Thursday, May 31, 2012

Thursday Night in the Blogosphere

Hard working pressman David Joe

This Graph Is Disastrous for Print- The Atlantic

California is America's Pink Slip Capital - Forbes

"We are no longer a newspaper company," - Crain's

Why did Warren Buffett buy 63 newspapers? - NorthFulton ‎

Newspapers Continue to Search for Answers - MarketWatch

In Israeli desert town, print newspapers are all the rage - Haaretz

10 best points in Tim McGuire’s ‘This I believe’ essay - Romenesko

Tennessean Publisher Carol Hudler is selling online subscriptions - Gannett Blog

Save Local News, Support Diversity In Coverage, Sign Petition - Broadcast Union News

Will other Advance newspapers face cuts like Times-Picayune, Alabama papers? - Poynter


Jason deCaires Taylor and Museo Subaquatico de Arte


Born in 1974 to an English father and Guyanese mother, Taylor grew up in Europe and Asia, where he spent much of his early childhood exploring the coral reefs of Malaysia. Educated in the South East of England, Taylor graduated from the London Institute of Arts in 1998 with a BA Honours in Sculpture and went on to become a fully qualified diving instructor and underwater naturalist. With over 17 years diving experience under his belt, Taylor is also an award winning underwater photographer, famous for his dramatic images, which capture the metamorphosing effects of the ocean on his evolving sculptures.

In 2006, Taylor founded and created the world's first underwater sculpture park. Situated off the coast of Grenada in the West Indies it is now listed as one of the Top 25 Wonders of the World by National Geographic. His latest creation is MUSA (Museo Subaquatico de Arte), a monumental museum with a collection of over 450 public sculptural works, submerged off the coast of Cancun, Mexico; described by Forbes as one of the world's most unique travel destinations. Both these ambitious, permanent public works have a practical, functional aspect, facilitating positive interactions between people and fragile underwater habitats while at the same relieving pressure on natural resources.

Taylor's art is like no other, a paradox of creation, constructed to be assimilated by the ocean and transformed from inert objects into living breathing coral reefs, portraying human intervention as both positive and life-encouraging. Numerous publications and documentaries have featured his extraordinary work, including the BBC, CNN, USA Today, the Guardian, Vogue, New Scientist and the Discovery Channel, yet nothing can quite do justice to the ephemeral nature of his art; for each actual visit to his sites is both unique and subject to the dynamic, fluctuating environment of the ocean. Jason deCaires Taylor

His pioneering public art projects are not only examples of successful marine conservation, but inspirational works of art that seek to encourage environmental awareness, instigate social change and lead us to appreciate the breathtaking natural beauty of the underwater world.

Taylor is currently based in Cancun, Mexico, where he is the founder and Artistic Director of the Museo Subaquatico de Arte (MUSA).

Today in Labor History

May 31

Rose Will Monroe, popularly known as Rosie the Riveter, dies in Clarksville, Ind.  During WWII she helped bring women into the labor force - 1997

 SOURCE: Union Communications Services, Inc.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The Chicago Tribune Tries to Take Our Website

By • May 30, 2012 •

All the news that's fit to fence off. 
(Photo by Maximiliano Sanvitale; Creative Commons license)

 By Nick Burt,

 Our tip-off came, poetically enough, from some unsolicited email marketing:
Dear Occupied Chicago Tribune:
Our records indicate that a UDRP (Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy) proceeding was filed against you for the domain http://occupiedchicagotribune.org.
It was a message from a New York legal firm, offering us a defense against an unnamed complainant who had filed to seize our domain name. But before even checking the record, we knew who was doing the complaining. It wasn’t the Sun-Times.

On May 24, the Tribune Company filed a Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) proceeding against the Occupied Chicago Tribune via the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), presumably alleging trademark infringement. We presume this, as to date, almost a week later, we have yet to receive any formal notification that the complaint has been filed, nor a description of the Tribune Company’s claims.

If the UDRP complaint is successful, the WIPO panel would order the transfer of our domain to the Tribune Company. The Occupied Chicago Tribune will appeal to the panel to dismiss the complaint.
This is the second attempt in the Tribune Company’s ongoing effort to shut down the Occupied Chicago Tribune, despite what is agreed by multiple legal experts as a lack of any legal grounding.

