Tag Archives: banks

Arkansas: University of Arkansas Medical Science eliminating 124 additional jobs, on top of the 6-hundred positions announced last month, due to being $72.3-million USD in the hole!

California: San Diego based Scripps Health reported a 94% crash in operating income! The hospital says operating costs are outpacing revenues. Anthem Blue Cross accusing Sonoma West Medical Center-Palm Drive Health Care District of a $13.5-million USD fraudulent billing scam. Federal government accusing Health Net of interfering with a Info-Tech audit, violating its contract with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. A husband and wife team accused of ripping off Medicaid taxpayers to the tune of $5-million, while they were managing Community Health Group in San Diego. Federal auditors also accuse California of failing to scrutinize $7-billion of Medicaid payments in 2016. San Diego based life science company Illumina eliminating 61 jobs mid-April. ReVision Optics issued a layoff WARN, 40 jobs in Lake Forest gone by the end of March. Blue Shield issued a layoff WARN, 44 San Francisco jobs gone by March. God powerless to stop ‘his’ Adventist Health Bakersfield from eliminating 177 jobs by April! Adventist Health White Memorial eliminating 160 Los Angeles jobs by April! Novartis Pharmaceuticals suddenly laid off 29 people in San Carlos. Pacific Alliance Medical Center finally revealed that it killed 731 Los Angeles jobs when it shutdown back in December! Texas based Concentra issued a layoff WARN for its Valencia ops, 134 jobs gone by April! Maker of plastic medical products Nypro issued a shutdown WARN for its factory in Porterville, 111 jobs gone by April!

Connecticut: New haven based Achillion Pharmaceuticals eliminating 18 jobs after partner Johnson & Johnson halted its support for developing a new Hep-C drug. After almost non-stop layoffs since 2016, Bristol-Myers Squibb announced an additional 107 more layoffs by April, as part of a plan to halt operations in Wallingford! Out of fear of lawsuits, Stamford based Purdue Pharma halted promotional ops to get doctors to push their opioid drugs. Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics eliminating 198 jobs as part of its plan to halt ops in Brookfield by September!

Florida: Pensacola Naval Hospital shifting to outpatient pediatric care only, starting in July. Transitions Optical eliminating 34 Pinellas Park jobs mid-April.

Georgia: Federal government accusing HCA Healthcare owned Memorial University Medical Center of failing to comply with Medicare billing rules, at least 39 times, estimating that taxpayers overpaid the hospital by $1.4-million USD. Marietta based WellStar Health System laid off 49 people, including seven executives. Six hospitals suing Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield for refusing to cover the costs of MRIs and CT scans. Two nurses with Northeast Atlanta Health and Rehabilitation charged with killing a patient in 2014, while other nurses watched and laughed. Others were charged with covering up the death. Security camera video shows the nurses cutting off the air to a World War-2 veteran and other nurses laughing as he begged for his life!

Idaho: The federal Health and Human Services Secretary met with Idaho administrators to discuss Idaho’s plan to offer health insurance that is not approved by ObamaCare-ACA, details of the meeting were not made public.

Illinois: Outcome Health suddenly laid off an additional 20 people (after eliminating 215 positions last year), possibly in connection with an investor fraud settlement. Naperville based Edward-Elmhurst Health slashing $35-million USD from its budget (on top of slashing $50-million last year), with layoffs in the works, due to a $92-million accounting error! Chicago based Norwegian American Hospital threatening to shutdown its pediatric unit by the end of March, due to crashing demand for services (only nine patients in 2016 and zero in 2017). News reports say other hospitals are considering similar shutdowns. Israel based Teva issued a shutdown WARN for its ops in Gurnee, 101 jobs gone between now and the end of the year!

Indiana: Med Express Urgent Care in Terre Haute shutdown due to ‘business reasons’. Indiana University Health Paoli Hospital shutting down its obstetrics unit, ten jobs affected by the end of March. Medical device maker Cook Medical restructuring in response to the changing global healthcare market, mainly through consolidation of operations (which usually means job cuts).

Kentucky: Kindred Healthcare reported a $135-million USD loss in its fourth quarter of 2017. Four executives of Louisville based Humana made more than $12-million USD combined by selling-off their own stock holdings in Humana.

Massachusetts: UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital shutting down its gastrointestinal unit, eight jobs affected. Morton Hospital shutting down its maternity ward in April. Lemuel Shattuck Hospital shutting down, 7-hundred jobs affected by 2021! Boston based drugs maker Intarcia suddenly laid off 60 people due to the FDA rejecting its latest drug. Steward Health Care moving its HQ to Texas, affecting 1-hundred jobs in Boston! Partners HealthCare off-shoring 1-hundred tech jobs, to India! Also in Boston, Sanofi Genzyme laying off 130 people in an effort to reduce operating costs! Lowell General Hospital laid off seven health info-tech employees.

Michigan: Employees of Borgess Medical Center warned of massive layoffs due to the hospital being “over budget”, despite hospital administrators boasting of building a new addition to the hospital, which will cost at least $35-million USD. Mmmm, wonder why they’re over budget? Texas owned Detroit Medical Center reducing meal options for patients and eliminating 3-hundred jobs saying “It’s part of a plan to be much more efficient…” Sparrow Health System shutting down its Saint Lawrence emergency room in May. Henry Ford Allegiance Health agreed to settled a federal lawsuit accusing it of colluding with other hospitals to intentionally limit advertising competition within their respective counties. Memorial Healthcare facing a federal lawsuit after allegedly rejecting a nurses job application, because she refused to get a flu shot as part of her religious beliefs.

Minnesota: Shriners Hospitals for Children-Twin Cities “evaluating alternative options for inpatient care” including a total shutdown. The Star Tribune reporting 341 ‘preventable’ medical errors in 2017, at least 12 people died and 103 injured due to increased incompetence in Minnesota hospitals. In Fridley, DaVita Clinical Research eliminating 53 jobs by mid-April.

Missouri: Non-profit Western Missouri Medical Center suddenly eliminated 41 jobs saying “We have not been immune to the ever-growing challenges in the healthcare industry…” A woman sentenced to five years probation for posing as a nurse instructor at Saint Alexius Hospital, it was shown she lied about her education and employment history, and stole a nursing license from a nurse in New Mexico. Taxpayer funded Iron County Medical Center now chapter 9 bankrupt busted. Administrators are also asking voters to approve a sales tax hike to increase funding of the hospital.

Montana: A now former CFO of Rocky Boy Health Clinic spending 12 months in prison for fraud.

Nebraska: Methodist Hospital halting home health and hospice services in March, affecting 40 jobs.

