Tag Archives: health

Technology

Go to the Light! Total Recall! Scientists restore lost memories with light!

29 May 2015 (00:57 UTC-07 Tango 01)/08 Kordad 1394/10 Sha’ban 1436/12 Xin Si (4th month) 4713

“If you test memory recall with natural recall triggers in an anisomycin-treated animal, it will be amnesiac, you cannot induce memory recall. But if you go directly to the putative engram-bearing cells and activate them with light, you can restore the memory, despite the fact that there has been no LTP.”-Susumu Tonegawa, MIT

Researchers with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)  claim they can restore lost memories using light.  At this point it involves mice suffering from amnesia only.

The process involves proteins, engram cells and optogenetic tools.  Susumu Tonegawa says “We are proposing a new concept, in which there is an engram cell ensemble pathway, or circuit, for each memory. This circuit encompasses multiple brain areas and the engram cell ensembles in these areas are connected specifically for a particular memory.”

The research was published in the journal Science. 

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 06 – 07 May 2015: ObamaCare vampires draining blood supply! Art Institute no more!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: Birmingham based 28 years old Simply Fashion and Dots clothing chain now dead, 243 stores across the U.S. to be sold-off or shutdown!

California:  After 100 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) Dick’s Menswear shutdown in Fresno.  Apparently the new Albertsons-Safeway is shutting down three Vons grocery stores in Fresno (one more than earlier reported) because they’ve issued three WARNs for July, totaling 2-hundred jobs lost!  In Duarte, Kroger announced they will shutdown their Ralph’s grocery store on Huntington Drive, in July, about 50 jobs lost. Kroger administrators claim the store has “failed to perform” for years.   In Elk Grove, Obama Care forcing Sutter Medical Foundation to issue a WARN saying 17 people will be laid off in July. In West Sacramento, Greatwide Distribution Logistics issued a WARN saying 71 people will be laid off in July.  In San Francisco and Santa Clara, social media gaming company Zynga suddenly laid off 180 people, then announced that a total of 364 people will become jobless by the end of the year!  Company administrators say they need to cut $45-million USD per year, due to crashing sales.    In San Jose, Cypress Semiconductor finally issued a WARN revealing they killed off 51 jobs back in January!

Connecticut: In Milford, Uno Pizzeria and Grill shutdown without warning.

Florida: Military themed Acclaim Academy shutdown without warning.  Various school district administrators said they were told by the owner of the military charter schools that there was no more money. Thousands of families now struggling to find schools for their children.   Obama Care being directly blamed for the of 46 jobs lost with non-profit OneBlood blood collection service: “More stringent transfusion protocols, advances in medical science and Health Care Reform continue to impact how the blood supply is managed.”-Forbes

Illinois:  What automotive industry recovery?  In Quincy, tire maker Titan International announced they must kill 60 jobs due to volatile currency markets and crashing sales to the farmer’s markets: “North America large agriculture is down approximately 35 percent, and we believe it will remain that way for the balance of 2015…..Titan’s first quarter sales were below our internal plan, but well over half of the decrease was due to currency impacts from Europe, South America, Russia and Australia.”

Indiana: What construction industry recovery?  After 100 years, the company that provided the doors for the Twin Towers (NYC Trade Center, bombed in 9/11), International Revolving Door Company, shutdown!   Company administrators say orders for doors had crashed to only 22 in the past year!

Louisiana: In Port Allen, First Student lost its school bus contract, 72 people to become jobless in June.  Company administrators say the loss of contract was “sudden” and “unforeseen”.  In Fort Polk, tax-sucker Northrop Grumman issued a WARN saying 426 people will become unemployed between June and July, unless Northrop Grumman can renew their contract.  Evil for profit prison contractor CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) issued a WARN saying 252 privatized Winn Prison employees will be laid off in July!  Just like Idaho, Louisiana refuses to renew the contract with evil CCA.  (CCA abandons prisoners in Idaho prison! CCA says Idaho officials just as evil!) (Evil CCA has lost their contract with Ohio)

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery?  In Holland, automotive parts supplier Visteon shutting down and consolidating ops to Detroit, 240 jobs affected!

Missouri: What construction industry recovery?  In Springfield, HVAC maker Mammoth announced it will shutdown in December,  2-hundred jobs lost!  Local news reports said the shutdown would also affect another 2-hundred support jobs outside the company! It sounds like the company is joining dozens of other companies and consolidating operations into fewer factories, a sure sign there is no recovery.

New Jersey: The World’s largest pet drug supply company, New Jersey based Zoetis’s (spun-off from Pfizer), announced it is shutting down or selling off ten drugs factories, and eliminating 2-thousand 5-hundred jobs across the United States!   This comes even as the company is spending big bucks expanding operations in Nebraska.  The shutdowns and layoffs are being blamed on stockholders who are demanding the company ‘right-size’.  In Hazlet, Jam Apparel shutdown.  The owner said her rent was jacked up and she didn’t have the money to pay it.

New York: In East Syracuse, “global diversified technology and industrial leader” Johnson Controls issued a shutdown WARN for their Operations and Maintenance unit in July, at least 39 jobs lost.  In NYC, Northern Leasing Systems issued a shutdown WARN for July, 29 jobs lost. The company is joining the exodus from The Big Apple, moving ops to Albany and Jersey City.  In Hicksville, Land O’Lakes issued a layoff WARN for August, saying 32 food distribution jobs will go away as the dairy company consolidates operations due to the bad economy.  In Westbury, tax-sucker Raytheon issued a shutdown WARN for their Air Traffic Control training ops in July, 33 jobs lost due to loss of contract.  In Amityville, NBTY is getting outta the food supplement business, and outta New York.  They issued a WARN saying they’re transferring the operations to a California company between July and October, 214 jobs lost!

Ohio: In Mansfield, God refuses to stop the shutdown of Saint  Peter’s Child Care Center in June.  Church administrators say “The Child Center’s operational losses have been substantial, with a projected shortfall this year in excess of $50,000. These factors make it impossible for St. Peter’s to continue offering this service to our community.”

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh based for-profit Education Management Corporation is shutting down at least 15 of its Art Institute college campuses over the next two years!  Education Management Corporation is one of several for-profit schools under investigation by U.S. Department of Education.

Tennessee: Call center operator Conduit Global announced it will eliminate 592 jobs in Cordova, starting in July!   Administrators blame “an unforeseen loss of business”.   Some of the employees being let go were hired last month.  Last year the company promised to bring 1-thousand jobs to the area in exchange for $2-million in tax breaks.  Now only 70 jobs will remain.

Texas: The oil industry meltdown affecting the planned $7.6-billion deal involving Germany based Siemans taking over Houston based Dresser-Rand.  The European Union is also reviewing the takeover bid.  What will happen to Dresser-Rand if the sale fails?  By the way, Siemens announced it is eliminating 4-thousand 5-hundred jobs around the World! (so what would happen if the sale is approved?)

03 – 05 May 2015: “it has become impossible for us to compete”

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.”

U.S.

