Tag Archives: wall street

Business/Economics

Sears & Kmart closing update 07 October 2014: Suppliers getting charged more to deal with Sears-Kmart! Kmart is magnet for dumb criminals? Inside info on Pocatello store!

Reuters reporting that insurance companies which specialize in providing insurance (in the form of stock market put options, aka accounts receivable put) for non-payment of services have jacked up their rates for any merchandise supplier doing business with Sears-Kmart.

On top of that one insurer, Euler Hermes Group, refuses to insure any new suppliers to Sears!

Analysts say these decisions by ‘financial intermediaries’ come at the worst time possible, the end of year holiday shopping season.  Some suppliers told Reuters that the cost of the accounts receivable insurance is so high that they might have to stop shipments of merchandise.  But to show you how desperate the economy is, many suppliers told Reuters that selling merchandise on bad credit to Sears-Kmart was their only choice!

Does Kmart attract dumb criminals?  In Florida a wheelchair bound man shoplifted $1,396 USD worth of merchandise (including a TV), then asked for help getting out of the store!  He’s was arrested.  Local news reports say he actually requested to be involuntarily institutionalized under Florida’s mental health law.

In Alaska, a woman was shot dead in a Sears parking lot.  Police won’t comment on how she got shot, the pistol was next to her body.  But get this, local news reports said the police got a 911 call at 14:30 hours, but the lady’s body was still in the parking lot ’till after 15:15 hours, with happy Sears shoppers walking right by!  No report on when the shooting actually took place.

The state of Washington joins the Xmas shutdown club!

In Pocatello, Idaho, insiders at the Kmart have revealed disturbing, but not surprising, news.  Despite the neighboring Sears shutting down this month (it’s literally across the street in the city of Chubbuck) it appears there are no plans to increase the current Craftsman line being sold at the Kmart, and no plans to start selling Kenmore appliances at the Kmart either.

It appears the store is in a ‘holding pattern’ as stressed (and unnamed) personnel stated that Sears Holdings refuses to give any clue as to the plans for the Pokey Kmart.

some kinda shell game?

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

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

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

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).

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

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

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost).

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

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears going’ down in November (the remaining 28 jobs lost). Across the street, in Pocatello, the property where the Kmart is located has a “pad site available” sign, posted ever since the Kmart bankruptcy. The Kmart building takes up most of the “pad”.  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. 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 Sears at Washington Square Mall (91 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).

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).

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

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

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.

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).

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 indicates Ithaca Sears Auto Center shutdown.

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).

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 Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus Sears Product Rebuild Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 jobs lost). Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

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

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

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 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 CoolSprings Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost), 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’re reporting that the building has just been 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).

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), recently revealed 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 (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).

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 29 – 30 July 2014: “I guess our season is…ending.” “They did the people wrong!” Once again, thousands of jobs killed in California! Disappearing Student Syndrome killing jobs at 5 universities in 1 state! Automotive industry continues to off shore jobs!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Proof we are in a Greater Depression: A new academic study says wealth inequality is double what it was during the Great Depression!  Wealth Levels, Wealth Inequality, and the Great Recession 

Qatar based Al Jazeera America warned of more layoffs for its U.S. employees.  Possibly 20 people, despite increased ratings.

Alabama: Furniture maker izzy+ announced they are shutting down their Florence factory by summer 2015, about 200 jobs lost!

Arkansas: What automotive industry recovery?  In Rogers the largest maker of aluminum wheels for cars, Superior Industries International, is packing up and moving to Mexico, 500 jobs lost!

California: San Francisco based GameSpot laid off at least six employees, as the video game company shifts more towards live game play.  Moss & Stone issued a WARN saying they’re shutting down in September, 104 jobs lost! Millennium Partners Sports Club issued a WARN saying they are shutting down in October, 189 jobs lost!  In Fresno the local ABC affiliate, KFSN, laid off 15 employees. It’s the result of the cancelation of the TV station’s involvement with Disney’s Live Well Network. In San Diego, Trius Therapeutics laying off six people in September.  In Fort Irwin (U.S. Army), taxsucker Northrop Grumman issued a WARN saying they will kill 423 jobs by October! Northrop Grumman has been killing hundreds of jobs at the U.S. Army training center since 2013, and even more layoffs are planned.  In Twentynine Palms (USMC), Alaska based taxsucking government “support contractor” Tatitlek Corporation issued a WARN saying they will kill 2562 jobs by the end of September!  The company provided actors/roleplayers, food service workers, laborers etc for the U.S. Marines’ Iraq/Afghanistan combat training “villages”.

