Sunday, November 30, 2003
Wal-Mart's Hidden Costs (washingtonpost.com): "According to supermarket giants Safeway, Albertson's and Kroger, the competitive threat from Wal-Mart makes it impossible for them to survive without cutting the pay and benefits of unionized employees."
Fast Company | The Wal-Mart You Don't Know: "The giant retailer's low prices often come with a high cost. Wal-Mart's relentless pressure can crush the companies it does business with and force them to send jobs overseas. Are we shopping our way straight to the unemployment line?"
Wal-Mart Union Buster Named For Violating Worker Rights: "Wal-Mart's war on its workers claimed its latest victims in Aiken, South Carolina where the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is prosecuting Wal-Mart for waging an illegal, systematic union-busting campaign against workers."
Just Say No to Wal-Mart
Against the Wal
I hate Wal-Mart Mp3's
Wal-Martyrs
Friday, November 28, 2003
The Seattle Times: Editorials & Opinion: Medicare's new, expensive prescription: "In the final analysis, U.S. pharmaceutical companies will be better protected than elderly Americans in the overhaul of Medicare passed by Congress.
With the closely held GOP legislation approaching 1,000 pages, it will take time to fully understand all that was included and what the cost will be.
Still, this much is known, as Washington Sen. Patty Murray put it, 'The Senate has passed a bill that fundamentally changes the Medicare program while adding a meager 'drug benefit.' "
Thursday, November 27, 2003
Prahlad Jani says his fasting ability is divinely inspired
Test confirms 'sadhu' abstained food, water for 66 years : HindustanTimes.com: "It's no fast-unto-death, it's no hunger strike. But a septuagenarian sadhu's apparently simple decision to switch off food since the age of ten after being 'blessed by the Goddess' that has left scientists perplexed.
Prahllad Jani, the 76-year-old 'sadhu' from the pilgrim town of Ambaji in north Gujarat, has scientifically proved that he neither ate nor drank anything for the past 66 years.
Jani claims that he has managed to fight hunger and thirst after he was blessed by 'Mataji' (Ambaji deity) at the age of 10 years.
The medical fraternity did not believe it prima facie, but after a close 10-day observation, including sonography twice a day, at the Neuro ICCU of Sterling Hospital, medicos had to admit that Jani has the ability to survive without food and water.
Hospital authorities confirmed that Jani not only refrained intake through mouth or any other route but he also did not excrete, while under observation."
Test confirms 'sadhu' abstained food, water for 66 years : HindustanTimes.com: "It's no fast-unto-death, it's no hunger strike. But a septuagenarian sadhu's apparently simple decision to switch off food since the age of ten after being 'blessed by the Goddess' that has left scientists perplexed.
Prahllad Jani, the 76-year-old 'sadhu' from the pilgrim town of Ambaji in north Gujarat, has scientifically proved that he neither ate nor drank anything for the past 66 years.
Jani claims that he has managed to fight hunger and thirst after he was blessed by 'Mataji' (Ambaji deity) at the age of 10 years.
The medical fraternity did not believe it prima facie, but after a close 10-day observation, including sonography twice a day, at the Neuro ICCU of Sterling Hospital, medicos had to admit that Jani has the ability to survive without food and water.
Hospital authorities confirmed that Jani not only refrained intake through mouth or any other route but he also did not excrete, while under observation."
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
The Nation.com
A Watershed Strike: "The employers--Vons and Pavillions, Ralphs and Albertsons--want to slash the health and retirement benefits of their cashiers, baggers, deli clerks and other employees. The companies' representatives refused to discuss the details of their contract proposals, but according to UFCW Local 770, the grocery chains have demanded what amounts to a 50 percent reduction in workers' medical coverage, including increased prescription drug costs and cuts in retirement benefits. Additionally, the companies want to initiate a 'second-class' wage system, with new hires doing the same work as current employees but for much lower pay.
The companies claim that high labor costs make it impossible for them to effectively compete with nonunion stores like Wal-Mart, but a quick look through the public records shows all three companies to be highly profitable: The Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., which owns Ralphs, is the nation's eighteenth-largest company, with revenues of more than $51 billion. Albertson's, Inc. based in Idaho, ranks thirty-fifth, with revenues of $36 billion. Safeway, which owns Vons and Pavillions, and is based in Pleasanton, California, ranks forty-first, with revenues of $32 billion. The three chains' combined operating profits increased from $5.1 billion in 1998 to $9.7 billion last year."
