10 April 2013 (14:35 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Jumada l-Ula 1434/21 Farvardin 1391/01 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711
The ROK bank, NongHyup Bank, reporting that its internet banking service is paralyzed. They do not know why. Technicians are working at their operating system location in Anseong, they hope to have it solved before tomorrow.
10 April 2013 (02:13 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Jumada l-Ula 1434/21 Farvardin 1392/01 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711
Tokyo Electric Power Company has been ordered to stop using in-ground waste water ponds to store radiative water. Three ponds are now leaking (several hundreds of tons so far) and some of the contamination includes strontium.
TEPCo said they used the in-ground ponds because they are not enough above ground steel tanks available to hold the massive amount of contaminated water coming from the damaged GE designed reactors.
TEPCo hopes to have new steel tanks delivered in the next few days.
Hawaii’s Schofield Barracks furloughs 100 shipyard workers, pending federal government budget cuts. Also, the Pearl Harbor shipyard threatening to layoff 350 employees!
12 firefighters in Lorain, Ohio, now unemployed. City officials blamed the expiration of a federal grant.
Giant City School District, in Illinois, laid off 14 employees. School officials blame massive state funding cuts. And after 30 years, Chiasso furniture store closed down in Chicago. The owner blamed the bad economy. Also, Chicago Public Schools wants to close two charter high schools. School officials say their budget is short $1 billion USD!
In New Hampshire, cable company MetroCast laid off 16 employees. The company will outsource (contract out) its installer positions, in an effort to make bigger profits. And Hubbingtons Furniture closed their Hampton store. Operators blamed the property manager for making it not worth renewing the lease.
In Tennessee, Lincoln Memorial University refused to renew contracts for 13 teachers. School officials blame declining graduate student enrollment.
In Plano, Texas, J.C. Penny laid off 300 more employees! More layoffs are expected. Company officials refused to talk to local media.
In California, Abbott Vascular laid off another 450 employees! The cardiac and vascular care product maker laid off workers at their Temecula factory, and their French Valley distribution center. In 2012 they laid off almost 500 employees. Company officials will only say they are trying to make the company more efficient. Also, the Fresno County Assessor’s office lays off 14 people, due to lack of funds. In Mill Valley/Strawberry, the Ethan Allen furniture store closed down.
In North Carolina, recumbent bike retailer, Neighborhood Transportation, closed down. The owner blamed health reasons.
After 23 years, Bonnie’s Place restaurant closed down in Michigan. The owners blame road/bridge construction for destroying 90% of their business.
In New York, the Wappingers Central School District says they must close down an elementary school. School officials blame declining enrollment.
In Georgia, the Unity Elementary School in LaGrange could close. School officials say they need to save $4 million!
In Pennsylvania, Caterpillar tractors could close its York Distribution Center in Springettsbury Township. 250 employees would be affected!
Wausau Paper closing their Brainerd, Minnesota, factory. 130 employees affected! Company officials say the toilet paper competition is fierce.
Supermarket Marsh closing stores in Columbus and Marion, Indiana. Company officials don’t want to renew the leases.
In Virginia, Weiman’s Bakery closed down in Richmond, with little notice. The bakery supplied many restaurants, and many were left scrambling to find a new source of bread. Local media said no reason was given for the closing.
Bay Hills Card and Gift Hallmark store closed in Maryland. The owner opened the store in 1987, he says the bad economy did him in.
In Helena, Montana, Pet Town closed down after 30 years of operations. Local media said regular customers cried as animals in the store were shipped off. The owner blamed the bad economy: “The last four years were just brutal!”-Dana Coil
10 April 2013 (00:29 UTC-07 Tango)/29 Jumada l-Ula 1434/21 Farvardin 1391/01 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711
China has closed a border crossing with North Korea: “Travel agencies are not allowed to take tourist groups to go there, since the North Korean government is now asking foreign people to leave.”-unnamed official with the Dandong Border Office
South Korean media reporting that military satellite imagery shows multiple ICBMs ready for launch in North Korea. The missiles include short range Scud, medium range Nodong as well as the BM25 Musudan: “There are clear signs that the North could simultaneously fire off Musudan, Scud and Nodong missiles.”-unnamed ROK spokesman
09 April 2013 (15:17 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
A college student decided to take out as many of his fellow students as he could, with a razor knife.
14 Lone Star College students were stabbed in Cypress, Texas. 12 hospitalized, two are in critical condition.
Police are calling the edged weapon and “unknown weapon”. A witness called the “unknown weapon” an ‘X-acto’ type razor knife used in making crafts. Apparently the ‘mass shooter’ stabbed people in the neck. (he must’ve had the type with multiple blades in the handle, oh no, now they are going to be banned)
I use those X-acto blades when I build my model kits. Oh my god! Am I going to have to go through a background check just to buy my crafts supplies?
You know if one of those students had a gun…….
09 April 2013 (14:50 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
Yesterday, Thai health officials pointed out that H7N9 is new to continental Asia, that it’s only been found in Japan, Europe and United States.
Today China’s chief veterinarian, Yu Kangzhen, revealed that this is the first time the H7N9 virus has been detected in China. To make things more interesting, Yu says so far no connection has been found between the poultry cases and the human cases. He believes the source of infection for both poultry and humans came from outside China.
This announcement by China’s Ministry of Agriculture comes two days after a Chinese air force Colonel, Dai Xu, accused the United States of biological warfare.
09 April 2013 (14:35 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
“We believe that foreigners in South Korea as well as our nationals will be unfazed as they have great confidence and trust in our military and the Republic of Korea.”–Kim Haing, ROK presidential spokeswoman
Officials in Republic of Korea say the DPRK’s warning that foreigners should leave South Korea is nothing more than psychological warfare.