Georgia: What housing market recovery?  The city of Sandy Springs has placed a 60 day ban on the construction of new apartments.  Apparently they think all this apartment building is getting out-a-hand.  In Atlanta, New York based advertising company BBDO laid off as many as 30 employees.  Apparently they are being replaced with new hires who’ll work for cheap.  Reports say finance tech company NCR killing 200 jobs in 2015, but company officials refused to confirm.   After more than 42 years cereal maker Kelloggs announced they’re shutting down their Columbus factory in 2015, at least 325 jobs lost!  Employees were pissed: “The way they went about it is pretty bad. They did the people wrong! A lot of these people been here 30, 40 years.”-Eugene Gilmore

“…I was planning on retiring this year anyway, but I feel bad about the other people. It’s hard enough finding a job, and people here in Columbus know they don’t have too many good jobs around here.”-Mildred Baskin

Illinois:  In Oak Park, after 19 years Marion Street Grille shutdown.  The owner blamed the bad economy saying “We’re just not getting enough coming through the door.”

Michigan: In Pittsfield Township, they put up the sign then changed their mind.  Texas based Carrabba’s Italian Grill has backed out of their plans to open a restaurant, citing the suck ass economy.  Florida based LongHorn Steakhouse also backed out.

Mississippi: Obama Care causing Singing River Health Systems to shutdown two more clinics, in August.  Reports say they’ve already shutdown a third clinic.  Earlier this year auditors said Singing River was suffering from a shortfall of $88-million USD!

Nevada:  What automotive industry recovery? Reports say construction on one of two secret Tesla Motors Gigafactories in Reno was stopped.  No reason given, Tesla officials refused coment.  The Gigafactories supposedly will make lithium-ion batteries for electric cars.

New Jersey: In West Milford, after at least six decades Big John’s Pub shutting down in August.  Tracey Bennett, the owner, said “It is time for me to have a normal life without stress.”

New York: Obama Care killing 231 jobs as the Rivington House Healthcare Facility shuts down by the end of November!  What housing market recovery?  In Albany, Capital Region Multiple Listing Service showed home sales dropped 5% from June 2013 to June 2014.  Median home prices fell 6%.  Also in Albany, accounting company Pricewaterhouse announced it is shutting down in October, 40 jobs lost.  In Westbury, metal parts maker John Hassall revealed they are up for sale, 83 jobs affected.

North Carolina:  Obama Care killing jobs at Dosher Memorial Hospital.  An undisclosed number of part time and contracted workers will be laid off.  One nurse said she was told it was just the “first round” of layoffs.  Randolph County Schools laid off 30 employees.   In Greensboro, after 18 years Mahi’s Seafood Restaurant shutdown.  The owner said he wanted to move to a cheaper location, but the economy is so bad he couldn’t pay for the move.

Ohio: In Berlin, after 100 years (surviving the Great Depression & numerous recessions) Shrader’s Store shutdown.  It’s being auctioned off in August.

Oklahoma: After 50 years the JC Potter Sausage factory in Durant shutting down in September.  The JC Potter Sausage brand was sold to Williams Sausage Company, but for some reason it did not include the actual factory.  In Tulsa, the Gateway Market shutdown, way earlier than it was supposed to.  Local news reports said it was the only grocery store for miles: “Everybody’s frustrated, the whole neighborhood. You know, I mean, they ain’t got no cars, no way of getting their groceries. What they going to do now?”-David Campbell, customer

Pennsylvania: State education officials warned of massive layoffs at five Universities: Clarion, Edinboro, Cheyney, East Stroudsburg and Mansfield.  According to state officials their university system has been experiencing what I call Disappearing Student Syndrome (DSS), and get this, they expect to lose another 1-thousand students by the end of this school year!  At least 44 university employees were laid off last year.

Tennessee: After four decades Vic and Bill’s Deli shutdown: “….it’s a part of home actually and it kinda feels that way closing it. But all good things have their time have their season and I guess our season is kind of ending.”-Angelia Captain Townsend, manager

Texas: What housing market recovery? In Austin, the Villa de Soliel mansion being auctioned off in August, reportedly with no set minimum starting bid!

26-28 July 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: Doctor reports unknown illness among Syrian refugees?

06 October 2014 (11:07 UTC-07 Tango)/11 Dhu l-Hijja 1435/14 Mehr 1393/13 Jia-Xu 4712

Japan’s NHK (Nippon Housou Kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation) recently interviewed a Japanese Red Cross Society doctor who just returned from a refugee camp in the city of Dohok, Iraq.

