ethics almost prevented me from even dotting this.

Article about how the illegal factory production of metals used in LCD screens poisons workers, water supplies, and leads to revolts within the community.

Dead Kennedys, anyone?

way to go Chicago! 4 spots in the top 25, including the #2 position. bravo!

Quoted: Chicago has the dubious distinction of holding four places on a list of the 25 most dangerous neighborhoods in the nation. Wednesday, June 24, 2009.

will someone please explain to me why Hugo Chavez is siding with the fascists in Iran?

i can't get back to the article page to dot it (need a membership), so i'm just copying it here, as it's short:

CARACAS (AFP)--The world must respect Iran and the election "triumph" of its incumbent president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Sunday.
"We call on the world to respect Iran because there are attempts to undermine the strength of the Iranian revolution," Chavez said in his weekly radio and television address.
The comments ran contrary to European and U.S. criticism of the Iranian government's violent crackdown on opposition protesters and media censorship of unrest sparked by perceived fraud in the June 12 elections that gave Ahmadinejad a new mandate.
Iranian state media said at least 17 people have been killed since post-election violence began more than a week ago.

"Ahmadinejad's triumph was a triumph all the way. They are trying to stain Ahmadinejad's triumph and through that weaken the government and the Islamic revolution. I know they will not succeed," Chavez said.
Chavez said he had called Ahmadinejad after the elections to express his solidarity.
The Venezuelan foreign ministry issued a statement blasting "the fierce and unfounded campaign from outside to discredit" the Iranian president.'

first two thirds of the video is inspiring, then the motorcycle guys show up and it's like as if they're pulled from some strange hollywood movie, where motorcycle [okay plus *gun* in this case] equals pure evil.

Quoted: Battle w/ Police - Tehran, Iran - June 20th 2009

good article on a refinery struggle/strike going on in the UK right now.

the background is slightly more fleshed out in this one:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jun/19/oil-refinery-construction-workers-dispute

i liked the audacity (a lie, of course, since no one is this powerful) of this statement:

"Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has vowed, "Unless the company remains open, [Wells Fargo] will not be doing business with the state of Illinois any longer.""

it would be nice if things actually worked that way.

Chicago - Today, 500 workers at the Chicago-based apparel firm Hart Schaffner & Marx held a rally and historic "sit in" vote to fight for their jobs as major lender and TARP fund recipient Wells Fargo & Co. pushes for a bankruptcy closure of the facility.