~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Flagrancy to Reason
"'check his sources': Alan Dershowitz and Noam Chomsky debated tonight on 'Israel and Palestine After Disengagement: Where Do We Go From Here?”" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"'check his sources': Alan Dershowitz and Noam Chomsky debated tonight on 'Israel and Palestine After Disengagement: Where Do We Go From Here?”" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Flagrancy to Reason
"Ensuring a friendly government in Baghdad is an essential part of US security policy, even if this requires a permanent US military presence, because long-term access to oil from the region is essential to the US, given its increasing dependence on imported oil, says the report." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Ensuring a friendly government in Baghdad is an essential part of US security policy, even if this requires a permanent US military presence, because long-term access to oil from the region is essential to the US, given its increasing dependence on imported oil, says the report." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Uncommon Thought Journal: Ridin' the Bus With Deborah
"Deborah, who commutes by bus in Denver, Colorado, had been asked to present her I.D. to a man in uniform. If she didn't, she was told, it would mean walking several miles to her job. So, she complied, but, it rankled. Deborah knew that, unless she was being a danger to self or others, behaving irrationally, or drunk and disorderly, no one had the right to ask for her identification. As long as she was sitting quietly in her seat, she could not be arbitrarily asked for ID. (She'd learned that in her 8th grade Civics class, where she had also been taught about police states, and how casually they usurped the rights of their citizenry.)
And so it went. For several weeks, when asked to show ID, Deborah refused, and, when asked if she were getting off at the Denver Federal Center she said, 'no' was left in peace, completing her bus trips right on schedule.
And then it happened: On September 26, 2005, when the bus reached its stop at the Federal Center, a guard got on the bus and confronted her. When Deborah insisted that she was under no obligation to show any ID whatsoever, the bus was halted, a supervisor climbed on, and demanded ID. This time, when she refused, a second cop arrived, and, when Deborah stuck to her guns, she was suddenly arrested.
And it was not a gentle arrest. As she relates on her website Papers Please " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Deborah, who commutes by bus in Denver, Colorado, had been asked to present her I.D. to a man in uniform. If she didn't, she was told, it would mean walking several miles to her job. So, she complied, but, it rankled. Deborah knew that, unless she was being a danger to self or others, behaving irrationally, or drunk and disorderly, no one had the right to ask for her identification. As long as she was sitting quietly in her seat, she could not be arbitrarily asked for ID. (She'd learned that in her 8th grade Civics class, where she had also been taught about police states, and how casually they usurped the rights of their citizenry.)
And so it went. For several weeks, when asked to show ID, Deborah refused, and, when asked if she were getting off at the Denver Federal Center she said, 'no' was left in peace, completing her bus trips right on schedule.
And then it happened: On September 26, 2005, when the bus reached its stop at the Federal Center, a guard got on the bus and confronted her. When Deborah insisted that she was under no obligation to show any ID whatsoever, the bus was halted, a supervisor climbed on, and demanded ID. This time, when she refused, a second cop arrived, and, when Deborah stuck to her guns, she was suddenly arrested.
And it was not a gentle arrest. As she relates on her website Papers Please " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Washington Post: Labor's Lost Story
By E. J. Dionne Jr.
Decades ago, Walter Reuther, the storied head of the United Auto Workers union, was taken on a tour of an automated factory by a Ford Motor Co. executive.
Somewhat gleefully, the Ford honcho told the legendary union leader: "You know, not one of these machines pays dues to the UAW."
To which Reuther snapped: "And not one of them buys new Ford cars, either."
The historian William L. O'Neill tells this story in "American High," his fine and appropriately titled book about the 1950s, a time when "autoworkers were the best-paid production line operatives in the world." It helps explain why General Motors' layoffs of 30,000 workers, announced last week, have become a new litmus test in American politics.
Almost everybody right of center sees the job losses as inevitable, the result of the American auto industry's failure to meet foreign competition and the "excessively" generous wages, health benefits and, especially, retirement programs negotiated by Reuther's union.
The believers in inevitability inevitably cite the economist Joseph Schumpeter to the effect that capitalism "is by nature a form or method of economic change and not only never is, but never can be, stationary." It is capitalism's gift for "creative destruction," Schumpeter argued, that guaranteed new consumer goods, new methods of production and new forms of organization.
A different story is told left of center, though it will come as no shock that progressives can't quite agree on a single narrative. The left is united in talking about rising health care costs and the fact that most of our foreign competitors have government-run health insurance systems that take the burden of health care off employers. The iconic number: providing health care for workers and retirees accounts for $1,500 in the cost of each American-made car.
Critics of globalization tell an additional story of how free trade is sending many of our best-paying blue-collar jobs offshore. There is also the decline of union membership, a chicken-and-egg tale, since private-sector unions historically were strongest in the older manufacturing industries such as steel and cars. The UAW's numbers tell the story: 1,619,000 members in 1970, 1,446,000 in 1980, 952,000 in 1990, 623,000 in 2004. Where have you gone, Walter Reuther?
The contrast between these two accounts explains why economic conservatives currently hold the upper hand in America's political debate. The conservatives have a single, coherent story and stick to it: Economic change is good for everyone, especially for consumers, who get better stuff at lower prices. The fact that "producer groups" (such as those unions) are losing their "monopolies" and their capacity for "rent seeking" is cheered as progress.
The left's narrative is less compelling not only because there is no single story but also because few on the left attack the current system with the same gusto the right brings to defending it. Gone, for good reason, is the time when significant parts of the left called for "government ownership of the means of production." Much of the left accepts a certain amount of creative destruction because, in Margaret Thatcher's famous phrase, there is no alternative.
But this muddle reflects a default on parts of the left and, especially, within the Democratic Party. Because so many Democrats fear that they might sound like -- God forbid! -- socialists, they are unwilling to challenge the right's core story. Capitalism, all by itself, would never have achieved the rising living standards that were the pride of the United States in O'Neill's 1950s and still are today. The rules enforced by the National Labor Relations Board made it possible for Reuther's union to organize by protecting workers' rights. Cheap 30-year mortgages, which became the norm because of Federal Housing Administration guarantees, created a nation of homeowners.
As medical costs rise, more Americans will need government help. More employers will need to offload the costs of medical insurance to avoid bankruptcy. Yes, that's "socialized medicine," just like Medicare. But don't tell anyone. The phrase plays terribly in focus groups.
For 60 years New Dealers and social democrats, liberals and progressives, turned Schumpeter on his head. They insisted that few would embrace capitalism's innovations if the system's tendency toward creative destruction was not balanced by public innovations to spread the bounty and protect millions from being injured by change. It's a compelling story. Walter Reuther knew it well. Too bad it isn't told very often anymore."
thanks dave ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
By E. J. Dionne Jr.
Decades ago, Walter Reuther, the storied head of the United Auto Workers union, was taken on a tour of an automated factory by a Ford Motor Co. executive.
Somewhat gleefully, the Ford honcho told the legendary union leader: "You know, not one of these machines pays dues to the UAW."
To which Reuther snapped: "And not one of them buys new Ford cars, either."
The historian William L. O'Neill tells this story in "American High," his fine and appropriately titled book about the 1950s, a time when "autoworkers were the best-paid production line operatives in the world." It helps explain why General Motors' layoffs of 30,000 workers, announced last week, have become a new litmus test in American politics.
Almost everybody right of center sees the job losses as inevitable, the result of the American auto industry's failure to meet foreign competition and the "excessively" generous wages, health benefits and, especially, retirement programs negotiated by Reuther's union.
The believers in inevitability inevitably cite the economist Joseph Schumpeter to the effect that capitalism "is by nature a form or method of economic change and not only never is, but never can be, stationary." It is capitalism's gift for "creative destruction," Schumpeter argued, that guaranteed new consumer goods, new methods of production and new forms of organization.
A different story is told left of center, though it will come as no shock that progressives can't quite agree on a single narrative. The left is united in talking about rising health care costs and the fact that most of our foreign competitors have government-run health insurance systems that take the burden of health care off employers. The iconic number: providing health care for workers and retirees accounts for $1,500 in the cost of each American-made car.
Critics of globalization tell an additional story of how free trade is sending many of our best-paying blue-collar jobs offshore. There is also the decline of union membership, a chicken-and-egg tale, since private-sector unions historically were strongest in the older manufacturing industries such as steel and cars. The UAW's numbers tell the story: 1,619,000 members in 1970, 1,446,000 in 1980, 952,000 in 1990, 623,000 in 2004. Where have you gone, Walter Reuther?
