Local

They love to do the dog all night long!

And from everything in the good and the bad books and magazines I have read--anytime of day. How 'bout that?

This may come as no surprise to you. In fact, it is biblically and scientifically important that the entirety of humanity desires to do and indeed does go at it all night long--or there would be no more humanity. What is hidden in this is how often sex is and isn't the driving force in human behavior. Predators beware, we're getting hip to your trip.

Advance copies of ComFest Program Guidewill be available in many local businesses in early June. It can also be accessed online in June and in print at the festival, June 22-24.

The ComFest Annual Meeting is on May 10, 7pmat Goodale Park Shelter House and is open to the public. Come meet the new Grants recipients and enjoy a meal with fellow ComFesters.

ComFest Logo Contest Winner for 2018 islocal artist Laura Bova for her entry "UNITY." The image will grace the Program Guide cover, ComFest beer mugs and volunteer tee shirts. The contest is a local tradition. All designs are original by local artists and chosen by public voting and the general planning committee. Thanks to all who entered this year, and congratulations to Laura! 

Two years after a 14-year-old boy brought a gun and shot two of his classmates in their district, the Ohio Madison Local School District board has voted “unanimously” that their school employees are now able to “defend and protect students” with the use of a weapon. Any staff member who wants to carry a firearm to work can do so if they have a concealed carry permit, take active shooter training, get re-certified each year and get written permission from the school superintendent. Parents are divided regarding this decision. 

This is the same school district that punished students for participating in the nationwide school walkouts protesting gun violence in schools, including, punishing a student, Cooper Caffrey, who is a victim of a school shooting. The board hasn’t said when they will start training and arming their teachers, but, they do plan to carry out this mission of defending and protecting their students from gun violence. Apparently, they feel that arming their teachers to be ready to “shoot to kill” is more effective than having students peacefully protest gun violence in their schools.

As you read this, the Columbus Dispatch is engaged in one of the most despicable character assassination series of articles against populist Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dennis Kucinich that I’ve ever seen. In the Dispatch’s latest smear piece, they claim “Kucinich ‘has a track record of helping to spread … disinformation.’” Ironically the Dispatch, while accusing Kucinich of doing it, has been busy spreading disinformation about him.

Berry Vegan Delights is a local vegan chocolatier startup that launched in January 2018. Founder, Jonna Owens, offers gourmet, artisan, chocolate covered strawberries to those seeking a chocolate decadent treat in white, semi-sweet and dark chocolates. What a creative and exciting addition to the Columbus market for vegan dessert options! These are great gifts for all types of occasions and would be a great addition to any restaurant or hospitality group to offer their guests interested in vegan options. You can find her at various vegan pop-ups events or order online.

Ghostface is coming. I listened to the Brown Tape to review it asGhostface's new album. My feeling was this is dope, but I didn't follow the plotline of this or any other storytelling record.

The Adrian Younge album had a plotline where Ghost is fighting the Deluca Crime Family. Whatever the case, I was into the album because Adrian Younge makes music that sounds like what the RZA samples. Come to find out the Brown Tape is a rerelease of a Remix album Apollo Brown did in 2013 of the Adrian Young record. The Brown Tape is not as textured and more raw Hip Hop. Ghostface is never wack.

I even loved Ghost's R & B album “Wizard of Poetry.” Some didn't.

I think the validation for Wizard of Poetry can be found with Tyler, The Creator's Flowerboy record.

Ghostface is playing Columbus so expect to get all you joints from Ironman, Supreme Clientelle, and the Wu-Tang Albums.

Thousands of labor movement activists gathered together at the 2018 Labor Notesconference in Chicago on April 6-8. We were excited to be able to join them, representing CWA Local 4502. The conference gave us many ideas to bring back to our union and community, as we enter into "the best of times, the worst of times" for the labor and other social movements.

From the Bottom Up

The labor movement in the United States faces the worst of times as the Supreme Court is poised to rule on Janus v. AFSCME, potentially dealing a heavy blow to the ability of public-sector unions, the strongest bastion of organized US labor, to collect fair share fees for the purpose of fighting for the interest of all in our bargaining units, not just union members.

It is strange times indeed for Ohio politics. Richard Cordray is practically molded in the image of the perfect Democrat, and yet he is fighting for his life against someone that the Democratic elite had long dismissed as a sideshow, engaging in an escalating and bizarre series of character assassinations. Not that Aramis Malachi-Ture Sundiata, the Kucinich/Samples campaign’s state organizing director, is particularly concerned. “When I speak to the people, the questions on their tongues are not about Syria. I haven’t heard anything on the ground about that.”

Indeed, while he is not particularly concerned about the Cordray campaign and its hilarious-if-not-so-frightening clip-emptying attack ads, they should be concerned about him, for it is him and the team of veteran organizers that make up the Kucinich campaign staff that have given the ODP’s anointed one sleepless nights.

Howard Dean was seen as the first pioneer in waging a major electoral campaign through grassroots organizing, and Bernie Sanders is the most prominent example in recent history, but in both situations, it was more of a marketing term.

Tuesday, May 1, 7-11pm
Rehab Tavern, 456 W. Town St.
This Tuesday join Columbus DSA for a special May Day edition of Socialist Happy Hour! If you’re a lefty in Columbus come by, all are welcome, so come celebrate May Day with us at Rehab Tavern!

The Columbus Free Press joins many others worldwide in condemning the killing of 10 journalists in Afghanistan on Monday, April 30. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports: "At least nine journalists were among at least 25 people killed in a double suicide bomb attack carried out in the capital by the militant group Islamic State, according to media reports. A spokesperson for Kabul police said that about 30 minutes after the first attack, a bomber disguised as a member of the media set off his explosives among a group of journalists who had arrived to cover the earlier blast, Agence France-Presse reported."