Tag Archives: debt

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 19 January 2013. Idaho dollar stores goin’ down! Video game makers goin’ down! Colleges cutting back on programs that U.S. industry leaders say are lacking!

In Idaho, and with almost no notice, Boise based Honk’s $1.00 filed chapter 11 bankruptcy around 16 January 2013.  However, and despite what Boise media reported, they started closing down stores weeks earlier, like the one in Pocatello.  It’s reported that the dollar store corporation just can’t sell enough of the crap they have, and in Utah they owe tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid sales taxes and rent!

A Minnesota steel frame manufacturer will layoff 17 employees. Crenlo blames the bad economy.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is consolidating 13 offices.  State officials claim the move will save $2 million per year, and they will somehow not lay off any affected employee.  Famous last words.

Ohio’s Bowling Green State University will layoff 100 of its employees by Fall 2013!  University officials gave no explanation as to why so many people will be let go.

Another college feeling the pinch.  University of Hartford, in Connecticut, will layoff more than a dozen employees to try and keep their tuition costs for students down. Work hours for some other employees will be reduced.

The Long Beach City College to layoff 18 employees. They laid off employees last year as well.  The California college is dealing with a $6.4 million USD deficit. College officials also cut programs that are ironically what U.S. manufacturers say are lacking in this country, such as aviation maintenance, welding, automotive technology, HAVC and diesel mechanics among others. A few weeks later the college president said “…at no time have I been more confident about our direction and ability to meet the demands before us.”-Eloy Oakley

The Build A Bear store in Santa Rosa, California, closing down.  It’s part of the company’s plan to close down 60 stores across the United States over the next two years.

Also in Santa Rosa, a Gap Kids clothing store is closing down.

Women’s magazine publisher, Merideth, ended 60 jobs, mostly in New York, some in Iowa and other locations. The company says they are integrating operations.  They publish Better Homes and Gardens, Parents, Fitness, and own Allrecipes.com, EveryDay with Rachael Ray and FamilyFun brands.  The cuts come at a time when the company recently increased quarterly dividends to stockholders, by 6.5%.

New York Blower cut 12 people, blaming crashing sales.

By the end of March 250 contracted employees will be out-o-work at the Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania.  Depot officials said most were short term contracts that are ending.

The Bottom Dollar Food stores in Montgomeryville and Chalfont, Pennsylvania, closing down.  They’re owned by the same European company that is shutting down grocery stores in North Carolina, Florida and Virginia.

In Washington, reports say the “vast majority of Gas Powered Games‘ staff” were laid off. The video game maker spent all their cash on their last game, called Wildman.  Company officials say they literally bet their company on its success or failure.

Also in the Evergreen State, the city of Spokane laid off two employees, and more could be in the works. Last year they eliminated 80 positions. They blame it on not enough revenue for the city.

Floyd Central Thriftway food store in Kentucky closing down.  20 employees out-o-work.  Older customers liked their delivery service.  The owner was talking about opening another store, but the reality was that sales kept going down and operating costs kept going up.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Sears, Best Buy, RadioShack, JCPenny all going down?

Since the end of January 2013 the amount of reports on the internet predicting hundreds of retail store closing just keeps going up.

24/7 Wall St reporting that eight retailers will close more stores in 2013: Best Buy, Sears Holding (Kmart and Sears stores), JCPenney, Office Depot, Barnes & Noble, Gamestop, Office Max  and RadioShack.

Video game retailer, Gamestop, predicted to shut down 600 stores! (in November 2012 they announced they would close down 200 stores, but analysts think that’s too low)

RadioShack could close 550 stores!  (already closed more than 120 locations between 2010 & 2011)

Down retail sales are hitting JCPenny so hard they will likely close down 350 stores!

Barnes & Noble says they have to close down stores just to maintain current profit level, possibly 240 stores will be shut down!

Best Buy predicted to close as many as 250 stores!

