Tag Archives: employment

Business/Economics

Walmart kills 1,000 more jobs! “It was a whole lot easier…up to 2006.”: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 10 – 12 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona:  New York based perfume maker Coty eliminating 205 jobs at its philosophy believe in miracles operations in Phoenix!

Arkansas: New rumors say Bentonville based Walmart-Sam’s Club eliminating 1-thousand HQ jobs by November!  They already eliminated 50 HQ jobs back in February.  In June reports said Walmart was going to charge manufactures for the ‘privilege’ of having Walmart warehouse their products in Walmart stores!   Back in May news reports out of California said Walmart eliminated 2-thousand 2-hundred jobs in The Golden State!  About 429 jobs were lost in Florida!  If Walmart is the ‘bellwether’ of the U.S. economy then there ain’t no recovery.

California: In Lake Tahoe, after two years Tom Wohrman’s Sports is shutting down and moving to Big Bear Lake.  In San Jose, Maxim Integrated issued a shutdown WARN, 150 jobs lost by March 2016!  In Monterey, McGraw Hill Education issued a layoff WARN, 137 jobs lost by the end of August!   In Palo Alto, Hewlett Packard (HP) issued a late WARN revealing they laid off 65 people back in the middle of June.  Also in Palo Alto, ObamaCare forcing Bosch Healthcare Systems to shutdown by the end of September, 55 jobs lost.   In Carlsbad, ObamaCare medical device taxes forced medical device maker Alphatec Spine to layoff at least 99 employees!  ObamaCare forcing Long Beach Memorial Medical Center to layoff 88 employees by August. Boeing issued yet another layoff WARN, 56 jobs lost in Long Beach by September. In El Segundo, tax-sucking ‘security’ contractor Leidos issued a layoff WARN for September, 72 jobs lost.  In Los Angeles, Encompass Digital Media issued a shutdown WARN for September, 41 jobs lost.  Mountain View based Symantec continues to eliminate jobs, this time 60 people will become jobless by the beginning of August.  In Santa Maria, “customer care, technical support, billing inquiry, inbound sales and retention” Fusion Contacts Centers issued a shutdown WARN, 50 jobs lost in August.  Tech company KLA-Tencor issued a mass layoff WARN for their Milpitas ops, 213 jobs lost in September! A major utility company known for replacing U.S. citizens with foreign workers, Southern California Edison, issued yet another WARN.  This time they’re shutting down their San Clemente ops by September, at least 1-hundred jobs lost!   In Wilmington, State Fish Company shutting down by September, 76 jobs lost.  In San Diego, Bridgepoint Education laying off 22 people by September.  Also in San Diego, Washington based Microsoft laying off 129 people by September!   In San Francisco, once again British empire based U.S. tax-sucker BAE Systems issued layoff WARNs after the fact, revealing they laid off 82 people at the end of June.  Washington based Starbucks shutting down two Bay Bread operations in September.  The closure of Bay Bread’s South San Francisco and San Fernando bakeries will result in 171 people becoming jobless!  In Brentwood, it was discovered by local newsies that Cafe Röckenwagner quietly shutdown two weeks ago.

Iowa: The Ashford University shutting down its Clinton campus in May 2016, due to what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome: “Ashford’s Clinton campus has been unable to resolve its significant and ongoing enrollment shortfall, a trend that is especially troubling in today’s highly competitive environment.”-Gregory Geoffroy, board of trustees.

Minnesota: What automotive industry recovery?  Maker of cabs for heavy vehicles (and consoles for computers), Crenlo announced 30 people will be laid off by the end of the month.  It’s blamed on crashing sales.

New York: Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples shutting down yet another store, this time their Altamont Avenue store in Schenectady. In Staten Island, after 54 years restaurant supplier Twin Supply blaming the internet for the demise of their last brick-n-mortar store.  The owners should know, they began switching to internet sales in 2000: “In 2002 we took our trucks off the road, we sold two buildings and began to concentrate on the web. A lot of major corporations, and major hospitals are our customers.”

Ohio: The University of Akron announced a three years plan to eliminate at least 215 jobs!  What I call Disappearing Students Syndrome has caused the university to lose $60-million USD.   Another factor is the skyrocketing costs of employee healthcare costs caused by ObamaCare.  Administrators say they will renegotiate healthcare benefits with employees, meaning it will cost the employees more money for the same benefits.

Pennsylvania: In Ridley, Boeing revealed it laid off 49 people back in the middle of June.

Tennessee: In Nashville, after 19 years the bar stool capital of Middle Tennessee, Norbert’s Home Decor, shutting down in August.

Texas: In San Antonio, after 34 years advertising agency Bromley shutdown.  The owner wants to get a PhD in the shopping behavior of sheeple.

Virginia: Tax-sucker Newport News Shipbuilding warned employees of massive layoffs over the next year and a half, due to crashing orders from the U.S. Navy.

Washington: After nearly 70 years the Merry Go Round children’s store shutting down.  The current owner says something sinister happened to the U.S. economy in 2006: “It literally is just a completely different place now. Consumers these days are completely different than they’ve ever been, and the industry is tougher than it’s ever been. It was a whole lot easier to be a small business owner up to 2006.”-Molly Pressey

09 July 2015: No “fairy tale ending” just an “Irish wake”!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

International

What U.S. Sanctions? Iran loans Syria $1-billion! Syria bans the charging of interest on small loans! There’s a whole lot more!