World War 3: U.S. conducts biological warfare on itself? Mormon Utah spreads Anthrax to 9 states! Part of war games currently underway?

28 May 2015 (03:52 UTC-07 Tango 01)/07 Kordad 1394/09 Sha’ban 1436/11 Xin Si (4th month) 4713

“Emergency response personnel from the 51st Fighter Wing responded and destroyed the sample located in a self-contained contingency facility at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, after it was discovered the bacteria might not be an inert training sample as expected.

Hazardous material teams immediately cordoned off the facility, decontaminated it under Centers for Disease Control protocol, and destroyed the agent.

Twenty-two personnel may have been exposed during the training event and all personnel were provided appropriate medical precautionary measures to include examinations, antibiotics and in some instances, vaccinations.”–USAF statement from Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea (south Korea) 

The Obama regime’s Dugway Proving Ground, in Utah, has spread live deadly weaponized anthrax bacteria to at least nine U.S. states, and a U.S. Air Force base in Korea (south)!

It was first revealed by U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) employees in Maryland on 22 May 2015, but is only now being made public.   The weaponized Bacillus anthracis was also spread to Texas, Wisconsin, Delaware, New Jersey, Tennessee, New York, California and Virginia.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with the DoD to try and contain the contagion.

News reports out of Asia say at least four people in the U.S. are under medical care, although U.S. administrators deny it.  The Asian news sources say it was an unnammed U.S. government employee who said four people were under medical care as a precaution.

The anthrax was shipped out to be used in U.S. war games currently underway, but it was supposed to be ‘dead’ anthrax to be used to test biological warfare detection equipment.  Instead Dugway Proving Ground sent out ‘live’ anthrax.  Dugway Proving Ground has a history of chemical and biological weapons releases, supposedly accidentally.

Federal court rules NSA data spying to be illegal

Utah militiamen spreading Mormonism in Afghanistan? 

Utah company denies ‘green’ cat litter caused explosion at WIPP, then fires 115 employees! 

Utah training National Guard to spy on you using LLVI! 

Utah home to massive military intelligence wargames aimed at you?

Money laundering or drug running by Bank of Utah, maybe CIA ops? 

Obama regime moves to join Mormon dominated Utah and ban wood burning stoves! PM2.5 is bullshit!

World’s largest data collection spy center system in Utah!

Main stream media now reporting new strain, after I already did! Utah ground zero in United States! 

Utah reports flu not covered by vaccines!

H3N2: First child case in U.S. state of Utah.

Utah health worker releases private info, 800,000 people affected 

 

Business/Economics

U.S. Food Crisis 27 May 2015: Starving man steals food using tazer! Albertsons Safeway shuts down Tom Thumb stores!

In Eureka, California, a man stealing food used a tazer to rip off a Safeway grocery store.  A store employee tried to stop the food robber when he saw the man leaving without paying for the food. But the man, who was obviously hungry as he didn’t try to steal any cash, pulled a tazer on the store employee.  Later on, law enforcers found and arrested the man on charges of Armed Robbery.

Albertsons-Safeway owned Tom Thumbs grocery store in Arlington, Texas, will be shutdown in June.  The pharmacy is being shuttered by the end of the week.  As with other recent shutdowns, Albertsons-Safeway claims nobody is going to get laid off!

The shutdown comes after Albertsons-Safeway announced plans to build a new Tom Thumbs store as part of a $200-million USD retail project in Dallas.  That’s the real reason for the Arlington shutdown, and the new trend in retail America; if you’re going to build a new store you’ve got to shutdown an old one, or two, or more.  (so the net result of job creation will be zero, or even negative)

U.S. Food Crisis 25 May 2015: Albertsons Safeway claims nobody will get hurt!

Updated list:

Manitoba, Canada: Sobeys-Safeway announced it will shutdown it’s King Edward Street warehouse by 2016, at least 172 jobs lost!

Arizona, U.S.A.: Peoria Safeway and Claypool Safeway will shutdown in June, at least 94 jobs affected. The following grocery stores will become Haggen; Anthem Safeway, two Tucson Safeways, Tucson Albertsons, two Scottsdale Albertsons, Flagstaff Albertsons, Prescott Valley Albertsons. In Lake Havasu, three Safeway and seven Albertsons are being switched over to Haggen.

California, U.S.A.: The new Albertsons-Safeway issued more layoff WARNs saying another 21 Safeway employees will be laid off in June. Two Albertsons-Safeway owned Vons stores will shutdown in Fresno, by June, 127 jobs lost! Albertsons-Safeway laid off 129 people from their Pleasanton HQ in April. Albertsons-Safeway issued a WARN saying another 188 layoffs are scheduled for the Pleasanton by the end of May! Albertsons-Vons announced it will shutdown its Riverside La Sierra Plaza Vons and two Bakersfield Vons in May, because they are “not meeting company goals.” Arcadia Vons Pavillions SuperStore shutdown on 18 March 2015, at least 168 jobs lost! The 32 years old Hemet Vons shutdown on 28 December 2014, at least 55 jobs lost. Company administrators claimed it had nothing to do with the hostile takeover by Cerberus. Marina Del Ray Albertsons, shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 80 jobs lost. Pleasanton Safeway HQ laid off at least 26 people in February 2015. In Pleasonton, Safeway laid off an additional 18 HQ employees in March. A San Diego Albertsons shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 63 jobs lost. The following additional grocery stores will become Haggen; Vons in Palm Desert, Pavillions in Rancho Mirage, two Santa Barbara Albertsons, two Goleta Vons, Lompoc Albertsons, Paso Robles Vons, Arroyo Grande Albertsons, San Louis Obispo Albertsons, Atascadero Albertsons, Los Osos Vons, Palmdale Albertsons, three Bakersfield Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), two Simi Valley Albertsons, Simi Valley Vons, Oxnard Albertsons, Carpinteria Vons, Camarillo Albertsons, Ventura albertsons, Yorba Linda Albertsons, two Tustin Vons, Mission Viejo Vons, Mission Viejo Albertsons, Trabuco Canyon Albertsons, Laguna Beach Albertsons, Laguna Niguel Vons, Corona Del Mar Albertsons, Irvine (Vons) Pavillions, eight San Diego Albertsons (don’t be surprised if several are closed), San Yisidro Albertsons, Rancho Bernardo Albertsons, Coronado Albertsons, San Marcos Vons, two El Cajon Vons, Santee Albertsons, Poway Albertsons, Del Mar Albertsons, two Carlsbad Albertsons, two La Mesa Vons, three Chula Vista Vons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), Upland Albertsons, Diamond Bar Vons, Rancho Cucamonga Albertsons, Chino Hills Vons, Burbank Albertsons, Woodland Hills Vons, Westlake Village Albertsons, Thousand Oaks Albertsons, Santa Clarita (Vons) Pavillions, Saugus Vons, Newbury Park Vons, Tujunga Albertsons, Long Beach Albertsons, two San Pedro Albertsons, Lomita Albertsons, Torrance Albertsons, Santa Monica Albertsons, three Redondo Beach Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), two Los Angeles Albertsons.

