Tag Archives: food

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 26 – 31 August 2014: Afghan provinces are creations of the U.S.! Karzai ready to split! More Guard deployments as Congress cuts funding! More proof taxpayers being ripped off!

Farah Province: In Bala Bolok District, somebody beheaded a local religious leader.   Local news reports say Mujahideen assassinated the Imam because he was actually a spy for the pro-Obama government.   In Posht-e-Rod District, battles resulted in four local cops and one Mujahid killed.  In Posht-e-Koh District, government officials accuse Mujahideen of attacking a group of people who were traveling to Iran for work.  11 killed, four wounded.

Helmand Province: In Khanshin and Garamser districts, reports of large scale battles.  Government officials gave no details, other than claiming they’ve repelled the Mujahideen.    Mujahideen say they killed at least 19 government personnel as well as destroyed five armored vehicles.

Herat Province:  In separate incidents five women were killed.  Two killed by their husbands, two killed by unknown assassins and one killed by her brother-in-law.  In Ghorian District, an assassination attempt against a local politician left one person dead, but the politician escaped with his life.  Three people were also wounded, after the politician’s police escort vehicle was hit by an explosion.  In Obe District, five policeman have gone missing.  Local government officials say they were kidnapped by Mujahideen during an attack, however there is the strong possibility the cops switched sides and became Mujahideen.

Jawzjan Province: In Mardian District, a battle between Mujahideen and people bribed by the pro-Obama government left at least two people dead and the pro-Obama forces without food.

Kabul Province: In Sarubi District, reports that government helicopters attacked a village, killing four people.  In Kabul City, a high peace council committee member from Nuristan Province was assassinated while in the capital of Afghanistan.  He was shot while returning from a Mosque.  Thousands of votes from another 69 polling stations have been declared invalid in the “successful” elections.  Of course one of Obama’s puppets, Abdullah Abdullah, is again refusing to recognize the internationally observed vote recount.  The United Nations asked the other Obama puppet, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadai, to remove his election observers from the vote recount process.  UN officials said the Obama regime puppet candidates were actually interfering with the recount.  Even the Obama regime’s ambassador to Afghanistan admitted to CNN that both Obama regime puppet candidates committed election fraud.   So much for Obama’s “successful” elections and Afghanistan getting a new president by the end of August.  Despite the obvious failure of the elections, local news reports say out going president Hamid Karzai is all ready to get out-a-town: “The president has packed up already, days ago.  A lot of the furniture is staying as it belongs to the palace, but his personal belongings, everything and especially his books, which are very dear to him, are packed.”

Afghan news reports say the new U.S. general in charge of Afghanistan claims the United States isn’t  going anywhere, even though he is officially the last general to command ISAF.   U.S. Army General John Campbell has taken over from USMC General Joseph Dunford.  In an official ceremony held in Kabul Serena Hotel,  taxpayers from around the world were told they can be proud that they’ve paid for Afghanistan to switch over from analog broadcast radio-TV to digital broadcast!  An official with the Minister of Communications and Information Technology stated that an “unprecedented” $2.2-billion USD has been “invested” into the Afghan communications industry.

Kunar Province: More reports of Pakistani artillery strikes.

Laghman Province: In Badpakh District, reports that a village was hit by an airstrike, killing one man and wounding two other people.

Logar Province: In Pul-e-Alam City, a bomb exploded at the compound of the local Obama regime sponsored militia.  At least three cops and two civilians were killed.

Nangarhar Province: In Jalalabad City, Mujahideen attacked the  National Directorate of Security (NDS) compound.  At least eight people killed, 59 wounded.

Nuristan Province: In Du-Aab District, battles left at least 28 people dead, 13 wounded.  Government officials say many of those killed were militants from Pakistan.  However, Mujahideen say most of those killed were government personnel, claiming only one Mujahid was killed.

Paktika Province: The Border Police claim they’ve  captured 27 armed Pakistanis trying to infiltrate into Afghanistan.  Police say the Pakistanis were in a convoy of four vehicles and had radios as well.

There are many provinces in Afghanistan, but if you do the research you’ll discover that many weren’t officially established (internationally recognized) until after the U.S. invasion in 2001.  In other words they are artificial, and are one of the reasons why Mujahideen see their country as being occupied and controlled by the United States.

Interpol and Afghan police helped Iranian police capture a woman convicted of murder in Iran.  She somehow escaped to Afghanistan. Reports said Iran also turned over nine Afghans wanted for murder in Afghanistan.

Why are U.S. and international taxpayers forking over billions to help Afghanistan, when such help has been forthcoming since the 1990s through charities?  The Aga Khan Foundation revealed that Afghanistan has been getting hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in aid (mainly through India) ever since the Taliban government was established in 1994: “We have sent variety of technical support to our teams working in Afghanistan, and teams in Afghanistan including Afghanis have come and trained in India from our staff. For example, we have a support called Aga Khan World support program.  They are primarily based in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar and the work they do is natural resource management. Water shed management, check dams working with community organizations on how to govern water resources and another resources as well as agricultural work, things like rain water harvesting, safe water those kinds of things.”-Matt Reed,  Aga Khan Foundation

About 60 personnel from the National Guard’s Agricultural Development Team (Arkansas U.S.A.) deploying to Afghanistan.