The contrast between these two accounts explains why economic conservatives currently hold the upper hand in America's political debate. The conservatives have a single, coherent story and stick to it: Economic change is good for everyone, especially for consumers, who get better stuff at lower prices. The fact that "producer groups" (such as those unions) are losing their "monopolies" and their capacity for "rent seeking" is cheered as progress.
The left's narrative is less compelling not only because there is no single story but also because few on the left attack the current system with the same gusto the right brings to defending it. Gone, for good reason, is the time when significant parts of the left called for "government ownership of the means of production." Much of the left accepts a certain amount of creative destruction because, in Margaret Thatcher's famous phrase, there is no alternative.
But this muddle reflects a default on parts of the left and, especially, within the Democratic Party. Because so many Democrats fear that they might sound like -- God forbid! -- socialists, they are unwilling to challenge the right's core story. Capitalism, all by itself, would never have achieved the rising living standards that were the pride of the United States in O'Neill's 1950s and still are today. The rules enforced by the National Labor Relations Board made it possible for Reuther's union to organize by protecting workers' rights. Cheap 30-year mortgages, which became the norm because of Federal Housing Administration guarantees, created a nation of homeowners.
As medical costs rise, more Americans will need government help. More employers will need to offload the costs of medical insurance to avoid bankruptcy. Yes, that's "socialized medicine," just like Medicare. But don't tell anyone. The phrase plays terribly in focus groups.
For 60 years New Dealers and social democrats, liberals and progressives, turned Schumpeter on his head. They insisted that few would embrace capitalism's innovations if the system's tendency toward creative destruction was not balanced by public innovations to spread the bounty and protect millions from being injured by change. It's a compelling story. Walter Reuther knew it well. Too bad it isn't told very often anymore."
thanks dave ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
The Raw Story | Anatomy of a peace movement part two: Labor unions add muscle to anti-war push
"For the first time in history, organized labor has taken a stance against a military conflict. At its recent convention, the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) voted to support an immediate end to the Iraq War." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"For the first time in history, organized labor has taken a stance against a military conflict. At its recent convention, the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) voted to support an immediate end to the Iraq War." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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ZNet |Labor | The Incredible Lightness of Vision In the US Labor Movement
"Whoopee! The Change to Win Coalition has established itself in the labor movement! Happy Days are here again! Andy Stern's going to lead us to the promised land!
And the overwhelming response by American workers: yawn.
At the time when American workers-indeed, US society as a whole-so much need a new labor center, to fight for economic and social justice, to challenge the policies of the Bush Administration, to challenge the worsening conditions for working people across the entire social order, and to challenge the US Empire overall, we get another AFL-CIO. Just under another name. Please excuse me while I am underwhelmed." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Whoopee! The Change to Win Coalition has established itself in the labor movement! Happy Days are here again! Andy Stern's going to lead us to the promised land!
And the overwhelming response by American workers: yawn.
At the time when American workers-indeed, US society as a whole-so much need a new labor center, to fight for economic and social justice, to challenge the policies of the Bush Administration, to challenge the worsening conditions for working people across the entire social order, and to challenge the US Empire overall, we get another AFL-CIO. Just under another name. Please excuse me while I am underwhelmed." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Justice4BentonHarbor.2truth.com: Blogger Comments section
"I would like to thank Bernice Powell Jackson for writing those thoughtful words. (You can scroll up to read what she wrote.) Being an older person, I have had similar thoughts many times. How did the world get into this awful quagmire on so many fronts? You're right, we need to join with and support the younger generations to repair and rebuild to create the kind of world that really is possible.
Maybe if we begin thinking in terms of corporations being in control of almost every aspect of our lives, it could lead us to some answers and solutions.... Just a thought. Another way to say it is: follow the money.
Greed has caused our leaders to allow media to become gov. controlled; no minimum wage raise in decades; our food to become genetically engineered and put on grocery shelves when Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and others will not allow the stuff inside their borders; scientific research to be controlled by corporations (results are corrupt); corporations to make huge profits, not pay taxes, and have off-shore hidden accounts; give very large tax breaks - money WE have paid in taxes - to corporations who are making millions and billions in our country - this is called corporate welfare; allow predatory lending practices to flourish; shut down bankruptcy when the overwhelming majority of people who used the option did so because of necessary treatments for cancer and other illnesses that they could ill-afford; allow medical care to fall into disrepair so that soon only the wealthy will get proper treatment; allow corporate franchises who donated to the republican and demoratic parties move in anywhere they wished and flourish causing locally owned businesses and downtowns to die (WalMart, Target, Home Depot, and a relatively small number of others); Halliburton and some other giant, absurdly rich corporations to have NO-BID contracts for building in Iraq, New Orleans, wherever they wish; pass laws such as NAFTA, the weakening of anti-trust policies, and others which gave many, many companies the ability to outsource their work to foreign countries and downsize here - 30,000 more jobs just last week gone from the auto industry, and it will keep happening; allow our weapons and military industries (Dow Chemical in Midland for one....) to arm most of the countries of the world - even those fighting each other - the world is now at a point where serious thought needs to be put into how to cleanse the land in various parts of the world to rid it of landmines, bombs, chemicals, etc.; allow the US to imprison more people than any country and use these prisons for slave labor - google on 'corporate prisons'...; spend our gov. money (OUR taxes) on war and things mentioned above so that our roads cannot be repaired, schools cannot be improved, teachers don't get paid nearly what they deserve; etc.; promote MEAPS tests - standardized tests - designed to help public schools fail so that schools can become privatized with the idea that profit can be made; move towards privatizing as many things as possible (more profit for corporations); it goes on and on...
They need to keep us scrambling for money and scared in order to keep us in the dark, and it's working. If you're working 2-3 jobs or are homeless, chances are you're not going to have the time or energy to be researching for the truth.
We need to figure out how to get out of this giant mess being perpetrated on the world almost entirely by the US 'government'.
One helpful thing to do I guess is to spread the word. Most Americans don't know this is all going on.... I'm sure people will reply here stating they believe this to be all lies. They are misinformed. Unfortunately, none of the true news is at our fingertips.
Thanks again Ms. Jackson." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I would like to thank Bernice Powell Jackson for writing those thoughtful words. (You can scroll up to read what she wrote.) Being an older person, I have had similar thoughts many times. How did the world get into this awful quagmire on so many fronts? You're right, we need to join with and support the younger generations to repair and rebuild to create the kind of world that really is possible.
Maybe if we begin thinking in terms of corporations being in control of almost every aspect of our lives, it could lead us to some answers and solutions.... Just a thought. Another way to say it is: follow the money.
Greed has caused our leaders to allow media to become gov. controlled; no minimum wage raise in decades; our food to become genetically engineered and put on grocery shelves when Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and others will not allow the stuff inside their borders; scientific research to be controlled by corporations (results are corrupt); corporations to make huge profits, not pay taxes, and have off-shore hidden accounts; give very large tax breaks - money WE have paid in taxes - to corporations who are making millions and billions in our country - this is called corporate welfare; allow predatory lending practices to flourish; shut down bankruptcy when the overwhelming majority of people who used the option did so because of necessary treatments for cancer and other illnesses that they could ill-afford; allow medical care to fall into disrepair so that soon only the wealthy will get proper treatment; allow corporate franchises who donated to the republican and demoratic parties move in anywhere they wished and flourish causing locally owned businesses and downtowns to die (WalMart, Target, Home Depot, and a relatively small number of others); Halliburton and some other giant, absurdly rich corporations to have NO-BID contracts for building in Iraq, New Orleans, wherever they wish; pass laws such as NAFTA, the weakening of anti-trust policies, and others which gave many, many companies the ability to outsource their work to foreign countries and downsize here - 30,000 more jobs just last week gone from the auto industry, and it will keep happening; allow our weapons and military industries (Dow Chemical in Midland for one....) to arm most of the countries of the world - even those fighting each other - the world is now at a point where serious thought needs to be put into how to cleanse the land in various parts of the world to rid it of landmines, bombs, chemicals, etc.; allow the US to imprison more people than any country and use these prisons for slave labor - google on 'corporate prisons'...; spend our gov. money (OUR taxes) on war and things mentioned above so that our roads cannot be repaired, schools cannot be improved, teachers don't get paid nearly what they deserve; etc.; promote MEAPS tests - standardized tests - designed to help public schools fail so that schools can become privatized with the idea that profit can be made; move towards privatizing as many things as possible (more profit for corporations); it goes on and on...
They need to keep us scrambling for money and scared in order to keep us in the dark, and it's working. If you're working 2-3 jobs or are homeless, chances are you're not going to have the time or energy to be researching for the truth.
We need to figure out how to get out of this giant mess being perpetrated on the world almost entirely by the US 'government'.