New Hampshire: LRGHealthcare shutting down its maternity ward by the end of May. Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital shutting down its maternity ward, 12 jobs gone mid-July.

New Jersey: Israel based Teva Pharmaceuticals suddenly laid off 46 people in Parsippany, as part of its plan to eliminate 18-thousand jobs globally.

New Mexico: University of New Mexico Hospital being sued by a former immigrant employee who says co-workers bullied her because of her accent. The state health department is facing lawsuits claiming conflict of interest in how Medicaid contracts are awarded, such a lawsuit by Molina Healthcare has been thrown out of court, but other lawsuits are pending.

New York: Pfizer issued a shutdown WARN for its Rouses Point drugs factory, 82 jobs affected by March. Cayuga Centers eliminating 120 jobs as it halts residential treatment ops, blaming ObamaCare-ACA for the loss of $2-million USD since July 2017! On-demand tele-health company Teledoc reported a loss of $106.8-million, possibly in connection with its take-over of rival Best Doctors. A U.S. District Judge found the now former drugs company CEO Martin Shkreli (the one who jacked-up prices outrageously) guilty of frauding investors and causing the companies he worked for to lose a combined total of $10.4-million. Nassau University Medical Center spent two days eliminating $674-thousand worth of salaried and contracted jobs, in an effort to save $1.67-million for “mission critical” jobs. Taxpayer funded Hunter College is suing one of its nurses after it discovered the nurse is living in the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing dorm, and has been for the past 40 years. Local news reports say that particular nurse isn’t the only one living in the college dorm as it’s apparently the result of a contract from a discontinued nursing program that dates back to the 1960s.

North Carolina: A doctor at Duke University School of Medicine sued saying the university engaged in hiring collusion with UNC School of Medicine. The case could affect 5-thousand-649 faculty at both universities! Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare System) admitted it had reduced working hours for 90 employees since November 2017 and more labor cost cuts were in the planning, which is interesting because Atrium Health is still advertising that it is hiring. Novant Health suddenly eliminated 23 jobs. State investigators fined Strategic Behavioral Health Center $20-thousand for violating patient safety laws. The ‘behavioral’ center was mistreating patients so badly that dozens escaped, which alerted investigators.

Ohio: New York Based Personal Touch Home Care halting ops in Ohio and eliminating at least 257 jobs by mid-April! Memorial Health Systems suddenly laid off 15 people and shifted 1-hundred employees into new jobs, blaming it on an expected reduction in taxpayer funded Medicare spending. Philips Medical Systems eliminating 65 jobs mid-April. Cardinal Health eliminating 101 jobs mid-April!

Oklahoma: The state Department of Health interim commissioner and Cabinet Secretary of Finance, Administration and Information Technology resigned after being accused of domestic violence.

Oregon: God powerless to stop ‘his’ Adventist Medical Center from eliminating 157 jobs in Portland!

Pennsylvania: A now former UPMC Health Plan director is spending two years in federal prison for stealing $846-thousand USD from UPMC, by creating ‘ghost workers’ on the payroll.

South Carolina: Regional Medical Center suddenly laid off an undisclosed number of people, an audit last month revealed the hospital lost $7-million USD, administrators warned of more layoffs saying “We are in very challenging times.” Medical University of South Carolina revealed it fired 13 employees for espionage-ing patient records, in 2017.

Tennessee: Franklin based Community Health Systems reported a loss of $2-billion USD in their fourth quarter of 2017, despite selling-off hospitals! More Community Health Systems owned hospitals will be sold-off in 2018.

Texas: Dallas based Tenet Healthcare reported a $230-million USD loss in its fourth quarter of 2017, despite $5-billion in revenues, despite killing 2-thousand jobs nationwide and despite taking advantage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Utah: State legislators advanced a bill to the state Senate that would prohibit hospitals and health systems from testing a doctor’s competency! 20 volunteers at University of Utah Hospital are ensuring no patient dies alone, it’s part of a growing movement called No One Dies Alone.

Vermont: It was revealed that Brattleboro Memorial Hospital paid state and federal regulators $1.7-million USD to settle claims that it submitted false outpatient laboratory claims to Medicaid and Medicare.

Virginia: University of Virginia Health System ‘exposed’ data of more than 1-thousand-8-hundred patients over 17 months.

Washington: Skagit Regional Health revealed it had laid off 94 people and shutdown 36 vacant positions during the past seven months, due to $17-million USD in losses since 2016.

Washington DC: The former CMO of United Medical Center says he was fired for blowing the whistle on the hospital’s “malfeasance affecting patient health and safety” and “submission of fraudulent statements to Medicare and Medicaid.” The Internal Revenue Service hitting employers with fines for violating ObamaCare-ACA employee insurance mandate. Federal Health and Human Services new Conscience and Religious Freedom division received more than 3-hundred complaints since 18JAN2018.

Wisconsin: Marshfield Clinic Health System reported a loss of $17-million USD directly blaming lower reimbursements on the halting of cost sharing taxpayer funded subsidies to ObamaCare-ACA. Agnesian HealthCare hit by federal lawsuit accusing it of a doctor kick-back Medicare scam. Mike Flint Enterprises-Interim Healthcare of Wisconsin-Mallatt’s Homecare Pharmacy eliminating 168 jobs starting in April!

Wyoming: Campbell County Health-Powder River Surgery Center lost $200-thousand USD as a result of Medicaid and Medicare billing delays caused by recent changes to the hospital system, including software upgrades, however they still reported an overall profit in 2017.

ObamaCare (ACA) death spiral January 2018: “INADEQUATE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATES”

U.S.

Installation Strategic Action Plan: New massive military bases for state Militia units

Image March 5, 2018 Hutchins AAron

04MAR2018 /18:32 UTC-07 Tango 06 (14 Esfand 1396/17 Jumada t-Tania 1439/18 Yi-Mao 4716)

“Today is really special, the relationship with National Guard goes back to 1961 and they have gone the extra mile to get this building in great condition for this transfer of ownership.”-Kenneth Manuel, Mayor of Woodland

At the end of February the North Carolina Army National Guard quietly off-loaded one of its Armories onto the city taxpayers of Woodland. It’s part of an operation called Installation Strategic Action Plan/Readiness Center Transformation Master Plan (RCTMP).

