Category: Uncategorized

Conspiracy Past

In the aftermath of the tragic events in Russian brought on by wacko Chechyn separatists, the collective need to connect the dots and find evidence of a central control of all the world’s terrorist wacko ills runs rampant. It is in this light that we are reminded of the 1980s concerns that the Soviets were controlling the weather and trust that the recent spate of hurricanes last season and this can also be linked to the House of Saud and a man having a Starbucks in Indonesia.  

Due regard for the mid-1800s revolutionaries and the role of Bakunin would be instructive in these times.

Polish Union Flags 1991

In the fall of 1991 I was teaching in a city on the Baltic Coast of Poland, a few hours on the train from Gdansk. In early November, there was what was then described as the first Polish national holiday our from under the yoke of some other power or another. These working lads – no doubt pals of Lech’s – were waiting in the line up for the parade in Gdansk.

I am still hunting for the photos I have of the gates of the Lenin shipyards.

And Speaking Of Labour Day

As we wake in our homes made safe by the building code, in our planned communities, sipping a well regulated glass of water, assured by the nearness of universal and excellent hospital care, let us recall those who went before in the cause of a healthy happy community respectful of the workers’ role as a cornerstone in our economic happiness:

  • The US Department of Labor has an excellent history of Labor Day on its website

  • The US Library of the Congress has an excellent exhibit on the Haymarket Affair from 1886 when workers fought for the eight hour day, a blessing to us all.

  • The Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives is a good place to start getting a bit riled up about it all.

  • The British TUC celebrates the right of political dissent crystallized in the anti-WWI movement led not even by the Trade Union leaders but by the shop stewards – guess who sat at lunch with the lads being sent to the industrialized warfare of the trenches?

  • In Canada, the jewel in our socialist crown is medicare and the people’s broadcaster, the CBC, shares the history of the fight for free health care for all here.

Grannie would be proud. The story goes that she was given the job by the municipal council in her role as Bailee (a deputy mayor of some sort) to plan the flag distribution throughout the City for a holiday. Down near the shipyards it was all red banners flapping as the shift ended and the workers filled the streets. Cheers, comradery and, ok, perhaps a small riot…but it was the Clyde in the 50’s and it really didn’t take much to get a good riot going.

So raise the red flag high today, look to that free vaccine mark on your should brought to you by public health served up in the free schools and thank them.

Still More &%(% Buildings

Here some recent shots from around the downtown of Kingston. The plaque is from the picture to its left and sets out the history of the structure as a bank under four companies since 1876. The bank is in the back of this shot from a post about its neighbours. The domed building is the back of this church which faces this pub. The second small limestone cottage is just to the right of this building, hidden mid-block. The other shots are all up Princess Street. I quite like the upper stories which have largely been left untouched by the whims of chain retailers renting on street level. James Reid Furniture is an exception celebrating 150 years in its original location, maintaining its facade including the carriage way which I approached from the back of the block in this post.

Bill

Michael writes a good essay about Bill and the by-pass. We have a by-pass coming up in our family and it does all sound routine. Our guy has got 16 years on Bill mind you. Odd to think that someone whose presidency ended almost four years ago is only 58 now. With a little luck and a few fewer Krispy Kremes, Bill could be kicking around for another 30 years, senior statesman style.   It has been a real enlightenment this year listening to Bill’s amazing gift of speech and comparing to everyone else in the US elections.   He was to visit the North Country over the weekend with Hillary.