Tag Archives: wall street

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 01 – 03 September 2014: High school drop-outs see 46% decline in wages! School district turns to used car sales? More state & city government ass-holes killing off jobs! “Most of these churches, if you go into them, you see very small congregations…” God’s rapture kills another church?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

California: Corporate executive security company, Security Industry Specialist, warned they will kill off 335 jobs in October!  San Francisco based legal drugs pusher Exelixis warned it will kill 160 jobs!  The company’s drug for a specific type of thyroid cancer failed to work on prostate cancer.   More proof the internet is not killing brick-n-mortar stores; Los Angeles based internet women’s clothing company Nasty Gal laid off at least 28 employees.  Company officials said it was part of their “vision of the future”.  In Burbank, Warner Brothers movie maker trying to kill hundreds of jobs through buyouts!  It’s blamed on Aussie Rupert Murdock backing out of his takeover offer, and parent company Time Warner’s (Turner Broadcasting) ordering of massive job culling across all its operations.  In Simi Valley, Too Big to Jail Bank of America warned it will kill 36 jobs in October.

Colorado: What housing market recovery?  West Metro Fire Rescue is recommending job killing and a 3% pay cut due to voters rejecting a levy that would have increased local tax funding.  Fire administrators blame their lack of funding on crashing home values.   The ignorant firefighters don’t seem to realize that you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip, in other words the taxpayers are maxed out due to their own crashing revenues and even unemployment!  “It’s the economy, stupid!”-attributed to Bill Clinton

Florida: 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.

Georgia: Fort Valley University laid off 14 employees due to a 38% crash in enrollment ( what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome, DSS).  School administrators said more “tough measures” will follow.

Louisiana: A company connected to the 2010 Gulf (why do so many Canucks and New Englanders pronounce it Golf?) of Mexico oil spill is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Matagorda Island Gas Operations was one of four companies accused last year by federal regulators of refusing to comply with an order to hand over documents relating to the 2010 disaster.  This bankruptcy might be a way the company is trying to get out of paying fines, because its assets far out way its debts.

Maryland: More proof the internet is not killing brick-n-mortar stores; Zenimax Online Studios killed an undisclosed number of jobs, despite claiming to “invest heavily” in its new online game.  In the Port of Baltimore, state administrators killed off plans by CSX Transportation railroad company to use double stacked container cars.  CSX has promoted the plan for five years, saying it’s needed to deal with demands for increased freight shipments, which would have created more jobs.

Michigan: Detroit based Compuware was sold off, company administrators warn massive layoffs to follow. Compuware is now owned by California based Thoma Bravo.  Detroit Public Schools are so desperate they’re now in the business of selling used cars!  Specifically, the school system auctioned off 18 surplus police cars.  I couldn’t find any reports on how the school district got a hold of the former cop cars.  More proof Michigan is a failed state; the Michigan League for Public Policy reports that overall wages have crashed 10% since 1979.  When you break it down by sex and education, low wage earning men saw a whopping 31.2% decline in pay, while adults with no high school diploma saw a 46.3% crash in earnings!  God refuses to stop the shutdown of the Saint Louis the King Church in Detroit.  Catholic administrators blame crashing membership (rapture?): “Most of these churches, if you go into them, you see very small congregations….The contributions, even when merged with all three churches, are very low, so, you can’t maintain everything.”-John Karpiej, 38 year church goer who was apparently ‘left behind’

Missouri:  Noranda Aluminum is killing 200 jobs and halting its expansion of a smelter!  Company administrators blame skyrocketing utility costs.  They even asked the state utility commission to grant a 25% reduction in their electricity bill, which was denied: “The long-term future of this plant depends on our ability to secure an affordable and competitive power rate.”-Kip Smith, CEO

New Mexico: After 35 years Cottonwood Printing shutdown by the city of Albuquerque, 12 jobs lost.  Albuquerque city A-Holes are seizing the property under their Imminent Domain law, so they can build a road.

New York: It was revealed that Obama Care killed jobs with Rural/Metro Medical Services, last month.  Company administrators finally notified the state that they were forced to consolidate their medical billing services, killing off at least 68 jobs.  In Endicott, Jim’s Formal Wear warned it will shutdown in November, 61 jobs to be lost between December and January.   In Bronx, SCO Family of Services’ warned it is shutting down their homeless shelter in November, 27 jobs lost.

North Carolina: I warned back in February that iconic cereal maker Kelloggs 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!  North Carolina’s tax breaks for the TV-Movie industry are proving to be a big fail.  Producers of the series Banshee are moving to Louisiana, blaming it on the high cost of doing business in the Old North State.  State administrators claim they will lose $40-million as a result!

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 Lemoyne, after 18 years Bob’s Bagels & Philly Style Hoagies shutdown.

Rhode Island: Providence Newspaper Guild killed 22 jobs, it’s the result of being taken over by New Media Investment Group.  Local news reports said non-Guild positions were killed off as well.  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 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

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.

Virginia: Tysons Corner based newspaper USA Today killed more jobs.  This time as many as 70 people rendered unemployed.  Company administrators said they are shifting to “self sufficient reporters producing publication ready copy”, which probably means reporters who can handle all aspects of news gathering like being their own assignment editors, camera operators, writers, copy editors, etc.  (hey, I’ve done that for almost two decades, working for small market NBC TV affiliates, and now BBN!) 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.

30-31 August 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

Influenza

Influenza Update, 03 November 2014: Flu kills 3 Canadians! U.S. CDC blasts ignorant U.S. doctors! 71% of French refuse vaccinations! More proof vaccines are overrated & all about the money as British empire takes control of U.S. flu shot supply?

Australia: The British empire country is about to take partial control of flu vaccine supply in the United States.  Specifically, Aussie pharmaceutical giant CSL has made an offer to take over Novartis’ North Carolina U.S.A. flu vaccine operations.   Novartis is based in Switzerland and is in big trouble primarily because of numerous revelations that they doctored the effects of their vaccines and drugs.   Many revelations came when employees in Japan blew the whistle on Novartis, revealing that many ‘independent’ lab workers ‘testing’ the drugs were actually undercover Novartis employees, or were being paid off by Novartis!

This is just more proof you can’t trust government health officials when they push you to get vaccinated, and you have to wonder why Australian CSL wants to take over a potentially fraudulent vaccine operation in the U.S.?  I’ll give you a couple of reasons why; Novartis’ North Carolina vaccine ops were just given a big contract by the Obama regime to make ebola vaccines!  Also, officials with CSL openly stated that they expect the future of forced inoculations around the World to make the Aussie drug pushing company $1-billion USD annually, within five years!   It’s all about the money.