The doctor, Suzuki Takao, talked about how NGOs trying to help the refugees are continually shuffled around by government officials, being given excuses why they aren’t allowed to visit this or that refugee camp.  There are now half a million Syrian refugees living in the camp at Dohok.  Suzuki also stated that there is no refugee ‘camp’ in Dohok.  Japanese Red Cross video shows that Syrians have taken over school buildings, and apartment buildings that are still under construction, basically living anywhere they can.  Suzuki also reported that 100% of the refugees are suffering from an unknown, possibly psychological illness: “Hundred percent all of them psychologically they are affected……the patients say ‘Oh I got a headache, oh I got a stomach ache, oh I got a lumbar ache’…you have to listen to them…you have to help them!”

International

Ebola update: “…we want them to be scared!” U.S. homeless now infected? Who let the dogs out? New Zealand on alert! Uganda now hit?

06 October 2014 (02:47 UTC-07 Tango)/11 Dhu l-Hijja 1435/14 Mehr 1393/13 Jia-Xu 4712

“…because it’s such a deadly disease, people are scared. And it’s normal to be scared, in fact for the health care workers who are caring for people with Ebola, we want them to be scared! We want them to have a healthy respect of the risk for any lapse in infection control procedure.”-Tom Frieden, questionable director of U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention

The New Zealand Ministry of Health has just warned local health districts to be on alert for people infected with ebola virus disease (EVD).  Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital has already set up a special bio-containment unit.  Basically New Zealand health officials don’t want to be put in the same situation as U.S. health officials.  They admit they’ve already been screening people coming into the country, 47 since August.

The former(?) U.S. colony of Liberia has imposed a Martial Law news media blackout, journalist could be arrested if they don’t have government approval to cover the outbreak. Pro-U.S. government officials use the excuse of protecting the “privacy” of the people infected.  The EVD outbreak is out of control there, causing Liberia to have the highest death rate of any country dealing with EVD.

And a big warning for dog owners, and another reason not to let your dog run around unattended. Videos on the internet showing that dogs in Liberia are eating the unburied bodies of EVD victims.  A report published in 2005 showed that dogs can be infected with EVD by eating infected meat. This was uncovered during the 2001–2002 outbreak in Gabon.  This poses the question; if EVD can be spread to dogs from the food they eat, what are the chances that the animals (or even plants) humans eat can become infected, or maybe even carriers (showing no symptoms) and then infect humans?

In Uganada, government officials revealed they are dealing with a hemorrhagic virus outbreak. So far one health worker has died, and 80 people are under medical monitoring (most of them being health workers themselves, and those that buried the person that died).  Officials swear it’s not EVD, but the just as deadly Marburg virus (MARV): “The Ministry of Health would like to inform the country of an outbreak of Marburg which has so far killed one person.”–Elioda Tumwesigye, Minister of Health

Back in the United States, CDC boss Tom Frieden assured the news media that everything is under control, despite that fact that an infected healthcare worker from Liberia made it into the U.S. and is now in critical condition, and that at least 49 people (mainly healthcare workers) are being monitored.   And don’t forget that it’s been revealed that a homeless man is now suspected of being infected.

For some reason the EMTs who transported the sick Liberian to the hospital also carried a homeless man in the same ambulance.  A Dallas County, Texas, judge reported that the man was found and now he’s under observation.

Another reason why I find Frieden questionable is that he stated “…they will be immediately isolated, tested and if they have Ebola, given appropriate care and determine whether there were any additional contacts to their case. That’s how we have stopped every outbreak in Ebola in the world until this one in West Africa. That’s how we stopped it in Lagos, Nigeria and how we will stop it in Texas.”

That’s the problem, the U.S. CDC is approaching this as if this is the same old EVD as a decade ago.  I’ve written before that early in this current outbreak African doctors said it was not acting like the same old ebola.  And The Washington Post has interviewed U.S. university doctors who’ve returned from Africa: “What’s always worked before, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine, is not going to work, and it’s not working now!”-Daniel Lucey, Georgetown University Medical Center

2015 Ebola Pandemic?

Global Health Security Agenda to force vaccinations, at gun point?

Influenza, Opinion

Sumerian Lament: 1918 Flu Pandemic = 2015 Ebola Pandemic ?

06 October 2014 (01:01 UTC-07 Tango)/11 Dhu l-Hijja 1435/14 Mehr 1393/13 Jia-Xu 4712

“If Heaven and Earth by cycles within cycles regulated, what had happened will again occur? Is the Past-the Future?”-Lament and warning from Enki the last ‘god’ on Earth, Lost Book of Enki, 14th Tablet

“In my opinion, a year from now, we won’t have one or two cases; we’ll have many cases of Ebola.”-Daniel Lucey, Microbiology and Immunology at Georgetown University Medical Center

The United States continues to send in the military when China and Cuba send in medical personnel, supplies and cash.  I’ve already pointed out that French military intervention in the name of fighting ebola was nothing more than their continued back door neo-colonialism.  And I’ve pointed out the possible connection with the Obama regime building an airbase in Guinea, under the guise of fighting ebola, when it could be about controlling newly discovered petroleum fields.