10 July 2015 (11:37 UTC-07 Tango 01)/19 Tir 1394/23 Ramadan 1436/25 Gui-Wie 4713

For years we in the United States have been told how impactful U.S. economic sanctions against Iran have been.  Our main stream news media has no problem finding ‘experts’ who constantly tout that Iran “is suffering greatly under sanctions”, yet Iran has enough wealth to give Syria a $1-billion USD loan?

Syria’s government run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) also revealed that the loan was agreed to back in May.  The Syrian parliament ratified it this week.

Syria needs the loan due to the four years old U.S./NATO-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-Israel backed ‘civil war’ causing the Syrian economy to crash by 50%!

In another move to spur their economy the Syrian parliament banned the charging of interest, and even fees, on small business loans for farmers.  Administrators don’t blame the U.S. led war, but say it’s due to the 2013-14 drought.  Farmers have until the end of 2015 to become current on their loan payments.

However, Syrian government economists admit that the U.S. led war against the elected Syrian government is the main reason for their economic difficulties.

NATO Member Turkey is also working against Syria by cutting off 40% of water supplies to northern Syrian farmers. Syrian agricultural administrators are now working with Iraq to provide new sources of water.

The Syrian government is also working to protect the transportation of newly harvested wheat and cotton.  Another option to help the farmers financially is the possible purchase of  harvests by the government itself.

Despite the war, Syria is hosting the Agricultural Veterinary Exhibition.  Syrian veterinary services are now an export commodity serving 42 countries.  The CEO of Al-Farabi Company claims his company has 2-hundred licensed products and is expanding exports to Europe.

Syria is also holding Food Expo 2015, administrators stated it was a protest against the U.S. led war: “The exhibition is a message that the Syrians are determined to continue production and work.”-Kamal Eddin Toma, Industry Minister

Of course there’s oil.   Oil production is slowly increasing since Syria has pushed the U.S. led insurgents out of oil producing regions. As of April petroleum oil production was at 9-thousand 5-hundred barrels, gas production at 15.6-million cubic meters, per day.  The latest news is that Syria and the South American country Venezuela are working to accelerate the opening of the joint refinery project known as Furqlus.

Back in the U.S. sanctions strapped Iran, a new massive bridge is being built from the mainland to the island of Qeshm, in the Persian Gulf.  It will be the longest bridge built by Iranian engineers and will have two lanes of wheeled vehicle traffic as well as a rail line.  The Qeshm bridge is part of a new economic corridor extending all the way north into Central Asia.  Qeshm island has massive amounts of iron ore.  Once the bridge is completed it’s hoped that 7-million metric tons of iron ore will be shipped out to steel factories throughout the region.

On top of that, the government which is supposedly struggling under U.S. sanctions is investing $2-billion USD into the South Pars Sangan iron ore mining project.  It’s expected to produce 17-million metric tons per year!  Iran’s iron ore/steel production is expected to increase by 100%!  Two Chinese companies are joining the massive iron ore extraction operations. Iran already exports 4-million metric tons of steel per year.

In March and April of 2015 Iranian exports hit $5-billion USD!  That does not included oil or gas!  NATO members Turkey and Italy join Pakistan and Oman as top buyers of Iranian products.

Speaking of U.S.-led NATO member Italy, a 3-hundred strong trade delegation is preparing to visit the Aryan (Iranian) country.  Administrators with Iran’s Trade Exhibition Company have revealed that a “number of American companies” are now exploring the possibility of setting up shop inside Iran.

Wait, there’s more!  Iranian airlines now have direct routes to the European Union and Russia.  Iranian fisheries have signed deals with Russia to export 28-thousand metric tons of fish to Russia in August.

What was that about U.S. sanctions?

 

International, U.S.

Operation Jupiter: Bison dying of Anthrax! North Korea joins the Game? Canada signs Anthrax deal with United States!

10 July 2015 (19:31 UTC-07 Tango 01, 09 July 2015)/19 Tir 1394/23 Ramadan 1436/25 Gui-Wie 4713

Nine Bison have died in the North American British empire country of Canada.  Health administrators in the province of Saskatchewan have confirmed that two of them died from anthrax, and the other seven are suspected of being infected. It’s being blamed on the weather but NATO member Canada is one of several countries shipped live weaponized bacillus anthracis from Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, United States.

Back in December, anthrax attacked a domestic cattle herd in Saskatchewan.  Tests showed the anthrax spores were in the hay the cows were eating, several cows died.

It should be noted that a U.S. NIH biodefense contractor, Immunovaccine Incorporated (formerly Rhino Resources), has signed a deal with Canadian vaccine maker PharmAthene.  The deal, which could be worth as much as $50-million CAD to the Canadian company, is focused on developing a new vaccine against anthrax using the patented DepoVax system.  Apparently the old vaccines are no longer viable.  Immunovaccine Incorporated revealed that they’ve already tested anthrax vaccines on 7-hundred people within the U.S.

The Obama regime’s Department of Defense has revealed yet another NATO member who got live anthrax; Italy.  So far Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea and United kingdom have been shipped live anthrax from Utah via commercial shippers. Note that all are NATO Members or Partners, and are involved in the JUPITR ATD program.

