Category Archives: U.S.

International, U.S.

World War 3, Asia-Pacific Front: Obama increasing military personnel in Australia! Japan & Canada increases wargames in California, preps for war with China!

14 June 2013 (12:10 UTC-07 Tango)/05 Sha’ban 1434/24 Khordad 1391/07 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

It’s been revealed that President Barack Obama is increasing the number of U.S. Marines occupying Australia.

Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, announced that they’ve agreed to allow 1150 U.S. Marines to be deployed in the city of Darwin next year.  Currently about 200 Marines spend six months a year, in the Darwin area, playing army with Aussie Diggers.  There are other U.S. military personnel stationed elsewhere in Australia.

In 2011 Obama announced he would be stationing at least 2500 Marines and U.S. Air Force airmen in Australia.

Analysts point out that the city of Darwin has a strategic advantage to quickly deploy troops against China!

In the U.S. state of California, it was revealed that for the first time ever all three branches of the Japanese Self Defense Forces are taking part in a major war game with U.S. Marines, Canadian navy and New Zealand.  Officials from Australia and Singapore are observing operation Dawn Blitz 2013.

The war games began this past week, and involve (as in recent smaller war games with U.S. Marines) the invasion and capture of islands.  If you’ve been following news out of East Asia you’d know that Japan and China are at odds over certain islands, even threatening war over them.

The U.S. sponsored Dawn Blitz wargames began in 2010, which is about when Japan began ratcheting up their claims on disputed islands.  Recently Japan took over a island and China is demanding it be returned to them.

Japanese claims are upsetting not only China, but Russia, Korea (both north & U.S. ally south) and even U.S. ally Taiwan.  The Obama administration has repeatedly stated they support Japan’s claims on the disputed islands.

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, Economic Front: New twist on Blue Light Specials; Kmart sex crimes? Sears is most hated company in the United States!

13 June 2013 (13:56 UTC-07 Tango)/04 Sha’ban 1434/23 Khordad 1391/06 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

The Manassas Kmart in Virginia will shut down by September.

Also in Virginia, a Springfield Kmart loss prevention employee caught a shoplifter, then tried to force the shoplifter to perform sexual acts.  According to Fairfax County Police, the suspect is charged with “…abduction with intent to defile and forcible sodomy.”

In Canada, a woman discovered Sears has been charging her for critical illness health insurance policy, that she never agreed to.  The charge on her Sears credit account was coming from ACE INA Insurance, which is a vendor partner with Sears Canada.  The charges have been ongoing since 2009, and she had to hire a lawyer o fight them.

According to Yahoo Finance, Sears is the most hated retail store in the U.S.

Most mall based vacated Sears stores will be used as emergency “business continuity services”, to supposedly keep other businesses running in case of natural disasters or civil uprisings/unforeseen events.

Most vacated Kmarts will be used as domestic spying data collection centers, because most Kmarts are not connected to malls or other stores, therefore it’s easier to hide just who is operating the data center.

Sears Holdings officials say the vacated Sears and Kmarts were chosen for such population monitoring/controlling operations because 70% of the U.S. population live near a Sears or Kmart!

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

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

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost).

California:   El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart.

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost).

Guam:  Sears Hometown Store.

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

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!!!),  Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost).

Vacant bedroom/bathroom section.

One corner of the half vacant Chubbuck, Idaho, Sears. No official closing announcement was made.

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).  No official announcement, but it’s painfully obvious the Chubbuck Sears going’ down. Or, maybe it’s preps for Shop within a Shop, or one of those domestic spy data storage centers?

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost).

Illinois:  Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost).  Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!). 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale.  By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state.  The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

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

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

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

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

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

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart,  GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost).

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

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

North Carolina: High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost),  West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

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

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost).   Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost),  both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart.

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

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost),  Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), recently revealed Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost),  Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (will be closed, see above)

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

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

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

U.S.

United Police States of America: Sick cop blasts kittens with his government authorized gun, in front of children! Turns out it’s official policy!

12 June 2013 (15:04 UTC-07 Tango)/03 Sha’ban 1434/22 Khordad 1391/05 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

“Mommy, mommy he shot the kitty!”-child witness

According to the Ohio Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals a retired cop, now a part time Humane Officer blasted five kittens in front of a mother and her children.  Citizens now want him fired on five counts of cruelty to animals.