One helpful thing to do I guess is to spread the word. Most Americans don't know this is all going on.... I'm sure people will reply here stating they believe this to be all lies. They are misinformed. Unfortunately, none of the true news is at our fingertips.
Thanks again Ms. Jackson." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Body and Soul: Humanitarian
"Finally the president does something for the poor people of this country." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Finally the president does something for the poor people of this country." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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The missile is not invented that can kill an ideal.: Houston Janitors SEIU Victory
with Card Check Neutrality
"Congratz to the 5,000 Janitors in Houston." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
with Card Check Neutrality
"Congratz to the 5,000 Janitors in Houston." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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The Blog | Rep. Dennis Kucinich: To the Publisher of the LA Times | The Huffington Post
"We, as Members of Congress, object to the dismissal of Robert Scheer, a 32-year veteran of the LA Times with a long history of excellence in reporting and op ed pieces." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"We, as Members of Congress, object to the dismissal of Robert Scheer, a 32-year veteran of the LA Times with a long history of excellence in reporting and op ed pieces." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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unbossed.com � A Real Hero -- Finkel v. U.S. Department of Labor
"Adam Finkel is obsessed with beryllium exposure. Specifically, he is obsessively worried that workers are being exposed to beryllium and that OSHA is not taking action to protect them.
The workers Finkel is concerned with are OSHA's own inspectors. He has just filed his third lawsuit to get the information needed to protect them and us." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Adam Finkel is obsessed with beryllium exposure. Specifically, he is obsessively worried that workers are being exposed to beryllium and that OSHA is not taking action to protect them.
The workers Finkel is concerned with are OSHA's own inspectors. He has just filed his third lawsuit to get the information needed to protect them and us." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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unbossed.com � Your money or your employees' lives
"On March 23, British Petroleum's Texas City, Texas refinery exploded, killing and injuring the plant's workers. Confined Space tells more of the story.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is investigating the explosion that killed 15 workers and injured at least 80 more. The Boardhas taken the unusual step of releasing findings before completing their investigation, in the hope of averting such disasters at workplaces across the country." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"On March 23, British Petroleum's Texas City, Texas refinery exploded, killing and injuring the plant's workers. Confined Space tells more of the story.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is investigating the explosion that killed 15 workers and injured at least 80 more. The Boardhas taken the unusual step of releasing findings before completing their investigation, in the hope of averting such disasters at workplaces across the country." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Woman GI Takes Stand Against War: Katherine Jashinski's Courage to Resist
"On November 17th, at the Front Gate of Fort Benning, Georgia, Army National Guard Specialist Katherine Jashinski announced her opposition to war and refused deployment to Iraq. She became the first women conscientious objector of the Iraq war to make a public statement against militarism. At her press conference, organized by Iraqi Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace, Jashinski described her “slow transformation into adulthood. ”
At age 19 I enlisted in the Guard. Like many teenagers who leave their home for the first time, I went through a period of growth and soul searching....I started to reevaluate everything that I had been taught about war as a child. Because I believe so strongly in non-violence, I cannot perform any role in the military. Any person doing any job in the Army contributes in some way to the planning, preparation or implementation of war. Now I have come to the point where I am forced to choose between my obligation to the Army and my deepest moral values. I will not compromise my beliefs for any reason. I am prepared to accept the consequences of adhering to my beliefs.”" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"On November 17th, at the Front Gate of Fort Benning, Georgia, Army National Guard Specialist Katherine Jashinski announced her opposition to war and refused deployment to Iraq. She became the first women conscientious objector of the Iraq war to make a public statement against militarism. At her press conference, organized by Iraqi Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace, Jashinski described her “slow transformation into adulthood. ”
At age 19 I enlisted in the Guard. Like many teenagers who leave their home for the first time, I went through a period of growth and soul searching....I started to reevaluate everything that I had been taught about war as a child. Because I believe so strongly in non-violence, I cannot perform any role in the military. Any person doing any job in the Army contributes in some way to the planning, preparation or implementation of war. Now I have come to the point where I am forced to choose between my obligation to the Army and my deepest moral values. I will not compromise my beliefs for any reason. I am prepared to accept the consequences of adhering to my beliefs.”" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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God is for Suckers!: The Asshole Chronicles
"CHURCH leaders are encouraging families to see The Chronicles of Narnia over Christmas because of the new Disney film’s Christian message. The Walt Disney organisation has appointed Christian Publishers and Outreach, an evangelistic publishing company, to promote the Christian message behind the story in churches across Britain. […] The church has also set up a website aslanisJesus.co.uk to promote the Christian message of the film described as “Passion of Christ for kids”. […] A Methodist spokesman said: “Churches are encouraged to explore this theme by engaging with the journey of Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan, as through the wardrobe, they enter a world of ice and snow where it is always winter, but never Christmas. Congregations are asked to consider what the world would be like if Christmas never came and are reminded of the importance of the gift we are given at Christmas, past, present and future.”" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"CHURCH leaders are encouraging families to see The Chronicles of Narnia over Christmas because of the new Disney film’s Christian message. The Walt Disney organisation has appointed Christian Publishers and Outreach, an evangelistic publishing company, to promote the Christian message behind the story in churches across Britain. […] The church has also set up a website aslanisJesus.co.uk to promote the Christian message of the film described as “Passion of Christ for kids”. […] A Methodist spokesman said: “Churches are encouraged to explore this theme by engaging with the journey of Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan, as through the wardrobe, they enter a world of ice and snow where it is always winter, but never Christmas. Congregations are asked to consider what the world would be like if Christmas never came and are reminded of the importance of the gift we are given at Christmas, past, present and future.”" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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weblog for labor listing on left...
Wade Rathke: Chief Organizer, ACORN, SEIU Local 100, AFL-CIO
"Wade Rathke is the Founder and Chief Organizer of ACORN and SEIU Local 100, AFL-CIO. The views expressed on this website are his own." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Wade Rathke: Chief Organizer, ACORN, SEIU Local 100, AFL-CIO
"Wade Rathke is the Founder and Chief Organizer of ACORN and SEIU Local 100, AFL-CIO. The views expressed on this website are his own." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Sketchy Thoughts: Three Important Essays About Iraq
"“In the late twentieth century, the greater number of the casualties and victims of war are not the military but ‘civilians’ – that is, overwhelmingly, women and children. In the late twentieth century, the greater number of casualties and victims of the market are not the workers but the “economically inactive” – that is, overwhelmingly, women and children.”
- Marilyn Waring
Gender, gender, gender… increasingly prominent in both imperialist and anti-imperialist politics… who is a woman, who is a man, and what that means you can or cannot do (and what happens to you if you disobey), these are questions that are stretching us, that we are being pushed to grapple with – ready or not!
For that reason, i would like to encourage you all to check out these three essays, dealing with the relationship between imperialism and patriarchy, between male violence against women and the war in Iraq:
* Why the War Is Sexist, by Huibin Amee Chew
* after Anti-War movements win or lose in Iraq... there’s still Women, by Butch Lee
* The Rape Movement in Iraq & Men's Anti-War Politics, by Butch Lee" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"“In the late twentieth century, the greater number of the casualties and victims of war are not the military but ‘civilians’ – that is, overwhelmingly, women and children. In the late twentieth century, the greater number of casualties and victims of the market are not the workers but the “economically inactive” – that is, overwhelmingly, women and children.”
- Marilyn Waring
Gender, gender, gender… increasingly prominent in both imperialist and anti-imperialist politics… who is a woman, who is a man, and what that means you can or cannot do (and what happens to you if you disobey), these are questions that are stretching us, that we are being pushed to grapple with – ready or not!