Canada: In Alberta Province, three people now dead.  At least 30 people hospitalized, 66 cases confirmed by lab work.  The versions of flu being reported are H1N1, H3N2 and flu B.  Alberta Health Services report that nearly 400-thousand residents are vaccinated. Provincial health administrators are now making vaccinations free to everybody (upfront anyway, they’re actually paid for with taxes the British empire government takes from the people. In the United States people are robbed by both their government in the form of taxes, and by insurance companies, and in most cases they still have to pay upfront for vaccinations! So much for Obama Care).

Frightened by the deaths in western Alberta Province, health administrators in eastern Quebec Province say they’re getting aggressive with vaccinations.  No they’re not going to make them free for everybody, they’re just going to spend more taxpayer money on TV PSAs (Public Service Announcements).

Officials in Quebec claim 300 provincial residents die every year from flu, however I could not find any hard-n-fast facts to back that claim up.  I checked my previous flu season reports and didn’t find any reported death toll that high.  In fact, for the 2013-14 flu season the first reported flu death in Quebec was in January 2014.  The actual death toll is more likely in the dozens, not hundreds.  Oh, and that’s with only 25% of Québécois (including English speakers) getting vaccinated!

Remember, in my last posting I pointed out that a Canadian news source called the ‘official’ flu death toll hyperbole, because it was totally based on computer model simulations, not actual cases.

The Canadian Public Health Agency reporting that the flu A strain known as H3N2 is the most common type of infection.

European Union:  French Institute of Health and Medical Research administrators are freaking out because seven out of ten (71%) French citizens refuse to get vaccinated!  46% of French citizens say they will never ever willingly be inoculated!  According to French news reports this attitude towards vaccines has remained unchanged for years, despite the French government spending bookoo taxes on trying to convince people to get the shot.

For the 2013-14 flu season only 1202 people were hospitalized in France, mostly children under five and old people over 65.  I didn’t see any reports of deaths.

In Neuwied District, Germany, local health administrators report that 2014 has been an uneventful flu season for them: “We had only five reported cases in 2014; one in February, three in March and one in October.”-Hilde Hamm vom Neuwieder Gesundheitsamt auf RZ

The doctors in the Rhineland-Palatinate (home to Neuwied) say the warmer temps for 2014 are keeping flu at bay.  But wait, you mean it’s not the increased vaccination rate in the German state?  Doctors expressed amazement at the high rates of infections in 2013, and so far hardly any in 2014.   Surveys by an insurance agency, DAK, seems to link increased vaccinations rates (over the privious ten years) with increased numbers of people getting sick!  Mmmm, was it the vaccine making people sick (as I postulated last year)?

Israel: Vaccine maker BiondVax has now patented their one stop shop flu vaccine in every major country in the World.  They claim it renders all other vaccines inept: “BiondVax’s vaccine was designed to contain small pieces of the flu virus that do not change as they are required for the virus’s life cycle. These small pieces are enough to teach the human immune system to recognize all flu strains, so that the body quickly stops the virus from causing illness. Based on these findings, BiondVax anticipates that the universal vaccine, when the development stage is completed, will be broadly effective against present and future strains in contrast to current vaccines that are strain specific.”-Tamar Ben-Yedidia

Switzerland (is not a member of the European Union): Studies show most Swiss are refusing to get vaccinated. The Swiss Office of Public Health is also adjusting their vaccination program, targeting only ‘at risk groups’ (kids, chronically ill and old people, estimated to make up 36% of the Swiss population) for voluntary inoculation. Many studies show that healthy ‘working age’ adults do not get any benefit from vaccinations.

Swiss Office of Public Health (Bundesamt für Gesundheit, oder BAG) surveys also show a reluctance by healthcare workers to get vaccinated, despite massive taxpayer funded pro-vaccination campaigns.    Government administrators are also toying with the idea of following the United States and allow pharmacists to give flu shots.

United States: Apparently ignorant U.S. doctors are still presribing antibiotics for virus infections!  The U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a campaign to get doctors to stop doing that: “Recently I authored a CDC study that examined clinician treatment practices for outpatients with influenza during the 2012-2013 season. Key findings showed that clinicians commonly underprescribed the influenza antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir, and potentially overprescribed common antibiotics to patients with influenza for whom antiviral therapy would have been most beneficial.

Overall, only 16% of patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza received antiviral treatment, whereas 30% were prescribed one of three common antibiotics. Perhaps even more concerning is that only 19% of patients at high risk for influenza complications and who had respiratory symptoms for fewer than 2 days—a group likely to benefit from antiviral therapy—were prescribed an antiviral medication.”-Fiona Havers, CDC medical officer, read (or watch/listen to) more of her damning report here

In Colorado, reports that the Veterans Affairs medical center in Mesa County has already exceeded the number of flu shots they gave out for all of the 2013-14 flu season!   VA medical administrators blame it on public demand: “We’re doing about 100 to 150 shots a day! Normally this time of year we give 35 to 50 a day.”-Paul Sweeney

The sudden increase in paranoids demanding to be shot up with who knows what this flu season is being blamed on the ebola scare, and the fact that the CDC is now claiming this flu season could the most ‘contagious’ yet!

In Florida, a mom has gone public accusing the flu vaccine of paralyzing her daughter for life.  Her nine years old daughter got vaccinated during the 2013-14 flu season, then four days later developed Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM), which can be caused by influenza, or influenza vaccines.

Update, 24 October 2014: Canadian flu death toll is BullShit! 99% failure rate of Navy vaccination program! 

Business/Economics

U.S. Food Crisis, May 2014: No more KFC, Red Lobster, Pizza kitchen, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Ralph’s, Rainbow, TGI Friday’s??? Where’s the beef-n-cheese?

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of May, 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.

California: In Atwater, Mi Pueblo Foods shutting down in August, 279 jobs lost! In San Francisco, Grand Cafe shutting down in July, 63 jobs lost.  In West Covina, California Pizza Kitchen announced they are laying off 60 employees in August.  Also,  San Francisco based Golden Gate Capital could be the new owner of Red Lobster restaurants. The agreed to buy it for $2.1-billion USD! However, the sale won’t be finalized until the first half of 2015. No word on what Golden Gate Capital has in plan for the restaurant. The executives of the original owner, Darden Restaurants, blames the sale on pressure from stockholders.  In Riverside, Kroger owned Ralph’s grocery store announced they will shutdown in July, 80 jobs lost. In La Quinta, Kroger owned Ralph’s grocery store announced they will shutdown in July, 60 jobs lost.   In Laguna Niguel, Kroger announced it is shutting down their Ralph’s grocery store in July, 66 jobs lost. In Ventura, New French Bakery/Starbucks Coffee announced they are shutting down in July, 90 jobs lost.

Georgia:  In Tybee Island, after six years Doc’s Bar shutdown due to rent issues.

