Tag Archives: employment

International, U.S.

World War 3: United States on the decline, Iran rejects direct talks, again! Increases nuclear activity! Reveals submarine launched drones, demonstrates Kamakazi drones!

“The Americans are growing passive in the world and it can be said that the U.S. offer of talks with Iran is aimed at saving its face as a power in the world….”-statement from Iranian member of parliament Shahin-Shahr

“Obama’s proposal to hold talks with Iran is inconsistent with the facts, and the hostile actions of the Obama administration have also exceeded those of the Bush administration.”-Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini, Iranian Ambassador to Italy

23 February 2013/12 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/05 Esfand 1391

Once again, Iranian officials are rejecting the Obama administration’s offer of direct talks.

Deputy Chairman of Iranian Armed Forces’ Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri, said Iran will not back down, because the United States has basically painted itself into a corner: “The [U.S.] doctrine of using pressure to change the behavior of independent countries and political entities has expired, while the doctrine of threat against threat has created new capacities and has changed a lot of political, security, economic and military equations.”

Several weeks ago the Iranian Supreme Leader (aka Ayatollah), Seyed Ali Khamenei, said this about another offer of direct talks: “Negotiation is meant to prove the goodwill. But you [United States] make tens of [hostile] actions with ill intention and then speak of negotiations in words. Can the Iranian nation believe that you are driven by goodwill?”

Iranian Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, says they’ve been launching UAVs from submarines.  The drones conduct recon missions and are capable of attack missions.  In September 2012, Iran revealed a new drone with a 24 hours flight duration.

Also, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has used Kamakazi drones in the opening stage of wargames that are going on right now.   The wargames are called Payambar-e Azam 8 (The Great Prophet 8).

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has revealed that several new uranium mines have been established, and they have designated 16 new nuclear sites: “Following months of efforts, 16 new sites for nuclear power plants have been designated in coastal areas of the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, Khuzestan and northwestern part of the country.”

The AEOI also announced that more than 180 centrifuges have been installed at the Natanz nuclear facility.  Fereydoun Abbasi, the boss of the AEOI, says the exact number will be revealed once it’s confirmed they work: “The final count of these centrifuges will soon be given to the media, though before we give their number to the media, the Agency’s inspectors will certainly see them….”

And despite all the U.S. and European sanctions, the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) announced that Iran’s non-oil trade has hit $85.9 billion USD last year: “Iran exported over $37 billion worth of non-oil goods and imported $48.3 billion worth of non-oil products…”-Abbas Me’marnejad, IRICA

To top that, the World Steel Association says that Iranian steel production exceeded one million tons in January 2013.  That put Iran in 17th place for steel output: “Despite the intensified sanctions during the last two years, the capacity of Iran’s steel production has increased 5 million tons and we will be completely self-sufficient in the steel industry in the next three years.”-Hamidreza Taherizadeh, Iran Steel Producers Association, statement made in July 2012

Business/Economics, U.S.

Dumb Americans have forgotten the Second World War. An original statue of flag raising on Iwo Jima has no takers!

“We’re a little disappointed with what happened….”-Gregg K. Dietrich, Bonhams Maritime Art Department, New York City

23 February 2013/12 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/05 Esfand 1391

The auction for a cast stone version of the 1945 statue of the famous (supposedly famous) USMC flag raising over Iwo Jima (aka Loto), ended in failure.

Only three people bid on the 12.5 feet (3.8 meters) tall historical statue, and the bids were less then what was expected (auctioneers were trying for a minimum of $1.8 million USD).

Felix de Weldon made the original 32 feet (9.7 meters) tall bronze statue, as well as the smaller stone cast statue. The smaller statue had been hidden away by Weldon for about four decades, before the current owner found it.

The owner is still hoping someone will buy it, because “…it doesn’t fit in my living room.”

