Kill! Kill! Kill!

The Soldiers At My Front Door.

“I looked out the front window of the house where I live, next door to the church, and there they were–all 75 of them, standing yards away from my front door, in the street right in front of my house and our church, shouting and screaming to the top of their lungs, ‘Kill! Kill! Kill!’

Their commanders had planted them there and were egging them on.”

Rev. John Dear, a Jesuit priest and peace activist, describes an encounter with his local National Guard unit.

Via MetaFilter

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Greatest German

As voted by three million Germans -

1) Konrad Adenauer
2) Martin Luther
3) Karl Marx

Winner Konrad Adenauer served from 1949 to 1963 and helped re-establish German democracy after the Nazi era. Reformation Monk Martin Luther came second, with communist philosopher Karl Marx third.

(Interestingly, formerly communist East Germany voted Marx #1.)

Adenauer certainly altered Germany. However, Martin Luther and Karl Marx altered the planet.

It is a common misconception to say Marx was a philosopher. He was also an organizer, activist, and did way more than sit home and write manifestos. Marx was out there in the tumult practicing what he preached, and got expelled from several countries for doing so - something which appeared to faze him not at all.

Understanding Marxism, I think, helps understand world events, as the ideas in the Communist Manifesto are still in play today. Internationalism. Self-determination. Equality. Women’s rights. Opposition to racism and homophobia. Such ideas have been in the sectarian Left for 150 years now.  These ideas resonate with people. That’s why they spread. Not because some evil commie is out there subverting the populace, but because the populace, at least in part, finds the ideas have merit.

In virtually all countries but the U.S., Marxist thought is accepted and is at least somewhat mainstream. Many European parliaments have Communist and Socialist members. It’s just not a big deal. Like, oh you mean Socialists organize for social change. Wow, tell me something I don’t already know.

It’s only in the U.S. where rigidity against Marxism is so pronounced it becomes almost comical. Why is this?

As you might have guessed, I’ve been exploring these ideas, and, in fact, will attend a socialism conference in NYC next weekend. Hey, we already have public roads, public schools, public libraries, and they seem to work well. So why not also have public healthcare and guaranteed retirement plans that people can actually live on?

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New and novel use of the Internet

War-driving pornster arrested

After pulling the man over, Sgt. Don Woods discovered the man was naked from the waist down as he downloaded images on a laptop computer of a young girl involved in a sex act with an adult.

Investigation showed the man had hooked into a wireless computer network at a nearby house to gain access to a resident’s Internet connection and download images from child pornography websites.

The scheme, known as “war driving,” allows a computer with wireless Internet capability to tap into a wireless home network and access the World Wide Web, usually without fear of discovery.

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Soros, Buffett bet against the dollar

Smart money players Warren Buffett and George Soros are making huge bets the dollar will continue its slide to new lows all next year.

The greenback hit its lowest level ever against the euro yesterday, dropped to a five-year low against the British pound and fell to a 10-year bottom against the Canadian dollar.

A falling dollar means expensive imports and cheap exports for the US. It also means our financial position in the world is getting a bit wobbly.

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Troop families go to Iraq on peace mission

The leader of the 10-member group, Fernando Suarez del Solar, said it is important for Iraqis to realize that not all Americans support the U.S. military presence in Iraq. His son, Marine Lance Cpl. Jesus Suarez del Solar, 20, was killed in Iraq eight months ago when he stepped on an unexploded American cluster bomb.

Suarez spoke at an ANSWER rally on Sep 28 in LA and said the military lied to him at first about the cause of his son’s death, something he understandably found to be contemptible.

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Nirvana bassist may run for Lt. Gov. of Washington

Grunge-rock pioneer Krist Novoselic says he may run for lieutenant governor in what would be the next step of a transition from rock star to politician.

I suspect he may be asked if he inhaled…

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Public suicides attests to labor unrest in South Korea

Four South Korean labor activists have killed themselves since late September, and a fifth is lying near death in the burn unit of a hospital. Four foreign workers also have committed suicide this month in protest of South Korean labor policies.

In September, a South Korean farmer stabbed himself to death at a World Trade Organization conference in Cancun, Mexico.

These spectacularly public suicides, along with increasingly disruptive protests on the streets, are an unmistakable sign of growing labor unrest in South Korea.

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Boycott Borders

On December 6, 2002, workers at Borders Bookstore store #1 in Downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan, voted for union representation with UFCW Local  876 by a margin of 93%. Border’s management has responded by employing union-busting tactics and failing to negotiate in good faith. On November 8, 2003, workers began an unfair labor practice strike — and now they are asking for your solidarity!