For that reason, i would like to encourage you all to check out these three essays, dealing with the relationship between imperialism and patriarchy, between male violence against women and the war in Iraq:
* Why the War Is Sexist, by Huibin Amee Chew
* after Anti-War movements win or lose in Iraq... there’s still Women, by Butch Lee
* The Rape Movement in Iraq & Men's Anti-War Politics, by Butch Lee" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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The missile is not invented that can kill an ideal.: war and violence aren't natural
"The war is psychologically hard on our soldiers. And imagine what the Iraqis are going through" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The war is psychologically hard on our soldiers. And imagine what the Iraqis are going through" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Don't Bomb Us - A blog by Al Jazeera Staffers
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Uncommon Thought Journal: Brownie Strikes Again
"It is bad enough that Michael Brown (ex-head of FEMA who reigned over the Katrina disaster) is still on the government payroll as a 'consultant.' That position has apparently given him an inflated perception of his own skill and ability. Brownie is going to start his own disaster planning firm. Yes fact is stranger than fiction, but what do you want to bet that he pulls in big bucks with government contracts? Afterall, what more credibility do you need on your resume than that you were the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency?" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"It is bad enough that Michael Brown (ex-head of FEMA who reigned over the Katrina disaster) is still on the government payroll as a 'consultant.' That position has apparently given him an inflated perception of his own skill and ability. Brownie is going to start his own disaster planning firm. Yes fact is stranger than fiction, but what do you want to bet that he pulls in big bucks with government contracts? Afterall, what more credibility do you need on your resume than that you were the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency?" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Think Progress � Fox News Host Chris Wallace Claims Bush “Never” Linked Saddam and al-Qaeda
"In a stunning display of historical revisionism, Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace argued this morning that President Bush never tried to link al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"In a stunning display of historical revisionism, Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace argued this morning that President Bush never tried to link al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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mousemusings:
"Not because the bishops are finally speaking, but because Fox News reported it. From Fox News:
"Not because the bishops are finally speaking, but because Fox News reported it. From Fox News:
Ninety-five bishops from President Bush's church said Thursday they repent their 'complicity' in the 'unjust and immoral' invasion and occupation of Iraq.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
'We would have made the statement regardless of who the president was. It was not meant to be either partisan or to single out any one person,' Carder said. 'It was the recognition that we are all part of the decision and we are all part of a democratic society. We all bear responsibility.'
Stith, who spent more than three years after his retirement working in East Africa -- including with Rwandan refugees -- said going to war over the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks did not solve the real problems behind them.
The real issues are that much of the world lives in poverty, desperation and depression, he said, while an affluent minority of the world often oppresses them. Americans need to take responsibility for their world, Stith said."
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As with radio, the internet is having a heyday of use within community building and sharing of information and resources. As with radio, the big boys aren't happy with this, and if we are unable to organize against them, we lose this battle...
Saving the Net: How to Keep the Carriers from Flushing the Net Down the Tubes | Linux Journal
"We're hearing tales of two scenarios--one pessimistic, one optimistic--for the future of the Net. If the paranoids are right, the Net's toast. If they're not, it will be because we fought to save it, perhaps in a new way we haven't talked about before. Davids, meet your Goliaths.
This is a long essay. There is, however, no limit to how long I could have made it. The subjects covered here are no less enormous than the Net and its future. Even optimists agree that the Net's future as a free and open environment for business and culture is facing many threats. We can't begin to cover them all or cover all the ways we can fight them. I believe, however, that there is one sure way to fight all of these threats at once, and without doing it the bad guys will win. That's what this essay is about.
Here's a brief outline of the article. If you want to go straight to the solution, skip to the third section:
* Scenario I: The Carriers Win
* Scenario II: The Public Workaround
* Scenario III: Fight with Words and Not Just Deeds" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Saving the Net: How to Keep the Carriers from Flushing the Net Down the Tubes | Linux Journal
"We're hearing tales of two scenarios--one pessimistic, one optimistic--for the future of the Net. If the paranoids are right, the Net's toast. If they're not, it will be because we fought to save it, perhaps in a new way we haven't talked about before. Davids, meet your Goliaths.
This is a long essay. There is, however, no limit to how long I could have made it. The subjects covered here are no less enormous than the Net and its future. Even optimists agree that the Net's future as a free and open environment for business and culture is facing many threats. We can't begin to cover them all or cover all the ways we can fight them. I believe, however, that there is one sure way to fight all of these threats at once, and without doing it the bad guys will win. That's what this essay is about.
Here's a brief outline of the article. If you want to go straight to the solution, skip to the third section:
* Scenario I: The Carriers Win
* Scenario II: The Public Workaround
* Scenario III: Fight with Words and Not Just Deeds" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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San Francisco Real Food Workers to be Rehired
"The union, not identified in this article, was the IWW. Details on this campaign are available here: http://www.iww.org/unions/iu660/realfood/
By Ryan Kim - San Francisco Chronicle, November 26, 2005.
An administrative law judge with the National Labor Relations Board has ruled in favor of 31 employees of a San Francisco organic grocery store who were fired after they began union organizing efforts.
Judge James Kennedy ruled last week that Fresh Organics Inc. and its parent company, Nutraceutical International Corp., violated the law when they closed the Noe Valley Real Foods store in San Francisco in 2003 and fired all of its employees." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The union, not identified in this article, was the IWW. Details on this campaign are available here: http://www.iww.org/unions/iu660/realfood/
By Ryan Kim - San Francisco Chronicle, November 26, 2005.
An administrative law judge with the National Labor Relations Board has ruled in favor of 31 employees of a San Francisco organic grocery store who were fired after they began union organizing efforts.
Judge James Kennedy ruled last week that Fresh Organics Inc. and its parent company, Nutraceutical International Corp., violated the law when they closed the Noe Valley Real Foods store in San Francisco in 2003 and fired all of its employees." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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AxisofLogic/ Workers & Labor
"The National Labor Relations Board has become a sick joke under President Bush. Although legally mandated to guarantee working people the opportunity to freely engage in union activities, the NLRB has been doing its best to deny them that vital right.
In their most outrageous decision, the Bush appointees who control the board ruled that an employer can order workers not to 'fraternize on duty or off duty, date or become overly friendly with the client's employees or with co-employees.' That's what a security guard company in San Francisco actually told its employees." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The National Labor Relations Board has become a sick joke under President Bush. Although legally mandated to guarantee working people the opportunity to freely engage in union activities, the NLRB has been doing its best to deny them that vital right.
In their most outrageous decision, the Bush appointees who control the board ruled that an employer can order workers not to 'fraternize on duty or off duty, date or become overly friendly with the client's employees or with co-employees.' That's what a security guard company in San Francisco actually told its employees." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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BBC NEWS | World | Americas | No end to women murders in Mexico
"This year has been one of the worst for the murder of women in Mexico's Ciudad Juarez since a wave of killings started there in 1993, an official says.
Mexico's human rights ombudsman, Jose Luis Soberanes, said that 28 women had been murdered so far in 2005." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"This year has been one of the worst for the murder of women in Mexico's Ciudad Juarez since a wave of killings started there in 1993, an official says.
Mexico's human rights ombudsman, Jose Luis Soberanes, said that 28 women had been murdered so far in 2005." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Our Day Will Come - Plumbers wanted
"For anyone looking for work, the Plumbers and Pipefitters are looking for lots of new apprentices in the Gulf Coast.
Plumbers wanted
The Plumbers and Pipe Fitters union is seeking welders, plumbers and others to join the union’s expanded apprenticeship and journeyman training programs. Once trained, workers will help rebuild the Gulf Coast and fill a nationwide shortage of skilled workers in those occupations. For an online application, visit the union’s web site,www.ua.org/ua_application.asp." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"For anyone looking for work, the Plumbers and Pipefitters are looking for lots of new apprentices in the Gulf Coast.
Plumbers wanted
The Plumbers and Pipe Fitters union is seeking welders, plumbers and others to join the union’s expanded apprenticeship and journeyman training programs. Once trained, workers will help rebuild the Gulf Coast and fill a nationwide shortage of skilled workers in those occupations. For an online application, visit the union’s web site,www.ua.org/ua_application.asp." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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A Nation "Under God"? Hardly :: ILCA Online :: Making Labor Media a Force to Be Reckoned With
"Whatever happens, you can be sure our pious political leaders will remain steadfastly on the side of God, as they were after the 2004 decision. As
usual, they are bombarding us with religious propaganda, while allowing those who argue on the basis of religious faith to prevail in
debates on abortion, gay rights and other important secular matters.
The most recent surveys show that nearly 42 million Americans are atheists, agnostics or otherwise have no religion. Although many of them have a moral
code at least as strong as that of religious Americans, they are generally seen by government officials and others as immoral. They are consistently
treated as second-class citizens, their views -- their very existence -- barely even acknowledged.
The religious majority obviously cares not at all that its views are being imposed on others, thanks to the majority’s irrational certainty that its
views are correct. No proof, only blind faith, is offered as evidence that this is “one nation under God” – and none is required, because the majority
rules. " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Whatever happens, you can be sure our pious political leaders will remain steadfastly on the side of God, as they were after the 2004 decision. As
usual, they are bombarding us with religious propaganda, while allowing those who argue on the basis of religious faith to prevail in
debates on abortion, gay rights and other important secular matters.
The most recent surveys show that nearly 42 million Americans are atheists, agnostics or otherwise have no religion. Although many of them have a moral
code at least as strong as that of religious Americans, they are generally seen by government officials and others as immoral. They are consistently
treated as second-class citizens, their views -- their very existence -- barely even acknowledged.