News reports out of east Asia say the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is creating weaponized anthrax inside pesticide factories. The source of the info is actually a U.S. operative known as the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, and the pesticide factory is the Pyongyang Bio-technical Institute: “Analysis of the images reveals that the facility can produce regular, military-sized batches of biological weapons, specifically anthrax.”

And we’re supposed to be surprised by this ‘revelation’?  Can you say; No shit, Sherlock!  Isn’t it highly hypocritical for U.S. operatives to accuse another country of possibly being able to make weaponized anthrax, when it’s the U.S. that’s been actively shipping weaponized anthrax around the World since at least 2005?!  This is more likely an attempt by the United States to distract from its on going JUPITR ATD programs, which originally focused on Korea.

Here’s an update on the anthrax outbreak in India.  The Animal Husbandry Department of Chikkaballapur district confirmed animals are dying of anthrax. They’ve ordered all veterinarians to report suspected deaths caused by anthrax. To give you an idea how bad naturally occurring anthrax is: “… the bacteria will kill the animal, but will also leave spores. These spores, if exposed to air, will survive for over 40 years and may cause infection in healthy animals and can be a risk to human health. Hence, after an outbreak is confirmed, animals within a radius of 10 km should be vaccinated.”-P T Sreenivas, Animal Disease Surveillance

“The owners may sell the dead animal without knowing the potential danger it poses; this is wrong. The animal has to be buried at a depth of 15 feet. All equipment used to carry the animal, like rope and logs, should also be buried and covered in lime to stop the spread of infection.”-Dr Gayathri, Animal Disease Surveillance

Back in Canada this is how the news media is warning residents: “Ruminants such as bison, cattle, sheep and goats, are highly susceptible, and horses can also be infected. While swine, birds and carnivores are more resistant to infection, farm dogs and cats should be kept away from carcasses.

The carcass of any animal suspected of having anthrax should not be moved or disturbed and should be protected from scavengers to ensure the spores from spreading.

Officials say anyone who suspects anthrax should contact their veterinarian immediately for diagnosis, which can only be confirmed by a lab test.

Producers should use caution when handling potentially infected animals or carcasses. While animal cases pose minimal risk to humans, people can get infected through direct contact with sick animals or carcasses.”-Global News

FedEx involved! Connecticut preps with “drive thru” ops! 

Business/Economics, Idaho

No “fairy tale ending” just an “Irish wake”! Texas college fires employees for revealing the truth? : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 09 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Despite obvious signs of a death spiral economy, the administrators of the Elk Grove Teen Center claim they’re shutting down because of a great economy!  News reports say 4-hundred poor teenagers take advantage of the program, but the administrators are now claiming they can’t justifiably stay open because those poor teenagers are no longer considered poor!? However, administrators also admitted that many of the poor teenagers that come to them for help are not part of the Elk Grove School District and therefore cannot be officially counted in their program!  After 31 years Video Journeys in Silver Lake shutdown:”…Video Journeys will not be getting a fairy-tale ending. The vibe in the place these days is akin to an Irish wake.”-The Hollywood Reporter

Florida: DS Services of America shutting down their Flowery Branch call center, an undisclosed number of people will be laid off as the company consolidates operations.  Local news reports said some employees knew back in April that they would lose their jobs, while others said it was a surprise.  After 70 years Fox’s Lounge (aka Fox’s Sharron Inn) shutting down, property speculators are tearing it down to build a hotel.

Georgia: In Valdosta, the Community Depot thrift store shutting down by the end of the month, blaming lack of community support (yeah, nobody has any money).

Hawaii: ObamaCare forcing the taxpayer funded Leahi Hospital and the taxpayer funded Maluhia Hospital to layoff 64 employees. Administrators said these layoffs, coupled with reducing the number of people seeking medical help, are their last resort in an attempt to prevent an all-out shutdown of the hospitals caused by drastic funding cuts: “We hope that the impacts for current patients will not be severe because we do hope that we will accomplish this by reducing new admissions.”-Linda Rosen, Hawaii Health Systems

Idaho: Liberty Publishers Service and Orbital Publishing have been banned from doing business in The Gem State.  The reason is that they are not ‘publishing’ companies but are debt collectors acting like magazine publishers!  They’ve operated under various names: Allied Publishers Services, Associated Publishers Network, Associated Publishers Services, Magazine Billing Network, Publishers Billing Association, Publishers Billing Exchange, Publishers Distribution Services, Publishers Periodical Services, Publishers Service Exchange and United Publishers Services.

Illinois: The Bunge North America grain elevator in Fulton shutting down by the end of the month: “Fulton requires a significant investment in its barge loading equipment to keep it operating effectively. It would not be cost effective to make the upgrade based on market conditions…”-Deb Seidel

Iowa: Berry Plastics continues its downward spiral, this time they’re shutting down their Iowa Falls factory, selling it to food producer Cargill.

New Jersey: 37 years old Park and Orchard restaurant sold off and will eventually be shutdown by new owner.

New York: Sterling National Bank issued layoff WARNs for at least 59 employees who will become jobless in October.  The Commerce restaurant shutdown due to legal battles with the landlord. Seafood restaurant Barchetta shutdown. The Whiskey Soda Lounge shutdown due to “the fact it never really caught on”.  Reports say Gameloft will shutdown their NYC office, 1-hundred jobs lost!  Company administrators refused to confirm, but did not deny the rumor.  In the Bronx, God refuses to stop ConEd from shutting down ‘his’ Greater Love Deliverance Center.  The pastor says that from May to June their utility bill went from $507.15 to $10,321.89!

