- So Long, Armistice Day (11/21/2005) - It is amazing to think that a few veterans of the first World War still provide a living link to the war that provided the blueprint for the bloody twentieth century. Naked aggression and empire-building, chemical warfare and ethnic holocaust and official lies, deceit and stupid propaganda all marked that war, which left millions dead in its wake and the world's people and governments vowing - briefly - never to do it again, only to… …
- Lament for the Lost Bush Years (11/19/2005) - The Bush administration's deep problems don't quite feel like a good reason to celebrate. Lies and incompetence have caught up with Bush, whose presidential approval rating hovers around Watergate-Nixonian levels, while Dick Cheney's even less popular, after his chief of staff's indictment. "I divide time now between BSI--Before Scooter's Indictment--and ASI--After Scooter's Indictment," says Working Life blogger Jonaathan Tasini. First of all, I'm not sure if we're witnessing the crucifixion or the martyrdom of Bush-Cheney's… …
- The Great Blog Circle Jerk, part III (11/15/2005) - I have neglected to write about the Socialist Party's National Convention, which I attended a month ago. There was much to be frustrated by, but also some reason to be optimistic. I'm not going analyze it too much. I'm just going to focus on publishing the best damn bi-monthly 16-page socialist magazine that I can, and continuing to build a network with the good guys. Speaking of good guys, I finally met Wayne Rossi at… …
- The Strike at NYU (11/14/2005) - The strike at New York University is entering its second week. Local 2110 of the UAW represents graduate teaching assistants at the university, who organized a union to protest the fact that teaching assistants increasingly handle a huge workload of teaching, preparing coursework and grading papers and exams. The union won recognition from the university and a contract in 2002. It was the first of its kind, as the Clinton-appointed National Labor Relations Board had… …
- Why Tuesday? (11/8/2005) - Like a good citizen, I voted today. "Yes" on 1 and 2, "No" on 3 and 4, against Whitey for Mayor, Socialist Workers where I could, Working Families where I could not and write-in votes for "Socialism" for the judges and Public Advocate. One question: why the Hell are we voting on a Tuesday? …
- Breaking Up With Work Is Hard To Do (11/5/2005) - It's funny how quitting a job can sometimes feel like breaking up with a girlfriend. Even if the break-up occurred for good reasons, it tears you up to hear what she's been up to, and makes you wish, if only for a moment, that you were still there. Sunday's New York Times profiles the upcoming contract fight for the city's hotel employees union, where I worked for three years before resigning last November 3rd. That… …
- Radio City Lock Out (11/3/2005) - For the benefit of readers who lack a Masters degree education in Labor Law, or a brain in their skulls, when workers return to their job site with no conditions or stipulations after a walk-out, and their boss responds, "No, I will not allow you to return to work," that is not a strike. That's called a lock-out, and it's what management has done to the union musicians at the Radio City "Christmas Spectacular." Throughout… …
- Besterberg, Where’s the Resterberg? (11/2/2005) - What a disappointing decade and a half it's been for fans of Paul Westerberg. The mercurial former lead singer for the mighty Replacements moved from glossy pop rock to over-produced singer-songwriter navelgazing to under-produced home recording reclusiveness, from major label "next big thing" to indie label "has been," from sober to drinking again. Westerberg's cult status is consecrated, to an extent, by the Rhino collection, "BESTerberg: The Best of Paul Westerberg," a curious 20 song… …
- Wal-Mart Video: The High Cost of Low Price (11/1/2005) - Join the Socialist Party of New York City on Sunday, November 13 at 3:00 pm for a screening of the new documentary, "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price." Stick around for a discussion of anti-Wal-Mart activism in NYC. Location: 339 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor, NYC 10012 Directions: Take the B, D, F or V to Broadway/Lafayette, or the #6 to Bleecker. …
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- Election Day Voting Advice from the Socialist Party (11/1/2005) - The Socialist Party of New York City has endorsed only one candidate in the 2005 citywide elections: Gloria Mattera for Brooklyn Borough President. Gloria is a seasoned community activist with whom we have worked and who has secured our trust. Her Green Party campaign is a historic challenge to Democratic machine politics in Brooklyn, enlisting the support of hundreds of activists, raising tens of thousands of dollars (and potentially qualifying for matching funds). She not… …
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