12 February 2013, Japan’s electronic maker, Pioneer, says it now expects to suffer a $40 million USD loss, instead of a previously expected $10 million profit.
As a result 800 employees will be laid off, and the rest will see their pay go down. Pioneer is the first major Japanese electronics maker to couple pay reductions with job layoffs.
Company officials said their optimistic expectations of profits were shattered by the reality of crashing sales worldwide.
13 February 2013
In United Kingdom, the Arrowe Park Hospital has lifted visitor restrictions. Hospital officials said they imposed the restrictions to keep patients from catching the vomiting bug.
12 February 2013
Two nursing homes in Sacramento County, California, are reporting outbreaks. At least 34 people sick.
Also in Sacramento County, school officials say there are so many students out sick that the school districts are losing state funding. Officials report losing between $28 and $39 USD per day for every student out sick.
A New Jersey TV station reporting that hospitals in Bronx, New York, are reporting spikes in the number of people coming in with the stomach bug.
In United Kingdom, four wards of the York Teaching Hospital were shut down: “It’s really tough in the hospital. We have had to open extra beds wherever we can in areas which have previously been empty. Staff is also thin on the ground because some of them have also come down with the bug.”-Libby McManus, National Health Service (NHS)
In Arkansas, health officials believe the norovirus (aka Norwalk virus) has hit their state, but, because it isn’t really tracked they’re not sure how bad it is this year. One doctor said that norovirus is under-reported.
In Belgium, the grocery store chain Carrefour is recalling Normandy oysters. The company is worried because of the growing number of people who ate them are now showing signs of norovirus infection.
11 February 2013
In Canada, visitor restrictions have been lifted at a Prince Albert Hospital. 16 patients and eight hospital staff became sick back in January.
08 February 2013
In Pennsylvania, a Catholic prep school, Villa Joseph Marie, closed because too many students were out sick.
In Tennessee, doctors say norovirus is now at epidemic levels: “For other people who have chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, it can be deadly. A lot of these people have to get put in the hospital because they get so severely dehydrated.”-Mark Castellaw, Baptist Memorial Hospital
In Wyoming, state inspectors have determined the source of what caused a norovirus outbreak at a Golden Corral buffet back in December. A 15 page report blames 31 employees, who kept working even though they were all sick. A total of 344 cases were reported. Blame no paid sick leave!
In Contra Costa County, California, it was revealed that a steak restaurant was closed because of the vomiting bug. County officials closed Fleming’s Steakhouse after several employees and at least two customers became sick. It’s now open after being cleaned.
In South Dakota, the entire Bridgewater-Emery school district closed down because so many students and teachers were out sick.
07 February 2013
In North Carolina, the Mecklenburg County Health Department has confirmed many cases at local nursing homes. At least 45 residents and 12 nursing home staff are sick.
In Missouri, the Saint Louis County Health Department reports at least eight outbreaks in the county. Officials with Barnes Jewish Hospital say cases are spiking.
06 February 2013
In California, Charity Thoman, with the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, wrote of her experiences with norovirus, and tried to explain why this year’s version is so bad: “What’s different about the virus in this 2012-2013 season involves one of my favorite topics: evolutionary genetics. Norovirus is a single-stranded RNA virus which can evolve rapidly by inserting small mutations into its genome. In March 2012, the virus mutated again, resulting in the GII.4 Sydney strain (named after its origin in Sydney, Australia). This mutant strain is spreading rapidly across the world and across California. Santa Barbara County is now sending all positive stool specimens to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for further subtyping to determine which strain we are dealing with. So far all of our positive specimens have been the new Sydney strain.”
In Ohio, the Columbus Public Health Department reports 100 confirmed cases.
04 February 2013
In Helmand province, U.S. led NATO/ISAF forces launched a heliborne operation in Gerishk district. Witnesses say when the fighting was over three medivac copters had to be called in for the NATO/ISAF troops. Two Mujahideen were killed, and one Mujahid was wounded. Three villagers were kidnapped by U.S. led NATO/ISAF troops.
