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Business/Economics

Show me the money! Move over 1%, the .004% New World Ultra Wealthy are taking over!

19 November 2014 (10:05 UTC-07 Tango)/26 Muharram 1436/28 Aban 1393/27 Yi-Hai 4712

The new phenomenon of ultra wealth is being tracked by the elitist think tank Wealth-X, and the elitist Swiss bank UBS.  They’ve just released the result of their latest survey, which shows the 1% have a new threat known as the .004%, or New World Ultra Wealthy.

Here’s the basic breakdown:

0.004% of the World’s population now controls 13% of global society’s wealth.

While the working class continue to see their earning and spending power decline, the Ultra Wealthy saw their wealth increase by 6% in 2013.  This is more proof of where all the World’s wealth (specifically money-currency) is going.   Another way to look at the Ultra Wealthy is that they are nothing more than money hoarders.

The United States is home to most of the World’s Ultra Wealthy.

South American countries experienced the biggest decline in Ultra Wealthy individuals.  (is this due to a more fair distribution of wealth?)

The majority of Ultra Wealthy men are “self made” (eugenicist Bill Gates is the top Ultra Wealthy man in the U.S., followed by job killer Warren Buffet).  The majority of Ultra Wealthy women inherited their wealth.

The Ultra Wealthy spend an average of $1.1-million USD per year on luxury items.  Luxury items are not things which require mass production, thus creating a lot of jobs.  In other words, the spending habits of wealthy people only benefit an extreme minority of workers, rendering the concept of trickle down economics impotent.

And if you think you need a university education think again.  12% of the Ultra Wealthy have no more than a 12th grade level of education. But if you are going to go to university make it Harvard, that’s where the overwhelming majority of the ultra rich in the United States got their ‘education’.

See the Wealth-X report here.

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 11 – 12 September 2014: “Our current models are no longer effective…” DSS continues to kill education jobs! New Idaho company kills jobs just months after starting up! New York company kills jobs just 3 weeks after hiring spree! “I’m so confused as to what happened…I just about fell over!”

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama:  Maker of insulation and hardware for utility companies, MacLean Power Systems, announced they will shutdown their Red Hollow Road factory in October, 75 jobs lost (although company administrators claim they can transfer to other factories).

Arizona: Reports that military taxsucker General Dynamics is threatening as many as 4-thousand jobs in Scottsdale, by shutting down and moving their Scottsdale ops to Virginia!  General Dynamics has already sold off one huge building, and reports say the massive move will take place in January 2015.

California: Spin Media killed more jobs.  This time 19 people were let go, and they ended publication of their their hard copy magazine Vibe.  Back in January the music news media outlet killed 14 jobs.  The Calaveras Unified School District announced they must kill an estimated 50 jobs. They blame years of what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS) for creating a $2-million USD shortfall!  In San Mateo, Sears Holdings shutdown one of two local Kmarts, 82 jobs lost.  Local news reports say the Kmart is being replaced with a building housing public transportation and apartments.  What automotive industry recovery? Yet another California Superstores  car  dealer going down, this time in Valencia in November, 64 jobs lost. Obama Care killing off Morrison Healthcare, which announced they’re shutting down their Los Alamitos and Palm Springs ops in November, 138 jobs lost!  In San Jose, BD Biosciences warned it will kill 60 jobs in November.

Florida: In Weston, Too Big to Jail American Express announced they will kill 113 Global Billing Services jobs in November! The bad global economy is forcing them to downsize.  In Jacksonville, after 68 years Fred Cotten’s BBQ shutdown, the current owner-operator revealed the U.S. economy has always sucked for him: “The financial aspect of this, I cannot continue to absorb it. I’ve never made a profit here in 14 years, and that’s the truth!”-Bill Cowart, took over restaurant in 2000

Georgia: In Macon, after 43 years music venue Grants Lounge shutdown by violent crime.  The owner says they’ve been trying to address the problem by looking into things like more security and moving to a new location, but nothing seems to be working out for them.

Idaho: The fact that so many former employees of recently created Scientech (a division of nuclear industry Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Company) are applying for unemployment assistance reveals a layoff of at least 25 people in Idaho Falls.  Local news reports say company administrators refuse to talk.  At the end of 2013, Scientech announced they were to set up business in Idaho Falls by the summer of 2014, meaning the company had just barely started ops before killing jobs already.

Illinois: In Wheaton, after 25 years MC Sports supply store shutdown.  There were reports that the new owner of the property is running all the existing business out, such as the IHOP restaurant located on the same property.

Maine: In Portland, after 25 years vegetarian Pepperclub-Good Egg Café shutdown.  Local news reports said the owner had “…anticipated a very profitable summer….but numbers dipped this summer to levels I have never seen!”  The owner also blamed steadily increasing rent: “I’m so confused as to what happened. I know the city has reached a saturation point. I was looking at places that were $35 a square foot and I just about fell over!”-Melissa Sawyer

Minnesota:  It’s been revealed that of the 18 Roundy’s Rainbow grocery stores that were up for sale, nine failed to sell and were shutdown, and two that were sold were shutdown by the new owner (Jerry’s Enterprises), nearly 1-thousand jobs lost!

Mississippi: In Jackson, after more than 85 years (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home shutdown.  The family owners referred to the bad economy as “changing business conditions”.

Nevada: In Las Vegas, the Kardashian family announced they will shutdown their three years old Kardashian Khaos store in October.