Ostensibly North Carolina is trying to save state taxpayers money by consolidating its Army National Guard Armories into larger state-run military bases. According to military sources it’s really about dealing with North Carolina’s changing population demographics and the acquisition of the latest Army technologies: “The RCTMP is a consolidation effort to better serve the state and meet the needs of a modernized force.”-Lieutenant Colonel Rodney Newton

Interestingly, in reference to demographic changes, in 2017 Lieutenant Colonel Rodney Newton blamed the influx of females into the National Guard for the push to abandon old Armories: “We didn’t have very many females in the military back then, they didn’t really influx until the late 70s, so you lack female restrooms.”

The RCMTPs being built in Morganton and McLeansville are costing state taxpayers at least $70-million USD. Many other states are attempting their own RCMTPs, but apparently are not able to raise the local taxpayer funds to do so.

VIGILANT CATAMOUNT: NORTH CAROLINA MILITIA PREPS FOR DISASTER, MILITARIZES LOCAL COPS!

U.S.

Massachusetts Militia flood rescue ops

Video March 4, 2018 Hutchins AAron

04MAR2018 (16:54 UTC-07 Tango 06) 13 Esfand 1396/16 Jumada t-Tania 1439/17 Yi-Mao 4716

“….I’ve seen lots of snowstorms, rainstorms, wind but I have never seen anything like this before. That kind of flooding, I didn’t think it was possible.”-Wayne Adams, rescued resident

According to local news reports more than 1-hundred people in the city of Quincy were rescued after becoming trapped in their homes by a nor’easter (north easter) storm.

Video of Massachusetts Army National Guard’s 125th Quartermaster Company assisting local emergency responders with flood rescue operations:

ARKANSAS MILITIA, TRAINING UP THE CHILDREN, for climate change?

2017: MISSOURI MILITIA RESPONDS TO RECORD FLOODING!

U.S.

Arkansas Militia, training up the children

Video March 4, 2018 Hutchins AAron

04MAR2018 (16:30 UTC-07 Tango 06) 13 Esfand 1396/16 Jumada t-Tania 1439/17 Yi-Mao 4716

Possibly due to increasing radical weather patterns, the Arkansas National Guard’s 77th Combat Aviation Brigade decided it was time to train up local Boy Scouts in the art of survival:

OPERATION SNOW BASH: IDAHO TRAINS UP THE CHILDREN, FOR WAR!

77th Combat Aviation Brigade returns from deployment, 2017:

Kit Bashing, Reviews

1/600 USS Iowa Class Kits: Aurora, Monogram, Otaki, Revell. An appeal to Airfix!

Image March 3, 2018 Hutchins AAron

I am disappointed with Ship Craft 17 Iowa Class Battleships, while it is still a good overview for somebody just getting into building the iconic battleships it doesn’t pack the information that the excellent Ship Craft 16 Hipper Class Ships does, and in the same number of pages.

Ship Craft 17 (copyright 2012 Seaforth Publishing) fails in, among other areas, the kit review section, primarily in the 1:500 through 1:600 range. It also fails to mention the 1:350 scale Revell kit so I’ll mention it here; stay away from that kit as it is a revised version of the inaccurate Otaki-Life Like Hobbies kit first issued as a World War-2 Missouri in 1971 (revised in 1983 to look like a modernized ship, before being sold to Revell who’s been revising-reissuing it ever since, it was even issued under the Monogram label in the 1990s). Recently Revell-Germany re-issued it with a mass of aftermarket parts to make it look better, but the result is that you have to spend a crap-load of money and end up doing even more work on a kit to make it resemble a ‘modern’ Iowa Class ship.

I’m a fan of 1:600 scale battleships because they’re small enough you can display a lot of them on a single bookshelf and are still big enough that your guests don’t go blind looking at your handy-work. Plus, they were basically the only battleship kits I could get my hands on as a kid in the 1970s. Because the highly praised Ship Craft series failed to discuss these kits, and because I’m amazed at the high prices kit sellers on the internet are demanding for them, I feel compelled to do my own review of these now ancient, and unfortunately crappy kits.

Iowa Class=Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, Wisconsin

The first offender is Revell’s 1:535 offering. First released in 1953, terrible, inaccurate, does not come with water-screws (propellers) but has one rudder (the real ship has two rudders). Hull bow incorrectly angled, aft end of hull shaped like a step-pyramid. Wood planks on deck represented by continuous raised lines. Anti-aircraft .50 cal guns represented by molded-on crucifixes. Molded on life boats in the upside down position. Blocky looking Seahawk float-planes. The decals for the ship’s hull number are the large ‘shadowed’ post World War-2 type, yet the kit is supposed to be the World War-2 version. Amazingly Revell repeatedly re-issues the crappy kit, and for some odd reason people are willing to pay high prices for it. To make things more confusing, in the mid-1990s Revell began using the original artwork for Monogram’s 1:665 (16 inch) Missouri for its 1:535 Missouri.

Aurora’s 1:600 offering was first released in 1957 (Ship Craft 17 says “in the early 1960’s”), it looks like a scaled down version of Revell’s 1:535 kit. The hull bow has the same angle and the stern has the same stepped pyramid shape, except Aurora gives you four propellers. The propellers are incorrect as they have three blades per screw, the real ship has four bladed screws outboard and five bladed screws inboard. You get one big ugly rudder. The deck detailing is similar to Revell’s except for recessed wood plank lines (which are also continuous/unbroken) and molded on solid railing. The life boats are molded separate, the Seahawks look better than Revell’s. The main gun turrets look like scaled down Revell turrets. Interestingly the Aurora kits are the only ones in this review that provide boarding ladders, but there is no mention of them in the instructions.

From the mid-1960s to mid-1970s Aurora used some excellent artwork on their boxes. For the Iowa Class ships the artist actually did a better job representing the ships than the kit itself. The Missouri is painted in its post World War-2/Korean War guise, still bristling with anti-aircraft guns but minus its Seahawk float-planes. The Iowa also looks to be depicted as post World War-2/Korea, and the New Jersey (the best artwork of the bunch in my opinion) is in its Vietnam War livery with the big rectangular ECM box on its forward tower, and a helicopter pad on its aft deck (unfortunately the artist failed to mount the big antenna on the bow). Regardless of the box artwork each kit is the same World War-2 version, yet the decals for the ship’s hull numbers are the large ‘shadowed’ post World War-2 type (World War-2 hull numbers were small with no ‘shadowing’).