Kmart could close another 225 stores!

Sears to close another 125 stores!

Office Depot to close 150!

Office Max 175! (at the end of 2011 company officials said they would close 15 to 20 stores every year for five years)

And these are the stores that are expected to end the most retail operations in the United States, there are other smaller businesses that are going down as well. Stay tuned.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: France reveals plans to occupy Mali! Just another hole your leaders are going to throw your tax money down!

“There is still a whole part of the north that remains unconquered….There are terrorist elements concentrated in some areas of the country, others who are dispersed. There are risks of terrorism. So, we have not yet finished our mission.”-Francois Hollande, President of France

03 February 2013, President Francois Hollande revealed that his country has no intentions of leaving Mali, after they invaded on the pretext of going after al-Qaeda linked insurgents.

Mali is a former colony of French imperialism. Apparently it is again. The United States (once an anti-imperialist country) and the European Union are supporting France.

Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) are also helping France regain her old colony.  They are planning to send 8,000 ECOWAS troops to help the French. Of course you’re paying for it!

The chairman of ECOWAS (Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara) told Radio France Internationale (RFI) that Europe, the United States, Canada and Japan (Trilateral Commission countries) have promised ECOWAS $949 million USD so far, and they’ve already paid up $454 million of it!

Think about this; your leaders keep cutting social programs supposedly because there’s no money, yet they keep shelling out hundreds of millions and billions of your tax money to fight never ending wars?

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 18 January 2013. Thousands more laid off in Texas!!! GM impacts entire community with mass layoffs! More colleges hit by declining enrollment! Hate Verizon even more! Have some more cheese with that whine, corporate America?

Meat packing company, Cargill, announced 2,000 layoffs for operations in Texas!!!  Two packing plants will be closed due to a lack of regional cattle for beef, and company officials blame that on the ongoing drought.  Get ready for beef prices to go up even more!

Gerber baby food maker moves production from Michigan to Arkansas. 44 people in Michigan out-o-work.

General Motors to close down its Weld Tool Center in Michigan. 343 GM employees out-o-work! The closure will also affect dozens of independent operations that rely on orders from GM.  Other local businesses said as much as 90% of their sales went to GM Weld Tool Center employees.

Standard Insurance company to cut at least 100 jobs across the United States.  Basically the company is expecting to lose money this year, and is trying to stay ahead of the curve.

The Pewter Rose restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina, shut down just short of its 25th anniversary.  Sales were down, and water damage to the building was the final straw.

One month ago Hatteras Yachts announced layoffs for 150 employees at their North Carolina operation.  Now, local media reports say another 40 people were let go. It’s part of the plans of parent company Brunswick to sell off their Hatteras and CABO Yachts brands.

Also in North Carolina, mortgage insurance company United Guaranty laid off an undisclosed number of people.  Company officials say they’re trying to anticipate near term “business needs”, meaning they think things are going to get worse!

In South Carolina, the Hippodrome Theater is closing down.  The owner says ticket sales are good, but he wants to focus on his law business.

Boise, Idaho, lost another retailer. California based See Jane Run women’s sports wear closed their only store outside of the Golden State.

The Washington Township Health Care District says it has no choice but to layoff 200 employees at Fremont hospital in California! They blame reduced reimbursement rates from state and federal health programs and private insurance.

Directory Distributing Associates shut down its Merced, California, operation and laid off 42 people.

Avon closing down its Pasadena, California, distribution center. 170 jobs lost! The center was opened in 1946. Avon will also close a distribution center in Atlanta, Georgia.  250 jobs lost there! Operations will move to Ohio.  Avon officials say they need to reduce costs by $400 million per year!

Little Dipper restaurant in Dalton, Georgia, closed down. It was famous for chocolate cobbler. The family that owned it would not give details about why they closed the popular restaurant, but said it was time to move one, and that another restaurant was moving in.