The religious majority obviously cares not at all that its views are being imposed on others, thanks to the majority’s irrational certainty that its
views are correct. No proof, only blind faith, is offered as evidence that this is “one nation under God” – and none is required, because the majority
rules. " ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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In Grand Rapids, help is needed to keep this info shop open.
Save Sabo's | coledorsey's blog | blogs | Industrial Workers of the World
"So in the center of conservative America, at the buckle of the bible belt, the literature committee of the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) opened the first radical info. shop of Grand Rapids, Michigan." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Save Sabo's | coledorsey's blog | blogs | Industrial Workers of the World
"So in the center of conservative America, at the buckle of the bible belt, the literature committee of the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) opened the first radical info. shop of Grand Rapids, Michigan." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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/spadassin/: Webmasters who didn't think when they registered their URL
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It's a start... | MetaFilter
"The world's first strike at a Starbucks reportedly occurred today in Auckland, New Zealand. Sure, it was only an hour-long wildcat strike; but like the multinationals keep telling us, it's a start." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The world's first strike at a Starbucks reportedly occurred today in Auckland, New Zealand. Sure, it was only an hour-long wildcat strike; but like the multinationals keep telling us, it's a start." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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laura the tooth: zapping the problem at its source:
"check out this new form of male birth control--it is exploding in popularity in serbia, with men lining up at clinics for a periodic shock. i for one am very pleased with this development--i think it's a fun form of birth control with no side effects at all. unfortunately, no man in my immediate circle trusts me enough to let me zap their nutsacs in the name of population control."
hmm... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"check out this new form of male birth control--it is exploding in popularity in serbia, with men lining up at clinics for a periodic shock. i for one am very pleased with this development--i think it's a fun form of birth control with no side effects at all. unfortunately, no man in my immediate circle trusts me enough to let me zap their nutsacs in the name of population control."
hmm... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Dirk Riehle: Athlete's foot in Copenhagen
"From the department of funny language bloopers: This shoestore in downtown Copenhagen, DK, goes by the name of 'Athlete's Foot', probably to attract all those American tourists that come by here and are in desperate need for a new pair of sports shoes..." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"From the department of funny language bloopers: This shoestore in downtown Copenhagen, DK, goes by the name of 'Athlete's Foot', probably to attract all those American tourists that come by here and are in desperate need for a new pair of sports shoes..." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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"*Join the War against Militarized and Violent Language*
Quakers have an historic testimony that our language, the very words we use, should reflect our practice of faith. As a people committed to living "in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of war," Quakers should consider the growing use of language that has its roots in the military, weaponry, combat, warfare, or other acts of violence.
Friends should attack this problem in full force. Rather than take a shotgun approach, Friends should target particular words and expressions, then aim to zap them. If Quakers were to spearhead such a campaign, others would surely fall in step behind us.
The first salvo should be a barrage of letters to members of Congress and the Administration. Friends are likely to take some flak for such a witness, but should bite the bullet and not allow criticism to torpedo this effort. Friends cannot expect to shield themselves from negative feedback, but must always be on the front lines of the fight and in the trenches.
Friends will need to search diligently within our own speech and writing for landmines that might convey the impression that Quakers are loose cannons. Finding such words should trigger an immediate counter-offensive.
Friends throughout the U.S. must be mobilized for this battle. It will be a no-holds-barred match.
A mission as important as this requires a special taskforce. Enlist now! There is no deadline, so recruit your friends and families.
THE QUAKERS - MORE THAN JUST OATMEAL
At last some real kick ass peace people.
Peace,
Mike and Carmen" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Quakers have an historic testimony that our language, the very words we use, should reflect our practice of faith. As a people committed to living "in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of war," Quakers should consider the growing use of language that has its roots in the military, weaponry, combat, warfare, or other acts of violence.
Friends should attack this problem in full force. Rather than take a shotgun approach, Friends should target particular words and expressions, then aim to zap them. If Quakers were to spearhead such a campaign, others would surely fall in step behind us.
The first salvo should be a barrage of letters to members of Congress and the Administration. Friends are likely to take some flak for such a witness, but should bite the bullet and not allow criticism to torpedo this effort. Friends cannot expect to shield themselves from negative feedback, but must always be on the front lines of the fight and in the trenches.
Friends will need to search diligently within our own speech and writing for landmines that might convey the impression that Quakers are loose cannons. Finding such words should trigger an immediate counter-offensive.
Friends throughout the U.S. must be mobilized for this battle. It will be a no-holds-barred match.
A mission as important as this requires a special taskforce. Enlist now! There is no deadline, so recruit your friends and families.
THE QUAKERS - MORE THAN JUST OATMEAL
At last some real kick ass peace people.
Peace,
Mike and Carmen" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Dec. 10 ’Biggest Ever’ Mobilization for Workers’ Rights
Last week at a meeting of allied organizations to discuss planning for Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney declared that our nationwide mobilization will be “the biggest ever” for workers’ rights. Planning is under way around the country and around the world. Over the week of Dec. 5–10, tens of thousands of workers in 68 cities—and the number is growing daily—will take the fight to restore workers’ freedom to form unions to the White House, statehouses and front doors of employers that deny workers’ rights.
Dec. 10 marks the anniversary of the 1948 United Nations ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which includes workers’ freedom to form unions.
Speaking at the meeting, Clyde Rucker, a former Verizon Wireless customer service representative, said he was fired after he tried to form a union with the Communications Workers of America. “We have to fight everywhere for the right to join a union,” said Rucker. “We have to become more vigilant and continue to speak out. Corporate injustice anywhere is a threat to workers everywhere.”
American Rights at Work Chairman David Bonior said 23,000 people are fired each year or otherwise illegally discriminated against for trying to organize and bargain. In American Rights at Work’s recent “Workers Rights Are Human Rights” tour, more than 40 workers traveled to Atlanta, Austin, Texas, and Boston to tell their stories about being fired and harassed while trying to form a union. Bonior said human rights leaders from Canada, Mexico and Guatemala who joined him on the tour were “appalled by the stories of what is happening in U.S. workplaces.”
At last week’s meeting, AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson urged all the groups to support the nationwide mobilization around International Human Rights Day, saying, “History will mark the passion and compassion of all of us.”
In response, several groups declared their support for the Dec. 10 mobilization. “Civil rights are labor rights and labor rights are human rights,” said NAACP Washington Bureau Director Hilary Shelton, who played a public service announcement from NAACP Chairman Julian Bond calling on all people to join the Dec. 10 mobilization. Sarita Gupta of Jobs with Justice told the audience about events her group is helping plan across the country and Kristy Sanford of Interfaith Worker Justice detailed her organization’s plans for services focusing on workers’ rights at churches and synagogues.
U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) called union membership “the ticket out of poverty.” The nation needs the Employee Free Choice Act, she said, because employers regularly threaten, intimidate and fire workers for trying to form unions. The Employee Free Choice Act would allow workers to avoid the current National Labor Relations Board election deathtrap by forming unions based on a majority of signed authorization cards. It also would increase penalties for illegal employer anti-union actions and provide first-contract mediation and arbitration.
Groups represented at last week’s meeting include American Rights at Work, the Alliance for Retired Americans, the Center for American Progress, the American Constitution Society, the Campaign for Labor Rights, the Institute for Policy Studies, the Center for Community Change, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Americans for Democratic Action,
the Progressive Policy Institute, Interfaith Worker Justice, Jobs with Justice, the Sierra Club, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, United States Student Association, Human Rights Watch, the National Council of Women’s Organizations, the Coalition on Human Needs, the United
Association for Labor Education, the National Baptist Convention USA, Pride At Work, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Japanese-American Citizens League, United Students Against Sweatshops, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, Campaign for America’s Future, the United Nations Association, United for a Fair Economy, the National Council of Churches and the NAACP.
Dec. 10 Goes Global
Workers taking part in Dec. 10 actions in the United States will be joined by workers on six continents—from countries as diverse as Bosnia, Cambodia and Bahrain—who will hold events to support human rights, including workers’ freedom to form unions. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will join hundreds of other global union leaders in Hong Kong Dec. 10 for a rally to coincide with the meeting of the World Trade Organization. Reciprocally, workers from around the world will come to the United States to join workers at Dec. 10 events across the nation.
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka has sent a letter to Polish labor leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa asking him to urge other Nobel Peace laureates to sign a statement of support for workers’ rights that would be released during the week before Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.
