http://www.thepetitionsite.com/794/369/516/african-solidarity-for-palestine/#sign

We, the undersigned African scholars and scholars of Africa, hold that silence about the latest humanitarian catastrophe caused by Israel’s new military assault on the Gaza Strip—the third and most devastating in six years—constitutes complicity. Member state of NATO which mounted an air war on Libya ostensibly to protect civilians in Benghazi have been by and large quiet about the fate of civilians in Gaza. World governments and mainstream media do not hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law. We, however, as a community of scholars have a moral responsibility to do so.

A new film called Wisconsin Rising is screening around the country, the subject, of course, being the activism surrounding the mass occupation of the Wisconsin Capitol in 2011.  I recommend attending a planned screening or setting up a new one, and discussing the film collectively upon its conclusion.  For all the flaws in Wisconsin's activism in 2011 and since, other states haven't even come close -- most have a great deal to learn.

The film tells a story of one state, where, long ago, many workers' rights originated or found early support, and where, many years later, threats to workers' rights, wages, and benefits, and to what those workers produce including education in public schools, were aggressively initiated by the state's right-wing governor, Scott Walker. 

Tatoheads public house is the latest bar to open up on the South Side of Columbus. It's located east of Hungarian village at 1297 Parsons Ave. The bar was previously known as Hal and Al's, but has adopted the Tatoheads moniker after it was purchased by Dan McCarthy, owner of the popular Tatoheads food truck. Tatoheads public house takes the style of a restaurant pub, going a different direction from Hal and Al's, which boasted a huge selection of draft beers and entirely vegan food.

I managed to stop by during the premier of their new dining menu for a quick afternoon meal with my family. Tatoheads is in the process of transforming itself into the vision of its new owner but at this point still has a dimly lit indy rock bar. The music playing was a nice selection of alternative rock from the 90s on. They have a half-off draft happy hour from 4-8pm. We tasted the Bodhi brew from Columbus Brewing Company and a Dragon Milk for under $10.

The Supreme Court of Ohio will decide whether Columbus citizens’ basic constitutional rights, in place since before World War I, will survive.

Citizen’s initiatives, the favorite tool of the Progressive Era to defeat robber barons and political bosses, are being arbitrarily rejected by the one-party Democratic machine in Columbus.

The Columbus Coalition for Responsive Government filed a “Verified Petition for Writ of Mandamus” on Wednesday, August 6 with the Ohio Supreme Court. The Coalition is suing to have their initiative signatures counted concerning their “Columbus Fair Campaign Code.”

The initiative calls for public financing of elections for Columbus City Council and Mayor.

The current city charter only requires 4,478 valid signatures to get an initiative on the ballot. The Coalition submitted petitions 16,205 signatures. But Columbus City Clerk Andrea Blevins, on the advice of City Attorney Richard Pfeiffer, refused to verify the signatures as per the usual procedures.