As we described in an earlier editorial, the Tribune Company sent an attorney to intimidate us with threats of a lawsuit at the end of last year.


Continue reading: OCCUPIED CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Wednesday Morning in the Blogosphere

Newspapers being spit out of the printing press folder


End of dailies - Striaght Goods

Don't write off newspapers - The Herald

TMZ Founder Jim Paratore Dead at 58 - Fishbowl LA

GPS distribution chief Brad Jones is leaving - Gannett Blog

Pretending Everything’s OK at Maine Newspapers - Downeast

Morning Call owner may sell off newspapers - The Express Times ‎
 
Falsely Accused Of Rape, Jailed, Then Found Innocent - Advice Goddess


Most major newspaper groups are now experimenting with paywalls - Poynter

Saints owner to Times-Picayune: We need you in print every day - Romenesko

Dolores Huerta Honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom - Frying Pan News

2012 Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony

Ronnie Pineda meets Medal of Freedom recipient Dolores Huerta at May Day Rally.









President Obama presents exceptional individuals with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Today in Labor History

May 30

The Ford Motor Company signs a "Technical Assistance" contract to produce cars in the Soviet Union, and Ford workers were sent to the Soviet Union to train the labor force in the use of its parts. Many American workers who made the trip, including Walter Reuther, a tool and die maker who later was to become the UAW's president. Reuther returned home with a different view of the duties and privileges of the industrial laborer - 1929

In what became known as the Memorial Day Massacre, police open fire on striking steelworkers at Republic Steel in South Chicago, killing ten and wounding more than 160 - 1937

The Ground Zero cleanup at the site of the World Trade Center is completed 3 months ahead of schedule due to the heroic efforts of more than 3,000 building tradesmen & women who had worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for the previous 8 months – 2002

 SOURCE: Union Communications Services, Inc.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Sammy Maloof Joins SBEAT


Sammy Maloof
Sammy is a Hollywood stuntman, race car driver, owner of a thriving Hot Rod Shop, motivational and inspirational speaker, author, and mostly, a husband and father of three girls. He has provided stunt work in numerous commercials, music videos, television shows and feature films. Some of those films include: Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol, Law Abiding Citizen, Red Line, The Hitcher, The Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift, Dream Girls, Deja Vu, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Miami Vice, Domino, Transporter 2, Spiderman 2, Cradle to the Grave, All About the Benjamins, Three Kings, Wild, Wild West, Rush Hour, Enemy of the State, The Glass House, Gone in 60 Seconds, and Swordfish.

Hollywood Stuntman
Joins SBEAT!
After traveling from city to city visiting churches, schools, colleges, prisons, youth camps, juvenile halls and the streets, one common denominator Sammy saw in every setting was people losing at the race of life through hopelessness, doubt, fear and unbelief. This sparked an overwhelming compassion in Sammy to start Winning at the Race of Life®, a non-profit dedicated to bringing hope to communities across the country via unforgettable stunt shows, hosting individuals in need, teaching mechanic's skills and giving children and the "young at heart" adults the tools they need to operate well in life with their gifts and talents.
Sammy is also a much requested speaker for businesses, corporations, and civic groups. His new business series which includes, "3 Ways People Fail" is both motivational and innovative.
Sammy has finished his first book titled: How to Win at the Race of Life. He receives numerous invitations each year to speak and is currently in development for a reality television series.

CLICK EACH PHOTO TO VISIT DIFFERENT LINKS TO ENJOY SAMMY MALOOF, WINNING AT THE RACE OF LIFE®!

3rd Annual June'teenth Heritage Festival

Time: June 16, 2012 at 10am to June 17, 2012 at 6pm
Location: Leimert Park, Vernon & Crenshaw
Street: 4301 Degnan Blvd.
City/Town: Los Angeles, 90008
Website or Map: http://www.blackartslosangele…
Phone: 323/291-2024
Event Type: community, festival
Organized By: Gail Jennings

By Gail Jennings:

Remember the fun we had last year?  Well it's time to do it again.  The Juneteenth Heritage Festival rolls into Leimert Park June 16 & 17, 10am to 6pm each day.  Our theme this year, "Faith, Family and the Future."
 Lots of fun for the whole family.  Admission is FREE - Come on out and Celebrate Freedom.
We are pleased to announce that BALA will collaborate with Manchester Community Technologies (MCT), the Production House, and Arts & Culture Entertainment (ACE), to launch the Leimert Park Vision Network Wi-Fi System which will provide FREE internet access for businesses, residents and visitors to Leimert Park.