Illinois:  In Chicago, after only four years Ing restaurant shutdown.  In Bolingbrook, meat processor Quantum Foods lost a major contract. Company officials told 11-hundred employees not to come to work! The company has been losing revenue since 2012.   In Rockford, Schnuck Markets killed 163 grocery store jobs! Schnucks began “restructuring” operations at its two largest stores, and shutdown two smaller stores that were suffering from crashing sales.

Michigan: In Lansing, Cup of Dessert (aka Decker’s Coffee) shutdown.   In Ann Arbor, Kroger grocery store on South Industrial Highway shutting down in June, 103 jobs lost! It sounds like the property owners jacked up the rent, they claim they had rented the property out to Kroger at “dramatically under market” rates for decades and it was time they made a profit.  A 35 years old Le Dog hot dog stand shutdown.   After only four years Mercy’s Restaurant shutdown. The owners blamed the bad economy for creating inconsistent business.  In East Lansing, after 50 years (some reports say 77 years) Goodrich’s Shop-Rite grocery store shutting down in July, 80 jobs lost. It’s blamed on the property owners who have new plans for the property.  In Saline, after 22 years The Drowsy Parrot coffee shop shutdown without notice. Local news reports said employees were just as shocked as customers. There was no explanation from the owner, only confirmation via text message (the owner didn’t even have the guts to tell employees in person).

Minnesota:  Grocery store operator Roundy’s sold off 18 Rainbow grocery stores, 1-thousand jobs affected! At this point the new owners say they will continue operating the stores, but the names might change. The owner of dozens of Minnesota Taco Bells and Pizza Huts is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted! 140 jobs threatened! Border Foods and Sky Ventures already sold off 54 Pizza Huts back in December. They’ve already been sued for $8-million in back due rent! The company is asking the bankruptcy court to allow them to sell off more restaurants. Company officials cry ‘What economic recovery?’: “Sales have remained stagnant, costs have increased….The combination of the factors has led to a condition where the….margins have decreased and making additional capital investments….is not prudent.”-Barry Zelickson, VP

New York: In NYC, Dallas Restaurant Management renovating Fireside Restaurant and Lounge, 38 jobs lost until the renovations are completed.  National 42nd St. Realty/LIR Management shutting down their TGI Friday’s Restaurant, Tim Horton’s/KFC Food Court restaurants in August, at least 130 jobs lost! Company officials blame the bad economy.

North Carolina: In New Bern, after 79 years Maola Milk & Ice Cream announced they will shutdown in July, 98 jobs lost.

North Dakota: In Harvey, after several years of operations (and several shutdowns) the Branded Beef & Pack is being auctioned off on 04 June. The owner, Minnesota based Maas Companies, says the operation cost them more money then they were making: “Due to challenging economic conditions during the start up phase, the plant was forced to cease operations.” 

Ohio: The new company created by the merger of Anchor Hocking and Oneida kitchen ware, EveryWare Global, is in big trouble. Even with huge layoffs and factory shutdowns in Ohio the company is reporting it lost $38.4-million in its first quarter of 2014!  EveryWare Global is based out of New York, and was created by Monomoy Capital Partners.   In Dayton, Ringo’s North Star Mobile Eatery shutdown. The owners admitted that running a food truck doesn’t jive with raising children.

Pennsylvania:  In Monaca, kitchen utensil maker Anchor Hocking laid off 400 employees “temporarily”! Company officials say it is a money saving move. Anchor Hocking was consolidated with Oneida under the new EverWare Global name.

Texas: In Houston, after 19 years Crapitto’s Cucina Italiana shutdown. The property owner sold off the property to a developer who wants to tear everything down.  In Austin, after 36 years the Tamale House shutdown, the owner died.

Vermont: Keurig Green Mountain (aka Green Mountain Coffee) laid off 12 people: “Over the past several months, we have combined our Massachusetts and Vermont-based consumer-facing teams, allowing us to have a single approach to our consumer care. As a result, we expect a reduction in the number of incoming calls the team will handle directly…”

Wisconsin: In Denmark, after more than 32 years butter/cheese maker Land-O-Lakes shutting down their soft cheese factory in July, at least 90 jobs lost. Company officials say soft cheeses are no longer profitable. An employee who worked there since 1982 called it “a kick in the gut”.

U.S. Food Crisis, April 2014

International

World War 3 Afghanistan, 25 – 28 October 2014: More Afghan government personnel attacking their own government? More mystery deaths of U.S. personnel! More proof Islamic State is in Afghanistan!

Badakhshan Province: Afghan police claim they’ve captured 220kg (485 pounds) of refined opium.  In Wardoj District, Mujahideen attacked several police checkpoints.  Government officials report that 17 cops are MIA, believed to now be POWs.  Four cops were killed.  Apparently the district was liberated by Mujahideen, as government officials launched an offensive to retake the area.  Government officials claim they killed 15 Mujahideen in the offensive, and discovered that many of the ‘Mujahideen’ are from Chechnya and Uzbekistan.  The offensive involved U.S.-NATO airstrikes, many civilians claim they were targeted by the airstrikes, with three villagers being wounded.

Helmand Province: In Marja District, Afghan police claim they’ve captured 420kg (925 pounds) of refined opium.  In Nad Ali District, a U.S.-NATO drone airstrike killed two men on a motorcycle.  Villagers say the men were car mechanics on their their way to work.

Herat Province: Mujahideen attacked a police base, killing two cops and wounded dozens more.  Police say the attackers are now holed up in a house, which is surrounded.

Kabul Province: In Kabul City, reports of three artillery rounds impacting the area that is home to embassies and diplomatic missions.  Police say the only casualty was a single tree.   In demonstrations held at Kabul University students were seen waving Islamic State flags.

Khost Province: In Yaqoobi area, an Afghan National Army soldier killed by explosion.

Kunduz Province: At least three men wearing Afghan National Police uniforms attacked a security base, killing six government attorneys and cops, and wounding ten others.  Police say all of the attackers were killed.  Mujahideen admit the men wearing police uniforms were  infiltrators, Mujahideen also report they’ve attacked responding police units using a Kamikaze car bomber.  Mujahideen say their attacks resulted in at least 24 deaths.

Laghman Province: In Qarghayee District, a villager was detained by government security personnel. Witnesses say the villager made a break for it, and the national government cops blasted away at him with machine guns.  The result was that one grade school student was killed, another student and two villagers were wounded by stray bullets.  Apparently the detained villager got away.

Nangarhar Province: In Khogiyani District, witnesses say government contracted security forces (Arbaki) machine gunned a taxi carrying six people.  Four of the passengers were killed, the driver and one other passenger might not survive their wounds.

Parwan Province: In Bagram District, reports that a Kamikaze bomber attacked a government dismounted patrol.  Mujahideen claim it was a U.S. patrol and that eight were killed, six wounded.  No comment from government or U.S.-NATO officials.

