Tag Archives: crime

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 20 – 25 January 2015: U.S. taxpayers send in extra helicopters for Afghan Air Force! Air National Guard deployments ramping up?

A new Gallop Poll reported that the average Afghan says their suck-ass economy is far more dangerous (despite trillions of taxpayer funding spent on the Afghan 1%) than any resurgence of the Taliban!  Only 6% of Afghans think their economy is getting better!

Farah Province: Thousands of Afghans protested France.

Ghazni Province: On the Jaghori-Gilan highway, police report that two families of men, women and children were killed when the mini-bus ran over a landmine.

Helmand Province:  In Lashkar Gah City, at least two people killed and 10 wounded by a Kamikaze bomber when he rammed his Toyota Corolla bomb car into a National Civil Order Police convoy.  In the same city, a commanding officer managing a police check point was assassinated.  What’s interesting is that apparently there were no witnesses, as police say they don’t know who shot their commanding officer. The governor of Helmand is joining local Mujahideen in denying reports that U.S.-U.K.-Saudi created Islamic State (DAESH) is alive and well in Helmand.

Kabul Province:  In Kabul City thousands of Afghans protested France chanting “Death to America, Death France, Death to Israel!”  In the same city a fruit cart exploded, wounding two people.  Police say somebody put a bomb in the cart.

MD-530F Cayuse Warrior flies over Kabul, 06DEC2014. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Perry Aston.

The Afghan Air Force announced they will receive an additional twenty MD530F Cayuse helicopters by the end of 2015.  Afghan administrators said U.S. taxpayers are “donating” the helicopters.  On top of that, the Obama regime has approved an additional $44-million USD worth of weapons for 17 of the helicopters “donated” to Afghanistan under previous programs.

Kandahar Province: In Panjwaee District, an unattended motorcycle exploded, wounding two cops and one civilian.

Kunduz Province:  In Imam Sahib District, battles between Afghan National Army and Mujahideen, at least 32 people killed.  ANA officers say they’ve been battling for control of 31 villages.  Mujahideen say they’ve destroyed six international taxpayer funded armored vehicles.

Nangarhar Province: A legal advisor was arrested for bribery.  Police say their undercover agent paid the legal consultant $5-thousand USD to rig a court decision, and they arrested the man as he took the money.  In Jalalabad City, two border cops killed and two wounded after a magnetic bomb was placed on their vehicle.

Zabul Province: Thousands of Afghans protested France.

Pakistan continues its mass arrests of Afghans, this time 935 Afghans arrested in Punjab Province.

16-20-january-2015: 9-11 was a self inflicted sucker punch!

Air National Guard’s 292nd Combat Communications Squadron (Hawaii U.S.A.) deploying to a secret location in support of the ongoing occupation of Afghanistan, and other military ops in the region.

Brigadier General Carol Timmons, of the Air National Guard (Delaware U.S.A.), is now at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to assist in the ongoing air war over Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.  She said she got short notice of her new duty assignment: “Normally, you get a little more heads-up than two months…..The priorities have shifted towards the fight with ISIS. So it’s organizing all that, and looking at the big picture.”   

The U.S. Air Force has revealed that the Obama regime’s expansion of the use of attack drones will force the USAF to push Air National Guard personnel “onto active duty” to address a shortage of drone pilots.

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 27 – 30 November 2014: “everything must go!” Iconic eastern Idaho hobbie shop up for sale!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California:  In Stockton, food processor Hormel announced they will shutdown their 65 years old chili and Dinty Moore beef stew factory in February 2015, at least 110 jobs lost! Company administrators blame the record level prices of beef for causing a 21% drop in profits!

Hawaii: After 93 years of name changes family owned “Cheap, cheap, cheap, plenty, plenty, plenty!” Pinky’s convenience store shutdown.   The owner says she has “other plans”.

Click pics to make bigger

Idaho: After 66 years Blackfoot Appliance & Furniture announced they will shutdown by the end of January 2015, “everything must go!” In Chubbuck, after 23 years the iconic local Dapco Hobbies now up for sale.  The current owner (not the friendly family owners that moved the shop to Chubbuck, Corey & Melia) is selling everything off and wants out of the hobby business.   Dapco Hobbies was originally located on Garrett Way in Pocatello (according to the BBB that was beginning in 1991), then, after Corey & Melia took over Dapco relocated to Chubbuck around 2007-08.  For a very brief time Dapco Hobbies had a shop in Ammon then Idaho Falls (apparently they left about the same time the ‘big box’ Hobby Town left Idaho Falls), and they even had an internet website.  They started out focused on trains, then shifted to RC when that got big.  I went there for the plastic model kits (and I still do although it’s looking empty, hope there’s somebody who can buy it and keep running it as a hobby shop).

