The Wobblies Resurface in New York, Targeting Starbucks and FreshDirect

Today's NY Sun has a front page story highlighting the Industrial Workers of the World, also known as the "Wobblies," attempt to unionize New York City Starbucks and FreshDirect employees.

I always get a kick out of the futile attempts of modern day communists to make a dent (they even utilize Soviet-style art work in their propoganda). In the wake of overwhelming public backlash against the New York Transport Union Workers, the timing and location of this push couldn't be worse.

That effervescent handmaiden of the left, Howard Zinn, cheered that "Wobbly Spirit" way back in 1965.

There is a stirring among the young, and talk of a "new radicalism." The timing could hardly be better...

While the wobblies set about to "abolish the wage system," their progressive impotence is always worth a chuckle.

The entertaining story of Farris Hassan

"And I'm like, 'Well, I should probably be going.' It was not a safe place. The way they were looking at me kind of freaked me out."

Sorry Guys! It was just a theory.

I don't know these people - but I wish I did. There are a ton of t-shirt sites out there, but these folks are doing it right. Hilarious through-and-through.

"Subversive tees at Bureaucrash.com"

"It looks like an Ernst Wilhelm Nay"

Chimp's painting fools experts
From: From correspondents in Moritzburg, Saxony

A GERMAN art expert was fooled into believing a painting done by a chimpanzee was the work of a master.

The director of the State Art Museum of Moritzburg in Saxony-Anhalt, Katja Schneider, suggested the painting was by the Guggenheim Prize-winning artist Ernst Wilhelm Nay.

"It looks like an Ernst Wilhelm Nay. He was famous for using such blotches of colour," Dr Schneider confidently asserted.

The canvas was actually the work of Banghi, a 31-year-old female chimp at the local zoo.

While Banghi likes to paint, she is not able to build up much of a body of work as her mate Satscho generally destroys her paintings before they can get to the gallery.

But this one survived long enough to give Dr Schneider a red face.

"I did think it looked a bit rushed," she told Bild newspaper.

Examples of Nay's work - is it any wonder there was confusion? I suppose this is artwork that only a chimp could love.

Can someone set off some bombs or something?

Today was an absolute disaster. The Sunni's showed up to the polls - who would have guessed!? They even showed up in droves to vote in Mosul, of all places! and Tikrit! WHAT!? and you'll never believe it - FALLUJAH had a stunningly high turn-out. FALLUJAH!

And the Iraqis singing songs of freedom and democracy in the peaceful streets? A disgrace...

What are we going to do now!? The Iraqis are much too happy for their own good. Something must be done, NOW!

http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20051215/D8EGR3JO3.html

Tags: iraq, iraqi election, middle east

Defining victory in Iraq

Next week's open Iraqi election - as opposed to a murderous dictator and his sons running an oil-for-food scam while enriching the likes of George Galloway and his ilk - is a victory in and of itself. This will be the most open election in the entire history of the Middle East - a HUGE victory is unfolding before those whose eyes are open.

Syria out of Lebanon is a victory.

A weakened Syrian dictatorship (Assad) is a victory.

Jordanians en masse condemning one of their own - Zarqawi - is a victory.

Libya giving up nuclear weapons is a victory.

The economic boom in the Iraqi Kurdish north and Shia south is a victory.

Egypt holding its first ever election (even if it was mostly a farce) is still a big victory.

Citizens of dictatorships such as Azerbaijan asking President Bush not to forget about them are victories.

The Democratic Party being pulled further to the left and further away from reality is a victory.

Saudi Teacher Sentenced to 750 Lashes

(11-17) 09:10 PST DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) --

A Saudi high-school chemistry teacher accused of discussing religion with his students has been sentenced to 750 lashes and 40 months in prison for blasphemy, officials said Thursday.

The court ruling was condemned by human rights activists, who said Mohammed Salamah al-Harbi was being imprisoned for having an "open discussion" with students.

Al-Harbi was convicted of questioning and ridiculing Islam, discussing the Bible and defending Jews, judicial officials said Thursday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Our government isn't going to verbally criticize this. How can citizens, using technology, educate open-minded people on the ground in these draconian societes about individual rights? Answer - more of this:

Sabbah’s Blog
The Religious Policeman
Mahmood's Den - nice blogroll here too
Saudi Jeans

...and more voices fighting against this:
Saudi Arabia blocks access to Blogger, Flickr, LiveJournal