The west African countries that seem to have their ebola outbreaks under control are those getting help from Cuba and China.  Liberia is totally out-a-control, and they’re a former(?) U.S. colony.  Cuba has sent hundreds of medical personnel to Sierra Leone, and they’ve just announced they’re sending nearly 300 more to the U.S. protectorate of Liberia.  The Washington Post even said “Cuba is punching far above its weight………..has emerged as a crucial provider of medical expertise in the West African nations hit by Ebola.”

In fact the UN World Health Organization says Cuba has provided more medical personnel than any other country!  The United States has made a lot of promises in the form of cash (that will probably never materialize), but what has the U.S. actually been sending?  Obama’s been sending in the troops!

On 01 October, Operation United Assistance revealed that 700 U.S. Army 101st Airborne combat troops were going in, along with 700 army engineers, as part of a larger 3-thousand military personnel deployment. Then on 03 October it was announced that as many as 4-thousand U.S. troops will be sent.  When was the last time combat troops were used to fight a virus?  I don’t know, but I do know when the last time combat troops were used to spread a virus; the 1918-20 Influenza Pandemic.

Up until 2013 it was generally accepted that the 1918 flu pandemic was caused by migratory birds, however a University of Arizona study revealed evidence that the 1918 flu strain originated in horses, possibly the horses used by the U.S. combat troops fighting in western Europe during the First World War.  That war ended in 1918, but when the U.S. troops came home they were already infected.

The 1918 flu was known then as the Spanish Flu because supposedly that’s were the first cases were documented.  The actual origin is in dispute, some say it was France, while one historian says it originated in Kansas U.S.A., in fact the U.S. Army’s Fort Riley in Kansas reported 100 soldiers became ill in the time period of just a few hours.  There are reports of similar flus showing up in Austria and China, at the same time, in 1917.

The First Wave of the 1918-20 pandemic involved sporadic cases, mainly in the sillyvilian (civilian) world.  There was a Second Wave, this one involved a country now experiencing what I’m warning could be the First Wave of the 2015 ebola pandemic: Sierra Leone.  Unfortunately it was the Second Wave of the flu pandemic that was the big killer, no thanks to the involvement of military personnel.

Back then critically sick military personnel were packed up and sent to hospitals in civilian areas.  It’s interesting that the Obama regime says that the first step in their Operation United Assistance involves building hospitals, you know, the places that have been proven to be disease incubators.

Another interesting thing about the Flu Pandemic is that at first doctors thought it was some other disease, not the flu.  At the beginning of 2014 many local doctors in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea (supposedly ground zero with the first cases reported in December 2013) stated that if this was ebola it wasn’t like any that had been seen before.  (I’ve also written about a possible connection to UN food aid to the affected countries, involving GMO grains, which began in 2013)

One of the lessons of the 1918-20 Influenza Pandemic is that the involvement of military personnel actually makes things worse.   You have to question why the United States is choosing to focus on a military response to ebola, while other countries focus on sending medical supplies and personnel not soldiers, airman, sailors or Marines.

Oh, by the way the terrorist group known as USAID is involved in the burial of people who died from ebola.

Stay tuned.

NAZI Germany vs Soviet Union = United States vs Russia

On the 100th anniversary of World War One, World War Three is to be!

Global Health Security Agenda to force vaccinations, at gun point?

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 26 – 28 July 2014: “It’s just plain shitty!” says one hospital official as Obamacare continues to cull jobs! Family Dollar Stores no more? Pets abandoned to die alone in Alabama! No more chicken?

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Alabama: The Escambia County animal shelter in Flomaton shutting down in August.  County officials say there’s no mo-money.

Arkansas: Springdale based Tyson Foods killing off three major chicken processing factories in Iowa, New Mexico and New York.  The  processing plants will close between September and sometime in 2015, at least 950 jobs lost!  Tyson Foods officials blame the rising prices of chickens, and reduced demand from chicken eaters.   However, the true reason could be because Tyson Foods is taking over Hillshire for $8.5-billion USD, by the end of September!

Georgia: After 16 years the Augusta Ice Sports Center announced it’s being forced to shutdown in August.   It’s blamed on the greedy property owner who has gotten an $2-million offer for the property.