Missouri: In Hannibal, after 34 years the owners of Artique Frame Palette announced they will shutdown in December.

New Jersey: After 86 years Garden State based Becker’s School Supplies shutting down six of its seven stores in Pennsylvania and Delaware! Apparently the school supplies company is shifting to internet sales only.

Texas:  In College Station, after 14 years La Bodega taco bar shutdown. The owner said they had to vacate the old decrepit building, and hopes to find a new location.

Washington: After 63 years A&J Meats and Seafood shutdown.

Wisconsin: After more than 25 years the owners of Golden Karat Jewelers in Rhinelander announced they will shutdown in January 2015.

23-26-november-2014: HP kills 41-thousand jobs!

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 shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart update, 26 January 2015: Kmart to be split up & sold off?

After Eddie Lampert’s ESL Investments who’s the next biggest shareholder in Sears Holdings?  An outfit called Fairholme.  It was created, and is still run by Bruce R. Berkowitz.

Berkowitz used to work for Lehman Brothers, you know the outfit credited with starting the recession in 2008.  He was also managing director of Smith Barney, a ‘financial services’ company that went through numerous ownership changes including CitiGroup, who sold off Smith Barney to Morgan Stanely in 2009.

On 22 January 2015, Sears Holdings (SHLD) announced they’ve hired on a new senior vice president, Philip J. Keough the 4th.  SHLD also announced Keough was their new president of pharmacy at Kmart.

What’s the significance?  Keough has worked for CVS, RiteAid and created his own Keoco pharmacy consulting company, but in his last pharmacy job he oversaw the selloff of Millennium Pharmacy Systems in September 2014.  Portent of things to come for Sears-Kmart?

update, 21 January 2015: Sex Trafficking & Property Deals!

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 23 – 26 November 2014: “unprecedented financial challenges” California based HP kills 41-thousand+ jobs! More massive healthcare cuts! More foreign companies funded with U.S. taxes killing jobs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Reports revealed that Palo Alto based Hewlett Packard will kill off 41-thousand jobs by the end of 2014!!!  As many as 32-thousand people around the World have already been rendered jobless!!!  But wait there’s more!  Those same reports say evil Meg Whitman is planning on killing off more jobs in 2015, and splitting the company into two smaller operations, which usually means at least one will be sold off!   In Mountain View, software company Symantec issued a WARN saying at least 12 people will become unemployed in January 2015.  In Monterey, Aramark Sports issued a WARN saying they are shutting down in February 2015, at least 119 people to become jobless!

Florida: In Miami, RBC Wealth Management issued a WARN saying it will render 115 employees jobless between now and August 2015!  Also in Miami, healthcare and social assistance company CHARLEE of Dade County issued a WARN saying they will layoff 67 employees between January and February 2015.  In Port Saint Lucie, diabetes testing supply company Liberty Medical issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in January 2015, at least 417 jobs lost!  In Fort Lauderdale, Senior Healthcare Services issued a WARN saying they will shutdown between January and February 2015, at least 348 jobs lost!

Idaho: School District 25, in Bannock County, warned they could be  $1.5-million USD in the hole, with the ending of current levies.  But wait, there’s more bull-shit!  District 25 administrators want new levies valued at $10-million!   This despite decades of levy and bond issues burdening tax payers, as well as decades of lottery payments which school district administrators can’t seem to account for!   It’s interesting the school levies and bonds always pass ‘elections’ no matter how many people publicly oppose them.

Illinois:  Exelon administrators warned they are considering shutting down three aged nuclear power plants sometime after Summer 2015.  They blame little or no growth in electricity demand since 2008 (gee, isn’t that when the ‘recession’ began?).

Kansas: After 91 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Jilka Furniture announced it will shutdown in December: “With the many changes taking place in the furniture industry, we felt it was a wise decision to close our store.”-Bud and Loretta Jilka

Kentucky: God refuses to stop layoffs at ‘his’ Lexington Quest Community Church, at least 15 people will be let go due to “unprecedented financial challenges”, never mind that the two head pastors were engaged in “crossing of physical boundaries while stopping short of sexual intercourse.”  The two perfect examples of Christian morality are married, but not to each other!