Colorado, U.S.A.: Redlands Safeway, Castle Rock Safeway, Thornton Safeway, Westminster Safeway, three Aurora Safeways, Littleton Safeway, Denver Safeway and Centennial Safeway, hundreds of jobs lost by June! Colorado Springs Albertsons shutdown in March. Cerberus administrators say it has nothing to do with their takeover of Safeway-Vons: “That store basically has not been profitable for quite some time, despite the best efforts of our company and associates there and the location…..That’s why we’re closing it.”

Florida, U.S.A.: Albertsons issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Clearwater store in May, 86 jobs lost.

Hawaii, U.S.A.: Drugs pusher Walgreens canceled plans to open a pharmacy in the Kauai Safeway: “As part of this process, Walgreens did a comprehensive financial reassessment of its plans to open a new store in Lihue on Kauai, and have concluded that it is not in the company’s best interests to move forward with opening a store in that location.”

Illinois: The Jewel-Osco HQ in Itasca was sold for $23.7-million. A local news report implied it was the result of the hostile takeover of Safeway by Albertsons.

Nevada, U.S.A.: The following grocery stores will become Haggen; Boulder City Vons, three Henderson Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), three Las Vegas Vons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed).

Oregon, U.S.A.: In Lake Oswego, Albertsons taken over by Haggen. Cerberus administrators made the exact same claim as in their Colorado Springs shutdown saying “The store has not been profitable for quite some time.” This is interesting because according to local news reports there are only two grocery stores in the city! In Lake Grove, the Albertsons being switch over to Haggen. Safeway shutting down their Clackamas regional office, 91 jobs lost by March. Safeway in Ashland, two in Klamath Falls and one in Springfield to become Haggen. Albertsons in Baker, Beaver, two in Bend, one in Clackamas, two in Eugene and in Grants Pass, one in Keizer, Milwaukee, Sherwood, West Linn and two in Tigard.

Texas, U.S.A.: Arlington Tom Thumbs shutting down in June, at least 45 jobs affected.  In East Dallas, an Albertsons was renamed Minyard Sun Fresh Market. Reports said the grand opening was delayed due to problems switching over the cash register system. A second East Dallas Alberstons became Minyard Sun Fresh Market on 16 February. Only one of the three East Dallas Albertsons will remain Albertsons. One store manager said the changes are a direct result of the takeover of Safeway. Interestingly I found a report that said Cerberus swore there would be no name changes after the takeover of Safeway, but they failed to explain the sale of 12 stores to RLS Supermarkets (apparently the result of a court order). The Tom Thumb grocery stores in Bedford and Grapevine converting to Minyard Sun Fresh Market.

Washington, U.S.A.: The Safeway in Spokane Valley shutdown in March, 60 jobs lost. Company administrators said it was not due to the takeover by Cerberus controlled Albertsons, but that the lease expired and it wasn’t worth renewing it. In Kirkland, reports that Goodwill thrift store is taking over the now vacant Albertsons store. Haggen took control of the Monroe Albertsons. Safeway becoming Haggen in Gig Harbor and Tacoma beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Olympia, Puyallup, Tacoma and Lakewood beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Federal Way and Milton by June. Albertsons in Port Angeles, Wenatchee and Shoreline becoming Haggen in February. Albertsons in Redmond, Walla Walla, Snohomish, Silverdale, Burien, becoming Haggen in March. Albertsons in Seattle, another one in Burien, Renton, Bremerton and Milton becoming Haggen in June. Shoreline Safeway becomeing Haggen in February. Safeway in Everett, Renton, Oak Harbor and Port Orchard in March. Liberty Lake Safeway becomes Haggen in June.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 03 – 05 May 2015: “it has become impossible for us to compete” ObamaCare kills Catholic Charities in New York? Why are Iron Ore mining companies shutting down?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: What automotive industry recovery?  Illinois based automotive parts maker Flex-N-Gate says it must layoff 97 people at their McCalla factory in May.  Local news reports say Flex-N-Gate administrators wouldn’t talk to them.

California:   Is Obama Care forcing the Fireman’s Fund Insurnace Company to kill jobs?  They issued a WARN saying they will layoff employees in July.  Obama Care forcing God’s Hollywood Presbyterian Medical to issue a WARN saying 87 people will be laid off in July.  In Santa Maria, Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples shutdown their Superstore in the Crossroads Shopping Center. Employees said they were given a two weeks notice.  Also in Santa Maria, Coco’s Bakery Restaurant shutdown due to being sold to a competitor. The employees discovered that management threw all the employee data into a dumpster (instead of destroying the data) on the same day they were laid off: “To give everything that you have and just like that, they treat you like a piece of trash that’s it, go, you know, it feels bad.”-Elvia Calderon

Colorado: God refused to stop his Colorado Springs based non-profit poverty fighter Compassion International from laying off 48 Christians.  Despite increased donations, company administrators say volatile currency prices are making it harder to pay for expenses in the various countries they work in.

Florida: In Ormond, Zenith Education Group announced they will layoff 18 people in June.  In Cantonment, Marianna Airmotive announced that 80 people will become jobless in May.  Obama Care forcing The Manors at Hobe Sound to issue a WARN saying 164 healthcare and social workers will become unemployed in August!

Georgia: Atlanta based global payment processing company First Data announced it will eliminate “a few thousand” jobs and shutdown their smaller offices this year!  Some of the U.S. job cuts will be the result of ‘offshoring’ of those jobs to other countries.  Administrators didn’t explain why, but said that despite increased revenues they need to cut $200-million USD in operating costs per year.

Hawaii: The Lawai Menehune Food Mart shutdown. The owner said he couldn’t renew the lease.

Illinois: Chicago based maker of video game devices and electronic slot machines WMS Gaming issued a WARN saying 247 people will become jobless in June!  It’s the result of the merger of Scientific Games and Bally Technologies.  WMS Games was taken over by Scientific Games in 2013.

Massachusetts: In the state of Boston Weak, after nearly 50 years the owner of Taunton’s Benjamin restaurant went chapter 7 bankrupt busted and laid off 1-hundred employees without warning! It sounds like it was caused by a family feud that ended up in court. The property is now for sale.

Michigan: Midland based Dow Chemical announced they will kill-off 1,750 jobs!  Administrators said they need to cut $300-million in costs per year, but also admitted it was all about increasing their profits.  In Kalamazoo, after five years women’s clothing store Cakes Boutique shutdown.  Local news reports said the shop was empty even though signs on the store said they’d remain open for that week.

Minnesota: H5N2 causes Jennie-O Turkey to layoff 233 people at its poultry processing factory in Faribault!  After laying off employees in April, Grand Rapids based iron ore mining and recovery company Magnetation now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Creditors agreed to give Magnetation until 2018 to pay-up.

Nevada: In Reno, Scolari’s Food & Drug announced they will shutdown their Sharlands Avenue East store in June: “We have struggled at this location since it opened because of the downturn…..because of the economics of our lease…..” 