North Carolina:  The Roanoke Rapids Staples store shutting down in August, it’s just par for the course with the Mitt Romney wunderkind : “As customers shift online, we are taking aggressive action to right-size our retail footprint.”  

Ohio: Texas based industrial pump maker National Oilwell Varco shutting down its Springfield ops, 150 jobs lost!  After 22 years the Duck Creek Antique Mall shutting down in August, 10 jobs lost and more than 1-hundred dealers affected, the owner blames the greedy landlord: “I felt the lease was too high. I love the land, but I’m not willing to put my own personal finances on the line.”-Ginger Dawson

Tennessee: In Hermitage, after 65 years Benson’s Market shutting down: “It’s just time that I got out of the business. It’s a tough business to be in right now.”-Richard Benson

Texas: Kilgore College contracting out their entire maintenance department, employees forced to retire early or be laid off, at least 40 jobs affected. Is it because maintenance employees went to state officials reporting that college administrators deliberately ordered violations of environmental laws?  Willacy County Judge Aurelio Guerra is warning of layoffs, position eliminations and benefit cuts due to the loss of $2.7-million in revenue caused by the shutdown of the county prison (which was caused by a prison uprising due to evil conditions).  The evil county is now relying on revenue loss insurance payments for money.  Hastings shutting down their College Station store, 30 jobs lost “due to store operating profit being less than required by management”.

Vermont: In Shelburne, Archie’s Grill shutdown, the owner sold out to Dunkin’ Donuts saying “It’s about me and my family, that’s what’s first.”

Virginia: Bristol based Alpha Coal (Alpha Natural Resources) revealed they are being sold-off and announced that in preparation 292 people will be laid off at coal mines in Kentucky and Virginia!  What construction industry recovery? In Shirlington, after 50 years ABC Distributors is shutting down their lumber yard by the end of summer: “It’s been a struggle, to be honest with you, in the last seven years to stay in business.”-Bernard Lynch

Washington: Joint Base Lewis McChord about to lose another 1,250 military personnel!  Since 2012, the Department of Defense has laid off 4,721 personnel from Joint Base Lewis McChord!  In West Seattle, Eats Market Café being shutdown by Westwood Village Mall management: “The mall management has decided not to renew my lease. This is a huge loss not just for me but for my wonderful staff and for all of you, my favorite customers. We have all become a family over the last 10 years and it truly breaks my heart to have to say goodbye.”-Toby Matasar

08 July 2015: “It’s out of our hands. We don’t call the shots.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

Business/Economics

“It’s out of our hands. We don’t call the shots.” Texas going the way of Greece? : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 08 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Los Angeles based clothier XXI Forever (aka Forever 21) shutting down their Powell and Market streets store by August.  Company administrators said the store is too big and too close to another XXI Forever store.

Connecticut: Missouri based Hallmark continues its death spiral, this time 570 people will become jobless as Hallmark shuts down their 63 years old Enfield distribution center by 2016!

Delaware: NYC based publisher Condé Nast laid off 30 people at its Wilmington Shared Services office. Half of the positions were eliminated outright while the other 15 went to contractors.  Local news reports said the publisher had no comment.  Pike Creek Coffee Roasterie announced that “Due to increasing health concerns of the owner, we are scaling back our business…”.

Hawaii: Krazy Karaoke shutting down by the end of the month, no thanks to the greedy landlord: “We were hoping to renew the lease, it didn’t work out….We’re really sad that we’re going to lose the location. It’s out of our hands. We don’t call the shots.”-Lynn Shiroma, co-owner

Illinois: In Glen Ellyn, after 50 years Katy’s Boutique shutdown, due to the owners third bout with cancer.  In Skokie, after 50 years Jack’s Restaurant shutdown, the property is being sold so the owner can retire.

Kansas: What housing market recovery? Mortgage company Service Link issued a layoff WARN for  53 employees at its Overland Park office.

Massachusetts: In Wayland, J.J. Mckay’s restaurant and Beyond Beans bakery shutdown.  After being charged with fraud and then laying off 25% of employees, Wellesley based Too Big to Jail F-Squared Investments now bankrupt busted and being sold off.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery?  “Due to loss of customer business and competitive pressures to consolidate our business operations, Visteon Corporation will permanently close our facility located at 915 East 32nd Street in Holland, Michigan.”  151 automotive engineers will become jobless by September!

New York: Too Big to Jail JP Morgan Chase is paying out an additional $125-million USD in fines to settle new state and federal charges of credit card fraud. JP Morgan Chase has already paid $389-million to settle previous accusations.

North Carolina: Trucking and warehousing company Schenker issued a layoff WARN for 33 employees in September. It’s directly connected to Proctor & Gamble’s consolidation of shipping ops.  After 150 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Raleigh’s Briggs Hardware shutdown.  No reason given, but supposedly the owners are opening a new store in a new location.

Tennessee: In Memphis, after 38 years Buckley’s Antiques shutdown.

Texas: The city of Houston warned of mass layoffs due to massive debt financing of public works.  Sounds like Greece.  City administrators are blaming ObamaCare increases in retirement funds for most of the skyrocketing costs of operations, and said state ‘lawmakers’ are not willing to help out.  A local TV (KPRC) news poll asked cash strapped Houstonians if they were willing to pay more taxes, more than 90% said no!