Saripul Province: In Kohistan District, at least 25 government contracted security personnel (Arbaki) switched sides and became Mujahideen.

A Washington Post report says the democrat dominated U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee is recommending that U.S. taxpayers be raped for even more money to give away to Afghanistan, “tens of billions” more!

A U.S. Navy Reserve pilot was found dead at the U.S. base in Qatar.  He is the second U.S. officer to die at the base in October.  Qatar is U.S. CentCom’s jumping off point for operations in Afghanistan.  The USNR officer was a couple of years away from retirement, his death is under investigation.

After a few months of deployment, 115 militia-personnel of the Army National Guard’s 1569th Transportation Company (New York) returned to the U.S. from Afghanistan.   While in Afghanistan 40 of the militiamen qualified for Germany’s Armed Forces Badge for Weapons Proficiency (aka Schützenschnur).

After several months of deployment, 208 militia-personnel of the Army National Guard’s 108th Sustainment Brigade (Illinois U.S.A.) returned from Kuwait, where they supported the Afghan occupation.

Militia-personnel of the Army National Guard’s 195th Forward Support Company (Nebraska U.S.A.) will deploy to Afghanistan.

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 30 – 31 August 2014: “It’s hard work, brother! It’s time to call it quits.” More job killing by property developers! More Obamacare job destruction!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Georgia: Troubled Paine College warning of layoffs.  The school is facing accreditation violation charges and what I call DSS (Disappearing Student Syndrome).  The college is short at least $2.4-million USD, and they blame state and federal governments: “These tough economic times are posing unprecedented challenges for colleges and universities like Paine College that have seen changes in federal aid, which include Parent Plus loans, Pell Grants and some state funding.”-George C. Bradley, president

Hawaii: Obama Care killing off 35 healthcare jobs with Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. Hospital administrators said the layoffs will take place in December.  They say Obama
Care (Affordable Care Act) caused them to lose at least $48-million!

Indiana: In Franklin, Indigo Duck restaurant announced they’re shutting  down in September.  The family owners blame the death of the founder last year, and the fact that their lease is expiring and they can’t renew.

Louisiana: In New Orleans, after 22 years the House of Shock haunted house complex announced they’re shutting down after Halloween 2014.  The operators said it’s not worth it to continue: “It’s hard work, brother! People think we’re minting money over there….it doesn’t make sense to do it….We invented the idea of the interactive haunted house. It’s time to call it quits.”-Ross Karpelman, co-founder

Massachusetts: In Springfield, JT’s Sports Pub shutdown: “Unfortunately we have not been able to secure a new lease with our landlord so it’s brought an unfortunate end for us. With the casino coming, he has bigger aspirations and feels he could get far more rent.”-Keith Makarowski, owner

Missouri: 66 dairy workers suddenly unemployed after Hazelwood Prairie Farms Dairy laid them off without notice.  Company officials say the bad economy is forcing them to change their business ‘model’.

Ohio: Middletown has laid off 11 firefighters.  It’s blamed on the Union’s rejection of a generous contract.  A firestation was also shutdown.  Local news reports say the city offered a contract that actually was going to hire on more personnel, the Union rep said he didn’t understand why the Union members voted against the deal.

Texas: In Houston, J Sussan Interiors shutdown.  Local news reports said the owner retired, however, it turns out the entire area is being drastically affected by a huge apartment “tower” building project that’s resulting in many businesses and existing apartments being shutdown!

28-29 August 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, U.S.

Ebola Update, 02 November 2014: “We had hoped this wouldn’t happen” Oregon 1st case? China joins Obama, sends in the troops! Korea quarantines everybody! New threat, Mosquitos! This is good for business?

Canada: The British empire’s Great White North joins a growing list of countries banning travelers from ebola hot zone countries.

China: In another move to prove the ‘western’ critics (like the Obama regime) wrong, government officials have now pledged unlimited material and money for the fight against ebola filovirus in western Africa!

Chinese officials are joining with the Obama regime, deciding that this new version of EVD is a matter of national security, and is now sending combat troops to Africa!  To show how tight the cooperation is, the People’s Liberation Army is following the lead of the U.S. Department of Defense and is creating special medical martial law teams (some members have experience fighting SARS), similar to Obama’s Operation United Assistance order.  (see Ghana, below)

Chinese manufacturers of hazmat suits are reporting skyrocketing sales as a result of the ebola scare.

Cuba: U.S. officials attended anti-ebola meetings in Cuba.  Despite the Caribbean country’s world leading healthcare track record (and the fact that no Cuban healthcare worker has yet to get infected with EVD) many U.S. republicans blasted the Obama regime for joining up with Cuban health officials.

Cuba recently hosted an anti-ebola meeting for the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of the Americas-Commercial Treaty of the Peoples (ALBA-TCP).  UN officials were there and commended not only Cuba, but Venezuela as well: “I urge countries in the region and around the world to follow the lead of Cuba and Venezuela, who have set a commendable example with their rapid response in support of efforts to contain Ebola. Cuba’s proud tradition of training doctors from developing countries has also helped improve medical care around the world.”-David Nabarro, UN secretary-general’s special envoy on Ebola

Another UN official blamed the United States for bringing ebola to the ‘New World’: “You are absolutely doing the right thing. You want to step up your level of preparedness.  Last month, the Ebola virus moved to your region, to the United States.  Any country with an international airport is theoretically at risk of an imported case of ebola.”-Margaret Chan, UN World Health Organization

European Union: The British empire’s United Kingdom Disasters Emergency Committee announced they are shocked by the overwhelming amount of donations flooding in to help fight EVD. So far $5-million USD was raised in just two days! The U.K. government promised to match (with taxpayer funds) up to $7.5-million that came by way of donations.

Of course a lot of the money will be spent on the U.K.’s hazmat supply industries.

France is now taking care of a United Nations employee infected with ebola.  The ’employee’ got infected while in Sierra Leone.  The UN is refusing to give out anymore details.

An Italian man was fined almost $2-thousand USD for a “sick joke” he made about ebola, while on an airliner flying to Ireland.  The man wrote Warning Ebola on the lid of a coffee cup he was sharing with his daughter.  I think the fine is a ‘sick joke’.  Court records show no other passengers saw the coffee cup lid!  An airline employee saw the lid after it was thrown in the trash.  However, prosecutors likened the joke to a terrorist writing a note saying there was a bomb on the plane, even though in this case the note was never shown to anybody other than the jokesters themselves!

Ghana: Not only has China agreed to join Obama’s Operation United Assistance, but the People’s Liberation Army Air Force is using the same U.S. airbase in the western African country of Ghana.  Chinese cargo planes recently off-loaded Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), sprayers, body temperature detectors and body bags.  Ghana has yet to have any ebola cases, but is being used as a distribution point by the U.S. and China for those countries that do.