Shop The Nation.com
A Watershed Strike: "The employers--Vons and Pavillions, Ralphs and Albertsons--want to slash the health and retirement benefits of their cashiers, baggers, deli clerks and other employees. The companies' representatives refused to discuss the details of their contract proposals, but according to UFCW Local 770, the grocery chains have demanded what amounts to a 50 percent reduction in workers' medical coverage, including increased prescription drug costs and cuts in retirement benefits. Additionally, the companies want to initiate a 'second-class' wage system, with new hires doing the same work as current employees but for much lower pay.
The companies claim that high labor costs make it impossible for them to effectively compete with nonunion stores like Wal-Mart, but a quick look through the public records shows all three companies to be highly profitable: The Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., which owns Ralphs, is the nation's eighteenth-largest company, with revenues of more than $51 billion. Albertson's, Inc. based in Idaho, ranks thirty-fifth, with revenues of $36 billion. Safeway, which owns Vons and Pavillions, and is based in Pleasanton, California, ranks forty-first, with revenues of $32 billion. The three chains' combined operating profits increased from $5.1 billion in 1998 to $9.7 billion last year."
Shop The Nation.com
THE DAILY BRUIN ONLINE: "While most cheers heard on Saturday were in support of football players, some students were cheering for a different reason.
Student labor activists cheered while they marched two miles down Westwood and Santa Monica Boulevards on Saturday to rally with union strikers at a nearby grocery store. "
Student labor activists cheered while they marched two miles down Westwood and Santa Monica Boulevards on Saturday to rally with union strikers at a nearby grocery store. "
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Mercury News | 11/25/2003 | Governor's plan cuts state budget: "SACRAMENTO - Less than a week after saying he wanted to squeeze $2 billion from the state's out-of-whack budget, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday handed lawmakers his plan calling for immediate cuts in transportation, services to the poor and higher education."
Monday, November 24, 2003
Michael Jackson (the Official Press Room): "To my fans, friends and family:
As you know, the charges recently directed at me are terribly serious. They are, however, predicated on a big lie. This will be shown in court, and we will be able to put this horrible time behind us.
Because the charges are so serious, I hope you all will understand, on the advice of my attorneys, I will be limited in what I can say about the situation. There will be times when I cannot comment at all. No doubt, this will be frustrating for all of us.
For that reason, I have set up this website to serve as a source of official communications on my case. Any statement that does not appear on this website must be considered unauthorized.
You are right to be skeptical of some of the individuals who are being identified in the mass media as my friends, spokespeople, and attorneys. With few exceptions, most of them are simply filling a desperate void in our culture that equates visibility with insight. We will not engage in speculation. We will not provide running commentary on every new development or allegation du jour. We intend to try our case in the courtroom, not in the public or the media.
I thank you all for your support and understanding.
God bless you,
Michael Jackson"
As you know, the charges recently directed at me are terribly serious. They are, however, predicated on a big lie. This will be shown in court, and we will be able to put this horrible time behind us.
Because the charges are so serious, I hope you all will understand, on the advice of my attorneys, I will be limited in what I can say about the situation. There will be times when I cannot comment at all. No doubt, this will be frustrating for all of us.
For that reason, I have set up this website to serve as a source of official communications on my case. Any statement that does not appear on this website must be considered unauthorized.
You are right to be skeptical of some of the individuals who are being identified in the mass media as my friends, spokespeople, and attorneys. With few exceptions, most of them are simply filling a desperate void in our culture that equates visibility with insight. We will not engage in speculation. We will not provide running commentary on every new development or allegation du jour. We intend to try our case in the courtroom, not in the public or the media.
I thank you all for your support and understanding.
God bless you,
Michael Jackson"
Friday, November 21, 2003
Hmm... Looks like Bush's state visit to the UK is already paying off
:: Xinhuanet - English ::: "LONDON, Nov. 21 -- A British government minister expressed his optimism Friday that British companies could be ableto win a 'significant proportion' of new contracts for reconstruction work in Iraq."
Pics from Anti-Free Trade Protests in Miami this week
Thanks for protesting Bush in London. As thousands took to the street of the UK, APCs moved through the streets of Miami. Rubber bullets have been shot at crowds, union members have been hit with tazers and hundreds have been rounded up merely for protesting.
...more disturbing pic's from Miami online here.
:: Xinhuanet - English ::: "LONDON, Nov. 21 -- A British government minister expressed his optimism Friday that British companies could be ableto win a 'significant proportion' of new contracts for reconstruction work in Iraq."