Illinois:  Green Choice Bank failed, it’s assets seized by FDIC and spilt with Providence Bank.

Maryland: Pel-Bern Electric Corporation now chapter 7  bankrupt busted.  Apparently it was an involuntary bankruptcy brought by the people who are owed money.

Massachusetts: The Boston School Department suddenly killed 126 jobs!  The school district is trying to save $9.5-million!  For years critics accused the Boston Strong school system of being out-a-shape and overweight with redundant administrative jobs.  In Andover, Abbey’s Bridal Shoppe shutting down in August.   Also, after 36 years Andover Photo shutdown.  The Andover Bookstore is threatening to shutdown, the owner says they can no longer afford to pay the rent.

Michigan: After 125 years the building housing the iconic and elitist Detroit Club now up for auction only seven months after the new owner spent more than a million dollars buying and renovating the building.  The starting bid is less than a million!

New Jersey: Obama Care killing 102 jobs at Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center!  Hospital officials say the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has caused a 30% reduction in healthcare customers, just from May 2014 to June 2014!

New Mexico: Near the failed WIPP nuke waste storage site which has caused job losses, another Carlsbad operation killing jobs.  Mosaic Potash announced they must reduce production and kill 185 jobs!  Company officials blame it on the crashing demand for muriate of potash.

New York: In Fort Edward, after 73 years General Electric (GE)  shutting down their iconic Broadway Street operation in 2015.  In the 1970s GE employed 27-hundred people there, but now only 167!  Company officials blame the bad economy: “It was a very difficult decision. We’ve been losing money at Fort Edward for years. This is in no way a reflection on the employees.”-Chris Horne

North Carolina: In New Bern, after 79 years the Maola Milk factory shutdown. Company officials are consolidating ops to save money, at least 70 jobs lost.

Ohio: The Middletown Fire Department eliminated 15 jobs.   Fire Station 84 now shutdown.

Oklahoma: Freedom Bank failed, it’s assets seized by FDIC and spilt with Alva State Bank & Trust Company.

Rhode Island: Major problems continue in the Ocean State regarding child care.  The state Department of Children Youth and Families tried to save taxpayers millions of dollars by contracting out services to two non-profits, Ocean State Network for Children and Families and the Rhode Island Care Management Network.  Instead of saving money, they ended up costing tens of millions of dollars more, one state employee accuses contractors of incompetence: “These private agencies go in and promise all these things and get all this money and don’t realize how much work it really is.  And ultimately it’s the state employees who end up doing all of the work.”-Philip Keefe,  Rhode Island Alliance of Social Service Employees

Texas:  Obama Care involved in University Medical Center’s (UMC) decision to kill 56 healthcare jobs at the two years old non-profit El Paso Children’s Hospital (which was built with local taxpayer funding).  UMC officials say most of the patients at the Children’s Hospital cannot pay for their medical care, despite Obama Care, to the tune of $70-million in lost revenue for UMC!  The UMC director was slightly perturbed: “It’s just plain shitty! There’s a lot of emotion, but that’s how I feel!”-Jim Valenti, UMC CEO for past ten years

Valenti says UMC must now borrow $20-million to float itself.  He refused to directly blame Obama Care (Affordable Care Act) but said that because of the so called federal health care reforms “We are in no position to continue subsidizing Children’s Hospital through the coming years.”

Virginia: Chesapeake based Dollar Tree now owns Family Dollar Stores.  Dollar Tree took over their competition for $9.2-billion! Family Dollar Stores has been losing money, and they’ve shutdown 370 stores.  The Dollar Tree takeover will become official in 2015, and could mean more store shutdowns and layoffs.  Dollar Tree is expanding into Canada, because the economy in the U.S. sucks: “The U.S. channel has clearly matured; there has been some poor performance and valuations have softened. In contrast, the Canadian channel still has six or seven years of growth….”-Perry Caicco, CIBC World Markets

24-25 July 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 October 2014: U.S. occupation until 2024! Wives killing husbands! German taxpayers forced to pay for Afghan sports stadium! Obama launches Shock & Outrage campaign against his own U.S. veterans, cancels job assistance for National Guard as more National Guard vets die in the U.S.!

Badakhshan Province: In Jaram District, a woman shot and killed her husband.  She said it was because he started working for the U.S. occupiers and she has no mercy for traitors.  She was arrested.

Ghazni Province: Battles continue across the province, specifically in Ajiristan District.  The latest reports say massive U.S.-NATO/Afghan government airstrikes have destroyed 150 homes in the town of Abbas Khelo.  The local Mujahideen say they still control the area, but are willing to let “all non-biased humanitarian” NGOs come and inspect the damage caused by the occupiers.