Guinea: A Cuban fighting ebola in the western African country has died, but not from the filovirus. He died from protozoans that cause malaria.

Jamaica: The Caribbean country has recently hired a couple of Cuban healthcare personnel to oversea anti-ebola training for Jamaican healthcare workers.

Japan: An NHK report said Japan’s healthcare system is not ready for an ebola outbreak.  A health official also said the health systems of countries around the World are not ready: “The Japanese government has tightened its border controls. But the root of the problem lies in West African countries. Japan and the rest of the international community should support these countries in two ways: One is to take countermeasures against ebola and the second is to build better healthcare systems for the future.”-Omi Shigeru, Japan Community Healthcare Organization

Korea (DPRK): The ebola threat has scared the leaders in the north so much that they now require 21 days of quarantine for anybody entering the country, regardless of where they’re coming from!  The news was reported by China’s Ministry of Commerce, saying the DPRK had notified them of the new policy.

Liberia: There are reports that the government healthcare system has collapsed. The western African country is now being hit with a malaria outbreak, and NGOs and charities are trying to take up the slack caused by the failed government system.  Mosquitos are rampant, and if they can spread a blood-borne disease like malaria then why not ebola?

In the former U.S. colony, survivors of ebola are being used to care for new victims, but only for three months.  Supposedly a survivor is immune to EVD for a short time of only three months.   However, doctors say the many survivors stick around treatment centers for the three months because they are no longer welcome by their fellow villagers.

A recent claim by the UN World Health Organization, that ebola cases are decreasing, has been shown to be a lie.  The United Nations admits the true reason why their ‘numbers’ are down is because they can’t get to all the clinics or villages, impeding their ability to do an accurate body count!  After all, the UN also says the death toll in Liberia is not decreasing.

Liberian Christian leaders say ebola is God’s punishment for homosexuals.  Isn’t that what Christian leaders said about AIDS?   The Liberian Christians are now using the UN WHO claim that cases are decreasing as proof of God’s “forgiveness”!

A Christian charity estimates that in the capital city of Monrovia they are trying to help at least 157 children now orphaned due to ebola.   Another charity reports they are dealing with 500 ebola orphans.  There are dozens of charities, each working with hundreds of ebola orphans in the Greater Monrovia Area.

Sierra Leone:  Officials are accusing Canada of racism for banning all travelers from the western African country (which is also a former British empire colony).

United States: “We had hoped this wouldn’t happen, We’ve done a lot of work to prepare for an Ebola case.”-Dave Underriner, Providence Health & Services

In the Pacific Coast state of Oregon, a woman visiting from Liberia is now in home quarantine.  She was self monitoring when she noticed a spike in her temp.  She was released from the hospital, into the care of a family who will keep her under quarantine until blood tests results are in.  Officials say the woman claims she hasn’t come into contact with anybody infected.

REVOLUTION IN BURKINA FASO…..IS THIS ABOUT EBOLA, OR THE OIL?

Update, 27 October 2014

Business/Economics

U.S. Food Crisis, April 2014: “…it is clear that the current business environment….cannot be successful.”

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of April, 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.

Alabama: In Florence, Hillshire Brands announced they will shutdown their sausage factory in December, 11-hundred jobs lost just in time for Xmas! It’s blamed on skyrocketing meat prices.  In Dothan, Wayne Farms kills 560 jobs! The poultry processing company made a deal with its largest customer to supply chicken without deboning it. Turns out the number of people it takes to debone chicken made up more than half its employees!

Arizona: In Tucson, after 55 years Fruit Land Market shutdown. The property owners kicked out the Market owners, so they could sell the land to speculators.

California: In Los Angeles, Contessa Foods failed to file a proper WARN. According to state employment officials the food packager notified the state of a massive layoff the day after it killed 239 jobs! The company shutdown without warning.   In Antioch, Stonyfield Farm laid off 58 employees.  In Bell Gardens, McDonald’s shutdown, 69 jobs lost. In Cudahy, McDonald’s shutdown, 49 jobs lost. In Los Alamitos, McDonald’s shutdown, 90 jobs lost.  In Del Mar, after 46 years Pannikin Coffee & Tea shutdown, the owner blames the landlord: “We’ve been here a long time and we just couldn’t come to an agreement with the mall management on a fair rent so we didn’t renew our lease.”-Shawn Holder

Colorado:  In Delta, Dean Foods announced they must shutdown their Meadow Gold Milk plant, 38 jobs lost. It’s blamed on the lost of a major grocery store customer.

Connecticut:  In New Canaan, after 21 years Forest Street Deli shutdown. The deli owner blames the property owner, who sold the property out from under his feet!

Florida: In Boca Raton, after only nine months 101 Cantina bar shutdown. It’s blamed on constant confrontations between college students and police.

Georgia: In Newnan, Mexico based Bimbo Bakeries shutdown their Colonial Bread Store. The wimp-ass company officials delegated the authority of making the announcement to the store’s cashier!  In Savannah, after ten years Paula Deen’s Uncle Bubba’s Seafood & Oyster House shutdown without notice. It’s blamed on a racism lawsuit brought by a former employee, however, the lawsuit was “dismissed with prejudice and without any award of costs or fees” by the court. Despite that, being called a racist in the United States is worse than being called a terrorist, so down goes the Deen empire. Employees of the restaurant found out when they showed up for work and witnessed everything inside the restaurant being taken away.

Hawaii: In Maui, after more than 20 years Stella Blues Cafe shutdown. The restaurant owner stated that his landlord could no longer cut him a break on the rent.

Illinois: Kraft Foods announced they are killing 285 jobs! Most of those jobs will be in-house trucking jobs, which will now be contracted out.  In Evergreen Park, after 60 years Snackville Junction shutdown. The eatery’s signature was delivering your food on model train cars along a railroad track: “Unfortunately our last days are ahead…..We hope that somewhere somehow the Snackville Junction choo-choo will return…”-Facebook posting

In Urbana, maker of plastic eating utensils Dart Container Company laid off 36 employees.  In Champaign, after less than two years Prairie Fire restaurant shutdown without notice: “If we had days like Sunday every day, we’d still be open. But you will not be a success if your biggest day of the week is Sunday……No more ventures for me!”-Dave Block, burned out restaurant investor

Iowa:  In Beardstown, after more than 30 years IGA (Independent Grocers Alliance) hometown grocery store shutdown, 27 jobs lost: “You know Walmart came to Beardstown about five years ago and the business climate, at least for us, has declined because of that big box store. It’s just deteriorated to the point that it’s not profitable to keep the store open.”-Steve Kremer, owner

Kansas:  In Leawood, after 25 years Hy-Vee grocery store announced it will shutdown in June. Company officials said the store needed $4-million+ in remodeling but the city council actually passed ruling that forces them to shutdown: “In light of the city of Leawood’s recently passed moratorium on new development along the 135th corridor, it is clear that the current business environment in Leawood is one in which Hy-Vee cannot be successful. Two attempts to find a solution acceptable to both parties –one that allows us to continue serving our customers with the products, services and amenities that they deserve and expect — have been resisted by city officials. The first was in May 2013, when we attempted to remodel the store at its current location, and now, our most recent application to build a new store at the corner of 135th Street and Roe Avenue. Because lack of city support prevents us from providing customers with the best shopping experience we have to offer, we will be closing….”