Monogram (not mentioned in Ship Craft 17) entered the Iowa Class race in 1976 with issues of Missouri, New Jersey and Wisconsin (in that order). THEY ARE NOT RE-ISSUES OF AURORA KITS, OR REVELL KITS! Also, I’ve seen them listed as 1:600 scale, they are a smaller 1:665 scale. The odd scale is the result of Monogram deciding to issue battleship kits based on a standard 16-inch (40cm) hull (as stated on the box), rather than a ‘constant scale’. The hull has the best looking bow of the bunch, even has the three ‘eyes’ for anchors and cables, however, there are mysterious vertical lines along the hull sides (the real ships have noticeable horizontal lines down the length of the hull), and the stern is still incorrectly shaped. You get four propellers but they’re all four bladed. The most accurate looking parts of this kit are the two rudders and the excellent looking secondary gun turrets-guns (which are the same size as 1:600 scale Aurora/Otaki). Amazingly for a late 1970s issued kit the deck looks like it came right outta the 1950s (which might explain why some people think its a revised issue of the Revell or Aurora kits), it even has the raised wood deck lines and crucifix .50 caliber machine guns similar to Revell’s. There are two Kingfisher float-planes and the hull number decals are the small WW-2 type, yet the main mast looks like the type fitted after WW-2.

In 1984 Japan’s Otaki issued a 1:600 scale motorized version of a modern Iowa Class ship (not mentioned in Ship Craft 17). In the mid-1980s Otaki became Arii and it was issued under that label. It has been ripped-off and issued by Korea’s Kangnam and China’s Lee (aka C.C. Lee, aka Shanghai C.C.Lee Model Company). It is currently issued by Japan’s MicroAce (the new Arii). From here on out I’ll refer to this kit as The Asian Kit. The kit is totally lacking in detail, and even though the hull and deck size is similar to Aurora’s 1:600 hull/deck the main gun turrets are as big as the bigger Revell kit’s turrets. The helicopters are crappy, the Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers are a bad joke, the secondary gun turrets are chunks with stubs for guns, the Phalanx gatling gun systems are fat and missing the barrels. The life boats are huge. The stern of the hull is close to being accurate, but the propellers are all four bladed, you get two rudders. The kit is not worth the full U.S. MSRP (Manufacture’s Suggested Retail Price) that the majority of internet sellers demand.

Here’s more depressing news; Main Gun Turrets-Guns: Aurora’s turrets are the smallest yet resemble Revell’s, also the guns are as big as The Asian Kit’s. The Asian Kit’s turrets are almost as big in diameter as Revell’s, they are devoid of detailing, except for recessed ladders. Revell’s main gun tubes will not fit into Revell’s turrets. Monogram’s turrets are slightly bigger than Aurora’s, the guns look the most accurate, are the same diameter as the 1:600 scale kits, but shorter in length, the anti-aircraft gun enclosures on the top of the turrets are the wrong shape.

Superstructure: All kits lack detailing. The Asian Kit is the worst offender completely devoid of details, it is molded separately and look like that ancient underwater ‘structure’ known as Yonaguni Submarine Ruins.

Here’s some pictorial evidence to back up accusations against the offenders (click each pic to view more in the full-sized image):

: Ignore the red paint on the Monogram kit, it doesn’t come that way.

: The Asian Kit is best without being accurate.

: The ‘eyes’ have it for Monogram.

: From top to bottom: Monogram, Revell, Aurora, The Asian Kit.

: Back to Front: Monogram, Revell, Aurora, The Asian Kit.

: From right to left: Monogram, Aurora, The Asian Kit, Revell.

: From left to right: Monogram, Aurora, The Asian Kit, Revell.

: Floatplanes, rudder, crane, anchors.

: Floatplane, crane, catapults, life boat.

: Floatplanes, floats, crane, anchors.

: Rudders

: Water screws

: Main mast

: Helicopters

: Water screws

: Phalanx

: Tomahawk cruise missile launcher boxes

: Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers

: The small one is Aurora’s, the big one is The Asian Kit’s.

: Boarding ladders included but not talked about.

There’s no excuse for Revell’s continuous re-issuing of their crappy kit (in fact they’ve just re-issued it again). You’d think with the merging of Revell and Monogram, in the 1990s, they’d issue the better Monogram kit. It should be noted that Monogram’s 16 inch Iowa kits were rarely issued (for some unknown reason), along with Monogram’s 16 inch Bismarck/Tirpitz (which works out to about 1:615/17 scale, a 1:600 scale Bismarck hull is approximately 16 & 3/8th inches long). I remember reading an article, many years ago, that was talking about a train derailment and fire that destroyed many of the Aurora molds that had just been purchased by Monogram. I believe it happened in 1979, the Monogram 16 inch battleship kits were originally issued between 1976 and 1978. It would make sense that they were never issued again if their molds were also destroyed in that train fire, and it would explain why both the Monogram and Aurora kits command high prices on the internet, however, I’ve seen issues of the Monogram 1:665 (16 inch) Iowa kits in 1990s style boxes, and even the original late 1970s boxes but with 1990s style Skill Level 2 stickers on the shrink-wrap (you can’t trust the copyright date on boxes as being indicative of when that particular kit was issued).

Regarding Ship Craft 17, it’s still a great starting point for learning about the ship and has enough information in the text that you’d realize there isn’t, as yet, a model kit in any scale of the Iowa Class that doesn’t have some discrepancy (which is amazing considering the historical importance of the world’s last and best battleships).

It would take a lot of work to correct the old American kits. The Asian Kit’s near total lack of detail has an advantage; it makes it easier to detail-up with aftermarket parts and scratch building, you could even back date it to Vietnam, Korea or WW-2. There are plenty of aftermarket photo etched sets for 1:600 Fast U.S. Battleships, and a company called Model Monkey is producing 1:600 scale 3D printed ‘correction’ parts, including an early WW2 rounded bridge for the New Jersey.

I end this review by appealing to Hornby-Airfix to produce a new line of 1:600 scale Iowa Class ships, including options for World War-2, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm.

ITALERI 1:720 DEUTSCHLAND, LUTZOW, SCHEER & GRAF SPEE

International

Great Reneger: South Carolina Militia deploys to Germany!

Image March 1, 2018 Hutchins AAron

“We are going to have to stop being the policemen of the world.”-Donald Trump, August 2015 interview with Hugh Hewitt

On 28FEB2018, personnel from the now stretched thin South Carolina Army National Guard landed in Ansbach, Deutschland.

It should be noted that in 2016 a refugee from Syria blew himself up in Ansbach, no thanks to NATO Germany’s pro-immigrant policies.

South Carolina’s 678th Air Defense Artillery will be in Germany for the next nine months, to provide a “visible symbol” against so called Russian aggression (stop denying the Nue Kalt Krieg).

NEW WAR ON DRUGS: SOUTH CAROLINA MILITIA JOINS THE FENTANYL FIGHT!