In Alaska, the Anchorage school board revealed they are short $25 million USD!  They will have to layoff school employees, although they have yet to pick who becomes unemployed.

In Louisiana, the Jefferson Parish School Board will layoff 20 employees at two alternative schools. They blame lower enrollment due to fewer troubled students (I guess that’s a good thing).

Despite making profits, Massachusetts based custodial bank State Street will layoff 630 employees around the world, 260 just in the Bay State!

Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in Massachusetts to shut down its detox unit. About 24 staff affected. Hospital officials say they’re changing the way they handle certain types of addictions, which will render the detox unit unnecessary.

In Arkansas, the architecture and engineering company, Benchmark Group, laid off at least 23 people.   Company officials blamed the bad economy.

More reason to hate Verizon.  The New York based telecommunications company will layoff 201 people around the country!  Company officials say there is no need for those employees as a result of technical upgrades.  However, a union rep said that was BS: “These layoffs are not needed. We have enough work to cover every one of them.”-Ed Cocliff, Local 827 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Broadway Brew Pub & Grill in Troy, New York, closing down.  Apparently pub owners were threatened by city officials, after several incidents of violence in the pub.

The Vermont Law School has laid off two people, and bought out the contracts of ten others. School officials blame declining enrollment.

Virginia based Computer Sciences Corporations confirmed they will layoff an undisclosed amount of employees.  They say they need to become more efficient. I worked for CSC in the early 1980s, no comment other than even in the 1980s they were highly inefficient, but that’s par for the course for companies dependent upon government contracts.

Pennsylvania based TE Connectivity laying off 137 workers across its medical products division! The company blamed it on a $0.5 billion drop in sales.  Want some cheese with that whine?  They only had $13.3 billion in sales during fiscal 2012!

Investment company Legg Mason to layoff an undisclosed amount of employees, due to the merger of two of its divisions.  (no pity for investment companies)

Illinois based metal and plastics distributor, A.M. Castle, will layoff 180 people!  It’s all about increasing their profits even more!

In Skokie, Illinois, a Best Buy is shutting down. 58 employees out-o-work.

Busey Bank will close four branches in Illinois. Bank officials say it’s part of their plan to transition to mobile and electronic banking.

Laurel Hill Healthcare closing its nursing home in Connecticut. It’s part of the growing nursing home closings due to parent company Spectrum Healthcare’s bankruptcy.

A Catholic school in New Albany, Indiana, shutting down.  Saint Mary’s Academy will close for good in May, due to more than $1 million of debt!

Massachusetts based Hologic, maker of medical diagnostic tools, to close its Indiana factory. 140 people out-o-work!

International, U.S.

World War 3: Iran says it will continue supporting Syria, says Israel has made itself a target! Main U.S./Israeli supported rebel group going over to Russia & Iran?

On 02 February 2013, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, arrived in Damascus, Syria.  There he told the public that Iran will continue supporting Syria against whoever is behind the attempted destruction of al-Sham.

Also, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, said the recent Israeli air raids almost certainly guarantees action against the Zionist state: “Any violation of a country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity committed by the Zionist regime must be dealt with.”

Israeli media reporting that computers are being hacked into.  A group calling itself  the Syrian Electronic Army, claimed: “We have hacked into 50 central Israeli websites.”

A Syrian ambassador stated there could be a surprise retaliatory attack: “The Israelis, and the United States behind them, along with their Arab and regional accomplices, realize that Syria, which defends its sovereignty and territory, may decide to respond by surprise to this aggression.”-Ali Abdel Karim Ali, Syrian ambassador to Lebanon

And out of Germany comes a Rueters report, saying the main U.S./Israeli rebel group Syrian National Coalition (SNC) are in discussion in Munich, Germany, with Iranian officials: “The talks about Syria are intensifying and the Iranians have been drawn in. Let’s see how it all ends.”-unnamed German source

The Reuters report also said the SNC had already met with Russian officials, and they reported discussions that could lead to the end of the western backed insurgency.

