~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
The Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center: Blood, Sweat & Tears: Asia's Poor Build U.S. Bases in Iraq
"Jing Soliman left his family in the Philippines for what sounded like a sure thing--a job as a warehouse worker at Camp Anaconda in Iraq. His new employer, Prime Projects International (PPI) of Dubai, is a major, but low-profile, subcontractor to Halliburton's multi-billion-dollar deal with the Pentagon to provide support services to U.S. forces." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Jing Soliman left his family in the Philippines for what sounded like a sure thing--a job as a warehouse worker at Camp Anaconda in Iraq. His new employer, Prime Projects International (PPI) of Dubai, is a major, but low-profile, subcontractor to Halliburton's multi-billion-dollar deal with the Pentagon to provide support services to U.S. forces." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Muslims For Kucinich: Democrats: It's the War
"Ending the war in Iraq is right for a lot of reasons. The war was unjustified, unnecessary and unprovoked. It is counterproductive, strengthening al-Qaeda and weakening the moral authority of the United States. It is deadly: Many Americans, and many, many more Iraqis, have been killed or injured as a result of the fighting. And it is costly: Well over $250 billion in taxpayer funds have already been spent, with no end in sight." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Ending the war in Iraq is right for a lot of reasons. The war was unjustified, unnecessary and unprovoked. It is counterproductive, strengthening al-Qaeda and weakening the moral authority of the United States. It is deadly: Many Americans, and many, many more Iraqis, have been killed or injured as a result of the fighting. And it is costly: Well over $250 billion in taxpayer funds have already been spent, with no end in sight." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
I am interested to know what this means: Is it tax deductable?
B A N C O: "Donations, no matter how big or small, needed for attorney fees. Make tax deductible check payable to:
Atty. Tat Parish
BANCO
1940 Union St.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
B A N C O: "Donations, no matter how big or small, needed for attorney fees. Make tax deductible check payable to:
Atty. Tat Parish
BANCO
1940 Union St.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
WorldChanging: Another World Is Here: Fahamu -- Pan-African Text Messaging for Social Justice:
"Fahamu uses information communication technologies to conduct pan-African campaigns for human rights and social justice. Founded in 1997 by Firoze Manji, a former director of Amnesty International's Africa program, the 6-odd staffers at Fahamu work in Oxford, UK, and Durban and Cape Town, South Africa -- and coordinate with a network of like-minded writers, scholars, educators and activists worldwide." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Fahamu uses information communication technologies to conduct pan-African campaigns for human rights and social justice. Founded in 1997 by Firoze Manji, a former director of Amnesty International's Africa program, the 6-odd staffers at Fahamu work in Oxford, UK, and Durban and Cape Town, South Africa -- and coordinate with a network of like-minded writers, scholars, educators and activists worldwide." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
we need corporate Target bigwig e-mail addresses! | Announcements and Information | Help | Forum | Target Union!:
"Hey Targeteers! We need Target Execs e-mail addresses. So you folks who may be in management but have the heart of workers-send them in. We are kicking off a corportate campaign at Target Central (Mpls.)
Thanks!
Bernie Hesse,Organizer
Local 789
p.s. if Bob Ulrich is reading this, give me a call at 651-451-6240" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Hey Targeteers! We need Target Execs e-mail addresses. So you folks who may be in management but have the heart of workers-send them in. We are kicking off a corportate campaign at Target Central (Mpls.)
Thanks!
Bernie Hesse,Organizer
Local 789
p.s. if Bob Ulrich is reading this, give me a call at 651-451-6240" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
The Real Rosa Parks :: ILCA Online :: Making Labor Media a Force to Be Reckoned With:
"We learn much from how we present our heroes. A few years ago, on Martin Luther King. Day, I was interviewed on CNN. So was Rosa Parks, by phone from Los Angeles. “We’re very honored to have her,” said the host. “Rosa Parks was the woman who wouldn’t go to the back of the bus. She wouldn’t get up and give her seat in the white section to a white person. That set in motion the year-long bus boycott in Montgomery. It earned Rosa Parks the title of ‘mother of the Civil Rights movement.’” I was excited to hear Parks’s voice and to be part of the same show. Then it occurred to me that the host’s description--the story’s standard rendition and one repeated even in many of her obituaries--stripped the Montgomery boycott of all of its context. Before refusing to give up her bus seat, Parks had been active for twelve years in the local NAACP chapter, serving as its secretary. The summer before her arrest, she’d had attended a ten-day training session at Tennessee’s labor and civil rights organizing school, the Highlander Center, where she’d met an older generation of civil rights activists, like South Carolina teacher Septima Clark, and discussed the recent Supreme Court decision banning “separate-but-equal” schools. During this period of involvement and education, Parks had become familiar with previous challenges to segregation: Another Montgomery bus boycott, fifty years earlier, successfully eased some restrictions; a bus boycott in Baton Rouge won limited gains two years before Parks was arrested; and the previous spring, a young Montgomery woman had also refused to move to the back of the bus, causing the NAACP to consider a legal challenge until it turned out that she was unmarried and pregnant, and therefore a poor symbol for a campaign." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"We learn much from how we present our heroes. A few years ago, on Martin Luther King. Day, I was interviewed on CNN. So was Rosa Parks, by phone from Los Angeles. “We’re very honored to have her,” said the host. “Rosa Parks was the woman who wouldn’t go to the back of the bus. She wouldn’t get up and give her seat in the white section to a white person. That set in motion the year-long bus boycott in Montgomery. It earned Rosa Parks the title of ‘mother of the Civil Rights movement.’” I was excited to hear Parks’s voice and to be part of the same show. Then it occurred to me that the host’s description--the story’s standard rendition and one repeated even in many of her obituaries--stripped the Montgomery boycott of all of its context. Before refusing to give up her bus seat, Parks had been active for twelve years in the local NAACP chapter, serving as its secretary. The summer before her arrest, she’d had attended a ten-day training session at Tennessee’s labor and civil rights organizing school, the Highlander Center, where she’d met an older generation of civil rights activists, like South Carolina teacher Septima Clark, and discussed the recent Supreme Court decision banning “separate-but-equal” schools. During this period of involvement and education, Parks had become familiar with previous challenges to segregation: Another Montgomery bus boycott, fifty years earlier, successfully eased some restrictions; a bus boycott in Baton Rouge won limited gains two years before Parks was arrested; and the previous spring, a young Montgomery woman had also refused to move to the back of the bus, causing the NAACP to consider a legal challenge until it turned out that she was unmarried and pregnant, and therefore a poor symbol for a campaign." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
New Web Site for Protest Musicians :: ILCA Online :: Making Labor Media a Force to Be Reckoned With:
"New Web Site for Protest Musicians
By Marc Ribot, AFM
MusicMobe is a new Web site (www.MusicMobe.org) that reaches across borders and amplifies the many voices for peace, democracy, environmental protection and global justice. I became involved in this project while on tour in Europe during the most recent U.S. invasion of Iraq. Long before then I’d noticed an increasing rift between political opinion in the U.S. and that of the rest of the world.
But the depth of European opposition to the war at that time was unlike anything I’d ever seen. (I’ve spent a minimum of two months a year since 1984 touring in Europe on the jazz, new music and rock circuits.)