GREAT RENEGER: SOUTH CAROLINA & ILLINOIS MILITIA FOB AFGHANISTAN

HARVEY: ARKANSAS, OREGON & SOUTH CAROLINA MILITIAS DEPLOY!

2017: ILLINOIS, IOWA, PENNSYLVANIA & SOUTH CAROLINA MILITIAS DEPLOY TO AFGHANISTAN!

CLANDESTINE IMMIGRATION: GERMAN BOAT SEIZED FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING! ITALY & LIBYA FORM UNITED NAVY TO BLOCK MIGRANTS?

Business/Economics

50-thousand+ jobs killed in one year!: Sears Kmart death spiral, March 2018

March 1, 2018 Hutchins AAron

Albany Business Review: Shopping mall ViaPort Rotterdam (Rotterdam Square) suing Sears for half-a-million in back due rent!

Hardware Retailing: Sears Continues to See Dropping Sales and Revenue

Kankakee Daily Journal: Sears Logistics now Innovel

Chicago Tribune: Sears slashed more than 50,000 jobs last year!

CNNMoney: Sears downgraded to default status

The Real Deal: Half of vacant Santa Monica Mega Sears store sold for $50-million USD, to pay off mortgage and fund redevelopment

Chief Investment Officer: Sears Holdings gets $440-million loan to pay employee retirement fund

Newsday: Local Business owner, forced out by Sears Auto Center closure

Chief Investment Officer: Court Orders Inquiry into Sears Canada Dividend Payment

YubaNet: Kmart pays half-a-million to settle MediCal fraud charges

Media Post Communications: Federal Trade Commission loosens terms of 2009 settlement that restricted Sears’ ability to sell products through mobile e-commerce apps

WLS-TV: Sears under scrutiny after customer complaints and product disputes

Alaska: In Juneau, the Sears Hometown reverted to corporate ownership after the franchise owner quit, it’s now for sale.

California: Taxpayers are the new owners of the vacant Highland Kmart as they will be funding the construction of a new high school on the property. The school will be operated by taxpayer funded San Bernardino Public Charter School, Real Journey Academies.

Colorado: Ohio based mall owner-operator Washington Prime just bought the Sears store and Auto Center in Aurora (see Ohio below).

Florida: RD Management-University Mall is the new owner of the still active 43 years old Sears store, which sold for $7-million USD. Local news media says RD Management has plans to ‘revamp’ the building, marking “a significant milestone in the transformation of the entire University Mall site.” The mall will be renamed Uptown. Public feedback forces changes to redevelopment plans for vacant Neptune Beach Kmart.

Indiana: WFIE reporting that the Evansville Sears has been listed for sale, for a paltry $3-million USD. The store is shutting down in April.

Iowa: Ohio based mall owner-operator Washington Prime just bought the Sears store and Auto Center in Sioux City (see Ohio below).

Kansas: Local news media discovered that the Lenexa Point Sears Outlet store will shutdown, local realtors announced that the store front will be “available” on 01JUL2018.

New Jersey: It’s been confirmed, the Paramus Park Mall Sears store and Auto Center will shutdown by Spring 2019, to be redeveloped into a grocery store and movie theater (a smaller Sears Appliance store will remain). Without warning the Brick Big Kmart is being shutdown, it was revealed when Store Closing Sale signs were posted. Local news media reported that no official shutdown date was made public.

New York: A former Sears employee accused of stealing $8-thousand USD from the Arnot Mall Sears store. State taxpayers are funding the demolition of the now city taxpayer owned vacant Kmart plaza in Binghamton, as part of the Restore NY taxpayer rip-off operation. Three other cities are also getting millions in state taxpayer funding to demolish commercial properties now owned by city taxpayers.

North Carolina: In Wilmington, the owners of the Independence Mall revealed their plan to demolish and redevelop the entire mall, including the still active Sears operation. Local news reports stated that the planned The Collection at Independence shopping-“village lifestyle” plaza does not list the currently active Sears store and Auto Center as one of the future tenants. In July 2017, Eddie Lampert sold the Independence Mall Sears store and Auto Center to New York based Rouse Properties for $10-million USD.

Ohio: Columbus based mall owner-operator Washington Prime just shelled out $28.5-million USD buying four Sears stores and their related Sears Auto Centers, including the Sears store and Auto Center in Columbus. Local news media reported that the four stores and auto centers will be redeveloped, however, Washington Prime says it signed new leases with Sears worth $1.25-million which give Sears an easy out if it wants to shutdown; just give 30 days notice.

Pennsylvania: Taxpayer funded MaST charter school is offering to buy the still active Middletown Sears store for $9.6-million USD. MaST’s plan is to kick out Sears to make room for up to 1-thousand-275 students, if their plan is approved by the local school district and taxpayers.

Tennessee: The Thompson Lane Sears Outlet/Home Services & Repair sold to C.B. Ragland for $13-million USD.

Texas: Ohio based mall owner-operator Washington Prime just bought the Sears store and Auto Center in Longview (see Ohio above).

Virginia: Regency Mall owner The Rebkee Company, along with Thalhimer Realty Partners, just spent $3-million USD buying eight acres of the now vacant Sears store property in Richmond. The mall owner claims it has new tenants lined up for the Sears store, which shutdown last year. Local news media reports that a Sears “subsidiary” still owns three acres of the property, including the vacant Auto Center, but that it is currently under “negotiations”.

Washington: Sears Holdings suddenly selling off six active locations in The Evergreen State. The 48 years old Lacy Sears store, the 47 years old Tukwila Sears, Union Gap Sears, two Sears operations in the Spokane area, and the Spokane Kmart.

Wisconsin: Taxpayers of Greendale being raped of $2.2-million USD as their ‘elected’ leaders use taxpayer money to turn a former Southridge Mall Sears store into the unAmerican anti-Constitution Dick’s Sporting Goods! UnAmerican city leaders claim taxpayers will ‘recover’ the tax incremental financing by 2030, via increased property taxes on the property, but my lifetime of taxpayer experience shows your exalted leaders will find many other ways to jack-up your taxes between now and 2030. Taxpayers in La Crosse might become the new owners of a vacant Kmart store, currently the property is valued at $4-million. Apparently the plan is to turn the vacant lot in more residential housing, at taxpayer expense.

SEARS KMART DEATH SPIRAL, FEBRUARY 2018: “MONOTONOUS”

Kit Bashing

Falling Down: U.S. model kit/railroad hobby demise, 2016-17

March 1, 2018 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of U.S. model kit/hobby shop, retail/wholesale industry shutdowns from 2016 through 2017:

“The local hobby shop was closed up….No big deal, I thought….I can always go to another. Wrong. When I looked, every hobby shop within 50 miles of my house had been closed.”

