OB Rag

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s overwhelming recall victory could signal the demise of the middle class nationwide.

As Doug Porter aptly observed in his election post-mortem last week, big money spoke loudly in the big races on June 5^th. This is nothing new but what happened in Wisconsin was truly historic. It was a soul-crushing defeat—not unexpected, but a gut punch nonetheless. Labor’s loss in the recall battle against Governor Scott Walker will surely go down as a key sequel to the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) strike for unionized public sector workers in America. Indeed, Governor Walker clearly said that he wanted to emulate that model, and he just won a very big battle in the war against collective bargaining in the United States.

Why is the PATCO strike so significant? After Reagan fired the striking air traffic controllers and crushed their union in 1981, it sent a signal to corporate America that it was open season on labor.

By Peter Bohmer / Special to the OB Rag

Here is Part One.

The 2012 Election

It is very important that Hugo Chávez get reelected President in the upcoming October, 2012 election for the revolution to move forward. I am quite certain that Chávez will be reelected as he continues to be very popular and deservedly so with the large majority of Venezuelans from the popular classes.

The popular classes comprise as much as 80% of the people of Venezuela. President Chávez has dealt with two serious bouts of cancer in the last year, yet he continues to be an active and involved president. If at some time during his next term in office because of health reasons, Chávez cannot continue as president, there does not seem to be another person that has both the vision of Chávez and also the strong support of the people.

Originally published in the San Diego Free Press

Banking giant can’t explain money mysteriously missing from student’s account.

In some of the articles I have written for the OB Rag and now the San Diego Free Press I have alluded to having foreign language students living with me to hone their English speaking/writing skills. I have housed over 350 students since 1992 and currently have a 29 year old Korean young lady and a 19 year old Swiss man living with Buddy and me.

This story revolves around Monica, my lovely student that has been with me for over seven months. Her English is very good but she does not think so. Listening and interpreting is still difficult for her but she loves to learn and is very bright. She wants to return to Korea and become an English teacher or a translator. I think that both are doable because she is so eager to learn.

The Shingle Chronicles

This is the third in a series about my recent run-in with a most unpleasant malady, Shingles. I hope it will encourage those who have not had the vaccination to set aside all your acrimony and distrust toward “Big Pharm,” and get vaccinated. It is also a lesson learned and an acquisition of empathy for all those who suffer from disabilities and illness we cannot “see.” Here is Part 1, and Part 2.

Part Three: The Compassion of Others

During the first full week of my Shingles, the only way to describe me, other than particularly high, was miserable. And to those who were around me, I most sincerely apologize. But as I wrote in Part One, I do not do sick well. Rather than shy away (“Ewwww! Gross!”) or find something better to do (“Sorry Jack, I’d like to help but I have to (fill in the blank i.e. weed the garden, stare mindlessly into space, wash the cat, etc.).”), my friends and family did what they could to make me more comfortable. And sometimes, compassionate aid came from unexpected corners.

By Nadin Abbott / Special to the OB Rag / June 9, 2012

Photographs Nadin Abbott

Women Occupy San Diego held a permitted event Saturday, June 9th, at Civic Plaza (Freedom Plaza). The arts event, free and open to the public, also featured Mexican and Azteca traditional dances, political speeches – including one from Councilmember Marty Emerald.

Folkloric dances from the State of Jalisco, by the group Ballet Folkorico El Tapatio, were presented, along with Calpulli Azteca which performed four traditional Nahuatl Aztec dances, to the delight of all present, wearing complex traditional costumes, as well as braseros and some fire. The day ended with a circus act.

FAMILY FRIENDLY AND FUN: Occupy Women Lend a Creative Twist to the Movement
Occupy OUR Arts’ is a Celebration of the 99% Culture and Creative Arts.
SAN DIEGO: Women Occupy San Diego (WOSD), with the support and endorsement of many community groups and artists will be hosting an all-day, family-friendly arts festival at Civic Center Plaza on Saturday June 9th, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Occupy Our Arts will highlight the artistic side of the Occupy movement, focusing on the creative arts and bringing together people from all walks of life to celebrate our diverse culture.