New Jersey:    What I call Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS) forcing Brookdale Community College to warn of layoffs: “These are tough times and the organizational structure we have now is not sustainable; the board is aware of this harsh fact. Our current models are no longer effective in serving today’s students, and we must catch up with the advances that have been made in educational technology.”-Maureen Murphy, president

New York: In Canton, kitchen utensil maker Corning is now asking its newly hired employees to voluntarily quit!  In the middle of August Corning hired on 40 new employees, but now says a sudden and huge crash in sales is forcing them to cancel their plans for expansion.  The Metropolitan Opera laid off 22 administration staff.  Opera administrators said “The reductions are part of an ongoing effort to make the 131-year-old organization leaner fiscally…”

Ohio:  Too Big to Jail PNC Bank announced it is shutting down offices in Cleveland and Elyira between now and November.  Bank administrators blame it on the changing habits of their ‘customers’.

Texas: In Round Rock, after only nine months Curly’s Carolina BBQ restaurant shutdown.  Fort Worth based Radio Shack warned its stockholders that they are on the verge of chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Washington DC: What housing market recovery?  At a time when rents are going up the federal government has decided to cut rent subsidies (Section 8) for low income renters in the country’s capital city.  Apparently the Section 8 program for Washington DC is short $37-million!  This doesn’t just affect the renters but the landlords as well, because you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip.

Wisconsin: In Milwaukee, iconic home and industry food canning supplier Ball announced they will kill 24 jobs in November.  They killed 74 jobs at the same factory last year.   Company administrators blame it on crashing sales to corporate food producers.  After almost 40 years Roger Stevens Menswear shutdown.  What housing market recovery?  The Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors reports the city has suffered eight years in a row of crashing home sales!  In La Crosse, Hooters restaurant shutdown.  Restaurant administrators said it’s not worth it to renew the lease.  Bon-Ton announced it will shutdown a Naperville furniture store in January 2015, 20 jobs lost.

09-10 September 2014

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 05 – 09 November 2014: U.S. Army ‘loses’ $420-million worth of equipment, which turns up in the hands of Islamic State! Operation Twinkie can’t save original Twinkie factory! Government admits ‘civilians’ killed by Mujahideen were anything but! More Vets being killed in the U.S.!

Helmand Province: In Nawa District, battles killed at least 16 people and wounded two.

Jawzjan Province: In Aqcha District, reports say two men not from the province were ‘executed’ by vigilantes for unknown reasons.  Some reports say the two men were executed by Mujahideen for being traitors.

Kabul Province: In Kabul City, a Kamikaze bomber managed to get into the police chief’s office and blow up.  At least one person killed and six wounded.  Police say the bomber was dressed in a “civilian suit”.  Prosecutors have declared the nearly $1-billion USD Kabul Bank scandal “resolved” after recovering only $300-million of the stolen international taxpayer funds!  Investigators claim they know where another $600-million in assets are located.  At Camp Morehead the new NATO secretary general,  Jens Stoltenberg, told Afghan military personnel “… you will not stand alone. NATO and our partners will continue to support you…”  But just in case, the President of Russia has once again told the Afghan government that if the U.S.-NATO fully withdraws, and the Afghanistan government still needs outside military help then Russia is there for them.

Kapisa Province: A 38 years old female teacher killed herself.  Relatives say the stress of the U.S. occupation was too much for her.  Ministry of Health administrators say at least 9-thousand people killed themselves in the past year!

Paktia Province: For years the U.S. puppet government in Afghanistan has accused Mujahideen of deliberately targeting civilians, a claim Mujahideen have denied.  Now, for the first time puppet government administrators admit that many ‘civilians’ killed by Mujahideen were actually government agents, officials or security contractors!  Most recently in Zurmat District Mujahideen executed 11 people for being government spies.  The U.S. controlled puppet government initially said they were all “civilians murdered” by Mujahideen.  Now, government administrators admitting the men were indeed contracted security personnel.  If you work for the government, even as a contractor, you are no longer a civilian!

Takhar Province: A woman was arrested for killing her one year old child.  Police are investigating to see if it was due to domestic violence or extreme poverty created by the U.S. occupation.

China has delivered $1-million worth of equipment to Afghanistan, ostensibly to fight the record levels of opium production under the U.S. occupation.

The NATO member and closet wannabe British empire member Kingdom of Norway has pledged even more taxpayer funding for Afghanistan.  This time $110-million for 2015.

In the British empire United Kingdom, a three time veteran of the Afghan occupation was beaten up when he tried to save a taxi driver from being assaulted, then, when he showed up in court to testify against his attackers the judge ordered him to remove his military awards from his jacket!  To add insult to injury, the A-hole judge allowed the two accused to continue wearing poppies, which they claimed proved their support for veterans!

The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that so far this year 4634 Afghan puppet government personnel were killed fighting for the United States.  Last year it was about 43-hundred government personnel killed.  And don’t forget all the civilians that governments don’t count, so that’s at least ten thousand Afghans per year being sacrificed for the United States!  And you silly ‘American’ taxpayers still don’t think Afghans have sacrificed enough for your ‘security’?

The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) revealed that the U.S. Army officially lost $420-million worth of equipment in Afghanistan, just in fiscal year 2013!!!  Russian news sources say it’s probably even more than that, and that most of it wound up in the hands of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which would explain their sudden and heavily armed appearance in 2013.

In the U.S. state of Idaho, two Afghan occupation vets died when their Idaho Army National Guard AH-64 Apache gunship went down near Gowen Field in Boise (probably in the OTA).  The two men were senior warrant officers, with decades of helicopter experience.  The cause of the crash is currently unknown.

In the U.S. state of Missouri Operation Twinkie, lead by the mom of a National Guardsman deployed to Afghanistan, gave a lot of deployed militia personnel high fructose corn syrup ‘sugar’ rushes, but did nothing to stop Hostess from shutting down the original Twinkie factory in Schiller Park, Illinois.   Last year mom led Operation Twinkie raised enough donations to send at least 2-thousand boxes of Twinkies and cupcakes to Guard personnel in Afghanistan.  This year Op Twinkie is trying to beat last year’s number of boxes shipped, but Hostess has already killed 400 jobs by shutting down their Schiller Park factory in October!