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 29 January 2013. Tens of thousands let go! No more Frieghtliner? Incompetent execs! Another bad day for health care! More college students quit! More fuel refineries goin’ down! No more small business loans?

The United States Marines Corps (USMC) announced plans to eliminate 20000 jobs by 2017!

The United States Army (USA) announced they are eliminating or reassigning 60000 positions!

The job cuts announced by the USMC and the USA are not part of the upcoming ‘sequestration’ spending cuts expected from Congress!  The announced cuts were ordered by President Obama in 2012!

Germany’s Daimler Trucks gave layoff warning to thousands of U.S., German and Mexican employees.  As many as 2100 people will be out-o-work in March! The layoffs will affect Freightliner and Western Star truck factories as well as Thomas Built school bus factories in the South & North Carolinas, Oregon and Mexico.  This is the fault of company officials making incorrect estimates about where the economy was going. Last year Daimler officials said they were hiring back 1100 (that they laid off the year before) because they claimed demand for their trucks was going up.  By the end of 2012 they had hired back only about 500, because it turned out that demand was not as high as they “forecast”.  Now it turns out that demand is crashing, blame the bad economy and dumb execs.

JCPenney announced they will eliminate up to 1000 salon receptionist positions in March!

In Massachusetts, Boston Scientific will layoff 1000 employees around the world!  This is on top of the 1400 planned layoffs announced in 2011.  Company officials blame the additional layoffs on new medical taxes coming into effect under the Obama/Romney health care reforms.

In Wisconsin, non-profit WPS Heath Insurance said they are laying off 451 employees, starting at the end of March! The company was founded in 1946.  Company officials said the layoffs are the result of the loss of Medicare and Tricare contracts.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii will layoff 47 nurses. They are being replaced with cheaper “practical nurses” and “assistants”.  So much for a high level of training, this is proof that corporations only care about how cheaply they can pay you, not how skilled you are!

Also in Hawaii, Kapolei Golf Club laid off 14 employees. Company officials said it was to ensure the club will “operate at optimal efficiency.”

California based VMware laying off 900 people! Despite the fact that the software company is reporting profits, officials said the layoffs were necessary because they expect 2013 to be a bad year for them, because many U.S. government deals are expected to get cut, and they don’t see any recovery for their European market.

In North Carolina, Flextronics is shutting down its Creedmoor factory, making 157 people unemployed!  The company is consolidating factory operations.

New Hampshire based trucking company, Nashua Motor Express, closed down after 92 years in operation. They blamed the bad economy and the changing environment of shipping freight.

In New Mexico, an irony, a loan company has gone bankrupt. FastBucks is trying to get out of paying $20 million USD in court ordered restitution to customers that it ripped off!

In Virginia, the Martini Kitchen and Bubble Bar now bankrupt.  They are in debt by $236000, which includes unpaid taxes. And in Roanoke, the only Hooters restaurant is now closed. The owner, Cornett Hospitality, went bankrupt.  Also, Stafford County is losing the 40 years old J&S Market. The owners blame the bad economy and competition from national chain stores.

In Texas, Saks Fifth Avenue closing down a store in Dallas. A company press release implied the store was not “productive” enough. And Disney is shutting down its video game maker, Junction Point Studios, in Austin.  Reports say about 50 people will be unemployed.  The maker of Epic Mickey games has been losing money ever since they released the disappointing Epic Mickey 2 game.

In New York, the Olympia Sports in Consumer Square shut down. Owners say sales didn’t justify signing a new lease.  Also, Closure Systems International Packaging Machinery ends its Randolph factory operations. They make bottle caps for aluminum and plastic bottles. No reason was given for the closure.

Haines Music store, in Pennsylvania, closing down after almost 50 years of providing school bands with supplies. The owners want to retire, and they said none of their children wanted to take over the store.