New Jersey: Administrators of failing Atlantic City announced that at least 2-hundred city employees will have to be laid off.  It’s due to the crashing & burning casino industry, which provided the overwhelming majority of tax revenues for the city.  Woodbridge based tech company RCC Consultants now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  The company is so broke they admitted they haven’t paid their employees: “As of the petition date, employees are owed approximately $1.3 million (consisting of 4½ missed payrolls). Officers, performing as employees, are owed approximately $1 million (consisting of 10 missed payrolls), and have not been reimbursed for business expenses totaling approximately $250,000.”-Mike Hunter, CEO

New York: In Buffalo, steel bar maker Niagara LaSalle issued a WARN saying they are shutting down at the end of July, 49 jobs lost.  In Melville, Arrow Electronics announced their exodus from The Empire State by issuing a WARN saying they are moving to Colorado between June 2015 and March 2017, taking 135 jobs with them!  God can’t stop Obama Care from forcing Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services to issue a mass layoff WARN saying they are canceling funding for all Residences and Day Habilitation operations across the state!  At least 719 jobs lost by August!  In Rockaway Beach, Visiting Nurse Service of New York Home Care announced it is forced to hand over their Headstart Program to another operator in July, 48 jobs affected.

North Carolina: In Shelby, Fireside Books shutdown: “… it has become impossible for us to compete with the many shopping choices online as well as the big box stores pricing…” 

Ohio: Iron ore mining company Cliffs Natural Resources announced it is eliminating 1-hundred non-union jobs! News reports said company administrators claim they must cut operating costs, but refused to explain why.

Texas: In Stephenville, FMC Technologies announced a third round of layoffs, this time 46 people are being let go due to “continued decrease in activity from our customers”.  In March 79 people were laid off, and 5% of employees were laid off in January.  FMC administrators say it’s part of their plans to eliminate 2-thousand jobs across the U.S.A.!  San Benito Consolidated Independent School District decided to layoff 37 employees for the upcoming school year.  Administrators say they need to cut $14.5-million over the next three years.

Wyoming:  News reports say about three dozen WyoTech-Laramie employees got laid off by the new owner, Zenith Education Group.  Wyo-Tech is one of many schools formerly owned by failed California based Corinthian Colleges.  Zenith Education Group blamed the layoffs on crashing student enrollment, saying the campus is down to just 5-hundred students.  I call it Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS).

01 – 02 May 2015: ObamaCare insurance company admits ObamaCare fails, will cancel insurance for 1-million people! 

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

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 – 02 May 2015: ObamaCare insurance company admits ObamaCare fails, will cancel insurance for 1-million people! Greedy politicians killing casinos! World’s largest bakery killing jobs! Head Start program killed in California!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alaska: Anchorage School District warned they could eliminate 74 jobs from next school year, blaming state level funding cuts.

Arizona: Northern Arizona University warned it must cut courses and eliminate 60 jobs for next school year, blaming $17.3-million USD in state level funding cuts.

California: What automotive industry recovery? South Korea based Kumho Tire issued a shutdown WARN for its U.S. HQ in Rancho Cucamonga, at least 20 jobs lost at the end of June.  In San Rafael, BMW dealer Sonnen BMW issued a shutdown WARN, 114 jobs lost in July!   In Anaheim, electronics rack maker California Chassis issued a shutdown WARN for July, 20 jobs lost.  T.G.I. Friday’s issued a shutdown WARN for its La Jolla restaurant, 54 jobs lost in June.  In La Mirada, Switzerland based frozen bakery products seller Aryzta issued a shutdown WARN, saying 131 people will become jobless at the beginning of July!  Aryzta became the World’s largest bakery after taking over bakeries in Germany and the U.S. in 2014.  In Laguna Hills, Obama Care forcing Herren Enterprises to shutdown their Doctor’s Ambulance Service in July and issue a WARN saying 117 EMT related jobs will be eliminated!  Head Start Child Development issued dozens of WARNs saying they are shutting down operations throughout California, hundreds becoming jobless by the end of June!

Delaware: Casino Dover Downs laid off an additional 24 people, on top of the 10 laid off during the 1st quarter of 2015, and 21 laid off in 2014.  Operating times for the casino have also been reduced. Casino administrators blame outrageous taxes and operating costs: “Last year, we generated an $80 million operating profit but had to pay out $80.7 million to the state and the horsemen so we were left with a net loss!”-Denis McGlynn, CEO

Florida: In Fort Pierce, Blockbuster shutdown their last video store east of the Mississippi!

Georgia: In Lexington, God refuses to stop the shutdown of his 230 years old Lexington Presbyterian Church!  It’s blamed on the Rapture, I mean crashing membership (one report indicated they were down to just three members!).

Hawaii: Island Air cutting flights and laying off about 70 employees, blaming competition and crashing sales.  One airline analyst, Pater Forman, basically says Island Air is using the wrong planes because “…the ATR’s are too big for the small markets and they’re really not nice enough on the big markets…”  However, Island Air administrators say they’ve had to cancel planned purchases of new aircraft.

Illinois: What automotive industry recovery? Heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar continues to slash & burn jobs, this time 150 jobs at their Decatur factory were eliminated!   School District 122 laying off nine school lunch employees, because they are considered unnecessary.  It’s actually part of a larger plan to cut $2.3-million from next school year’s  budget.

Michigan: In Livonia, Cloverlanes Bowl shutdown.  News reports say the property owner is selling it because the property is now worth way more money than the revenue generated by the bowling lanes.  What automotive industry recovery?  Detroit based General Motors (GM, Chevy, Buick, Cadillac) announced they will layoff 1-thousand Canadians at their Canadian Oshawa factory!  Supposedly GM is moving Camaro production in Canada back to the U.S.

Missouri: What housing market recovery?  New Jersey based maker of home plumbing supplies American Standard Brands announced they will shutdown their 45 years old Nevada factory in June, 133 jobs lost!  Because of the bad economy American Standard Brands is consolidating production to other factories.

New Jersey: What automotive industry recovery? Germany based Mercedes-Benz is relocating its U.S. HQ from Montvale to Atlanta, Georgia.  375 jobs New Jersey lost over the next two years (about 172 jobs eliminated outright, the rest transferring to Georgia)!

New Mexico: Texas based ConocoPhillips announced they’re laying off another 250 people, including employees at their San Juan Basin ops.