Afghanistan, 01 – 04 November 2014: Obama helps Iran make money!

International

Australia creates G20 Martial Laws! More proof your ‘fearless’ leaders are a bunch of paranoid-schizoids!

16 November 2014 (21:47 UTC-07 Tango 15 November 2014)/23 Muharram 1436/25 Aban 1393/24 Yi-Hai 4712

The following list of ‘weapons’ was created by the British empire country of Australia in the G20 (Safety and Security) Act 2013, in anticipation of the 2014 Group of Twenty meetings now underway in Brisbane.  It includes items like “eggs”, “banners”, “graffiti instruments”, “insects”, and like the Taliban that their very own Diggers have been fighting in Afghanistan a “kite”!

And if you like building model planes, then you are a terrorist!

The following is from the banned weapons list, and I bolded a few of the more interesting ‘weapons’.

Schedule 6 Prohibited items section 59

1 any of the following under the Weapons Categories Regulation 1997— (a) a category A, B, C, D, E, H, M or R weapon (b) a restricted item

2 any of the following within the meaning of the Weapons Act 1990— (a) an antique firearm (b) a knife (see that Act, section 51(7)) (c) a major component part of a firearm (d) a shanghai (e) a slingshot (f) a sword

3 any of the following— (a) a captive bolt humane killer (b) an explosive tool (c) a bow, whether a longbow, a compound bow or another type of bow (d) a spear gun (e) a replica of a firearm, crossbow, longbow or spear gun (f) an arrow (g) a blowpipe (h) handcuffs (i) a whip (j) a device capable of being used to interfere with broadcast or communication devices, including, for example, a communications jamming device (k) a cattle prod or other electrical device used for the management of livestock or other animals (l) an explosive, including, for example, fireworks or flares (m) glass bottles or jars (n) metal cans or tins (o) projectiles, including, for example, stones, ball bearings or eggs (p) hand tools (q) metal spikes, nails or tacks

4 a placard or banner to which a timber, metal or plastic pole is attached or a banner more than 100cm high by 200cm wide

5 a noxious or offensive substance, including, for example, urine or animal manure

6 an offensive weapon, including anything used as a weapon or capable of being used as a weapon, including, for example, a baseball bat or fence paling being carried by a person participating in an assembly

7 a graffiti instrument within the meaning of the Summary Offences Act 2005

8 a reptile, insect or other animal capable of causing physical harm if released in close proximity to a person

9 an item (including, for example, a lock-on device or sleeping dragon) capable of either of the following— (a) attaching a person to an object or another person (b) impeding removal of any locking or connecting device

10 a chain, cable or anything else capable of securing objects together for the purpose of causing an obstruction

11 a communication device, other than a mobile phone or other telephone, capable of being used to organise activity designed to disrupt any part of the G20 meeting, including, for example, a two-way radio or a loud hailer, whether powered or not

12 part or all of a traffic barrier

13 any of the following things capable, directly or indirectly, of disrupting any part of the G20 meeting— (a) a thing capable of emitting a sound loud enough to disrupt the part of the G20 meeting, including, for example, a horn or a hand-held marine warning device (b) a thing capable of emitting a sound that can distress or upset a dog or horse (c) a smoke bomb or other smoke device (d) an object commonly known as paint bomb, flour bomb or similar item capable of being thrown or propelled, including, for example, a paper bag containing flour that is intended to be thrown or a plastic container containing paint that is intended to be thrown (e) a thing that is not a weapon but is capable of being used to cause harm to a person (f) flammable substances (g) a laser pointer (h) a laser device capable of being shone onto an aircraft or of projecting an image (i) a thing capable of being used to climb a barrier (j) a thing capable of being used to construct a stage, platform, tripod or tower or a structure similar to a stage, platform, tripod or tower, other than a camera tripod

14 a thing capable of disguising or concealing the identity of a person including camouflage paint or cream, a mask or a balaclava, but not including headwear, worn by a member of a religious group, of a type customarily worn by members of the group

15 a manually operated surf ski or surfboard, kayak, boat or canoe

16 a floatation device 

17 a kite or other device suspended by airflow and controlled by a string or cord attached to it

18 a remotely controlled device, including a vehicle or a model of a vehicle, including, for example, any of the following operated by remote control— (a) a toy car (b) a model plane (c) a drone or unmanned aerial vehicle

19 a thing purporting to be a Commonwealth accreditation or access approval, that is not genuine

20 a thing purporting to be an identity card for an appointed person or a police officer, that is not genuine

21 any other thing prescribed under a regulation

Obama… Outspends rivals… on hotel during G20 meeting! 

Business/Economics

While Arby’s promotes its meatful menu the restaurant chain has been bleeding stores & jobs!

15 November 2014 (03:19 UTC-07 Tango)/22 Muharram 1436/24 Aban 1393/23 Yi-Hai 4712

I love Arby’s new pro-meat advertisements, but it might be hiding the fact that Arby’s has gotten lean, and really mean, with its employees.

Just this year nearly a dozen Arby’s restaurants shutdown, without any notice.

Here’s an incomplete list of the 2014 Arby’s shutdowns, so far:

Arkansas: The Jonesboro fire marshall shutdown the Arby’s, saying several trusses supporting the roof were broken and that the only thing holding it together was the rubber membrane roofing material!

Colorado: A Glenwood Springs Arby’s shutdown.  The 15 employees were given three days notice.

Kentucky: Reports that the Elizabethtown Arby’s shutdown, customers were confused thinking it was a temporary closure caused by a fire.

New Jersey: The 15 years old Glassboro Arby’s shutdown, 12 jobs lost.

North Carolina: There’s no beef in Elizabeth City as yet another Arby’s restaurant shuts down.

Ohio: A Salem Arby’s shutdown for a couple weeks of remodeling.