Pics from Anti-Free Trade Protests in Miami this week
Thanks for protesting Bush in London. As thousands took to the street of the UK, APCs moved through the streets of Miami. Rubber bullets have been shot at crowds, union members have been hit with tazers and hundreds have been rounded up merely for protesting.
...more disturbing pic's from Miami online here.
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Gott'a love those crazy Brits!
A Pic from Buckingham palace on Wednesday
Another Bush Body Double Sighting!
A picture from Tuesday night of Charles and Bush?
Does this Bush look like a body double to anyone else?
His face looks too chubby to me.
I got this pic from the UK Indymedia Center.
A Pic from Buckingham palace on Wednesday
Another Bush Body Double Sighting!
A picture from Tuesday night of Charles and Bush?
Does this Bush look like a body double to anyone else?
His face looks too chubby to me.
I got this pic from the UK Indymedia Center.
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Independent.co.uk - 18 November 2003: "One in nine police officers in England and Wales will be protecting George Bush on his state visit to Britain, which begins today.
Ten thousand more police officers have been drafted in amid rising concerns about the threat from terrorists and the scale of anti-war demonstrations. That brings to 16,000 the number of policemen and women who will be deployed during the four-day trip."
The latest on Bush in the U.K. can be found here from the Guardian Unlimited.
Help us track George W. Bush across London!
Oh, and lets not our forget our friends at the Indymedia Center U.K. for updates as well.
Peace, Ya'll
Sunday, November 16, 2003
Scotsman.com News - Latest News - One in Three Britons Think Bush Is Stupid - Poll
The full extent of the low regard Britons have for George Bush was tonight revealed in a poll.
The US President was branded a threat to world peace by a clear majority, 60%, of those questioned by YouGov.
More than one in three, 37%, said Mr Bush was “stupid” while 33% called him “incoherent”.
Only a minority saw positive characteristics in Mr Bush, with just 7% regarding him as a good world leader, 6% as articulate and 10% as intelligent.
The findings are published in The Sunday Times ahead of his state visit to Britain next week, the first by a US leader.
The full extent of the low regard Britons have for George Bush was tonight revealed in a poll.
The US President was branded a threat to world peace by a clear majority, 60%, of those questioned by YouGov.
More than one in three, 37%, said Mr Bush was “stupid” while 33% called him “incoherent”.
Only a minority saw positive characteristics in Mr Bush, with just 7% regarding him as a good world leader, 6% as articulate and 10% as intelligent.
The findings are published in The Sunday Times ahead of his state visit to Britain next week, the first by a US leader.
...more strike photos can be found here at los angeles independent media center.
Stike Update!
Saturday November 15, 2003
Eleven people from the Mar Vista Neighbors for Peace and Justice entered the Vons store in Mar Vista at 2 PM. They filled their cart to the brim, got their groceries bagged, left them and walked away without paying the scabs. By the way, its take on average one hour and a half for an employee (a scab) to put the groceries back on the shelves.
Outside 50 strikers from different stores came to support this direct action. Many people at the scene pledged to organize similar actions in the near future.
Please visit Coalition to Save Health Care here for the latest info on the grocery work strike and lock-outs.
Monday, November 10, 2003
Gore calls for repeal of Patriot Act: "Al Gore is harshly critical of Bush administration policies regarding the civil liberties of immigrants and foreign citizens."
Thursday, November 06, 2003
...more microsoft editorial cartoons can be found here on slate
Attention Wi-Fi users, Microsoft has just released an update rollup package for XP that includes the hotfixes and updates for wireless access.
Enjoy!
And which one is supposed to be Moz again?
Hola, do we have any Mazda lovers visiting today? If so check out this new ad for the RX-8, which is simply entitled 'Fly Trap'. And as always, right click - Save target As...
Meanwhile in Music news, Pitchfork has a great article on the return of Napster and spreads rumors regarding the next Boards of Canada album due in '04.
And Last but not least in the with world of politics, our (ahem...) command in chief is in UK this week meeting with his bitch Tony Blair. Check out what the the resistance has planned to greet him.
Peace.
Monday, November 03, 2003
Hello Friends (all two of you out there.) Please take a moment out of your busy day to sign the petition in Opposition to Reverend Fred Phelps' Proposed Anti-Gay Matthew Shepard Monument in Casper, Wyoming. The proposed statue will bear the inscription "MATTHEW SHEPARD, Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God's Warning: 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.' Leviticus 18:22."
I hope you all had a great Halloween, I did... Eva and I won 3rd place for dressing up as Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera.
Peace Y'all!
I hope you all had a great Halloween, I did... Eva and I won 3rd place for dressing up as Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera.
Peace Y'all!