There were or had recently been demonstrations in virtually every town I played. Audience members, presenters and other musicians with whom I spoke were bereft at what was seen as overwhelming support for the war among Americans. These were not “anti-Americans” but often people with a deep and lifelong love of American music and culture.
As it happened, I and many other musicians did oppose the war. However, our opposition was seriously underreported in the news media. Even the New York Times, by its own admission, underreported opposition events. We felt a need to speak out directly while on tour, to correct the impression of unanimous consent created in the media.
How does MusicMobe work?
Using its interactive Web site, the project connects musicians who are touring internationally with organizations along their route and helps musicians speak out on issues they are concerned about.
The MusicMobe database will allow touring musicians to connect with organizations hosting events like rallies, marches and press conferences.
Artists set up a profile, selecting the kinds of issues they are interested in and activities they would consider and post their tour itineraries.
Organizations can invite artists to participate in various activities such as performing or speaking at one of the organization’s events, speaking at a press conference, or letting the organization have an information table at the artist’s own concert.
Musicians can accept any invitations they like, and the musician’s own contact information stays private. (Musicians and organizations have their own inboxes directly on MusicMobe.) Artists from around the world might eventually use MusicMobe to connect with organizations throughout the U.S.
This connection isn’t just a one way street. Organizations using the MusicMobe database can also be mobilized to support artists’ issues. This long-range goal should be of interest to union members. Distributors and record labels in today’s economy operate in a global economic space and can’t be successfully pressured by unions based in a single local.
Musicians need to develop organizations with a global reach if we’re ever to recover collective strength in the recording industry. When businesses are confronted in the entire space in which they operate, concessions can be won.
This was demonstrated in a miniature way during the recent fight for back royalties and rights to masters from Knitting Factory Records, which, along with the Knitting Factory nightclubs, is owned by KnitMedia. KnitMedia management agreed to negotiate only after protests by musicians in New York and outside the Los Angeles branch of the nightclub.
The fact that the protest happened on both sides of the country, that the artists were able to reach as far as the company they were fighting, helped the artists win. The ability to conduct actions such as this on a global level will expand our leverage.
To find out more about MusicMobe or to participate, visit www.MusicMobe.org or call (347) 342-5100.
************************************************
Marc Ribot is an internationally-known guitarist and a member of the New York City musicians' union (AFM Local 802); see www.MarcRibot.com. This story originally appeared in the November 2005 issue of Allegro, the newspaper of the New York City musicians' union (Local 802, American Federation of Musicians). You may reprint it as long as you credit the original source and author. The editor of Allegro, Mikael Elsila, can be reached at (212) 245-4802, ext. 179, or melsila@local802afm.org. (Note: when “Local 802” appears in the story, it refers to AFM Local 802, the musicians’ union local that covers New York City. See www.Local802AFM.org. for background.)"
************************************************ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"New Web Site for Protest Musicians
By Marc Ribot, AFM
MusicMobe is a new Web site (www.MusicMobe.org) that reaches across borders and amplifies the many voices for peace, democracy, environmental protection and global justice. I became involved in this project while on tour in Europe during the most recent U.S. invasion of Iraq. Long before then I’d noticed an increasing rift between political opinion in the U.S. and that of the rest of the world.
But the depth of European opposition to the war at that time was unlike anything I’d ever seen. (I’ve spent a minimum of two months a year since 1984 touring in Europe on the jazz, new music and rock circuits.)
There were or had recently been demonstrations in virtually every town I played. Audience members, presenters and other musicians with whom I spoke were bereft at what was seen as overwhelming support for the war among Americans. These were not “anti-Americans” but often people with a deep and lifelong love of American music and culture.
As it happened, I and many other musicians did oppose the war. However, our opposition was seriously underreported in the news media. Even the New York Times, by its own admission, underreported opposition events. We felt a need to speak out directly while on tour, to correct the impression of unanimous consent created in the media.
How does MusicMobe work?
Using its interactive Web site, the project connects musicians who are touring internationally with organizations along their route and helps musicians speak out on issues they are concerned about.
The MusicMobe database will allow touring musicians to connect with organizations hosting events like rallies, marches and press conferences.
Artists set up a profile, selecting the kinds of issues they are interested in and activities they would consider and post their tour itineraries.
Organizations can invite artists to participate in various activities such as performing or speaking at one of the organization’s events, speaking at a press conference, or letting the organization have an information table at the artist’s own concert.
Musicians can accept any invitations they like, and the musician’s own contact information stays private. (Musicians and organizations have their own inboxes directly on MusicMobe.) Artists from around the world might eventually use MusicMobe to connect with organizations throughout the U.S.
This connection isn’t just a one way street. Organizations using the MusicMobe database can also be mobilized to support artists’ issues. This long-range goal should be of interest to union members. Distributors and record labels in today’s economy operate in a global economic space and can’t be successfully pressured by unions based in a single local.
Musicians need to develop organizations with a global reach if we’re ever to recover collective strength in the recording industry. When businesses are confronted in the entire space in which they operate, concessions can be won.
This was demonstrated in a miniature way during the recent fight for back royalties and rights to masters from Knitting Factory Records, which, along with the Knitting Factory nightclubs, is owned by KnitMedia. KnitMedia management agreed to negotiate only after protests by musicians in New York and outside the Los Angeles branch of the nightclub.
The fact that the protest happened on both sides of the country, that the artists were able to reach as far as the company they were fighting, helped the artists win. The ability to conduct actions such as this on a global level will expand our leverage.
To find out more about MusicMobe or to participate, visit www.MusicMobe.org or call (347) 342-5100.
************************************************
Marc Ribot is an internationally-known guitarist and a member of the New York City musicians' union (AFM Local 802); see www.MarcRibot.com. This story originally appeared in the November 2005 issue of Allegro, the newspaper of the New York City musicians' union (Local 802, American Federation of Musicians). You may reprint it as long as you credit the original source and author. The editor of Allegro, Mikael Elsila, can be reached at (212) 245-4802, ext. 179, or melsila@local802afm.org. (Note: when “Local 802” appears in the story, it refers to AFM Local 802, the musicians’ union local that covers New York City. See www.Local802AFM.org. for background.)"
************************************************ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
to the barricades:
"NYU Grad Students, through GSOC/Local 2110 UAW, have authorized a strike this morning which will result in a complete stoppage of work by graduate students in response to the administration's refusal to renew their contract, which expired on August 31, 2005 (the National Labor Relations Board, composed largely of apointees from a reactionary Bush administration, determined, contrary to a 2000 ruling, that universities do not have to negotiate with graduate student unions). A contract "offered" to the union by the administration in August was "little more than a public relations stunt" which acquiesced to none of the principal demands in an acceptable fashion.
The previous contract - the first given to graduate students at a private university - granted graduate students higher wages (a 40% increase), health benefits, childcare support, procedures for grievance resolution, workplace democracy, and generally improved working conditions" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"NYU Grad Students, through GSOC/Local 2110 UAW, have authorized a strike this morning which will result in a complete stoppage of work by graduate students in response to the administration's refusal to renew their contract, which expired on August 31, 2005 (the National Labor Relations Board, composed largely of apointees from a reactionary Bush administration, determined, contrary to a 2000 ruling, that universities do not have to negotiate with graduate student unions). A contract "offered" to the union by the administration in August was "little more than a public relations stunt" which acquiesced to none of the principal demands in an acceptable fashion.