Vermont: In Williston, after 30 years children’s store Buttered Noodles shutdown.

Washington: As I’ve been warning, Redmond based Microsoft announced mass layoffs (again), this time 7-thousand 8-hundred people (mainly in Microsoft’s cell phone business) becoming jobless!

04 – 07 July 2015: “…we lost money every single month…”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

International

MERS: People getting sick long after quarantine ends!

08 July 2015 (00:41 UTC-07 Tango 01)/17 Tir 1394/21 Ramadan 1436/23 Gui-Wie 4713

In Republic of Korea (RoK) there are now 186 confirmed cases and 35 deaths. The majority of people getting sick still involve healthcare workers. However, it’s been determined that the latest case involves the wife of victim who died, and she didn’t show symptoms until 21 days after being exposed bringing into question the 14 day quarantine guideline for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. It should also be noted that RoK health administrators have decided not to declare an end to the outbreak until 28 days have gone by without any new cases.

The number of people considered free of infection now at 119, and the number of people under medical martial law lockdown vary between 811 and 907 (depending on which news report you read, the UN’s WHO says 674).  Supposedly the RoK government is now providing financial insurance for the hospitals infected with MERS.

In Thailand, the only case there is now considered cured.  The man came from Oman to have medical treatment for a heart condition, but it was discovered he was infected with MERS.  Three of his family members were also quarantined, but all are now allowed to return to Oman.

The Philippines reports a second case of MERS-coronavirus. Health administrators say the man arrived from a Middle East country (they refuse to name) and looks as if he’s already getting over the infection.  They determined that he was in his 14th day of MERS incubation when they tested him. The BBC says the man was flying to Philippines and had a stop-over in KSA back in the middle of June.

The first MERS victim in Philippines (for 2015) was a nurse who had returned from working in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).  In 2014 a nurse returning from United Arab Emirates tested positive for MERS even though she had no symptoms.

KSA is also reporting more cases.  As in RoK most of KSA’s new cases are taking place inside hospitals, or within family groups, except for the latest case which involves a man who supposedly had no contact with anybody infected, and came from outside KSA.

The UN’s World Health Organization reports that 487 people have died, globally, since the 2012 discovery of MERS.

Operation Jupiter: Anthrax! FedEx involved! 

Business/Economics, Idaho

“…we lost money every single month….Short of winning the lottery, we just can no longer afford to stay open.” More massive ObamaCare cuts! : U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 04 – 07 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: In Modesto, God refused to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ 32 years old Grace Lutheran School.  ‘Christian’ administrators admitted they were in so much debt that the current student enrollment couldn’t cover the church mortgage payments!  Los Angeles based American Apparel announced an undisclosed number of stores will be shutdown, and hundreds of employees laid off!  Administrators say they have to cut $30-million USD in costs, and they’re facing lawsuits from former executives. Costa Mesa based bankrupt busted home decor chain store Anna’s Linens announced all 2-hundred stores across the U.S. will shutdown!  In West Hollywood, after 41 years the French Quarter restaurant shutting down ‘officially’ for remodeling, but local news reports say the new owners might actually be tearing the whole thing down for some unknown construction project.

Connecticut: Major ObamaCare insurance provider Aetna has just announced $1-billion in cuts (jobs) between now and 2018! As I warned in earlier posts about insurance companies cornering the ObamaCare market by merging, it’s all connected to Aetna’s takeover of rival ObamaCare insurance provider Humana. Potentially thousands of jobs will be cut, and insurance rates will go up!  After 15 years The Stone House restaurant shutdown due to “Recently, we lost one of our dearest shareholders. This loss has affected some of us greatly, and between the hardships we suffered and this loss, the opportunity that was presented by the unsolicited offer came at a time when some of us needed to rethink our lives and priorities.”-Dolores and Jim Quinlivan, owners

Delaware: In Dover, after 14 years Bell, Book & Candle shutdown: “Like a lot of stores, we were hit by the financial downturn from 2007 to 2009 and never really recovered. Last year, we lost money every single month and that trend has continued this year. Short of winning the lottery, we just can no longer afford to stay open.”-Ivo Dominguez, co-owner

Georgia: In Columbus, after 20 years Millie’s International Market shutting down due to the owner’s health problems.

Idaho: The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis revealed that the net personal income for Idahoans in the 1st quarter of 2015 dropped by $500-million!  In Idaho the state ‘lawmakers’ have realized what idiots they are, especially after years of giving away hundreds of millions of tax dollars to lure foreign companies to Idaho, only to have most of them back out or fail, so now they’ve authorized the Department of Labor, and the Workforce Development Council, to offer a new “micro-grant” to train Idahoans for jobs within The Gem State.  However, the “community based teams” doing the training must be able to 100% match the funding, so good luck.    The Idaho Statesman has revealed that ObamaCare is actually raising healthcare prices in The Gem State through insurance and hospital mergers, which the healthcare system administrators claim is the only way they can survive the ObamaCare reimbursement cuts: “Size matters, and the objective of many hospitals and hospital systems is to get sufficiently big in a given geographic area so that you have leverage over the insurance company, because if you’re big enough, the insurance company needs your facilities in their network, because if they don’t have your facilities in their network, they can’t sell their product to the employers in town or the individuals in town.”– Paul Levy, a former hospital CEO

Illinois:  Taxpayer funded community action agencies and non-profit charities across the sorry-ass state began laying off 1-thousand 5-hundred employees due to drastic funding cuts! ‘Elected lawmakers’ basically said if you’re poor then go die!  What automotive industry recovery? Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar continues to eliminate jobs due to crashing sales, this time a total of 45 employees are being laid off at their Pontiac factory.  In Peoria, “After more than 30 years of creating ‘smiles made from scratch’ for central Illinois, our last day of operation will be July 11.”–Apple’s Bakery

Kansas: In Hiawatha, the Thriftway grocery store shutting down in the next three weeks.  Administrators blaming “competition is a big factor….We have had declining sales…”, at least 38 jobs lost. 