The Hess Port Reading fuel refinery in New Jersey, shut down for good.  170 people out-o-work! The operators of the refinery say they’ve actually lost money in the past two years, and, amazingly, they say the way the fuel market looks they didn’t expect to make any profits in the future.  It also didn’t help that the operators were forced by federal and state regulators to spend $45 million on environmental controls.

Krispy Kremes lays off more than a dozen employees at a store in Springfield, Missouri.  Officials said it is part of the company’s plans to get rid of “underperforming” stores.

In Louisiana, Delgato Community College will layoff 46 employees.  School officials blame $13 million in debt, which is partly caused by a big declination in student enrollment.

Too big to fail Citigroup (and government bailout recipient) will slash & burn their small business loan operations.  How many people will be laid off has not been announced. These new layoffs will be on top of the 11000 announced in December 2012.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? North Dakota Kmart & another Illinois Sears going down! 200+ people out-o-work! Local taxpayers F*ck*d again!!!

22 February 2013/11 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/04 Esfand 1391

Jamestown, North Dakota, will lose their Kmart in May.  Sears Holdings officials said they will not renew the lease because sales at the Flickertail State store sucked! 45 people out-o-work.

Calumet City, Illinois, losing the River Oaks Center Sears store in May.  Company officials called it “a business decision.”  164 people out-o-work!  On top of that, state taxpayers were forced by their evil elected officials to give Sears Holdings more than $150 million in tax breaks!  City officials are pissed, not just because of the money but Sears gave no warning: “I think Calumet City has been good to Sears and I think we deserve to know other than with the news of the liquidation sale…..I’m contacting our two state reps to see what action may be possible to force them to give the money back to the state.”-Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush, Mayor of Calumet City

Here’s my updated list of 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).

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 (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 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).

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).

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), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost).


Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!!!).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

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). Recently revealed Calumet City Sears (164 jobs lost).  By the way, Illinois elected officials recently 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. The deal also reduces future property taxes by $125 million over the next ten years!

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart (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).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 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).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost).

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

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, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line.

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials.

North Carolina: 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).

North Dakota: Recently revealed Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New York: Depew Kmart (68 jobs lost).

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).   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).

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).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 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), one of two Greenville Kmarts (74 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).

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.

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).

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).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 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).

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 will be closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (will be closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

Fukushima, Technology

Muslim scientist invents new nano water filter to cleanup radioactive cesium and even strontium!

22 February 2013/11 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/04 Esfand 1391

12 years ago an Egyptian scientist moved to Japan, to work with the National Institute for Material Science to create new water filters with nanotechnology.  Sherif El-Safty’s motivation was to help North African countries filter well water, which has a high rate of arsenic contamination.

After the 11 March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster his Japanese colleges discovered that not only was his nanofilter working on natural contaminants, but it was cleaning up radioactive iodine as well.  Safty had been ordered back to Egypt by the Egyptian government, but returned to Japan, along with his family, after getting the news about the filter.

Safty focused on refining the filter, after three months he came up with nanofilters for radioactive iodine, cesium and even strontium.

The nanofilter (made up of HOM dust) traps the radiation in its itsy bitsy pores (one millionth of a millimeter).  In a lab demonstration Safty showed how a magnet can be used to pull the nanofilters out of the water.

This is not the first time that Safty’s, and his co-researchers’, experiments with HOM mesoporous carriers resulted in success.  Last year they created optical sensors that could detect and remove tiny bits of cobalt and gold from urban ore (discarded cell phones, computers, etc).

The Japanese government has just approved the experimental use of the nano water filters at Fukushima Daiichi, as the GE designed disaster reactors are still pouring out contaminated water.

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 28 January 2013. More bad news for alternative power! More fuel refineries shut down! 239 book stores goin’ down! God can’t stop Christian care centers from closing!

In Nevada geothermal energy producer, Ram Power, eliminated almost all its positions at its HQ.  The CEO is also said to be quitting. They are also trying to sell off their California geothermal project.  The company is moving operations to Nicaragua.