The previous contract - the first given to graduate students at a private university - granted graduate students higher wages (a 40% increase), health benefits, childcare support, procedures for grievance resolution, workplace democracy, and generally improved working conditions" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Bob's Links and Rants: War on terror won--ten years ago:
"The war on terror will not be won until Iraq is completely and verifiably deprived of weapons of mass destruction.
-- Dick Cheney, December 2, 2002
That's from a long list of quotes Tom Tomorrow compiled documenting the primacy of the WMD argument in the misadministration's buildup to the Iraq war, regardless of what the wingnut revisionist historians try to tell us now." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The war on terror will not be won until Iraq is completely and verifiably deprived of weapons of mass destruction.
-- Dick Cheney, December 2, 2002
That's from a long list of quotes Tom Tomorrow compiled documenting the primacy of the WMD argument in the misadministration's buildup to the Iraq war, regardless of what the wingnut revisionist historians try to tell us now." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Radio interview from WCBN: Black Box Radio
"1. To listen to a short radio interview of Dorothy
and Rev. Pinkney, (approx. 10 min.):
http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2005/10/7409.php
2. As in a bygone era when racism was the norm and police oppression considered business-as-usual, Benton Harbor cops and Berrien County sheriffs are blanketing the city for witnesses who will agree to give false testimony against Rev. Pinkney. Tax payer money is funding the effort as officers spend their days driving from homes to apt. complexes to soup kitchens, trying to coerce residents into lying on the stand at Rev. P.'s upcoming frame-up trial. (no date yet)
This is all going on whithout any outcry or action from social justice groups, the ACLU, NAACP, Dept. of Justice, or anyone in Lansing..... just a renegade county system doing it's thing to ruin lives. Right here in the state of Michigan, people and organizations in power look on without blinking their eyes.
Donations, no matter how big or small, needed for attorney fees. Make tax deductible check payable to:
Atty. Tat Parish
BANCO
1940 Union St.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
THANK YOU in advance.
--Rev. Edward Pinkney, 269-925-0001" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"1. To listen to a short radio interview of Dorothy
and Rev. Pinkney, (approx. 10 min.):
http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2005/10/7409.php
2. As in a bygone era when racism was the norm and police oppression considered business-as-usual, Benton Harbor cops and Berrien County sheriffs are blanketing the city for witnesses who will agree to give false testimony against Rev. Pinkney. Tax payer money is funding the effort as officers spend their days driving from homes to apt. complexes to soup kitchens, trying to coerce residents into lying on the stand at Rev. P.'s upcoming frame-up trial. (no date yet)
This is all going on whithout any outcry or action from social justice groups, the ACLU, NAACP, Dept. of Justice, or anyone in Lansing..... just a renegade county system doing it's thing to ruin lives. Right here in the state of Michigan, people and organizations in power look on without blinking their eyes.
Donations, no matter how big or small, needed for attorney fees. Make tax deductible check payable to:
Atty. Tat Parish
BANCO
1940 Union St.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
THANK YOU in advance.
--Rev. Edward Pinkney, 269-925-0001" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Pockets
"Reading the novel through my 26 year-old blue eyes in the summer of 2005, it struck me that Garcia Marquez’s portrayal of the social relationships that foster love and sustain his characters’ ability to hope, defies the nuclear familial structure of husband, wife and kids. It is a good reminder that, in spite of the Christian Coalition’s claim that the heterosexual nuclear family is the as the only moral tradition of love, alternative constructions of a loving/sexual/romantic relationship have existed at least as long as prostitution (“the world’s oldest profession”)"
That is what I am saying... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Reading the novel through my 26 year-old blue eyes in the summer of 2005, it struck me that Garcia Marquez’s portrayal of the social relationships that foster love and sustain his characters’ ability to hope, defies the nuclear familial structure of husband, wife and kids. It is a good reminder that, in spite of the Christian Coalition’s claim that the heterosexual nuclear family is the as the only moral tradition of love, alternative constructions of a loving/sexual/romantic relationship have existed at least as long as prostitution (“the world’s oldest profession”)"
That is what I am saying... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
"Affirmative action, the policy of giving preferences for jobs, university admissions, or government contracts to members of designated racial and ethnic groups, has never been popular, and it could soon be abolished. In 2003, the Supreme Court struck down an undergraduate admissions policy at the University of Michigan that provided extra points for minority applicants. At the same time, the Court approved by a single vote the more subjective practice of taking race into account as one factor among several in admissions to the university's law school. The change of one vote (by the recently confirmed Chief Justice John Roberts?) would have meant the end of overt affirmative action in higher education. The trend against affirmative action in the states is even more pronounced. In California and Washington constitutional referendums have banned the government from using affirmative action in any of its activities. Other states have ended or severely limited affirmative action by executive authority.
More remarkable than the current opposition to affirmative action is the fact that it ever came into existence in the first place. On its face, the policy seems to violate one of the most basic American values—the idea that individual merit as manifested in a fair and open competition should be rewarded. A practice that seems to go against the individualistic and meritocratic American ethos is clearly vulnerable to an attack that is likely to be persuasive to many of those who do not stand to benefit from it. Moreover, affirmative action seems contrary to the emphasis on colorblindness that was characteristic of the civil rights movement of the Fifties and early Sixties, and was expressed in the language of its greatest achievement—the Civil Rights Act of 1964." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
More remarkable than the current opposition to affirmative action is the fact that it ever came into existence in the first place. On its face, the policy seems to violate one of the most basic American values—the idea that individual merit as manifested in a fair and open competition should be rewarded. A practice that seems to go against the individualistic and meritocratic American ethos is clearly vulnerable to an attack that is likely to be persuasive to many of those who do not stand to benefit from it. Moreover, affirmative action seems contrary to the emphasis on colorblindness that was characteristic of the civil rights movement of the Fifties and early Sixties, and was expressed in the language of its greatest achievement—the Civil Rights Act of 1964." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Labor Unions in contemporary America: Down but not out
"Despite the vicious resistance of employers to unionizing, organizing is not only vital to the growth of unions but is imperative to their very survival. If unions do not wish to be some oddity studied in political science textbooks, unionists must be sent to every American workplace. Sad to say, not only is the future of American unions at stake but also the viability of American progressivism. Political discourse in this nation centers on social issues such as abortion and gay marriage, and there is a real paucity of debate on matters that actually impact the daily lives of Americans, such as the stunning loss of manufacturing jobs. Labor unions are the perfect mechanism to channel working-class Americans into adherents of the ideals of social justice. Progressivism seeks fair wages for work and a decent quality of life for all. Unions must convince Americans that these are achievable and worthwhile goals." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Despite the vicious resistance of employers to unionizing, organizing is not only vital to the growth of unions but is imperative to their very survival. If unions do not wish to be some oddity studied in political science textbooks, unionists must be sent to every American workplace. Sad to say, not only is the future of American unions at stake but also the viability of American progressivism. Political discourse in this nation centers on social issues such as abortion and gay marriage, and there is a real paucity of debate on matters that actually impact the daily lives of Americans, such as the stunning loss of manufacturing jobs. Labor unions are the perfect mechanism to channel working-class Americans into adherents of the ideals of social justice. Progressivism seeks fair wages for work and a decent quality of life for all. Unions must convince Americans that these are achievable and worthwhile goals." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
7 Reasons Why You Should Vote to Study Draft Registration
"This site is a crime against the Military Selective Service Act. It advocates. We are specifically encouraging resistance to the registration laws of the United States, seeing registration as the necessary step toward conscription (the draft). We are what the Selective Service calls 'anti-war intellectuals.' We see the direct link between registration, the draft, and aggressive war. Remember, non- registration is the strategy to beat the draft. If enough of us refuse, there is nothing they can do!" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"This site is a crime against the Military Selective Service Act. It advocates. We are specifically encouraging resistance to the registration laws of the United States, seeing registration as the necessary step toward conscription (the draft). We are what the Selective Service calls 'anti-war intellectuals.' We see the direct link between registration, the draft, and aggressive war. Remember, non- registration is the strategy to beat the draft. If enough of us refuse, there is nothing they can do!" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
To many of us "slavery" - the buying and selling of people - is a word that
echoes a brutal time in our past. But there are countless women, men, and
children forced into labor, sexually exploited and subjected to abuse each
and every day. Human trafficking is modern day slave trading.