Michigan: In Liberty Township, more than four decades old Yukon Jack Food & Spirits restaurant shutdown. Before it was a restaurant (starting in 1970) it was a grocery store. Local news media said the owners refused to talk.

New York: After only a year neighborhood grocery store Delancey Market shutdown.  In Brooklyn, nursing home Shorefront Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing Care amended their WARN saying they will shutdown in December due to sale of the business, 482 jobs affected!  In NYC, rapid response healthcare provider Rivington House shutdown, 231 jobs lost!   Also in NYC, Too Big to Jail Bank of America issued a WARN saying they are rendering jobless 95 people by Febraury 2015.  Also in NYC, after 44 years Lea’s Dress Shop shutdown.  Is it because the monthly rent for the small space is $8-thousand?  And fashion designer Ralph Rucci abandoned his snooty upscale fashion house and the new operators laid off at least 15 employees.  The new operators say that because of the bad economy (which appears to affect even the pocketbooks of the wanna-be 1%) Ralph Rucci LLC will now focus on “a more accessible designer product assortment for a wider audience.”  Holiday Inn issued a WARN saying they are shutting down their operations at the Latham hotel in February 2015, at least 50 jobs lost due to loss of contract. In Troy, city administrators warned they will have to eliminated 18 fire fighter and police  jobs.  However, fire fighters and cops say the plan would result in lots of overtime pay, so the layoffs don’t make sense.   However, they might make sense if you’re looking at trying to reduce the amount of money per employee going to the jacked up Obama Care health insurance and retirement plans (wake up people!).

North Carolina: Switzerland based evil GMO seeds and agrochemicals company Syngenta announced it will kill off 18-hundred jobs between 2015 and 2018 (note they obviously don’t expect any recovery until after 2018)!  The job culling will be felt within the United States, like Greensboro where the company is getting a state taxpayer grant of $2.98-million!

Ohio: All 14 Ohio Friendly’s Restaurants shutdown! The francisee blamed the bad economy: “These closings are regrettable, however continuing operation was no longer viable.”-Apex Eagle Hospitality

Tennessee: In Chattanooga, the owners of SturmHaus Beer Market announced it will shutdown in December, blaming the bad economy: “Craft beer share is not enough to sustain our vision for a quaint, downtown on-premise, off-premise gathering place.”

Wisconsin: Water management company Pentair Flow Tech. issued a WARN saying they’re halting a production line at their Delavan operations, 60 jobs lost.

21 – 22 november 2014: “any worker who loses their income will have an impact”

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 shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 16 – 20 January 2015: Undeniable proof the U.S. created the Taliban, & 9-11 was a self inflicted sucker punch! New Pro-Obama president frees imprisoned drug dealers! Turkey sends in more troops, takes over airport! U.S. funded training center literally melting!

The Washington Post revealed (some time ago) that during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan the U.S. Reagan regime spent $51-million U.S. tax dollars creating ‘Islamic terrorism how to guides’, and then issued them to Mujahideen fighting the Soviets.  Those “textbooks” went on to be used by groups who later called themselves Taliban.  The tactics taught by the U.S. published ‘Jihad’ books include almost every type of ‘Islamic’ terror attack we’ve seen since the end of the Soviet occupation in 1989!  But wait, this info is not new, the Washington Post first wrote about it in 2002!   When are you dumb-asses in the western World going to wake up to the fact that your War on Terror is a massive False Flag operation started by your ‘elected’ officials?

Farah Province:  Obama regime puppet president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has fired the acting provincial governor, provincial police chief, and four other senior administrators.  The official reason was corruption, is this how the Islamic State managed to set up training camps in the province?  Mujahideen are disputing recent reports that Islamic State (DAESH) has established bases in Farah Province, and claim they are still in control.

Faryab Province: In Almar District, the police chief and a top police investigator were assassinated by explosion.  Apparently they drove over a landmine.  One cop was wounded.

Ghor Province: Reports saying the entire population of the Shewech area have declared that they are Mujahideen.  That’s about 2-thousand families and 200 local police!

