Category Archives: U.S.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Kmart closing in Tennessee. Whistleblowers reveal Kmart killing sharks to make commercials!

20 March 2013/08 Jumada l-Ula 1434/30 Esfand 1391/09 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Sears Holdings confirming they will close the Clinton South Kmart by June. Company officials blamed it on poor sales for the Tennessee store.  The store first opened in 1983.

An investigation is looking into why a shark died while being used for an upcoming Kmart commercial.  For some reason the shark was flown from New York to California. The shark was used in a swimming pool.  (Did anyone remove the chlorine before putting the shark in?) Whistleblowers reported the incident.  Animal activists say the number of animals being killed for commercials, TV shows and movies (including the Hobbit in which 25 animals died) are going up.

Here’s my updated list of store closings since the end of 2011:

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

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

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

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

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

Guam:  Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway 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).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line.

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

New York: Depew 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).

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),  one of two Greenville Kmarts (74 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), recently revealed 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).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

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

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

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

International, U.S.

World War 3: UN Security Council approves continued U.S. led occupation of Afghanistan!

20 March 2013/08 Jumada l-Ula 1434/30 Esfand 1391/09 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The United Nations has unanimously approved the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for at least one more year.  That would mean the UNAMA mission would end in March 2014.

 

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

World War 3: South Korea reporting computer network crashed by hackers!

20 March 2013/08 Jumada l-Ula 1434/30 Esfand 1391/09 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The Republic of Korea’s National Police Agency is reporting that three major South Korean TV broadcasters and two banks have been the targets of cyber attacks that shut them down. It’s still unknown how it happened, police are investigating.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3 & Government Incompetence: Sanctions a big fail! For the first time North Korea is actually making money off its exports! More proof China will not support sanctions.

19 March 2013/07 Jumada l-Ula 1434/29 Esfand 1391/08 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

A report in the Japanese media suggests that for the first time ever, and despite increasing economic sanctions, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is actually making money off its exports!

The Japan Times says U.S. based economists, Marcus Noland and Stephen Haggard, think North Korea might actually have a trade surplus, thanks to China.

According to the government of the Republic of Korea, North Korea’s trade with China tripled from 2007 to 2011.

Having account surpluses means sanctions have less effect. However, the U.S. economists say one of DPRK’s exports is large amounts of cash, which could be bad for the communist country.  Also, the economists assumed illicit activities in their estimations of North Korea’s trade.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 13 February 2013: Yet again, thousands more losing their jobs! People who can’t handle self-management losing their jobs! More stores closing without notice!

Westinghouse Electric eliminating 665 jobs worldwide!  It will include layoffs at its Pennsylvania HQ. The company blames it on a decreased demand for nuclear power, caused by the March 2011 nuclear disaster in Japan, which is still not resolved.

Corporate information provider, Thomson Reuters, announced 2500 layoffs!  Company officials blame about half the layoffs on the sale of its Corporate Services division to NASDAQ,  the other layoffs are being blamed on the bad economy.  Company officials actually expect better profits for 2013, but apparently profits won’t be good enough to justify keeping people employed.

Another video game maker going down?  Reports saying that VALVe will layoff employees. Possibly 25 people will lose their jobs, including their director of business.  VALVe is controversial as it claims that there are no managers, and employees are free to do what they think is best. One economist said the layoffs might involve employees who can not handle working without a manager looking over their shoulder:  “In many occasions people simply don’t fit in not because they’re not productive or good people, but because they just can’t function very well in a boss-less environment.”-Yanis Varoufakis

Wisconsin based Sensient Technologies laying off more than 200 employees in Europe and North America. They want to consolidate operations in the name of being more efficient (aka making more profits for investors).

In New York, It’s a Dog’s World to shut down at the end of March. The Ditmas Park pet store owner didn’t give a reason, but it sounds like it caught her by surprise because she had placed new orders for the store.  Also, Utica City School District wants to layoff 88 employees.  This on top of all previous layoffs (which total 240).  The school district is short $5.5 million USD!

Duke Corporate Education to layoff employees worldwide: “We need to reshape our workforce in the U.S.A. and Europe….Like many businesses these days, we need to take steps to realign our workforce with our new global footprint.”-Mike Canning, CEO

Colorado based Precision Castparts to layoff 77 steelworkers at the former Timet titanium Plant in Toronto, Ohio.   The company took over the plant in January.

Netherlands based ING Financial laying off 2400 people worldwide!  The company was just hit with a $1.2 million fine for not maintaining company/employee emails as per U.S. regulations.  ING has a history of being fined for violating regulations.  Also, a former adviser with ING and Allstate was bared from doing business in Florida.

In Hawaii, California based Eclipse Development Group laid off 100 employees! Company officials blame a stalled shopping center project.  The project was halted by State Land Use Commission, which claims the project was not what was originally planned in the 1995 re-zoning.

In Florida, MDT Personnel will layoff almost all its Clearwater employees by April. The temporary employment agency was taken over by a competitor.

Guilford County, North Carolina facing “major” layoffs. The County is $1 billion in debt!