In Lawrence, after 37 years Buffalo Bob’s Smokehouse shutdown: “…the restaurant market in Lawrence is fully saturated.”-Bob Schumm, founder

Kentucky: In Louisville, after only 18 months the relish restaurant shutdown without notice. The owner blamed the small fire safety dictated maximum seating capacity, saying serving a maximum of 53 people at a time wasn’t enough to pay even for overhead.  In Dover, the last grocery store in town shutdown! After more than 45 years Don’s Place (home to the Rock-n-Roll liars bench) closed for good. The owner is going blind, and nobody wants to take over the business.  In Paducah, The Pasta House Italian Restaurant shut down without notice: “…I am unable to continue. Please pray for me, my family and my employees.”-statement posted to front door

Michigan: In Keego Harbor, Jeremy Restaurant & Bar shutting down in May. But this is a success story! The owner said he made so much money that he is going to open an even bigger restaurant.    In Wyoming, after more than 35 years Gordy’s Market & Deli grocery store shutting down in May. 18 family-like employees now unemployed. The owner blames the new Walmart that’s about to open down the street from his store.

Minnesota:  In Mankato, after 33 years Mexican Village restaurant announced it will shutdown in May.  Upscale Fresh Seasons Market grocery store shutdown two stores, one in Victoria and one in Minnetonka. The arrogant owner admitted there isn’t enough rich people to make their format work: “The idea was that it was supposed to be an upscale market, to be able to offer fresh goods and unique ingredients to people and this great shopping experience. We didn’t get a big draw.”-Tom Wartman

Mississippi: In Pontotoc, Southern Quality Meats announced they will shutdown in June, 110 jobs lost! Operations are being consolidated to Alabama.  Abner’s Famous Chicken Tenders now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. In 2004 it was named one of the fastest growing businesses in the Magnolia State. Company officials say sales are not the issue, but necessary daily operating capital from debt financing is being cut off, so they’ve been forced to file bankruptcy by the Too Big to Jail banks.

Missouri: In Saint Louis, a Schnuck Markets grocery store shutting down in May. Company officials said it wasn’t worth it to renew the lease, and they will try to find jobs for the 65 employees.  In Saint Louis, after 53 years property speculators killed the Majestic Restaurant and Bar.

New Jersey: In Medford, Murphy’s Market shutdown a 17 years old grocery store. Company officials blamed the greedy property owner: “After great expense and effort it comes with much heartache, we as a company, were unable to reach a reasonable agreement with the building’s landlord.”

New York:  After ten years the Beast Bar shutdown.

North Carolina: In Gaston, after 42 years Mr. T’s Place restaurant shutting down in May. The owners are demanding to know when the economic recovery is going to take place! In Hendersonville, after 18 years Cypress Cellar restaurant shutdown. The owner said it’s no longer worth the amount of time she puts into the business.

Ohio:  In Riverside, Ponderosa Steakhouse restaurant shutdown without notice. Company officials blamed the property owner for jacking up the rent. They also shutdown a restaurant in Urbana in December. In 2008 Ohio based Ponderosa and Texas based Bonanza restaurants merged (controlled by Homestyle Dining).   In Mason, after 24 years Bob Evans Restaurant shutdown. The corporation is remodeling all Bob Evans restaurants, but a survey of the Mason store revealed it was too old and too costly to remodel so they decided to shut it down. Company officials claim they’ve found jobs for the 40 employees.

Pennsylvania:  In Pittsburgh, Wall Street wunderkind Warren Buffet killed more Heinz jobs. 775 people have been offered buyouts! Reports say the offer is being made to other Heinz operations. Local biased Pennsylvania news media failed to point out that Heinz is now co-owned by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway. They only mentioned Brazil’s 3G Capital. Hey Pennsylvania news media, why didn’t you mention Warren Buffet’s involvement? By the way, the June 2013 takeover of Heinz by 3G and Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway resulted in an instant killing of 600 U.S. and Canadian jobs, followed by the announcement of several food factory shutdowns and hundreds of more layoffs for the 1st quarter of 2014!   In Intercourse, after who knows how long the iconic W.L. Zimmerman & Sons grocery store shutdown. The store was used in the movie Witness. The owner, Kristine Shirk, blames the bad economy saying “there wasn’t enough margin to work with any more.”

Tennessee:  In Hixson, Nana’s Frozen Custard brick & mortar store shutdown, now for sale. They’ve switched to a mobile truck frozen custard shop. The award winning owners blamed the suck ass economy: “High fixed costs and lower revenue make the current business model unworkable. Our re-opening day sales were disappointing, down approximately 25% as compared to the same date last year.”

Texas: In Houston, after 15 years Dirk’s Coffee (aka Diedrich Coffee) shutdown without notice.

Virginia:   In Lightfoot, after 40 years The Candy Store shutdown.

Washington: In Kelso, after only nine years Chuck E Cheese pizza place shutdown. Company officials said it was a “strategic decision”, meaning the economy sucks. In Seattle, after 25 years Maple Leaf Grill announced it will shutdown in May.

U.S. Food Crisis, March 2014

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings, 28 – 29 August 2014: “We’ve run out of money and we’ve run out of people…” Angry Christian God raptures people & money, killing more jobs? More housing market implosion!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona: What housing market recovery?  British empire Australia based real estate company Colliers International says land sales in Phoenix have crashed 40% in the first half of 2014!

California: Yet another video game company killing jobs.  In San Francisco, CCP Games shutdown an office and laid off at least two executives (although CCP swears the execs voluntarily quit).  Los Angeles International airport (LAX), Menzies Aviation warned it will kill 65 jobs in November.   In San Diego, Stingaree nightclub warned it will shutdown in November, 111 jobs lost!  Owners claim it’s only temporarily, for six months of renovations.  In Mountain View, tech company Symantec laid off another two employees.  In Laguna Beach, The House of Big Fish and Ice warned it will shutdown by the end of October, 58 jobs lost.

Connecticut: In Norwalk ,  after 29 years the Appliance Servicecenter shutdown.  The owner is losing his eyesight.