At least 124 militiamen (that includes women) of the Army National Guard’s 105th Personnel Division and 252nd Military Police Company (Tennessee U.S.A.) deploying to Afghanistan.

Militia-airmen of the Air National Guard’s 179th Airlift Wing (Ohio U.S.A.) deploying to Afghanistan.  The deployment is called “involuntary tasking”.

According to news reports out of the U.S. state of Washington, the U.S. Congress is about to pass a funding bill that will kill one out of every five Washington National Guard jobs.  In fact the entire 66th Theater Aviation Command could be shutdown!  These cuts by the still warmongering U.S. Congress will affect all Guard units in all U.S. states: “What we object to, is that we are being taken down to a force structure level that we haven’t seen since before World War Two.  And we think that’s dangerous.”-Major General Bret Daugherty

The Iowa National Guard reports that the cuts proposed by the U.S. Congress would kill 650 jobs in the Hawkeye State!

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update 10 September 2014: Sears now officially considered Deep Junk! Public transportation kills California Kmart!

Sears Holdings’ stock has been downgraded to CC (aka Deep Junk) by Fitch Ratings: “The magnitude of Sears’ decline in profitability and lack of visibility to turn operations around remains a significant concern. EBITDA for Sears Holdings Corporation is expected to be negative $1 billion in 2014 and potentially worse in 2015, after turning negative $337 million in 2013……Fitch does not expect any catalysts in the business that will stem the rate of decline.

…..cash burn (prior to any working capital benefit) is expected to be around $2 billion or higher annually….

…the risk of restructuring is high…”

A California Kmart shutdown, apparently without notice, to make room for a new apartment-public park complex being built in anticipation of the new Hayward Park Caltrain station.  According to one local news report, the plan to turn the Kmart into a public transportation connected apartment complex, which will also include a public park, was originally to take place back in 2011.

Another Illinois Kmart shutting down in November.  Pharmacy customers will have their prescriptions transfered to a nearby Target. A local news report indicated that the lease on the property was still in effect.

$1-billion loss! No more employee healthcare?

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings since the end of 2011:

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

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost).

Delaware: Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost).

California: El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (more than 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart, Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost), Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost) recently revealed that Sears Holdings is still paying rent on the abandoned property, Laguna Hills Mall Sears, San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 jobs lost), Hemet Kmart (77 jobs lost), Oakland Sears repair center (75 jobs lost), recently revealed San Mateo Kmart (82 jobs lost to an apartment building connected to public transportation), Hesperia Kmart building sold at a loss to a vulture capitalist REIT, no word on if the Kmart will be shutdown. Customers complain that the Kmart employees have a bad attitude, gee I wonder why?

Colorado: Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost), Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40), Colorado Springs Kmart at Powers and Palmer Park boulevards (57 jobs lost), Fort Collins Sears (67 jobs lost).

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost).

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost).

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears going’ down in November (the remaining 28 jobs lost). Across the street, in Pocatello, the property where the Kmart is located has a “pad site available” sign, posted ever since the Kmart bankruptcy. The Kmart building takes up most of the “pad”.

Indiana: Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost).

Illinois: Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) recently revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), recently revealed Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost). 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa: Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!), Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart, Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost).

Louisiana: Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Sears (80 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears (115 jobs lost).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost), Oakdale Kmart (77 hourly wage employees losing their jobs, unknown how many salaried employees will become unemployed), Winona Kmart (67 jobs lost), Minneapolis city officials trying to shutdown profit making Nicollet Avenue Kmart, to make way for a new road!

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost), Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost), South Belt Kmart (64 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold).

Nebraska: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost).

Nevada: Sparks Kmart distribution center (100 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials, Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost).

New Jersey: Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost).

New York: Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost), Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost).

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard, London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost), Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 jobs lost), Anderson Township Kmart (71 jobs lost), Brooklyn Kmart (200 jobs lost), Columbus Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost). Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost), Sand Springs Kmart (52 jobs lost), Muskogee Sears (60 jobs lost).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost), both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two), Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin CoolSprings Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors.

Utah: Murray Sears (for some reason Mormon controlled news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they’re reporting that the building has just been demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported).

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Wincester Kmart (91 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost), Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost).

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

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

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

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

Florida: West Oaks Mall

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

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

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

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

Minnesota: Apache Mall (see update above, GGP will close Sears store by 2014)

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center (see update above, GGP closing store)

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 02 – 03 July 2014: “This would be a worst case scenario…” God can’t stop the bad economy! “…please continue to pray…” Military contractor admits U.S. forces inside Iran? More Obamacare job cuts!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Who said the internet is killing brick-n-mortar businesses?  In San Francisco, ebay owned internet movie-concert ticket seller StubHub! killed 100 jobs! Company officials refused to comment to local news sources.  In Orange, Children’s Hospital of Orange County killed another 89 jobs.  This is on top of the 61 layoffs in June and the 20 layoffs in May, for a grand total of 170 in three months!  Hospital officials say job layoffs are the only way they can deal with decreasing insurance payments caused by Obama Care.  In Petaluma, Massachusetts based Brooks Automation announced they’re shutting down in October, 89 jobs lost.