In Missouri,  Renewable Environmental Solutions laid off a couple dozen employees. One manager said the new company management thought there were too many employees: “…they saw we were a little fat for winter operations and that led to some layoffs.”-Jim Fuller, general manager

Also, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, two beer bars shut down.  One owner said he wants to focus on his restaurant, and another owner said he needed to spend more time with his family.

In California, 62 people lost their jobs as the Alon fuel refinery shut down.  Company officials blamed it on the increasingly higher costs of refining fuel to California standards.

In New Hampshire military contractor, BAE Systems,will layoff 200 workers!  Another 100 will be laid off in other parts of the country. They say they’re getting ready for reduced military spending.

Sun Times Media, publisher of many newspapers around the country,  says they are forced to layoff at least 50 people.  They are consolidating operations.

Time will layoff 500 employees!  It’s because the publisher continues to see its revenues crash.

In Arizona, EuroFresh Farms goes bankrupt for the second time! Texas-based NatureSweet is offering to buy all of EuroFarms’ assets.

In Gunter, Texas, Christian Care Centers is closing down their Hilltop Haven nursing home. It’s all about the money: “We were unable to find a sustainable financial model for Hilltop.”-Teresa Scott, senior vice president

Lily’s Pampering Salon & Party Boutique closed for good in Washington.   The building was sold off, and the new owners have plans that don’t involve the salon.

In Hilo, Hawaii, Na Makua Original Hawaiian Designs studio was shut down. The owners want to focus on other projects. However, other reports say sales had slowed down because of the bad economy.

Only a few months after opening, Learning Express is closing down their West Boca, Florida, store.  The owners blame the bad economy.

In Iowa, a Snackers 2 training restaurant shut down. The restaurant school was operated by Goodwill of the Heartland.  Officials say the restaurant always lost money, but last year was unbearable. 17 employees laid off.

Barnes & Noble announced plans to close as many as 239 book stores over the next ten years!  Company officials say it’s part of their plans to create “a good business model.”

 

 

Influenza

U.S. Influenza update, 21 February 2013: As I’ve been saying Flu vaccines don’t work, now CDC agrees! No more Tamiflu OS!!! New cases of horse flu! New cases of the new Bird flu! Your politicians spreading the disease!

21 February 2013/10 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/03 Esfand 1391

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the results of their own vaccine study, and it has them shocked!

First off, for overall effectiveness this year’s vaccine is 56% effective, not 62% effective as has been claimed since the beginning of the season.  Secondly, when you break it down by flu strain and the age of the victim, things get worse.

The vaccine is only 9% effective in preventing influenza strain A in people 65 years of age or older!

So far this season almost 9,000 people have been hospitalized because of the flu, the majority are old people and includes those who got flu shots!

To help support my previous claims against vaccines (that the virus mutates too fast for vaccines to be effective), the University of Louisville recently released preliminary results of their ongoing study of the H1N1 pandemic of 2009-10.  They found that each person’s immune system reacted differently to H1N1 (a type of flu A): “This study underscores the potential variability in the virulence of 2009 H1N1 influenza A strains circulating in Kentucky during the pandemic. These data suggest the hypothesis that the high severity of disease seen in certain hospitalized patients may be related to infection with H1N1pdm viral variants that, due to cell tropism and replication levels, may exacerbate certain types of disease associated with comorbidity.”

Minnesota Department of Health reporting 12 new flu deaths. The total for the North Star State is now 148 deaths.  Last week five nursing homes, and nine schools reported outbreaks.

In South Dakota, a 6th grader was the latest person to die. He died from flu A, the type of flu the vaccine has proven to not work on.