Faryab Province: In Pashtun Kot district, Mujahideen ambushed contracted soldiers (mercenaries) of the government, killing nine and capturing ten motorcycles.

Helmand Province: Another U.S. Special Forces Sergeant killed by Mujahideen.  This time the Sergeant First Class from Louisiana was wounded in a firefight, then medevaced to Germany for treatment but died.   In Gerishk District, reports of a nighttime commando assault on the village of Khalifa Tahir Aka.  It was preceded by daytime U.S. led NATO airstrikes.  Three Mujahideen wounded and four civilians killed.

Kabul Province: In Kabul City, yet more explosions.  This time, in the Kart-e-Char area of the city, two Kamikaze car bombers rammed Afghan National Army (ANA) busses killing at least seven people and wounding 20.  In the Tangi Tara Khel area of the city, a separate Kamikaze attack wounded four ANA personnel.    In the Dogh Abad area of the city another Kamikaze bomber rammed an ANA bus, killing three ANA personnel and wounding eight others.  The Afghan Attorney General Office reports that $729-million USD is still missing from the Kabul Bank.  They’ve been able to recover only $184-million of the $913-million stolen by at least 19 employees.  Those employees fled the country.  After the signing of the new occupation deal (which means the U.S. will remain until 2024) with U.S. led NATO, United Kingdom’s Prime Minister David Cameron made a surprise visit to Kabul City saying “…we are not leaving this country alone.  In Britain you will always have a strong partner and a friend.”

Kandahar Province:  Mujahideen report they’ve liberated Registan District, and captured “large amounts of weapons and ammunition” in the process.

Kunduz Province: In Kunduz City, a magnetic bomb was attached to a police vehicle, when it exploded it wounded six civilians.

Nangarhar Province: In Jalalabad City, Muajhideen say they detected and destroyed two security cameras that were monitoring the main road.

Germany is boasting that they’ve spent 700-thousand euros ($876-thousand) in taxes to build a cricket stadium in Afghanistan!

A veteran U.S. officer of the Afghan and Iraq Occupations is now facing federal charges of bribery.  The now retired Indiana National Guard Lieutenant Colonel is accused of getting kickbacks from video equipment companies involved with recruitment efforts for the Indiana National Guard.

A Vermont (U.S.A.) Army National Guard militiaman, and a 2010 veteran of the Afghan Occupation, ended his life.  He was wounded in the head in Afghanistan, suffering traumatic brain injuries and developed PTSD.  According to a Vermont National Guard statement 25% of the 3-thousand National Guard militiamen & women who were deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, have PTSD!  And that’s from just one year’s deployment just from the U.S. state of Vermont!

For the past few months the U.S. state of Oregon has been sending off thousands of their militiamen & women.  Now the Obama regime has canceled all federal job assistance (aka Joint Transition Assitance Program) for Oregon veterans of the Afghan Occupation!   Local news media say state officials and the Oregon National Guard are “shocked” and “outraged”!   The Oregon National Guard was hit hard this year for deployments to Afghanistan, nearly all their militiamen & women are being deployed! Here’s the rub, the federal JTA program requires that it be handled by a contractor, not through the state National Guard directly, and for some reason no contractor in Oregon qualified to handle the money.

160 militiamen & women of the Army National Guard’s 1742nd Transportation Company (South Dakota U.S.A.) returned from Afghanistan.

14 Air-militiamen of the Air National Guard’s 161st Air Refueling Wing (Arizona U.S.A.) returned from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan, 27 – 30 September 2014

Business/Economics

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 24 – 25 July 2014: “I knew we couldn’t recover.” “It’s not the way we wanted to go….!” More housing implosion! More raptured students? More Obamacare job culling!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

Arizona: What housing market recovery? Local news reports said the Grand Canyon State lost 45-hundred construction jobs in June!

California: In Sylmar, God can’t stop Obama Care from killing 270 jobs with medical device maker Saint Jude Medical!  Blame all those new medical device taxes!  In El Segundo, taxsucker Raytheon announced they will kill another 24 jobs in September.  In Santa Anna, ITT Cannon announced they will layoff five employees in September.  In Los Angeles, the Too Big to Jail Pan American bank got a $6.3-million USD bailout, from 16 other banks!  The bank has not been able to make a profit since 2005.

Colorado: Three Bella’s Markets grocery stores shutting down.  There are reports of complaints from customers about the produce, but the store owner blames the landlord for forcing them to shutdown three of their eight stores.  The current owner of Bella’s took over in 2006, and it sounds like he regrets it.