Colorado: In Loveland, the Family Tree Restaurant shutdown and the owners are pissed about the bad economy saying “We don’t have enough customers to pay our bills, so we’re closing our doors! ….it’s stupid…..We did our crying….”  Also, it was discovered that the Red Dragon restaurant shutdown in June, the property was sold off back in May.  Also, the Great Wall Chinese Buffet could be shutting down due to the fact the greedy property owner is trying to sell off the building.  However, the restaurant owner swears “We’re not going anywhere!”

Hawaii: In Waikiki, Capital One shutting down their 360 Cafe in August.  The property is owned by California based  American Commercial Equities and might have been sold off.  In Honolulu, after only five years Cake Couture shutdown, not surprising when they were charging $3.50 for a little cupcake.

Maryland: In Silver Springs, after 64 years Dale Music Company shutdown.  The co-owner blamed the bad economy and greedy property developers: “We have done what we can. It would be too expensive to move, and with Silver Spring redevelopment happening now, we decided it was best to close our doors.”-Carol Warden

Massachusetts: In Woburn, the Sea Dog Brew Pub now chapter 7 bankrupt busted, and shutdown without notice.

Michigan: Thomas M. Cooley Law School warned of major employee and program cuts, due to disappearing students.  They reported a 40% drop in enrollment from 2010 to 2013!

Missouri: Medicare reviewer Primaris warned of massive layoffs due to Obama Care, starting in August.  Company officials say the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act caused them to loose a $5-million USD contract!

New Mexico:  Los Alamos National Laboratory contractor and U.S. taxsucker and Mormon owned Energy Solutions killed 115 jobs!  Company officials swear it has nothing to due with the explosion at the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP).    By the way, back in 2005 Energy Solutions founder and LDS member, Steve Creamer, actually lobbied the state of Utah to ban nuclear ‘B’ and ‘C’ waste storage in the Beehive State!  Is that ironic or hypocritical?

New York: What automotive industry recovery?  Manhattan Ford Lincoln announced they’re shutting down in September, 245 jobs lost!  In Albany, RiverSource Life Insurance announced they’re shutting down and moving to Minnesota, 29 jobs lost.  Company officials blame the bad economy in the Empire State.  Also, Newkirk Products announced they are moving 76 jobs out-o-state in October.  In Bronx, IAC Acoustics announced they’re shutting down in November, 101 jobs lost!  In NYC, The New York Times reports that the Wall Street Journal killed up to 40 jobs.  Eastern Niagara Hospital laying off 60 healthcare workers.  Officials blame Obama Care for forcing them to consolidate ops with another hospital: “Healthcare is undergoing a very significant change. Hospitalizations are decreasing and work is shifting to outpatient care, so we are reacting to the shifts that are occurring.”-Clair Haar, CEO

North Carolina: In Raleigh, after 47 years the city’s first Dunkin’ Donuts shutdown.  The owners said their franchise agreement expired in December 2013, and they just can’t afford to renew it.

Ohio: In Tipp City, after two years of bragging that it was about to add 500 jobs, Process Equipment actually killed 70 jobs.  Back in 2012 the fabrication company was in trouble, so one of the partner-owners spent his own money buying the company in order to save it.  He thought he had some big contracts lined up so he announced he was about to buy new property and hire hundreds of new employees, but apparently that all fell through due to the bad economy.  Now Process Equipment is shutting down its equipment, gear and robotic welding services lines.  In Dayton, the Dayton Mall and the Mall at Fairfield Commons are both up for sale.  They are the biggest malls in the city.

Oregon: Texas based Berry Family of Nurseries announced they’re shutting down their Cornelius ops in September, at least 100 jobs lost!  Company officials blame it on crashing sales to their clients Lowe’s, Home Depot and Walmart.

Pennsylvania: New Obama Care medical device taxes forcing Johnson & Johnson to kill 400 jobs with its DePuy Synthes medical device subsidiary!  The Prince Music Theater told its landlord that it will not be able to pay its rent for October.  Theater officials also said that unless they can find a lot of money fast they’re out-o-business.

Tennessee: In Nashville, the Green Wagon “sustainable” products store shutting down their brick-n-mortar ops and going mobile.  They’re shifting to a Green Wagon ‘food type’ truck and internet site. Apparently they can’t afford the rent and utilities of a old school store.

Texas:  In San Angelo, Tennessee based SITEL (Systems International TELemarketing) announced as many as 348 people will be laid off, saying “This would be a worst case scenario…”!  The company lost a major contract, officials said they could not reveal who the contract was with.