Helmand Province: In Lashkargah City, a Kamikaze van bomber attacked a National Civil Order Police convoy, at least four dead and 10 wounded.  Mujahideen say the number of killed and wounded is more than 30.  The van was packed with massive amounts of explosives, Mujahideen say two Armored Personnel Carriers and four pickup trucks were also damaged or destroyed.

Kabul Province:  NATO member Turkey announced it’s deploying an additional 400 military personnel, and taking over civilian and military operations at the Kabul International Airport!  Turkey already has 700 troops in Afghanistan.  The Turkish government will force its taxpayers to spend at least $58-million USD to operate the airport over the next two years.  In Mosahe District, the Afghan National Army (ANA) reports they’ve captured three men attempting to poison the local ANA water supply.   Civil war among ANA generals; General Murad Ali Murad has rejected the plan by first vice president (and war criminal) General Abdul Rashid Dostum to use 20-thousand U.S.-NATO trained special forces personnel to invade Kunduz and Kunar provinces.  Obama regime puppet president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has nominated a man to the post of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock, but it turns out that man is wanted by Estonian police for tax evasion!    Obama regime puppet president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has declared that anybody who  gives even a hint at opposing his government will be “eliminated”!  Since Ghani bcame president police in Kabul City have arrested more than 174 people on “suspicion” of being a terrorist!

Kandahar Province: In Ayno Meena bazaar an explosion killed two people.  Police claim it was a Kamikaze car bomber.  In Arghastan District, two cops turned their guns on fellow cops, killing two of them.  The renegade cops joined up with Mujhadieen, bring with them taxpayer funded machine-guns, pistols, radios and a motorcycle.

Kunar Province: Weeks later battles continue to rage in Dangam District.  The ANA reports they’ve killed 42 insurgents in a 24 hours period. Government forces are increasing their use of airpower.  Government administrators continue to claim many of the insurgents are Chechens, Uzbeks and Arabs.

Kunduz Province: Mujahideen claim they’ve captured four FOB (Forward Operating Bases) in Imam Sahib District.  13 people killed, eight wounded.  In Khanabad District, Mujahideen say they’ve liberated five villages. Five people killed, eight wounded.

Laghman Province: In Alishang District, an ANA vehicle ran over a landmine, two men killed one wounded.

Logar Province: Local radio citing the provincial police chief saying that two Mujahideen who fought against Islamic State (DAESH) in Charkh District have been arrested inside Pakistan.

Maidan Wardak Province: Massive public protests demanding that the French “get out!”.  In Jalriz District, people are demanding the French shutdown their embassy in Kabul.   Obama regime puppet president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has ordered the release of four men who were arrested on drugs trafficking charges!  No further info on why they were released was reported.   The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) revealed another U.S. taxpayer funded sinkhole; this time it’s a building that’s literally melting!  Half a million USD were spent on a military training building, however, it was built with unprotected sand and clay bricks that are literally being washed away by rain!  U.S. CentCom claims they will find the officers in charge of hiring the contractor who built the shoddy building and discipline them, as well as try to get the money back from the contractor (I’ll believe it when I see it).

Nangarhar Province: In Jalalabad City, massive public protests demanding that the French shutdown the embassy, shouting “Death to France!”.  In a village of Khogyani District, witnesses say a coalition drone strike killed five people including a child, and wounded three others. In Bati Kot District, a reporter for a local radio station was assassinated while he attended a wedding.  The assassins got away, police claim they have no clue who they are.  In Chaprihar District, villagers report that an artillery round impacted on a house, wounding three people.

Uruzgan Province: In Siyah Sang area of Char Chino District, an Afghan National Police-man turned his gun on fellow cops killing at least one.  Mujahideen report he escaped with three guns and a mortar. Also in Char Chino, 14 cops switched sides and became Mujahideen.

Pakistan has given Afghan refugees in Lower Dir District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province three days to get the hell outa-Dodge!  Pakistani intelligence says recent increases in terror attacks in their country can be traced back to Afghans living in that part of Pakistan.

11-15-january-2015: islamic state proves obama a bold face liar

The U.S. Army has warned its 361st Medical Logistics Company Reserve unit, at Fort Des Moines in the state of Iowa, to prep for deployment to Afghanistan.

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 21 – 22 November 2014: “Any worker who loses their income will have an impact on the city!” Obamacare kills off government jobs in California!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alpha Natural Resources announced at least 62 people laid off at their coal mine ops in Kentucky and West Virginia.