According to an Israeli media source, the United States was also behind the recent air strikes on Syria. On 22 January President Obama was briefed of the attack by an Israeli AMAN commander.  Obama approved.  As well, the Russian’s were told by the Israeli ambassador in Moscow.  The Russians were opposed.

Also on 02 February 2013, U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden, told the media in Munich, Germany, that the official stance of the U.S. government towards Iran, is that Iran is not serious and the U.S. will not open diplomatic channels until they believe Iranian leaders are acting seriously.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 24-26 January 2013. UN going after drone strikes! Mujahideen attacks more effective! More games with your tax money! Yet another report says thousands of Afghans being sacrificed for the United States!

26 January 2013

In Herat Province, Mujahideen claim they captured a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle/drone) in the Nawa area of Adraskan district.

In Balk Province, reports that a U.S. led NATO/ISAF military vehicle ran over and killed a man riding a motorcycle. Local police say they stopped the NATO/ISAF vehicle and detained the occupants. No comment from ISAF.

In Ghazni Province, Mujahideen claim to have killed another Polish/NATO troop. They say a bomb killed one, and wounded two others.  Also, a suicide bomber blew himself up in Ghazni City, killing three people and wounding eight.

In Kunduz Province, a suicide bombing has killed ten government security personnel, including the local counter-terrorism chief.

A Wall Street Journal article says U.S. military officials accuse Kam Air of smuggling Afghan opium.  The Afghan airlines responded: “These allegations have hurt the prestige of Kam Air as the best and most reliable Afghan private airline, we will demand clarification and compensation if the charges brought against us are not proved.”-Zamarai Kamgar, Kamir Air

25 January 2013

In Kandahar Province, Mujahideen claim they assassinated a National Directorate of Security (NDS) agent in front of a local bank.  Another NDS agent, and known U.S. paid contractor on Kandahar airbase, was assassinated near the Girls’ School in Mirza Ahmad Kalachi area

USMC General john Allen is outraged that the Mujahideen could have launched such a devastating attack on U.S. forces.  The car bomb attack happened in Kapisa Province, and killed 12 U.S./NATO personnel and destroyed two armored vehicles!   Five civilians were also killed, and 20 wounded. The suicide bombing might be in retaliation for a U.S. led home invasion the night before.

In Helmand Province, ISAF confirmed three Georgian ISAF troops were wounded. Two were ambushed and a third stepped on a landmine.  Mujahideen also claimed to have destroyed two Georgian armored vehicles.

Yet another report confirms what the Afghan government has been saying, that for the last six months of Gregorian year 2012, at least 1,100 Afghan government forces gave their lives fighting for the United States! A British newspaper said that info comes directly from U.S./NATO/ISAF sources.

24 January 2013

In Kapisa Province, villagers say a home was invaded during the night by Afghan and U.S. forces. They shot a woman dead. Local cops claim that shots were being fired from the home. Apparently the woman was the only one in the home.

In Herat Province, locals say government supported paramilitaries assaulted four people and killed one in Karez Zaman area of Khushk Kohna district.  Apparently the motive was robbery.

In Balk Province, a local cop is barely alive after trying to get rid of a bomb. Local police officials say the cop picked up something suspicious, then threw it when he realized it was a bomb. It exploded when he threw it away.

In Nimruz Province, two local cops were killed when they drove over a landmine.  Two women bystanders were wounded.

In Kandahar Province, three local cops, from Arghasan district, joined the Mujahideen.  Also, Mujahideen say they recovered a crashed U.S./NATO/ISAF drone. It came down in the Sozak area of Shahwalikot district.

U.S. military officials claim they will turn over control of Jalalabad airbase to the Afghan government.  It will then be returned to civilian use.

The U.S. military is also playing games with taxpayer money regarding more aircraft for the Afghan air force.  The USAF is delaying the purchase of 20 light attack aircraft.  It’s all because of disputes over the selection of a new plane; either the AT-6 Texan 2 or the A-29 Super Tucano.