Pennsylvania: The following Arby’s shutdown without notice to employees; Wilkes-Barre Township, Scranton, Frackville,  Kingston, Pine Grove and Pennsdale.  The franchise owner went chapter 7 bankrupt.

South Carolina: A Lexington Arby’s was shutdown for several days after an SUV crashed through the front of the restaurant.  In Walterboro, after 12 years the local Arby’s restaurant shutdown without notice. Local news reports say the restaurant has two signs posted on the building, one saying “Now Hiring!” and the other saying “Sorry we’re close.” (yep, they actually forgot to put the ‘d’ on the end of “close”). Local news reports said no restaurant official would talk to them to explain why the restaurant shutdown.

West Virginia: Two Arby’s shutdown without notice, one in Bluefield and one in Princeton.  A Bluefield code enforcement officer was shocked saying “I don’t think many people had any forewarning about Arby’s. That’s a high traffic area. They didn’t seem to have any shortage of customers.”  The franchise owner went chapter 7 bankrupt.

In 2011 Arby’s was sold off for $430-million.  Between 2011 and 2014 at least one hundred Arby’s were shutdown.

Business/Economics, International, Opinion

Obama spends BooKoo tax dollars on hotel during G20 meeting! Outspends rivals!

15 November 2014 (02:26 UTC-07 Tango)/22 Muharram 1436/24 Aban 1393/23 Yi-Hai 4712

U.S. president Barack Obama is attending the global conspiracy meeting known as G20.  It’s being held in the British empire country of Australia, where World ‘leaders’ had to actually outbid rivals for the best hotel rooms!

U.S. taxpayers can be proud that ‘their’ president was the top bidder, spending $2146 USD per night at the Brisbane Marriott!  That’s almost double what second highest bidder British empire United Kingdom prime minister David Cameron is spending on his hotel room.  (let’s not forget all those security guards get taxpayer funded hotel rooms as well)

What better way to lead the Group of Twenty economies than to spend your taxpayer’s money like there was no tomorrow, while your domestic economy continues to get flushed down the toilet!

Business/Economics

U.S. Food Crisis, September 2014: “I’ve never made a profit here in 14 years, and that’s the truth!” No more Cheerios? Russian sanctions killing U.S. farm jobs? “the situation…is only going to get worse”

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of September, 2014: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production.

It’s been revealed that the draconian cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) will affect only four U.S. states: Michigan, Wisconsin, New Jersey and New Hampshire. The rest of the states say they will use their own taxpayer’s money to make up for the federal cuts. The cuts come at a time when there are record numbers of people needing food help. The cuts were passed by Congress and signed by the Obama regime. And administrators of SNAP say across the U.S. ‘white’ people are getting the most help for buying food (43%). 

California: Cereal maker General Mills announced they will shutdown their 67 years old Lodi factory by the end of 2015, 430 jobs lost!  Administrators blame crashing cereal sales.   In Whittier, Kroger announced it will shutdown yet another Ralph’s grocery store, 62 jobs lost in November. Kroger has been blaming the increase health insurance costs for employees, forced by Obama Care.  Egg supplier Moark announced they are ending operations in several cities by November, 187 jobs lost and the price of eggs will continue going up!  In Fullerton, MBM Foodservice warned it will shutdown in December, 76 jobs lost.

Colorado: In Wheat Ridge, after 26 years Gold’s Corner Grocery store shutdown.

Florida: In Miami, after 44 years Miami’s Best Pizza shutdown. The property owner pulled the rug out from under the restaurant owner’s feet, by renting the building to somebody willing to pay far more in rent.   It was revealed that Reilly’s Westshore Taphouse shutdown “…due to circumstance beyond our control between the city of Tampa and our landlord.” Kerry’s Nursery lost 51 hectares (128 acres) to foreclosure! The nursery was planning on growing medical marijuana under the recent law, but for some odd reason the state government has yet to approve any applications for growing the potentially money making crop.  In Myrtle Beach, after only a few years the Celtic themed Tilted Kilt pub shutdown, despite having 17 years to go on their lease! According to local reports the franchisee owner sold out to somebody else, and company administrators refuse comment.  In Jacksonville, after 68 years Fred Cotten’s BBQ shutdown, the current owner-operator revealed the U.S. economy has always sucked for him: “The financial aspect of this, I cannot continue to absorb it. I’ve never made a profit here in 14 years, and that’s the truth!”-Bill Cowart, took over restaurant in 2000

Georgia: In Atlanta, after two years Dough Bakery vegetarian restaurant suddenly shutdown. No reason given by the owners.  After 60 years the iconic Zesto Drive-In restaurant shutdown, the family owners say they were forced to sell by greedy property developers.  In Augusta, artificial sweetener maker Nutrasweet announced they must halt production and kill 200 jobs due to tough competition from  imported artificial sweeteners!

Illinois: In Geneva, after 35 years the owners of the ‘health’ food store Soup to Nuts announced they will shutdown in October.  In Alton, a Dairy Queen shutdown.  The franchise owners said sales were so bad it wasn’t worth it to renew their franchise license.  The Illinois Policy Institute reports that the number of Prairie Staters whose incomes have crashed, and therefore should qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps), has hit 745-thousand. The institute says for every one person who loses a job at least two adults go begging to the government for food.

Indiana: In Fort Wayne, the owner of all three Papa Murphy’s take-n-bake pizza joints announced they will shutdown in November!  Local news reports say employees blamed the lack of sales.  Also in Fort Wayne, after more than 50 years iconic Atz’s Ice Cream Shoppes shutdown without notice! Local news reports say the family business took an economic nosedive three years ago, when they were forced to shutdown their Kendallville ice cream factory.  County tax assessors say the family now owes several thousands of dollars in property taxes.