Arkansas: Little Rock based Windstream Communications announced another 350 layoffs, on top of the 400 layoffs earlier this year!  The company is undergoing radical change due to the suck-ass economy, including trying to become an evil REIT (real estate investment trust).

California: In Walnut Creek, Valley Waste Management issued a WARN saying 66 employees will be laid off in February 2015.  Boeing issued more WARNs saying another 181 employees across southern California will be laid off by January 2015!  In Van Nuys, Keaster Products issued a WARN saying they will shutdown at the end of December.  San Francisco based video game maker Double Fine laid off at least 12 employees, and cancelled work on its latest video game.  In Sacramento, the Golden State senate immediately laid off 39 of its own upper house employees.  Another 50 employees will be laid off through attrition.  Also, state employees will see at least a $30 per month increase in their health insurance payments, no thanks to Obama Care!

Connecticut: In Torrington, after more than 60 years the owner of children’s items store Reibman’s said she might shutdown in December.  The owner of the store also owns the building, and is jumping on the property development train.  She’s been trying to sell the building with no luck, so maybe she can rent it out?

Georgia: God refuses to stop Saint Francis Hospital from laying off 65 healthcare workers, suddenly. Administrators implied that reduced funding caused by Obama Care forced them to re-examine their ‘books’, during which they discovered they were $30-million USD short! Administrators admitted to employees that they “overestimated” expected payments.

Idaho: The mayor of American Falls reported that the local ALCO store was shutting down, he was alerted when he saw employees putting up the going out of business signs.  It’s one of five Idaho ALCO stores being shutdown (see Texas below). The American Falls mayor says his small city can’t afford more job losses: “Any worker who loses their income will have an impact on the city!”-Marc Beitia

Illinois: In Geneva, after 18 years women’s clothing store Sandra Webster shutdown.

Kentucky: In Louisville, after 33 years Gavi’s Restaurant shutdown.

Michigan: In Owosso, Planned Parenthood shutting down in December due to crashing federal funding.

Minnesota: God refuses to stop ‘his’ 60 years old Christian Book and Gift Store in Rochester from shutting down right after Xmas!

Ohio: In Mansfield, after 47 years Grantie’s Grinders (sub style sandwiches) shutdown, 11 jobs lost. The owners blame competition from a ‘big box’ sandwich shop that recently moved into the neighborhood.

Pennsylvania: Only four years after Swedish vehicle maker Volvo set up shop in Shippensburg, Volvo administrators revealed they will shutdown specific heavy construction vehicle production, not only in the U.S. but in Poland and Brazil, killing off at least 1-thousand jobs into 2015!    Mercyhurst University laid off 14 administrators and demoted six full time employees to part time. Other employees are taking pay cuts, it’s blamed on crashing enrollment.  In Muhlenburg, God refuses to stop’his’ Salvation Army Thrift Store from shutting down.  Administrators with the Queen of England controlled Salvation Army says the store has been losing money for years.

Tennessee: In West Knoxville Sonny’s BBQ shutdown.

Texas: After 113 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Coppell based ALCO (formerly known as Duckwall-ALCO) announced they will shutdown all 198 stores across the United States!

Vermont:  Vermont Technical College warned of layoffs due partly to the loss of 160 students over the past three years.

Washington: Too Big to Jail Union Bank announced they will shutdown 20 offices by March 2015.  Those offices once belonged to Frontier Bank (which failed).

West Virginia: Patriot Coal announced another 130 coal mining jobs lost!

20 november 2014: armed guards used to layoff employees!

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 shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

Business/Economics

It’s the Economy, stupid! Or, is it vulture capitalist investors? Iconic ebay kills at least 24-hundred jobs in 2015!

22 January 2015 (12:02 UTC-07 Tango)/01 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1436/02 Bahman 1393/03 Yi-Chou (12th month) 4712

More proof it’s not the internet killing off brick-n-mortars!  News out of California saying massive job cuts and company destruction involving internet auction and selling site ebay.

Local San Jose news sources report that ebay administrators have confirmed they will sell off their PayPal ops, resulting in at least 2-thousand 4-hundred people becoming jobless!  The sale of PayPal is being pushed by ‘activist’ (more like vulture capitalist) investors who now control most of ebay’s stock.