What can you and I do about this scourge? First, you can take action on this
urgent human rights issue. Sign a petition that calls on Congress to take
strong measures to improve human rights protections for people trafficked to
the United States.
SIGN THE PETITION:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/ctt.asp?u=484957&l=14852
Then, invite your friends over to watch the Lifetime mini-series Human
Trafficking starring Mira Sorvino, an Academy Award Winner and spokesperson
for Amnesty International USA's Stop Violence Against Women campaign.
Human Trafficking airs tonight, Monday, October 24 and Tuesday, October 25
on Lifetime TV at 9 PM ET/PT.
Stand up and speak out against the horrors of human trafficking.
Sincerely,
Bill Schulz
Executive Director
Amnesty International USA
P.S. We need your help. Please make a donation today in support of Amnesty
International's ongoing work to end the rampant violence against women and
girls at home and abroad.
DONATE NOW:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/ctt.asp?u=484957&l=14846 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
echoes a brutal time in our past. But there are countless women, men, and
children forced into labor, sexually exploited and subjected to abuse each
and every day. Human trafficking is modern day slave trading.
What can you and I do about this scourge? First, you can take action on this
urgent human rights issue. Sign a petition that calls on Congress to take
strong measures to improve human rights protections for people trafficked to
the United States.
SIGN THE PETITION:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/ctt.asp?u=484957&l=14852
Then, invite your friends over to watch the Lifetime mini-series Human
Trafficking starring Mira Sorvino, an Academy Award Winner and spokesperson
for Amnesty International USA's Stop Violence Against Women campaign.
Human Trafficking airs tonight, Monday, October 24 and Tuesday, October 25
on Lifetime TV at 9 PM ET/PT.
Stand up and speak out against the horrors of human trafficking.
Sincerely,
Bill Schulz
Executive Director
Amnesty International USA
P.S. We need your help. Please make a donation today in support of Amnesty
International's ongoing work to end the rampant violence against women and
girls at home and abroad.
DONATE NOW:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/ctt.asp?u=484957&l=14846 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Take Action: Time is running out to save the Arctic Refuge!: "The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is under attack and we don’t have a minute to spare. We need your help right now to stop oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge before it's too late.
But time is running out. Please edit our letter below as you see fit, then click on the 'Send this Message' button. Remember that if you take just a minute or two to add your own words, you increase the impact of your letter enormously." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Lift the Prophetic Voice:
Witness to the Human Cost of the Iraq War
An Interfaith Public Witness on Nov. 1
On all Saint's Day, Tuesday, November 1, the Fellowship of
Reconciliation, together with Reclaiming the Prophetic Voice, is
urging clergy and people of faith to converge on district
Congressional Offices around the country, speaking out against
the immorality and illegality of the Iraq War and against the
abuse and torture of detainees in U.S. custody.
All Saint's Day, devoted to prayers for the dead, falls two
weeks after the Jewish holiday of Sukkot when prayers are said
for the protection of God's peace, and two days before the end
of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting and atonement.
convergence of religious holy days invites prophetic witness,
atonement for our government's immoral conduct and activism to
end the war.
Right now, we are helping to organize public witnesses on Nov. 1
at the district offices of Congressional Representatives
throughout the country. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ORGANIZE A WITNESS
IN YOUR COMMUNITY, call 845-358-4601 or e-mail
PropheticVoiceNov1@yahoo.com
Witnesses will include a liturgy of prayer, including recitation
of the Jewish Mourner's Kaddish, and readings from the Quran.
They will be followed by a public reading of the names of U.S.
soldiers and Iraqi civilians who have been killed in this war.
The list of names will be provided to those who call or e-mail
the contacts above. Go to http://ga3.org/ct/ud_BXq91VRc6/ for
full details and resource materials such as flyers, sample
letters to the editor, etc.
If you haven't already done so, please sign the Petition to
Investigate Torture. You may sign it online at
http://petitions.forusa.org/petition.php?petition_id=5 or you
can download the petition to present to your Congressperson. Go
to
http://www.forusa.org/programs/iraq/documents/Torturepetition.pdf
to download.
Remember, to sign up to participate, or to help organize this
event, please call (845) 358-4601 or email:
PropheticVoiceNov1@yahoo.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Witness to the Human Cost of the Iraq War
An Interfaith Public Witness on Nov. 1
On all Saint's Day, Tuesday, November 1, the Fellowship of
Reconciliation, together with Reclaiming the Prophetic Voice, is
urging clergy and people of faith to converge on district
Congressional Offices around the country, speaking out against
the immorality and illegality of the Iraq War and against the
abuse and torture of detainees in U.S. custody.
All Saint's Day, devoted to prayers for the dead, falls two
weeks after the Jewish holiday of Sukkot when prayers are said
for the protection of God's peace, and two days before the end
of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting and atonement.
convergence of religious holy days invites prophetic witness,
atonement for our government's immoral conduct and activism to
end the war.
Right now, we are helping to organize public witnesses on Nov. 1
at the district offices of Congressional Representatives
throughout the country. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ORGANIZE A WITNESS
IN YOUR COMMUNITY, call 845-358-4601 or e-mail
PropheticVoiceNov1@yahoo.com
Witnesses will include a liturgy of prayer, including recitation
of the Jewish Mourner's Kaddish, and readings from the Quran.
They will be followed by a public reading of the names of U.S.
soldiers and Iraqi civilians who have been killed in this war.
The list of names will be provided to those who call or e-mail
the contacts above. Go to http://ga3.org/ct/ud_BXq91VRc6/ for
full details and resource materials such as flyers, sample
letters to the editor, etc.
If you haven't already done so, please sign the Petition to
Investigate Torture. You may sign it online at
http://petitions.forusa.org/petition.php?petition_id=5 or you
can download the petition to present to your Congressperson. Go
to
http://www.forusa.org/programs/iraq/documents/Torturepetition.pdf
to download.