In Laghman Province, Mujahideen claim they used a remote controlled landmine to blow up a U.S. military vehicle on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway. They say three U.S. personnel were killed, two wounded.
In Faryab Province, four cops from the Karzewan district joined the Mujahideen.
In Badghis Province, a local cop joined the Mujahideen.
In response to the Red Coat British empire, President Hamid Karzai says Afghanistan was better off before the Red Coats arrived, and the Brits need to leave: “They feel fulfilled with regard to the objective of fighting terrorism and weakening al-Qaeda, or they feel that they were fighting in the wrong place in the first place, so they should discontinue doing that and leave.”
After accusing Afghanistan’s top airline of drug smuggling, the United States is now backpedaling. Kam Air was accused of smuggling opium, but now U.S. officials say they are dropping sanctions pending the outcome of an Afghan led investigation.
03 February 2013
In Helmand Province, six people, including two girls, were killed when they drove over a landmine. Also, Mujahideen claim a U.S. led Georgian ISAF armored vehicle ran over a landmine, killing two and wounding one.
In Farah Province, witnesses say a U.S. led home invasion took place in Bakwa district’s Shagi area. They say a man was forced to walk around most of the day with a black bag over his head, then he was shot and killed in front of his family.
In Kandahar Province, Panjwai district, Mujahideen claim a U.S. led NATO/ISAF dismount patrol stepped on a landmine killing one and wounding another. Mujahideen then opened up with sniper fire, killing another two. Also, reports say U.S. led NATO/ISAF forces abandoned an outpost in the Zangawat region’s Chamanyano area. Mujahideen claim they are making good use of the equipment left behind.
In Paktika Province, two Afghan National Police joined the Mujahideen.
The German intelligence service confirmed a video threat against Chancellor Angela Merkel, and President Barack Obama. The video says the Arab Spring will turn into the European Summer and that: “We want to see Obama and Merkel dead”
02 February 2013
In Kandahar Province, reports that U.S. NATO/ISAF forces abandoned an outpost near the Chil Ghor village. Also, witnesses say a NATO/ISAF armored vehicle ran over a landmine near Shahwalikot district bazaar, medivac copters were brought in. Also, in Panjawai district witnesses say homes and orchards were torn down and uprooted by occupier forces. They were told it was necessary to build a new highway. Also in Panjawai district, a U.S. led NATO/ISAF outpost in the Talokan region’s Shra area was abandoned. In Zhiri district, U.S. led NATO/ISAF troops abandoned an outpost on Sanghisar hill.
In Nangarhar Province, yet another assassination attempt against government officials. This time the target, a district security chief, was wounded and his bodyguard killed, by explosion. Two bystanders were wounded.
In Kunduz Province, witnesses say another U.S. led home invasion led to one person being kidnapped, and several children wounded by flying glass after shots were fired. It happened in the Khan Abad district.
Pakistani officials claim that Afghanistan launched an artillery attack on their territory. Six people killed, four wounded.
India announced it will invest big time into Afghanistan’s stone/marble industry: “There are some amazing stones in Afghanistan which can be mined and processed with the help of new machines and technologies.”-R.K. Gupta, Rajasthan’s (in India) Centre for Development of Stones
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) said they will be giving Afghanistan $2 billion USD to help develop industries.
The world’s second largest shipping provider, FedEx, is buying out 10% of its U.S. executives!
Company officials refused to give exact numbers. Don’t feel too bad for those officers and directors, they’ll get anywhere from four weeks to two years worth of pay (depending on how long they worked for FedEx) as part of the buyout.