Russia is investigating the possibility that a Russian airliner was in danger of being shot down by U.S./NATO aircraft over Afghanistan.  The incident was reported the day before.  The collision warning system in a Nordwind Airlines plane went off.  The crew say they saw what looked like a military plane on an intercept course with them. Afghanistan currently does not have interceptor aircraft, only U.S. and NATO forces operate such planes in Afghanistan.

The United Nations announced they will investigate U.K. Red Coat and U.S. Yankee drone strikes around the world, including Afghanistan. About 30 incidents will be investigated, specifically cases of double tap strikes where missiles were launched against rescue parties after the first missile struck.

Fukushima

Fukushima Daiichi still deadly! 40 years to go before it might be safe!!! More proof nuke disaster reactors are not worth the risk!

01 February 2013, almost two years since three GE designed reactors melted down at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi, and the latest tour given to Japanese reporters shows it’s still spewing radiation.  The entire clean up process is expected to continue until Gregorian year 2051!!!

Here’s more of what NHK (Nippon Housou Kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation) reporter, Akira Hombo, discovered at Fukushima Daiichi.

“The highest reading was on the ocean side of the building that houses the number 3 reactor. It was over 1,300 [micro sieverts per hour].”

“The most important task remains to cool down the melted fuel….could be as hot as a one million watt heater….heat emitted by one thousand electric stoves in a small space. If these units aren’t kept consistently cool another melt down could happen.”

“Work has already started at the number 4 unit….since this reactor didn’t melt down.”

“The entire [clean up/decommissioning] procedure will take until 2051, that is 40 years after the accident.”

Hombo Akira explained that Tokyo Electric Power Company is facing three major problems in getting the decommissioning work done.

1: Radiation is so high that even existing robots are failing after just a few hours inside the reactors.  New robots must be built that can withstand such high levels of radiation.

2: There are not enough trained workers, and there are ongoing problems with the way subcontractors hire and train their employees.

3: There is currently nowhere in Japan to store the massive amount of radioactive material that will be coming from Fukushima Daiichi.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Italian Supreme Court finds 26 evil ‘Mericans guilty of War Crimes!!!

On 01 February 2013, the Italian appeals Court ruled that three CIA employees are guilty of war crimes!  That brings the total to 26 U.S. citizens found guilty in Italian courts since 2009!

Italian prosecutors said all but one works for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.  They were tried in absentia, and found guilty of kidnapping an Egyptian in 2003 on the orders of U.S. President George W. Bush “Jr”.

U.S. officials claimed he was a terrorists, but after several years of being transferred to different prisons in Germany, Italy, then Egypt, and being tortured, he was let go in 2007.  An Egyptian court ruled there wasn’t any evidence to prove he was a terrorist.

The Italian court ruling means that if any of the U.S. citizens found guilty set foot in Europe they can be imprisoned.  Italian prosecutors say they will also consider extradition orders against the United States!

According to some reports, the Obama Administration refused to provide legal help for the CIA agents.

July 2012: BUSH, CHENEY, RUMSFELD, U.S. GENERALS, AND EVEN OBAMA FACING INVESTIGATION AND WAR CRIMES TRIALS BY INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURTS

Idaho, U.S.

2nd U.S. Civil War: Pew poll says the Federal Government is your biggest enemy! State of Idaho to become testing ground for domestic drone use!

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”-Benjamin Franklin, a founder of the United States

A new Pew Research Center poll shows that more and more citizens of the United States of America see the federal government as the enemy: “For the first time since we have been asking this question, we have a majority, 53%, saying that their rights are personally threatened by the government.”-Andy Kohut, Pew Research Center

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”-2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

The Pew poll shows that 73% of U.S. citizens now distrust the federal government, almost three of every four people!   That lack of trust is shared among Democrats and independents as well as Republicans.