Remember, to sign up to participate, or to help organize this
event, please call (845) 358-4601 or email:
PropheticVoiceNov1@yahoo.com
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Notes from:
SOLE presents: Birth of Labor Movement 10/25/05
Flint “sit-down” strike of 1936 and 1937 at GM (worlds largest corporation)
“important to starting a middle class in America”
“workers rights… chance to make a decent wage”
“demanded to be treated like human beings”
“not about money”
Women’s Emergency Brigade – Film about 40th Anniversary
Forefront of “today’s women”
Took food to the strikers
“We were the pioneers of the labor movement”
No health benefits, no unemployment, no Social Security
No safety equipment- people were not told about previous injuries
Plants thought that women would ask fewer questions and accept lower pay
Had to accept sexual harassment to keep jobs “if you were the kind of girl who didn’t mind men patting you where men shouldn’t be patting you, you were pretty well assured of a job”
One entire department was treated for venereal disease
Held over the women’s heads.
Men were treated badly
Hurt families, wives
“Flint was famous for churches and beer gardens…. The churches were for the women”
GM controlled all of Flint (judges, etc.)
Many women thought it was a bad idea to strike against the various components of the corporation (A.C. Sparkplugs. Etc.)
Company planted distrust in wives- told wives that their husbands were not at union meetings, were actually at pool halls , etc.
At first, women were asked to leave strikes to discourage press coverage of “sexual mingling”
Women’s Auxiliary founded to support husbands who were striking(Fisher 1 and Fisher 2)
Some women organized children’s picket lines
People called them “communists” but “then they were bragging about their pensions and they don’t know how they got them”
Socialist and Communist Party did assist- “without the education and the know-how that they gave us, we wouldn’t have been able to do it”
Battle fought between GM “goons” and strikers in front of Flint-Fisher Two
Women crossed the police lines and joined “in solidarity”
Founded a women’s brigade
(wore red berets)
National Guard called in – January, 1937
February 11, 1937- GM signs contract agreement- end of strike
Geraldine Blankenshipp
Father was a vice-president of the sit-down
“Ding-man”- paid slightly better
“Child of the depression”
Husband-to-be put on doors
Inhumane conditions
Would use and keep teargas
Extreme heat (120 degrees)
No overtime pay
Bribe foreman with food and other things
Father held secret meetings- family did not know they were planning strike
Talked a little bit about what she thought of unions now
Mentioned Rosa Parks
thanks to jane coaston ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SOLE presents: Birth of Labor Movement 10/25/05
Flint “sit-down” strike of 1936 and 1937 at GM (worlds largest corporation)
“important to starting a middle class in America”
“workers rights… chance to make a decent wage”
“demanded to be treated like human beings”
“not about money”
Women’s Emergency Brigade – Film about 40th Anniversary
Forefront of “today’s women”
Took food to the strikers
“We were the pioneers of the labor movement”
No health benefits, no unemployment, no Social Security
No safety equipment- people were not told about previous injuries
Plants thought that women would ask fewer questions and accept lower pay
Had to accept sexual harassment to keep jobs “if you were the kind of girl who didn’t mind men patting you where men shouldn’t be patting you, you were pretty well assured of a job”
One entire department was treated for venereal disease
Held over the women’s heads.
Men were treated badly
Hurt families, wives
“Flint was famous for churches and beer gardens…. The churches were for the women”
GM controlled all of Flint (judges, etc.)
Many women thought it was a bad idea to strike against the various components of the corporation (A.C. Sparkplugs. Etc.)
Company planted distrust in wives- told wives that their husbands were not at union meetings, were actually at pool halls , etc.
At first, women were asked to leave strikes to discourage press coverage of “sexual mingling”
Women’s Auxiliary founded to support husbands who were striking(Fisher 1 and Fisher 2)
Some women organized children’s picket lines
People called them “communists” but “then they were bragging about their pensions and they don’t know how they got them”
Socialist and Communist Party did assist- “without the education and the know-how that they gave us, we wouldn’t have been able to do it”
Battle fought between GM “goons” and strikers in front of Flint-Fisher Two
Women crossed the police lines and joined “in solidarity”
Founded a women’s brigade
(wore red berets)
National Guard called in – January, 1937
February 11, 1937- GM signs contract agreement- end of strike
Geraldine Blankenshipp
Father was a vice-president of the sit-down
“Ding-man”- paid slightly better
“Child of the depression”
Husband-to-be put on doors
Inhumane conditions
Would use and keep teargas
Extreme heat (120 degrees)
No overtime pay
Bribe foreman with food and other things
Father held secret meetings- family did not know they were planning strike
Talked a little bit about what she thought of unions now
Mentioned Rosa Parks
thanks to jane coaston ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Nurses chide California Pacific
"union members claim conditions are deteriorating. 'We are functioning like the Third World,' said Neca Claus, a registered nurse in labor and delivery at the hospital's California Street location. 'It is absolutely filthy, and the working conditions are horrible.'" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"union members claim conditions are deteriorating. 'We are functioning like the Third World,' said Neca Claus, a registered nurse in labor and delivery at the hospital's California Street location. 'It is absolutely filthy, and the working conditions are horrible.'" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Unofficial strike closed the Stockholm Subway | Municipal Transportation Workers Industrial Union 540 | Department 500 - Transportation and Communication | News - All Departments and Unions | Industrial Workers of the World
"The Stockholm Subway closed for five hours in an unofficial strike by the train-drivers on Thursday the 6th of October.
...
Since a couple of years the Subway has been run by the multinational company Connex, and the unions have felt that money nowdays are more interesting in the public transportation then issues as security and good working conditions." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The Stockholm Subway closed for five hours in an unofficial strike by the train-drivers on Thursday the 6th of October.
...
Since a couple of years the Subway has been run by the multinational company Connex, and the unions have felt that money nowdays are more interesting in the public transportation then issues as security and good working conditions." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
hyalineskies 6.0 beta � The allure of throwing cameras
"It's definitely old news by now, but I'm still amazed by the weirdest photographic method that I've seen on Flickr: cameratoss. For those unfamiliar with the process, you set your camera's shutter to a long exposure time, push the shutter release, and throw it in the air. Physics does the rest of the work, and you can come up with some surprisingly cool results. Most of the time, though, your toss yields a rather unsatisfactory, blurry blob." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"It's definitely old news by now, but I'm still amazed by the weirdest photographic method that I've seen on Flickr: cameratoss. For those unfamiliar with the process, you set your camera's shutter to a long exposure time, push the shutter release, and throw it in the air. Physics does the rest of the work, and you can come up with some surprisingly cool results. Most of the time, though, your toss yields a rather unsatisfactory, blurry blob." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Women will be competing with men in many sports in the next few years...
Humanize the Earth! � You Throw Like A Girl
"via Brutal Women: 15-year-old girl throws three touchdowns
I love when our expectations are challenged. Stereotypes might feel true in aggregate yet they don't tell the whole story. Ever." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Humanize the Earth! � You Throw Like A Girl
"via Brutal Women: 15-year-old girl throws three touchdowns
I love when our expectations are challenged. Stereotypes might feel true in aggregate yet they don't tell the whole story. Ever." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
I like the design of this website. I especially like their use of turning their OlderTechnology?
newsletter into an online NewerTechnology?. I would like it to open in the browser, but maybe that is browser specific to Firefox and I am temporarily using Safari.