Kansas: Farm equipment maker AGCO tried to blame their factory shutdown and killing of at least 111 jobs on the embargo against U.S. farm equipment by Russia, however, ag analysts say it’s really the suck-ass economy: “With depressed crop prices, farmers don’t want to spend money, and large equipment dealers like John Deere, like AGCO, are starting to see the effects, and they’re being proactive.”-John Jenkinson, The Ag Network

Kentucky: In the Nulu district of Louisville, Taco Punk shutdown.  The owners blame road construction which “decisively cut off easy access for downtown workers to NuLu during the crucial lunch hours. … It is clear that the situation in NuLu is only going to get worse…”

Maine: Anti-2nd Amendment Pepsi shutting down their warehouse ops in Portland and Augusta, about 100 jobs affected!  Pepsi says the bad economy is forcing them to consolidate operations.  In Portland, after 25 years vegetarian Pepperclub-Good Egg Café shutdown. Local news reports said the owner had “…anticipated a very profitable summer….but numbers dipped this summer to levels I have never seen!” The owner also blamed steadily increasing rent: “I’m so confused as to what happened. I know the city has reached a saturation point. I was looking at places that were $35 a square foot and I just about fell over!”-Melissa Sawyer

Maryland: In Hagerstown, Sheetz Fresh Food Made to Order shutdown.

Massachusetts: General Mills announced they will shutdown their Methuen yogurt factory, 144 jobs lost!

Michigan:  In Rochester Hills, the Sweet Spot Candy Shoppe shutdown. In Saginaw, after nearly 40 years the Ponderosa Steakhouse shutdown without notice, or reason given.

Minnesota: It’s been revealed that of the 18 Roundy’s Rainbow grocery stores that were up for sale, nine failed to sell and were shutdown, and two that were sold were shutdown by the new owner (Jerry’s Enterprises), nearly 1-thousand jobs lost!  Minneapolis based food giant General Mills revealed its profits for its fiscal 1st quarter crashed 25%! They will continue with job killing.

Mississippi: In Biloxi, after two years the Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant shutdown. Attorneys for the casino said the property owner refused to allow the building of a hotel, which was part of the original plan.  In Long Beach, Rouses Supermarket shutdown.

Missouri: In Ladue, after nearly 70 years Spicer’s toy and candy store shutdown, they couldn’t afford the new lease.  In Florissant, after 95 years (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Yacovelli Restaurant shutdown. In Saint Louis, California based Hamburger Mary’s shutdown due to the landlord losing “…the building in foreclosure, and the bank is now forcing us out in order to sell the building.” 

Nebraska: British empire Canada based Agrium laid off 33 people at their fertilizer and feed factory in Fairbury. They’re shutting down their zinc sulfate ops, local news reports said company administrators refused to say why.  In North Platte, after five years Margie’s Bar and Grill shutdown.

Nevada: In Reno, after 27 years Scolari’s Food & Drug Company announced it will shutdown in October, 48 jobs lost.  Company administrators said the bad economy was forcing them to “streamline” ops.

New Hampshire: In Merrimack, reports that after 11 years Swan Chocolates reduced their cafe hours to the public.  The owners said they needed to get back to creating new eats, and they can’t do that while running a full time retail eatery.

New Mexico: In Clovis, after 46 years family owned grocery store Stansell’s Thriftway shutdown.

New York: In Canton, kitchen utensil maker Corning is now asking its newly hired employees to voluntarily quit! In the middle of August Corning hired on 40 new employees, but now says a sudden, and huge crash in sales is forcing them to cancel their plans for expansion. In Jamaica (at the JFK airport), LSG Sky Chefs warned it will shutdown by January 2015, at least 139 jobs lost and 200 jobs to be transfered!  In Binghamton, anti-2nd Amendment Pepsi warned it will shutdown their bottling factory in November, 74 jobs lost. In the same city dairy distributor HP Hood also warned they will shutdown in November, 32 jobs lost.

North Carolina: I warned back in February that iconic cereal maker Kelloggs (aka Kellogg) was about to launch its job killing operation Project K. Local news reports say Project K has begun with the first victims, numbering 161, to be made unemployed in January! The job killing under Project K is said to last until 2018! Company officials say they’re hopeful they can cut their costs by $475-million over the next four years, meaning they are not optimistic about any economic recovery!

Ohio: In Cincinnati, after almost six years the owners of the Mainstay Rock Bar announced they will shutdown in October. There was no official reason, but rumors say the building is being renovated.

Oklahoma: In Tulsa, Reasor’s announced they will shutdown a grocery store within the next two months. It could be blamed on Reasor’s takeover of two competing Food Pyramid grocery stores.  After 11 years LaDonna’s Fancy Foods store shutdown.

Oregon: In Portland, Produce Row Cafe beer bar shutdown: “It is with a heavy heart that we close Produce Row today for an indefinite hiatus. We understand this is a surprise for many and know that we could not be more grateful for all of your support over the last 40 years.”

Pennsylvania:  In Shamokin Dam after 50 years of eats, the owners of Tedd’s Landing restaurant announced they’ll shutdown by November, due to the suck-ass economy.  In Hazleton (Hazle Township), Archer Daniels Midland killed 90 chocolate maker jobs after being taken over by evil food processor Cargill. Local news reports say the remaining 118 Umpa Lumpas are in limbo as Cargill has made no announcement about what they’re going to do with their newly acquired chocolate factory. Cargill administrators say they are in the middle of a $440-million deal involving taking over food factories around the World. Their plan is to consolidate operations, which means massive layoffs, possibly in the thousands.  In Lemoyne, after 18 years Bob’s Bagels & Philly Style Hoagies shutdown.  In Robesonia, food distributor Associated Wholesales now bankrupt busted and already selling off its assets.

Rhode Island: After 31 years French restaurant Basil’s of Narragansett shutdown because the greedy property owner refused to reduce the rent. Local news reports say the owners of the restaurant were active in supporting the community.