What happened was that a woman called to have a stray cat, with five kittens, picked up to be taken to the animal shelter.  Instead, when the ‘Humane’ cop showed up he told her there was no room at the inn, then pulled his gun and began blasting away at the kittens.  (for one thing that’s was a totally inefficient use of handgun ammo, I think the guy was gettin’ off on it)

But wait, there’s more!  When local news media asked the North Ridgeville Police Department about the incident, they were told that it was standard practice to use guns for euthanasia!    (will they apply this to humans? is this what the cops in Ohio actually do to human criminal suspects when there’s no room at the jail?)

Watch a local news video report here.

I’d like to point out that some of the citizens upset by this, are only upset because it happened in public.  They’re fine with so called ‘humane’ killing if it takes places out-o-sight out-o-mind!

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 12-13 April 2013. Business owner says the U.S. economy is the “Titanic…iceberg in sight”!

In California, AMS Fulfillment will layoff 200 people!  Company officials blame it on the loss of a major client. The Hanford Adult School officials warned they might have to layoff staff.  They blame the possible transfer of adult education to community colleges. The Technology, Arts, and Design High School closed down due to lack of enrollment.  Riverside County Superior Court to layoff 25 stenographers.  San Bernardino County Superior Court looking to reduce court reporters.  Despite having high profile customers the Empire Tap Room, in Palo Alto, shut down.  The owners blamed across the board increases to operating costs.  In San Marino, Fancy That! holiday supply store closed down.  In San Francisco, Freed, Teller & Freed coffee shop closed down.  The cafe opened in 1899, long before Starbucks was even an idea!  Xyratex moving operations to Mexico, leaving 300 Californians out-o-work!

Orthopedics company, Medtronic, laid off 50 people in Warsaw, Indiana.  Company officials blame the Obama/Romney Care medical device tax.

In New Mexico, 57 UNM Hospital employees lost their jobs.  The hospital contracted out their jobs to try and save money.

In Massachusetts, Quincy Medical laid off 30 nurses.  Tuell Nursing Home shut down after four decades of operations.  The operators blamed skyrocketing health care costs, and reduced Medicare payments under the Obama/Romney Care.  Amherst Woodworking shut down their 38 years old operation. The owner blame the bad economy: “We actually had a pretty good year in 2008, and then the bubble burst. Since then we’ve lost money.”-David Short

In New York, Horseheads Central School District plans to cut 70 positions.   Too Big to Jail Bank of America closing its branch on state Route 28 in the town of Olive.  Oswego Hospital closing its pediatric unit.  Cookie’s laying off 124 people in Fordham!  Store management blamed the bad economy.

Government communications and IT contractor, Harris Corporation, laying off up to 180 people!

In Muskegon, Michigan, Bon-Ton furniture store closed down.  20 employees out-o-work.  Art Van Furniture in Onaway closed down.  Owners blame lack of business.

The 50 years old Independence, Missouri, YMCA shut down.  Protestors pointed out that the YMCA was closing fitness centers in areas with “modest economics”.

In Louisiana, Charlie’s Seafood closed down due to a lease dispute.

Lockheed Martin creation and Department of Energy contractor, Technology Ventures, closed offices in Idaho and California.

Too Big to Jail Raymond James Financial laying off 160 people around the United States.  Company officials say they’re trying to get rid of “employee overlap”.

In Virginia, Petland in Roanoke shut down.  The owner tried to find a buyer for his store, but he said all potential buyers were refused business loans for some unknown reason.

Maker of plastic and metal containers, BWAY, consolidating two Texas factories into one, laying off 69 people.

In North Carolina, Meatballs on Main closed without notice, employees’ paychecks ‘bounced’.  The restaurant was open for less than a year.

In Hawaii, Farmers Insurance laying off 74 people.

The largest pool, patio and gameroom superstore in the United States, Branch Brook, closing stores in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.  The shut down operation is being conducted by Romney style vulture capitalist company Gordon Brothers Group.