California: After 45 years brick-n-mortar chain store, as well as mail order and online retailer, Hobby People (formerly Hobby Shack) suddenly shutdown, possibly in connection to the founder’s death although many fans say quality of service had been in decline, and the company ‘lost’ some of its in-house brands. In Palm Desert, the owner of popular Uncle Don’s Hobbies was found laying on the side of a road, dead. His hobby shop had been robbed of merchandise, including RC (drone) electronics, months earlier. In Goleta (Santa Barbara), California Hobbies was robbed of RC (drone) monster trucks, it was caught on video. News reports out of Long Beach report that local hobby shops are being repeatedly robbed, the burglars are targeting RC (drone) electronics.

Colorado: In Denver, Guinness Book certified as the world’s largest model train store in 2014, Caboose Hobbies shutdown after 65 years because the owner wants to retire. At one time the model train store employed 60 people!

Idaho:

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, November 2014.

After first going up for sale at the end of 2014, then making one last attempt to stay alive in 2015 (by moving to a much smaller location), Southeast Idaho’s once iconic Dapco Hobbies finally died, and nobody noticed. More details in Model-Land Deaths; 2013-15.

Illinois: In Bloomington, after 63 years Hobbyland shutdown after a failed attempt to sell the store.

Indiana: Granger Hobby Stop shutdown after 18 years, the owner says he never recovered from the 2008 recession.

Massachusetts: In Brocktown, after six years Hogie’s Hobbies shutdown, but continues to run its model railroad museum. The owner blames customers for his hobby shop shutdown saying for the month of December he had a measly $5-hundred USD in sales: “There’s a lot of people downtown, but they don’t spend their money downtown. The whole atmosphere for people actually shopping here is not here.”-Bill Hogan

Michigan: In Detroit, after 70 years iconic Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop shutdown, the owners admitting that even though they beat-out the ‘big-box’ competition they just couldn’t “adapt” to online competition. In Bridgeport, after 23 years hobby shop Junction Valley Railroad announced on Facebook “Due to declining sales, we are being forced to close the Hobby Shop Doors!
Our final day open will be October 31, 2017!”

Montana: In Great Falls, after more than 25 years Hobby Land shutdown, the owner said she was ready to retire.

New Hampshire: In West Lebanon, Hobbies ’N’ Stuff/Valley Art Suppliers evicted by the the Grafton County Sheriff at the request of the landlord. The owner of the hobby shop told customers he had to shutdown due to health problems, but the landlord’s civil complaint said the owner hadn’t paid the rent for months (more than $10-thousand USD worth).

New Jersey: After 48 years Jackson Hobby Shop put up for sale due to the owner’s health problems. If it doesn’t sell it’ll be shutdown. Shadow Hobbies was robbed of thousands of dollars worth of stuff, including RC (drone) electronics, it was caught on video.

New York: After 31 years Niagara Hobby & Craft Mart shutdown due to crashing sales: “We can’t compete on price with the national chains or an internet-only site. But you can’t stand inside the internet and ask to open a package or put a locomotive on a test track and see it run.”-John S. Kavulich

North Carolina: In business since 1968 the owners of the two story The Antique Barn and Hobby Shop blame declining sales caused by internet competition, plus Mother Earth’s climate change, for their demise: “We were making money, but it’s going down. Ten years ago it was thriving and 18 years ago we were a victim of Floyd and we had 7 feet of water in here for a couple of weeks. So we started from scratch again and of course, we had two more 500-year floods this past year, Matthew and in April this one that didn’t even have a name…”

Ohio: After 40 years John’s Hobby Shop shutdown so the owner could retire.

Oklahoma: Christian Evangelical Hobby Lobby caught illegally importing more than 5-thousand artifacts from The Middle East. The top illegal artifact dealer in The Middle East is Islamic State (DAIISH). Hobby Lobby admits most of those illegally acquired artifacts were meant to be displayed in their massive Biblical Museum in Washington DC.

Pennsylvania: After 33 years J&C Hobbies shutdown so the owners could take a “proper vacation”.

Rhode Island: AA Hobby Shop was hit by burglars who apparently didn’t steal anything, it was caught on video.

Texas: A San Antonio Hobby Town was robbed by a man armed with brass knuckles. Police say the man seemed obsessed with RC vehicles (drones).

Utah: Police captured burglars when they tried to sell the stolen goods, including RC (drone) kits burgaled from a hobby shop in Sandy, on the OfferUp app.

In Canada: R.I.P. Niagara Central Hobbies

MODEL-LAND ‘DEATHS’, 2013-15!

Car and Driver: Where Have All the Hobby Stores Gone?

MARTIAL LAW U.S.A.: RC MODEL PLANES NOW CONSIDERED ‘DRONES’ MUST BE REGISTERED WITH OBAMA REGIME!

Idaho, U.S.

“I’m not sure we can support all these stores. Obviously, we can’t.”: U.S. Food Crisis, February 2018

Video February 28, 2018 Hutchins AAron

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of February, 2018: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production, spread of disease and extreme weather.

While I don’t like most of the crazy stuff the folks at PETA do, they have compelling evidence that those ‘free range’ poultry products you buy at Walmart, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods are anything but:

Alabama: A female employee of Dothan’s Farm Service Agency charged with fraud, theft of government property, and using a false document, relating to crop insurance. Pike Road Butcher Block suddenly shutdown due to “small town politics”, the landlord is the town of Pike Road.

Alaska: Hook Line and Sinker-Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. It’s blamed on a massive re-development project (gentrification) which left Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse with millions of dollars of debt.