Virginia: Snack maker Prime Choice Foods now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Company officials say the need a new ‘partner’ willing to make a big investment in order to survive bankruptcy.  In Roanoke County, taxsucking military contractor Exelis Night Vision and Communications Solutions killed 60 jobs.  Earlier this year the company laid off an undisclosed number of employees, and in the past three years they killed at least 800 jobs!  A local news report slipped up and reported that Exelis was supplying U.S. forces inside Iran: “Demand [for] the company’s night vision goggles and other products has dropped due to a reduction of U.S. forces in Iraq and Iran.”-WTOP 103.5 FM

Washington: In Redmond, after tens years award winning video game maker Airtight Games shutdown without notice. Earlier in the year 14 employees were laid off.  Company officials did not give a reason for their surprise shutdown, but did thank their fans.  God refused to stop Seattle based Mars Hill Church from killing jobs.  Officials with the mega-church blame the bad economy for a surprise crash in tithes: “…the budget crunch caught the executive elders by surprise and was related to a dramatic decline in attendance and giving…please continue to pray for the church as we navigate through a tough season.” 

Wisconsin: In Stevens Point, Copps and Roundy’s grocery distribution center shutting down in August, 196 jobs lost!  27 Roundy’s grocery stores were sold off to SuperValu.  The first Roundy’s was opened in 1872.

01 July 2014:  “30 minutes is a long time when you’re dying!” 

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 shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security…That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

U.S.

U.S. Civil War Chicago, 26 – 31 August 2014: Many “uncooperative” victims, and more stabbings!

Incomplete list:

4700 block of North Lawndale Avenue: 38 years old woman stabbed 22 times, and killed.  A witness says the attacker threatened his life if he told police. The cops called it a domestic violence case, an arrest has been made.

10900 block of South Racine Avenue: 34 years old man shot in the gut.  He was taken to a hospital where police said he was “uncooperative” with them.  Then, five hours after being shot he was declared dead!

5400 block of South Damen Avenue: Police found a 36 years old man shot to death.  Cops say they were responding to a 911 call.  Local news reports say at least 20 brass casings littered the scene of the shooting.

7400 block of North Ridge Boulevard: Two men shot.  One man died.

2600 West 65th Street: 28 years old man shot in the back and wounded.  He said the shooter stepped out of a vehicle before blasting him.

7900-block of South State Street: Conflicting reports.  A 36 years old man was stabbed in the face while riding a Chicago Transit Authority bus.  Initial news reports said two men were arguing before the knife attack.  However, later news reports say the attack was unprovoked.   Prosecutors now say the two men did not know each other.   A 55 years old man with a criminal record has been arrested for the attack.

8100 block of South Muskegon Avenue: 47 years old woman shot while she was sitting in a car.  She’s in critical condition.

4400 block of South Archer Avenue: 32 years old man shot in the arm while he was a passenger in a car.

10900 block of South Racine Avenue: 34 years old man shot and wounded, police say he won’t cooperate with them.

10000 block of South Avenue M: 26 years old man shot and wounded after people flashed gang signs and then started shooting at each other.

4600 block of West Van Buren Street: 32 years old man shot in the finger.

1800 block of South Throop Street: Two men standing on a sidewalk shot and wounded by drive-by-shooter.

9100 block of South Yates Boulevard: 23 years old man sitting on his porch when he was shot and wounded by drive-by-shooter in a black Sport Utility Vehicle.

1st block East 101st Street: 28 years old man standing on the sidewalk reported that he suddenly felt pain.  Turns out he was shot in the butt.  Apparently no ‘bang’ from any gunshot was heard.

300 block of West 66th Street: 29 years old man shot in the leg.

10000 block of South State Street: 24 years old man shot and wounded in the back and arm.

9500 block of South Oglesby Avenue: A 51 years old man shot and killed.  A 27 years old woman shot and wounded.  Police call it a domestic violence case, however, they don’t seem to know who shot the victims.  Apparently no arrests were made.

5700 block of South Keeler Avenue: 54 years old man shot in the leg.  Police suspect it was a drive-by-shooting.

1300 block of West Morse Avenue: A man and a woman shot and wounded.  They say they saw two men arguing in a park then suddenly there were gunshots, and they got hit.  The woman is in critical condition.

800 block of West 95th Street: 20 years old woman shot in the hand while she was a passenger in a car. The woman says the wimp ass male driver of the car jumped out and left her in the car, which was still driving down the street!  Police say the woman took control of the car but crashed into a bus, wounding the bus driver!

It’s interesting that the police seem to know how most shootings went down, even though they weren’t present and most victims refuse to “cooperate”. And yet, few arrests (except in the case of stabbings, there’s always arrests).

The majority of victims are male. Police continue to insist most of the gun violence is caused by gangbangers, but have made few arrests. That’s because police believe most of the victims are also gangbangers. Realize that police in metropolitan areas keep records of whose who in the local gangs, this how they know if a victim is a “documented gang member”. This also means police probably know who the assailants are. So why no arrests?

Once again, majority of shooting victims were not armed, it’s as if the shooters are deliberately targeting unarmed people. It also questions the police claims that the victims are gang members. Wouldn’t they be armed?

New anti-gun laws would not stop the shootings, because most guns used in Chicago shootings are already illegal!

Now here’s something interesting: Notice police claim most of the victims of the shootings are gangbangers, and realize that it’s the families of those victimized gangbangers demanding all out police state gun bans! Is that irony?

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security….That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013, calls Chicagoland his homie town

Chicago, 21 – 25 August 2014

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 01 July 2014: NASCAR killing jobs in favor of computers! More Obamacare killing hospitals, “30 minutes is a long time when you’re dying!”!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced it will shutdown 82 distribution centers beginning in January 2015, thousands of jobs lost!