Plass Appliance & Furniture closing in Illinois.  Company officials say they plan to close all their Illinois stores and move to Florida.  In La Grange, the Clipper Ship Gallery shut down.  The owner of the 40 years old art gallery blamed the bad economy: “Businesses like ours that depend on discretionary spending have found it very difficult.”-Bert Jacobs

In Arizona, all Phoenix area Baja Fresh restaurants shut down!  Apparently the franchise owner dropped the franchise without telling Baja Fresh corporate people.

In Centerville, Iowa, one of the last Ben Franklin stores in the U.S. shut down.  The store had been in operation since 1954.  Sources related to the store owners said “…sales have dropped tremendously…”

3Rivers Credit Union will be closing its Van Wert, Ohio, branch.  It’s blamed on declining customers.

In Pennsylvania, Merchant’s Village indoor market closed down.  At one point there were 170 vendors working the market, but sales weren’t good enough and most vendors quit.

In Florida, Breakers Restaurant closed after 42 years in business.  Harpoon Harry’s beach club closed down.   Here’s what the owner said about the economy: “I thought we would have the whole season, and I’d have preferred to go through September. But my helpers need to find jobs. They’re on the Titanic, with the iceberg in sight.”-Jack Bishop

On Mercer Island, Washington, Alpenland Delicatessen closed up.  It first opened for business in the 1970s.

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

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

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Idaho Electric rates going up, blame the demise of Pocatello’s Hoku silicone factory!

11 June 2013 (15:02 UTC-07 Tango)/02 Sha’ban 1434/21 Khordad 1392/04 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

It’s been revealed that in May, Hoku Materials laid off its last engineer at the failed $700 million USD polysilicone factory in Pocatello, Idaho.  There are now only eight security guards working at the 50 football fields long factory.

Pocatello based news media interviewed the engineer who told them they were trying to work on a way to save the factory from bankruptcy sale.

Hoku Materials ghost town factory, Pocatello, Idaho. Now estimated to have cost $700 million.

Hoku Materials ghost town factory, Pocatello, Idaho. Now estimated to have cost $700 million.

Today, the factory is considered officially shut down, and will likely be parted out in bankruptcy liquidation sales (who wants to buy a 50 football fields long, never been used, polysilicone factory?).

The project was started five years ago, but right away ran into trouble because Hoku Corporation didn’t really have the money to build their Hoku Materials factory.  Pocatello even gave the company a huge tax break equivalent to the value of the land the factory was being built on.

Construction was delayed several times because Hoku couldn’t pay the construction contractor on time.  Eventually Hoku sold out to a Chinese company (Tianwei).  Then commodity market prices for polysilicone crashed.  The coup de gras was given by President Obama when he imposed high tariffs on Chinese solar power companies.

Another issue was that Idaho Power, the main supplier of electricity in Idaho, cut off power several times because Hoku didn’t pay their electric bill.  Now Idaho Power is jacking up electric rates for Idahoans, partially blaming it on the failed solar power polysilicone provider.

Most of Idaho Power’s electricity comes from dams on the Snake River, but water levels are so low they must rely more on wind and gas fired plants to generate electricity this year.  Regarding Hoku, Idaho Power is trying to regain the $23 million they invested.  In other words, Idaho Power company officials made a bad investment and they’re going to make their captive customers pay for it!

Electric rates for Idahoans trapped on the Idaho Power grid will see a 12% increase, the fourth largest increase in Idaho’s history.

I’ve been following this disaster for years, here’s more on the demise of Hoku Materials:

Capitalist Commodity Markets to blame for Pocatello’s Hoku Polysilicon near abandonment!

 

 

U.S.

Martial Law U.S.A.: Tax collector IRS turning into domestic spy agency!

11 June 2013 (13:55 UTC-07 Tango)/02 Sha’ban 1434/21 Khordad 1391/04 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

The Government Services Administration (GSA) has published a Purchase Order (PO) for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The gist is; the IRS is seeking to buy hidden cameras and clock radios: “Plant Concealment Color 700 Lines Color IP Camera…..Covert Coffee tray with Camera…..DVD Burner and 2 Internal HDDs, cameras…..Concealed clock radio…..Color IP Camera Concealment with single channel network”.

What does a tax collection agency need with hidden cameras, and even a hidden clock radio?  Visit the GSA’s www.fbo.gov website to see the PO for yourself!