Kentucky: ObamaCare forced Nurses Registry and Home Health into chapter 11 bankruptcy.  Administrators say they are owed $1-million in Medicaid payments, about 65% of its average monthly revenue! 2-hundred jobs threatened, and 1,350 home healthcare patients affected!

Maine: After 22 years, the Biddeford Free Clinic shutting down in September, the operators say ever since ObamaCare went into effect the number of uninsured patients they see has crashed (they treat only uninsured people).   In Bath, after 57 years Gilmore’s Seafood shutdown, the owner forced to sell the property and blames the bad economy: “…it’s not been as good was it was in the late 80’s early 90’s….nowadays, it’s not the same. A two month gig in July and August, and the rest of the year isn’t that great.”-Ben Gilmore

Michigan: In Dearborn Heights, after 40 years Ken Baron’s Florist shutdown.

Missouri: Administrators with Mercy Springfield Communities directly blame ObamaCare for causing them to lose $30-million, thus forcing them to kill 127 healthcare jobs!  Administrators say the ObamaCare reimbursement cuts actually outpace the increase in their patient volume, meaning they’re doing more work for less money: “Continued implementation of cuts in the Affordable Care Act, cuts in Medicare reimbursement, a switch to value-based payments, and lack of Medicaid expansion in Missouri are among many reasons that the Springfield Communities will see at least $30 million less revenue in the coming year, despite taking care of more patients.”– Alan Scarrow, president

Montana: In Butte, God refuses to stop the shutdown of two churches; Trinity United Methodist Church and Mountain View United Methodist Church.  It’s blamed on the Rapture, I mean “severely dwindling congregations.”

New Mexico: In Santa Teresa, the state Public Education Commission shutdown the Health Sciences Academy after only one year of operations.  State administrators claim the school was being operated fraudulently.

New York: In Utica, ObamaCare forced Bosch Healthcare Systems to issue a shutdown WARN, at least 23 jobs lost in September. ObamaCare also forcing Fresenius Medical Care-Brooklyn Kidney Center to shutdown their Park Slope dialysis center, affecting 65 employees and 150 Medicaid and Medicare patients!  The dumb Medicare and Medicaid recipients are oblivious to the fact that ObamaCare is causing all these healthcare shutdowns. Also in Brooklyn, ObamaCare forcing medical supplies company GeriMedix to issue a shutdown WARN, 52 jobs lost in September.  In Canandaigua, Wade’s Market Center issued a shutdown WARN for September, 133 grocery jobs lost!   In Long Island, the state Department of Labor eliminating 2,540 jobs as the Nassau Coliseum shuts down!  Supposedly a new contractor is taking over and conducting massive remodeling work.  It’s unknown how many Coliseum employees will be hired back, renovations aren’t expected to be finished until December 2016.  After creating 40 jobs in the Rochester area, booze seller Constellation Brands laid off at least 11 people.  In NYC, clothier The Donna Karan Company issued a shutdown WARN for their corporate offices and their West 40th Street store, 133 jobs lost by January 2016!  Administrators say the bad economy is forcing them to “reorganize”.  In North Syracuse, hotel Ramada Syracuse issued a shutdown WARN for September, blaming the bad economy, 81 jobs lost.

North Carolina: The state Board of Education shutdown the Carrboro PACE Academy due to “persistent patterns of noncompliance, low academic performance, and potential financial issues.”

Ohio: In Lorain, the Erieview Motel shutdown, leaving dozens of long term residents homeless. City administrators ordered the motel torn down due to multiple health and safety code violations, and are so arrogant they said they were doing the residents a favor!  However, residents say the city council is not providing them with new living options!  Many of the residents are people who can’t meet traditional qualifications for renting apartments.

Pennsylvania: What automotive industry recovery?  In Somerset, tire retreading company McCarthy Tire Service shutting down, 38 jobs lost in August. Point Park University laid off 32 employees “in response to changing demands in the higher education market”, meaning crashing student enrollment (what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome, DSS).  In Reading, Giant Food Stores shutting down its Rockland Plaza store in August, 90 jobs lost.  Administrators say the crashing economy cannot support all their Reading area stores.  Clothing store Gap shutting down in the Wyoming Valley Mall, as part of plans to eliminate 175 stores across the U.S.

Rhode Island: After 39 years restaurant Rue de L’Espoir up for sale so the owner can retire.

South Carolina: After 94 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Morris Sokol Furniture Company shutdown.