California: In The Golden State that loves migrant workers “A Soledad farm labor contractor has been fined $168,082 in penalties for housing employees in unsanitary and dangerous conditions following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.” New York based Seneca Foods shutdown its factory in Modesto, 265 full-time jobs suddenly gone due to “competition from overseas”! DineEquity owned, Gelndale based, schizophrenic IHOP shutting down 40 restaurants in 2018, while at the same time claiming they will open even more restaurants. Cafe Napa Valley Traditions forced to shutdown after 24 years by a huge rent increase. San Francisco based coffee roaster Four Barrel began laying off employees due to crashing wholesale orders. K and R Farms shutting down operations in Salinas, 235 jobs gone by April! CKE Restaurant Holdings (aka Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, Green Burrito and Red Burrito) eliminating 54 jobs in Anaheim, by mid-April. Freshly Picked issued a shutdown WARN for its Cypress location, 26 jobs gone in March. After 25 years non-profit animal rescue op Farm Sanctuary-Orland Shelter shutdown, the owners got the hell outta The Golden State and took the 250+ animals to a new 39 hectares (96 acres) ranch in New York. In San Luis Obispo, after three years popular Bowl’d shutting down because the owners say the profits just aren’t high enough to cover the rent. In Fresno, Parsley Garden Cafe suddenly shutdown due to not being able to renew the lease. Tyson Foods killing yet more jobs as it issues another WARN, this time 401 people in Otay Mesa out-o-work as the frozen food factory is shutdown! Oregon based New Seasons Market suddenly shutdown its six months old grocery store in Sunnyvale saying “This location proved to be a challenge for several reasons”, 101 jobs gone! Connecticut based food service company Centerplate issued a mass layoff WARN, 759 Levi’s Stadium jobs in Santa Clara gone by mid-April! TGI Friday’s issued a shutdown WARN for a restaurant in Brea, 57 jobs gone by mid-April. In Modesto, the 25 years old Hometown Buffet was suddenly shutdown by a greedy landlord who canceled the lease. After 60 years Menlo Park’s Oasis Beer Garden shutting down by March because of the greedy landlord: “After several months of effort, we were unable to negotiate a reasonable lease for our business, nor meet the requested terms of the building’s owner.”-facebook post

Colorado: In Fort Collins, employee owned New Belgium Brewing suddenly laid off 28 employees (25 in Colorado, three in North Carolina). It’s probably due to increasing competition as local news sources reported that in Denver alone four new breweries have opened in the past four months!

Connecticut: Iconic Woody’s hot dog joint shutdown after 41 years so the owners can take a vacation, before their next business venture.

Florida: Southeastern Grocers owned, BI-LO, Harveys, Winn-Dixie, and Fresco y Más threatening to shutdown 2-hundred grocery stores in an attempt to avoid bankruptcy, it could mean more than 18-thousand jobs lost! In Fort Pierce, Granny’s shutdown after 53 years, the worn-out owners saying “We are going to sit on the front porch and rest…..I think we deserve it.” Hard Rock Cafe issued a shutdown WARN for its HQ in Orlando, 184 jobs gone between April and July!

Georgia: Atlanta based Coca Cola eliminating even more jobs, this time an additional 350 corporate level jobs! At the same time Coca Cola administrators swear they are hiring. Kroger shutting down a 26 years old grocery store, on the south side of Savannah, more than 1-hundred jobs gone in March due to “declining sales and negative profit” (‘negative profit’ is Orwellian doublespeak for losses). Local news reports said customers were shocked as the store is “always packed”, but also admitted there were now a lot of competitors in the area.

Hawaii: The Shack suddenly shutdown its 26 years old Hawaii Kai location, the owners were not able to renew the lease.

Idaho: Blind Bat News reader reported that the Pita Pit, in Pocatello, shutdown without warning.

Illinois: In Chicago, after 41 years iconic Carson’s Prime Steaks Famous BBQ forced to shutdown by property developers. Also in Chicago, Marcello’s suddenly shutdown one of its three pizza joints, no official reason given but property redevelopment (gentrification) is suspected. In Downers Grove, after 15 years restaurant Carlucci suddenly shutdown, the property was sold. In Belleville, IHOP shutting down its 45 years old restaurant, on Carlyle Avenue, because the local franchise owner is retiring and nobody wanted to take-over the franchise. In Crystal Lake, Joseph’s Marketplace shutdown after 12 years, no official explanation, but residents and even city leaders blame it on several new grocery stores that have opened since 2015: “I’m not sure we can support all these stores. Obviously, we can’t.”-Judi Spizzirri, customer

Iowa: Hy-Vee shutting down its grocery store in Waterloo, 282 jobs gone by the end of March because Hy-Vee built too many grocery stores in the region!

Louisiana: In New Orleans, Lakeview Harbor Restaurant forced to shutdown after 25 years because the landlord revoked the lease. Non-profit Hollygrove Market & Farm suddenly shutdown saying “We are reorganizing financially and will have another announcement about our permanent status as soon as possible.” It was later revealed they ran out of money. Internet based food delivery service Street Breads now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to debts that far outweigh its assets.

Maine: Somebody is going around and shooting people’s goats and shooting cows.

Massachusetts: In Arlington, after a couple of decades Bagels By Us shutting down in March, the property is for sale.

Michigan: In Brighton, after 35 years iconic ice cream shop Yum Yum Tree suddenly shutdown, on facebook the owners promised a detailed explanation would be released. Angry customers said they should have given at least a month notice so they could fatten up on the unique ice cream treats. In Ostego, after 70 years Harding’s (Harding and Hill) shutdown, no reason given.

Minnesota: Colorado based Pilgrim’s Pride shutting down a former Gold’n Plump corporate office in Saint Cloud, 30 jobs gone due to Pilgrim’s Pride $350-million USD take-over of Gold’n Plump in 2016-17. In Saint Paul, after 20 years the Wild Onion shutting down in March, the owner blamed reduced revenues and increased costs such as minimum wage. In Duluth, after 14 years Johnson’s Bakery Lakeside shutting down by the end of April, due to not being able to renew the lease. In Minneapolis, after more than 60 years the last Vescio’s Italian Restaurant shutdown. At one time there were two Vescio’s. Bellisio Foods issued a WARN, 105 jobs in Austin gone by April!

Missouri: DineEquity owned, Kansas City based, Applebee’s added an additional 80 restaurants to its previously announced plan to shutdown 1-hundred restaurants in 2018, due to “lack of performance”. In Kansas City, after 54 years upscale Plaza III The Steakhouse shutting down in March, 30 jobs lost with no explanation by the owners. Pi Pizzeria suddenly shutdown its Kirkwoood location due to gentrification (construction projects) destroying the employee parking lot: “…we’ve lost our employee parking lot due to a redevelopment, and that leaves us with fewer than 25 guest parking spots…”-facebook post

Montana: In Missoula, after 27 years Uptown Diner shutdown, crashing sales were blamed on the demise of the Macy’s store next door.

Nebraska: C & C Specialty Market shutting down its store in Beatrice, in April, so the owners can focus on their more profitable operations.

New Jersey: In Freehold, International Vitamin eliminating 160 jobs in May!