South Carolina: In Columbia, hope is lost for the Harvest Hope Food Bank. They have to layoff ten employees, and reduce hours for the other 78. The operators of the po-folks food non-profit claim it’s not because of decreased donations, rather demand for food has skyrocketed, and they had some equipment breakdown which must be repaired.  In Eutaw, after 29 years Chef’s Choice Steakhouse shutdown: “These are difficult times. Financially, steak prices are really high. It is hard to make ends meet. It was a tough decision for us to make.”-Dareen Bell Connor, co-owner

Tennessee: Bread & Company shutdown their West Nashville restaurant, due to being unable to pay the rent.  Massive food producer Cargill announced they’re shutting down a Memphis corn mill in January 2015, 440 jobs lost!  Cargill A-holes, I mean administrators claim the mill is “underutilized”.  In Chattanooga, Ferrara Candy announced they are selling off their factory, 95 jobs affected.  They already killed 100 jobs prior to the announcement!  At one point the factory employed 450 people, back when it was owned by Farley’s & Sathers.

Texas: In Round Rock, after only nine months Curly’s Carolina BBQ restaurant shutdown.

Utah: In Saint George, Iowa based Blue Bunny shutdown an ice cream factory, 100 jobs lost! Company administrators claim they must consolidate operations back to Iowa to “remain competitive” in this suck-ass economy.

Vermont: Guild Fine Meats sandwich shop shutdown.

Virginia: In Troutville, after 32 years the Waffle House shutdown. The restaurant owners claim they are moving to a new location that can increase profits, in other words the old property owner wants more rent.  In Richmond, after 38 years Buddy’s Place announced it will shutdown in January 2015.  The owner blames the greedy landlord for demanding more rent.

Wisconsin: In Green Bay, The Urban Frog restaurant warned it might shutdown, due to the death of the owner.  In Milwaukee, iconic home and industry food canning supplier Ball announced they will kill 24 jobs in November. They killed 74 jobs at the same factory last year. Company administrators blame it on crashing sales to corporate food producers.  In La Crosse, Hooters restaurant shutdown. Restaurant administrators said it’s not worth it to renew the lease.

U.S. Food Crisis, August 2014

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update, 14 November 2014: Sudden shutdown of a Wisconsin Kmart!

It’s been revealed that another Wisconsin Kmart is shutting down, this time in just a couple of weeks from now.

update 12 November 2014

Here’s the updated list of U.S. Sears/Kmart store closings that I’ve been compiling 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), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 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), 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? Yuba City Kmart (63 jobs lost), Rocklin Kmart (at least 63 jobs lost, the store had just posted “Now Hiring” signs), San Leandro Kmart (102 jobs lost), Cupertino Sears and Auto Center (number of employees affected not made public, no WARN filed).

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, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost).

Delaware: Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost), recently revealed Claymont Kmart (87 jobs lost).

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), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost), Winter Springs Kmart (69 jobs lost), Naples Kmart (72 jobs lost), New Port Richey Kmart (58 jobs lost), ‘redevelopment’ of Aventura Sears & Auto Center into an “open-air village” (unknown how many jobs affected).

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.

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost! GGP spending $573-million chopping it up into smaller store spaces), 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’. Latest news from inside sources say Sears Holdings will not comment on any plans to expand the small amount of Craftsman products already being sold at the Kmart, or shift the Kenmore products line, from the closing Chubbuck Sears to the Pocatello Kmart. In fact all plans for the Pokey Kmart are in a ‘holding pattern’.

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?) 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), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 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.

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), Muncie Kmart (59 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on Coliseum Boulevard North (69 jobs lost), Decatur Kmart (49 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Madison Avenue (131 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Washington Street (139 jobs lost), Bedford Kmart (62 jobs lost), Indianapolis (Evansville) Sears & Auto Center at Washington Square Mall (91 jobs lost), Greenwood Kmart (78 jobs lost).

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), Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost), Ames Kmart (44 jobs lost), Fort Dodge Sears (no job loss numbers made public, yet. The Auto Center was secretly shutdown in September).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown), Wichita Sears store & Auto Center (103 jobs lost).

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), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost).

Louisiana: Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown.

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears rebuild & call center (115 jobs lost), Baltimore Kmart on Wabash Avenue (107 jobs lost).

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost),
Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost).

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, Saginaw Kmart on Bay Road, Flint Kmart on Dort Highway (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), Waterford Township Sears (no word on how many jobs lost), Rochester Hills Kmart (77 jobs lost), ‘perfect Kmart town’ of Port Huron Kmart (188 jobs lost), Flint Kmart on Miller Road (81 jobs lost), Burton Kmart (85 jobs lost), Madison Heights Kmart (179 jobs lost), it’s now obvious the last remaining Saginaw Kmart on Gratiot will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January, Ann Arbor Kmart (59 jobs lost), Iron Mountain Kmart (54 jobs lost), Bangor Township Sears aka Bay City Mall Sears, the Auto Center was already secretly shutdown some time ago (at least 47 jobs lost), Big Rapids Kmart (about 50 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. Anoka Kmart (47 jobs lost), Blaine Kmart (60 jobs lost), Burnsville Kmart (62 jobs lost), Waite Park Kmart (57 jobs lost).

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), Florissant Kmart (100 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold), Great Falls Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost) due to great sales (ironically) the shutdown date has been moved from 07 December 2014 to 23 November, Bozeman Kmart (37 jobs lost).

Nebraska: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost), Omaha Kmart near West Maple Road (50 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), Claremont Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New Jersey: Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost), Randolf Kmart (91 jobs lost), Paramus Kmart (74 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 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), BBN reader reported that the Ithaca Sears and Auto Center shutdown and one month later it’s been officially confirmed (at least 37 jobs lost), DeWitt Kmart (92 jobs lost), Auburn Sears (51 jobs lost), Massena Sears and Auto Center (51 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), Gastonia Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), Kinston Kmart (64 jobs lost), Cary Sears (66 jobs lost).