 

Business/Economics, Technology, U.S.

Corporate Martial Law: Operant conditioning alive & well in the U.S. of A.!

10 June 2013 (14:12 UTC-07 Tango)/01 Sha’ban 1434/20 Khordad 1391/03 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

“Operant conditioning techniques will and are currently being used to program the behavior of susceptible Internet users….”-The Atlantic

An article on ‘Skinner Marketing’ in The Atlantic reveals how far down the rabbit hole unAmerican corporate America is going.  The scientific term for Skinner Marketing is Operant Conditioning.

The article points out that the latest version of Google Maps is designed to target people with corporate products based on their location.  Other internet applications are totally about collection of your data, mainly for marketing by corporations.

The most common form are free gaming applications.  While you play those games the software somehow is able to guesstimate what kind of person/consumer your are.

The Atlantic article has some warnings: “The beauty of the Internet is that by combining big data, behavioral targeting, wearable and mobile devices, and GPS, application developers can design more effective operant conditioning environments…..[sounds almost like the Matrix movies, don’t it?]……big data, behavioral targeting, Internet cookies, and GPS positioning can all be integrated with operant conditioning techniques to motivate us to lose weight and study harder. But as with any technology, they can be employed to less admirable ends.“

U.S.

Global Martial Law: Reporter overhears NSA talking about disappearing hero whistleblowers and the journalists that publish them!

10 June 2013 (13:55 UTC-07 Tango)/01 Sha’ban 1434/20 Khordad 1391/03 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

Reports that The Atlantic editor at large, Steve Clemons, was following attendees of the Intel & National Security Association dinner on 07 June 2013.   While sitting in the United Airlines lounge, in the Washington DC Dulles airport, he says he hears “….4 US intel officials saying loudly leaker & reporter on #NSA stuff should be disappeared…”

Clemons said you couldn’t help but hear what the intel officials were saying because they “were loud. Almost bragging”.

Were these National Security officials intentionally being loud?  Did they recognize Clemons and were playing a joke on him?  Are U.S. security officials so arrogant that they have no fear of the general public overhearing their nefarious plans?

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 10-11 April 2013. Government makes hundreds of businesses illegal! Schools hit hard, again! At least 2000 more layoffs!

Drug maker, Eli Lilly, to layoff 1000 people in Indiana!  They blame crashing sales.

In New York, Tetra Tech in Schuylerville laid off an undisclosed number of people.  Xerox owned student loan processing plant, ACS, will close in August.  149 people out-o-work!  Pizza Box restaurant closed.  It started in 1957, a Spanish restaurant is willing to pay more for the lease (reported to be $19500 per month).  Frontier School District wants to get rid of 35 employees, and raise taxes by 3.5%, for this coming school year.

In Ohio, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools wants to layoff employees.  No numbers given.    Dale’s Bike Shop closed in Oberlin.   The owner says he can make more money renting out the shop, and selling bikes on the internet.

In California, the Orcutt School District wants to layoff ten people.   School officials blame uncertain state funding.

School supplies, equipment and furniture company, School Specialty, closing its operations in Pennsylvania.  148 people unemployed!  Company officials blame crashing sales.  Scarlet Fiorella clothing store closed up.  The owner is moving out-o-state.

In Illinois, O’Fallon School District to layoff 90 people.  School officials blame it on voters who rejected a tax hike. Cahokia School District #187 to layoff at least 87 employees.  The district is facing the loss of nearly $5 million USD in state and federal funding.  Johnsburg School District #12 cutting 39 jobs.  Contact lens maker, CIBA Vision, laying off 262 people starting in June!  It’s blamed on a merger with Alcon.

FairPoint Communications laying off 90 people in three northeastern U.S.  states.  Company officials said it’s necessary to stay competitive.