The growing use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle, drone) against U.S. citizens is just one of dozens of reason people are seeing their government as their number one enemy.

In response to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to establish six drone testing sites in Idaho, the legislators of the Gem State have countered with a new bill.  The state Senate Transportation Committee introduced a bill that would create legal guidelines for drone use by Idaho law enforcement agencies, including establishing probable cause, or obtaining a warrant.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 17 January 2013. Lots-o-grocery stores going down, thousands unemployed! More proof that economic competition in a saturated market is bad! Another college going down! China retaliates?

Sweetbay Supermarket in Florida, shutting down 33 of its 105 grocery stores!  Parent company officials, Delhaize Group in Belgium, say the stores are not making enough money, but, a Sweetbay official admitted most of the stores just happen to be at the end of their leases (letting leases expire, a growing trend within the U.S. retail industry).  2,000 people will be affected!

Two Food Lion grocery stores in North Carolina will close. Company officials say the stores are not making enough money.

Kroger to shut down Du Quoin, Illinois, grocery store in March. Company officials blame competition. 60 employees affected.

The nearly 100 years old Ray’s Food Place, in Crescent City, California, will shut down on 03 February.  Owners blame increased competition.

California Redwood Company to layoff 45 employees at its Krobel, California, factory. Blames it on a big decrease in demand for redwood lumber.

In Sacramento, California, the local school district is proposing closing down 11 elementary schools!  School officials say they need to save $11 million USD over the next four years. They will vote on the closures on 21 February.

Also in Sacramento, the Gap, and next door Gap Kids, clothing stores going down. This is part of the country wide trend for Gap.  Company officials claim these are the final closings that were outlined in their 2007 real estate plans.

350 people are losing their jobs in Kentucky! The Gap clothing business is closing down two distribution centers. The layoffs begin in April.

The Brattleboro Food Co-op, in Vermont, let go 11 people.  Delays in construction of a new Co-op building is being blamed for the layoffs.

Level 3 Communications, in Colorado, announced hundreds of layoffs worldwide!  Company officials say it is a direct result of their take over of competitor Global Crossing.

The Prickly Pear women’s clothing store in Monument, Colorado, shutting down. Owner wants to retire.

Berry Plastics in Easthampton, Massachusetts, laid off 20 people.  Their remaining 315 employees could have their hours reduced. Company officials blamed the bad economy for a huge reduction in demand for their products.

Despite North Dakota‘s booming oil industry, Sanford Health is shutting down its Underwood Continuing Care Center in March. It’s the result of last year’s merger between Sanford Health and Medcenter.  38 residents, and 62 employees affected!

The Upper Dublin School District, in Pennsylvania,  warned of pending layoffs and pay reductions.  They blame a $2.7 million USD budget shortfall.

The owner of furniture store, C.A. Hoitt in New Hampshire, is retiring and closing down the 133 years old business.

Corpus Christie, Texas, losing two stores.  A Abercrombie, and a Abercrombie & Fitch, shut down in the La Palmera mall.  It’s part of the 180 store closings announced by company officials last year.

Back Yard Burgers in Tupelo, Mississippi, closed for good. Owner refused comment, but the franchise went bankrupt in October 2012.  16 people out-o-work.

Pandolfi gift shop shutting down in Edina, Minnesota. The owner said she wants to focus on caring for her family.

The College of Visual Arts in Saint Paul, Minnesota, shutting down!  School officials blame declining enrollment due to the bad economy.  They will close after the spring semester ends.

Chinese company, Zhongding Sealing Parts, will shut down its Ohio factory.  At least 117 jobs lost by the end of June!  The company makes rubber parts for the U.S. automotive industry. Company officials said the closure is due to rapidly changing economic environment within the U.S. (which could be code for they don’t like the way the U.S. government is coming down on Chinese companies).  Production at the Ohio factory will be moved to China as a result!