New Mexico: In Albuquerque, the once profitable Farmers Market chain is now dead. Local news media say at one time there were ten Farmers Markets in New Mexico: “We’ve always had competition, but in the last five to seven years, it was much harder.”-Jhett Browne, owner of the last Farmers Market

New York: In NYC, 21-Club revealed to state officials that they suddenly shutdown back in January, 156 jobs suddenly gone, blamed on Mother Earth (climate change-storm damage)! Also in NYC, Siggy’s Good Food suddenly shutdown, the owner saying “…it’s time to fly.” JJC Food suddenly shutdown its Hicksville grocery store, 38 jobs gone, blamed on Mother Earth (climate change-storm damage)! Williamsville based Tops Friendly Markets now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, blaming increased competition. GLK Foods shutting down ops in Shortsville, 50 jobs gone in September due to consolidation. In Rochester, after almost 20 years restaurant 2-Vine shutdown due to the owner’s health problems. PepsiCo eliminating 2-hundred corporate level InfoTech and finance jobs in Westchester, as part of its global plan to kill jobs. Local news media revealed that PepsiCo (Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Tropicana, Gatorade, Quaker) was getting $4-million USD in state taxpayer funded credits and another $7-million from sales-tax breaks in Westchester County!

North Carolina: Charlotte based Healthy Home Market grocery chain now chapter 7 bankrupt and being consumed by its creditors, its last two stores were shutdown in January, thousands of jobs lost! In Monroe, after 25 years Seacrest Feed & Seed shutting down by March, due to the greedy property owners. Logan’s Roadhouse suddenly shutdown due to a “corporate decision”.

North Dakota: In Bismarck, Dan’s Supermarket shutdown after 65 years, due to not being able to renew the lease.

Ohio: A fire in a barn on Country Lane Tree Farm killed dozens of goats and chickens.

Pennsylvania: After almost 50 years Mattocks Five Incorporated suddenly shutdown several operations (known as Albion Mill, Meadville Farm and Garden, 5M Feeds Waterford, 5M Feeds Titusville) with only a two days notice on facebook, and no explanation. In Ardmore, Chung Sing forced to shutdown by the end of March, due to the landlord canceling the lease. In Pittsburgh, BYOB restaurant Avenue B shutdown due to not being able to renew the lease. “The Greater Washington County Food Bank reports on its website that Washington County has an estimated 25,000 people who are food insecure, more than 30 percent of its clients are children under the age of 18 and 20 percent are senior citizens.”

Despite supplying restaurants with poultry for more than ten years, family run Quails R Us Plus facing foreclosure, several area chefs are holding a ‘rescue dinner’ to save the poultry farm.

South Carolina: Florida based Tijuana Flats shutting down its less than two years old restaurant on Percival Road, in Columbia, by March. Terrace Restaurants suddenly shutdown its Greenville location, after being open less than a year, due to lack of sales.

Tennessee: In Murfreesboro, after more than two years Sub Stop suddenly shutdown because the owners got an offer from a property developer they couldn’t refuse. After ten years in East Nashville, Pied Piper Eatery shutdown as a result of the owner’s death two years ago.

Texas: In Pflugerville, after one year Idle Vine Brewery shutting down by March. In Austin, after 45 years Buck Moore Feed & Supply shutdown. Bellisio Foods shutting down its factory in Austin. Kettle & Brine shutdown its brick-n-mortar store in Austin, will continue selling kitchen krap online. In San Angelo, after 30 years Chinese Kitchen shutdown, the overworked underpaid owner complained “It has been extremely hard to get workers for the restaurant……..working 14 hours for seven days a week is hard on my husband and me.” After seven years Grinners Daiquiri Bar shutdown due to not being a good ‘fit’ for San Angelo.

Virginia: After more than 35 years Frankie’s Place for Ribs shutdown without warning, die-hard fans were shocked, the owner blamed declining sales and increasing costs. In Richmond, after less than five years Kitchen on Cary suddenly shutdown. A poultry farm fire in Mount Vernon killed an estimated 14-thousand chicks!

Washington: In Spokane, after 20 years Wolf Creek Lodge Steakhouse suddenly shutdown. Marine View Beverage shutting down operations across the state, 278 jobs gone by mid-April! Pacific Seafood issued a shutdown WARN, 69 Federal Way jobs gone by the end of April.

Washington DC: Le Mano Coffee Bar shutdown after almost five years, the owner wants more family time. After nine years award winning chocolate restaurant Co Co Sala suddenly shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) warns “…a relatively strong U.S. dollar is expected to dampen growth in U.S. agricultural exports, the United States remains competitive in global agricultural markets, in part due to efficiency and quality margins, and export values grow over the next ten years. Net farm income is expected to increase in 2018 followed by a drop…”

Wisconsin: After 110 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Silver Spring House Bar & Restaurant suddenly shutdown, the property is for sale, asking price $1.2-million USD. For the fifth year in a row income for Wisconsin farmers is expected to be down from the record high in 2013.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

U.S. Food Crisis, January 2018: “IT’S TIME TO ADAPT OR DIE”

U.S.

New War on Drugs: South Carolina Militia joins the Fentanyl fight!

February 27, 2018 Hutchins AAron

27FEB2018 (16:19 UTC-07 Tango 06) 08 Esfand 1396/11 Jumada t-Tania 1439/12 Jia-Yin 4716

“The threat environment has changed.”-Lieutenant Colonel James Bowling, explaining that the new ‘threat’ is not terrorists using guns or bombs, or even vehicles, but using drugs

South Carolina Army National Guard’s 43rd Civil Support Team took part in a ‘multi-agency’ drug lab training session. It also involved the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Lexington Fire Department, Cayce Department of Public Safety and the Pine Ridge Police Department.

South Carolina Army National Guard photo by Specialist Chelsea Baker, 22FEB2022.

“One of the biggest concerns we have right now is dealing with fentanyl exposure. Fentanyl is not just a police problem, or a CST problem. It’s everyone’s problem. We are seeing more and more fatalities from fentanyl exposure. The goal of this training is safety. We want to make sure that when these guys enter a situation and see evidence of fentanyl, they know what to do.”-Michael Cashman, retired DEA

Fentanyl can be ingested orally, inhaled through the nose or mouth, or absorbed through the skin or eyes, any substance suspected to contain fentanyl must be treated with extreme caution as exposure to even a small amount can lead to significant health-related complications, respiratory depression, or death.

DRUGS, THE AMERICAN WAY, FEBRUARY 2018: “TEACHING KIDS ABOUT THE HARM OF DRUGS…DOESN’T REALLY WORK.”

NEW WAR ON DRUGS: U.S. TAXPAYERS BUY COSTA RICA NEW NAVY SHIPS!

GREAT RENEGER: SOUTH CAROLINA & ILLINOIS MILITIA FOB AFGHANISTAN

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