And in front of the U.S. Congress, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Locklear, said that U.S. forces would shoot down a DPRK missile if it was targeting the United States or an ally. But, he “would not recommend” shooting it down if it is truly a test launch that does not target anyone.
09 April 2013 (02:26 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1392/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
Tokyo Electric Power Company has just discovered another contaminated water leak in a third waste water pond. This is the pond they’ve been transferring radioactive water (including strontium) into, from two other ponds that are leaking.
TEPCo had also testified before government officials as to why the ponds/in-ground open air tanks were leaking, before they discovered the third leak. TEPCo officials told the Japanese government they were creating an emergency task force to investigate the growing number of accidents and incidents. They don’t know why the massive in-ground tanks are leaking.
Between all the leaks more than 120 tons of contaminated water has spilled out. The third pond was only 55% full when it started leaking.
09 April 2013 (02:11 UTC-07 Tango)/28 Jumada l-Ula 1434/20 Farvardin 1391/29 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is warning all foreigners in South Korea to prepare to evacuate: “The committee informs all foreign institutions and enterprises and foreigners including tourists in Seoul and all other parts of South Korea that they are requested to take measures for shelter and evacuation in advance for their safety.”-DPRK Asia-Pacific Peace Committee statement
In the Republic of Korea, the Finance Supervisory Service (FSS) has asked South Korean banks to hold off on collecting debts from the capitalist companies working in the now closed Kaesŏng Industrial Region (KIR).
Texas based Advanced Living Technologies bankrupt. The non-profit nursing facility operator is in big debt. Also, Dell computers announced undisclosed number of layoffs at their Round Rock, Texas, HQ. An unnamed employee told local media at least 90 people were let go.
In Vermont, Grace Cottage Hospital to layoff 15 employees. Hospital officials blame the Obama/Romney Care cuts in Medicaid/Medicare payments.
Knott County, Kentucky, says they have to layoff 10 to 12 employees. County officials are blaming the Spotsplex, which is costing taxpayers $400000 USD per year.
In Florida, government contractor Predator Systems being closed down by new owners Curtiss-Wright. 20 people already laid off, another 25 will be let go by the end of the year.
In Louisiana, Libbey Glass laying off 200 people! The company decided to end production of specific glassware, and move other production to Ohio and Mexico.
Video game maker, EA, announced an undisclosed amount of layoffs, to affect operations in California, Canada and “smaller locations”.
Another video gamer maker, IGN, also announced an undisclosed amount of layoffs.
Denmark based Vestas laid off at least 100 people working at their Colorado factories. The wind turbine maker blamed it on changes to federal tax codes.
BioFuel Energy laying off 40 people at its ethanol plant in Minnesota. They actually stopped ethanol production at that specific plant in September 2012, but hope to re-start by the end of the year.
Grocery store, Giant Eagle, cut 75 jobs, mainly at their Pennsylvania HQ. The privately held company is trying to reduce operating costs. And after 35 years, Sneaky Pete’s closed in Ardmore. The owner said the signs of the economic times indicated it was time to retire.
General Electric announced they are planning even more layoffs, and the sale of what’s left of their share of NBCUniversal.
In Canton, Ohio, Frito-Lay laid of 12 employees, and cut the hours for 15 other employees, at their Rold Gold Pretzel factory. Reports say pretzel sales are crashing.
In Michigan, 840 people were told to get ready to look for new jobs! The Journal Register, which publishes newspapers in ten states, is about to be sold off on 17 April (to evil 21st CMH Acquisition). In Plymouth, Isabelle’s Copper Pot shut down.
In New York, Spotlight Newspapers ended two county editions. The publisher blamed increasing small business regulations. And bus company Canal Escort no longer exists after a strike by employees. Nearly 100 people out-o-work! Company officials claim they lost their Department of Education contract because of the strike. One official was rather rude to the former employees: “This union thinks they can tell me what to do? They can go f-ck themselves!”-Joseph Fazzia
Grayslake Elementary District 46, in Illinois, to layoff 17 employees. Officials say the district is short $2.2 million!
In California, Oroville City Elementary School District laying off six people. Blames declining enrollment and funding. In Westlake Village, Safeguard Properties closing its office and laying off 82 employees. Safeguard is also laying off 168 employees in San Bernardino. The company blames the layoffs on their takeover of some Bank of America operations. In Paso Robles the Wilson’s restaurant closed down. It first opened in 1948, and the owners want to retire. And the Hollywood Park Casino might be closing in Inglewood (pending a decision by state officials). 600 employees affected! In Nevada City, the Trolley Junction Restaurant closed down, 20 employees let go.
Indiana’s Cequent Performance Products factory, in Goshen, moving to Mexico. 350 employees affected!
In Oregon, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department laid off 66 people. Reports say its because of contract disputes. And all five Old Farmhouse restaurants closed down. The owner blames himself for trying to expand his operation too fast on too little money.
Wholesale Sports closed stores in Spokane, Washington, and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. 75 people out-o-work. Blame it on California based real estate investment company Alamo Group.
In Virginia, Reston shoe store, Footsteps, closed down. The owner blamed it one the high rent. He said if could find a more affordable location he will go back in business. And the Hoppy Dog gourmet food store in Richmond closed. The owners said they wanted to pursue other interests.
Mexican-Italian restaurant, Chisme, closed down in Valley Junction, Iowa. The owner simply said “everything happens for a reason.” And Planned Parenthood said they were closing two Iowa clinics, no reason given.
In Tennessee, the Archiver’s scrapbook store out-o-business. Reports say it was the last scrapbook store in Memphis.
Hilton is closing their Paradise Landing indoor waterpark in Wisconsin. Hilton officials say they want something more upscale, but haven’t come up with anything so far.