Washington: Redmond based Microsoft has sold part of its bing mapping service to Uber, expect mass layoffs.   From July 2014 to June 2015 Microsoft eliminated at least 18-thousand jobs!  In Seattle, Cinema Books shutdown after 31 years of business.  The owner blames major construction across the street for blocking customer access: “I don’t have the financial resources to hold over many months of having a declining customer base.”-Stephanie Ogle

03 July 2015: “…as if the faucet had been turned off.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”

International, U.S.

Operation Jupiter: GAO finds systemic problems, another state hit with anthrax! FedEx involved! Connecticut preps with “drive thru” ops!

06 July 2015 (22:27 UTC-07 Tango 01, 05 July 2015)/14 Tir 1394/18 Ramadan 1436/21 Gui-Wie 4713

“The total number of states who have received samples is now up to 20, plus Washington DC. The newly added state is Mississippi….The investigation ordered by the deputy secretary is….wrapping up now.”-Colonel Steve Warren, U.S. Army

The GAO (Government Accountability Office) recently declared the U.S. Army’s Chemical Biological Defense Program (CBDP) at Dugway Proving Ground (aka West Desert facility, aka Ambient Breeze Tunnel), Utah, to be a total failure at preventing live bioweapons from being shipped across the World.  And when GAO inspectors questioned CBDP administrators about why they haven’t stopped it their response was “…that they were focused on higher priorities and had no CBDP Enterprise-wide impetus to address the infrastructure recommendations.”

But this isn’t the first time GAO inspectors questioned the CBDP.  As early as 1999 the GAO found “…ineffective coordination among the DoD [Department of Defense] and other federal agencies with chemical and biological programs…”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) inspectors found that some live anthrax samples were being shipped in nothing more than ziplock baggies!

So far 31 U.S. sillyvilians and government personnel have been treated for exposure to anthrax.  The states that were sent live anthrax bacteria are California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, plus Washington DC.

Since 2005 live anthrax has been shipped to Japan and Republic of Korea (RoK).  Labs in the British empire countries of Australia, Canada and United Kingdom have been sent live anthrax.

The Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union wants to sue the U.S. based delivery company FedEx, why?  Because it was FedEx, using Korean union members, that delivered the live anthrax samples to labs in RoK.  Of course the delivery personnel were not told that they were carrying live anthrax: “The company said all it did was just deliver parcels, and it did not know about the samples. But we believe there is greater possibility that the firm knew it, given FedEx is one of the major contractors of the Pentagon. The firm has not made an apology although it directly threatened the safety of Korean citizens and workers.”-Jung Chan-moo,  Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union

Union members also say they suspect that RoK’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport are involved as well.

Korean news sources say FedEx administrators refuse to answer their question about the anthrax shipments.

Back in the U.S., the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is warning of “higher than normal” wild anthrax infections in farm animals.

And in Connecticut, the town of Fairfield held an emergency anthrax drill.  The drill was conducted under the eyes of the CDC and involved a “drive thru” antibiotics distribution operation, in which emergency responders would hand out antibiotics to residents as they drove past.

Operation Jupiter: Ebola, Michigan & Illinois next? 

Anthrax hits North Dakota ranchers!

Operation jupiter: U.S. soldier found dead in Korea

 

 

International, U.S.

Operation Jupiter: Ebola, Michigan & Illinois next? Comes roaring back in USAFRICOM’s Liberia! Don’t eat your dog!

04 July 2015 (22:19 UTC-07 Tango 01, 03 July 2015)/12 Tir 1394/16 Ramadan 1436/19 Gui-Wie 4713

Just days after ebola cases jumped in Guinea and Sierra Leone, now the UN’s World Health Organization reports that health administrators in the former U.S. colony of Liberia are scrambling to contain a new ebola outbreak.

There are three confirmed cases (one of the infected died) and at least 2-hundred people are suspected of being in contact with the infected individuals.  In previous ebola outbreaks bats were the suspected source of the virus, but according to a report in the United Kingdom’s The Times news venue the three infected Liberians got sick after eating a dog.

In United Kingdom, a man who recently returned from west Africa is now in the Royal Liverpool Hospital being tested for diseases, including ebola, after becoming unexplainably sick at work.

It’s interesting that these new west African ebola outbreaks come right when the U.S. state of Michigan’s Special Pathogen Response Network just received $5.5-million USD from the U.S. CDC and HHS, specifically to prepare for an ebola outbreak!

Detroit Receiving Hospital in Detroit, Spectrum Health-Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, and Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor have been selected as ebola “tier-1 facilities”.

In the state of Illinois, news reports say Madison County is prepping for ebola.  County chairman Alan J. Dunstan said now was “A timely opportunity to call together key representatives from public health, healthcare and other front line partners to share current preparedness activities occurring in each discipline and ensure continued coordination of our efforts here in Madison County. It is the responsibility of Madison County officials, public health officials and healthcare providers to protect our residents as best we can, and we are attempting to do just that.”

If you’ve been following my Operation Jupiter reports you’d know that USAFRICOM began their version of JUPITR ATD, involving ebola, ‘officially’ at the end of 2014, a few months after the first outbreak began in west Africa: “…the BSP [Bio-Surveillance Portal] is now adapted to the Ebola portal and is being used by U.S. AFRICOM in West Africa…..It is also being used in…CENTCOM…..we haven’t really gone very public with that…. “-Peter Emanuel, U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center, December 2014

USAFRICOM = United States Africa Command

Mystery measles kills woman in United States!

