across the U.S. became unemployed!

California: In San Diego, Cox Communications laying off 200 call center employees by September!  Company officials are consolidating call centers and decided California real estate was too expensive to justify building a bigger call center in California.  In Orange County, Cox Communications killed 150 cable TV jobs!  What housing market recovery?  San Francisco based Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo announced it is killing an additional 700 mortgage industry jobs across the United States: “We currently expect mortgage origination volumes to decline in first quarter 2014…”-Peggy Gunn

Florida: In Lynn Haven, tax sucker General Dynamics killed 730 of its ObamaCare call center jobs!  A Congressman from Florida is outraged: “I am saddened that these hardworking men and women are paying the price for the Obama administration’s unyielding pursuit of a job crushing, Washington first agenda that has made private sector job growth more difficult by the day!”-Steve Southerland II

Massachusetts:  Despite record sales, medical device maker LeMaitre Vascular laid off 30 employees.  ObamaCare created a new high tax on medical device makers.

New York: In Williamsville, Ingram Micro laid off an undisclosed amount of employees.  It was revealed by local news sources that the California based electronics company got a $900-thousand USD tax break in 2013 from the Amherst Industrial Development Agency.  In Syracuse, after 100 years scrap metal company Roth Steel shutdown.  The 33 employees told local news media they were not given warning about the loss of their jobs.  Company officials claim they could no longer compete with other metal recyclers.  In NYC, bankrupt Dots clothing store shutting down in May, 43 jobs lost.  What housing market recovery?  In Babylon, DE Capital Mortgage shutting down by April, 52 jobs lost.  In Pittsford, Wells Fargo to layoff mortgage service employees by the end of May.

Oklahoma: In Stillwater, after 52 years Colonial Florist shutdown.

Oregon: In Portland, after 37 years Showcase Music & Sound shutdown.

Pennsylvania: The Crozer Keystone Health System killed 250 healthcare jobs!  Officials blamed ObamaCare’s reduced Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements for a $16-million loss in the past seven months.  And Commonwealth Health shutdown the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital’s business office, 87 jobs lost.  They also fired their director of communications.  In Blue Bell, managed healthcare company Aetna laid off an undisclosed number of employees.  It’s part of Aetna’s plan to kill 3-thousand jobs across the U.S. by 2015!

Tennessee: An Outback Steakhouse shutdown, it’s part of the company’s plans to close 22 Outback restaurants by the end of of the first quarter 2014.

Texas: In El Paso, United Blood Services shutting down their call center, more than 100 jobs lost!  Company officials said ObamaCare is forcing them to centralize operations.

Vermont: In Essex Junction, local news reports said IBM began killing jobs.  Last year IBM killed 419 jobs in Essex Junction!  IBM officials admit they’re spending billion of dollars on new computer/internet operating systems.

26 February 2014: Sony ups the layoff ante in California! 

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

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security……..That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013