Wal-Mart has suddenly announced it is shuttering five stores from Florida to California for a six-month period due to what the company claims are "plumbing problems." Nobody except the ultra-gullible really believes the Wal-Mart cover story, however.

"The retail chain announced Monday that five stores are shutting down - one in Brandon, two in Texas, one in Oklahoma and one in California - due to clogging and drainage problems," reports News Channel 8 in Florida.

The sudden closures were only announced five hours before they took place, thrusting thousands of employees out of work with little or no notice.

"Wal-Mart announced the temporary closure of the Midland Drive store at 2 p.m." reports the Midland Reporter-Telegram. "Monday, five hours before the designated closure time. No signs have been posted at the store's entrances, as of 2 p.m. Wal-Mart also closed stores in Brandon, Florida, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Livingston on Monday for plumbing repairs, according to news sources in each of those respective cities."