The USPS Gateway Station (aka CSMPC) in Pocatello, Idaho, survived past shutdown threats but made the 2015 Phase 2 shutdown list, 50+ jobs lost.

It was leaked by insiders that National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) killed 20 jobs.  NASCAR officials refused to admit to the layoffs, but did admit they want to “modernize the company’s operations with technology”.   In other words, replace humans with computers.

The troubled Family Dollar store chain announced it will shutdown 30 stores in North Carolina and South Carolina, hundreds of jobs lost!  It’s part of the company’s plans to shutdown 370 stores across the U.S.!

Generation mPower nuclear power project has killed 100 jobs across several east coast states (at one point officials said 211 people would become unemployed)!  Generation mPower is a joint nuclear power project by Bechtel and Babcock & Wilcox.  In 2011 they got some state funding, but since then have been relying on private funding, which dried up at the end of 2013.  Efforts to sell a majority stake in the nuke op failed in February.    Bechtel and Babcock & Wilcox said they need a minimum $15-million per year to keep the project running.

Arkansas: Washington Regional Medical Center laid off 27 healthcare workers, directly blaming Obama Care.  Hospital officials blame the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for causing the hospital a loss of $8.75-million USD!

California: In Universal City, reports that movie studio DreamWorks killed as many as 50 jobs, with no warning.  In Palmdale, maker of hydraulic and fuel systems Crissair announced they’re shutting down in September, 170 jobs lost!  It’s part of their consolidations after their takeover of Canyon Engineering last year.

Colorado: Another crappy Old Navy clothing store shutting down, 75 jobs lost.  A Pueblo Jack in the Box restaurant shutdown, 50 jobs lost.  A sign said it was being replaced with a new “concept”.

Idaho: In Pocatello, the USPS Gateway Processing Center made the shutdown list for 2015, about 50 jobs lost.

Florida: In Miramar, marketing company Red Ventures shutting down in September, 255 jobs lost!  The company is consolidating ops into South Carolina.

Massachusetts:  In Foxborogh, after six years Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro now chapter 7 bankrupt and deceased.  The owners blame the suck ass economy: “The combination of a weak economy, high and persistent unemployment, and high staff turnover has led us to this difficult decision.” 

New Hampshire: Franklin Pierce University eliminated 12 positions. Earlier this year the university eliminated academic programs.

New York: In Rochester, Nick Tahou Hots restaurant shutdown.

North Carolina: In Durham,  Datrose Industries shutting down its Technical Response call center, 167 jobs lost!  They lost a major contract.  In Belhaven, Vidant Pungo Hospital shutdown without notice: “Closing this hospital means everybody takes another 30 minutes to get emergency help. 30 minutes is a long time when you’re dying!”-Adam O’Neal, mayor

Hospital officials point out they are building a new 24 hours clinic (which is more cost effective under Obama Care), and they also pointed out that city officials failed to take part in negotiations: “The Town’s recent accusations only serve to disguise the fact that it has failed to fulfill its obligations as outlined by the mediation agreement…… the lack of response made it apparent that the Town knew that it did not have a plan to take over hospital operations…….The mediation agreement clearly stated that the Town of Belhaven was required to work with Pantego Creek, LLC, for use of the hospital property. To our knowledge, the Town never contacted Pantego Creek prior to June 11.”

Texas: In Dallas (Oak Lawn), after 22 years Good Eats shutdown.  The owners blame the greedy property owner saying “our landlord has refused to renew our lease”.  In Austin, the Pour House Pub shutdown.  The property is being demolished for a big retail development.

Virginia:  Buchanan County Public School Board shutting down Russell Prater Elementary School.  It’s blamed on $2.1-million in debt.

28 – 30 June 2014: Massive auto parts store shutdown, despite massive taxpayer funding! 

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 shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security…That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

Business/Economics

Economic Martial Law U.S.A.: Federal Reserve admits their efforts to save the economy makes the rich richer, and everyone else poor!

06 September 2014 (15:55 UTC-07 Tango)/11 Dhu l-Qa’da 1435/15 Shahrivar 1393/13 Gui-You 4712

“Families at the bottom of the income distribution saw continued substantial declines in average real incomes between 2010 and 2013, continuing the trend observed between the 2007 and 2010 surveys.”-2013 Survey of Consumer Finances

Every three years the privately Jewish run U.S. central bank known as Federal Reserve releases data called Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF).  Their latest survey has them admitting that all their efforts to save the U.S. economy, since 2007, has only resulted in making the rich richer and everybody else poor.

The SCF says overall ‘mean (average) income’ went up 4%, but when you look at income using the ‘median’ method it actually dropped 5%.

The Federal Reserve calls making the rich richer “income concentration”.  This means the majority of money being made is going to a small elite, specifically to the top 10% of “families”:   “…all but the highest quintile saw declines in median income between 2010 and 2013, with second and third quintiles seeing the largest declines (7 percent and 6 percent, respectively).  Median income increased 2 percent for the top income decile.  Mean income declined strongly for the bottom two quintiles and barely budged for those between the 40th and 90th percentiles, whereas the mean income of the top decile increased 10 percent between 2010 and 2013.”