Double Standard: Women on screen are always required to look their sultry, sexy best. Not so for their male counterparts.

From San Diego Free Press / June 7, 2012

Over the weekend I caught the movie X-men on TV and I have to say that women are really starting to get on my nerves. For those who are unfamiliar with the story (is that possible?), X-men is an action adventure about love, revenge, super human capabilities, violence and acceptance. And lots and lots of sex.

The characters don’t actually have sex in the film. In fact, there’s only one scene where you think it might happen, but no, it’s just a steamy kiss that’s been a long time coming.

Popaditch Incites Mob, Curses at Filner and reportedly pushed Opponent at Election Central By Miriam Raferty / East County Magazine…

Since Primary election eve, when the results were coming in, San Diego conservatives have been celebrating their perceived “victories”. Me thinks they are celebrating way too early, as the results are not as favorable to the GOP and their extremist friends as they think it was. Check this out.

First, the California Primary was one of the lowest voter turn-outs in history – 36% – if not the lowest. Low turn-outs tend to favor conservatives, whereas large turn-0uts favor Democrats and liberals. And Democrats did stay away from the polls, as there was no big-ticket item on the ballot. Sure, Barack Obama was on it but he was a shoe-in. And Senator Dianne Feinstein was on it as well, but she didn’t have any serious challengers. Yes, there were two state-wide measures – and one of them – Prop 28 – which does aid democracy just a tad -passed handily – but how can anyone get excited about a tax on tobacco.

Restaurant Review of “BGR”
3960 West Point Loma Blvd. Ste J
619-222-7300

I noticed BGR for the first time on Memorial Day when I went to have a manicure and pedicure in the shopping center that used to house “Longs Drugs.” (In actuality they opened just before Christmas in 2011.) The line going into the restaurant was huge and when I asked the manicurist why the line was so long she told me that they were giving free hamburgers and cheeseburgers away to celebrate the holiday. (I found out this evening that they offered the promotion from 11:00am to 1:00pm and again from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. They gave away 493 burgers and made 47 malts!)

Today my grown daughter told me that the same restaurant was offering a promotion and suggested that I might want to check it out. Unfortunately – or fortunately as it turned out – I could not go at lunch time but could go for dinner – so she, her daughter, and her daughter’s two children and I piled into two cars and headed to the restaurant.

Editor: Here is a two-part series about what is going on in Venezuela by Peter Bohmer – a former OBcean, who now teaches at Evergreen College in Washington state. Bohmer just recently returned from a ten week visit to Venezuela, and filed this report.

by Peter Bohmer / Special to the OB Rag / June 7, 2012

I spent 10 weeks in Venezuela in early 2012, two months with a group of 30 students from the Evergreen State College and then two weeks continuing my travels with a good friend. I had a similar 10 week experience in early 2009 and also spent three weeks in Venezuela in 2011. Based on my 2009 study and travel in Venezuela, I wrote an article that can be found here. This article here is a continuation of that one. It focuses primarily on the changes in Venezuela since 2009. Most of my time on this trip was spent in Caracas, Mérida, and Barquisimeto.

Judge Katherine Forrest Denies Government’s Attempt to Limit Ruling

By Charlie Savage/ New York Times / June 6, 2012

The government may not rely on a disputed law enacted last year to hold people in indefinite military detention on suspicion that they “substantially supported” Al Qaeda or its allies — at least if they had no connection to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a federal judge said on Wednesday.

In an eight-page memorandum opinion and order, Judge Katherine B. Forrest of the Southern District of New York clarified a preliminary injunction she issued on May 16 in a lawsuit brought by journalists and activists who challenged the statute — a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011 — and expressed fear that they could be detained.