We'll play traditional games like bid whist, spades and bones.  Choose from a menu of the best healthy delicacies and BBQ.  Enjoy Line dancing, Square dancing, and a Cowboy of Color or two. Groove to live entertainment and kids; there’ll be fun for you.  “Lights! Camera! Action! with Linda Long” returns this year plus face painting, make-n-take,  rock wall climbing and more.

We're gonna reach way back and rock an old school Soul Train line to honor Don Cornelius and Whitney, then reach even further back to call our ancestors by name.  Shop for your June Brides, Grads and Dads.  Daily fashion shows with flair, Gospel music in the air, and Praise dancing everywhere.
The Minority Aids Project sponsors the Health Ark in the Park, while first class artists and award winning hand crafters will be showcasing their wares until dark.

Space is limited, so go to www.blackartslosangeles.org  to apply to be a vendor.  Call 323/291-2024 for more information.   See you there!

Message of Love - Sammy Maloof

Join Hollywood stuntman, speaker, author and businessman Sammy Maloof as he shares a POWERFUL message of faith, hope and love with Pastor Rocky & First Lady Alnita Moore and the mighty champions at Living Hope Faith Center. Visit http://livinghopefaithcenter.com/ for details.

Living Hope Faith Center, Temecula CA
32819 Temecula Parkway Suite B Temecula CA 92592

This Sunday June 3rd, 2012 at 10:30 am.

Pontiac Advertising (1935)

Produced for showing to Pontiac automobile dealers. Describes the advertising campaign undertaken by Pontiac to promote the 1935 models in a variety of media: promotional booklets and brochures, newspapers, magazines and radio. A subplot shows a family whose members each express their desire for a new car in unintentionally humorous closeups; the husband and father pleases everyone immensely by purchasing a new one. Although the family looks at it offscreen and shows their pleasure, the new car is never seen. Stock shots include: a relief map of the United States with many little animated radio transmitters emitting animated waves; various shots of men and women of different classes and demographics reading magazines such as the New Yorker, Fortune, Town and Country, Time and Collier's; a rich man hailing a taxicab; hands picking up Pontiac brochures from a table until the pile is exhausted; inserts of various Pontiac newspaper advertising dummies; newspapers being printed on the printing press and coming off the press.

Tuesday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Pressman Richard Ontiveros

The (not so) daily news - Jeff Jarvis

‘I am still a newspaperman’ - Romenesko

Why Buffett Is Buying Newspapers - Daily Finance

Is Philanthropy Print Journalism's Last Hope? - The Atlantic ‎

Why the New Orleans paper dropped editions - Gannett Blog

“Fit to Print” on Closeup Film Blog at The Chicago Tribune - Fit to Print

Times-Picayune to shift focus to digital and away from print - Philadelphia Inquirer

Cal/OSHA Cites American Reclamation for Unsafe Conditions - Frying Pan News

LAT Database Producer Archives Newspaper Website Home Pages - Fishbowl LA

Ugly Truth About the Continuing Meltdown at The NY Times - Broadcast Union News

Today in Labor History

May 29

Animators working for Walt Disney begin what was to become a successful five-week strike for recognition of their union, the Screen Cartoonists' Guild. The animated feature "Dumbo" was being created at the time and, according to Wikipedia, a number of strikers are caricatured in the feature as clowns who go to "hit the big boss for a raise" - 1941
[Drawing the Line: The Untold Story of the Animation Unions tells the fascinating story of Hollywood animators, from the early days of Betty Boop and Popeye to today’s world of Pixar. Author Tom Sito describes fighting for unionism during the era of virulent anti-Communism in Hollywood, in which if an artist stood up against management he or she was labeled a Red. And he talks about the present day, in which big business is – no surprise here – sending work offshore to artists’ sweatshops. In the UCS bookstore now.] A contract between the United Mine Workers and the U.S. government establishes one of the nation's first union medical and pension plans, the multi-employer UMWA Welfare and Retirement Fund - 1946