New Detroit - The Coalition
"Addressing the issue of race relations is similar to putting a puzzle together. In race relations, every positive action taken by individuals, organizations, and businesses connects to close the gap" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
newsletter into an online NewerTechnology?. I would like it to open in the browser, but maybe that is browser specific to Firefox and I am temporarily using Safari.
New Detroit - The Coalition
"Addressing the issue of race relations is similar to putting a puzzle together. In race relations, every positive action taken by individuals, organizations, and businesses connects to close the gap" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Email is an OlderTechnology and needs processing to NewerTechnology. A rather tedious step, especially for the YoungEnergy low tech techies... just means we have to [BludgeonTheData] until someone fixes the fracken thing!
Official Google Blog: Guess what just turned 34?
"It's difficult to pin down the exact origin of email, but in October 1971, an engineer named Ray Tomlinson chose the '@' symbol for email addresses and wrote software to send the first network email.At the time, it must not have seemed very important, nobody bothered to save that first message or even record the exact date. I've always thought that it would be fun to witness a little bit of history like that to be there when something important happened. That's part of what drove me to join a little no-name startup named Google, and it's why I was excited when I was given a chance to create a new email product, now called Gmail." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Official Google Blog: Guess what just turned 34?
"It's difficult to pin down the exact origin of email, but in October 1971, an engineer named Ray Tomlinson chose the '@' symbol for email addresses and wrote software to send the first network email.At the time, it must not have seemed very important, nobody bothered to save that first message or even record the exact date. I've always thought that it would be fun to witness a little bit of history like that to be there when something important happened. That's part of what drove me to join a little no-name startup named Google, and it's why I was excited when I was given a chance to create a new email product, now called Gmail." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Just wanted to reminded people that today is the anniversary of the first week in which a 40 hour work week was the law. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ----the law that stopped the 30 hour work week movement, gave us the 40 hour work week and our first true weekend, the 65 anniversay of which will be this Friday.
Please join SOLE (I wich they had a weblog) today for:
STATE OF THE UNION
The story of the Birth of the American Labor Movement told by the men
and women who were there.
GM WORKERS AND MEMBERS OF THE WOMEN'S BRIGANDE
from the
1937 FLINT SIT DOWN STRIKE
and a film screening detailing their heroic stand for workers rights.
Tuesday, October 25, 5pm, Michigan Room in the Michigan League (map)
FREE DINNER PROVIDED
tx for the email Mark and CG!
hopefully CrossPosted in Arbor Update ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Please join SOLE (I wich they had a weblog) today for:
STATE OF THE UNION
The story of the Birth of the American Labor Movement told by the men
and women who were there.
GM WORKERS AND MEMBERS OF THE WOMEN'S BRIGANDE
from the
1937 FLINT SIT DOWN STRIKE
and a film screening detailing their heroic stand for workers rights.
Tuesday, October 25, 5pm, Michigan Room in the Michigan League (map)
FREE DINNER PROVIDED
tx for the email Mark and CG!
hopefully CrossPosted in Arbor Update ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
onegoodmove: Bill Maher / Arianna Huffington
"Arianna Huffington on Real Time with Bill Maher discussing Plamegate and the lucky sperm club." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Arianna Huffington on Real Time with Bill Maher discussing Plamegate and the lucky sperm club." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Fruits of Our Labour: I Blog Because...
"I blog because...
'I do not write to earn a living or to build a reputation. I write to
battle enemies." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I blog because...
'I do not write to earn a living or to build a reputation. I write to
battle enemies." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Flagrancy to Reason
"we were all wrong: Of course everybody believed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction! Huffington dares play revisionist historian by requesting examples of folks who didn't get it wrong, and we fear the balance of good and evil in the universe might be terribly upset by such flagrant violations of narrative principle.
Because I'm feeling nihilistic today here's 10 minutes worth of google searches:" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"we were all wrong: Of course everybody believed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction! Huffington dares play revisionist historian by requesting examples of folks who didn't get it wrong, and we fear the balance of good and evil in the universe might be terribly upset by such flagrant violations of narrative principle.
Because I'm feeling nihilistic today here's 10 minutes worth of google searches:" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
for-real-things-I-know
"One thing I tend to repeat is that the mainstream media does a FANTASTIC job. Day in and day out, they turn in an extraordinary performance at what they exist to do. And that is to make as much money as possible.
...
So, I believe progressives need to let go of the hope that the mainstream media is ever going to be much different from what it is today. We can't change much about reality if we keep hoping Santa Claus will bring us presents, because there is no Santa Claus." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing I tend to repeat is that the mainstream media does a FANTASTIC job. Day in and day out, they turn in an extraordinary performance at what they exist to do. And that is to make as much money as possible.
...
So, I believe progressives need to let go of the hope that the mainstream media is ever going to be much different from what it is today. We can't change much about reality if we keep hoping Santa Claus will bring us presents, because there is no Santa Claus." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Bombs and Shields
"...said that he committed the arson on behalf of the Earth Liberation Front because he is a 'political anarchist' opposed to “corporate capitalism.” Clay County District Court Judge Galen Vaa discussed taking restitution for a terroristic threats charge out of any money Tucker would earn in prison. Tucker said that it wouldn't be an issue because “[he didn't] plan on working.”" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"...said that he committed the arson on behalf of the Earth Liberation Front because he is a 'political anarchist' opposed to “corporate capitalism.” Clay County District Court Judge Galen Vaa discussed taking restitution for a terroristic threats charge out of any money Tucker would earn in prison. Tucker said that it wouldn't be an issue because “[he didn't] plan on working.”" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
TPMCafe || More on Labor's Demise and Our Sinking Standard of Living
"when the number for private sector organized workers is now down to 7.9%, it's difficult to garner the kind of collective strength you need to take on something as revolutionary as globalization, but that's what the unions--private and public sector together--need to do and they need to figure out new and creative ways to do it." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"when the number for private sector organized workers is now down to 7.9%, it's difficult to garner the kind of collective strength you need to take on something as revolutionary as globalization, but that's what the unions--private and public sector together--need to do and they need to figure out new and creative ways to do it." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Venezuela's Emerging Trade Union Movement :: ILCA Online :: Making Labor Media a Force to Be Reckoned With
"The trade union movement in Venezuela has undergone important transformations in the last four years. From being led by mainly class-collaborationist leaders more closely tied to the oligarchy than to the working class (in the Venezuelan Confederation of Workers – CTV), the new trade union federation, the National Workers Union of Venezuela (UNT) has taken the lead in organizing on the basis of winning gains for workers and building their political power." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The trade union movement in Venezuela has undergone important transformations in the last four years. From being led by mainly class-collaborationist leaders more closely tied to the oligarchy than to the working class (in the Venezuelan Confederation of Workers – CTV), the new trade union federation, the National Workers Union of Venezuela (UNT) has taken the lead in organizing on the basis of winning gains for workers and building their political power." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Group: Repression of unions on the rise
"A total of 145 people worldwide were killed because of their union activities in 2004, 16 more than in the previous year, according to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions' survey of worldwide working conditions.
Those figures reveal 'just how far many governments and employers are prepared to go in suppressing workers' rights to seek a competitive edge in increasingly cutthroat global markets,' said Guy Rider, general secretary of ICFTU, a group representing 234 labor organizations globally." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"A total of 145 people worldwide were killed because of their union activities in 2004, 16 more than in the previous year, according to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions' survey of worldwide working conditions.