The maker of Tamiflu, the anti-flu medicine, says get the children’s version (Tamiflu OS) while you can, ’cause they ain’t makin’ anymore: “…we have shipped all quantities of Tamiflu OS to distributors, some retail pharmacies may still have it…….Given the amount of time it takes to manufacture Tamiflu OS, we don’t plan to make more for the 2012/13 flu season, as it wouldn’t be ready in time.”-Tara Iannuccillo, Genentech

Canadian scientists claim they have a new drug against flu: “Our drug agent uses the same approach as current flu treatments, by preventing neuraminidase from cutting its ties with the infected cell. But our agent latches onto this enzyme like a broken key, stuck in a lock, rendering it useless.”-Steve Withers, University of British Columbia

Oklahoma State Department of Health reporting 26 flu deaths.

In Michigan, Ottawa County reporting double the number of lab confirmed flu cases compared to 2010-11, and five times higher than last year.   So far 20,000 people in the County have complained of flu related illnesses.

Pennsylvania Department of Health reporting that flu related visits to doctors and hospitals are going down. At this point 154 people died.

New Jersey officials say flu is alive and well in their state: “We still do have high influenza-like illness activity throughout our state.”-Tina Tan, State Epidemiologist

The New York State Health Department is reporting fewer cases of flu.  That is, there were fewer cases of people going to the hospital because of the flu, but, the number of people making flu related doctor visits is unchanged.  Also, the number of kids dying from flu has gone up, now eight children have died in New York.  Pediatric deaths make up 38% of lab confirmed flu cases in the Empire State.  There have been 484 outbreaks.  Health officials do not track adult flu related deaths.

Health officials in Colorado are warning that March could be a bad month for flu cases: “March historically is an active time for the flu locally, so we can’t say for sure that the flu season is over.”-Tamara Capp, Mesa County Health Department

In San Diego, California, County health officials are reporting decreased cases.  San Diego got hit hard, with 4,175 lab confirmed cases and 40 deaths.  The flu season isn’t over. For some reason State officials are still reporting far fewer deaths, for the entire state, than whats being reporting in San Diego County.

The next time you hear an “official” telling you not to go to work if you’re sick, tell them its time they take their own medicine!  In Virginia there have been a number of cases of elected officials ending up in the hospital, because they continue to go to work when they are sick:  “Almost no matter what, you’ve got to try to be here every day. This time of year, we’ve got all these bills coming across, and some of them are 20-20 votes.”-Jeffrey L. McWaters, State Senator

The Wall Street Journal reported that flu season is good for OJ.  Orange Juice that is.  The WSJ reported that not only is OJ sales up, but that it’s the older people who’re gulping the citrus juice down.

In Oregon, veterinarians are warning horse owners after a horse came down with equine influenza.  It’s being treated at Oregon State University, the horse originally came from Texas.  This time of year is not good for horses and flu: “Equine influenza is especially dangerous to foals and the foaling season just started.”-Keith Poulsen, OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Flu season recently began in Europe, and the United Kingdom is reporting a doubling of cases in the past two weeks (fortnight).

In Mexico, nine new outbreaks of H7N3 being reported, this time in the state of Guanajuato.  So far 34,889 chickens have died and 53,553 are infected in these latest outbreaks.  Get ready for chicken and egg prices to go up, as this new H7N3 has killed hundreds of thousands of poultry in Mexico since last year.

In Cambodia, a seventh person has died because of bird flu. The 20 months old boy was the eighth Cambodian to be infected with the H5N1 version of bird flu, so far this year.

Bird flus rarely infect humans, but when they do they have an extremely high kill rate.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 11 – 13 February 2013. U.S. backed assassination attempt on Iranians in Afghanistan? Afghans invade Iran? More proof that attacks are up! More women & children killed by U.S. led home invasions!

13 February 2013/02 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/25 Bahman 1391

In Kunar Province, provincial government officials say a U.S. led NATO home invasion operation resulted in four men killed (dubbed “militants” by U.S. led forces),  four women killed and five children killed. It happened in Chopan village.  U.S. led NATO and Afghan National Army (ANA) forces said the house was a Mujahideen refuge.  Mujahideen sources say only women and children were killed in home invasion, and that they attacked the U.S. led forces after the home invasion, killing five ANA troops and wounding three.   Also, to add to the confusion, villagers say NATO/ANA forces kidnapped six people.  For even more confusion, other reports say the attack in Chopan village was actually an air strike!  Oh, the fog of war!  The only thing everyone is agreeing to is that four women and five children were killed!