In Los Angeles, California,  Babycakes NYC vegetarian bakery closing down.  Company officials basically said there was only room for one Babycakes in Los Angeles.  The consideration of bakeries is an effort to make more profits.

In Virginia, Too Big to Jail HSBC to eliminate 164 call center jobs!  The call center is part of HSBC’s card services, which it sold off to another Too Big to Jail, Capital One.

Glass maker Viracon is closing down its Saint George, Utah, operations by April. 200 jobs lost!  Company officials say they might re-open the factory two years from now, depending on the so called recovery of the economy.

In Minnesota, Edward Jones Mortgage out-o-business.  214 people out-o-work! The company had a contract with Wells Fargo, but Wells Fargo recently canceled it.

Defense contractor, ITT Exelis, closing its West Springfield, Maryland, factory by the end of June.  200 employees out-o-work!  The factory makes the power supplies for night vision goggles.  Company officials said the closing is because the U.S. military is planning big spending cuts, on top of the automatic ‘sequestration’ cuts.

The Rug Importer in New Jersey, closing down.  The owners blame the bad economy coupled with internet competition.

In Tennessee, family owned Henco Furniture closing down.  The longtime owner says none of his kid want to take over the business.  He doesn’t blame them as sales have decreased and government regulations and taxes have increased: “It really does dampen you’re enthusiasm to put up with taxation and regulation to build a business.”-Tom Hendrix

In Illinois, a Blockbuster video store closing in Buffalo Grove. Also, in Mount Morris Donegan’s Do-it-Best hardware store shutting down at the end of March. The owner blames the bad economy: “The sales have just not been enough to make a living. I’ve tried to do everything I can to keep it going.”-Roseann Donegan

The Life of the Party costume shop in Fort Collins, Colorado, closed down.  The owner retired and was hoping someone would buy the store.

In Tucson, Arizona, the 20 years old 17th Street Farmers Market closed.  Company officials are focusing on their other divisions.

The Refectory, a nightclub in Portland, Oregon, closed after 35 years.  30 employees out-o-work.  Essentially the property owner kicked the nightclub out.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. backed Syrian insurgents warned they were going to use WMDs!

19 March 2013/07 Jumada l-Ula 1434/29 Esfand 1391/08 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The hundreds of killed and wounded in the U.S., European and Israeli backed gas attack in Syria, includes government soldiers, but mainly civilian men, women and children.

Independent reports say some insurgent groups had been warning they were going to use WMDs.  Yesterday a U.S., European and Israeli backed interim insurgent government elected a U.S. citizen to be their Prime Minister.

International, U.S.

Breaking news: Russia says U.S. backed insurgents behind WMD attack in Syria!

19 March 2013/07 Jumada l-Ula 1434/29 Esfand 1391/08 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Russian officials say they have documented that the chemical weapons attack in Aleppo province was launched by U.S., European and Israeli backed insurgents.  Russian intelligence believe the insurgents captured the chemical armed rockets from the Syrian military.

The Syrian government says the insurgents got the WMDs from outside the country.

International, U.S.

Breaking news: U.S. backed Syrian rebels kill at least 25 people with WMDs!!!

“I saw mostly women and children. Witnesses said that people were suffocating in the streets and the air smelt strongly of chlorine. People were dying in the streets and in their houses.”-Reuters photographer

19 March 2013/07 Jumada l-Ula 1434/29 Esfand 1391/08 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

U.S., European and Israeli backed insurgents in Syria attacked the province of Aleppo with chemical weapons!  The attack comes as the Western powers recognized a interim government composed of insurgents, including one who is a U.S. citizen!

U.S. supported insurgents launched rockets into a city in Aleppo province. The rockets contained chemical weapons.  So far reports say 25 civilians killed, 85 wounded.

The government of Syria has repeatedly said they would use chemical weapons only in retaliation for a first strike by insurgents.  The insurgents have made the first strike!

Western puppet media claims the attack came from the Syrian government.  Who you gonna believe? After all the Western media has a proven track record of reporting lie after lie by their respective governments.

 

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

What Economic Recovery? Long time Boeing customer switches to Airbus!

18 March 2013/06 Jumada l-Ula 1434/28 Esfand 1391/07 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Indonesia’s Lion Air has always been a big customer of the U.S. company Boeing, but not anymore.

With the ongoing problems with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, Lion Air has just signed a huge contract with Europe’s Airbus.  Lion Air just bought 234 A320 airliners, they could have been Boeing 787s!

The deal with Airbus is the largest ever for Lion Air.  It’s estimated to be worth 18.4 billion euros ($23.8 billion USD)!  It’s good news for France as 5,000 jobs will be created.

 

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

World War 3: Japan finds nuclear equipment on cargo ship coming from North Korea!

18 March 2013/06 Jumada l-Ula 1434/28 Esfand 1391/07 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The Japanese government is filing a complaint with the UN Security Council, alleging violations of UN sanctions by DPRK.

Japanese Customs inspectors say they found aluminum rods on a cargo ship that had left North Korea, bound for China.  The rods could be used for nuclear centrifuges, and are covered in the latest UN sanctions.

This is the first time Japan has found such contraband items from North Korea.  The inspection of the ship was done under a 2010 UN sanctions rule.