Those figures reveal 'just how far many governments and employers are prepared to go in suppressing workers' rights to seek a competitive edge in increasingly cutthroat global markets,' said Guy Rider, general secretary of ICFTU, a group representing 234 labor organizations globally." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Left Bank Blogger
"Today, as an Education Minnesota AFL-CIO member, I attended my statewide union's professional development conference held annually in Saint Paul. Feeling the freedoom that comes with two days off from work, I attended two truly excellent sessions, and I was very pleased to have decided to come to the conference. It seems fewer and fewer people attend with every passing year, which is a shame, given that the conference provides teachers with opportunity to meet as workers and experience together the joy of improving their art." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Today, as an Education Minnesota AFL-CIO member, I attended my statewide union's professional development conference held annually in Saint Paul. Feeling the freedoom that comes with two days off from work, I attended two truly excellent sessions, and I was very pleased to have decided to come to the conference. It seems fewer and fewer people attend with every passing year, which is a shame, given that the conference provides teachers with opportunity to meet as workers and experience together the joy of improving their art." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
YAL: Young Angry Liberal
"Now, before you jerk your knees and call me a conspiracy theorist for mentioning the CIA, why don’t you go look at the actual government documents that depict how the CIA put Pinochet in power, and how it contributed to the suffering and deliberate extermination of Chilean people?" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Now, before you jerk your knees and call me a conspiracy theorist for mentioning the CIA, why don’t you go look at the actual government documents that depict how the CIA put Pinochet in power, and how it contributed to the suffering and deliberate extermination of Chilean people?" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
The Michigan Daily -- 114 Years of Editorial Freedom - Strikers: Regent an insult to Miller
"One union member said Newman’s presence at the event was hypocritical. “From what I’ve read about Arthur Miller, he was very outspoken on social injustices, just the opposite of what (Newman) speaks for,” said Ralph Neopolitan, a mechanic for Northwest and an AMFA member." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One union member said Newman’s presence at the event was hypocritical. “From what I’ve read about Arthur Miller, he was very outspoken on social injustices, just the opposite of what (Newman) speaks for,” said Ralph Neopolitan, a mechanic for Northwest and an AMFA member." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Industry Insider: Contracts align for national hotel strike
"'Never before has a hotel labor union had as much negotiation power as it will in 2006,' Lerner said in a note to investors. 'The ultimate risk is a 'national' hotel labor strike.'
The main issues, Lerner said, are workers' rights, health benefits, wages, staffing levels, length of contract and pension benefits, among other things. Companies with the greatest exposure include Hilton, Starwood and Hyatt, although InterContinental, Fairmont, Marriott and Four Seasons also could be affected to a lesser degree. Lerner said UNITE-HERE wants to deal with hotel management at a corporate level rather than at each property, where negotiations have historically taken place." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"'Never before has a hotel labor union had as much negotiation power as it will in 2006,' Lerner said in a note to investors. 'The ultimate risk is a 'national' hotel labor strike.'
The main issues, Lerner said, are workers' rights, health benefits, wages, staffing levels, length of contract and pension benefits, among other things. Companies with the greatest exposure include Hilton, Starwood and Hyatt, although InterContinental, Fairmont, Marriott and Four Seasons also could be affected to a lesser degree. Lerner said UNITE-HERE wants to deal with hotel management at a corporate level rather than at each property, where negotiations have historically taken place." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
UPMC official questions unions - PittsburghLIVE.com
"Surveys show that 72 percent of American workers would join a union if they were not afraid of being fired..." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Surveys show that 72 percent of American workers would join a union if they were not afraid of being fired..." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Food co-op board resists pro-union measure
"Pro-union activists are demanding that the board and managers of the Brattleboro Food Co-op step aside and remain neutral if a simple majority of the staff say they want a union.
The board and staff say they’re already neutral. Yet they are actively opposing a members’ initiative on the co-op’s annual ballot that would institute a new bylaw requiring management to take a position of “proactive neutrality.”" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Pro-union activists are demanding that the board and managers of the Brattleboro Food Co-op step aside and remain neutral if a simple majority of the staff say they want a union.
The board and staff say they’re already neutral. Yet they are actively opposing a members’ initiative on the co-op’s annual ballot that would institute a new bylaw requiring management to take a position of “proactive neutrality.”" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Wobblies mark 100 years with songs, stories, unvarying beliefs
"While the mainstream American labor movement has emphasized collective bargaining, backed by the threat of a strike, as the way to increase wages, strengthen job security and improve working conditions, the Wobblies, as they call themselves, maintained a more ambitious agenda.
Just as it did in 1905, the preamble of the labor organization's constitution calls for doing away with capitalism and abolishing the wage system.
Because it concentrates power among the wealthy, capitalism is fundamentally anti-democratic" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"While the mainstream American labor movement has emphasized collective bargaining, backed by the threat of a strike, as the way to increase wages, strengthen job security and improve working conditions, the Wobblies, as they call themselves, maintained a more ambitious agenda.
Just as it did in 1905, the preamble of the labor organization's constitution calls for doing away with capitalism and abolishing the wage system.
Because it concentrates power among the wealthy, capitalism is fundamentally anti-democratic" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
YAL: Young Angry Liberal
"Now, before you jerk your knees and call me a conspiracy theorist for mentioning the CIA, why don’t you go look at the actual government documents that depict how the CIA put Pinochet in power, and how it contributed to the suffering and deliberate extermination of Chilean people?" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Now, before you jerk your knees and call me a conspiracy theorist for mentioning the CIA, why don’t you go look at the actual government documents that depict how the CIA put Pinochet in power, and how it contributed to the suffering and deliberate extermination of Chilean people?" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Metroactive Features | Techsploits
"Traditionally, labor organizers have communicated with their membership on the picket lines via newsletters or at meetings. The idea of starting a strikers' blog is a break with this tradition because it gives rank-and-file strikers the chance to talk to the world and each other without going through their higher-ups."
>also see: CommunicateOrDie.org ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Traditionally, labor organizers have communicated with their membership on the picket lines via newsletters or at meetings. The idea of starting a strikers' blog is a break with this tradition because it gives rank-and-file strikers the chance to talk to the world and each other without going through their higher-ups."
>also see: CommunicateOrDie.org ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Think Progress: Fox News Pushing “Criminalization of Politics” Talking Point
"Conservative defenders of Karl Rove and Scooter Libby have settled on their No. 1 talking point: the grand jury investigation into the CIA leak scandal represents the “criminalization of politics.”
In other words, they say, the outing of a covert CIA agent in a time of war to punish a whistleblower is just everyday “politics” — nothing out of the ordinary, certainly nothing criminal. In fact, according to conservatives (as articulated by the National Review), the “criminalizing of politics” is actually “the most dangerous fire of this ordeal.”
To spread this talking point across the nation, the right has received a major assist from Fox News. According to a database search, every single television reference to the CIA leak scandal as the “criminalization of politics” in the last 30 days has been on Fox. Even more stunning: on every occassion, the phrase was introduced into the segment by a Fox News anchor or correspondent, never by a guest." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Conservative defenders of Karl Rove and Scooter Libby have settled on their No. 1 talking point: the grand jury investigation into the CIA leak scandal represents the “criminalization of politics.”