But this is just the beginning of employee cuts. Fedex officials said they have to radically change up their operations in order to hit a profit target of $1.7 billion USD: “The goal is to explain, at a high level, the most significant organizational realignments we plan to make in the months following the voluntary buyout process. A series of cross-functional teams continue to work on plans for our future structure below the director level. Those details cannot be finalized until after the voluntary buyout process is complete.”-recent FedEx memo to employees
01 February 2013
The German government has announced that they will keep German/NATO troops in Afghanistan for at least 13 more months.
In Takhar Province, a man entered the university and started shooting. He killed two cops before being wounded. At this point it seems the man was upset about not being let onto the university compound.
In Faryab Province, two members of a government funded paramilitary group joined the Mujahideen.
In Uruzgan Province, seven Afghan government security personnel joined the Mujahideen.
In Helmand Province, Mujahideen report that a Georgian/ISAF dismounted patrol stepped on a landmine, killing one and wounding two.
31 January 2013
In Nuristan Province, a school was set on fire. Mujahideen say it was done by government forces and then blamed on Mujahideen. In the past Mujahideen have always denied being involved with attacks on schools. They pointed out that the latest school burning involved burning Qurans, which they would not do.
In Kunar Province, reports saying U.S./NATO troops shot and wounded three farmers as they were working in their fields. Supposedly the U.S. led troops apologized.
In Kandahar Province, Mujahideen say they repelled a U.S./NATO heliborne operation. They then witnessed two medivacs called in to take out the casualties in Spirwan area of Panjwaee district.
In Herat Province, an 11 years old child was kidnapped, and then killed. The child belonged to a wealthy family in the area. Two women have been arrested in connection to the crime.
In Nangarhar Province, a civil servant was assassinated by gunshot.
In Helmand Province, a NATO convoy was ambushed in Anzar Shali Karez area of Nawzad district. A two hour firefight then ensued, casualties unknown.
The Asian Development Bank is granting the Afghan government $300 million USD, supposedly for use in building the country’s infrastructure.
30 January 2013
In Kandahar Province, Mujahideen said a U.S. led heliborne operation landed in a booby trap. It happened in Band Taimoor region of Maiwand district. Mujahideen say they detonated remote controlled bombs as the helicopters came in. It took three more helicopters to medivac out the casualties.
In Kunduz Province, a U.S. led home invasion resulted in five people kidnapped.
In Ghazni Province, U.S. led home invasion forces kidnapped a local Imam.
In Nangarhar Province, reports of yet another U.S. led nighttime home invasion. Two people were killed and nine kidnapped.
In Faryab Province, one woman killed, 15 people wounded, after a motorcycle bomb went off in a market place.
In Khost Province, two children were killed when a bomb exploded near a shopping bazaar. The bomb went off just as a police patrol went by.
A U.S. Army solider is being accused of being an unwitting propagandist for the Mujahideen. Last year he was trying to upload his helmet cam video to a private internet account, but it ended up on YouTube. The two minute long video shows an U.S. soldier, seemingly separated from his unit, coming under fire, and calling for help after being shot.
In Paktika Province, an Afghan National Army commander, and two soldiers, joined the Mujahideen. Also, reports that a U.S./NATO armored vehicle ran over a landmine, killing two and wounding three crewmen.
In Uruzgan Province, two Afghan government personnel joined the Mujahideen. They then ambushed a patrol of Afghan government forces. Three killed, two wounded and one captured. One Mujahid killed.
The government of Denmark announced they will pull out their troops by the end of 2014.
“Following the discontinuation of its T.G.I. Friday’s frozen meals, Heinz conducted a thorough evaluation of the production needs at its Pocatello, Idaho factory. To ensure the number of employees is in line with production needs, Heinz has made the difficult but necessary decision to lay off 80 full-time, hourly team members, effective March 4, 2013.”-Heinz Frozen Food statement
On 05 February 2013, Heinz Frozen Food (a division of H.J. Heinz) announced that 80 of their Pocatello, Idaho, employees will be out-o-work by March.