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost), Dickinson Kmart (41 jobs lost, despite a “Now Hiring” sign on the front of the store).

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 Lockbourne Industrial Parkway Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus, Sears Product Rebuild-Call Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart #3767 (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 jobs lost), Solon Sears & Auto Center (at least 53 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), Enid Sears and Auto Center (at least 38 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), Albany Sears (57 jobs lost), in October a BBN reader warned that Oregon City Kmart was being quietly shutdown, confirmed on 06 November 2014 by Sears Holdings (70 jobs lost).

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!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 jobs lost), Frazer (Pittsburg Mills Mall) Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), North Cornwall Township Sears (51 jobs lost), King of Prussia Sears and Auto Center (no word on number of jobs lost), Lebanon Sears (51 jobs lost), Scotland Chambersburg Mall Sears and Auto Center (62 jobs lost).

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), Myrtle Beach Kmart (59 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 Cool Springs 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), Dickson Kmart (65 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 reported that the building was demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported), Woods Cross Kmart (54 jobs lost).

Vermont: Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost).

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), Dale City Kmart (69 jobs lost), Chesapeake Sears and Auto Center (82 jobs lost), Front Royal Kmart (88 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), Marysville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 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 recently revealed now owned by Green Bay Packers, will be torn down (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost), Glendale Sears store & Auto Center (86 jobs lost), Janesville Kmart (70 jobs lost), Glendale Sears Rebuild center (67 jobs lost), Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 jobs lost), Eau Claire Kmart (93 jobs lost), recently revealed Plymouth Kmart (59 jobs lost before Xmas).

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, 09 – 10 September 2014: 3-thousand jobs gone by Thanksgiving! Obamacare kills the mood as hundreds of U.S. penile dysfunction jobs move to Canada! Hundreds more coal miners now unemployed!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

The Carolinas HealthCare System announced they must kill at least 100 jobs in North and South Carolina by the beginning of 2015,  due to Obama Care!  Reduced insurance payments as a result of the so called ‘Affordable Car Act’ will cause the hospital system to lose at least $110-million USD in their fiscal 2015 year.

California: Yet another video game maker killing jobs, this time Rohnert Park based S2 Games. Administrators admited it was due to “mismanagement” of the company.  In Lancaster, Obama Care killing at least 99 jobs with Antelope Valley Hospital in November.  In Los Angeles, Too Big to Jail Bank of America announced they were laying off an additional five people in November.

Colorado: The Denver International Airport announced 650 ramp and baggage employees will be laid off due to the ending of a contract between United Airlines and SkyWest Airlines!

Florida: What housing market recovery? In Tampa, British empire United Kingdom based Too Big to Jail HSBC announced it will kill 83 mortgage jobs between now and April 2015.  In Boca Raton, an office building worth $23-million is now in foreclosure!  The buyer, who is listed as City National Bank, missed a payment (although they deny it).  It turns out the property was formerly owned by Too Big to Jail Bank of America!

Georgia: In Atlanta, after two years Dough Bakery vegetarian restaurant suddenly shutdown.  No reason given by the owners.

Hawaii: In Honolulu, city administrators announced the end of city trash services in January 2015.  City admin says they cannot afford to  update their trash trucks.  An inept reporter for Pacific Business News actually stated that city trash service is “free”.  Obviously he’s never had to pay a ‘property tax’ bill!

Louisiana: The third best ranked hospital in the Pelican State, Saint Francis Medical Center, announced 300 healthcare workers will become unemployed!  Administrators blamed Obama Care, referring to it as “Major market shifts in the health care industry”.

Massachusetts: Boston based Macworld magazine stopped hardcopy publication. An undisclosed number of employees now unemployed.

New Mexico: In Albuquerque, after only a few months and tens of thousands of dollars in renovations the Azul Burrito shutdown.  The owner blames the city for road construction that literally killed off business by destroying parking.

New Jersey: In Atlantic City, it’s confirmed the Taj Mahal casino shutting down in November,  more than 28-hundred jobs lost!

New York: NYC based producer of crappy entertainment shows like American Idol, Core Media Group (not to be confused with CoreMedia CMS), laid off an undisclosed number of employees including their president.  That Which Cannot be Named is refusing to stop Obama Care from killing 58 mental and physically disabled  healthcare jobs at the  Jewish Board of Family and Children Services.   Forest Laboratories issued a WARN saying it will shutdown ops in Commack, Hauppauge, Farmingdale and NYC.  Mid 2015 has been given as the shutdown date, at least 123 employees affected!  Forest Labs was taken over by Actavis.

North Carolina: Wisconsin based National Tissue Company shutting down their King factory by Xmas, at least 40 jobs lost.  The bad economy is forcing them to consolidate ops.

Ohio: In Cincinnati, after almost six years the owners of the Mainstay Rock Bar announced they will shutdown in October.   There was no official reason, but rumors say the building is being renovated.  Dow Chemical shutting down their 55 years old, and “indispensable” Findlay factory in time for Xmas, 70 jobs lost.  In the 1960s the factory employed 494 people.   The reason for the factory shutdown is that a 2010 state tax incentive expired!  By the way, the same factory also got $2-million in federal tax credits in 2010, however, company administrators say they also spent $7-million upgrading the factory to make chemicals for solar panels.

Pennsylvania: In Robesonia, food distributor Associated Wholesales now bankrupt busted and already selling off its assets.  Apparently Obama Care doesn’t want men having sex as a legal drugs pushing company that makes money off of penis dysfunction, Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, laid off 200 employees!  Company administrators directly blamed the new taxes created by the so called ‘Affordable Care Act’, and warned more layoffs on the way as they are now moving their U.S. operations to Canada!