In other words, they say, the outing of a covert CIA agent in a time of war to punish a whistleblower is just everyday “politics” — nothing out of the ordinary, certainly nothing criminal. In fact, according to conservatives (as articulated by the National Review), the “criminalizing of politics” is actually “the most dangerous fire of this ordeal.”
To spread this talking point across the nation, the right has received a major assist from Fox News. According to a database search, every single television reference to the CIA leak scandal as the “criminalization of politics” in the last 30 days has been on Fox. Even more stunning: on every occassion, the phrase was introduced into the segment by a Fox News anchor or correspondent, never by a guest." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Eric Lee: Just the two of us
"Behind me sat Jonathan Tasini, whose daily coverage of news from the AFL-CIO and the new coalition has turned his blog into a 'must-read' for many union officials. (His blog is at http://workinglife.org/ .)
And that was it. From what I could tell, out of the 1,000 or so people in the hall, we were the only two taking advantage of the new technologies to provide live coverage of the event.
The technical requirements for doing live blogging from an event like this one are pretty simple and clear. You need access to the net, ideally wireless, high-speed access. The Change to Win convention organizers were providing this free of charge.
You need a place to put your content on the web, and there are plenty of completely free places to do so. Blogger.com is a good place to get a free blog and there are many others." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Behind me sat Jonathan Tasini, whose daily coverage of news from the AFL-CIO and the new coalition has turned his blog into a 'must-read' for many union officials. (His blog is at http://workinglife.org/ .)
And that was it. From what I could tell, out of the 1,000 or so people in the hall, we were the only two taking advantage of the new technologies to provide live coverage of the event.
The technical requirements for doing live blogging from an event like this one are pretty simple and clear. You need access to the net, ideally wireless, high-speed access. The Change to Win convention organizers were providing this free of charge.
You need a place to put your content on the web, and there are plenty of completely free places to do so. Blogger.com is a good place to get a free blog and there are many others." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
TPMCafe || The Law on Secondary Strikes
"Workers live in a world exempt from the First Amendment where all of their communication to one another can be tightly regulated by the government-- and the courts have zero constitutional problem with that." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Workers live in a world exempt from the First Amendment where all of their communication to one another can be tightly regulated by the government-- and the courts have zero constitutional problem with that." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Sutter Strikers Blog: Sutter brutality won't deter us
"It’s midmorning, day 32 of the strike, and I’ve just come from the lines at CPMC’s Pacific Campus. I must tell you, I—and our striking members—are shocked by the unprovoked attack early this morning by the paramilitary thugs hired by Sutter Corporation to “protect” their facilities. There were about 150 caregivers on the lines at 5 a.m. at Pacific Campus, picketing and peacefully demonstrating when the “men in black” from the mercenary Steele Foundation unleashed a violent confrontation with our members. Several strikers were hit and kicked by the guards. One member was kicked in the stomach so hard she required ER treatment. Witnesses to the assault alerted SF police and the offending guard was arrested. " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"It’s midmorning, day 32 of the strike, and I’ve just come from the lines at CPMC’s Pacific Campus. I must tell you, I—and our striking members—are shocked by the unprovoked attack early this morning by the paramilitary thugs hired by Sutter Corporation to “protect” their facilities. There were about 150 caregivers on the lines at 5 a.m. at Pacific Campus, picketing and peacefully demonstrating when the “men in black” from the mercenary Steele Foundation unleashed a violent confrontation with our members. Several strikers were hit and kicked by the guards. One member was kicked in the stomach so hard she required ER treatment. Witnesses to the assault alerted SF police and the offending guard was arrested. " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
MoxieGrrrl.com: Time To Join The Republicans!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
to the barricades
"The Nazi march didn't quite go as planned thanks to the vigilance of the poor black residents of Toledo at whom the march was aimed." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The Nazi march didn't quite go as planned thanks to the vigilance of the poor black residents of Toledo at whom the march was aimed." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
TPMCafe || More on Labor's Demise and Our Sinking Standard of Living
"when the number for private sector organized workers is now down to 7.9%, it's difficult to garner the kind of collective strength you need to take on something as revolutionary as globalization, but that's what the unions--private and public sector together--need to do and they need to figure out new and creative ways to do it." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"when the number for private sector organized workers is now down to 7.9%, it's difficult to garner the kind of collective strength you need to take on something as revolutionary as globalization, but that's what the unions--private and public sector together--need to do and they need to figure out new and creative ways to do it." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Bob's Links and Rants: Cheap Labor Conservatives
"That's from Washington Post columnist Steve Pearlstein, writing in an online chat on Wednesday. The discussion dealt mostly with the Delphi wage cuts and bankruptcy. Unfortunately, Pearlstein is probably right--IF you accept his assumptions. Those assumptions, which are either stated explicitly or implied throughout the chat, include:
* Free market capitalism is the best way to run things.
* Unfettered global competition is not only inevitable, but actually good.
* The United States will not adopt universal health care.
* Greedy unions demanding decent wages and benefits for their workers are to blame for all of the auto industry's problems, not greedier executives demanding and getting outrageous salaries and golden parachutes." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"That's from Washington Post columnist Steve Pearlstein, writing in an online chat on Wednesday. The discussion dealt mostly with the Delphi wage cuts and bankruptcy. Unfortunately, Pearlstein is probably right--IF you accept his assumptions. Those assumptions, which are either stated explicitly or implied throughout the chat, include:
* Free market capitalism is the best way to run things.
* Unfettered global competition is not only inevitable, but actually good.
* The United States will not adopt universal health care.
* Greedy unions demanding decent wages and benefits for their workers are to blame for all of the auto industry's problems, not greedier executives demanding and getting outrageous salaries and golden parachutes." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Toledo Tales: White And NSM Prepare For Toledo Rally
"Bill White and his National Socialist Movement (ed. note read Nazis) were in furious preparation for the group's Toledo performance on Saturday." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Bill White and his National Socialist Movement (ed. note read Nazis) were in furious preparation for the group's Toledo performance on Saturday." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
to the barricades: That is a Palestinian school cut in two by The Wall
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
to the barricades
"RFID is one of the scariest pieces of technology ever to be conceived. It's like a portable telescreen. There have been proposals to put them in driver's licenses, passports...Shit, even human beings - apparently the Mexico City police department has implanted these sorts of chips in some its officers."
I have posted about this previously, and because of the new search tool from Google that I have at the bottom of the page, I can search this site to find the stuff! Yea!
>Random RFID Update: Microchipping License Plates
>Japan: Schoolkids to be tagged with RFID chips
>The Trouble with RFID
>RFID Tags in New US Notes Explode When You Try to Microwave Them ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"RFID is one of the scariest pieces of technology ever to be conceived. It's like a portable telescreen. There have been proposals to put them in driver's licenses, passports...Shit, even human beings - apparently the Mexico City police department has implanted these sorts of chips in some its officers."
I have posted about this previously, and because of the new search tool from Google that I have at the bottom of the page, I can search this site to find the stuff! Yea!
>Random RFID Update: Microchipping License Plates
>Japan: Schoolkids to be tagged with RFID chips
>The Trouble with RFID
>RFID Tags in New US Notes Explode When You Try to Microwave Them ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~