“Families in the middle to uppermiddle parts (between the 40th and 90th percentiles) of the income distribution saw little change in average real incomes between 2010 and 2013 and thus have failed to recover the losses experienced between 2007 and 2010.    Only families at the very top of the income distribution saw widespread income gains between 2010 and 2013, although mean and median incomes were still below 2007 levels.”

“Overall, between 2010 and 2013 there was little movement in median and mean net worth, as the median fell a modest 2 percent and the mean increased slightly…..families at the bottom of the income distribution saw continued substantial declines in real net worth between 2010 and 2013, while those in the top half saw, on average, modest gains.  Ownership rates of housing and businesses fell substantially between 2010 and 2013.   Retirement plan participation in 2013 continued on the downward trajectory observed between the 2007 and 2010 surveys for families in the bottom half of the income distribution.  Participation rebounded slightly for upper-middle income families, but it did not move back to the levels observed in 2007……decrease in stock ownership rates was most pronounced for the bottom half of the income distribution.  The decrease in ownership rates for housing and corporate equity holdings was concentrated in the bottom and upper-middle parts of the income distribution, though the decrease in business ownership was concentrated among higher-income families.”

The Federal Reserve has noted a new trend involving education; instead of seeing a high school diploma as increasing your income, it is now seen as reducing the amount of pay you might lose, compared to somebody with no high school diploma.  Apparently having a college degree is still the best way to attain income security: “The median income of households with a high school diploma or less fell between 6 and 9 percent, whereas the mean income of those without a high school diploma fell much more than that of those who graduated from high school (a 17 percent decline versus a 2 percent decline).  The median income of those with some college decreased 11 percent, whereas the median income of those with a college degree increased 1 percent.  Mean income for those with a college degree increased 5 percent.”

Overall, the net worth of the average U.S. citizen is down: “…the median net worth of all families fell a modest 2 percent…..mean net worth was effectively unchanged….the 2010 SCF showed dramatic decreases in median and mean net worth in the 2007–10 period….driven by the boom and bust in house and other asset prices. The bust, in particular, had a disproportionate effect on families in the middle of the net worth distribution, whose wealth portfolio is dominated by housing.

….Families with higher levels of usual income reported greater levels of net worth…..Median net worth decreased between 2010 and 2013 for most usual income groups, falling between 10 and 17 percent….Those in the lowest usual income quintile saw small decreases in median net worth (12 percent,….), but they also saw the largest proportional decrease in mean net worth (21 percent,….).  Households in the second and third quintile of usual income saw large declines in median net worth (10 percent and 17 percent, respectively),….The fourth income quintile was the only group that experienced increases in both median and mean net worth: 16 percent for median net worth and 14 percent for mean net worth.

Those without a high school diploma saw no change in median net worth between 2010 and 2013, but their mean net worth fell 9 percent. Those with high school diplomas or some college both saw 14 percent declines in median net worth; the former saw a 15 percent decline in mean net worth, while those with some college had 9 percent higher mean net worth in 2013.  Median net worth increased 5 percent for those with college degrees, while their mean net worth declined 2 percent.”

International

World War 3: South West Pacific Australia now “enhanced” partner of North Atlantic! All you happy taxpayers are the real targets!

05 September 2014 (17:24 UTC-07 Tango)/10 Dhu l-Qa’da 1435/14 Shahrivar 1393/12 Gui-You 4712

“NATO need to step up and start to communicate that this is a dangerous world. There is a purpose to this alliance. It is not just a hangover from the Cold War, just a club. This alliance has a purpose for a more dangerous world.”-Robin Niblett, British empire’s Royal Institute of International Affairs

There was a time when we were all told that NATO was for countries that bordered the northern area of the Atlantic Ocean, hence North Atlantic Treaty Organization.  But now there are many countries on the other side of the World who are special members.  Today the South West Pacific country of Australia just had its special membership upgraded to “enhanced”.

This is because United States led NATO officials are pissing themselves over their loss of control of their covert insurgant group now known as Islamic State,  and the never ending Tar Baby known as Afghanistan, as well as realizing they’ve pissed-off Mother Russia by trying to abscond with Ukraine!

Australia is not the only NATO wannabe having its pseudo-membership (officially called “NATO partners”) upgraded; Finland, Georgia, Jordan and Sweden are getting upgraded as well.

Australia’s first job as an “enhanced” partner is leading a NATO conference on what to do with Afghanistan (at the current NATO summit in police state Wales, British empire).

What it sounds like to me is that NATO has got so big it is going to split into at least three regions; one to handle Europe/Russia, one to handle Afghanistan/Asia and one to handle their renegade insurgent groups in the Middle East/North Africa.

Of course, the real issue being discussed at the current NATO summit in Wales, is how to get all you happy taxpayers to pay for this new ‘enhanced’ NATO?

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 21 – 25 August 2014: U.S. taxpayers spend $92-million on Afghan schools! Obama gives 200+ MRAPs away! Obama offers $30-million U.S. tax-dollars reward! Yet another taxpayer funded study says war is bad for you!