Ebola comes roaring back in USAFRICOM’s West Africa! 

Jupiter, aka Jove, aka God

When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, an Ashen Horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Business/Economics

38% unemployment rate! “…as if the faucet had been turned off.” Paypal & ebay cuts off Greece! More VA shutdowns!: U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 03 July 2015

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: San Jose based electronic payment service Paypal has shutdown all Paypal users in Greece!  This means that people in Greece are not able to access their money in Paypal accounts. This also directly affects people trying to sell items on ebay!   Apparently this is because the Greek government has frozen all bank transfers to Paypal, and other e-payment services.  Speaking of Paypal, they just spent $890-million USD to buy rival Xoom.  Expect mass layoffs.

Connecticut: In New Haven, after 18 years the Bentara Malaysian restaurant shutdown.  The owner said business has crashed ever since customers were forced to start paying for parking.

Florida: Leon County’s Adult and Community Education service killed off by state ‘lawmakers’ who canceled funding, at least 15 jobs lost.

Illinois: State ‘lawmakers’ have yet to pass a new budget, and there’s already a victim; Northwester Illinois Center for Independent Living shutdown, affecting 3-hundred customers!  Northfield based insurance giant Allstate laid off an undisclosed number of IT employees, according to unnamed employees.  Allstate administrators confirmed by saying “As a result of a recent review, positions have been eliminated in some of Allstate’s technology areas.”  Local news reports revealed that while Allstate has been eliminating jobs in the U.S. they’ve been creating jobs elsewhere, like India.   Sears Holdings issued a WARN saying the Chicago Kmart 5033 North Elston Avenue is shutting down in August, at least 99 jobs lost.   We Clean Maintenance and Supplies has become the victim of the Obama regime, losing their contract with Chicago Public Schools which means 540 people becoming unemployed next month!  That’s on top of the 1-thousand 4-hundred school employees being let go!  Food service contractor Aramark issued a WARN saying they lost major contracts with New Trier School District, Wheaton School District and Edwards Hospital, at least 222 people already laid off!  Lincoln-Way High School District 210 warned it must shutdown one of its four schools, they’ll decide which one in the next 30 to 60 days.  Office Max issued a layoff WARN for their Ottawa operations, 108 jobs lost!  They gave no reason, probably connected to the merger.   The largest public employees union in the country, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is warning of massive layoffs at Eastern Illinois University that would affect more than just union workers: “Before they lay off any fulltime people, they have to get rid of all student workers in our departments. And they also have to get rid of all part-time temporary before they can actually lay any of us off.”-Derek Light

Indiana: What automotive industry recovery?  In New Albany, after 50 years Fink’s Motorcycle Parts Accessories & Leathers shutdown. Sharon Fink blames the Ohio River Bridges project which killed at least 50% of her business, saying it was “Maybe a month after the construction really started I noticed as if the faucet had been turned off.” 

Kentucky: The Letcher County Sheriff’s Department forced to layoff personnel due to budget cuts. Not only that but they won’t be open on weekends!  A county judge blames it on crashing tax revenues caused by the crashing coal industry: “The Fiscal Court can’t afford to supplement the Sheriff’s Office with extra money for double-retirement when 70% of the hard working coal miners in Letcher County have lost their jobs as a result of the War on Coal!”-Jim Ward,  Letcher County Judge Executive

Maine: In South Portland, after 60 years GM Pollack shutdown their last jewelry store.  The family run business was sold to employees in 2008, but the new owners were soon forced to shutdown stores blaming crashing sales.

Michigan: The downtown Flint Post Office shutting down when the lease expires at the end of the month.

New Mexico: More ObamaCare vampires as the United Blood Services, the only blood collection agency in the Land of Enchantment,  laid off an undisclosed number of people and announced they are now sending blood donations to Texas for processing.

New York: In Skaneateles, it’s been revealed that the new owners of medical device maker Welch Allyn, Hill-Rom, is shutting down factories and laying off hundreds of employees in consolidation operations.  More proof that mergers are bad for employees.

Ohio: State ‘lawmakers’ failed to pass a new budget and the first victim is the state’s own Division of Aeronautics which flies politicians around at taxpayer expense.  All flights have been grounded, except for emergencies.

Oregon: After 30 years Columbia River Music shutting down by the end of the month.

South Dakota: A VA hospital that once treated veterans of the War Between the States is being shutdown.  The Obama regime’s Veterans Affairs ‘ bean counters want to shutdown the Battle Mountain Sanitarium because they don’t think its remote location away from busy city life has any benefit to veterans seeking help!

Tennessee: Non-profit Rutherford County Family YMCA in Murfreesboro shutting down in August, due to crashing revenues.

Texas: Graham Newspapers, which operations ten companies in The Lone Star State, began layoffs under its new restructuring plan.

Washington: The Thunderbird Motel in Aberdeen voluntarily shutdown due to health code violations and public outcry.

Washington DC:  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in June 93.6 million unemployed/underemployed U.S. citizens quit looking for jobs, meaning they are no longer counted as unemployed!   On top of that, the number of U.S. citizens considered fully employed dropped to 62%, that effectively means that 38% of U.S. citizens are unofficially unemployed!  On top of that, in May the number of fully employed women dropped to a 27 years high, only 56% of women are fully employed!

02 July 2015: “We cannot succeed with ‘business as usual.’”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”