New York: In Long Island, Krinos Foods issued a WARN saying they are moving to Bronx in August, taking 70 Long Island jobs with them.  In Clarence, Gildan Apparel-New Buffalo Shirt Factory issued a shutdown WARN for August, 85 jobs lost.  In NYC, magazine publisher ALM Media issued a layoff WARN saying 61 employees will become unemployed beginning in July.  In Latham, after 30 years Russ & Rebel Leather shutdown, the owner blames the outrageous Empire State tax system, and himself for refusing to sell on the internet.     Obama Care forcing NYC based Assurant to sell-off their Health Insurance ops, claiming that even with the Obama Care payment reductions they are still going to lose $90-million for their 1st quarter of 2015.  Basically the Assurant CEO, Alan Colberg, said Obama Care isn’t slashing & burning health care funding big enough or fast enough saying “The health and employee benefits business segments possess differentiated capabilities in their respective markets, but we do not believe they can meet our return targets at the pace we require.”   According to a report by Modern Healthcare “Assurant Health also blamed losses on low recoveries from the ACA’s [Affordable Care Act, Obama Care] insurance risk programs and the policy shift that allowed people to stay in plans that are not compliant with ACA standards.”   The sale of Assurant Health will affect access to health care for 1-million people!  One more thing; Assurant Health admits that the insurance industry written Obama Care failed in estimating just how many sick poor people there are in the U.S., saying the Affordable Care Act “had worse morbidity characteristics than we had assumed”.

North Carolina: After 80 years Captain Bill’s Waterfront Restaurant shutdown in Morehead City.

27 – 30 April 2015: “When you can’t pay your bills, you don’t keep going.”

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

U.S. Food Crisis 25 May 2015: Albertsons Safeway shutdown more stores, claims nobody will get hurt!

The new Albertsons-Safeway announced that two Safeway stores in Arizona will shutdown in June.  Administrators swore to local news media that nobody would be laid off, that somehow they would find jobs for the now redundant employees at other Safeway stores (and then probably use that as an excuse to massively reduce work hours so they don’t have to provide Obama Care insurance).

Albertsons Vons Safeway officially sucks according to Consumer Reports! 

Updated list:

Manitoba, Canada: Sobeys-Safeway announced it will shutdown it’s King Edward Street warehouse by 2016, at least 172 jobs lost!

Arizona, U.S.A.: Peoria Safeway and Claypool Safeway will shutdown in June, at least 94 jobs affected.  The following grocery stores will become Haggen; Anthem Safeway, two Tucson Safeways, Tucson Albertsons, two Scottsdale Albertsons, Flagstaff Albertsons, Prescott Valley Albertsons. In Lake Havasu, three Safeway and seven Albertsons are being switched over to Haggen.

California, U.S.A.: The new Albertsons-Safeway issued more layoff WARNs saying another 21 Safeway employees will be laid off in June. Two Albertsons-Safeway owned Vons stores will shutdown in Fresno, by June, 127 jobs lost! Albertsons-Safeway laid off 129 people from their Pleasanton HQ in April. Albertsons-Safeway issued a WARN saying another 188 layoffs are scheduled for the Pleasanton by the end of May! Albertsons-Vons announced it will shutdown its Riverside La Sierra Plaza Vons and two Bakersfield Vons in May, because they are “not meeting company goals.” Arcadia Vons Pavillions SuperStore shutdown on 18 March 2015, at least 168 jobs lost! The 32 years old Hemet Vons shutdown on 28 December 2014, at least 55 jobs lost. Company administrators claimed it had nothing to do with the hostile takeover by Cerberus. Marina Del Ray Albertsons, shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 80 jobs lost. Pleasanton Safeway HQ laid off at least 26 people in February 2015. In Pleasonton, Safeway laid off an additional 18 HQ employees in March. A San Diego Albertsons shutdown by 26 February 2015, at least 63 jobs lost. The following additional grocery stores will become Haggen; Vons in Palm Desert, Pavillions in Rancho Mirage, two Santa Barbara Albertsons, two Goleta Vons, Lompoc Albertsons, Paso Robles Vons, Arroyo Grande Albertsons, San Louis Obispo Albertsons, Atascadero Albertsons, Los Osos Vons, Palmdale Albertsons, three Bakersfield Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), two Simi Valley Albertsons, Simi Valley Vons, Oxnard Albertsons, Carpinteria Vons, Camarillo Albertsons, Ventura albertsons, Yorba Linda Albertsons, two Tustin Vons, Mission Viejo Vons, Mission Viejo Albertsons, Trabuco Canyon Albertsons, Laguna Beach Albertsons, Laguna Niguel Vons, Corona Del Mar Albertsons, Irvine (Vons) Pavillions, eight San Diego Albertsons (don’t be surprised if several are closed), San Yisidro Albertsons, Rancho Bernardo Albertsons, Coronado Albertsons, San Marcos Vons, two El Cajon Vons, Santee Albertsons, Poway Albertsons, Del Mar Albertsons, two Carlsbad Albertsons, two La Mesa Vons, three Chula Vista Vons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), Upland Albertsons, Diamond Bar Vons, Rancho Cucamonga Albertsons, Chino Hills Vons, Burbank Albertsons, Woodland Hills Vons, Westlake Village Albertsons, Thousand Oaks Albertsons, Santa Clarita (Vons) Pavillions, Saugus Vons, Newbury Park Vons, Tujunga Albertsons, Long Beach Albertsons, two San Pedro Albertsons, Lomita Albertsons, Torrance Albertsons, Santa Monica Albertsons, three Redondo Beach Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), two Los Angeles Albertsons.

Colorado, U.S.A.: Redlands Safeway, Castle Rock Safeway, Thornton Safeway, Westminster Safeway, three Aurora Safeways, Littleton Safeway, Denver Safeway and Centennial Safeway, hundreds of jobs lost by June! Colorado Springs Albertsons shutdown in March. Cerberus administrators say it has nothing to do with their takeover of Safeway-Vons: “That store basically has not been profitable for quite some time, despite the best efforts of our company and associates there and the location…..That’s why we’re closing it.”

Florida, U.S.A.: Albertsons issued a WARN saying they will shutdown their Clearwater store in May, 86 jobs lost.

Hawaii, U.S.A.: Drugs pusher Walgreens canceled plans to open a pharmacy in the Kauai Safeway: “As part of this process, Walgreens did a comprehensive financial reassessment of its plans to open a new store in Lihue on Kauai, and have concluded that it is not in the company’s best interests to move forward with opening a store in that location.”

Illinois: The Jewel-Osco HQ in Itasca was sold for $23.7-million. A local news report implied it was the result of the hostile takeover of Safeway by Albertsons.

Nevada, U.S.A.: The following grocery stores will become Haggen; Boulder City Vons, three Henderson Albertsons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed), three Las Vegas Vons (don’t be surprised if at least one is closed).

Oregon, U.S.A.: In Lake Oswego, Albertsons taken over by Haggen. Cerberus administrators made the exact same claim as in their Colorado Springs shutdown saying “The store has not been profitable for quite some time.” This is interesting because according to local news reports there are only two grocery stores in the city! In Lake Grove, the Albertsons being switch over to Haggen. Safeway shutting down their Clackamas regional office, 91 jobs lost by March. Safeway in Ashland, two in Klamath Falls and one in Springfield to become Haggen. Albertsons in Baker, Beaver, two in Bend, one in Clackamas, two in Eugene and in Grants Pass, one in Keizer, Milwaukee, Sherwood, West Linn and two in Tigard.