Florida: In Orlando, Too Big to Jail SunBank shutting down their fraud call center, killing 105 jobs by the end of October!  After 81 years (surviving the Great Depression and numerous recessions) Pearl Artist & Craft Supply shutdown.  The store went bankrupt busted and never recovered.

Illinois: In River North, after only two years the Tavernita restaurant shutdown, without notice.  The owners lost their booze license, and allegedly owe hundreds of thousands in unpaid taxes, although restaurant reps claim the taxes were paid.  In Streeterville, after a year of promises ‘organic’ grocery store Mrs Green’s Natural Market canceled plans to open a new store.  Company officials blamed the bad economy for “timing and logistical” problems.

Iowa: After 57 years God refuses to stop the Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church from shutting down.  It’s now for sale, the pastor blaming the rapture of people and money: “…we’ve run out of money. We’ve run out of money and we’ve run out of people at the same time.”-Gregory Cluts

Kansas: In Hesston, maker of farming equipment AGCO laid off 24 factory workers and cut the hours for everybody else.  It’s blamed on crashing sales. Company officials warned that more layoffs will be forthcoming.  Union officials believe 80 more workers will become unemployed.

Maine: In Bangor, God refuses to stop the Christian Life Academy Daycare from shutting down.  The church pastor blames crashing donations: “We have cut everywhere we can cut, we are heartbroken that the daycare has to close too.”-Russ Hewett

Michigan: What housing market recovery?   British empire Australia based real estate company Colliers International shutdown their Detroit office.  Company officials blame it on the loss of their brokers.

Montana: In Columbia Falls, F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber laid off ten sawmill employees.   It’s blamed on a federal court ruling that says no logging can be done in ‘protected’ grizzly bear habitat.

Nebraska: In Grand Island, farm equipment maker CNH Industrial America announced it will kill 238 jobs by November! They blame crashing sales.

Nevada: In Reno, Morrison University warned it will shutdown after the 2014-15 school year!  It’s due to the allegedly criminal actions of the owner, Anthem Education.  To make things worse for the students, they were told the university’s transfer credits are no longer recognized!

New York:  What housing market recovery? In Brooklyn, pre-fab building maker FC + Skanska Modular warned they are shutting down in October due to a lost contract, 157 jobs lost!  In Salamanca, a Parkview Supermarket grocery store shutting down in December, 72 jobs lost in time for Xmas.

Pennsylvania: Atlantic County lost 36-hundred jobs in July!

Tennessee: Memphis based Fred’s Super Dollar announced they will shutdown 70 stores by the end of 2014, hundreds of jobs lost!  Company officials said it’s their way of raising cash to buy up pharmacies!

Wisconsin: Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) shutting down their print and mail ops, 32 jobs lost.

26-27 August 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

Opinion

U.S. Myths Busted: The Right to Vote, Supreme Court declares it unConstitutional? Use it before you lose it! 4.1-million U.S. territorial residents already have lost it!

01 November 2014 (04:35 UTC-07 Tango)/08 Muharram 1436/10 Aban 1393/09 Yi-Hai 4712

How many times have you heard civil rights groups say we have a “fundamental right to vote”?   I’ve even heard political science professors claim there is a U.S. Constitutional right to vote.

In a classic example of ignorance of their own federal United States Constitution the overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens believe they have a right to vote.  But wait, I checked the Bill of Rights (the first ten inalienable Rights in the U.S. Constitution) and there is no mention of any ‘right’ to vote!

Mention of a “right to vote” is only found in revokable amendments, I believe starting with Amendment 15.  This is key, the first ten “inalienable” Rights are not revokable (a right that cannot be taken away, denied, or transferred), this is what makes them true Rights.  Supposedly it would take a meeting of a ‘Continental Congress’ to write a completely new Bill of Rights in order to revoke the one we have (there are ‘western’ countries out there that change their constitutions every freaking year! And never mind that your ‘elected’ officials and the Supreme Court has circumvented the Bill of Rights many times).   All other amendments starting with number 11 are revokable at anytime, and in regards to the ‘right’ to vote the U.S. Supreme Court did just that in 2013.

In 2013, the U.S. Supreme court declared the federal 1965 Voting Rights Act to be “unconstitutional”!  But that’s my point, since the end of the War between the States, there have been several revokable amendments regarding the privilege of voting (even though it’s referred to as a ‘right’ in the amendments).  If there was an inalienable right to vote why are there so many revokable additions to that ‘right’?  These federal amendments do not actually create a federal right to vote, but are focused on making sure that each state that allows voting does so without discrimination.

Yes, the Bill of Rights makes no mention of any right to vote, all other ‘rights’ are delegated to the member states to decide.  The history of the U.S. states and voting is convoluted, many states granted the privilege to vote to women and former slaves, only to revoke those ‘rights’ just a few years later.

Prior to the middle 20th century many former slaves who were granted the privilege of voting were counted as only three fifths human.  Many former pro-slave states required that former slaves had to prove literacy before they could vote, of course most couldn’t read.  States got away with this because there is no federal right to vote!

Current state level voter ID laws do not violate any federal right to vote because there is no federal right to vote.  The only way voter ID laws can be challenged is if they are proven to violate the revokable federal anti-discrimination amendments.

Here’s a history of revokable federal voting laws, and U.S. states granting and/or revoking the privilege of voting:

1776: The majority of the original 13 states limited the ‘right’ to vote to only ‘white’ landowning men.  After all, the Bill of Rights does not dictate a ‘right’ to vote.

1787: The federal government officially delegates the decision to grant the privilege to vote to the states.

1789: Elitist George Washington elected by only 6% of the population!

1848: Former Mexican citizens now living in the territory captured by the United States (during the Mexican American War) are denied the privilege to vote!

1856: The states ratify a new law giving all ‘white’ men, regardless of income, the privilege to vote!

1868-1870: Federal 14th & 15th amendments passed to give former male slaves the privilege of voting, however many states create restrictions such as their vote counts as only three fifths that of a ‘white’ man, they must prove literacy and even pay a tax to vote!

1876: U.S. Supreme Court denies the privilege of voting to Native Americans!

1887: New federal law (Dawes Act) allows Native Americans the privilege to vote, if they officially deny their heritage!

1890: The Indian Naturalization Act adds the additional requirement of ‘becoming’ a U.S. citizen before Native Americans can vote!

1919: Native Americans who serve in the U.S. military can apply for citizenship.

1922: U.S. Supreme Court denies U.S. residents of Japanese heritage the ability to become citizens, thus denying them the privilege to vote!  (this also shows you that the Japanese living in the United States and placed into U.S. concentration camps during World War 2 were never considered ‘Japanese Americans’, but alien immigrants)

1923: U.S. Supreme Court denies Indians (from India) the ability to become U.S. citizens, thus denying them the ability to vote!