Click the pic to make bigger
Heinz finally decided to put the T.G.I. Friday’s frozen food brand meals out of its misery. The company famous for ketchup will focus on T.G.I. Friday’s frozen snacks, as opposed to full meals.
Frozen foods have not been selling well in the United States. A report last month said that frozen meal (aka entree) sales have been falling for the past five years. It’s not just Heinz that’s struggling, but other frozen entree makers like Con-Agra and Nestle. These companies are coming up with new plans for their frozen food operations, including laying employees off.
It’s these plans that might have prompted Warren Buffet to buy into Heinz. That’s right, investors like when companies layoff employees. Heinz began shutting down T.G.I. Friday’s frozen single serve entree lines, as well as multi-serve entrees, in February 2012, so, this shutting down of the Pocatello, Idaho, production line is just par for the course.
What about the T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant chain? In 2011 sales were down, by only 1.5%, and company officials say 2012 sales are looking to be even better. And the restaurant is doing fantastic in the United Kingdom.
Reports out of Britain say that business is so good that TGI Friday’s (they don’t use periods after the TGI in Merry Olde England) is about to hire 600 new employees by opening six new restaurants!
Despite the upbeat attitude of company officials, just last month a T.G.I. Friday’s was closed in Oakley Hyde Park Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio. The reason was that the owners were not going to renew the lease. (this has become the new official reason for unAmerican Corporate America to close down stores)
05 February 2013
In Manteca, California, the Saint Jude Care Center was given the OK by health officials, after a nearly two week long norovirus outbreak. County health officials said restrictions are still in effect in other care centers throughout the county: “We always have outbreaks in the county every year. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we get reports this week or next month. It will be ongoing……It can happen anytime, but mostly in the winter. There’s no real explanation as to why.”-Ginger Wick, San Joaquin County Public Health Department
In Ontario, Canada, the Northumberland Hills Hospital has lifted visitation restrictions, now that they believe a recent norovirus outbreak is finished.
Officials with Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, Missouri, reporting a spike in stomach bug cases. They are seeing at least 15 new patients everyday. Missouri media reporting that other hospitals have not given status reports on norovirus cases, as there is no regulation requiring them to do so.
For several weeks now schools in Arkansas are getting hit hard, with hundreds of students staying home sick every week. Some schools have been forced to close.
Health officials in Maryland are warning that February and March are the peak months for norovirus infections in their state. However they do not track cases, so there are no official numbers to report.
The vomiting bug continues to hammer Merry Olde England. Another hospital had to shut down several wards. Maidstone Hospital in Kent is restricting visitors because of another outbreak.
04 February 2013
Again, in Merry Olde England, the Queen’s own hospital has been hit with vomiting bug. The Bristol Royal Infirmary has restricted visitation due to an outbreak. It is one of four Bristol hospitals dealing with outbreaks.
03 February 2013
The new Medical Rescue Team South Authority in Whitehall, Pennsylvania, issued a warning: “Trending appears to show we are headed towards a 200% increase of symptoms similar to the norovirus for the first month of this year compared to last year.”-Jesse Siefert, paramedic
Health officials in Minnesota continue to warn that the new Sydney 2012 norovirus has arrived in the North Star State.
Reports out of Arkansas that people are going to work sick, because they do not have paid sick time, and can’t afford to miss work.
02 February 2013
Reports saying beds are filling up at the health center for Princeton University, New Jersey.
01 February 2013
Depending on which report you read, between 10 and 50 cases of norovirus were linked to a Concord, California, deli. The food shop was temporarily shut down after it catered an event where people started getting sick. Local health officials blamed it on the employees.
Health officials in Missouri confirming the new norovirus has arrived: “We’ve had four confirmed norovirus outbreaks in varies health care settings around the county, and then we’ve had three of four other outbreaks in health care facilities where the signs and symptoms have been consistent with the norovirus, but from a laboratory standpoint we were not able to prove that.”-Richard Knaup, Saint Louis County Health Department
Ohio doctors say they’re preparing for increases in norovirus cases. They say that since the first cases of norovirus were documented (back in 1968) that the trend has been as influenza cases slack off norovirus cases pick up.