Not only that, but ebay will further split into two units (confirming what I reported at the end of last year), which will most likely result in even more job destruction.  Company administrators are blaming last year’s cyber attack: “ebay’s loyal customers are back, but our more occasional customers have not returned.”-John Donahoe, ceo

However, I know that ebay has also been suffering from declining revenues caused by a reduction in users, because I’m a struggling long time seller on ebay.

It also doesn’t help that in 2013 the USPS jacked up international shipping rates by 60%, totally killing off my ebay auctions for 2013, since 90% of my sales were international!

ebay shutting down after Xmas? 

Sears turns to ebay!

ebay….build World’s largest data collection spy center system in Utah!

Obama regime uses their 2011 financing executive order to seize ebay linked PayPal accounts!

eBay striking it rich in China?

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart update, 21 January 2015: Sex Trafficking & Property Deals! Sears Holdings is not your daddy’s Sears!

The slow death of Sears and Kmart is a sign of a fundamental, and possibly irreversible change in the once ‘great’ society of the United States of America.

A man who works for evil finance institutions Morgan Stanley, Crédit Suisse and Goldman Sachs (Simeon Gutman) has already announced who will benefit from the death of Sears and Kmart.   Apparently electronics store Best Buy would benefit most, followed by home improvement stores Home Depot and Lowe’s.

It should be noted that Crédit Suisse has been the most vocal in claiming Sears Holdings is already dead.   But it turns out the main motivation of these financial investment institutions is real estate.  In my tracking of the housing market debacle it’s become clear to me that the main reason for the artificially created property market crash is so property speculators, mainly REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) can get their hands on a lot of properties real cheap and even get taxpayers to fund the rebuilding projects, in other words it’s the classic Snidely scheme.  (read: “Everybody wants a better outcome, everybody but the landlords.” and The biggest Scam in U.S. History and Snidely the illegal forecloser returns)

One of the driving motivations for Eddie Lampert and the vulture capitalists who created Sears Holdings is to shutdown stores only to carve up them up into smaller commercial spaces, or to lease them out to competitors (they can actually make more money that way).  For the properties they don’t own Sears Holdings has actually been making millions by getting the property owners to end lease agreements early!

This brings me to my next point that Sears and Kmart are not your parent’s Sears and Kmart.  I’ve read commentaries which boast that Sears has come back from disaster before.  That was not the same Sears.  I’ve recently read articles about Sears out of Washington state in which the author still refers to Sears as “Sears Roebuck”.  Sears Roebuck died in 2005!   Today’s Sears-Kmart is controlled by a company created by Mitt Romney-Bain Capital  style vulture capitalist known as Eddie Lampert.

Sears Holdings was created in 2005, after Kmart emerged from bankruptcy in 2003 (newly named Kmart Holdings) and suddenly took over Sears.   This was accomplished easily because the controlling stockholders of both retailers were actually on the same team!

Eddie Lampert, the man driving Sears Holdings now was also the man driving the newly created Kmart Holdings in 2003 (via his ESL Investments fund)!  In other words Sears Holdings was known for a short two years as Kmart Holdings.

Many analysts have stated that the way Lampert has been running Sears Holdings will destroy the company, it now looks intentional: “The way it’s being managed, it doesn’t work. They’re going to continue to deteriorate.”-Mary Ross Gilbert, Imperial Capital

Are Lampert and his cronies capable of bullshit?  Eddie Lampert worked for evil Goldman Sachs (that should be proof enough).  In 2003 Lampert was kidnapped, and claimed that his kidnappers said they were hired by AutoZone executives to kill him!  Lampert was also the largest stockholder in AutoZone, and an executive director at the time!  The FBI concluded that Lampert’s story about AutoZone executives trying to kill him was bullshit: “The AutoZone story was just a hoax.”-unnamed investgator

But there was a result; the president of AutoZone resigned and guess who took over?  Eddie Lampert!  AutoZone has been documented to use prison labor. 

In other signs of Failed State decadence, increasingly many Kmarts have been the sites of crimes including murder.  Another despicable crime involves the sex trafficking of teenagers in Tennessee.  A man described as an up and coming rapper has just been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after being convicted of selling a 14 years old girl that he met at a Raleigh Kmart in 2013.

Today’s Sear-Kmart is not your daddy’s Sears and Kmart!