1924: Federal government allows Native Americans to become citizens, however many states still refuse them the privilege of voting.

1947: A lawsuit brought by a Native American (and ex-Marine) forces states to allow American Aborigines to vote!

1952: People with Asian ancestry are allowed to become U.S. citizens, and vote!

1964: Revokable 24th Amendment passes barring the charging of voting taxes, in federal elections.

1965: Federal Voting Rights Act passed.

1971: Voting age dropped to 18.  This is the result of public protests pointing out that a male who turns 18 years of age is considered an adult and is drafted against their will to fight in Vietnam, yet they were not allowed to vote!

1993: Federal Voter Registration Act passed.  The intent is to make registration easier for “eligible” citizens.  Note that the key word used is “eligible”, revealing that not every U.S. citizen has the ‘right’ to vote, proving my point that it’s a privilege.  Many U.S. states deny the privilege of voting to citizens convicted of felonies.

2000: A federal court revokes the ‘right’ of people living in U.S. territories (like Guam & Puerto Rico) to vote for U.S. president, even if they are full fledged U.S. citizens!  This court decision came one month before federal elections, and affects at least 4.1-million residents living in the Territories!

2013: U.S. Supreme Court declares parts of 1965 Voting Rights Act to be “unconstitutional”!

Alaska U.S. Territory: 1913, grants women the privilege of voting.

Alabama: 1929, ‘Black’ women are beaten by ‘white’ election officials for trying to vote.

Arizona: 1912, grants women the privilege of voting.

California: 1911, grants women the privilege of voting.

Colorado: 1893, grants women the privilege of voting.

Idaho: 1896, grants women the privilege of voting.  The Constitution of Idaho states in Article 1 “RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE GUARANTEED.”   But then in Article 6 states “The legislature may prescribe qualifications, limitations, and conditions for the right of suffrage…”  One of those rules is 34-435 which states “…the county clerk shall immediately cancel the registration of any elector who did not vote at any primary or general election in the past four (4) years.”  Vote recounts are rare in The Gem State because Idaho law requires those who are challenging the count to pay for the recount.   This explains the ‘dynastic’ political families and entrenched political parties in the state.

Illinois: 1913, grants women the privilege of voting but only for the U.S. president.

Indiana: 1917, grants women the privilege of voting but only for the U.S. president.

Iowa: 1919, grants women the privilege of voting but only for the U.S. president.

Kentucky: 1837, grants women the privilege of voting but only in local school district elections (although not all cities allow it).  1902, revokes the privilege of women voting in school district elections.   1912, grants women restricted voting privilege in local school district elections.

Kansas: 1861, grants women the privilege of voting but only in local school district elections. 1912, grants women the privilege of voting.

Maine: 1919, grants women the privilege of voting but only for the U.S. president.

Michigan: 1918, grants women the privilege of voting.

Minnesota: 1919, grants women the privilege of voting but only for the U.S. president.

Missouri: 1919, grants women the privilege of voting but only for the U.S. president.

Montana U.S. Territory: 1914, grants women the privilege of voting.

Nebraska: 1917, grants women the privilege of voting but only for the U.S. president.

New Jersey: 1776, granted the privilege of voting to women who had a minimum of $250 to their name.  1807, revoked the privilege of voting from women.

New York: 1917, grants women the privilege of voting.

Nevada: 1914, grants women the privilege of voting.

North Dakota: 1917, grants women the privilege of voting but only for the U.S. president.

Ohio: 1894, grants women the privilege of voting but only in local school district elections.  1917, grants women the privilege of voting but only for the U.S. president.

Oklahoma: 1918, grants women the privilege of voting.

Philippine U.S. Territory: 1925, Filipinos must serve three years military service before becoming citizens and being able to vote!

Puerto Rico U.S. Territory: 1929, grants women the privilege of voting.

Oregon: 1912, grants women the privilege of voting.

Rhode Island: 1919, grants women the privilege of voting but only for the U.S. president.

South Dakota: 1918, grants women the privilege of voting.

Tennessee: 1919, grants women the privilege of voting but only for the U.S. president.

Utah U.S. Territory: 1870, grants women the privilege of voting.

Washington U.S. Territory: 1910, grants women the privilege of voting.

Washington DC: 1961, residents of the U.S. capital city are allowed to vote for U.S. president for the first time!

Wisconsin: 1919, grants women the privilege of voting but only for the U.S. president.

Wyoming U.S. Territory: 1869, grants women the privilege of voting.

By the way, it was the British empire country of New Zealand which created the first national law granting women the privilege of voting, in 1893.  The revokable U.S. 19th Amendment barring discrimination against women and voting was ratified by 1920.  Notice I used the word “ratified”, that’s because voting is not a inalienable federal ‘right’, each U.S. state had to ratify the 19th Amendment and Tennessee was the holdout finally accepting the anti-discrimination law in 1920.

This isn’t meant to dissuade you from voting (there are many other reasons for that) but to instill in you the realization that voting in the U.S. is not an inalienable right, but a privilege that could be (and has been) revoked.  In other words, “Use it before you lose it”!

However, I agree with the Great George Carlin: “I have solved this political dilemma in a very direct way: I don’t vote. On Election Day, I stay home. I firmly believe that if you vote, you have no right to complain. Now, some people like to twist that around. They say, ‘If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain,’ but where’s the logic in that? If you vote, and you elect dishonest, incompetent politicians, and they get into office and screw everything up, you are responsible for what they have done. You voted them in. You caused the problem. You have no right to complain. I, on the other hand, who did not vote, who did not even leave the house on Election Day, am in no way responsible for what these politicians have done and have every right to complain about the mess that YOU created.”

12 Myths of Western Capitalist “Democracy”

International

World War 3: Sweden joins six other countries to recognize Palestine as sovereign state!

31 October 2014 (19:04 UTC-07 Tango 30 October 2014)/07 Muharram 1436/09 Aban 1393/08 Jia-Xu (9th month leap) 4712

“Our decision comes at a critical time because over the last year we have seen how the peace talks have stalled, how decisions over new settlements on occupied Palestinian land have complicated a two-state solution and how violence has returned to Gaza. By making our decision we want to bring a new dynamic to the stalled peace process.”-Margot Wallstrom, Sweden’s foreign minister

The Kingdom of Sweden has joined Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, Romania, Poland and  Czech Republic in recognizing Palestine as separate from Israel.

Israel is retaliating by removing its ambassador to Sweden.  Interestingly the bigoted Israeli news media declared Sweden to be the “first European” country to recognize Palestine, but Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and Czech Republic are European countries.  Apparently Israel does not recognize them as such, just like it refuses to recognize Palestinians!  Cyprus and Malta are technically European but are island countries in the Mediterranean Sea.