Texas, U.S.A.: In East Dallas, an Albertsons was renamed Minyard Sun Fresh Market. Reports said the grand opening was delayed due to problems switching over the cash register system. A second East Dallas Alberstons is expected to make the changeover to Minyard Sun Fresh Market on 16 February. Only one of the three East Dallas Albertsons will remain Albertsons. One store manager said the changes are a direct result of the takeover of Safeway. Interestingly I found a report that said Cerberus swore there would be no name changes after the takeover of Safeway, but they failed to explain the sale of 12 stores to RLS Supermarkets (apparently the result of a court order). The Tom Thumb grocery stores in Bedford and Grapevine converting to Minyard Sun Fresh Market.

Washington, U.S.A.: The Safeway in Spokane Valley shutdown in March, 60 jobs lost. Company administrators said it was not due to the takeover by Cerberus controlled Albertsons, but that the lease expired and it wasn’t worth renewing it. In Kirkland, reports that Goodwill thrift store is taking over the now vacant Albertsons store. Haggen took control of the Monroe Albertsons. Safeway becoming Haggen in Gig Harbor and Tacoma beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Olympia, Puyallup, Tacoma and Lakewood beginning in March. Albertsons becoming Haggen in Federal Way and Milton by June. Albertsons in Port Angeles, Wenatchee and Shoreline becoming Haggen in February. Albertsons in Redmond, Walla Walla, Snohomish, Silverdale, Burien, becoming Haggen in March. Albertsons in Seattle, another one in Burien, Renton, Bremerton and Milton becoming Haggen in June. Shoreline Safeway becomeing Haggen in February. Safeway in Everett, Renton, Oak Harbor and Port Orchard in March. Liberty Lake Safeway becomes Haggen in June.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 27 – 30 April 2015: “When you can’t pay your bills, you don’t keep going.” Toyota kills 900+ jobs in California! ObamaCare kills 2-thousand+ health insurance jobs in 1 day! 12-thousand U.S. Steel jobs gone!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Obama Care forced managed health care provider Health Net to issue three mass layoff WARNs saying 2,122 health insurance related jobs will be eliminated on 26 June 2015!  (and never mind the reports that Health Net is being sued for canceling their customer’s treatments, resulting in at least one death!) In Joshua Tree, Obama Care forced Hi-Desert Memorial Health Care to issue a mass layoff WARN saying 541 healthcare workers will become unemployed at the end of June!  In Yucca Valley, Obama Care forced Hi-Desert Memorial Health Care to issue a layoff WARN saying at least 42 healthcare workers will become unemployed at the end of June!  In Corona, Ireland based legal drugs maker Actavis issued a layoff WARN for July.  In Modesto, Switzerland based chocolate maker Nestle issued a layoff WARN saying 56 people will become jobless by the end of June.  The new Albertsons-Safeway issued more layoff WARNs saying another 21 Safeway employees will be laid off in June.  In Duarte, Kroger issued a WARN saying they are shutting down their Ralph’s grocery store in July, 72 jobs lost.  In San Diego, aerospace company and tax-sucker Hamilton Sundstrand issued a WARN saying they will shutdown at the end of June.  In Mountain View, tech company Symantec continues to layoff people, this time they issued a WARN for June.  In San Francisco, law firm Littler Mendelson issued a mass layoff WARN saying 113 people will become jobless in July!  Santa Anna based Corinthian Colleges announced it will shutdown all remaining 28 campuses across the U.S.! It’s the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education which revealed the for-profit school was frauding its students!  In Pleasant Hill, Gun Works shutdown.  The owners said they were “just exhausted” from fighting a combination of unAmerican anti-2nd Amendment activists and politicians, greedy landlords who jacked up the rent, and new local anti-2nd Amendment laws.  What automotive industry recovery?  In Torrance, Toyota suddenly shutdown their Motor Credit Corporation, 941 jobs gone overnight!

Florida: In Saint Petersburg, finance and insurance company PSCU issued a WARN saying 53 people will be laid off in June.  In Tampa, Mitt Romney wunderkind Staples issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down their Oak Fair Boulevard store between July and October, 47 jobs will be lost.

Illinois: In Old Irving Park, Mirabell German restaurant shutdown after 38 years of operations, apparently due to the death of the chef.  After 43 years Joliet Area Suzuki Strings shutdown, blaming crashing student enrollment: “We just cannot financially sustain it anymore, our numbers have been gradually going down over the last four or five years. Last year, we were down to 40 students, and now we’re at about 25. You just can’t exist with that.”-Mary Smelser, founder

Indiana: What automotive industry recovery?  Maker of cast iron engine blocks Pure Power Technologies shutting down its Indianapolis factory, 153 jobs lost by November!

Michigan: In Pittsfield, Pier 1 Imports shutdown.  Local news reports said company administrators wouldn’t say why, and even ordered employees not to talk about it.

Minnesota: In Saint Paul, after five years Bars Bakery shutdown both of its stores. The owners say they need more family time. Minneapolis based retailer Target announced more layoffs, this time 140 corporate positions have been eliminated! Company administrators say they are trying to reduce expenses by $2-billion USD, that’s how bad they think the economy is going to get!  In Cloquet, after 28 years Robert’s Home Furnishings shutdown.  The owner said the bad economy was forcing him to “consolidate” everything to his store in Duluth.

Missouri: Grocery store chain Schnucks laid off 52 people, and eliminated eight open jobs, at its Saint Louis HQ.  No explanation given. This comes weeks after administrators spent $1.69-million buying a property that they’ve rented for years. Administrators admitted they weren’t using the Saint Louis property for anything, and had no future plans for it!

New York: In Melville, NCO Financial Systems issued a shutdown WARN for their Extended Office Services, 28 jobs lost by July.  In East Syracuse, General Super Plating finally notified state employment administrators that they shutdown back in March, 95 jobs lost.  In NYC, Cambridge University Press issued a layoff WARN saying 67 of their 190 employees will be jobless by July.  God refuses to stop his Museum of Biblical Art from shutting down, due to the American Bible Society selling off the building (those greedy Christians)!   In Albany, the Brighter Choice Charter Middle School for Boys issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in July, 37 jobs lost.   The Brighter Choice Charter Middle School for Girls is also shutting down in July, 35 jobs lost.  In Rochester, Durham School Services issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in July, due to loss of contract, 142 jobs lost!  In Webster, iconic Xerox issued a WARN saying they’re contracting out their Corporate Trucking & Cross Dock jobs in July, 35 in-house jobs lost.  The new Obama Care medical device tax possibly forcing Ortho Clinical Diagnostics to hand over their Rochester operations to Nypro in July.  They expect at least 105 of their 1-thousand jobs to be lost in the transfer!  In Clifton Park, Berkshire Bank announced they will shutdown their 15 Park Avenue office in July.

North Carolina: In Winston-Salem, the owners of New Town Bistro and Bar said it will shutdown in May.  It needs a major remodel and the owners said in this bad economy it wasn’t worth it.  Also, after 60 years Towne Jewelers shutdown, the owners said “It’s time for a change.” The state Department of Transportation announced they will eliminate 81 jobs by June.  It’s due to a new state law forcing taxpayer funded agencies to hire cheap-o contractors.