Connecticut: Poquonnock Bridge Fire District killed nine jobs.  The fire chief said they’ve hit “bottom”.  In Torrington, after eight years Bogey’s Restaurant shutdown.  The restaurant owner says it is “…time to exit out.”  In Sprague, Fusion Paperboard announced they’re shutting down their recycling factory in September, 140 jobs lost!  Company officials say sales of finished recycled paper doesn’t cover the actual cost to recycle the paper.

Florida: JetBlue announced it is ending flights from Florida to Puerto Rico in September.   In Brickell, after eight years Finnegan’s River bar being shutdown by greedy property developers.  The owners of the bar sold out to a New York company for $15-million.   That’s Gay!  40 years old homosexual bar Parliament House chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to $15.5-million in debt!  The owners say their business crashed in 2009 and they’re still trying to recover.  You know all those PSAs on TV telling people it’s wrong to say things like “That’s Gay!”?  The Parliament House has a big rainbow sign that says Gay Days.  Is that Gay, or is it politically unacceptable?  Gay used to mean happy, now I’m sad.

Illinois: Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services dropped the state’s credit rating to ‘negative’.  What automotive industry recovery?  Peoria based heavy equipment maker Caterpillar reports their sales are still crashing, by 12% from March through May.   It’s all part of the big mining shutdown conspiracy around the World.  (and those climate change environmentalists think it’s their doing, ha, this  industry shutdown been taking place for several years now and it’s all about money not climate change.  Oh, are those climate change environmentalist going to feed all those unemployed mine employees?)

Indiana: Obama Care killing 150 healthcare jobs at Union Hospital in Terre Haute!  The CEO said “We face numerous challenges due to changes in the healthcare environment…”

Maryland: Proof that rugged individualism (bordering on anarchy) is dead in the U.S.  The eight years old John Wayne museum in Bowie in danger of shutting down.  The owner says revenues aren’t enough to pay for operating the museum dedicated to the Duke.  By the way, John Wayne’s real name was Marion Robert Morrison.  Marion?  That’s Gay!

Michigan: In Trenton, DTE Energy announced it is shutting down two coal fired electricity generating plants by 2016.  They’ve already shutdown six other coal fired power generators.  Company officials said it’s not worth the cost to upgrade the power plants to the new stricter federal standards.  So don’t complain when you lose power!

Mississippi: In Greenville, Kroger shutting down a grocery store in August, 70 jobs lost.

New York: In NYC, Self, a magazine for women (who apparently have self esteem issues) killed eight jobs (how’s that for self esteem).  Apparently the magazine publisher is having identity issues because reports say Self magazine is being “re-invented”.  After 77 years the Subway Inn announced it will shutdown in August.  It’s being done in by a greedy property developer, the son of the bar owner said “It is upsetting but times have changed.”

North Carolina: What housing market recovery?  Internet based  RoundPoint Mortgage announced it will layoff 166 employees in September!  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the Tar Heel State lost 85-hundred jobs in June, wiping out all their job gains in March!

Ohio: In Columbus, God refuses to stop Christian charter school FCI Academy from killing 17 jobs.  The Christian school is in the hole at least $70-thousand, due to raptured(?) students.  Several years ago the grade school had 600 students, this school year they’re down to 340.

Oregon: In Portland, Bike N Hike shutdown: “Sales have been soft for three years at our Portland store…..This year, it’s been challenging. May and June weren’t kind to anyone here. By mid-­June, I knew we couldn’t recover…..

….I have to wonder if we’re all slowly dying from 1-thousand paper cuts?”-Kevin Chudy, owner

Pennsylvania: In Lehigh County, Obama Care killed 11 jobs at the county funded Cedarbrook nursing home.  Legal drugs pusher Merck announced it is killing 600 jobs in North Wales and Lansdale!

South Carolina: In Charleston, after six years the Vegetable Bin announced it is shutting down in August.  The building failed a fire code inspection, and the owner says their sales aren’t enough to cover the cost of bringing it up to code.

Texas: In Houston, taxsucker United Space Alliance announced it will kill 500 jobs in October!  In Dallas/Fort Worth, Anthem College shutting down its campus on Beltline Road, 30 jobs lost.  Power distributor Valmont Newark shutting down its Mansfield facility, 90 jobs lost.

Virginia: In Charlottesville, after five years office work space provider OpenSpace shutdown.  The owner admitted the concept failed to make money.