The United Farm Workers of America reaches agreement with Bruce Church Inc. on a contract for 450 lettuce harvesters, ending a 17-year-long boycott. The pact raised wages, provided company-paid health benefits to workers and their families, created a seniority system to deal with seasonal layoffs and recalls, and established a pesticide monitoring system - 1996
 
SOURCE: Union Communications Services, Inc.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

INXS LVE Rocks Bellflower

Tribute bands are nothing new, especially if you’ve visited Las Vegas you know what I mean. Six months ago a Tribute band called Fan Halen caught my attention, which led to meeting and enjoying other tribute bands playing around the Southland of California.

Last night I was treated to a great tribute band called INXS LVE at the New Wave Restaurant in Bellflower. I debated not going as the show didn’t begin till 11pm, but it was well worth the trip as the band rocked and made me feel good as I reminisced of days gone by.

The lead singer of the group, Brett Creswell, danced away while belting out all of our favorite INXS tunes, and even engaged the crowd that could not stand still. This added much excitement to the set as Brett danced with all the lovely ladies on the dance floor. INXS LVE plays a tight set with everyone in the band right on track, I highly recommend seeing this band in person, and promise you won’t be disappointed in the least.

From the bands Fan Page on Facebook: Los Angeles, CA - The tribute band phenomenon is obviously here to stay. Today with so much emphasis on pop music of the 1980's spanning all age groups we would like the opportunity to introduce to you one of the hottest tribute bands from Los Angeles CA. – INXS-IVE a tribute to INXS. INXS-IVE is fronted by Sydney, Australia native Brett Creswell as Michael Hutchence to give the audience an authentic live experience of one of the most popular and successful groups of the 1980's. Assisting Brett with these duties is a combination of experienced musicians who came together through networking and friendship. Guitar player Don E. Sachs, graduate of Musicians Institute is one of the most sought after players in Los Angeles currently involved in multiple tribute and original projects in conjunction with INXS-IVE. Currently Don E. Sachs re-issued CD from his band Shake City is available on Amazon, and I-Tunes. Julie Dolan, not only is one of the busiest keyboard players in Los Angeles with her bands The Undercover Girls and INXS-IVE, she is also a member of SAG and her many credits in film and television can be found on IMDB.com. The solid rhythm section of Edward Concialdi behind the drums and Tris “Duke” Carpenter on bass complete the necessary foundation to re-create an INXS concert. The success of INXS’s fourteen American top 40 hits INXS-IVE guarantees attendees will rapidly warm up to familiar songs with danceable beats. The band client list will confirm their commitment to their customer's satisfaction with a wide variety of live exposure both to public and private audiences. In the past three decades INXS had been and remains to this day the leading supplier of first wave rock music with their unique original approach to sound and groove. You would be "hard pressed" to pass on this opportunity to hire INXS-IVE as your entertainment feature.

Band Member's:
Brett Creswell - Lead Vocals
Don E. Sachs - Guitar, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Julie Dolan - Keyboards, Samples, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Tris “Duke” Carpenter - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Edward Concialdi - Drums, Electronic Drum Samples
Special Appearances By: Dave Montgomery – Tenor & Alto Sax, Percussion


Friday, May 25, 2012

The Think Tank

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The Think Tank, a set on Flickr.

An online discussion group meets face to face for the first time in Culver City.

Today in Labor History

May 25

Pressured by employers, striking shoemakers in Philadelphia are arrested and charged with criminal conspiracy for violating an English common law that bars schemes aimed at forcing wage increases. The strike was broken - 1805

Philip Murray is born in Scotland. He went on to emigrate to the U.S., become founder and first president of the United Steelworkers of America, and head of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) from 1940 until his death in 1952 - 1886

Two company houses occupied by non-union coal miners were blown up and destroyed during a strike against the Glendale Gas & Coal Co. in Wheeling, W. Va. - 1925

Thousands of unemployed WWI veterans arrive in Washington, D.C. to demand a bonus they had been promised but never received. They built a shantytown near the U.S. Capitol but were burned out by U.S. troops after two months - 1932