Ohio: After more than 40 years the West Chester Garden Center shutdown, due to competition from ‘Big Box’ stores.  The owners gave a good example of why the economy sucks; they could barely afford to pay their employees $10 per hour, but admitted you can’t live in the area on $10 per hour without financial assistance.  New Albany based Bob Evans Farms announced they will shutdown 20 restaurants! After spending millions of dollars trying to improve their restaurants, administrators decided that at least 20 of them still weren’t “meeting expectations.” They said most of the failed restaurants were outside Ohio.  After numerous layoffs, the owners of the Toledo Free Press gave up and shutdown: “When you can’t pay your bills, you don’t keep going.”-Tom Pounds, publisher

Oklahoma: Oil rig maker Falcon Rigs now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, saying they can’t pay 192 creditors!

Pennsylvania: After more than 90 years (surviving the Great deflationary Depression) restaurant Cohick’s Trading Post shutdown. One of the co-owners turned evil greedy and actually sued the other co-owner to force them to sell the family business!  Pittsburgh based US Steel announced another 9-thousand people will become jobless this year!  That’s on top of the almost 3-thousand people they’ve already laid off since January!

South Dakota: In Sioux Falls, after 25 years Valentino’s restaurant shutdown. The owner said the restaurant business ain’t what it used to be: “This is such a demanding industry right now, and right now most people don’t realize we’re still ranked very high in the nation for restaurants per capita. So it’s gotten more challenging over the years, so it takes a lot. It takes a lot out of you.”-John Jones

Texas: Fort Worth based federal tax-sucker Bell Helicopter announced they will layoff 1-thousand 1-hundred people!  It’s blamed on its tax-payer money-pit the continually (literally) crashing V-22 tilt-rotor assault plane.  In Robstown, Maxum Petroleum issued a WARN saying 60 jobs will be lost in June.  Soon to be a part of Halliburton, Baker-Hughes issued a WARN saying 21 people at their Alice 2 site will be laid off.

Utah: Cereal maker Kellogg Company (aka Kellogg’s) announced they are shutting down their Clearfield facility, at least 2-hundred jobs lost! It’s part of the company’s “efficiency and effectiveness program”.  Idiotic and out-o-touch city administrators say they’re confident “Another company will come in right behind, and we’ll still continue to have a lot of employment here in Clearfield.”

Vermont: Concord High School will shutdown due to lack of funding caused by lack of students.

Virginia: In Carytown, the owners of ‘artesian retailer’ Modern Artifacts said they’re quitting in May, calling it a “lifestyle choice”.

Washington:  Simpson Lumber shutting down three mills, 120 jobs lost due to sale of company to competitor in California!

24 – 26 April 2015: 27-thousand home care product jobs gone!

Food Crisis 29 April 2015: There’s human in that can of tuna? “I think our lives are in the hands of the Lord of Death.” 

U.S. Food Crisis 29 April 2015: Albertsons Safeway to kill 800+ California jobs! 

U.S. Food Crisis, April 2015: “…it hit me like a bag of rocks!”

ObamaCare job destruction, 1st quarter 2015: “more change than we’ve seen in the past 75 years combined.”

Dumbing Down the United States, 1st Quarter 2015: “we’ve had a 66% decrease in our enrollment!”

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

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 24 – 26 April 2015: Pro-police state company now under investigation by the United Police States of America? 27-thousand home care product jobs gone!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Misleading for profit technical school DeVry is shutting down at least 12 campuses in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota,  Pennsylvania, Oregon, Washington, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and Florida!  Apparently DeVry has decided to move courses from brick -n-mortar classrooms to the internet.

California: What automotive industry recovery?  In the City of Industry, United Brothers Motor Group issued a WARN saying 72 employees will become unemployed by the end of June.  Seafood supplier Prospect Enterprises issued multiple WARNs saying at least 130 people will become jobless in July!  The seafood distribution ops of Prospect Enterprises were taken over by rival Santa Monica Seafood.  Local news reports say San Francisco based BitTorrent laid off 40 people, however, I did not find any WARN issued for the layoffs.

Connecticut: In Waterbury, watch maker Timex is shutting down their Timexpo Museum, due to lack of interest from the public.

Illinois: In Chicago, after seven years the so called ‘green’ children’s clothing store Green Genes shutdown.  In Rantoul, after more than 20 years the Chanute Air Museum shutting down due to lack of funding.  Administrators decided to quit while they were ahead saying “…we were not in a negative situation financially”, but it cost a minimum of $10-thousand USD per month to operate the non-profit museum, and yet even with 15-thousand visitors each year they were barely able to raise enough money to pay the $64-hundred in monthly rent, plus utilities.

Massachusetts: In the state of Boston Weak, the Dracut Public Schools announced they must layoff 30 people, due to declining tax revenues which are the result of the bad economy.  In a true sign of a failed system, the idiot School Chairman is pushing to create new taxes and fees for the already financially strapped residents.  The Chairman says if the public doesn’t vote for the new austerity then obviously “education is not a priority in Dracut.”  Hey education man, you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip!  You need to get yourself some learnin’ ’bout reality!  The answer is jobs that pay people enough money so they can live well and pay the existing taxes for their government services!

New Hampshire: In Manchester, after 55 years God refused to stop the shutdown of Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.  The operators say they could not compete with Savers and Goodwill.  You know the economy is bad when second hand/thrift stores can’t compete with each other!

New Mexico: After only 18 months of operations, tax-sucking federal contractor Stolar Research Corporation laid off the majority of the workers at its new Rio Rancho HQ!  The company is now under investigation by the very government it works for!  Company administrators are pissed: “Stolar, like many other small businesses that contract with the government, has been impacted by funding cuts out of Washington, D.C., due to government dysfunction, and shifts away from funding America’s homeland security efforts and defense.”-Gerald Stolarczyk, tax loving pro-police state CEO who is now under investigation by that police state

But wait, the police state intrigue gets deeper still.  Local news reports say the FBI, U.S. Marshals and even Homeland Security all deny they are investigating Stolar, and, they claim they do not know who is!  Local reporters were unable to find anybody in the federal government who is willing to talk about it.  Since 2013 Stolar has been paid at least $9-million U.S. tax dollars for contracts with the Department of Defense and the Department of the Interior.  Stolar is officially a radio geophysics detection and imaging company.

New York: Obama Care forcing Visiting Nurse Service Home Care to issued several layoff WARNs saying at least 50 people will be jobless by the end of July.  In Skaneateles Falls, data collector Honeywell Scanning and Mobility issued a WARN for its Clean Energy Systems ops saying at least 41 people will be laid off between July and December.

Ohio: Cincinnati based home care product giant Procter & Gamble announced they will layoff 6-thousand employees over the next two years!   Since 2012 Procter & Gamble has already killed off 21-thousand jobs around the World!   The company is still making a profit, but their sales have been steadily falling for years.   Obviously they don’t expect the economy to improve anytime soon.  In Youngstown, after 60 years the owner of Jerry Lee’s Jewelers says he’s shutting it down in June.  The owners of Dayton Mall kicked out the Orivs store in favor of a new store, which they refuse to name.