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“Mayor Matt”

Yes, S.F. newspapers are now starting to refer to Green mayoral candidate Matt Gonzalez as “Mayor Matt”. The latest news is outgoing African-American Mayor Willie Brown implying Gonzalaez is racist, followed by  Gonzalez getting endorsements from several more African-Americans. I guess Willie is getting desperate, as his hand-picked candidate to succeed him, Gavin Newson, is trailing in the polls.

‘Mayor Matt’ topped off by Brown’s milliner

A day after Mayor Willie Brown reportedly slapped him down as a bigot and chauvinist, Board of Supervisors President Matt Gonzalez announced the endorsement of Mayor Brown’s milliner, Ruth Dewson, an African-American woman know as “the Mayor of Fillmore Street.”

She also read a statement of support from actor and progressive activist Danny Glover.

“I support Matt Gonzalez because of his effective leadership in supporting Proposition L, the minimum wage increase, Proposition H, police reform and accountability, and public power,” Glover’s statement read. “Matt’s progressive values resonate with me and his leadership and integrity make him the only acceptable choice for the next mayor of San Francisco.”

A friend, a senior level Democratic operative in California, is generally condescending when referring to Greens, seeing them as laughable and insignificant. I mentioned the Gonzalez campaign to him a few days ago. He’s not laughing any more. The California Democratic Party, is, and should be, seriously worried about the high probability of a Green defeating a Democrat and becoming mayor of San Francisco.

First Arnold, now Matt. Bad days for California Democrats.

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Perishables are scarcer at some supermarkets

The supermarket union got a boost Monday, when 8,000 Teamster drivers and warehouse workers agreed not to cross warehouse picket lines.

The stores say they haven’t missed a beat, using replacement workers to make deliveries and staff warehouses.

Ralphs spokesman Terry O’Neal said Friday that the company had brought on 300 drivers and 1,400 warehouse workers, and was looking to hire more.

 “It’s our intention, as long as strikes last, to continue to operate our stores, serve our customers and provide them with the quality product that they are accustomed to,” O’Neal said.

Whoa Terry, let’s whip our Mr. Calculator and run the numbers. 8,000 Teamsters on strike. You’ve hired 1.700 untrained scabs, so that puts you 6,300 people short. I’m guessing your shelves will be nearly empty soon.

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Grocery strike forced store shutdown on Thanksgiving

Nearly 860 Southern California Vons, Ralphs and Alberstons were closed on Thanksgiving as a direct result of the strike.

And you know that’s got to hurt the grocery chains! Plus, soon enough, they will have little in their stores, due to the Teamster solidarity strike that has shut down the food distribution centers. It’s important to note that Teamsters include many more occupations than just truck drivers. In this case, the entire work force in the distribution centers are Teamsters, not just the drivers.

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Citizen captures police act of racism on camera phone.

Via Smart Mobs

“For anyone following the social impact of camera phones and the role played by Citizens as camera phone reporters, this was a story just waiting to happen and brings to mind the Rodney King beating, videotaped by an amateur.

A blatant act of racism by the Portland police was snapped by a “citizen reporter” armed with a camera phone. The story and the photos were published in the Portland Tribune and broadcasted on television. “

Police offers parked their car outside Ringlers restaurant with a stuffed gorilla attached to the car’s grill last Tuesday night, - where a largely black crowd had gathered for a weekly hip-hop show hosted by disc jockey Mello Cee.

“This is the kind of thing you expect to see in the South, like a Confederate flag. They might as well paint their faces black with white lips,” said Mello Cee.

“Resident Calvin Washington who said he took the photos around 1 a.m. outside Ringlers restaurant said when he realized what was happening, he grabbed his cell phone camera and walked outside to take pictures. “I went out and flicked a few pics. The police couldn’t tell what I was doing because I had the phone in my hand. They couldn’t tell what it was,” he said.

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Moby targets Bush for TV ad

Electronic pop supremo Moby has teamed up with Jonathan Soros - son of billionaire George Soros - in launching an internet competition for a TV commercial attacking President George W Bush.

The contest, called “Bush in 30 seconds” is open to the general public and will be judged by a celebrity panel including actors Jack Black and Janeane Garafalo, REM frontman Michael Stipe and documentary film maker Michael Moore.

“Anyone can make and submit a 30 second TV ad that is somehow based around the truth about George Bush’,” Moby wrote on his website.

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America’s enemy within

Armed checkpoints, embedded reporters in flak jackets, brutal suppression of peaceful demonstrators. Baghdad? No, Miami

We can expect more of these tactics on the homeland front. Just as civil liberties violations escalated when Washington lost control over the FTAA process, so will repression increase as Bush faces the ultimate threat: losing control over the White House.

The war is coming home

People get ready. The 2004 Presidential election will be the political equivalent of nuclear war. This is the time to get involved, to stand strong. Bush can and will be defeated and a grateful planet will thank us for doing it.