The notorious 11-month Remington Rand strike begins. The strike spawned the "Mohawk Valley (NY) formula," described by investigators as a corporate plan to discredit union leaders, frighten the public with the threat of violence, employ thugs to beat up strikers, and other tactics. The National Labor Relations Board termed the formula "a battle plan for industrial war." - 1936

The AFL-CIO begins what is to become an unsuccessful campaign for a 35-hour workweek, with the goal of reducing unemployment. Earlier tries by organized labor for 32- or 35-hour weeks also failed - 1962
[Greed and Good: America’s unions have always bargained over the wages, hours, and working conditions of workers. Should unions now also be paying equally serious attention to the "wages" executives take home? Veteran labor journalist Sam Pizzigati thinks so. A generation ago, Greed and Good notes, top executives averaged 40 times the pay of their workers. Today’s top execs routinely grab over 300 times what their average workers earn. That’s one key reason why America’s richest 1 percent now holds more wealth -- over trillion more -- than America’s entire bottom 90 percent combined. This incredible concentration of wealth at the top, this book’s vivid pages help us understand, is squeezing satisfaction from our jobs, pleasure from our pastimes, even years from our lives. In The UCS bookstore now.]


SOURCE: Union Communications Services, Inc.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

One beautiful 1962 Corvette w/ engine built by Maloof Racing

Check out one of the sexiest Corvettes ever built. Sammy Maloof and his team at Maloof Racing Engines just finished building a 385 cubic inch, small block engine for a 1962 Chevrolet with dual quads all tucked under the hood, right at 480 horsepower, 555 foot lbs. of torque, on 91 octane! Estimated gas mileage - 19 mpg. Meet Tom, the happy owner. Visit us at http://sammymaloof.com/engines Maloof Racing Engines we're making ALL your horsepower dreams come true!
 

Thursday Morning in the Blogosphere

This is how some Americans live


The future of national newspapers? - Newsline

Buffett: Why you shouldn't cut news coverage - Gannett Blog

Times-Picayune to cut paper to 3 days a week - Associated Press

Voice of San Diego Adds Monthly Print Magazine - Fishbowl LA

Alabama Media Group, a new digitally focused company - AL.com

Times-Picayune Eliminates Daily Frequency - Newspaper Death Watch

LA Times editor in chief is on Twitter - and gets hacked - Kevin Roderick

What New Orleans Can Expect When Its Newspaper Goes Away - Forbes

Expect first drafts, quickly edited, after Denver Post eliminated copy desk - Poynter


Will AZCentral’s Big Leap Into Hyperlocal Be Model for Other Newspapers? - Street Fight

Today in Labor History

May 24
 
After 14 years of construction and the deaths of 27 workers, the Brooklyn Bridge over New York’s East River opens. Newspapers call it “the eighth wonder of the world” - 1883

2,300 members of the United Rubber Workers, on strike for 10 months against five Bridgestone-Firestone plants, agree to return to work without a contract. They had been fighting demands for 12-hour shifts and wage increases tied to productivity gains - 1995

 SOURCE: Union Communications Services, Inc.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Wednesday Afternoon in the Blogosphere

Father John of  St. Dorothy's Catholic Church with volunteers


Local newspapers closing left and right - Crave Online

AOL's costly Patch gamble 'draws trouble' - Gannett Blog

McClatchy to begin ‘robust test’ of pay model - Romenesko

The newspaper times they are a-changin’ - ABC Newspapers
 
Warren Buffett buys newspapers. Is he nuts? - Washington Post

Voice of San Diego Adds Monthly Print Magazine - Fishbowl LA

McClatchy Newspapers Plan Paywalls - MediaPosts Communications

Street Sense is sold on the street by homeless people - Huffington Post


Freedom Communication sells off 6 Texas newspapers - Associated Press

Newspapers will Experience a Mass Exodus of Advertisers and Readers - PR Web

Los Angeles Times Truck Drivers

LA Times Drivers BreakfastLA Times Drivers BreakfastLA Times Drivers BreakfastLA Times Drivers BreakfastLA Times Drivers BreakfastLA Times Drivers Breakfast
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Former truck drivers for the Los Angeles Times gathered for a breakfast this morning. In spite of how terrible the employees were treated by the Tribune Company bonds remain strong among former colleagues. And I'm blessed to be invited to all the functions, Amen!