Tennessee:  What housing market recovery? In Memphis, the Memphis Area Association of Realtors report that home sales have dropped 24.7% from August 2013 to August 2014, but it could be because prices have gone up 11%.  In West Nashville, after 12 years the Hillwood Strike and Spare Family Fun Center was shutdown by the greedy property owner: “Through several attempts to negotiate a new lease on our building, our standing in the community, with our customers and the thousands of lives that are affected with our closing was no match for the money they could make otherwise.”-Larry Schmittou, fun center owner

Texas: Houston based Waste Management is at it a gain.  Reports say a new round of layoffs could hit 700!  It’s blamed on the recent $1.9-billion sale of its failed waste-to-energy operation.

Virginia: At Naval Air Stations Virginia Beach and Norfolk, taxsucking California based military contractor URS warned 208 people becoming unemployed if they lose their contract in October!

Washington DC: The U.S. Air Force revealed they’re laying off 214 junior officers by Xmas!

West Virginia: Struggling Patriot Coal announced an additional 360 coal miners to become unemployed!  In June they laid off 75 coal miners. Back in April they laid off 100 miners!   Company administrators blame it on “The combination of increasing EPA regulations, mild summer weather and low natural gas prices has resulted in thermal coal pricing at levels below operating costs at many Appalachian mines.” They also warned of more layoffs after they conduct a new two month review.

05-08 September 2014

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.

“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

World War 3 Afghanistan, 01 – 04 November 2014: Afghan cops rebel over loss of U.S. taxpayer income by selling U.S. funded weapons to Mujahideen! U.S. occupation equals big money for Iran, with help from Obama regime!

Badakhshan Province: In Argo District, battles resulted in at least eight people killed.  In Wardoj District, major battles resulted in at least 44 people killed.  Local police say the battles were over control of 20 villages and the rescue of police believed to have been taken POW by Mujahideen.

Ghazni Province: In Gilan District, Ministry of Defense says battles resulted in at least five people killed, eight wounded.

Herat Province: In Shindand District, a local government police base was attacked with artillery and machine guns for an hour, at least three people wounded, an undisclosed number of people killed.

Kabul Province: In Kabul City, Afghan news investigations have revealed that local police in three provinces have gone without pay for at least three months!  As a result they’ve started selling their U.S. taxpayer funded weapons to local Mujahideen.  The Afghan Ministry of Interior denies the allegations, however, Afghan news media have interviewed several police chiefs from Ghazni, Logar and Maidan Wardak provinces who said that most of their funding came from the United States and for some reason it stopped three to four months ago.  As a result they’ve begun selling their weapons and ammo to Mujahideen, and hundreds of cops have joined Mujahideen.  The police chiefs claim many of their police and their families are now starving due to no incomes.

Kandahar Province: In Kandahar City police shot and killed a man riding a motorcycle.  They claimed he was a Kamikaze bomber, but Mujahideen have not claimed him as one of their own.  The deputy governor of Kandahar was assassinated while taking a class at the university, the assassins escaped.  Reports say he was sniped through the classroom window.  In Maiwand District, Afghan National Army personnel reported they called in NATO airstrikes, killing at least four people.

Khost Province: In Sabari District, Ministry of Defense officials say battles resulted in at least seven people killed, eight wounded.

Kunar Province: In Dangam District, local administrators blame artillery fire from Pakistan for wounding two people.

Laghman Province: In Laghman City, an Islamic State style attack as three people in a car were killed, four wounded, after being shot up by passing gunmen.   In Alisheng District, an artillery attack killed one person and wounded six.

Logar Province: In Azra District, a Kamikaze bomber attacked Afghan National Army and Police personnel, killing nine people and wounding 20.

Nangarhar Province: In Chaparhar District, local government officials claim they’ve killed five insurgents, and captured 100.  They said many are from Pakistan, however, Afghan Mujahideen say the people now in government prisons are not only not from Pakistan but are local villagers who’re not even members of the Mujahideen.  It sounds like a land grab op by local government administrators.

Paktia Province: In Gardez City, an explosion in a market killed 24 people and wounded 23.

Parwan Province: Bagram airbase was hit with artillery fire.  The Afghan Ministry of Defense says the arty round hit the infamous U.S. created torture prison, at least 25 prison victims wounded, one killed.  U.S.-NATO-ISAF condemned the attack on their torture prison.

NATO member Turkey has agreed to host police training for 200 Afghan women.  The women will be trained in Turkey for four months, there was no mention of who was paying for the training.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that economic trade with Afghanistan is now at a record $4-billion USD per year!  Despite the U.S. occupation Iran has built roads, power lines, border stations and many other infrastructure projects linking the two nations.

This comes as The Wall Street Journal investigation revealed that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) actually turned to Iran for financial help in Afghanistan, in direct violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran! (Barack Obama is the Commander in Chief of the DoD)

The commander of the Army National Guard (from the U.S. state of Oregon) was returned to the U.S. for ‘health’ reasons.  The exact reason was not made clear.

Several members of the Army National Guard’s 19th Special Forces (Utah U.S.A.), and veterans of the Afghan and Iraq occupations, are in big trouble for using taxpayer funded property and even an M109A6 Paladin SP gun, in a booby video!  The video shows scantily clad women, with their breasts about to pop out of their tops, catwalking with assault rifles and rubbing themselves on military vehicles.  The “behind the scenes” Hot Shots Calender video was made on Camp Williams (I been there a few times), which is also home to massive civilian data collection ops.

In the U.S. state of Michigan, protestors announced plans to demonstrated outside the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base.  The base is home to armed Reaper UAV (aka RPV, drones) ops.

After being based on Bagram airbase more than 300 air-militia-personnel of the Air National Guard’s 187th Fighter Wing (Alabama, U.S.A.) returned home.