Reports from Dec. 10 Sites
Local union leaders and our allies across the country are in the process of planning events in more than 68 cities. A dozen of the largest affiliates in the AFL-CIO are taking the lead in different cities in what AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff calls “the most significant, deepest buy-in” for a major mobilization. Workers in Boston plan to march throughout the city, stopping at workplaces where workers are trying to form unions, before holding a rally at the state capitol. In Sacramento, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union will focus on workers’ campaign at Blue Diamond Almond, where the company openly admits to conducting “an aggressive union avoidance campaign.” In St. Louis, the Mine Workers will call attention to anti-union Peabody Coal, which has systematically de-unionized their operations. In Portland, Ore., workers will join with other activists to protest the World Trade Organization and workers’ rights abuses around the world. In Washington, D.C., workers will rally in front of AFL-CIO headquarters, then march to the White House to demand that President Bush stop his assault on federal employees’ collective bargaining rights.
Along with these major events, teach-ins are scheduled at colleges in Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, North Carolina, Seattle, New Jersey, New York, San Francisco, Cincinnati and at other colleges across the nation to inform students of the plight of America’s workers.
New Tools Online
A public service announcement from NAACP Chairman Julian Bond asking people to join with workers around Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, is now available for download on the AFL-CIO website. http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/d10_psa.cfm
Dec. 10 Events Calendar
A searchable calendar of events is available on the AFL-CIO home page. People can search for events in their state and site coordinators can post information about their events on this calendar. We are asking everyone coordinating sites to post information about them right away. Check back often, as more sites will be added every week. http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/calendar.cfm
Teach-In PowerPoint
Along with the Teach-In Toolkit, a PowerPoint presentation is available for use at Teach-Ins around Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.
http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/upload/teachins_d10.ppt
Dec. 10 Flier
Download this color save-the-date flier to publicize your Dec. 10 event.
Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-N.C. ) became the 205th Employee Free Choice Act (S. 842 and H.R. 1696) co-sponsor in the House of Representatives. We are now only 13 co-sponsors away from reaching a majority in the House and, with 41 co-sponsors, only 10 votes shy of a Senate majority. Dec. 10 offers a great opportunity to ask senators and representatives who have not yet signed on to mark International Human Rights Day by becoming co-sponsors of the Employee Free Choice Act.
Send letters to your senators and representative urging them to co-sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act by clicking on this link.
A list of co-sponsors and fact sheets on each provision of the legislation are available on the Voice@Work PrivateNet website
Press Clips of the Week
“Time to protect unions,”: [New York] Daily News Op-ed by John Jordan, a former union organizer, about companies using bankruptcy court to void union contracts.
“AFL-CIO Leaders Push for New Members,” The Washington Post
AFL-CIO met with allied organizations to ask for their help in our nationwide mobilization around Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.
Quote of the Week
“You practically have to kill someone.”
— Jack Haskell, of the anti-union firm Adams, Nash, Haskell & Sheridan, quoted in the Connecticut Post talking about the kind of employer actions that might prompt the NLRB to overturn an election.
Please send story suggestions, event announcements, campaign reports, letters and other information to Kevin Byrne at kbyrne@aflcio.org
Thank you for all you do to restore workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain collectively.
Together we will win.
In solidarity,
Andy Levin
Voice@Work Campaign
AFL-CIO ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Last week at a meeting of allied organizations to discuss planning for Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney declared that our nationwide mobilization will be “the biggest ever” for workers’ rights. Planning is under way around the country and around the world. Over the week of Dec. 5–10, tens of thousands of workers in 68 cities—and the number is growing daily—will take the fight to restore workers’ freedom to form unions to the White House, statehouses and front doors of employers that deny workers’ rights.
Dec. 10 marks the anniversary of the 1948 United Nations ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which includes workers’ freedom to form unions.
Speaking at the meeting, Clyde Rucker, a former Verizon Wireless customer service representative, said he was fired after he tried to form a union with the Communications Workers of America. “We have to fight everywhere for the right to join a union,” said Rucker. “We have to become more vigilant and continue to speak out. Corporate injustice anywhere is a threat to workers everywhere.”
American Rights at Work Chairman David Bonior said 23,000 people are fired each year or otherwise illegally discriminated against for trying to organize and bargain. In American Rights at Work’s recent “Workers Rights Are Human Rights” tour, more than 40 workers traveled to Atlanta, Austin, Texas, and Boston to tell their stories about being fired and harassed while trying to form a union. Bonior said human rights leaders from Canada, Mexico and Guatemala who joined him on the tour were “appalled by the stories of what is happening in U.S. workplaces.”
At last week’s meeting, AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson urged all the groups to support the nationwide mobilization around International Human Rights Day, saying, “History will mark the passion and compassion of all of us.”
In response, several groups declared their support for the Dec. 10 mobilization. “Civil rights are labor rights and labor rights are human rights,” said NAACP Washington Bureau Director Hilary Shelton, who played a public service announcement from NAACP Chairman Julian Bond calling on all people to join the Dec. 10 mobilization. Sarita Gupta of Jobs with Justice told the audience about events her group is helping plan across the country and Kristy Sanford of Interfaith Worker Justice detailed her organization’s plans for services focusing on workers’ rights at churches and synagogues.
U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) called union membership “the ticket out of poverty.” The nation needs the Employee Free Choice Act, she said, because employers regularly threaten, intimidate and fire workers for trying to form unions. The Employee Free Choice Act would allow workers to avoid the current National Labor Relations Board election deathtrap by forming unions based on a majority of signed authorization cards. It also would increase penalties for illegal employer anti-union actions and provide first-contract mediation and arbitration.
Groups represented at last week’s meeting include American Rights at Work, the Alliance for Retired Americans, the Center for American Progress, the American Constitution Society, the Campaign for Labor Rights, the Institute for Policy Studies, the Center for Community Change, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Americans for Democratic Action,
the Progressive Policy Institute, Interfaith Worker Justice, Jobs with Justice, the Sierra Club, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, United States Student Association, Human Rights Watch, the National Council of Women’s Organizations, the Coalition on Human Needs, the United
Association for Labor Education, the National Baptist Convention USA, Pride At Work, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Japanese-American Citizens League, United Students Against Sweatshops, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, Campaign for America’s Future, the United Nations Association, United for a Fair Economy, the National Council of Churches and the NAACP.
Dec. 10 Goes Global
Workers taking part in Dec. 10 actions in the United States will be joined by workers on six continents—from countries as diverse as Bosnia, Cambodia and Bahrain—who will hold events to support human rights, including workers’ freedom to form unions. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will join hundreds of other global union leaders in Hong Kong Dec. 10 for a rally to coincide with the meeting of the World Trade Organization. Reciprocally, workers from around the world will come to the United States to join workers at Dec. 10 events across the nation.
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka has sent a letter to Polish labor leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa asking him to urge other Nobel Peace laureates to sign a statement of support for workers’ rights that would be released during the week before Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.
Reports from Dec. 10 Sites
Local union leaders and our allies across the country are in the process of planning events in more than 68 cities. A dozen of the largest affiliates in the AFL-CIO are taking the lead in different cities in what AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff calls “the most significant, deepest buy-in” for a major mobilization. Workers in Boston plan to march throughout the city, stopping at workplaces where workers are trying to form unions, before holding a rally at the state capitol. In Sacramento, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union will focus on workers’ campaign at Blue Diamond Almond, where the company openly admits to conducting “an aggressive union avoidance campaign.” In St. Louis, the Mine Workers will call attention to anti-union Peabody Coal, which has systematically de-unionized their operations. In Portland, Ore., workers will join with other activists to protest the World Trade Organization and workers’ rights abuses around the world. In Washington, D.C., workers will rally in front of AFL-CIO headquarters, then march to the White House to demand that President Bush stop his assault on federal employees’ collective bargaining rights.
Along with these major events, teach-ins are scheduled at colleges in Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, North Carolina, Seattle, New Jersey, New York, San Francisco, Cincinnati and at other colleges across the nation to inform students of the plight of America’s workers.
New Tools Online
A public service announcement from NAACP Chairman Julian Bond asking people to join with workers around Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, is now available for download on the AFL-CIO website. http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/d10_psa.cfm
Dec. 10 Events Calendar
A searchable calendar of events is available on the AFL-CIO home page. People can search for events in their state and site coordinators can post information about their events on this calendar. We are asking everyone coordinating sites to post information about them right away. Check back often, as more sites will be added every week. http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/calendar.cfm
Teach-In PowerPoint
Along with the Teach-In Toolkit, a PowerPoint presentation is available for use at Teach-Ins around Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.
http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/upload/teachins_d10.ppt
Dec. 10 Flier
Download this color save-the-date flier to publicize your Dec. 10 event.
Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-N.C. ) became the 205th Employee Free Choice Act (S. 842 and H.R. 1696) co-sponsor in the House of Representatives. We are now only 13 co-sponsors away from reaching a majority in the House and, with 41 co-sponsors, only 10 votes shy of a Senate majority. Dec. 10 offers a great opportunity to ask senators and representatives who have not yet signed on to mark International Human Rights Day by becoming co-sponsors of the Employee Free Choice Act.
Send letters to your senators and representative urging them to co-sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act by clicking on this link.
A list of co-sponsors and fact sheets on each provision of the legislation are available on the Voice@Work PrivateNet website
Press Clips of the Week
“Time to protect unions,”: [New York] Daily News Op-ed by John Jordan, a former union organizer, about companies using bankruptcy court to void union contracts.
“AFL-CIO Leaders Push for New Members,” The Washington Post
AFL-CIO met with allied organizations to ask for their help in our nationwide mobilization around Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.
Quote of the Week
“You practically have to kill someone.”
— Jack Haskell, of the anti-union firm Adams, Nash, Haskell & Sheridan, quoted in the Connecticut Post talking about the kind of employer actions that might prompt the NLRB to overturn an election.
Please send story suggestions, event announcements, campaign reports, letters and other information to Kevin Byrne at kbyrne@aflcio.org
Thank you for all you do to restore workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain collectively.
Together we will win.
In solidarity,
Andy Levin
Voice@Work Campaign
AFL-CIO ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Margaret Cho: Mapquest Equality
"On my book tour, I have to be very good natured about all the racism and ignorance that I encounter because if I got angry at every single incident, I would wear myself out. It is difficult enough just to keep up with the schedule, with no sleep and no time for regular meals between book signings and press appearances. My nerves are completely shot, I have no coat or hat, and I just broke a nail!
People ask me what it was like to make “Charlie’s Angels,” and I have to force a smile and remind myself that they don’t know better, and they are trying their best to be friendly. But it isn’t funny to me, and it is starting to make me very depressed. It is not enough that there are so few Asian American women working in the entertainment industry. There has to be veiled and outright hostility towards the ones who are here." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"On my book tour, I have to be very good natured about all the racism and ignorance that I encounter because if I got angry at every single incident, I would wear myself out. It is difficult enough just to keep up with the schedule, with no sleep and no time for regular meals between book signings and press appearances. My nerves are completely shot, I have no coat or hat, and I just broke a nail!
People ask me what it was like to make “Charlie’s Angels,” and I have to force a smile and remind myself that they don’t know better, and they are trying their best to be friendly. But it isn’t funny to me, and it is starting to make me very depressed. It is not enough that there are so few Asian American women working in the entertainment industry. There has to be veiled and outright hostility towards the ones who are here." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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The Uncommon Sense - Guerilla News & Views
"Rank & File auto workers from across the country gathered in Kokomo, IN on Sunday, November 13 to discuss strategy and the importance of their fight against corporate exploitation. Key topics included:
•The need to reach out to all union and non-union people in this country and around the world who are concerned about corporate disregard for working families.
•How to get that global group involved in the struggle.
•The work to rule strategy.
•Strike "
This site is new and not fine tuned yet, so this doesn't link directly to the post, anyone checking this out way after the date posted, may have to dig a little. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Rank & File auto workers from across the country gathered in Kokomo, IN on Sunday, November 13 to discuss strategy and the importance of their fight against corporate exploitation. Key topics included:
•The need to reach out to all union and non-union people in this country and around the world who are concerned about corporate disregard for working families.
•How to get that global group involved in the struggle.
•The work to rule strategy.
•Strike "
This site is new and not fine tuned yet, so this doesn't link directly to the post, anyone checking this out way after the date posted, may have to dig a little. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Local 174 Launches Consumer Boycott to help Nuprecon Workers' Organizing Efforts | Teamsters Local 174
"Local 174 has launched a consumer boycott of Nuprecon in an effort to persuade the giant recycling and demolition firm to obey the law and stop violating the rights of its workers. When Nuprecon workers formed an organizing committee a few months ago with the goal of becoming Teamsters, company managers tried to intimidate union supporters, and threatened them with firing for supporting the union." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Local 174 has launched a consumer boycott of Nuprecon in an effort to persuade the giant recycling and demolition firm to obey the law and stop violating the rights of its workers. When Nuprecon workers formed an organizing committee a few months ago with the goal of becoming Teamsters, company managers tried to intimidate union supporters, and threatened them with firing for supporting the union." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Sutter Strikers Blog: Strike is settled!
NYU: Nerds on Strike! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
NYU: Nerds on Strike! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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The Blackblog
"I have a ritual nearly every morning. Every morning I wake up and open my browser to the Boondocks comic. I love this comic. I even buy the books that he puts out on this comic. I have waited for years, literally, to experience the Boondocks Cartoon. Now that I've watched the cartoon twice, I have really mixed feelings. One possible reason is that I am a Boondocksphile (made that one up). I read the comic day in and day out, read interviews by McGruder, and all but have tattooed Huey on my arm (aight, I'm really not THAT into the comic but you know what I mean). So when I finally heard Cartoon Network picked up the show, I patiently waited. Maybe I'm too close to it to appreciate artistic variation. I think the cartoon is funny, not as funny as it could be, but definitely enjoyable. Most of the laughs come in a 'comic strip' form (short jokes or running gags)which is true to the comic. The one thing that has concerned me and many who watched and are discussing the show is the use of 'the n-word.' "
"I have a ritual nearly every morning. Every morning I wake up and open my browser to the Boondocks comic. I love this comic. I even buy the books that he puts out on this comic. I have waited for years, literally, to experience the Boondocks Cartoon. Now that I've watched the cartoon twice, I have really mixed feelings. One possible reason is that I am a Boondocksphile (made that one up). I read the comic day in and day out, read interviews by McGruder, and all but have tattooed Huey on my arm (aight, I'm really not THAT into the comic but you know what I mean). So when I finally heard Cartoon Network picked up the show, I patiently waited. Maybe I'm too close to it to appreciate artistic variation. I think the cartoon is funny, not as funny as it could be, but definitely enjoyable. Most of the laughs come in a 'comic strip' form (short jokes or running gags)which is true to the comic. The one thing that has concerned me and many who watched and are discussing the show is the use of 'the n-word.' "
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From a friend:
"Notes from the strike
I spent the day on the picket line with some of our brothers and sisters at NYU and I was so inspired that I just wanted to pass along a bit of the experience. It's a long email so if you're not interested don't feel obligated...
First of all, I know most of you know this but the strike is indefinite - that's heavy, to say the least. It's also a strike for recognition - I mean, just to get a contract which is also incredibly daunting. But they have so much energy, it's really impressive. They're running two big pickets every day from 8-5 and all members do 3 five hour shifts a week. They are receiving strike pay fom UAW. Today was the 4th full day of striking.
I won't go into all of the details and news... many of you probably get the CGEU emails and are already familiar. But if you're interested there are a few blogs and websites detailing the situation. Some of the most amazing stuff has been the overwhelming faculty support - who were to some extent inadvertantly organized by the administration; on the first day of the strike a scandal also broke involving the administration's surveilance of professors' coursetools sites (blackboard is the program, officially). I'm including some links at the bottom for more info on all of this....
Let's see.. of course they were happy to have support from UofM and a number of folks asked me if I knew various people here. One woman in the Spanish department gave me an enormous hug when I told her that I knew Luis Cabrera- apparently she was his student as an undergrad. It's nice to see some of our undergrads growing into militant grad union members.
A GESO organizer from Yale seemed to not believe I was who I said I was - she thought I was masquerading as Urmila - we cleared that up, though.
The chants were good, though they didn't really take to "workers side/bosses side"... apparently Michigan chants don't fly in New York. And I had to curb my natural inclination to follow "3,5,7,9!" with "Michigan it's contract time!" - the right response, in this case was "come and join our picket line!" I've been trying to remember some of our other classic chants for tomorrow but I'm having a hard time recalling. If anyone wants to remind me that would be great.
I wish I could somehow instantly transport all of you out to New York tomorrow - it's been so great but it's a little sad without the familiarity of the GEO crew. Nonetheless, seeing so many people like us taking this huge risk - an open ended strike just for a basic contract - really renewed some of my own sense of what we all do this for, all the meetings, all the office visiting, etc. It really is important and it really is about something larger."
tx urs ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Notes from the strike
I spent the day on the picket line with some of our brothers and sisters at NYU and I was so inspired that I just wanted to pass along a bit of the experience. It's a long email so if you're not interested don't feel obligated...