Helmand Province: In Greshk District, five cops were killed by a fellow cop turned Mujahideen.  The shooter got away with all their weapons and ammo.  Near Lashkargah City, a Kamikaze bomber blew up his car after police started shooting at him.  16 people wounded.

Kabul Province: In Kabul City, two explosions rock the 12th District. The first wounding three cops and one civilian, the second explosion wounded 11 Afghan National Army (ANA) troops and three civilians.  So much for all that high tech spy equipment U.S. taxpayers have been forced to pay for; the Obama regime is so frustrated that they’re now offering Afghans a $30-million USD reward for info that helps the U.S. capture Pakistani Mujahideen leaders (specifically Haqqani Network).  It’s being handled through John Kerry’s Department of failed State’s Rewards for Justice program.  The Obama regime also announced it is giving the ANA 212 MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambushed Protected) vehicles, at U.S. taxpayer expense.  On top of all those U.S. taxpayer funded giveaways, the terrorist group known as USAID has given $92-million to the Afghan Ministry of Higher Education for the University Support and Workforce Development Program (USWDP).  A program to help stop opium growing (funded by taxpayers in other countries) has resulted in a huge jump in saffron production in Afghanistan.  The Export Promotion Agency reports that Afghanistan exported $1-million worth of saffron just in the first three months of 2014!  Here’s an update on that supposed “successful” election that won’t die; votes from 72 polling stations have been thrown out!  How’s that for your precious ‘democracy’?

Kandahar Province: In Maruf District, local officials say Pakistani government forces tried crossing into Afghan territory.  Afghan forces and local villagers stopped the incursion, killing one Pakistani soldier and wounding five others.  Prior to that Pakistan lobbed artillery rounds into the district for three hours, killing at least one person and wounding several others.  In Behsud District, a Kamikaze bomber rammed his bomb-car into a NATO convoy.  Five NATO personnel wounded.

Kunar Province: Local officials claiming 114 artillery rounds from Pakistan impacted in Dangam and Sarkano districts, at least seven people wounded.  In Dangam District, a U.S. airstrike killed at least six people.  Afghan officials claim the victims were from Pakistan.

Kunduz Province: In Khanabad District, Afghan government forces bribed locals to attack Mujahideen.  It was part of a large scale military operation.  The result was at least 25 people killed, and hundreds of people now homeless.

Paktia Province: In Gardez City, a U.S. Army Sergeant from California was killed.  U.S. officials called it “non-hostile”, but there is an investigation.

Pakistan is accusing the U.S. created Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) of being behind the terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.

The Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, in the European country of Romania, is now the new Transit  Center for U.S. personnel and logistics heading to and from Afghanistan.  This comes after the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan was finally able to convince U.S. forces to leave their Manas airbase (aka Ganci airbase).  U.S. Air Force officials claim the new Romanian base will cost U.S. taxpayers a hard to believe 77% less than the one in Kyrgyzstan (or it could cost 100% less if we just get out of Afghanistan!).

The U.S. Veterans Affairs paid for yet another study which concluded that war is bad for you!  Time and time again, war after war after conflict after police action etc, these studies are done and they always end with the same conclusion: War is bad for you!  This time the study looked at 814 Minnesota National Guard personnel and veterans who served in the War on Terror.  The study concluded that the reason why most veterans are suffering psychological problems is because the acts of war directly oppose their moralistic upbringing as Christians, or as citizens of a country that espouses Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness!  This is what I call a No Shit Sherlock moment, however, it seems we have to constantly have senseless wars to remind us why we have such idealistic beliefs.  (Maybe humans are really inherently evil, and like the Man said in the movie A Few Good Men, “You can’t handle the truth!”)

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 28 – 30 June 2014: Massive auto parts store shutdown, despite massive taxpayer funding! More proof the internet is not killing brick-n-mortar stores! Global mining industry continues to crash!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona:  The U.S. Army is proposing to kill 2700 jobs at Fort Huachuca, due to crashing tax revenues caused by the suck ass economy!   Despite being home to a U.S. Marine Corps Air Station and a U.S. Army Proving Grounds, Yuma has the highest unemployment rate in the U.S. at 26.5%!

California:  Despite being a major agricultural center, El Centro has the second highest rate of unemployment in the U.S., at 21.1%!  In Brisbane, upscale snooty women’s clothing chain Bebe admitted they killed jobs with their stores across the U.S., but refused to say how many.  In Glendale, after 29 years Brand Bookshop shutdown.   In Mountain View, Symantec revealed they killed another 51 jobs back on 18 June.   For some reason they didn’t file their WARN until 30 June, and the state says they didn’t get it until 01 July.  In Modesto, cereal maker Post announced they’re shutting down in September, 58 jobs lost.

Florida: In Gainsville, after 56 years Central Florida Office Plus shutdown.  The owners blame local hospitals and government agencies for shifting their office supply purchases to the big box national chain stores.   After 47 years Crevasse’s Regency Florist shutdown.  After 28 years, Grandy’s restaurant announced they’re shutting down in August.

Illinois: In Quincy, after 134 years (surviving dozens of recessions and the Great Depression) Geo. Keller & Sons shutdown, 21 jobs lost.  Family owners said their sales have been crashing for too many years in a row.