Government contractor, General Dynamics, laying off 110 people by July, at their Saco, Maine, factory: “It’s primarily a result of a sharp decline in the U.S. Army’s demand for heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers.”-Karl Johnson, General Dynamics

100 years old Hamilton Jewelers closed in Lawrence Township, New Jersey.  The owners said it was in response to customer surveys and recent thefts.  The Newark Museum laid off 14 people.  They blame the bad economy: “We are coming to terms with the economic realities. We are grateful for the public and private support we receive, but we must be realistic and not operate beyond our means.”-Mary Sue Sweeney Price

Boeing warned the engineers that fixed the flaming battery problem on their new 787 Dreamliner, that they’re going to be laid off.  Boeing wants to layoff 700 engineers by the end of 2013!  At least 100 are in Washington.  Boeing officials say the mass layoffs are because orders aren’t coming fast enough.  Analysts speculate that Boeing is moving work from union strong states to states that are ‘right to work’.

In Tennessee, electronics maker Cerrowire warned of layoffs.  They gave no numbers.  Company officials blame “…the economic condition.”

In Montana, Vann’s appliance seller closed two stores.  The new owner of the retailer said they could not get the landlords to agree to a cheaper lease.

In Connecticut, Klaff’s lighting and decorative hardware store and Chic Jolie women’s clothing store closed down due to flooding fears after hurricane Sandy.  After 48 years, The Emporium eclectic gift store closed in Mystic.

In Florida, Governor Rick Scott signed a bill into law that bans internet cafes!   It could shut down 200 businesses in the Sunshine state: “We never broke a law, we always obey the rules, all the sudden we became illegal, I think it’s just dirty politics, I think somebody who wrote the bill who is responsible for it should be kept accountable somehow, it’s a travesty really.”-Chris Firleg.

Amcor Tobacco Packaging closing in Virginia.  At least 35 employees laid off.

In South Carolina, the Summerville Plaza Piggly Wiggly grocery store closed.   Company officials say sales aren’t good enough to justify renewing the lease.   Jewelry Warehouse closed in West Columbia.

The Three Streams Family Health Center, which helps people without insurance, closed down in North Carolina.  They blame out-o-control health care costs.

In Greenville, Michigan, Julie’s Coffee House closed up.  The owner is moving to Arizona.

Unconfirmed reports that the Las Vegas Club and Gold Spike hotels shutting down in Nevada.   Hundreds of people will be out-o-work!

In Maryland, Jake’s Steaks out-o-business.  The owner said she tried everything but the economy is too bad: “I have tried everything. I have done healthy items. If someone orders something that isn’t on the menu, I do my best to make that. I even did lunch specials trying to get people in the door. It just didn’t work.”-Barb Gossett

Skyburgers closed in Vermont.  The owners claim business was so good that a corporation offered to buy their restaurant, and the owners agreed.

In Oklahoma, Days Inn motel closed down in Norman.  Employees said little or no notice was given.  The motel had a lot of long term residents, mainly elderly and disabled, who’re now homeless.  The motel was also part of local government plans for emergency housing in case of natural disaster.  The greedy owners sold the property to a car dealer.

LandoZ Hometown Grill, in Massachusetts, closed after only one year.  The owners blame medical reasons.

In Missouri, Dierdorf & Hart’s Steak House closed at the Westport Plaza.  The owners did not want to renew the lease.

In Hawaii a 54 years old shoe store, The Slipper House, closed down.  The owners were forced to close by mall company GGP (General Growth Properties), which is the same company that shut down the biggest Sears store in the Aloha state.

 

International, Technology, U.S.

Global Martial Law: Whistleblower Hero reveals himself!

10 June 2013 (21:53 UTC-07 Tango 09 June 2013)/01 Sha’ban 1434/20 Khordad 1391/03 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

The following is from The Guardian interview with NSA contracted employee turned whistleblower, Edward Snowden, who fled the U.S. to live in communist controlled Hong Kong.

Q: Why did you decide to become a whistleblower?

A: “The NSA has built an infrastructure that allows it to intercept almost everything. With this capability, the vast majority of human communications are automatically ingested without targeting. If I wanted to see your emails or your wife’s phone, all I have to do is use intercepts. I can get your emails, passwords, phone records, credit cards.

“I don’t want to live in a society that does these sort of things … I do not want to live in a world where everything I do and say is recorded. That is not something I am willing to support or live under.”

Q: But isn’t there a need for surveillance to try to reduce the chances of terrorist attacks such as Boston?

A: “We have to decide why terrorism is a new threat. There has always been terrorism. Boston was a criminal act. It was not about surveillance but good, old-fashioned police work. The police are very good at what they do.”