Pennsylvania: In Lawrenceville, after six years the owner of restaurant Tamari announced it will shutdown in May, but promised to open a new restaurant in the future.  Blue Bell based computer company Unisys announced they will eliminate 1-thousand 8-hundred jobs due to crashing export sales, which they blame on the strong U.S. dollar.

Wisconsin: In Watertown, Eaton Corporation issued a WARN saying 93 employees will become unemployed starting in June.  The company is halting its printed circuits production.

22 – 23 April 2015: “It’s just time to go, we’ve got nothing left in us.” 

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.”

Kit Bashing, Reviews

1/48 scale comparison A-7 Corsair 2: Aurora, Revell-Monogram, ESCI, Hasegawa & Hobby Boss.

Image

I ‘built’ a collection of 1:48 scale Ling Temco Vought A-7 Corsair 2s.  Time to compare them, as a lot of kit bashers always want to know which is the best, or at least which looks the best out of the box.

The first 1:48 A-7 was the old 1969 issue Aurora kit.  It was marketed as a D version, but is actually an A/B/C version.  The main difference is that the A/B/C versions had two single barrel Colt Mark 12 20mm guns firing through troughs on either side of the air intake.  D and E versions had a single six barreled M61 20mm Vulcan gun on the left (port) side.  The Aurora kit has two gun troughs on either side of the air intake, making it an A, B or C version.

Click the pics to make bigger

The old kit is interesting in that it has recessed panel lines (Matchbox ‘trench’ style), something unique for a 1960s kit.  Other than the recessed surface details the kit is basically a toy.  There are very little details anywhere else and the landing gear and ordinance are pathetic.  I do not have 1:48 scale drawings of the A-7, so the best I can do is compare the kits and make judgments based on the 1:72 scale drawings I have.  The Aurora kit is mentioned because the next 1:48 scale A-7 kit to be issued came from Monogram, and supposedly evolved from the Aurora kit.

In 1976-77 Aurora went out of business and sold-off its kit molds.  Monogram bought most of the molds.  Reports say Monogram re-tooled the Aurora A-7, if this is true they did a crappy job (compared to the ground breaking kits they issued in the mid 1970s-early 80s).  It is currently issued by Revell U.S.A. (do not confuse it with the recent A-7 issued by Revell Germany, which is a re-boxing of Hasegawa’s A-7).

Monogram made some major changes, which resulted in raised panel lines and a longer fuselage. The wing span is also longer.  The most ugly change was the widening of the cockpit area, the canopy is not only bigger than the original Aurora canopy, it’s the biggest of all the kits I compare.  The ordinance is no better than Aurora’s but at least you get big external fuel tanks.  At least Monogram made the tailpipe more oval, as Aurora’s is round.

Monogram did market it as an A-7A.  So far Hobby Boss is the only other kit maker to issue an A-7A Corsair 2.  The Monogram-Revell kit is a crappy kit, and I’m surprised by how much the original Monogram issue kit sells for on the internet.   I’m also surprised Revell U.S.A. re-issued the thing, especially when Revell Germany sells the Hasegawa kit (unfortunately, I’ve discovered that sometimes Revell-Germany also issued the old Monogram kit).

Close on the heels of the Monogram issue came Italy’s ESCI A-7D/E versions.  I read many posts saying how bad the ESCI kit is, but in my opinion it’s still better (in some ways) than the Monogram/Aurora kits.

AMT has re-issued the kit after ESCI went bust.  AMT’s instructions call the U.S. Navy refueling probe a “missile launch rail”.  Also, the kit I have is supposed to be a USN A-7E yet the instructions have you mount the USAF A-7D refueling receptacle on top of the fuselage anyway.

The kit has some good points like a long intake trunk, the onboard boarding ladder, a separately molded radome, separately molded folding wing tips and some okay looking ECM pods, Snakeye bombs and Maverick missiles.

Some of the bad points are lack of cockpit/wheel well details, the fuselage is molded in four parts with the forward parts being slightly larger in diameter from the rear parts, and incredibly bad ordnance ‘ejector racks’ which look like sticks of plastic.

Compared to the Revell-Monogram kit the ESCI fuselage seems the same length, but the ESCI intake lip is further back from the Revell-Monogram kit (I line up the fuselages at the tailpipe end).  The ESCI intake is too round.  From the rear, the tailpipes are similar in shape, but the ESCI elevator location is higher up on the fuselage. The Revell-Monogram main wing and elevators are slightly larger than the ESCI kit, with the ESCI elevators too narrow at the tips.

Finally, in the 1990s Japan’s Hasegawa issued a 1:48 A-7D and E Corsair 2.  Out of the box it’s the best yet, with good looking shapes, recessed panel lines, exposed avionics bays, boarding ladder, intake trunk, some cockpit and wheel well details, separately molded wing tips, flaps and slats, nice looking Sidewinder missiles and even a separately molded air (speed) brake (which can only be posed in the extended position if you model the plane in-flight with wheels up).

I compared it to the Revell-Monogram kit, which has a slightly longer fuselage. From the rear the tail pipes are similar in shape, but the Hasegawa’s is larger and, like the ESCI kit, the position of the elevators are higher up on the fuselage.  The main wing span is longer than Revell-Monogram’s, but the folding wing area is smaller than Revell-Monogram’s.  The elevators are similar.  The Hasegawa external fuel tank is the same length but skinnier.  The downside is Hasegawa does not provide bombs or other ground attack ordinance and, as usual, Hasegawa’s decal color register is off (the only time they get it right is when they subcontract with aftermarket decal printers).

In 2009 China’s Hobby Boss issued a new series of A-7 Corsair 2s, including an A-7A.  Out of the box it looks great, until you spend more time looking it over.

The fuselage is the longest, with a skinny nose/radome, and the most oval shaped (and skinny) tailpipe of all the kits. The main wing does not have a folding section, is shorter in span than the Hasegawa kit yet much wider.  This is interesting because the Hobby Boss 1:72 scale A-7 wing matches the scale drawings I compared it to.

The external fuel tank is longer and skinnier than the Hasegawa kit.  The canopy size lies in between the Hasegawa and Revell-Monogram kits.  The Hobby Boss kit does have nice looking ordinance including FLIR pods, but the Mark 82s are too skinny.

As far as surface details (panel lines) all the kits are different.  I’ve read that some of the Hobby Boss surface details for the A-7A are in the wrong location and are more accurate for later versions of the Corsair 2.  Apparently the two gun troughs are the only surface detail that matches an A-7A.

It looks like the Hasegawa kit is still the overall best 1:48 scale A-7 Corsair kit available.

USAF A-7 CORSAIRS, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO?

1/72 scale A-7 Corsair 2 comparison: Fujimi, ESCI, Airfix & Hobby Boss

1:72 F-100 SUPER SABER KIT KLASH, OR MORE REASONS WHY YOU CAN’T TRUST SCALE DRAWINGS