20 JANUARY 2015: ANOTHER KMART GOING DOWN!

Selling fake jewelry?

admits stock market shenanigans!

Executive officer involved with killing off other retailers?

screws over Goodyear for at least $20-million?

Catholics, Mormons & Jews conspiring

Sears stores leased to Ireland!

Store leases worth more than the stores themselves! 

 

 

 

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 20 November 2014: “We found ourselves with our backs against the wall” Skincare center calls in armed guards to layoff employees!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

International based “Free daily newspaper” Metro.US laid off five employees in New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

Alabama: Boeing issued a WARN saying employees will be laid off at their Huntsville NASA ops in January 2015.

Indiana: Shopko issued a WARN saying it will shutdown their Lebanon distribution center. The shutdown will be completed by September 2015, 95 to 100 jobs lost!

Kentucky:  In Ashland, after only two years the Lamp Post Cafe shutdown with little notice, the lease was not renewed at the last moment, the owners blame the bad economy: “We’re two years into it and it is a tough economy. While we’ve certainly been moving forward, we are a victim of the economy. We found ourselves with our backs against the wall….Our first winter, the electric bill just about killed us…”-Shane Fields

Massachusetts: Framingham based Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples announced the shutdown of 170 North American stores, I’m not sure if this is part of, or, on top of its previous list of 225 that will be shutdown by mid 2015!  More proof the internet isn’t killing off brick-n-mortars. TV through the internet service provider Aereo now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, it’s blamed on lack of funding and a federal court order preventing the company from streaming specific TV shows.

Michigan: Without warning American Laser Skincare (formerly known as American Laser Centers) shutdown all 136 operations in 25 states and Puerto Rico, at least 1-thousand jobs lost! Some employees reported they were threatened by armed security guards that they had less than two hours to get all their gear and vacate the premises!  Many customers pre-paid for skincare services worth thousands of dollars, and will not be getting refunds! The Northeast California Branch of the Better Business Bureau says customers are screwed: “To say it doesn’t happen would be a misnomer. We see it with gyms, cosmetic surgery, all kinds of stuff. There’s been a big recession, and a lot of people [companies] are financially unstable, and you don’t really know about their financial condition. We’ve had people pay them like the day before they closed their doors.”-Gary Almond

In order to cut costs due to reduced payments caused by Obama Care, Holland Hospital laid off all their in-house language interpreters.  The Detroit Free Press warned of layoffs, to take place before U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, and again before the western Christian Xmas holiday (which is at a different time than eastern Christian Xmas). The newspaper is owned by Gannet, which is also killing off jobs at other newspapers around the U.S.

Missouri: Belgium-Brazil owned beer brewer Anheuser-Busch admitted to laying off employees at its Saint Louis brewery, but refused to give a number.  Anheuser-Busch also shutdown its U.S. Busch Media Group.  HVAC maker Nordyne announced it will complete its shutdown of two factories by June 2015, at least 700 jobs lost!

New York: In Brooklyn, after only a year the owner of Marco’s restaurant announced it will shutdown in December. The owner says the profits weren’t high enough to cover operating costs.  In NYC, reports that The New York Times will kill off even more news gathering jobs, via the bribing of at least 100 employees with  “buyouts”!  Warnings that British empire United Kingdom based Reuters will layoff news staff in NYC.  Thompson Reuters says they’re news division has lost $79-million USD in its last quarter!

Pennsylvania: After 13  years Endless Mountains Quiltworks shutdown due to family health problems.

Vermont: The Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant announced it will  shutdown at the end of 2014.  165 employees to become jobless, while 316 will remain for the decommissioning process until the end of 2016!  At one point 625 people were employed!

17-19 november 2014: Cargill & Walmart join exodus from Canada

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 shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 11 – 15 January 2015: U.S. created Islamic State proves Obama a bold face liar! Mujahideen vs Islamic State! World’s biggest money laundering pit? More proof corruption begins with the United States!

Ismail Khan, former Afghan minister of water and energy, is warning of rapidly growing Islamic State presence inside his country.  Khan says the U.S., U.K. and Saudi created Islamic State (aka Daesh) will result in a new world war.

Badghis Province: In Qadis District, a Madrasa was shutdown by government personnel and the headgear of the students and teachers were symbolically burned.