Q: Do you see yourself as another Bradley Manning?

A: “Manning was a classic whistleblower. He was inspired by the public good.”

Q: Do you think what you have done is a crime?

A: “We have seen enough criminality on the part of government. It is hypocritical to make this allegation against me. They have narrowed the public sphere of influence.”

Q: What do you think is going to happen to you?

A: “Nothing good.”

Q: Why Hong Kong?

A: “I think it is really tragic that an American has to move to a place that has a reputation for less freedom. Still, Hong Kong has a reputation for freedom in spite of the People’s Republic of China. It has a strong tradition of free speech.”

Q: What do the leaked documents reveal?

A: “That the NSA routinely lies in response to congressional inquiries about the scope of surveillance in America. I believe that when [senator Ron] Wyden and [senator Mark] Udall asked about the scale of this, they [the NSA] said it did not have the tools to provide an answer. We do have the tools and I have maps showing where people have been scrutinised most. We collect more digital communications from America than we do from the Russians.”

Q: What about the Obama administration’s protests about hacking by China?

A: “We hack everyone everywhere. We like to make a distinction between us and the others. But we are in almost every country in the world. We are not at war with these countries.”

Q: Is it possible to put security in place to protect against state surveillance?

A: “You are not even aware of what is possible. The extent of their capabilities is horrifying. We can plant bugs in machines. Once you go on the network, I can identify your machine. You will never be safe whatever protections you put in place.”

Q: Does your family know you are planning this?

A: “No. My family does not know what is happening … My primary fear is that they will come after my family, my friends, my partner. Anyone I have a relationship with …

I will have to live with that for the rest of my life. I am not going to be able to communicate with them. They [the authorities] will act aggressively against anyone who has known me. That keeps me up at night.”

Q: When did you decide to leak the documents?

A: “You see things that may be disturbing. When you see everything you realise that some of these things are abusive. The awareness of wrong-doing builds up. There was not one morning when I woke up [and decided this is it]. It was a natural process.

“A lot of people in 2008 voted for Obama. I did not vote for him. I voted for a third party. But I believed in Obama’s promises. I was going to disclose it [but waited because of his election]. He continued with the policies of his predecessor.”

Q: What is your reaction to Obama denouncing the leaks on Friday while welcoming a debate on the balance between security and openness?

A: “My immediate reaction was he was having difficulty in defending it himself. He was trying to defend the unjustifiable and he knew it.”

Q: What about the response in general to the disclosures?

A: “I have been surprised and pleased to see the public has reacted so strongly in defence of these rights that are being suppressed in the name of security. It is not like Occupy Wall Street but there is a grassroots movement to take to the streets on July 4 in defence of the Fourth Amendment called Restore The Fourth Amendment and it grew out of Reddit. The response over the internet has been huge and supportive.”

Q: Washington-based foreign affairs analyst Steve Clemons said he overheard at the capital’s Dulles airport four men discussing an intelligence conference they had just attended. Speaking about the leaks, one of them said, according to Clemons, that both the reporter and leaker should be “disappeared”. How do you feel about that?

A: “Someone responding to the story said ‘real spies do not speak like that’. Well, I am a spy and that is how they talk. Whenever we had a debate in the office on how to handle crimes, they do not defend due process – they defend decisive action. They say it is better to kick someone out of a plane than let these people have a day in court. It is an authoritarian mindset in general.”

Q: Do you have a plan in place?

A: “The only thing I can do is sit here and hope the Hong Kong government does not deport me … My predisposition is to seek asylum in a country with shared values. The nation that most encompasses this is Iceland. They stood up for people over internet freedom. I have no idea what my future is going to be.

“They could put out an Interpol note. But I don’t think I have committed a crime outside the domain of the US. I think it will be clearly shown to be political in nature.”

Q: Do you think you are probably going to end up in prison?

A: “I could not do this without accepting the risk of prison. You can’t come up against the world’s most powerful intelligence agencies and not accept the risk. If they want to get you, over time they will.”

Q: How to you feel now, almost a week after the first leak?

A: “I think the sense of outrage that has been expressed is justified. It has given me hope that, no matter what happens to me, the outcome will be positive for America. I do not expect to see home again, though that is what I want.”