In Balkh Province, a staff member of the Iranian Consulate was shot while he was on his way to university classes.  He was wounded with four bullets in his chest and stomach.  Police say the assassination attempt was done by men on motorcycles.  Israeli and U.S. forces have used similar tactics to assassinate Iranian nuclear engineers inside Iran.

Then along the Iran-Afghan border,  Iranian border police say they engaged a group of armed drug smugglers coming from Afghanistan. Seven were killed, they had 400 kilos (881 pounds) of opium.  Provincial officials in Farah Province used a most common excuse, that the Afghans were sneaking into Iran to find work.  Iran has a no tolerance anti-narcotics policy, drug smugglers are punished with death!  A few years ago Iranian border police say they found U.S. documents on Afghan drug smugglers, such as U.S. issued credit cards!

An independent report out of Kabul shows that violence against Afghans, especially kidnapping, continues to increase. This is not the first time such a report has been made, and it comes as U.S. led forces continue to claim a reduction in violence against their own personnel.  The latest Afghan study explains that the latest increase in violence against Afghans is at the hands of U.S. supported private security contractors (mercenaries/Arbaki).  Recently police in Kabul stopped an attempted kidnapping and it turned out that the kidnappers were working for a U.S. backed security company.   The police said they were forced to let the kidnappers go after being pressured by government officials.

12 February 2013/01 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/24 Bahman 1391

In Ghazni Province, U.S. led forces conducted a home invasion which resulted in two people killed, two kidnapped.

In Khost Province, a U.S. led home invasion killed a medical student.

In Kapisa Province, U.S. led home invasions resulted in 12 people killed.

The Afghan government admits that Mujahideen are still in control of legal proceedings in at least 65 districts around the country.  This is because the government does not have the legal infrastructure to impose government law throughout the country.

11 February 2013/30 Raby` al-Awwal 1434/23 Bahman 1391

In Nangarhar Province, one ANA troop was killed another wounded after they drove over a landmine.

In Kapisa Province, local government officials say a U.S. led ANA operation killed eight Mujahideen.

An Afghan investigation into claims from the United Nations, that torture is on the increase in Afghan controlled prisons, backs up the UN claim.  Afghan investigators found that the use of torture by cops and guards was on the increase, and that secret prisons have been created.

A UN report says bribery is big business in Afghanistan.  A survey showed that almost half of all Afghans were forced, or felt they had to pay a bribe, to the tune of $4 billion in 2012!  That’s double Afghanistan’s official domestic revenue.

In Kandahar Province, local government officials are pushing Afghan investors to bring 80 factories from Pakistan into Afghanistan!  The officials claim the move would create 3000 jobs for the province.

Economically strapped Japan has just promised to give Afghanistan an additional $13 million USD in taxes collected from struggling citizens of Japan.

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? List of U.S. job losses & store closings for 27 January 2013. Nestle blames inflation!

After only a few months in business, Canadian-American Structured Solutions (CASS) has laid off half of its employees at its Montana modular homes operation.  Good news, they say it’s temporary: “This is a temporary situation as we wait for materials to arrive for our next projects. And this is a very common practice within the industry.”-Lorne Wallace, CEO

In Arkansas, Nestle laying off 70 people, and cutting production days from six days per week down to just four!  The prepared foods maker blames it on increased costs of food products (inflation).

Click pics to make bigger

Kansas based electrical equipment rebuilder, Solomon, let go another 33 employees. Company officials blame the bad economy.

Wireless equipment maker, PowerWave, goes bankrupt with hundreds of millions in debt.