First of all, I know most of you know this but the strike is indefinite - that's heavy, to say the least. It's also a strike for recognition - I mean, just to get a contract which is also incredibly daunting. But they have so much energy, it's really impressive. They're running two big pickets every day from 8-5 and all members do 3 five hour shifts a week. They are receiving strike pay fom UAW. Today was the 4th full day of striking.
I won't go into all of the details and news... many of you probably get the CGEU emails and are already familiar. But if you're interested there are a few blogs and websites detailing the situation. Some of the most amazing stuff has been the overwhelming faculty support - who were to some extent inadvertantly organized by the administration; on the first day of the strike a scandal also broke involving the administration's surveilance of professors' coursetools sites (blackboard is the program, officially). I'm including some links at the bottom for more info on all of this....
Let's see.. of course they were happy to have support from UofM and a number of folks asked me if I knew various people here. One woman in the Spanish department gave me an enormous hug when I told her that I knew Luis Cabrera- apparently she was his student as an undergrad. It's nice to see some of our undergrads growing into militant grad union members.
A GESO organizer from Yale seemed to not believe I was who I said I was - she thought I was masquerading as Urmila - we cleared that up, though.
The chants were good, though they didn't really take to "workers side/bosses side"... apparently Michigan chants don't fly in New York. And I had to curb my natural inclination to follow "3,5,7,9!" with "Michigan it's contract time!" - the right response, in this case was "come and join our picket line!" I've been trying to remember some of our other classic chants for tomorrow but I'm having a hard time recalling. If anyone wants to remind me that would be great.
I wish I could somehow instantly transport all of you out to New York tomorrow - it's been so great but it's a little sad without the familiarity of the GEO crew. Nonetheless, seeing so many people like us taking this huge risk - an open ended strike just for a basic contract - really renewed some of my own sense of what we all do this for, all the meetings, all the office visiting, etc. It really is important and it really is about something larger."
tx urs ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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mousemusings
"During the Dalai Lama's 10 day visit to Washington, that was not without controversy, he wondered why a “small pocket” of people living in the world’s “champion of democracy, liberty and freedom” lacked full voting rights and representation in Congress.
“Quite strange, quite strange,” he remarked, drawing further laughter."
The concept of voting is pretty deep rooted though. When no one had a say in the matter, voting was seen as a way to get your voice represented. Now I don't think that is an honest reality of voting structures.... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"During the Dalai Lama's 10 day visit to Washington, that was not without controversy, he wondered why a “small pocket” of people living in the world’s “champion of democracy, liberty and freedom” lacked full voting rights and representation in Congress.
“Quite strange, quite strange,” he remarked, drawing further laughter."
The concept of voting is pretty deep rooted though. When no one had a say in the matter, voting was seen as a way to get your voice represented. Now I don't think that is an honest reality of voting structures.... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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All Facts and Opinions: Voting as Activism
"Did you know that when an informed person participates in voting, that person becomes an activist?"
hmmm.... no I didn't know that..... hmmmm.... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Did you know that when an informed person participates in voting, that person becomes an activist?"
hmmm.... no I didn't know that..... hmmmm.... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Boycott Thieves (Starting with Exxon Mobil)
"Given that I have been invited to participate in this blog, I try to do that - participate. :-D I was drawing a blank today so I simply goggled 'Boycott Exxon' and saw what hits were returned. Lo and behold, I found this brief article over at The Huffington Post posted last Wednesday on the very subject of Exxon:
After sixteen years, ExxonMobil has still not compensated Alaska fishermen five billion dollars for damages caused by the eleven million gallons of crude oil dumped in Prince William Sound during the 1989 tanker spill." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Given that I have been invited to participate in this blog, I try to do that - participate. :-D I was drawing a blank today so I simply goggled 'Boycott Exxon' and saw what hits were returned. Lo and behold, I found this brief article over at The Huffington Post posted last Wednesday on the very subject of Exxon:
After sixteen years, ExxonMobil has still not compensated Alaska fishermen five billion dollars for damages caused by the eleven million gallons of crude oil dumped in Prince William Sound during the 1989 tanker spill." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Bombs and Shields
"Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. - Unrepentant animal-liberationist Peter Young was sentenced to two years in federal prison for freeing approximately 8,000 mink from Midwestern fur farms in 1997. He was also ordered pay $254,840 in restitution to the farmers, but has vowed not to pay them a cent. In court he taunted farmers present by stating 'It was an absolute pleasure to have visited your farms ... and I wish I could have put more of you in bankruptcy.' A raid Peter participated in forced at least one South Dakota mink rancher to go out of business and cost the others thousands of dollars in lost profits and new security systems." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. - Unrepentant animal-liberationist Peter Young was sentenced to two years in federal prison for freeing approximately 8,000 mink from Midwestern fur farms in 1997. He was also ordered pay $254,840 in restitution to the farmers, but has vowed not to pay them a cent. In court he taunted farmers present by stating 'It was an absolute pleasure to have visited your farms ... and I wish I could have put more of you in bankruptcy.' A raid Peter participated in forced at least one South Dakota mink rancher to go out of business and cost the others thousands of dollars in lost profits and new security systems." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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The Tufts Daily - Ooh baby, baby, it's a wiki world
"When junior Mickey Leibner went to see the movie 'Good Night, and Good Luck' last week, his curiosity about the movie's subject - CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow's fight against 1950s McCarthyism - was piqued. So when Leibner got home that night, he did something that has become a habit for him: he visited the free, interactive online encyclopedia Wikipedia.
" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"When junior Mickey Leibner went to see the movie 'Good Night, and Good Luck' last week, his curiosity about the movie's subject - CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow's fight against 1950s McCarthyism - was piqued. So when Leibner got home that night, he did something that has become a habit for him: he visited the free, interactive online encyclopedia Wikipedia.
" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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90% Crud: How Hollywood Manipulates Science
"There was a story on Slashdot this morning about new research involving a giant ape. It's awfully coincidental that this research came out 1 month before the King Kong movie. Think I'm being cynical? Listen to this NPR piece on how Hollywood manipulates science (8:54) to promote its movies.
Universal Pictures worked with paleontologists to ensure that dinosaur news would coincide with the release of each Jurassic Park movie. They even had one scientist lie about the discovery date of some fossils by a few weeks, in order to have the discovery date closer to Jurassic Park 3's opening. He was fine with it, since Universal paid for a lot of his research. Universal is also the studio that is releasing King Kong.
Still think I'm being cynical?" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"There was a story on Slashdot this morning about new research involving a giant ape. It's awfully coincidental that this research came out 1 month before the King Kong movie. Think I'm being cynical? Listen to this NPR piece on how Hollywood manipulates science (8:54) to promote its movies.
Universal Pictures worked with paleontologists to ensure that dinosaur news would coincide with the release of each Jurassic Park movie. They even had one scientist lie about the discovery date of some fossils by a few weeks, in order to have the discovery date closer to Jurassic Park 3's opening. He was fine with it, since Universal paid for a lot of his research. Universal is also the studio that is releasing King Kong.
Still think I'm being cynical?" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Vision Circle: Boondocks: The Series
"The show had 1 maybe 2 funny spots. I expected more 'ha ha'.
The satire/political commentary was in your face and showed no
ingenuity. To me, the best satire is subtle or so over the top it's
just shows how stupid the situation is; think George Carlin.
That's how I read the Boondocks comic strip. It hits you in 3 or 4 panels.
*BAM*
Right in the gonads.
I think the restraint and limited space does well to make McGruder hit it.
With the cartoon, he has less restraint and about 21 minutes to get
his points over. That may be too much. He gets 2 more looks for me, if it doesn't get better, that's it." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The show had 1 maybe 2 funny spots. I expected more 'ha ha'.
The satire/political commentary was in your face and showed no
ingenuity. To me, the best satire is subtle or so over the top it's
just shows how stupid the situation is; think George Carlin.
That's how I read the Boondocks comic strip. It hits you in 3 or 4 panels.
*BAM*
Right in the gonads.
I think the restraint and limited space does well to make McGruder hit it.
With the cartoon, he has less restraint and about 21 minutes to get
his points over. That may be too much. He gets 2 more looks for me, if it doesn't get better, that's it." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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An enemy of the state
via mousemusings ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
via mousemusings ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Shameless Agitator
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funferal: Online communication Archives
"As if the annotated audio idea wasn't enough, today I got pointed towards details of the BBC's programme catalogue - a 7 million line database - which is being prototyped on a Rails framework. Of inte
"As if the annotated audio idea wasn't enough, today I got pointed towards details of the BBC's programme catalogue - a 7 million line database - which is being prototyped on a Rails framework. Of inte