Farah Province: In Khak-e-Safid District, government administrators say Islamic State has established new terrorist training camps! Remember what Barack Obama recently said? “…the enduring commitment of the United States to the Afghan people and to a united, secure and sovereign Afghanistan that is never again used as a source of attacks…”-28 December 2014

Helmand Province:  Reports say the U.S., Saudi, U.K. created Islamic State has “officially” begun propaganda and combat operations for control of Sangin and Kajaki districts.  Government administrators say some Mujahideen have joined Islamic State, but they also confirmed that most Mujahideen are engaged in battles with the new Islamic State insurgents, so far 20 people killed!  In Nawzad District, a cop turned his government issued gun on the district governor and his own police chief, killing both.  Another cop and an Afghan National Army officer were wounded.  The renegade cop was killed.

Herat Province: Two security guards were convicted and sentenced to 17 years in prison for raping a woman at the Herat Regional Hospital.  In Anjil District, a doctor at a clinic was assassinated with two bullets.  Police don’t know who did it or why.

Jowzjan Province:  More reports of cops raping children.  This time a five years old boy was raped, at least one cop has been arrested.  Back in December administrators in Kapisa Province reported that cops gang raped a girl, and the Afghan government admitted that cops are the number one rapists! 

Kabul Province:  In Kabul City, the National Football (soccer) head coach survived an assassination attempt.  He was stabbed in the head and back as he approached his home.  A report saying a bomb planted in a Toyota Corolla exploded, killing one person and wounding three.  Another report said the Corolla drove over a landmine.  The U.S. terror group known as United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is now spending untold taxpayer money on a new medical records system for Afghanistan.  USAID administrators announced the new Pilot Electronic Medical Records System at the same time they opened the taxpayer funded Indira Gandi Newborn Care Training Center in Kabul.

Khost Province: In Khost City (Matoon), the provincial police Education Officer was assassinated by remote detonated bomb.

Nangarhar Province: In Lal Pura District, government administrators report yet another coalition drone strike, eight people killed.

Paktia Province: Near Muqribkhil village, three people killed after they drove over a landmine.

Parwan Province: In Siyagard District, coalition forces launched an offensive five days ago.  It ended in failure.  Mujahideen report they’ve killed or wounded 26 coalition personnel and destroyed at least three vehicles.  A Mujahid was killed.

Zabul Province: Local news reports say about 500 Islamic State  “families” from Pakistan, Chechen Republic, Saudi Arabia and other countries have arrived in the districts of Khak Afghan, Dai Chopan and Arghandab.

The Indian government announced it will force its taxpayers to give Afghanistan $120-million USD for five new Small Development Projects.  News reports say since 2002 India has spent $2-billion to help Afghanistan ‘rebuild’ since the U.S. invasion.  Where in the hell is all that money going?  When you factor in all the taxpayer money from countries all over the World that have gone to Afghanistan its clear Afghanistan is the World’s biggest money laundering pit!

06-10-january-2015: afghans hate their new pro-obama president

The U.S. Air Force revealed they’ll be spending U.S. tax money training Afghan pilots at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, and Moody AFB, Georgia.  The Afghans will be trained to fly Coin (Counterinsurgency) aircraft paid for by U.S. taxpayers.

A retired Indiana (U.S.A.) Army National Guard lieutenant colonel reportedly pled guilty to corruption involving kickbacks from U.S. government contractors.  Reports say he’s the fourth U.S. military personnel to plead guilty to such charges.  He could be sentenced to five years in prison.

In Texas (U.S.A.) evil mobile home park managers evicted a disabled National Guard veteran for failure to pay “pet fees”.  The Iraq and Afghanistan occupation veteran said his dog is a necessary service dog and that charging standard pet fees to disabled people actually violates the federal Fair Housing laws: “If it’s happening to me, it’s going to happen to other people.”-David Palasek, wounded veteran evicted before Xmas

After being based on Bagram airbase for far longer than they expected, more than 300 air-militia-personnel of the Air National Guard’s 187th Fighter Wing (Alabama, U.S.A.) finally returned home.  Back in November I wrote they had returned, but the latest reports revealed they were held back for at least one month.

The Air National Guard’s 174th Attack Wing (New York U.S.A.) announced their war in Afghanistan is not over, they will continue to use MQ-9 Reaper drones to kill Afghans.

More than 150 militia-personnel of the Army National Guard’s 1450th Transportation Company (North Carolina U.S.A.) mobilized for deployment to Afghanistan.