wildmarjoram's Open Salon Blog

Feeding Democracy (how you can help)

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:02:59 -0500

Protestors in Wisconsin are taking a stand this week for unions, for workers, and (most importantly) for the right of workers to bargain collectively. This is the part of the story that has been neglected by the mainstream media (where they've even bothered to turn their attention on the tens of thousands of peaceful protestors.) Even NPR here in Chicago has repeatedly mentioned "protestors who are objecting to wage and benefit cuts."

No. The real news is that the Wisconsin legislature is going to change the law to restrict collective-bargaining rights. It is not just that workers would have to pay more for their benefits; it's that it would become illegal for them to discuss it as a group or to strike.

But. On to the food. A friend of a friend is in Madison this weekend and reports on several local businesses that are accepting phone calls from around the world and delivering food to the protestors. Want to Feed Democracy? You can start with one of these businesses. The blog post on the Ian's Pizza site is inspiring:

The next day we got a handful of calls from folks throughout the country, people who had heard about our late-night donation. Then a few more the next day, and next thing, fast forward to 5pm on Saturday when we were so inundated with calls — from over half the states in the Union and from international locales ranging from Canada to Denmark — that our normal business had to essentially be shut down so we could focus on feeding the protestors.

Order food to be delivered to the protesters!
a) Glass Nickel (608) 245-0880
b) Ian’s Pizza (608) 257-9248
www.ianspizza.com (or try http://ianspizza.com/speakEasy/ for original blog post) or Ian's Pizza on State Facebook page

A Wrinkle in Time in 90 Seconds

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 20:01:30 -0500

I absolutely love this gem of a short video from author James Kennedy and a bunch of smart, funny young actors.

Kennedy, author of The Order of Odd-Fish and all-around cool guy, is partnering with the New York Library to sponsor a contest, 90-Second Newbery. What can you do with your childhood favorite in 90 seconds?

The contest is a playful response to recent outrage over the news that the Today Show decided to snub this year's Newbery winners - after eleven years of featuring the winner in an interview. Instead, they gave that interview time to reality-TV celebrity Snooki. Klassy!

Isn't that fraud? McConnell and the job not done

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 20:11:02 -0400

If I hired a plumber and he decided he would rather hang on the couch and watch what I've got on the DVR . . .

If I got a new boss and decided I'd just not take on any new projects until she retires. Except the project of getting her fired . . .

If I elected a legislator and he decided he couldn't be bothered with the boring work of, well, legislating . . .

These are the questions I've been asking myself since I heard what Mitch McConnell had to say about his job responsibilities as a (R) lawmaker for the next couple of years. He told the Heritage Foundation that his priority, his top job, will be making sure President Obama is not re-elected. (Chicago Tribune)

So here's the question. If I'm hired to do a job (legislate) and I am doing the opposite (refusing to legislate) or something totally irrelevant to my job duties (messing with another branch of government completely), how do I get to keep collecting a paycheck? I understand that McConnell's constituents can undertake the expensive and tedious job of recalling him if they so desire, but I'm not really that interested in what the fine folks of Kentucky think about it. As a taxpayer and (many times removed) check-signer, I want to know why our employee's openly, defiantly saying he's not going to be doing his job for the next 104 weeks. I want Mitch McConnell arrested for fraud. Then I want a refund. And I'm going to write him such a nasty review on Angie's List.

Summer Cabin Archaeology

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 17:07:43 -0400

Every summer we spend a few days around July 4 at my husband's family's "up north" cabin in Michigan. (Michiganders call them "cabins" and not "cottages," for some reasons - logs not required.)

The beach is on the same lake they've been going to for 40 years, although a decade or so ago my MIL moved to the other side of the lake and a larger space, which is good, since when we all get together we number 28 (13 adults and 15 kids from my newly tall 14yo niece down to my 6yo son, the youngest cousin.)

My family summered at the family farm, which had its own type of artifacts - quilts made by great-grandmas, butter churns once used in the barn - but a family cabin involves a whole other sort of cultural archaeology. If your family has one, you know what I mean. It's where uncle Joe's recliner went, and that table that used to be in the sunroom of the house on Maple where the kids grew up. It's furnished in handmedowns and stocked from the local St. Vincent DePaul and the ubiquitous "up north" garage sales. The cupboards are like an archaeological dig of the past 50 years.

Remember those (Feemster) potato slicers you don't see anymore because they sliced too many fingers? Yep, all the old ones went to cabins.

^{I risked my fingertips for this photo}

The coffee mugs and juice cups are my favorites. Our kids only know the Kool-aid man from YouTube, but they'll drink from his image here for another 30 years of summer weekends.

^{"Hey! Kool-Aid"}

Shamu probably went to that great aquarium in the sky 20 years ago, but he lives on serving Folger's at grandma's:

^Shamu

This was in use on the bathroom counter when I found it one morning.

^{"I'd rather be 40 than Pregnant" - Whaaa?}

"I'd Rather Be 40 Than Pregnant." It took me three or four minutes to parse that one, considering how many women I know who have been both at one time. What an odd little momento of a time not that long ago but, huh, really distant.

^{These guys, on the other hand - timeless}

What artifacts are found in your summer place?

Welcome. Don't be a jerk.

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 22:06:31 -0400

As I was trying, painfully, patiently to make my way across Chicago's downtown loop from a lunchtime errand to a business lunch on this beautiful early-summer day, I thought about designing a business card I could hand out to tourists. Maybe a fold-out. Six point type. Some flourishes of fleur-de-lis.

Welcome! You're receiving this card because you stand out in the crowd, and not in a good way. Please consider the following tips to make your visit more pleasant for the rest of us:

Sidewalks, walking on: Pick.Up.The.Pace. And if you must walk 3 or 4 abreast (argh!), show some hustle.

Sidewalks, standing in the middle of: Just don't.

Lovers: You're paying for a hotel, use it. Or at least move to the curb.

Cabs: They aren't just pretending that they will hit you if you don't move your ass across that street.

Walking shoes: You were warned; you didn't listen. There's a Hanig's up on Michigan Ave. And a Nordstrom.

Revolving doors: Like walking, but you put your hand out and push. Easy. No need to stop in the middle, as exciting as I'm sure the view is in there.

Escalators: When you get to the bottom/top, MOVE. Not the time to look at the map.

Toddlers: Rush hour is not the time for them to practice toddling by themselves up the stairs to the El platform. We need to catch that train so we can get our own kids from daycare. It's bad karma to make that many strangers glare at your kid.

Body language: People walking at full speed and not making eye contact are probably trying to catch a train. Also handy for avoiding panhandlers.

Directions: On the other hand, if I'm not rushing somewhere, I love to help you find your restaurant/hotel/museum. Makes me feel helpful and big-city exciting. Enjoy your stay!