Did you know the first norovirus case occurred in 1968 in Norwalk, Ohio. This is why it is sometimes called the Norwalk virus. However, the 1968 outbreak was not confirmed until 1972, when researchers were finally able to identify the cause. Ever since then, year after year, there are more and more cases, and stronger and stronger versions of the virus.
Check my previous postings about norovirus.
29 January 2013
In Kapisa Province, a local police chief was assassinated. He was shot outside his home. Five people were arrested. Also, Mujahideen claim they ambushed a U.S./NATO patrol, killing one and wounding two. They say the ambush lasted 30 minutes.
In Kunar Province, Mujahideen claim they ambushed a U.S./NATO dismounted patrol. They claim they killed four.
In Ghazni Province, a U.S./NATO dismount patrol was ambushed in Gilan district. No further info.
In Maidan Wardak Province (aka Wardak Province), Mujahideen claim they destroyed a U.S./NATO armored vehicle. They claim six personnel were killed.
In Kandahar Province, witnesses say a U.S./NATO vehicle ran over a landmine in Sharabad Godar area near Babrai hill of Kala Shamir region, Maiwand district. All five of the crew were killed or wounded.
President Hamid Karzai implied the United States was interfering with the peace process by holding their own back room talks: “Any effort to conduct peace talks individually is not an effort for peace but it’s a plot by the foreigners, aimed at weakening Afghanistan.”
According to western news sources, Afghanistan and Pakistan are about to sign a deal that would have the Pakistan army training Afghan forces.
28 January 2013
In Samangan Province, local government officials are accusing U.S./NATO personnel of intentionally ramming a bus with an armored vehicle! Ten civilians were wounded.
In Helmand Province, a car ran over a landmine, three children wounded. Also, Mujahideen reported a major battle after U.S./NATO personnel and Afghan National Army (ANA) troops were brought in by helicopters in Nawzad district’s Jakaw Karez area. Mujahideen say several occupier troops were killed and wounded, while two Mujahideen were killed and one wounded.
In Kunar Province, a day long battle resulted in seven U.S./NATO personnel and three ANA troops killed. Mujahideen say the battle started after the U.S./NATO personnel kidnapped five people.
Afghan officials announced a new deal to buy more electricity from Iran. Iran will now supply Afghanistan with 164 mega watt of electricity per hour. Afghanistan will pay Iran $26 million USD. And guess where the Afghan government gets most of its money?
On top of that, the capital city of Kabul will be running two generators producing 50 mega watts. The emergency generators consume 18,000 liters of oil per hour. The deal was made with Iran.
27 January 2013
In Logar Province, local government officials accuse U.S./NATO personnel of killing three civilians. Three brothers were riding one motorcycle, and U.S./NATO troops ambushed and gunned them down. International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said they were Mujahideen. President Karzai ordered an investigation.
In Kandahar Province, eight Afghan government personnel were killed when their truck was hit with a car bomb. They had just detained suspected bomb planters. The three suspects were also killed.
In Kapisa Province, locals say U.S. led forces conducted a home invasion and kidnapped a local Imam and three others.
In Parwan Province, reports say three children were killed, and five wounded, when they stepped on a landmine.
Canucks might have thought things were getting better, since Target announced plans to open 135 stores across the Great White North, but here comes Sears and Best Buy to shoot down that hope.
Sears Canada announced they will destroy 700 jobs this year! Company officials say they have to “right size” their struggling operations.
Best Buy announced plans to destroy 900 jobs! It’s part of the same plan that’s destroying Best Buy jobs in Yankee Land; they are transitioning to much smaller stores and internet operations.
Total Sears Canada and Best Buy jobs to be destroyed this year is 1,600!
“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?