Washington: In Seattle, after 20 years the owner of Hurricane Cafe announced he is forced to shutdown in January. The restaurant owner blames the greedy property owner: “It’s not the way we wanted to go out for sure, losing a lease and getting torn down!”-Neil Scott

23 July 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

Pale Horse, October 2014: Ebola, Entero, MERS, Noro, just want to remind everybody in the Northern Hemisphere it’s the start of the annual killer Flu Season as well! Bwah ha ha ha ha ha!

“I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.”-Revelation 6:8

Business/Economics, Idaho

U.S. Job Losses & Store Closings 23 July 2014: “It all started so good…..things just ended.” More massive layoffs in California! Italian company kills jobs in Idaho! Huge electrical contractor fails to pay employees, then goes bust! 400+ jobs killed by Dick’s!

Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:

United Airlines announced it will end flights from Chicago, Illinois, to Topeka, Kansas, in September.   It’s blamed on not enough passengers to financially justify the flights.

California:  Golden State based Broadcom warned it will layoff at least 25-hundred people in September, most of them Californians! Company officials have been trying to sell off their cell phone service, but nobody wanted to buy it, so now they’re shutting it down.  In Fremont, Germany founded scientific equipment maker Bruker Daltonics warned of 78 layoffs in September.  In Antioch, decades old Lamothe Cleaners shutdown.  The owner says that despite updating to the latest technology, working six days a week and even offering free services, his sales have crashed and burned: “It just became too much.”-Tom Lamothe

Florida:  What housing market recovery?  In Coral Springs, condo builder Lauren Enterprises now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  In Miami, after 60 years iconic Jumbo’s restaurant shutdown.  It was the  area’s first ‘white’ owned restaurant to serve ‘black’ customers. Despite surviving years of riots, bad weather and even drunk drivers, the owner says the bad economy finally did him in: “I thought I could get the neighborhood redeveloped, and I couldn’t.  I thought because I knew politicians, I thought I could be an influencing factor in getting this neighborhood to turn. It might, now that I sold.  I’ve worked seven days a week for 47 years. It’s time.”-Bobby Flam, second generation owner

Idaho: In Boise, Italy owned highway and airport food service company HMS Host (Host Marriott Services Corporation-Autogrill S.p.A.) issued a WARN saying they will kill 79 jobs by the end of September.

Maryland: After 36 years of selling food, Stop Shop Save announced it is shutting down all its Baltimore grocery stores!  At one time there were 16 Stop Shop Save stores.  Company officials say their sales have crashed from $69.4-million USD in 2004 to $28.1-million in 2013!  Despite several dozen gorcery stores in the city, The Balitmore Sun says 1 in 5 residents lack easy access to food shopping, as 40% of the city’s poor have no means of transportation.  “It all started so good, was so convenient…..You’re shocked at how things just ended.”-Yvonne Epps, loyal customer

Minnesota: In Twin Cities, nine Roundy owned  Rainbow Foods grocery stores shutdown, with little notice.  Officials from Roundy said the economy is so bad it can’t support all the grocery stores that are out there.

Missouri: Overland based Build-A-Bear Workshop reported a $4.3-million loss for its 2nd quarter 2014, and they’re happy about it!  That’s because at the same time last year they lost $6.2-million! Florida based for profit Anthem Education warned of massive layoffs and the shutdown of its Missouri medical technician campuses if they cannot find new debt financing, or a new owner with lot-o-money!  College officials blamed it on a surprise “rapidly deteriorating financial condition”.  There was no explanation.

Ohio: In Cleveland, California based Too Big to Jail Wells Fargo shutdown a commercial real estate office.

Pennsylvania: Coraopolis based Dick’s Sporting Goods killed 478 jobs at its Golf Galaxy operation!  It’s blamed on crashing sales for golf stuff.

Texas: More Obama Care BS as United Regional Health Care System laid off 14 employees.  An anonymous letter to a local newspaper said the affected employees were “certified phlebotomists”. In Dallas/Fort Worth, Bonchon Korean style chicken restaurant shutdown.  Reports said it seems there aren’t enough fans of Korean style food in Texas.

Utah: In Salt Lake City, after 13 years two Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill restaurants shutting down at the beginning of August.  Company officials blame the bad economy and competition: “It’s based on more competition in the downtown area.  We appreciate every one of our guests, but unfortunately over the past few years, there have been fewer and fewer.”-Kennedy Turner

Virginia: What real estate market recovery?  In Reston, the largest electrical contractor in the region, Truland Group, now chapter 7 bankrupt busted after ending operations without notice and failing to pay employees (filing for bankruptcy will mean those employees are shit-outa-luck for getting their paychecks).  Local news reports said the sudden demise of the company shocked the “commercial real estate industry”.  More than 1-thousand jobs lost!

22 July 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