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Soros instrumental in overthrowing Shevardnadze in Georgia

It was back in February that billionaire financier George Soros began laying the brickwork for the toppling of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze

“It’s generally accepted public opinion here that Mr. Soros is the person who planned Shevardnadze’s overthrow,” said Zaza Gachechiladze, editor-in-chief of The Georgian Messenger, an English-language daily based in the capital.

And now Soros says Bush is the biggest threat to world peace and must not be re-elected.

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Insurance giant gives $100,000 to Gov. Schwarzenegger

Will injured workers pay the price?

Injured workers and their advocates today reacted to a report in the Los Angeles Times that Governor Schwarzenegger took a donation of $100,000 last week from American International Group Inc., a major insurance firm that writes workers’ compensation policies in California. The company has a deep financial interest in proposals to cut benefits to injured workers. The company reported that its profits are up 27% in the third quarter of 2003.

“This insurance giant is not giving out of the goodness of its heart. Will injured workers pay the real cost of this special interest contribution?” asked Art Azevedo, president of the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association. “Injured workers don’t have $100,000 lying around in their checking accounts, like these insurance companies that are crying poverty while pocketing billions. It’s not a fair fight when workers injured on the job are locked out while the insurance fatcats belly up to the bar.”

Indeed

Workers’ compensation insurance carriers report record profits: 2003 is turning out to be the most profitable in the last 25 years

Yet they cry how those darned workers are costing them SO much money - while they reap huge profits and pay themselves bloated salaries (pdf pg. 6)

2002 compensation:

$20,542,250, M. R. Greenberg,   CEO,   American Int’l. Group
  9,220,882, Dean R. O’Hare,    CEO,   Chubb Corp.
  4,688,998, Joesph V. Taranto, Chair, Everest Re Group
  2,956,398, J. S. Fishman,     CEO,   St. Paul Companies
  2,887,375, Stanley R. Zax,    Pres., Zenith and Zenith Insurance
  2,020,00,  Carl H. Lindner,   Chair, American Financial Group

Oink, oink, oink.

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Matt Gonzalez 7 points ahead in SF mayor race!

A CBS 5 poll shows that if the election were held Tuesday, Gonzalez would get 52% of the vote in the race for City Hall. His opponent, Supervisor Gavin Newsom, would get 45%, according to the Survey USA report.

Gonzalez leads among voters who are certain they are going to the polls. Probable voters lean towards Newsom, so turnout will be important.

If Green Party member Matt Gonzalez becomes mayor of San Francisco, then get the jam because the California Democratic Party will be toast.

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ANSWER distributes food to striking grocery workers

ANSWER LA started a food drive for strikers three weeks ago. We distributed more food tonight at a Vons Supermarket in Los Angeles. Note the piles of food in front of the truck, this was just some of the food that was so graciously donated. The Wanted posters are of Steven Burd, CEO of Safeway, owner of Vons. We made the posters, the strikers love them!

Next up, we are launching a toy drive during the Christmas season for the strikers, as well as continuing the food drive for as long as the strike lasts.

If the grocery chains break the union - and that is their avowed plan - then no union is safe. That’s why the Teamsters just went out on a solidarity strike, shutting down the food distribution centers for Vons, Albertsons, and Ralphs in Southern California.

This strike is already at a level of militancy not seen in decades. I expect it will escalate considerably.

However tonight, some strikers got free Thanksgiving food!

PS Two pension funds are suing Safeway’s management and board, “alleging the company has been decimated by rampant conflicts of interest, managerial bungling, deceit and greed.”

PPS Happy Thanksgiving!

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Google spanks those trying to trick it

Google blocks ‘optimized’ pages

For the past few years, webmasters have found tricks that bring their page higher for a given keyphrase search. Google recently implemented a filter to block sites that appeared to be tricking it into gaining a higher ranking.

Among other things, I do website promotion; helping sites get listed in search engines, and running pay-per-click (PPC) ad campaigns. Some websites try all sorts of tricks to get higher rankings in Google, the 800 pound gorilla of the business. These tricks include multiple nearly identical sites linking to each other, creating “doorway” pages that are supposed to be optimized for one search phrase from one search engine, and other such ploys.

Well, Google just updated their algorithm, and sites trying such silly tricks suddenly found themselves nowhere to be found in the Google listings. And some  of them are howling.

Here’s a clue for them. Provide useful content for your users, do the few simple things that Google advises, stop trying to trick them - and your site will be ranked well. This is the advice of all reputable search engine consultants - it’s what I do for clients - and it works.

PPC advertising is also effective. One of my other specialities is converting ancient DOS database applications to Windows, and I use Google PPC to advertise. Type “Clipper migration” in Google and my ad appears at the top as a ‘featured link”. It also appears as the first Google entry, and that’s because my business website provides useful information about database migration.  If you do PPC ads correctly, they can be quite cheap, and very effective. My Google PPC ads cost about $40 a month and I get a steady stream of business from them.