Iowa: In Davenport, after years of taking over competing printing ops, and making public announcements proclaiming everything was wine-n-roses, after 40 years Brandt printing shutdown.  Reports said some employees would get lucky and be offered jobs with another company in Hiawatha.

Massachusetts: In Springfield, after 79 years (and surviving the Great Depression) The Student Prince Café & Fort Dining Room shutdown.  It was sold off.

Missouri:  Ironically the Republican controlled legislature passed a huge taxpayer funded spending bill despite the fact that tax revenues can’t support it.  Then, even more ironically, the Democrat governor vetoed the bill precisely because tax revenues are crashing!  Unfortunately (but realistically) this means massive layoffs of state government employees beginning in July.

Nevada: Gambling machine maker Bally Technologies killing 270 jobs!  Blame it on the company’s officials who spent $1.3-million USD taking over a rival gambling machine maker (International Game Technology, who also killed jobs).

New York: NYC based international internet marketing company Razorfish laid off at least 100 employees, many in Illinois and Georgia.  In Utica, after 17 years the Kniffin Center-Family Place shutting down in July.  In Batavia, after at least 69 years Flowers by Dick Burton shutdown.  The owners blame crashing sales.  Scotsman Media Group shutting down printing ops in Syracuse and Chenango Bridge, 90 jobs lost.  What housing market recovery?  REIT Management & Research announced they are shutting down some ops across New York, 28 property management jobs lost.   In New Hyde Park, the Stop & Shop Supermarket announced they’re shutting down in September, 162 jobs lost!

North Carolina: Phone service company MIG now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Apparently the U.S. based company doesn’t really provide cell phone service, they make their money off another company based in the Republic of Georgia (not the U.S. state of Georgia).  That company is called MagtiCom, and as a result of a legal dispute MIG has had all their expected $18.4-million in dividends from MagitCom suspended!   In Gastonia, after 40 years childcare center Belvedere Playhouse shutdown.

Oregon: In Forest Grove, Izgara Middle Eastern Cuisine shutdown.  The Jewish owners said they already bought their airline tickets to Florida.

Utah: Denmark based mining-cement engineering company FLSmidth & Co laid off 78 people in the Beehive State.  Company officials blame it on the across-the-board global crash in mining sales.

Virginia: In Natural Bridge, after 37 years the Wax Museum shutting down in September.  The area was sold to the State Parks, and they are not interested in operating the Civil War themed wax museum.   What automotive industry recovery?  Roanoke based Advanced Auto Parts announced they’re shutting down 100 stores across the U.S.!  And that’s just the beginning, officials calling it their “first round” of store closings!  Thousands of  jobs will be lost!  It’s the result of their takeover of rival Carquest-General Parts last year (company officials say there are just far too many auto parts stores in the U.S., and they need to be culled).   But wait, there’s more!  Advanced Auto was awarded $17.4-million in taxpayer incentives, if they created 600 new jobs in Virginia!  One news report said many of those ‘new’ jobs will actually be former Carquest employees simply re-hired by Advanced Auto.

26 – 27 June 2014: “…it’s time to bail out!”

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 shut down.

“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security…That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013

International

Martial Law EU 2014: First they ban guns, then incandescent light bulbs! Now vacuums! And soon lawn mowers, hair dryers, electric kettles & smart phones?

02 September 2014 (00:41 UTC-07 Tango)/07 Dhu l-Qa’da 1435/11 Shahrivar 1393/09 Gui-You 4712

The European Union (EU) recently ‘banned’ vacuum cleaners that use more than 1600 watts or fail to pick up a specified amount of dirt or emit too much dust, all in the name of saving the Earth and reducing the EU’s reliance on electricity.

The EU is also considering bans on electric lawn mowers, high wattage hair dryers, electric tea kettles and even your favorite smart phones!  These ‘bans’ could be approved in 2015.

These actions are being pushed by the EU’s Energy Commission, which is currently led by Germany (France takes the led in November): “All EU countries agree that energy efficiency is the most effective method to reduce energy consumption and dependence on imports and to improve the climate. Therefore there needs to be mandatory consumption limits for small electrical appliances.”-Günther Oettinger, EU energy commissioner

British news media reported that most ‘best’ rated vacuums use more than 1600 watts, and the new ban has resulted in people buying up what is left in the stores before the ban goes into effect.  Sales at the British Tesco chain store skyrocketed 94%!

Here’s something interesting: While the EU claims they are only trying to help the environment and the people of the EU with their vacuum cleaner ban, a British consumer group called Which? says it will have little effect on individual’s electricity bills.  Which? tested the cost of using a 2200 watt vacuum against a 1600 watt vacuum, the difference in the yearly electricity cost was only about $16 USD.

But how do you enforce a ‘ban’ on vacuums?   Turn’s out this could be a paper tiger, because the ‘ban’ relies totally on the honesty of vacuum cleaner makers!  You see, it’s a “self regulating” ban.    In other words it’s on the honor of the manufacturer to ‘label’ their vacuums as being in compliance with the new EU “ecodesign and labelling regulations”.