Wisconsin based School Specialty goes bankrupt. The school supply company is selling off assets.

After 28 years in business, Florida’s Kitchenique Cooking School shutting down.  The owner blames the bad economy and a bad location for a steady drop in business: “This is hard; very emotional. Writing the closing announcement was almost like writing my obituary.”-Vicki McCain

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? 372 employees just now told they will be out-o-work, I reported the Sears store closing weeks ago! Wake up people! I got more evidence of Sears’ demise!

“I was shocked. We knew the store was going to close sometime, but they kept telling us it wasn’t going to happen until later.”-unnamed Sears employee

19 February 2013, reports out of Hawaii saying that the employees at the Honolulu Sears were just told (on 18 February 2013) their store will shut down in June.  Local media sources say the June closing date is several months ahead of what they were told back in November. I reported on 31 January 2013, that the flagship money making Sears store was being closed soon.

The huge Sears store/auto center employees 372 people!

Local Hawaii media stuck with a Sears Holdings’ claim, back in November, that the store would stay open through 2013, closing in early 2014.  The problem is that Sears Holdings does not own the store!  They sold the store at the beginning of 2012 to General Growth Properties (GGP).  GGP has been closing down most of the eleven stores they bought (except for the one in Utah, because they cut a deal on the lease).

Hawaii media also stating that GGP revealed (also in November) that the Sears store would be turned into smaller retail spaces, get this, beginning in 2013, in direct contradiction to the Sears Holdings’ statement.

This is a clear case of store employees, and the local media, relying on info from the wrong ‘official source’.  They were relying on info from Sears Holdings which did not apply in this case because the store was actually owned by GGP (never mind the fact that Sears Holdings hasn’t been reliable, also I’ve worked for GGP at one of their Idaho malls and know what stupid corporate decisions they are capable of).

There have been growing complaints by customers that Sears/Kmart is not honoring their ShopYourWay rewards program. Also, growing reports that advertised items are not actually in stock, customers are then pushed to buy something else.  Is it the old bait-n-switch, or are they just not ordering new inventory?

Back in 2010 Sears Holdings sold $250 million USD worth of bonds to its own retirement plan.  Such a move is considered a desperate attempt by a company in trouble to raise cash, on paper anyway.

Recently Sears issued a $5 “Thank you” coupon.  If you bought $25 worth of stuff you got $5 off.  The problem was that the list of “restrictions” was so long many people didn’t bother.

Also, a man in Florida made the dumb move of taking his SUV to get an oil change at Sears (I worked in a Sears automotive shop in California back in the late 1980s, right before it was proven they were ripping people off on brake jobs).  He claims the Sears employee got in his SUV and then rammed it into a wall: “The Sears auto worker gets in the vehicle, literally, it looks like slams on the gas and hit a truck lift and a concrete wall with the vehicle. It was surreal. I didn’t believe it happened.”-Dan Lindeman

Sears refused to pay for damages: “He told me you just need to pay for these repairs out of your pocket and then sue us or you need to call your insurance company.”

The trusting victim, Dan Lindman, did what Sears told him; he and his insurance provider (Farmer’s) actually paid for repairing the damages caused by Sears!  At last check, Farmer’s said Sears made a payment offer but it was too low and Farmers rejected the offer.

Refusing to honor rewards points, selling bonds to their own retirement plan, issuing coupons with restrictions that make it almost impossible to use, and refusing to pay for damages caused by employees: Sure signs of a company going down.

Here’s my updated list of 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).

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 (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 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).

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).

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 on 03 February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost).


Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost!!!).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

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). 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.

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart (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).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 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).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost).

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

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, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line.

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials.

North Carolina: 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).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost).

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New York: Depew Kmart (68 jobs lost).

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).   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).

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).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 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, Irmo Kmart (no info on how many 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).

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.

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).

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).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 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).

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 will be closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (will be closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center