A website that provides useful information, and which does a modest amount of PPC advertising, will be ranked well in Google. Tricks and devious ploys not needed.

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Well heck, I believe them, don’t you?

FBI publicly denies spying on protesters

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The amazing Matt Gonzalez campaign for mayor in San Francisco

From Patrick, a truly amped Green from L.A. who just returned from volunteering for the Gonzalez campaign in S.F., comes this wonderful inspired rant.

You gotta see the Gonzalez campaign headquarters. It’s a freakin’ beehive of volunteers, all energized, all heart, mostly young, all busting their asses to get a true Progressive elected mayor of The City. At any one time, there’s a hundred volunteers in the office, and at least 500 more out working The City. There’s THREE rooms of phone-bankers going! They got a full-time vegan chef!  They got live musicians playing in the campaign office to keep the staffers going!

And about those staffers… how do I say this non-offensively? Okay, I’ll just say it. Frankly, most of the guys and girls on Gonzo’s campaign staff are kinda, well… hot. Seriously. I’m not joking. Like, really, REALLY hot.

I swear, this Gonzo guy is a rock star. He’s a Green debating champ, who plays bass, writes poetry, wears a borrowed suit, rides the goddamn BUS (!) to City Hall every day, and he RENTS a freakin’ apartment (!). He’s like your cousin Nick, only he’s brilliant, principled, Green, and he’s gonna be MAYOR!  What more do you want?!

Gonzo’s opponent (this hand-chosen, millionaire rubber blow-up doll named Gavin Newsom) is outspending Gonzo 20 to 1. Newsom’s staff looks like an army of Mormons. Many of them are actual GOP functionaries. And, of course, they’re ALL paid. And guess what?  Gonzo is STILL working Newsom like a rented Huffy.  There’s “Gonzalez for Mayor” signs popping up in front windows all over The City like wildflowers. I swear, I’ve never seen anything like it. And certainly not for a Green candidate.

The Newsom campaign is running on fumes and lies and money and more lies and more money. Here’s how desperate he is: he’s flying Al Gore in to stump for him! You believe that shit? They can’t find a single person in San Francisco who likes Newsom, so they gotta drag in a dude from Tenesssee!

December 9th is election day, guys. That’s just two weeks from now. So go now.  Take a bus. Hitchhike. Talk a friend into driving you. Cash in your frequent flyer miles. Rideshare off Craig’s List. Steal your roommate’s car. Jack a Vespa. Just go.

Go. Go. Go.

Why are you still reading this? Go!
 
GO!

This campaign has huge buzz, a massive energized volunteer base, and is in striking distance of pulling off a stunning political upset.

Join them!

Matt for Mayor!

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And why are Californians leaving the Democratic Party?

Because elected Democrats are gutless, that’s why.

Senate Democrats, in a reversal, join in vote to deny illegal immigrants in California the right to drive. The Assembly is expected to follow suit.

After years of struggle to win passage of the driver’s license legislation, the swift reversal by Senate Democrats — virtually all of whom voted for the bill only two months ago — stunned and angered some of the law’s supporters.

The Senate voted, 33 to 0, to repeal the law after only four minutes of debate.

Senate Democrats couldn’t even stand and fight for something they believed in. There was not even one symbolic No vote. Unbelievable. What useless, squishy marshmallows they are. It’s no wonder they got clobbered in the recall election.

PS A lawyer friend tells me the Dems voted this way because they have a nebulous agreement with Schwarzenegger that he may consider a compromise, rather than it going to an ballot initiative which they fear they might lose. But the agreement is quite vague, and there’s nothing stopping someone else from launching a ballot initiative. In short, they let down a lot of people who were relying on theml, and gained nothing by caving in.

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L.A. Greens in the Doo Dah parade

The 27th Annual Pasadena Doo Dah Parade was on Sunday. This is a deliberately loony parade where entries are encouraged to be silly. Walking condoms, synchronized nap squads, and hordes of men in drag are, well, the norm.

About 60 Los Angeles Greens, including several friends, doo-dah’ed on Sunday, using a Fellowship of the Rings theme. Check their website for more!

PS That’s Santa Monica City Council member Kevin McKeown holding the sign.

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Does Diebold get ANYTHING right?

Nachi worm infected Diebold ATMs

The Nachi worm compromised Windows-based automated teller machines at two financial institutions last August, according to ATM-maker Diebold, in the first confirmed case of malicious code penetrating cash machines

The machines were in an advanced line of Diebold ATMs built atop Windows XP Embedded, which, like most versions of Windows, was vulnerable to the RPC DCOM security bug exploited by Nachi, and its more famous forebear, Blaster.

A patch … had been available from Microsoft for over a month at the time of the attack, but Diebold had neglected to install it in the infected machines.

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